Feint Swinging Rook

Feint Swinging Rook is a tactics which moves as a Static Rook at first and then swing Rook after seeing the opponent's piece-building is suitable against Static Rook but not Swiniging Rook.
In generally, the formation against Static Rook like as Yagura castle prepares for attack from longitudinal direction, while  the formation against Swinging Rook like as Bear in the hole prepares for attack from side direction.
Therefore, Feint Swinging Rook aims to get around the opponent's move.
This tactics is adopted by not only amateur players but also professional players occasionally.

Feint Swinging Rook has some variations and two examples are introduced here.
The case you are gote is shown here (you can use also in the case you are sente, of course).

The opening movement of first example is P-3d, P-3f, S-4b, P-7f, P-4d, S-4h, G-3b (figure. 1).
This opening is typical in Yagura.

 

figure. 1

After that, you will move like as Static Rook and yet so that you can swing Rook, for instance P-4f, P-5d, S-4g, S-6b, P-3f, S-3c, S-6h, G-5b, P-6f, P-8d, S-6g, P-8e, B-7g, K-4a (figure. 2).

 

figure. 2

After figure. 2, you will swing Rook by R-8h (figure. 3).
In figure. 3, the opponent's castle is not suitable against swinging Rook, in particular, it's difficult for the opponent to castle in the Bear in the hole.

 

figure. 3

 

After figure. 3, for example, B-3a, K-4h, B-4b, K-3h, K-3a, N-3g, G-4c, P-6e, P-7d, G6i-5h, P-1d, P-1f, K-2b, S-5f (figure. 4).
In figure. 4, you can aim the 4-line.

 

figure. 4

Next the second variation is introduced.
The opening movement of second example is P-3d, P-3f, S-4b, P-7f, S-3c, S-4h, G-3b, P-6f, P-8d, S-6g, P-8e, B-7g, S-6b (figure. 5).
The 5th move S-3c was prevalent a little while ago.
However, Kouzou Masuda thought that S-3c is not good move if the opponent swings Rook. Therefore Masuda adopted Feint Swinging Rook like this.

 

figure. 5

In figure. 5, the opponent's castle is against Static Rook, so you can swing Rook by like as R-6h (figure. 6). Incidentally, you can select the position of Rook, not limited in 6h.

 

figure. 6 

After figure. 6, K-4a, K-4h, G-5b, S-3h, P-5d, K-3i, B-3a, G4i-5h, P-7d, K-2h (figure. 7).

 

figure. 7 

The Mino castle in figure. 7 is particularly called "Topknot Mino castle."
This name derives from the Pawn in 2f looks like topknot.
After figure. 7, you can move like as ordinal Swinging Rook, attack on 6-line or form High Mino castle.

Feint Swinging Rook has little normal Joseki and the battle is likely to become true ability game.
If you like that kind of battle, I recommend to use this once.

The example game is shown below. This game is also not normal Joseki battle but true ability battle.

Takayuki Yamasaki 8 Dan will battle against Computer

Yesterday, Takayuki Yamasaki 8 Dan defeated Goda Masataka Ousho and won the first prize in Eiou Tournament ("Eiou" means the king of intelligence in Japanese.)
The champion of Eiou Tournament is supposed to battle with the computer as a representative of human, the champion of shogi software for more detail, so Yamasaki 8 Dan will battle against computer next spring.
Yamasaki 8 Dan is one of the popular professional shogi players in powerful and unique playing style. He is said to be good at true ability game rather than normal Joseki.
On the other hand, the champion of shogi software is "Ponanza." Ponanza is known as a tremendously strong software.
The battle will be broadcast live, so I'm looking forward to seeing it next spring.

Akira Watanabe recaptured Ryuou Tytle

Watanabe Akira recaptured Ryuou Tytle by 4 win and 1 lost.
Watanabe Ryuou is said to one of the best shogi players and he researches intently the opnening game and attacks sharply in the endgame.
I like him because his style is as precisely taking a high road.

You can see the kifu of Ryuou tytle match in the following.
http://live.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/kifu/28/ryuou201512020101.html

Speed is more important than Material in Endgame

It is often said "Speed is more important than Material in Endgame."
This mean you should put attacking the opponent's King fast or keeping your own King safe than gaining more material in endgame of shogi.
This concept is very important in shogi.
My example game is shown here.

Figure. 1 is opening position.
The opponent adopted 4th-file Rook and I adopted Right-hand 4th-file Rook with Anaguma.

 

figure. 1

The opponent responded well to my attack, and I was bad position in Middlegame (figure. 2). The entire kifu is shown below, so you may draw the opponent's response.

figure. 2

Figure. 3 is endgame position (opponent put S*5e). What do you move in this position?

 

figure. 3

I moved Sx6e without escaping Dragon.

This is because the opponent's N-6e is so powerful and Knight is effective for attacking the opponent's Mino castle.

After that, the game proceeded Sx4f, N*9d, K-9b, Sx7f (figure. 4).

figure. 4

In figure. 4, my king became in more safety than in figure. 3, while the opponent's King became in more danger.

In this way, I succeeded to close the gap and won the game.

The entire kifu is following.