I don't think you were doing that badly. I'd rather let you take it back. It won't drag out the game because I don't think I was in a position to win yet. I was only ahead by a pawn (since I consider the HH and Gs to be roughly equal now). I actually didn't even implement my last move because I was sure I'd be letting you take it back. Go ahead, my friend. Drop it where you meant to.
If you insist... :)
Cm*6
GB*2
RC-22
S*20
RC-24
Cm*27
Sorry, but according to my board you don't have a cavalryman. Did you forget to take my move back before making your move? Here's my board and pieces in hand so you can compare:
K
GB
-
-
-
Cm
-
SC
-
-
-
-
-
Gs
-
P
B
-
-
S
HH
-
-
RC
-
B
-
-
-
K
-
T/S
Gs/Ph, T/S
Yes, I must have made a mistake somewhere. I'll figure something else out. Can't make a move at present.
Sorry for that error. Don't know why I would have believed I had such a piece in my arsenal. The only error I see your board is the presence of T/S in my hand, as I just dropped one and you have one in hand.
Ph*22
darth_ender said:
Sorry for that error. Don't know why I would have believed I had such a piece in my arsenal. The only error I see your board is the presence of T/S in my hand, as I just dropped one and you have one in hand.
Thanks, I forgot to remove the T/S from your piece box.
Ph*22
B-28
Bx21+FS
T*15
Sure you want to do that? Phx15+Gs
Wait, what? I've got a goose on 14 (well, it's yours, but that's what I'm seeing on my board), not a phoenix...
Sorry I didn't catch that mistake in your last display, but unless I've made an error elsewhere, my piece there is a phoenix.
Shoot....
Cm-5
And before you offer, I won't take it back.
;)
Sometimes I don't see the obvious mating possibilities until I suddenly pull a checkmate on you. I shouldn't have even bothered with the previous warning. Cm*31 mate. So I'm thinking it might be best to let you go back to before you dropped your tile general (I'm not sure if you were saying you didn't want to take that back or if you jokingly didn't want to take back you cavalryman move). In either case, I hope you will go back and try to defend yourself.
I'd rather just begin a new game. I made too many mistakes and I can't see any good comebacks heading my way, so I think I will accept the checkmate.
I think I prefer the drops being limited to the weaker value, but I think that's largely because I find it difficult to keep track of the possible drops when there are twice as many. I'm sure that will come with time and practice. I do enjoy the games more when I'm able to keep track of more (and I do much better), but I don't want that to limit your options, because it shouldn't. I do have another reason for opposing greater drop options. Powerful pieces, like the bishop, can be dropped onto the board with no specific capture in mind, but they can cover a lot of the board and prevent the other player from making many moves. I find the game less enjoyable if pieces with such great coverage can be dropped onto the board because they limit other pieces so much. If a bishop cannot be dropped onto the board, however, and only a flying swallow can, it is only a danger to pieces in front of it and one square behind it. This doesn't limit the other player as much, but it can still be used effectively.
Hopefully you understand what I'm getting at, because I may have worded my argument poorly, but in short, I vote for weak value drops only.
I think I may agree. It means fewer pieces see the light of day, but I think it's better that way. A weaker game is usually a longer game with more strategic thinking involved. I could not have checkmated you on this last move if I could only drop the goose, for instance.
I also am thinking that it might be better to switch the values of the reverse chariot/silver cannon. I have hardly used the cannon since our first game, yet the chariot has actually proved very powerful in the right circumstances. Switching the two might force more cannon usage and give the piece the opportunity to get closer to the front lines in the early game (since the chariot can't get to the front till captured and dropped, except in very rare circumstances when all pieces in front of it are captured. So I think we should make that change and the drop and demoted value, and I think we'll be good. Do you think we should still have alternating promotions/demotions, or shoudl we go back to permanent promotions? I think I like the alternating better, but I want to know what you think.
I like the SC as a piece and used to use it quite a bit when it was the weaker value of the SC/GC piece. I agree with that change and hopefully it will see more use.
I am all for alternating promotions because they make small games far more interesting and gives more opportunity to use the stronger value of pieces, allowing for more variety. So let's stick with that but revert to the weak value only for drops.
I'll let you begin the game if we are in agreement and you don't have any other changes you'd like to recommend.
I will make a couple of moves tonight when I get home from work. Sorry to beat you again on your birthday ;) After this game, I would like to try a few other shogi games. I'd also be open to trying a chess variant or two with you simultaneously.
That sounds good to me. I wouldn't mind playing a few games at once. After this one we should play a game of regular Shogi and maybe self-eliminator chess.
Sounds good. P-14