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+<TITLE>GNU Shogi manual - About shogi</TITLE>
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+
+
+<H1><A NAME="SEC6">About the game of shogi</A></H1>
+<P>
+
+
+
+
+<BLOCKQUOTE>
+<P>
+"Japanese chess cedes nothing in depth or beauty to the European
+game... it is at least as interesting."
+
+
+<P>
+--- Alexander Alekhine <BR>
+(quoted in David Pritchard, <CITE>The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants</CITE>)
+
+
+<P>
+"... shogi [is] by far the most complex form of chess that has ever
+achieved widespread popularity."
+
+
+<P>
+--- R. Wayne Schmittberger, <CITE>New Rules for Classic Games</CITE>
+</BLOCKQUOTE>
+
+<P>
+Shogi is the version of chess played in Japan. It is strikingly
+different from standard chess (which I shall refer to henceforth as
+"international chess") and also to all other regional variants,
+because captured pieces can re-enter play on the side of the capturer.
+This has several interesting effects on the play of the game:
+
+
+
+<OL>
+<LI>
+
+Shogi is much more complex than international chess, at least in
+terms of the average number of possible moves per turn (estimated at
+about 35 for chess and at about 80 for shogi).
+
+<LI>
+
+There are almost no draws (about 1-2% of all games in professional play).
+
+<LI>
+
+Exchanges complicate the play rather than simplifying it.
+
+<LI>
+
+There are no "endgames" in the standard chess sense; all pieces remain
+in play throughout the game. Games typically end in a race to
+checkmate the other player before being checkmated oneself.
+
+<LI>
+
+Ownership of a piece is not indicated by the color of the piece;
+instead, pieces are wedge-shaped and point towards the opponent. The
+name of the piece is inscribed in Kanji characters on the front of the
+piece.
+
+<LI>
+
+Most importantly: it's more fun than other forms of chess :-)
+
+</OL>
+
+<P>
+Shogi is extremely popular in Japan; it has been estimated that 20
+million Japanese can play shogi, of which perhaps 1 million are active
+players. It is even more popular there than the game of go, Japan's
+other favorite board game. There are a number of professional players
+who make a considerable amount of money playing in shogi tournaments,
+and the game receives extensive newpaper and television coverage.
+Despite this, the game has yet to become popular outside of Japan. Part
+of this is because the Kanji characters on the pieces scare away some
+people, but mostly it's due, I think, to lack of exposure to the game
+and to the difficulty of finding opponents. I hope that GNU shogi will
+help introduce shogi to a wider audience.
+
+
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