Nyantaro and Nyanko, who are Japanese amateur shogi (Japanese chess) players, write about shogi or life in Japan. If you have anything which you want to read about shogi or Japanese life, please tell us by sending e-mail to, shogi8nyan@gmail.com.
In playing shogi, it's important to foresee the next effective attack by opponent and prepare or (defend) for it in advance.
If you attack as like L*4c, the opponent would move P*1f (figure. 2).
This attack is severe, because if you take Sx1f, the opponent would +R3h, else if you take Kx1f, then Lx1e, Kx1e, +Rx1h, Sx1h, L*1d (check mated).
figure. 2
Therefore it's necessary to prepare for the opponent's attack Px1d in figure. 1.
So I moved G-3i (figure. 3).
One of objects of G-3i is to capture the opponent's Dragon, and the other is to make it possible to take Sx1f against the opponent's attack Px1f (G-3i is reached by B-6f).
figure. 3
By G-3i, I succeeded in shutout the opponent's attack.
Jigsaw Puzzle is also sold in Japan.
I did it (following picture) in the winter vacation after so long.
I guess many shogi players like such puzzles, too.
By the way, I felt difficult to solve the parts whose color is similar (like as the sky area in the picture). Is there a knack in doing it?
In New Year holidays, I saw my friends from my junior high school shogi club days and played shogi in karaoke box ("karaoke" is an amusement that people sings along with recorded music.)
We saw at 7 persons, then some played shogi and others sang various songs.
Playing shogi with karaoke is very fun, so I want to recommend you to try it!
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.
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.
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.
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.
