From: Bernhard März arcor de> Date: 14 mar 2007 Subject: RE: New Handicap style for bigger difference in strengths Thanks for your statements, Larry and Martin. Maybe I have to wait, till I will find again a beginner shogi player and= =20 than think again and try new things. But nevertheless I'm interested about it now and can think at least=20 about the past, what maybe I have done wrong (or not so good) and should= =20 make better in future. And your two posts still give me some info: 1) I'm still convinced, that a person with some kind of ability, like=20 (some? a lot?) experience in chess or experience with logical games or=20 puzzles or something like this (programming), can hardly win 6P handicap= =20 games (against non beginner shogi players), but they can absolutely easy= =20 and save break into the promotion zone with higher handicaps. What can=20 the white player do? Maybe when black plays NOT so good as possible,=20 white can change a silver/gold against the lance, but I believe=20 nevertheless he shouldn't do so. But here I believe I recognize an error in my thinkings: 2) Breaking into the promotion zone is NOT resulting in a won game.=20 Normal when I give handicap, I prefer my king BEHIND my pawns, because=20 in front of them is too much danger. But in 7P-Handicap after black=20 breaks into whites promotion zone, whites King must walk forward, also=20 helping attacking. ;-) So maybe when I will get the chance, I will try 7P Handicap against=20 beginning players. 3) Of course teaching of beginning Shogi players is the best way, to=20 make all happy. But here I will take attention to one point. In my opinion it's not good to show a shogi novice the special things of= =20 the selected handicap (how to break into promotion zone), but BETTER=20 teach the general tactics (like Martin wrote: "danger of a general=20 seemingly slowly climbing ...") I don't like to say bad words about your written "Handicap Series",=20 Larry, and I really like it, but in my opinion it's better not read by=20 shogi BEGINNERS. Why, you ask? Maybe with OPENING tactics and its theory, you know how to play=20 6P-Handicap and have a much better start and maybe can manage this=20 handicap soon very easy, when you become more experienced. But then you=20 reach the next smaller Handicap where breaking into promotion zone is=20 not so easy and you lack so much of tactic knowledge. So, when I have a player who can not win with maybe 7P-H, I WON'T show=20 him how he can BREAK easily through, but better give him the chance to=20 get more practice against an opponent who have not so much pieces and=20 help him in general tactics. I hope you didn't misunderstand me, Larry. Your "Handicap Series" is=20 really nice and I wish there would be much more such writings available. I think it's better (more nice) not base upon opening knowledge ... (but= =20 about this, I will open a new thematic, soon). 4) So in principle I have to wait, till I found a new shogi interesting=20 people. Then I will give it a try and also try 7P Handicap. When I can win 3 games continuously with 6P, but loose 3 games=20 continuously with 7P, THEN I should search for a solution. But still I like the idea of one more general at 5H (or even more=20 generals) and maybe will try this variant. Thanks. Bernhard --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: = shogi-l shogi net EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a2i6Ys.= aB5TiY.= c2hvZ2kt Or send an email to: shogi-unsubscribe topica com For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=3DTEXFOOTER --^----------------------------------------------------------------