Edward Webb wrote on Thu, Feb 16, 2023 08:40 PM UTC:
This is just speculation. I wonder if this game was derived from Dai Shogi as a simpler form, itself perhaps a simpler form of Maka Dai Dai Shogi?
The Go Between is placed oddly. It has no effect on the Flying Dragons (aka Bishops), which themselves point at each other.
The piece density is 40%; not improbable (Wa Shogi is 45%) but seems strange.
If there were three less ranks (13×13 board becomes 13×10), the Go Between would become relevant; the Flying Dragons wouldn't attack each other after pawn moves; and the piece density would increase to 52%, making for a tighter game.
There would also be a more natural four rows between the pawns, just as in Dai.
Sadly, there is no way of knowing for sure as the rules of the game are incomplete, though I would be happy to know more. 13×13 may be the correct size if it were played on a Go board on the points (e.g. Ko Shogi for 19×19).
This is just speculation. I wonder if this game was derived from Dai Shogi as a simpler form, itself perhaps a simpler form of Maka Dai Dai Shogi?
The Go Between is placed oddly. It has no effect on the Flying Dragons (aka Bishops), which themselves point at each other.
The piece density is 40%; not improbable (Wa Shogi is 45%) but seems strange.
If there were three less ranks (13×13 board becomes 13×10), the Go Between would become relevant; the Flying Dragons wouldn't attack each other after pawn moves; and the piece density would increase to 52%, making for a tighter game.
There would also be a more natural four rows between the pawns, just as in Dai.
Sadly, there is no way of knowing for sure as the rules of the game are incomplete, though I would be happy to know more. 13×13 may be the correct size if it were played on a Go board on the points (e.g. Ko Shogi for 19×19).