From: leung kaiwan <lkaiwan <at> gmail <dot> com>
Subject: Re: computer vs. human handicap match
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Hi,
We also adopt another type of handicap in xiangqi, which is mainly for
players with little difference in strengths. In principle, this applies to
shogi as well though I think it probably works better in chess.
In this kind of handicap, instead of taking away pieces, the weaker player
is allowed to make two or more moves at first, depending on the level of
handicap. Then the stronger side makes a move and the game continues as
usual. To show the impact, just imagine if your opponent makes the
following shogi moves: P-2f, P-7f, P-3f, P-4f, S-6h, N-3g, or the following
chess moves: c4, d4, e4, f4, Nc3, Nf3, before you make your first move.
In this way, one side has to be aggressive to solidify and utilise his
positional advantage from the handicap whilst the other side will try to
nullify that edge and fight back. Opening theories are borrowed but book
moves can not be directly duplicated as the positions are inherently
different from even games.
There are a few restrictions in this first-move handicap:
- capture is prohibited;
- each piece may only move once, hence you must move 3 different pieces for
a 3-move handicap for instance;
- the pieces are not allowed to move to the other half of the board.
There is no official system to determine the level of handicap, the players
simply negotiate the terms by themselves.
In Go, a 4-pieces handicap can mean black has 4 pieces on board before the
game starts, or black makes 4 moves before white makes one. In piece
handicaps in chess and shogi, the former view is shared. But in xiangqi, w=
e
also consider the latter.
Regards,
Kai Wan Leung
On 16/03/07, Bernhard M=E4rz <shogi4fun <at> arcor <dot> de> wrote:
>
>
>
> I like the idea of handicap in games as in Shogi and Go.
> Also I've read interestingly about handicap in chess, but in chess it
> didn't work so well/nice.
> In Go handicap works best.
> But still in shogi I like it (very much) and it works also nice, because
> in even games the material also shuffles.
>
>
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<p>Hi,</p>
<p>We also adopt another type of handicap in xiangqi, which is mainly for p=
layers with little difference in strengths. In principle, this applie=
s to shogi as well though I think it probably works better in chess.</p>
<p>In this kind of handicap, instead of taking away pieces, the weaker play=
er is allowed to make two or more moves at first, depending on the level of=
handicap. Then the stronger side makes a move and the game continues=
as usual. To show the impact, just imagine if your opponent makes th=
e following shogi moves: P-2f, P-7f, P-3f, P-4f, S-6h, N-3g, or the followi=
ng chess moves: c4, d4, e4, f4, Nc3, Nf3, before you make your first move.
</p>
<p>In this way, one side has to be aggressive to solidify and utilise his p=
ositional advantage from the handicap whilst the other side will try to nul=
lify that edge and fight back. Opening theories are borrowed but book=
moves can not be directly duplicated as the positions are inherently diffe=
rent from even games.
</p>
<p>There are a few restrictions in this first-move handicap:<br>- capt=
ure is prohibited;<br>- each piece may only move once, hence you must move =
3 different pieces for a 3-move handicap for instance;<br>- the pieces are =
not allowed to move to the other half of the board.
</p>
<p>There is no official system to determine the level of handicap, the play=
ers simply negotiate the terms by themselves.</p>
<p>In Go, a 4-pieces handicap can mean black has 4 pieces on board before t=
he game starts, or black makes 4 moves before white makes one. In pie=
ce handicaps in chess and shogi, the former view is shared. But in xi=
angqi, we also consider the latter.
</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Kai Wan Leung</p>
<p> </p>
<div><span class=3D"gmail_quote">On 16/03/07, <b class=3D"gmail_sendername"=
>Bernhard M=E4rz</b> <<a href=3D"mailto:shogi4fun <at> arcor <dot> de">shogi4fun@ar=
cor.de</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0=
px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><br><br>I like the idea of handi=
cap in games as in Shogi and Go.<br>Also I've read interestingly about =
handicap in chess, but in chess it
<br>didn't work so well/nice.<br>In Go handicap works best.<br>But stil=
l in shogi I like it (very much) and it works also nice, because<br>in even=
games the material also shuffles.<br><br></blockquote></div>
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