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.