Vocabulary: Tokin=promoted Pawn, no=of, oso=(basic form, osoi) be slow, haya=(basic form, hayai) be fast
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The proverb, literally meaning that Tokin is slow but fast, teaches that it may take time to drop a Pawn and promote it, but once you've made a Tokin, you may be surprised at how it gives impetus to the attack.
Diagram 1 is from an actual game. White has dropped a Pawn on 4a blocking Black's Dragon's path. How would you play here?
White in hand: B P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * wP bR+ * * |a | * wK wS * * wR * * wL |b | * wP wP * wP wG * * wP |c |wP * * wP * wS wP * * |d | * * * * * wN * * * |e |bP * bP * bP bS bP * bP |f | * bP * bP * bS * * * |g | * bB bK bG bG * * * * |h |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: P2 Diagram 1. Up to P*4a. P*2cStrikes you as slow? But actually it's a very good move.
Moves after Diagram1: ... B*2h P2b+ Bx1i+ +P3bSeeing there was no way to prevent Black from playing P2b+, White dropped a Bishop on 2h, while Black went on with his intended course.
Further moves: ... R6b Rx4a G5d +P4b +Bx2i +P5a --->Diagram 2 White in hand: N L P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG bP+bR+ * * * |a | * wK wS wR * * * * wL |b | * wP wP * wP * * * wP |c |wP * * wP wG wS wP * * |d | * * * * * wN * * * |e |bP * bP * bP bS bP * bP |f | * bP * bP * bS * * * |g | * bB bK bG bG * * * * |h |bL bN * * * * * wB+ * |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: P2 Diagram 2. Up to +P-5a.White cannot allow Black to capture his valuable piece in exchange for a Tokin. Even if the Tokin attack may seem to start from a distance, it is fast enough as long as the opponent has to respond to it.
Moves after Diagram 2: ... G7a +P5b R6c Sx4e Sx4e N*7e --->Diagram 3 White in hand: S N L P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN wG * * bR+ * * * |a | * wK wS * bP+ * * * wL |b | * wP wP wR wP * * * wP |c |wP * * wP wG * wP * * |d | * * bN * * wS * * * |e |bP * bP * bP * bP * bP |f | * bP * bP * bS * * * |g | * bB bK bG bG * * * * |h |bL bN * * * * * wB+ * |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: P2 Diagram 3. Up to N*7e.Black succeeded in capturing a Rook, leading the game to a winning position.
The Tokin attack, when successfuly applied, is fast enough to give you a pleasant surprise.
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White in hand: P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a |wR * * * * wB wG wK * |b | * wP * wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP * wS * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * * * |e | * bS * bP bP * * * * |f |bP bP * bG bS bP * bP bP |g | * bK bG * * * bR bB * |h |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: P2 Diagram 1. Up to S7d.Diagram 1 shows where both players have adopted the double fortress opening. With White's S7d, there is a hole in White's camp. How would you play here?
P*7b
White cannot take this Pawn. If he does, you can play Bx9a+.
You may think P*7c will be equally good. In this case, however, White can play P6d, good defense.
Moves from Diagram1: P*7b B-5c P-7a+ Bx7a P*7e --->diagram 2 White in hand: P2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN wB * * * * wN wL |a |wR * * * * * wG wK * |b | * wP * wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP * wS * wP wP wP * * |d | * * bP * * * * * * |e | * bS * bP bP * * * * |f |bP bP * bG bS bP * bP bP |g | * bK bG * * * bR bB * |h |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: nothing Diagram 2. Up to P*7e.If White plays B5c like above, he may be able to defend Black's P7a+, but after P7a+, Bx7a, Black can play P*7e, claiming the Silver for free.
After Black's P*7b, White may play P6d, which will launch the following moves: P7a+, N7c, +P8a. Thus, this is the least destructive position for White, but he will certainly lose the Lance.
Creation of a Tokin may not be powerful enough to lead to an overwhelming predominace at once, but it will certainly get you to a favorable position. This is the spirit of the proverb: The Tokin may seem slow, but is fast.