How about a game of Japanese Chess, i.e. Shogi? Now playing Shogi4 — Page 19

S-2a

G-4b

Rx5b

Gx5b

S-1b

R-4e

B*3b

EDIT: Can I take that back and make my move S-2c?

No problem.  Sx2c

Gx2c

R-4a+ check

K-1b

R*1a

K-2b

R-2a+ check

I hope I can last long enough to make a counterattack...

K-3c

+R4a-3b check

I'm hoping you can't, because if I lose the initiative you might be able to hold out much longer.

Actually analyzing the board, I can force a mate in a couple of moves and there's nothing you can do about it >:D

K-2d

darth_ender said:

Actually analyzing the board, I can force a mate in a couple of moves and there's nothing you can do about it >:D

 Yes, as long as you keep me in check. I might be able to make a come back if you don't.

+R3bx2c check

I might have to go right now, though I'm only a move or two away from mate.

K-3e

I moved you to the wrong spot a couple moves back and didn't realize how much trouble I was in. I thought I could hold out a bit longer, but now I don't think I have much time left before you get me for good.

Can kings take kings in Shogi? If so, it's checkmate next turn.

EDIT: Never mind, but it'll be darn close.

Sorry you made the error, but I think it would make little difference to the outcome.  Yeah, last move is +R-2d mate.  It was another good game.  I wonder though if I'm beating you too much and you're getting discouraged.  It's hard not to play my best, but since I've won every game thus far, perhaps I should tone it down a bit.  I could probably make it challenging but still provide you with more opportunities, if you want.

Nah, I'm not getting discouraged. I find it helps when you point out my fatal errors because it helps me avoid them in the future, but don't go easy on me any more than you are. I still enjoy playing, as long as you don't obliterate me right away. It's the playing I enjoy the most, not winning, so as long as you aren't completely in control I enjoy myself as much as I would were I winning. I think I'm getting better as we go, so I say keep going as we are and eventually we'll be more evenly matched than now. :)

How about a game of Goro Goro Shogi next?

I don't really know what to call any fatal errors in this game.  What I'm finding in shogi is that the bishop and rook, though powerful at long range, are not able to make the most of their abilities in such close proximity.  We didn't have knights in this game, but I really think the golds are pretty powerful.  I got my rooks promoted which gave them access to all the squares immediately surrounding them, but the golds have access to nearly all those squares already.  Let me point out that in chess you can easily mate the king with all your pieces far off.  In shogi this is seldom true, because even if you are able to trap a king from a distance, your opponent likely still has pieces he could drop right next to the king, blocking the check.  What you really need is a gold general or other promoted piece that can get right next to the opposing king while supported by a friendly piece, thus blocking access to all escape squares.  This lecture might seem pointless considering I just checkmated you with two rooks, but really I believe one shouldn't underestimate the golds and silvers on such a small board.

I think there were probably two errors you made in this game.  First was when you moved your rook to 5a on turn 10, trying to escape the bishop I had just dropped.  You were obviously looking to threaten the bishop I had just placed against you, but you had also trapped your own rook in the corner with very little opportunity for escape if I managed to attack the right squares.  Rooks are not good at escaping when cornered (unless promoted, and even then, only in a limited fashion).  It would have better to simply retreat with your rook.  But you still got my bishop out of it, so it wasn't a total loss.  But sadly you never had an opportunity to drop any bishops.

The second error, probably more serious, was when I took my rook to 4a and promoted it on turn 21, checking your king.  You moved him to a safe square.  Nevertheless, you had three pieces at your disposal: a silver and two bishops, just waiting to be dropped.  If you'd dropped them next to your king to block the check, it would have been harder for me to checkmate you, as you'd be both building your defenses and replenishing your depleted army simultaneously with pieces you could potentially counterattack with at a later turn.

Hope this helps.  You're learning fast, and soon I expect you'll beat me!  I'd love to play Goro Goro.  I've never tried it before, and I'm anxious to give it a go.  I say you go first this time.