Not defend Bishop's head

In Swinging Rook, it is ordinary that you will defend Bishop's head by B-7g in figure. 1.
However, there is an interesting strategy that you don't move B-7g but K-3g (figure. 2).

figure. 1

figure. 2

When the opponent moves P-8f, you can cope with by Px8f, Rx8f, Bx7g (figure. 3).

figure. 3

If  the opponent moves R-8b, you will form like as P*8f, K-4b, S-6g, K-3b, R-8h, G6a-5b, P-8e (figure. 4).

After that you can attack on 8th-line.

figure. 4

In the other hand, if the opponent moves Rx7f in figure. 3, you can attack like as S-6g, R-7d, R-8h, P*8d, P:8b (figure. 5).

figure. 5

I think this technique is interesting and has a surprising effect.

How to attack in Double Swinging Rook (3)

"Sugai-special", which is a famous way of attacking in Double Swinging Rook, is introduced here. This is invented by Tatsuya Sugai 7-Dan.
Figure. 1 is a position of Double Swinging Rook that gote is castling King in Yagura castle.
Seemingly, this is ordinary opening position that sente is not going to attack but build pieces formation.
However, Sugai-special start to attack on this position immediately.

figure. 1

P-6e, Px66e, P-4e (figure. 2) at figure. 1 is attacking way of Sugai-special.

figure. 2

After figure. 2, Px4e, Bx3c, Nx3c, B*8h (figure. 3).
This aims Bx3c+, but it's not easy to defend as it seems.

figure. 3

If gote moves R-2c, sente will move S-5e (figure. 4).

figure. 4

After figure. 4, Sx5e, Bx5e (figure. 5). At figure. 5, the next movement of sente's S*3b is severe and it's not easy for gote to defend.

figure. 5

Therefore, gote will put Bishop to defent, for example B*5a, at figure. 3. But gote's Bishop doesn't work well. After that, sente will attack by like as S-5e, Sx5e, Bx5e, S*6d, Bx7c+, Nx7c, S*8b, P*7b, P*4d (figure. 6).

At figure. 6, sente is good position because sente can attack effectively and sente's Mino castle is solid whereas gote's castle is weak.

figure. 6

In fact, figure. 6 appeared at professional player's game and sente won the game.

I think you can apply this way of attacking for your game, too.

How to attack in Double Swinging Rook (2)

In Double Swinging Rook, 5th-file Vanguard Pawn strategy (figure. 1) is effective and become fashionable for a period.
I can recommend this formation because it's is easy for you to attack and difficult for the opponent to find where to attack.

figure. 1

This tactics is often used by gote player (of course, you can use when you are sente). So I will explain by the symbol in an opposite position.
The typical opening is, P-3d P-7f, P-4d, P-5f, S-3b, S-6h, S-4c, S-5g, B-3c, R-7h, R-2b (figure. 2).
You don't need to hurry on moving P-7e at this strategy.

figure. 2

After that, you form High Mino castle like as figure. 3.

figure. 3

Furthermore, you take the vanguard position at 5th-file (figure. 4).
At this time, the opponent is a little difficult to find where to attack already.

 figure. 4

Then if the opponent proceed castling, you aim on 5th-file by moving Rook to 5th-file like as figure. 5 and 6.

figure.5

 figure. 6

At figure. 6, you attack 5c by Pawn, Silver, Bishop and yet Knight, so it's difficult for the opponent to defend 5c. You can break 5th-file like as figure. 7. You are good position because your Mino castle is solid and you can attack one-sidedly.

figure. 7

Besides, if the opponent form Mino castle, you can attack similarly like as figure. 8.

figure. 8

And if the opponent prevent your silver from moving to 6e by moving P-6d (figure. 9), you can aim on 6th-file by moving P-6f, G-6c, R-6h (figure. 10).

figure. 9

figure.10

After that, you can attack 6th-file like as figure. 11.

figure. 11

I think you will notice the excellence of this formation when you will use this. So, l recommend that you will give it a try.

How to attack in Double Swinging Rook (1)

I heard from some European shogi players that they can't see how to form and attack in Swinging Rook.
As a matter of fact, I had the same problem before because Double Swinging Rook is vague about what to do. I think it's same as many Japanese (kyu-class) players.
Therefore I will show some of repertory about the way of attacking in Double Swinging Rook.

In Double Swinging Rook, Opposing Rook of sente versus 3rd-file Rook of gote like as figure. 1 is the most popular game form.
This is because Opposing Rook can attack the place near the opponent's King directly in Swinging Rook, and gote doesn't need to stop Bishop's way after opening P-7f, P-3d, P-6f so 3rd-file Rook can attack effectively with keeping Bishop's way opened for gote.
Of course, other formations such as 3rd-file Rook of sente or Opposing Rook of gote are also effective.

figure. 1 

In Double Swinging Rook, Kinmusou, Mino, Anaguma and Yagura are typical castles.

Regarding your own castle, I like Mino castle because it's solid and yet it can be completed with few number of moves.
Regarding the way of attack the opponent's castle, I recommend the basic plan that when the opponent's castle is Kinmusou, Mino, or Anaguma you aim at the edge and when the opponent's castle is Yagura you aim at 6th file.

Examples of the way of attacking in each cases are shown below.

At first, when the opponent's castle is Kinmusou, the typical formation is like as shown in figure. 2.
The key points of formation are B-6f, N-7g, S-5f. This formation is good balance and effective for attacking edge.

figure. 2

At figure. 2, you can attack edge by P-9e, Px9e, P*9c (figure. 3).

figure. 3

If the opponent move Nx9c, you can attack edge by Lx9d and R-9f after that. And if the opponent move Lx9c, you can attack by Nx8e. Furthermore, if the opponent move Sx9c, you can attack by Bx9c!, Lx9c, S*9b (figure. 4). 

Though the opponent is not knock down yet, these are typical ways of attacking.

figure.4

When the opponent's castle is Mino, the typical formation is like as shown in figure. 5.

 figure. 5 

You can attack by P-9e, Px9e, P*9c (figure. 6) as in the case above.

figure. 6

If the opponent move Nx9c, you can attack edge by Lx9e. And if the opponent move Lx9c, you can attack by Nx8e (figure. 7). One of the Mino's weak points is edge, so edge attack against Mino castle is effective in Double Swinging Rook, too.

figure. 7

In fact, it is said that when you castle your King in Mino castle you should not push the King side edge Pawn because the opponent become able to attack edge earlier.

Even when the opponent's castle is Anaguma, you can form like as above and the typical formation is like as shown in figure.8.

figure. 8 

You can attack by P-9e, Px9e, P*9c, Lx9c, N-8e (figure. 9).

figure. 9

For example, you can attack after figure. 9 by N-3c, Nx9c+, Sx9c, Bx9c+, Nx9c, L-9d (figure. 10), furthermore, P*9b, Lx9c+, Px9c, L*8e, L*8d, Lx8d, Px8d, P*8c, Gx8c, N*7e (figure. 11).

figure.10

figure. 11

Edge attack against Anaguma castle is very effective because it's powerful and easy to think.

When the opponent's castle is Yagura, attacking 6th-file is effective rather than attacking edge. The typical opening formation is like as shown in figure. 12.

figure. 12 

After figure. 12, it's effective that your Rook move to 6th-file and form like as shown in figure. 13.

figure. 13

You can attack by P-6e, Px6e, Nx6e (figure. 14). This attack is so severe.

figure. 14

If the opponent move S-6b, you can attack by P-6d. Otherwise, the opponent move S-6d, you can attack by Bx6d, Gx6d, Nx5c+ (figure. 15) and this folk of Gold and Silver is very severe.

figure. 15

Some basic ways of attacking in Double Swinging Rook were introduced here.

Maybe completely same position as above rarely appear in your game, but similar position will appear. You can apply the concept above in that case.

ESC/WOSC Diary (5)

In 7th game, I played with another Chinese player.
This is the most impressive game for me in this WOSC.
Figure. 1 is the position of middlegame.

figure. 1

I had a little confidence in figure. 1, but the opponent's respond, Px3h+, Bx4c+, B*3c, was good. I lost confidence because if I tool the Rook by +Bx3d, the opponent would move Sx3d, R-4f, P*4e, and my Rook would taken by Pawn.

figure. 2

Then I moved R-4f (figure. 3). After that, the game proceeded as Sx4f, +Bx3d, +Px4g, R-3b, G-7a, +Rx3c, R-3h, +Bx3e, Sx3e. I was able to go for mutual attack without losing materials.

figure.3

 
Figure. 4 is the position of endgame. The opponent's attack P-7g was very severe (I couldn't take this by Knight because +P-6h was so strict) and I couldn't attack the opponent's King effectively by only Knight, so I thought I was in a bad position.

figure. 4

Then I tried to survive at figure. 4, by Sx8f-7g, Nx7g+, Gx6g-7g, N*8e, Bx9e+ (figure. 5).
After figure. 5, I pulled the Promoted Bishop to my castle and defended earnestly.
At last, I was able to come from behind to win by sudden death.

figure. 5

In 8th game, I played with Japanese player. As a result, he won the first prize.

Figure. 6 is the position of middlegame, this is one joseki of Fujii System.
However, at postgame analysis, the opponent said that this formation is said to be a little bad and is not played among professional players now. I was surprised at the amount of his study.

figure. 6

Figure. 7 is the position of begginig of endgame. 
I attacked by Bx5c+, Rx5c, G*4c, but this attack was thin. The opponent defended through and I was defeated.
The post analysis was held by some players, and we consulted I should moved Sx3e calmly at figure. 7.

figure. 7

In 9th game, I played with Ukrainian player.
I was failed at opening and was bad position. Though I resisted, I was defeated.
He is Grand Master player of chess, so be strong at endgame.

After all games, Awards ceremony was held.
I couldn't get any prize unfortunately, but I enjoyed playing with various national players.

At last, the group photo was taken and we interacted before dissolution.

ESC/WOSC is very enjoyable event, so I would like to participate again someday and see friends again.

 

ESC/WOSC Diary (4)

The main event ESC/WOSC was held from second day to fourth.
We played nine games in all, about three games per day, the thinking time was 45 minutes and 40 seconds byo-yomi. The thinking time was long, so I enjoyed reading more than usual.
We check the opponent and the seat number.

In first game, I played with Japanese player.
The game was drawn by repetition of moves in the middle game. Both I and the opponent didn't have a confidence at that position.
At rematch game, I was bad position in middle game and my attack was insufficient, then I lost.

In second game, I played with Norwegian player.
The form was 4th-file Rook versus Right-hand 4th-file Rook.

After this position, I moved Rx6e, Px6e, Bx9a+ and my piece performed sabaki.
After that, I pull Dragon and was able to win stably. We took a picture of the end position.

In third game, I played with Russian player.
The opponent took a mistake at Opening, then I won.

In 4th game, I played with Germany player.
This game was very heated at endgame battle, but I took a mistake and was defeated. Ishikawa professional 7 Dan player and some players also joined in the postgame analysis and we enjoyed it. (I don't have the kifu of this game unfortunately)


In 5th game, I played with Berarusian player.
The opponent's attack was effective and I was a little bad position at opening. However, after I castled my king in Anaguma and attacked forcibily, the opponent took a mistake and I won.


In 6th game, I played with another Germany player.
The opponent's attack was severe, and I defended earnestly.
In the position of below figure, P*6f was also sever. If I took this, +Bx5h, Gx5h, S*3i.

I moved R*6c, and the game proceeded as G4a-5b, R-6a+, G5b-5a, +Rx6f (figure below). I tried to survive even after that.

However, the opponent had a chance at the position below.

I was worried about the move of putting Rook again as Rx8b+, +Px8b, R*8i without Silver escaping.
However, the opponent moved not R*8i but Sx4i, so I succeeded to defend through. I think R*8i not Sx4i was easy to become a blind spot.
At last, I mated the opponent's king at the following position. Can you mate?

The entire kifu was shown below (Maybe only PC can see).