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- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- USA/FLT United Software Association USA/FLT
- Fairlight PC Division
-
- Proudly Presents
-
- Shogi Master Dox
-
- From
-
- Ishi Press International
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- QUICK STARTING SHOGI MASTER
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Shogi Master includes two disks: one 5-1/4 inch floppy and
- one 3-1/2 inch floppy. Use either the 5-1/4 inch disk or the 3-1/2
- inch disk, depending on your system's configuration.
-
- Before you attempt to install Shogi Master on your hard disk
- drive, be sure to make back-up copies of your floppy disks.
-
- To install Shogi Master onto your system:
-
- 1. Insert your program disk into drive A.
-
- 2. Type: INSTALL and press Enter.
-
- Shogi Master is now installed on your system. To run the program,
- use the following procedure:
-
- 4. Boot your system.
-
- 5. Type: CD \ SHOGI and press Enter.
-
- 6. Type: SHOGI and press Enter.
-
- 7. You will first see an introductory screen. Press any key
- until you reach the setup screen. The setup screen allows
- you to configure Shogi Master so that it works best with
- your system. For more information on setup options, refer
- to the section on how to play Shogi Master.
-
- 8. To select the default settings and begin a game, hit the F7
- key to begin play.
-
- 9. To make a move, select one of your pieces with the mouse
- or cursor controls and hit Enter. Then, in the same way,
- select the square you want to move to.
-
-
- Page 3
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
- Quick Starting Shogi Master................... 3
-
- Introduction.................................. 5
-
- About Shogi................................... 6
- Shogi Today............................... 7
- Shogi Equipment........................... 7
- Boards................................ 7
- Pieces................................ 9
- Komadai............................... 10
-
- How to Play Shogi............................. 11
- The Board................................. 11
- Initial Set Up............................ 12
- The Pieces and Their Movements............ 12
- Captures.................................. 14
- Drops..................................... 14
- Promotion................................. 15
- Handicaps................................. 15
- Drawn Games............................... 16
-
- Shogi Notation........................... 17
-
-
- Shogi Master.................................. 18
- Installation.............................. 18
- How to Prepare Shogi Master for Play...... 19
- Options Menu.......................... 20
- Setup Menu............................ 21
- Read File Menu........................ 22
- View Game Menu........................ 22
- Playing Shogi............................. 24
- Play Menu............................. 25
- End Game Menu......................... 26
-
- Page 4
-
-
-
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
- If you enjoy a good game of Chess, Shogi will seem very familiar
- to you. But this traditional Japanese strategy game adds another
- dimension that will challenge even experienced Chess players.
-
- With more than 15 million enthusiasts, Shogi is one of the most
- popular variants of Chess in the world and the most popular board
- game in Japan.
-
- Shogi Master brings you this fascinating game on computer, so
- it is easier to learn the game. Finding a playing partner will never
- be a problem again.
-
- Shogi Master is a powerful computer Shogi program that can
- serve as both a tutor for beginning players and a tough opponent
- for experienced players. Its six different levels of play let you
- adjust the game to your level. Or you can record and study shogi
- games.
-
- All you need to become your own Shogi master is the Shogi
- Master program and an IBM PC computer or compatible with
- 512K of RAM.
-
- If you are already familiar with the game, or simply wish to
- jump in and begin playing immediately, refer to the "Quick Start"
- section at the beginning of this manual. For more detailed
- information on how to play Shogi, along with a complete
- explanation of all the rules of the game, refer to the appropriate
- sections in this manual. You will also find a complete explanation
- of how to use the program, plus background information on the
- game and its traditions.
-
- Page 5
-
-
- ABOUT SHOGI
-
- Shogi is often compared to Chess, and in fact, Shogi and Chess
- share a common ancestor. But Shogi's rule allowing the reuse of
- captured pieces, or "dropping," gives the game a special twist not
- found in its Western counterpart.
-
- Some believe the ancestor to Shogi originated in India, while
- others say the game has its roots in China. In any case, two
- variants of the game spread first to Korea and then to Japan,
- arriving there in early Heian times (eighth century). One version
- was played with 36 pieces, while the other used 68. By the late
- Heian period, promotions were incorporated and around 1350
- dropping was added.
-
- Shogi first became popular among Japan's ruling families
- during Muromachi times and continued to gain a following among
- the country's military leaders during the Sengoku period. Later,
- under Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shogi received official sanction.
-
- In 1612, Ieyasu established the Board of Shogi, which paid
- annual stipends to the leading players, creating a class of
- professional Shogi players. These players (and their descendants)
- devoted themselves to the study of Shogi. As part of their
- commitment, each year throughout the Edo period, on November
- 17, they gathered at Edo Palace for the Shogun's ceremonial
- "Castle" games.
-
- Shogi continued to enjoy official support until the Meiji
- Restoration of 1868. But while the restoration ended the Shogi
- masters' stipends, it also ushered in the country's first newspapers,
- which took a strong interest in Shogi. By the end of the 19th
- century, these had begun to sponsor many Shogi professionals,
- picking up where the Shogun had left off.
-
- Page 6
-
-
- Shogi Today
-
- Today the Japanese Shogi Federation controls professional play.
- In Japan, professional tournaments are media events. Some 124
- professional Shogi players make their living by competing in
- tournaments, writing books and articles for newspapers and
- magazines, and teaching amateur players.
-
- There are seven major newspaper-sponsored tournaments in
- Japan and a host of smaller events. Most of these tournaments are
- annual events in which the rounds are held throughout the year to
- determine the challenger, and finally the champion.
-
- The amount of prize money paid to tournament winners can be
- hundreds of thousands of dollars for the most prestigious events.
- But whether they win or lose, participants are paid a match fee for
- each game played. The exact amount is determined by the player's
- rank and the number of games won.
-
- Only professionals affiliated with the Japan Shogi Federation
- who are ranked 4-dan or higher may compete in tournaments. A
- complicated system of preliminary matches determines who will
- challenge the tournament's current title holder. These two then play
- a match of five to seven games to determine the year's champion.
-
- Shogi Equipment
-
- In Japan, the making of Shogi boards and pieces is a well-
- regarded art. The type of wood selected, its grain and the methods
- used in construction all help determine the value of a set. To truly
- appreciate the game from the Japanese perspective, the player
- needs to study the game's equipment, as well as its strategies.
-
- Boards
-
- The most common wood used in board making is katsura, but
- boards are also made from Alaskan spruce, rosewood, mulberry,
- cherry, keyaki and others.
-
- Page 7
-
-
-
- Kaya, however, is considered to be the best wood because of its
- durability, rich texture, pleasant resonance and bright color. And
- unlike some woods, it retains most of these qualities as it ages.
-
- One of the reasons so much emphasis is put on the material is
- because even though only a small amount of wood is used, it must
- be made from a single, solid block. This means the wood must
- come from a thick bole. This requires a kaya tree 400 to 500 years
- old, and preferably 800 to 1000 years old. Add to this the fact that,
- to avoid knots, only the bole below the first branch is used. With so
- many restrictions, each kaya tree can produce only about 70
- boards. It's no wonder they are highly prized.
-
- Although the craftsman tries to maximize the number of boards
- cut from each tree, the resulting grain patterns effect the quality
- and desirability of the final product. A straight grain is called
- masame, while a curved grain is called itame. A straight grain is
- superior because it reduces warp and has better eye appeal.
-
- After cutting, the wood block is planed and coated with
- vegetable wax, which both shines the board and prevents surface
- cracks. Black lacquer lines are a plied using either a roller, a metal
- or bamboo spatula, a rat's whisker brush or a special knife.
-
- The artisan marks the four points showing the promotion zones
- by cutting a twig to a point, coating the point with lacquer and
- dropping tiny blobs onto the points. The finished board then
- receives another coat of wax.
-
- A small depression on the underside of the board is known as a
- navel, or chitamari (blood receptacle). Its purpose is shrouded in
- mystery. Some believe it is connected with a certain type of Shogi
- table leg that is fashioned after a gardenia, or Kuchinashi flower.
- Others have argued that because kuchinashi also means
- "mouthless," that it is a warning to spectators not to comment on
- the game. Others maintain that it simply helps to prevent warps or
- increase the board's resonance.
-
- Page 8
-
-
- There are four types of legs: kuriashi (scoop legs), namiashi
- (ordinary legs), nekoashi (cat's paw legs) and wakuashi (trunk
- legs). Kuriashi and namiashi legs look very similar, but namiashi
- legs have a softer, flatter base and softer petal edges. The
- namiashi's hexagonal flower shape and octagonal legs are
- considered to be inferior to the kuriashi.
-
- While the legs may be very elaborate, Shogi boards are typically
- very plain. In most cases, decorating a Shogi board actually
- detracts from its natural beauty. The only exception might be if the
- decoration has some special significance to the individual owner.
- For example, a board signed on the bottom by a well-known player
- or board maker might enhance its value.
-
- Like any fine piece of workmanship, a good Shogi board should
- be well cared for. The top should be cleaned periodically with a
- soft cloth, and it should be kept covered and away from sunlight,
- heat, cold and moisture.
-
- Pieces
-
- The best Shogi pieces are usually made of wood, but less
- expensive pieces are also made from plastic. The type of wood
- used in making a playing piece is as important as it is for the board
- itsell Ideally, its color should complement that of the board.
-
- Kaya boards are frequently matched with boxwood pieces.
- Boxwood is popular for its wear resistance, as well as its color.
- Other favored woods are camellia, Chinese black pine and willow.
-
- As with boards, the grain is very important. However, unlike
- boards, a straight grain is not as desirable as a torafu, or "tiger
- stripe" grain, which has thick, wavy reddish lines.
-
- Pieces are also valued based on the method used to apply the
- name of the piece and on the quality of the script. For less
- elaborate sets, the name may be stamped on or applied with a
-
- Page 9
-
-
-
- brush and lacquer. Another alternative is to engrave the name
- either by machine or hand. But a more expensive technique is to
- fill the engraved area with lacquer until it is flush with the surface.
- This technique is called horizeme, or togidashi. For the true
- connoisseur, however, the names must be applied with the moriage
- method. Similar to the horizeme technique, with moriage, the
- engraved area is filled in repeatedly with lacquer until it is raised
- above the surface of the piece.
-
- A number of different scripts are used in labelling Shogi pieces,
- ranging from the very plain to the highly stylized. Today, the most
- popular styles are called Minase and Kinki. Minase dates back to
- ancient times, while Kinki first came into use during the reign of
- Emperor Gomizuno-o, who ruled from 1611 to 1629.
-
- Naturally the reputation of the maker also affects the value of
- the pieces, and often craftsmen engrave their names on the base of
- one of the kings. They may also write the name of the sclipt used
- on the second king.
-
- Komadai
-
- Komadai are one-legged stands used to hold captured pieces.
- Komadai were not invented until late in the Meiji era. Before the
- their introduction, captured pieces were laid on a fan or a paper
- handkerchief. The preferred material for komadai is mulberry or
- rosewood although they are often made from the same wood as the
- board.
-
- Page 10
-
-
- HOW TO PLAY SHOGI
-
- Shogi is the Japanese variant of Chess, and as in Chess, Shogi is
- won by checkmating the enemy king. The king is checkmated
- when it cannot avoid being captured on the next move. Draws
- occur very rarely. Each player starts with twenty pieces. Although
- there are no color or design differences in the pieces used in Shogi,
- the player making the first move is called black and the other
- player is referred to as white. Both players alternate making their
- moves until the game ends.
-
- The Board
-
- Shogi is played on a board with 81 squares arranged in nine
- horizontal rows, called ranks, and nine vertical rows, called files.
- The files are numbered from left to right and the ranks are lettered
- from top to bottom, starting with "a." This allows each square to be
- uniquely named. For example, the central square is "5e."
-
- Page 11
-
- Initial Set Up
-
- All of black's pieces point toward the enemy camp at the top of
- the board (the direction of their movement), while the white pieces
- point toward the black camp.
-
-
- The Pieces and Their Movements
-
- Each player has 20 pieces consisting of eight different types. Six
- types may promote when entering the last three ranks (the opponent's
- camp). The pieces and their moves are as follows:
-
- KING - moves one space in any direction. It is legal to move the king into
- check, but loss of the king means loss of game. Kings cannot promote.
-
- GOLD GENERAL - moves one space straight ahead, diagonally forward,
- left, right or straight back.
-
- Page 12
-
-
- Note that it cannot move diagonally back. Gold generals cannot
- promote.
-
- SILVER GENERAL - moves one space straight ahead,
- diagonally forward or diagonally back. When a silver general
- promotes, it moves like a gold general.
-
- KNIGHT - jumps two spaces forward and one space to the left or right.
- It cannot be blocked, nor can it move backward. In Shogi,
- a knight may not move one space forward and two spaces left or right.
- A promoted knight moves like a gold general.
-
- LANCE - moves any number of unobstructed spaces forward. It cannot
- move backward. A promoted lance moves like a gold general.
-
- PAWN - moves one space forward only, capturing in the
- same way. A promoted pawn moves like a gold general.
-
- Page 13
-
-
- ROOK - moves any number of unobstructed spaces left, right, forward or
- backward. When a rook promotes, it retains the same movement ability,
- or it may now move one space diagonally forward or backward.
-
- BISHOP - moves any number of unobstructed spaces diagonally forward or
- backward. When a bishop promotes, it retains the same movement ability,
- or it may move one space forward, backward, left or right.
-
- Captures
-
- An enemy piece can be captured by moving your own piece to
- the square occupied by the piece you want to capture. The captured
- piece is removed and placed to the right of the board in full view.
- The captured piece is said to be "in hand." You may not capture
- your own pieces.
-
- Drops
-
- In Shogi, no piece is permanently removed from play. A
- captured piece may be "dropped" back into play at any time.
- Instead of moving a piece on the board, a player may elect to use
-
- Page 14
-
- as his own, it its unpromoted state, any one of the pieces he has
- captured, by dropping it onto an empty square. Note the following
- restrictions on drops:
-
- - A piece may not be dropped onto a square where it would
- have no legal move. That is, a pawn or a lance may not be dropped
- on the last rank, and knights may not be dropped on the last two
- ranks. Note that you may drop a pawn on your first or second rank.
- - A pawn may not be dropped onto a file containing an
- unpromoted friendly pawn.
-
- - A pawn may not be dropped to give immediate checkmate.
-
- Promotion
-
- At the end of any move (but not a drop) beginning or ending in
- the enemy camp, certain pieces may promote. Promotions are
- explained in the section, "The Pieces and Their Movements."
- Upon promotion the piece is turned over and makes its subsequent
- moves in its promoted form. Once a piece has promoted, it remains
- promoted until captured.
-
- Promotion is optional, except that if a piece is moved to a square
- where it will not have a legal move, it must promote. For example,
- a lance or a pawn entering the last rank, or a knight entering the
- last two ranks, would not be able to move. In this case, they must
- promote. Compare this with the first restriction on dropping.
-
- Kings and gold generals do not promote.
-
- Handicaps
-
- The following is the progressive handicap system for Shogi. The
- stronger player takes white.
-
- 1. White removes his left lance.
-
- 2. White removes his bishop.
-
- 3. White removes his rook.
-
- Page 15
-
- 4. White removes his rook and left lance.
-
- 5. White removes his rook and bishop.
-
- 6. White removes his rook, bishop and both lances.
-
- 7. White removes his rook, bishop, lances, and both knights.
-
- After white removes his piece or pieces, he makes the first
- move. Note that the white pieces are removed from play
- completely and may not be dropped by either player.
-
- Drawn Games
-
- There are two ways to draw in Shogi: repetition (sennichi-te)
- and impasse (jishogi). Draws in actual play are unusual.
-
- A repetition occurs if the same sequence of moves is repeated
- three times. In this case, the game is declared a "no contest" and is
- usually replayed with the colors reversed. The game may also be
- treated as a draw with each player receiving half a point each.
-
- The only exception to this rule is if the sequence puts one player
- in repetitive check so that player must respond with the same move
- sequence each time to protect his king. In these cases, the player
- who initiates the sequence must, on the third repetition, vary his
- move or forfeit the game.
-
- In an impasse situation, both players have advanced their kings
- into the enemy camp so that checkmating either king becomes
- impossible. Both players must first agree that they have reached an
- impasse. At this point the game ends and the value of each player's
- remaining pieces is totalled. Rooks and bishops are worth five
- points each, while all other pieces except kings are valued at one
- point each. Kings and promotions are ignored. A player with less
- than 24 points loses. If both players have at least 24 points, the
- game is declared a "no contest."
-
- Page 16
-
-
- Shogi Notation
-
- The notation used in Shogi Master to indicate the movement of
- pieces is the same as that used internationally to record games. In a
- Shogi diagram, files (vertical rows) are numbered from I to 9,
- starting from the right, while ranks (horizontal rows) are labelled
- from "a" to "i," starting from the top. A square is referred to by the
- combination of file number and rank letter corresponding to its
- location. For example, at the beginning of a game, Black's rook is
- located on square 2h and White's on 8b.
-
- Promoted pieces are labelled with a plus sign. For example
- "+R" represents a promoted rook. Three symbols are used to
- denote moves. A hyphen or dash means a move on the board with
- a capture. An asterisk indicates a drop, and an "x" signifies a
- capture. For example, P-7f means a pawn is moved to 7f. P*7f
- shows that a pawn in hand is dropped onto 7f. Px7f represents a
- pawn (on 7e) captures an enemy piece on7f. When two or more
- identical pieces could move to the same square, the piece is
- identified by the square it currently occupies. (Shogi Master
- always shows the original square.) For example, G4i-5h means the
- gold on the king's right is moved in front of the king. A plus sign
- after the move indicates promotion. For example, R-2c+ shows
- that the rook just moved to square 2c was promoted at the end of
- the move. In the same way, when a piece could be promoted but is
- not, an equal sign is used.
-
- Moves are numbered as in Chess, except that Black's move is
- given first. So,
- 1. P-2f P-3d
- means that Black moves the pawn on his rook's file,while White
- moves the pawn on 3c, opening his bishop's diagonal.
-
- Page 17
-
-
- SHOGI MASTER
-
- This section is divided into three parts. Part one gives
- instructions on how to install and run Shogi Master on your IBM
- PC. Part two describes how to set up Shogi Master options, and
- part three tells you how to play ia game.
-
-
- Installation
-
- Shogi Master includes two disks: a 5-1/4 inch floppy and a 3-
- 1/2 inch floppy. You can use these to install Shogi Master on your
- hard disk, or you may run the program on a floppy disk drive
- system. The following sections provide instructions for each type
- of system.
-
- NOTE: Before you attempt to install Shogi Master on your hard
- disk drive or to run the program from the floppy drives, be sure to
- make back-up copies of your floppy disks. Store the original disks
- in a safe place.
-
- Installing Shogi Master On Your Hard Disk
-
- If your system is equipped with a hard disk, you will want to
- install Shogi Master on the hard disk for easier access. You can
- accomplish this by copying either the 5-1/4-inch disk or the 3-1/2
- inch disk, depending on your system's configuration, onto your
- hard disk.
-
- 1. Insert your program disk into drive A.
- 2. Type: INSTALL and press enter.
-
- Shogi Master is now installed on your system. To run the
- program, use the following procedure:
-
- 4. Boot your system.
-
- Page 18
-
-
- 5. Type: CD \ SHOG I and press enter.
- 6. Type: SHOGI and press enter.
-
- Running from a Floppy Disk System
-
- You can also run Shogi Master on your floppy disk drive
- system. Use the following procedure:
-
- 1. Boot your system.
- 2. Insert the backup copy of Shogi Master in drive A.
- 3. Type: SHOGI and press enter.
-
-
- How to Prepare Shogi Master for Play
-
- Once you have familiarized yourself with the basic rules of
- Shogi, you can begin playing Shogi Master immediately. To
- simplify play even further, Shogi Master includes an on-line help
- feature designed to provide quick answers to your questions as you
- play. This section explains how to use each of the major features of
- the program.
-
- After you initialize your system and load Shogi Master into
- memory, you will see the title page. Press any key to continue until
- you reach the setup screen. The setup screen is divided into two
- separate menus: one in the upper right-hand corner (options menu)
- and one in the lower left-hand comer (setup m*enu). Each of these
- menus is described in the following sections. NOTE: No matter
- where you are in the program, you can always make a menu
- selection by either pointing to the option you want with the mouse,
- or pressing the function key indicated, or you may type the first
- letter of the option. F1 always brings up a help screen and F10
- always allows you to exit the program. On some menus, one or
- more of the options may not be available at some times. In those
- cases, the unavailable menu items will not be displayed.
-
- The setup screen allows you to choose options for how the
- computer will play Shogi with you. You can also choose to view a
- previously recorded Shogi game.
-
- Page 19
-
- Options Menu
-
- The upper right-hand box is called the options menu. Highlight
- the option you wish to modify by pointing to it with the mouse or
- the up and down arrow keys. You can view all possible values for
- an option in any one of several ways: press the left or right mouse
- button, the left or rig4t arrow keys, the F2 and F3 function keys, or
- type the first letter of the value. Whichever value is displayed is
- the one that will be activated during play.
-
- Graphics Type. The graphics type option lets you specify the type
- of graphics card you have installed. Choose the card type that most
- closely matches the one installed in your own system from the list
- of options presented by the program.
-
- Handicap. White always plays with the handicap, if any, to give
- Black the advantage. So White gives up the appropriate pieces
- required to balance out play. Select the desired handicap from the
- list shown. Handicaps are listed in ascending order with "even"
- being no handicap and "six pieces" being the greatest.
-
-
- Computer Plays. YOu may assign the computer to play White, Black or
- both or neither. Since Black always moves first, whoever takes Black
- automatically has a slight advantage.
-
- Playing Level. The higher the number selected, the more difficult
- the computer opponent will be. However, it will take longer to
- makes its decisions. The default level is 1.
-
- White Plays from the: This option determines on which half of the
- board White will start. Select either "top" or bottom."
- Style. Style allows you to choose whether the symbols on the
- playing pieces are written in English or Japanese characters.
-
- Show Coordinates. You can choose to display the coordinates for
- each rank and file during play by selecting "Yes" or "No." This is
-
- Page 20
-
-
- helpful for studying games recorded in magazines or books. The
- notations used to label each square are described in the section
- "Shogi Notation."
-
- Sound.This allows you to turn the sound on or off.
-
- Mouse. You can activate or deactivate your system's mouse with
- this menu option. However, when the mouse is turned off, you
- must use either the function keys or cursor keys to make menu
- selections.
-
- Replay Speed. Reviewing a game is a helpful way to study Shogi.
- This option allows you to select the speed at which the moves are
- replayed: slow, medium or fast.
-
- Skip Intro Screens. This option lets you skip the opening screens.
-
- Setup Menu
-
- The lower left-hand box on the setup screen gives you access
- to Shogi Master's many features. Each of these options is
- described in the order it appears on the menu.
-
- Setup Help Fl. When you press the Fl function key, a help screen
- appears that explains how to configure the program.
-
- Previous Choice F2/Next Choice F3. These two function keys
- provide an alternate way to select items on the options menu. You
- may also use the arrow keys.
-
- Save Setup F4. This option saves the setup choices you made on
- the options menu. When you restart the program from DOS, it will
- initialize the choices to those last-saved.
- Restore Game F5. If you have saved a game that you later want to
- restart, select restore game. The program will read a game file
- from disk (see Read File Menu). Then it will allow you to begin
- play where you left off.
-
-
- Page 21
-
- View Game F6. This option allows you to review a previously-
- recorded game. The program will read a game file from disk (see
- Read File Menu). When the game has been loaded, it will allow
- you to view it (see View Game Menu).
-
- Play New Game F7. This option starts a game of Shogi.
-
- Resume Play F9. This option allows you to return to a game in
- progress.
-
- Quit to DOS FIO. Allows you to exit to DOS.
-
- Read File Menu
-
- Whenever you restore or view a game, the program first
- displays a list of all files in the current directory with extension
- .SHO. You can choose to read any of these files by selecting one of
- them with the mouse or cursor controls. You can also type in any
- file name you wish (followed by Enter).
-
- Directory F2. Allows you to change the disk and/or directory to be
- displayed.
-
- Delete File F4. This will delete the file that is currently selected on
- the list of files displayed.
-
- Previous Menu F9. This returns you to the menu from which you
- selected the Read File Menu.
-
- Quit FIO. Lets you exit to DOS.
-
- View Game Menu
-
- The View Game capability is useful for reviewing the games
- you have played, or for studying prerecorded games. Several of
- these are included on your disk. Any comments recorded with the
- game record will also by shown. Since you can begin playing a
- recorded game at any move, you can try alternate strategies.
-
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-
-
- When you select View Game, the program first displays a list
- of all files in the current directory with the extension SHO. You
- can then choose to read any of these files by selecting one of them
- with the mouse or cursor controls. You can also type in any file
- name you wish, followed by Enter.
-
- After you have selected a file to view, Shogi Master will
- display a message indicating the file has been loaded successfully,
- and will ask you to press any key to continue. Shogi Master then
- displays the game you selected as it appeared before the first move
- was made. Use the play menu options below to review the game.
-
- Help Fl. Provides help on how to use the View Game option.
-
- Next Move F2. Shows the next move.
-
- Previous Move F3. Backs up one move.
-
- English/Japanese Pieces F4. Allows you to toggle between English
- and Japanese style characters to label the playing pieces.
-
- First Move F5. Backs up to the first move in the game record.
- Last Move F6. Continues to the last recorded move.
- Auto/Stop Replay F7. Shows the moves at a fixed rate/stops
- showing moves at a fixed rate. The move interval can be set in the
- Options Menu. You can also interrupt Auto/Stop Replay by
- pressing the Escape key.
-
- Resume Play F8. Starts playing the game from the current recorded
- move. Which side(s) the computer takes, playing level, and other
- options are as currently set by the Options Menu.
-
- Setup Screen F9. Returns to the setup screen.
-
- Quit FIO. Lets you exit to DOS.
-
-
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-
- Playing Shogi
-
- There are three ways to begin playing Shogi: press the F7
- function key, press the Enter key, or use the mouse to point and
- click on the play new game option. The game screen will appear
- and you can begin a game,. The right-hand portion of the screen
- displays a game board. Whenever you begin a new game, the
- pieces will be arranged in their starting positions, with either
- Japanese or English characters and any handicaps, based on the
- selections you made at the setup screen.
-
- To move a piece, you may use either the arrow keys or mouse.
- To move a piece using the arrow keys, first position the cursor
- arrow on the piece you want to move. Press the Enter key to "lock"
- onto that piece. Then use the arrow keys to point to the new square
- and press the Enter key again to position the piece on the new
- square. To move a piece using the mouse, first point to the piece
- you wish to move and click the mouse button. Then move the
- cursor to the new location and click the mouse button again.
-
- If you try to select a square to which you may not move, the
- program will tell you that it is an illegal move. The piece you were
- trying to move will be unselected in case you want to move an
- entirely different piece.
-
- If your move ends in the enemy camp and you have not yet
- promoted the moving piece, the program will ask you if you want
- to promote it.
-
- The left-hand portion of the screen is divided into four boxes.
- The top box is the Black player's hand (komadai), used to hold
- captured pieces. The next box displays various messages and
- prompts during play. Use the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys to scroll
- through the message box. Beneath the message box is another
- box, which initially displays a Shogi character. Underneath it,
- however, is the play menu,which can be uncovered by dragging the
- mouse onto it, or by pressing the space bar. The bottom box is the
- White player's hand. You can reverse the location of Black and
- White with the Rotate Board option.
-
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-
- If you want to drop a piece that is in your hand, first select it
- using the mouse or the cursor controls. Then select the square on
- which you want to drop the piece. Of course, you may only drop a
- piece that you have captured and have in hand.
-
-
-
- The Play Menu
-
- Identify Piece F2. This option serves to help you remember the
- name of each piece and its movement abilities. To identify a piece,
- first point and click on it with the mouse, or use the arrow keys to
- point to it, then hit F2. Shogi Master will show you the English
- name of the piece and a diagram of its legal moves.
-
- Rotate Board F3. It may sometimes be helpful to view your
- situation from the reverse direction.This option allows you to turn
- the board 180 degrees. This is often useful when there are two
- human players.
-
- English/Japanese Pieces F4. This option allows you to toggle
- between English and Japanese labels for the playing pieces.
-
- Retract Move F5. Lets you change your mind and retract a move.
- (When playing against another person it is generally considered
- impolite to take back one of your moves.) If the computer has
- already made its move, both players' moves will be removed from
- the board.
-
- Show/Hide Coordinates F6. As with the "show coordinates" option
- on the options menu, you can choose to display or "hide" the labels
- given to each square on the board.
-
- End Game F7. Whether you have completed a game or not, you
- may discontinue play at any time. Selecting the end game option
- displays the end game menu. (See End Game menu.)
-
- Save Game F8. Saves the game you are currently playing. The
- program will ask you what name you want to save the game file
- under. You may use any legal file name, but the default extension
- is SHO.
-
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-
-
-
- Setup Menu F9. Returns you to the setup menu.
-
- Quit to DOS F 1 0. Allows you to exit to DOS.
-
- End Game Menu
-
- Help Fl. Provides help screens for scoring and recording your
- game.
-
- Draw F2. Allows you to end the game and record it as a draw.
- After a draw, you can review the game, play a new game, save the
-
-
-
- Resign F3. Allows you to concede the game to your opponent
- without playing out the final moves. After resigning, you can
- review the game, play a new game, save the current game, return
- to the Setup menu or quit to Dos.
-
- Setup Menu F4. Returns you to the setup screen.
-
- View Game F6. Allows you to view the game you have just played
- from the beginning. (See View Game Menu.)
-
- Play New Game F7. This option allows you to start a new game.
-
- Save Game F8. Saves the current game.
-
- Resume Play F9. Lets you return to the game in progress.
-
- Quit to DOS FIO. Allows you to exit to DOS.
-
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-
-
-