vacabulary: ippu=one pawn, atai=worth, sen=a thousand, kin=gold

There are far more positions than you'd think in which a Pawn in hand makes a big difference. Look at Diagram 1.

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  * wB wG wK  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wG  * wP wP |c
| *  *  *  * wP wP wP  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bP |e
| *  *  *  * bP bB  *  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  * bP  *  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 1. Black to move.

The most likely moves to follow are:
P*3c Nx3c
Nx1c+ ...

After Black's P*3c, White could play G-3a, but that would leave bad shape for White. So, Nx3c is a natural move, avoiding loss of material. Note the next move: Nx1c+. In the wrong direction, you say? No, this is right.

There will follow:
... Lx1c
P-1d Lx1d
Lx1d ...

By following the natural moves, Black will have a breakthrough along the first file.

Back at the Diagram 1, if you have more than one Pawn, you could also play as follows:
P*3c, Nx3c,
Nx3c+, G4c-3c,
N*2e, G3c-4c,
P*3c.

When your opponent has formed a yagura castle, make sure you have at least one Pawn in hand before playing N-2e.

Diagram 2 shows where White played Px2d after Black's P-2d. Now what will be the next move using a Pawn in hand to attack White's yagura castle?

White in hand: P 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * wN wL |a
| *  *  *  *  * wB wG wK  * |b
| *  *  *  *  * wG wS  * wP |c
| *  *  *  * wP wP wP wP  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP |e
| *  *  *  * bP bB bP  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  * bP bN  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 2  Up to ...Px2d

To Black's P*2e, White cannot but respond by Px2e, otherwise Black will play Px2d and again a solid foothold so that he can next play Nx2e.This will be good for Black. Then White will have to play S-2d to prevent from loss of material, to which Black can reply Nx1c+.

1) If White responds with Lx1c, Bx2d will do.
2) If Nx1c, again Bx2d will do the trick.
Either way, Black will be able to continue undermining the yagura camp.
3) If Kx1c, P*2e will be the most severe blow for White.
Remember, when the opponent's King gets in your Bishop's path, attack the interposing piece. This is one of the most important patterns.

When playing yagura, most White players tend to play Sx2d instead of Px2d after Black's P-2d, thereby avoiding the joining-Pawn tesuji. This will give you an idea how effective the Pawn drop can be.

White in hand: P 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG  * bR  *  *  * |a
| * wK wS  *  *  *  *  *  * |b
|wP wP wP wP  *  *  *  *  * |c
| *  *  *  *  * bB  *  *  * |d
|bP  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| * bP bP  * bP  *  *  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 3. 

P*6b is the crucial move. If White plays G-5b, he will allow the Pawn to promote onto 6a. So he will have to play G-7a, only to meet:
Rx7a+ Kx7a
P-6a+ ...

Rx7a+ is the decisive move. White has no choice but to play Kx7a. Then you go on to play P-6a+, double checkmate! White's King will be forced to mate whatever he may play.

If you cannot drop your Pawn along the 6th file, check if you can on the 5th file. P*5b will also be a very effective move (diagram 4).

White in hand: P 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG  * bR  *  *  * |a
| * wK wS  * bP  *  *  *  * |b
|wP wP wP wP  *  *  *  *  * |c
| *  *  *  *  * bB  *  *  * |d
|bP  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| * bP bP  *  *  *  *  *  * |f
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |g
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 4. Up to P*5b.

What if White plays Gx5b at Diagram 4? You know it. R-7a+ will lead to exactly the same position as above.

If you are thinking of playing P*5c instead of P*5b, you should remember White's P*5a will turn the table around.

When playing against the Mino-castle, attack the Gold on 6a. This is the golden rule.

Sometimes a Pawn in hand could decide a game. Look at Diagram 5. Black played Px2d, to which White played R-3b, inadvertently giving Black a windfall.

White in hand: P2 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG  *  *  * wN *|a
| * wK wS  *  *  * wR wB  wL |b
| * wP  * wG  *  *  *  *  * |c
|wP  * wP wP wP wP wS bR wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  * wP  *  * |e
|bP  * bP  * bP bP  *  * bP |f
| * bP  * bP bS  *  *  *  * |g
| * bB bK bG bG bS  *  *  * |h
|bL bN  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 5. Up to ... R-3b

Diagram 6 also shows how devastating a focal point Pawn drop can be.

White in hand: P 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG wB wR  * wN  * |a
| * wK wS  *  *  *  *  * wL |b
| * wP  * wG  *  *  *  *  * |c
|wP  * wP wP wP wS wP wP wP |d
| *  *  *  *  * wP  *  *  * |e
|bP  * bP  * bP  * bP  * bP |f
| * bP  * bP bS  * bN  *  * |g
| * bB bK bG bG bS  * bR  * |h
|bL bN  *  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 6. Up to ... Px2d

If Bx4b, Black can play Bx4d gaining the Silver for free.
If Rx4b, Black can play Rx2d.

When you drop a Pawn in the square where more than one piece is in defense, it should block one of them, thereby undermining the whole defense.

Diagram 7 shows where a static-Rook versus ranging-Rook game gets into the mid-stage. Note that Black's Pawn along the 4th file is missing from the board, and is in hand instead. This is a solid advantage for Black, giving him an opportunity to put the proverb to good use.

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG  * wR  * wN wL |a
| * wK wS  *  *  *  *  *  * |b
| * wP  * wG  *  * wB wP wP |c
|wP  * wP wP wP wS wP  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  * wP  * bP  * |e
|bP  * bP  * bP  * bP  *  * |f
| * bP  * bP bS  *  *  * bP |g
| * bB bK bG bG bS  * bR  * |h
|bL bN  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: P 
Diagram 7. Up to ... G-6c

Since he has a Pawn in hand, Black can begin his attack on the 2nd file by P-2d. If White plays Bx2b after P*2b, Black can play Rx2d, a favorable turn for Black.

If White does not respond to P*2b and play something else, Black can play Px2a+, taking the Knight and then the Lance for free.,p> If, after Diagram 7, White plays Bx2d in response to P-2d, P*2b will still be a good move. After White plays N-3c, Black's P-2a+ will follow. White cannot take the promoted Pawn, for the Silver on 4d will be taken for free.

Suppose White plays something elsewhere, how would you as Black play next? +Px1a? That wouldn't be a bad idea, but there is an even better move. +P-2b and then +Px2c will be more devastating to the opponent. This line of moves is what we call "authentic line".

Look at Diagram 7 again. Attack on the second file aiming at a crucial Pawn drop will give White a big headache. White may have to think of resigning even before he gets into the endgame.

When playing static Rook against ranging Rook, ask yourself how you can play Rx2d, for this could often steer the game in your favor. Also check whether you can play P*2b with the prospect of promoting the Pawn and letting it work.

When you get into similar positions as above, which I'm sure you will, please remember those check points I raised.

The answer is (b). A tiger standing against a bamboo grove is not an uncommon design for hanging scrolls, but for Yasumitsu Satoh's gentle temperament it was too much to take? Maybe a tiger alone wouldn't have been much of a problem. After all, he had to take care of both the tiger and Habu, whose famous Habu-nirami(Habu's glare) is said to be less frequent these days, but still may flash at any minute.

Satoh lost the game. It was his third consecutive loss in the Osho match before he made a lackluster exit after one more loss. But all four games were very tight and exciting. I won't be surprised if Satoh wins another four games in a row against Habu, which is secretly what I hope to see.

Habu looked invincible when he beat Meijin Satoh by 4-0 in the Osho-sen a few weeks ago, but I secretly feared he might lose in the first game of the Kio match, because in the past he often collapsed when he appeared at his very best, much to his fans' chagrin. But he won. Ingeniously? Yes. Beautifully? Well...

White: MORIUCHI
White in hand: B S P6 
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  * bR  *  *  *  *  * wL |a
|bN+ *  *  *  *  *  * wK wP |b
| *  *  * wG wP  * wS wG  * |c
| *  *  *  *  * wB  * wP bP |d
| * wP  * wP  *  * wP  * bN |e
|wP  * wP  * wS  *  *  *  * |f
|bN bP  * bP  *  *  *  *  * |g
|bK bN bG bS  * bG  *  *  * |h
|bL  *  *  *  *  *  * bR bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black: HABU
Black in hand: L P 
Diagram. Up to 48...Gx2c.

Then they played:

 51.G*4b   B*5d    52.L*5h   S*7g   
 53.Sx7g   Px7g+   54.Gx7g   Bx7g+   
 55.Rx7g+  P-6f    56.S*3b   K-3c   
 57.B*5a   K-4d    58.G-4c   Sx4c    
 59.Rx2d   S-3d    60.P*4e   Kx4e   
 61.B-3c+  N*8f    62.+Rx8f  resigns