With this issue, the first year of Abstract Games comes to a close. I hope the readers will have noticed a positive progression in the development of the magazine.
This issue is the same size as the previous one, but not for lack of material: if the magazine were only one page more postage costs would more than double. Rather, we have had to postpone some articles until the next issue. The concluding article in Mike Sandeman's series on Kyoto Shogi will have to wait until AG5, as will an article on Renju by Ants Soosyrv which explains the beauty of the game in a way that can be understood by beginners or even non-players of Renju. Readers may also notice that my regular Lines of Action article is missing from this issue. Lines of Action will return in AG5 in the form of an article by Claude Chaunier, a strong player who has some strategic ideas quite different from mine.
Two chess-type games make their debut in this issue. Chu Shogi has been requested by subscribers from the beginning, and it is finally here in the first instalment of what we hope will be a regular column. It nicely complements the Grand Chess Column, giving two splendid larger chess games from East and West, respectively. The classical sense of the term "chess variant" is a chess-type game played with the Western Chess board and pieces. Many readers, I know, are enthusiastic about this type of game, and for them we have begun a series on Hostage Chess, which is reputedly one of the best variants to have been invented in recent years. Hostage Chess is similar to Shogi in some ways because of its reuse of captured pieces. It may give those who are put off by Shogi's Japanese characters a hint of what the great Japanese game is all about.
Two of the goals mentioned in AG1 were coverage of a larger chess variant and investigation of one of the more strategic mancala games. The second of these objectives is met in this issue, too, as the first article on Bao is included. The author, Alex de Voogt, is probably the foremost authority on Bao outside of Africa.
The great connection games Twixt and Hex are both back in this issue, and they are complemented by Onyx, an original connection game that has fascinating, different tactics. Since Larry Back introduced me to Onyx I have probably played this game more than any other. I strongly recommend everyone to give it a try. In addition, Larry's description of the genesis of his game may give aspiring game designers some valuable insights.
Speaking of inventing new games, the official rules are given on page 12 for the game design competition mentioned in AG3. We have received considerable feedback about this competition already, and we are looking forward to presenting some of best games in these pages.
We promised in the first issue to do our best to respond to readers' requests as to the content and direction of Abstract Games. (After all, in a real sense the magazine does belong to the subscribers.) Within the constraints of space, time and finances we intend to continue to serve the readers to the best of our ability. Please help us to do this by continuing to give us feedback .
I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those who have read and subscribed to this magazine and everyone who has contributed. Special thanks are due also to my lovely wife Connie, who has helped in so many unique ways to the progress of this venture.
Kerry Handscomb
