In the Opening Push up Pawns in the Odd-number Files.

(Joban wa kisuu no Fu wo tsuke)


Vocabulary: joban=opening, wa= as for, kisuu=odd number, no=of, Fu=Pawn, wo=no lexical meaning (functional marker designating the case of the preceding noun as objective), tsuke=(imperative) to push


Depending on which Pawns are pushed in the opening, the future strategy varies. Diagram 1 shows where Black has aligned his Pawns in the fourth row along the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th file, quite observant of the proverb in question. As a matter of fact, this formation will work best in a quick attack scheme with the Rook in its original position. 

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  * wG  *  *  * wN wL |a
| * wK wS  * wG wR  *  *  * |b
| * wP wP  * wP wS wB wP  * |c
|wP  *  * wP  * wP wP  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
|bP  * 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: nothing
Diagram 1. Up to ÅcP6d
For the sake of argument, see the position below where Pawns in the even number files are all a square ahead. You can see how problematic it is for the Bishop to be effective. This explains the idea behind the proverb.

 White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |a
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |b
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |c
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| * bP  * bP  * bP  * bP  * |f
|bP  * bP  * bP  * bP  * bP |g
| * bB  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |h
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 2.
When the game becomes slow, you are likely to push up other Pawns as well, like Diagram 3. But remember, odd number first, then even number. This is the general idea.

White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  *  *  * wR  * wN wL |a
| * wK wG  *  *  *  *  *  * |b
| * wS  * wG  * wS wB wP  * |c
|wP wP wP wP wP wP wP  * wP |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
|bP bP bP bP bP bP bP bB bP |f
| * bS  * bG bS  *  *  *  * |g
| * bK bG  *  *  *  * bR  * |h
|bL bN  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 3. Up to B2f.
Also in the Yagura opening, you first play with the odd-number file Pawns. See Diagram 4 how both Bishops are threatening each other camp with the 3rd, 5th and 7th file Pawns neatly positioned for their Bishops to pass.

 White in hand: nothing
  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN  *  *  * wK wB wN wL |a
| * wR  * wS wG  * wG  *  * |b
|wP  *  * wP  *  * wS wP wP |c
| * wP wP  * wP wP wP  *  * |d
| *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
| *  * bP bP bP  * bP  *  * |f
|bP bP bS bG  * bP  * bP bP |g
| *  * bG  *  * bS  * bR  * |h
|bL bN bB bK  *  *  * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Black in hand: nothing
Diagram 4. Up to ...P7d.
Needless to say, the proverb is not against the advancement of the Pawns in the even-number files at all times.

To Top Page