Chapter 1 Section 3 The Morishita System---the fad that went as suddenly as it came. The R-2i formation was a waiting game. Some of you may say that rings a bell. Yes, the Morishita system, which was a craze in the pro shogi world for a certain period, shared exactly the same conception. The reason the R-2i formation got less popular was that the modern yagura (with the immobile P on the second file) was taken for granted. But its idea of waiting was the backbone of the Morishita system. In other words, the R-2i formation gave its way to the N-3g position which shares the concept of the R-2i. According to Morishita himself, the system with his name on is not just a formation but a "thought". Though the Morishita system is for Black, who is supposed to have initiative, to play, the main idea is "always to be prepared" while watching the opponent's deployment. Only after seeing what White is about to do, Black decides the eventual formation to take. He says, "It's more like a mind set to be prepared for any attack or trick White may resort to." Let me explain a little further, from the technical side. Yagura, as the suzume-zashi shows, is originally meant for Black to take the offensive, and for White to be on the defensive. The Morishita system, however, gives priority to castling the king tightly, omitting the P move on the second file. Then, and only then, in response to White's plan, Black decides his offensive formation, and sometimes his defensive formation. Always be alert to find a way to give a fatal blow one move before the opponent does. This is the idea. This formation itself was not the first to appear in the yagura history. Teruichi Aono (now 9-dan) and Hitoshige Awaji (now 8-dan) both played it before him. But Morishita gave his own elaborate investigations to it, developing it into what was to be called the Morishita system. Let me give you three prototype games of the Morishita system. White's plans basically fall into three types below. 1) passive tactics 2) the bo-gin with S-7c 3) attack on the fifth file The diagram 1 is from a Ryu-O-sen preliminary match between Taku Morishita(b) and Michio Takahashi(w), on May 17th, 1993. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * wK wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * wS * * wG * * |b |wP * * wP * wG wS wP wP |c | * * wP wB wP wP wP * * |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP * bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bN bP * |g Black in hand: nothing | * * bG bB * bS bR * * |h |bL bN bK * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 1. Morishita(b) vs Takahashi(w), up to (b)R-3h. Above is the basic formation to be remembered. Moves after Diagram 1: (from White) P-1d; P-2f P-9d; K-8h S-5c; P-9f K-2b; L-1g B-7c; P-4f S5c-4b; S-4g (Diagram 2) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * wS wG wK * |b | * * wB wP * wG wS wP * |c |wP * wP * wP wP wP * wP |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e |bP * bP bP bP bP bP bP bP |f | * bP bS bG * bS bN * bL |g | * bK bG bB * * bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * * |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 2. Up to (b)S-4g. White took a hundred-percent passive attitude, with S-5c through B-7c. In this case there was no hurry for Black to build up a formation to attack. 4g is where Black's S should stand. Moves from Diagram 2: (from White) S-2d; P-2e S2d-3c; R-1h R-6b; P-1e Px1e; Lx1e P*1c; R-1g R-8b; P-5e As was shown above, Black then resorted to the suzume-zashi, taking one P in hand. You may say it's a slow deployment, but his moves were made in response to White's, making sure that White couldn't take the offensive. ********************************************************************** ** >From your tour guide: Puzzled by (b)R-1g? That makes two of us. But allow me to present what I thought. After having one P in hand, Black is now determined to take the offensive. In due course, he will have to open the Bishop path by P-4e. The R on 1g guards the N on 3g, otherwise en prise. If you have any other ideas, please join in! ********************************************************************** Next I'll show you the game in which White took the bo-gin. Again from the meijin-sen played by Nakahara(b) and Yonenaga(w) on April 10 & 11, 1991. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG wK * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP * wP wB wP wP wP * * |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bN * * |g | * bK bG bB * bS bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 3. Nakahara(b) vs Yonenaga(w), up to (w)S-7c. S-5g S-8d; P-6e B-4b; S5g-6f N-7c; N-2e S-2d; B-4f R-8c; P-5e Px5e; Bx5e P-9e; P*5d (Diagram 4) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL * * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: P | * * * * * wB wG wK * |b | * wR wN wP * wG * wP wP |c | * wS wP * bP wP wP wS * |d |wP wP * bP bB * * bN * |e | * * bP bS * * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * * |g | * bK bG * * * bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 4. Up to (b)P*5d. Against the bo-gin, Black pushes his P on the 6th file to place the right S on 6f. This is another joseki to remember. The last move on Diagram 4,(b)P*5d, did the trick to lead the game in Black's favor. If White counters with Gx5d, then will follow: Bx7c+, Sx7c, N*4f. Nakahara actually won this game in a breeze. Now another position: with an exchange of Ps on the 7th file. Diagram 5, below, is from Ryu-o-sen, Game 4 played by Morishita(b) and Tanigawa(w) on Nov. 26 & 27, 1991. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * wK wB wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG * * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP * * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * bP bP |g | * bK bG bB * bS * bR * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 5. Morishita(b) vs Tanigawa(w), up to (w)P-9d. After Diagram 5: (from Black) 1.P-3e Px3e 2.Bx3e P-7e 3.Px7e Bx7e 4.P-6e K-3a 5.R-3h K-2b 6.B-4f R-9b 7.S-5g B-4b 8.S5g-6f P-9e 9.P-1f P-1d 10.P*7e (Diagram 6) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: 2 Ps |wR * * * * wB wG wK * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP * |c | * wP * * wP wP * * wP |d |wP * bP bP * * * * * |e | * * * bS bP bB * * bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * bP * |g | * bK bG * * * bR * * |h Black in hand: P |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 6. Up to (b)P*7e. Black goes ahead to exchange Ps on the 3rd file. After seeing White also exchanged Ps on the 7th, Black then pushes the P on the 6th file. The rest of the moves will go naturally along the 6th file, checking White's moves with the well-positioned B on 4f. Since Black's R is on 3h, his/her R & B have comparatively more free space. You can't say the position is in favor of either side, but there is another factor that goes with shogi games, which is a feel of ease. In this case, Black should feel easier about his/her future deployment, while White has a lot to be cautious of. The next game will show you how Black fared when White attacked from the 5th file. Diagram 7 is from the game 3 of the Kisei-sen played by Habu(b) and Tanigawa(w) on July 9, 1993. Take note of the last move on the diagram, (b)L-1g. It used to be customary to play P-4f instead, but L-1g was decided to be better against White's P-5e. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG wK * |b |wP * * wP wS wG wS wP * |c | * * wP wB wP wP wP * wP |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bN * bL |g | * bK bG bB * bS bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * * |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 7. Habu(b) vs Tanigawa(w), up to L-1g. P-5e; P-6e B-7c; Px5e P-6d; S-5g Px6e; S-5f R-6b; N-2e S-2d; B-4f S-6d; R-1h B-8d; P-1e B-3i+; Px1d P*1b; P-3e (Diagram 8) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * * * wR * * wG wK wP |b |wP * * * * wG * wP * |c | * * wP wS * wP wP wS bP |d | * wP * wP bP * bP bN * |e | * * bP * bS bB * bP * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * bL |g | * bK bG * * * * * bR |h Black in hand: 2Ps |bL bN * * * * wB+ * * |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 8. Up to (b)P-3e. As was shown above, in response to White's P-5e, Black first plays P- 6e and then Px5e. If White plays Bx5e, Black moves the right S to 5g,then on 6f. When (w)P-6d is played, as was in this game, Black takes the suzume-zashi formation. The actual game ended in Black's win after a relentless attack by Habu. Thus, the Morishita System can be called the first responsive type of the Yagura opening. In response to White's passive attitude, Black takes the S-4g formation; against White's bo-gin, the S-6f formation. As for the R's positioning, it varies according to the opponent's moves, such as on the first file for suzume-zashi, on the third file, or on the 5th file for the center attack. The more it was investigated, the more refined the system got to be, which gave momentum for more frequent use of it in official games. So much so that, for a certain period, yagura virtually meant the Morishita System. However, this seemingly flawless opening had its own Achilles' heel. Diagram 9 is from the first game that has revealed the Morishita System's weak point. It was played by Yoshikazu Minami(b) and Teruichi Aono(w) in Kisei-sen, on February 17th, 1994. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing |wR * * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wL * wN wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d |wP * * * * * * bP * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP * * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bS * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 9. Minami(b) vs Aono(w), up to (b)B-4b. S-8f N-8e; S-2f Nx9g+; Sx9g P-9f; Sx9f Lx9f; Lx9f Rx9f; L*9i P*9g; Lx9g Bx9g+; Nx9g L*7a; (Diagram 10) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * wL * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: S L | * * * wS wG * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |wR * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: B N 2Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 10. Up to (W)L*7a. The system required quicker castling of its King than the opponent's. It was probably too quick, which was taken advantage of by the opponent. Then re-entered the suzume-zashi into the spotlight. What is to note is that the suzume-zashi which had been almost totally abandoned by Black players was now revived as a White's tactic. Ironically enough, the popularity of the Morishita System imbued a new life into it, and White's suzume-zashi attained the status of the Morishita System killer. When White assumes the suzume-zashi formation, Black has to cope with it by pushing P on the R file, thereby arrives the position shown in Diagram 9. Did you notice the White's positioning was not exactly the same as the basic one described in Section 1? The difference lies in where the suzume-zashi side's G stands: the G here stays on 5b instead of 4c. Moves after Diagram 10: (from Black) P-8f P-7e; Px7e L*7b; K-8g R-9e; P*9f Rx7e; P*7g P*9e; Px9e Rx9e; P*9f R-9b; B-4f P*9h; N*8c Lx7g+; G6gx7g Lx7g+; Gx7g P-9i+; N-9a+ S*9h; Rx9h +Px9h; +Nx9b R*4h; R*8a G-5a; P*7h +Px9g; K-7f P*7d; (Diagram 11) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * bR * * wG wK * wN wL |a White in hand: G N |bN+ * * wS * * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |bP bP bK bP bP bB bP bS * |f |wP+ * bG * * bP * * bP |g | * * bP * * wR * * * |h Black in hand: B S 2Ls | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 11. Up to (w)P*7d. Look again at the last move on Diagram 10. According to a theory, the move for the suzume-zashi player to make here (instead of L*7a) was P- 7e. In this case, however, it won't do, because Black will then play B-4f. L*7a was a well-thought-out move, which has a story behind it. As a matter of fact, I was the one who was shocked to see the move for the first time at the kenkyu-kai (a practice meet in which several pros get together and play shogi for investigation) held in January of that year. I was Black and playing against Tadahisa Maruyama (now 7-dan, and will certainly be an A-class player next year). At our post mortem Aono 9- dan joined in. A while after the Minami-Aono game just cited, Aono- sensei said to me, "Thanks to you and Maruyama-kun, I managed to win. But, boy, was it tough!" It was only then that I knew about this game. You may well wonder how a crude suzume-zashi which didn't work as a Black tactic can be effective as a White's trick. This is a good example to show that sometimes in shogi it's better not to make a move. White's right G stays on 5b, and that's where it functions better for the guard. Now another series of moves from a different angle. What if Black's S escapes onto 8f when White plays P-9f, counting on his B coming to 4f? The next diagram is from a Ryu-O-sen game played by Morishita(b) and Yonenaga(w) on June 23rd, 1994. This game was the major reason that Morishita has now stopped playing his own system. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: P |wR * * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wL * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |wP bS bP bP bP * bP bS * |f | * bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: N |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 12. Morishita(b) vs Yonenaga(w), up to S-8f. S-8f P-8e; N*8d R-8b; Sx8e P-9g+; Lx9g Lx9g+; Nx9g P*9f; Sx9f Rx8d; L*8f R-9d; P*9e R-9c; L-8b+ P-6d; (Diagram 13) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: N L | * bL+ * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wR * * * * * wS wP wP |c | * * wP wP wP wP wP * * |d |bP * * * * * * bP * |e |bS * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: P2 | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 13. Up to (w)P-6d. Please note a slight difference in position of each game. In Yagura, the most delicate difference in position could mean a great change in the play that follows. In this game, Black can drop N on 8d to counter White's P-8e. Actually Morishita seemed to have been confident up to L-8b+, but P-6d crushed his optimistic outlook. See for yourself on Diagram 13 that White's R has a clear path sideways, plus a threatening move of P-6e is on its way. Enough to ensure White's dominance. After the creator, Morishita, lost to the suzume-zashi, the Morishita System was not played anymore when White took G-5b position. There was one exception, though. It was Habu, who challenged the White suzume-zashi with a new idea. The game was played between Habu(b) and Akira Shima(w) on December 13th, 1994, as Game No.1 in Kisei-sen. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: N L | * * * wS wG wB wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wR wP * wP wP wP * * |d |bS * * * * * * bP * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: L 3Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 14. Habu(b) vs Shima(w), up to S-9e. S-9e R-8a; P*9c P-7e; P-9b+ R-5a; Px7e Bx7e; S-8f B-6d; S-3g L*8c; N-8e N*7d; P*7e Nx8f; Px8f Lx8e; Px8e Bx7e; (Diagram 15) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * wR wK * wN wL |a White in hand: S,N,2Ps |bP+ * * wS wG * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * * * * wP wP wP * * |d | * bP wB * * * * bP * |e | * * * bP bP * bP * * |f | * * * bG * bP bS * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: N,2Ls,2Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 15. Up to (w)Bx7e. Habu's idea was S-9e, but it was not much of improvement, as the actual proceedings suggested. However, Habu with his gift for victory, came up with a beguiling series of moves after Diagram 15: (b)L*7g(What a move!), (w)B-4b, (b)P*7e(Another stunt!). And yes, Habu won the game. It should be noted, however, even Habu has stopped to induce White to form the suzume-zashi after this. Eventually it was concluded that the above position is not easy for Black to play. Thus, the Morishita System has come to its end, implying that the suzume- zashi will always be a possibility against Yagura. Let me recapitulate the suzume-zashi history here. It began with a powerful Black suzume-zashi, which was then countered with White bo- gin, which was tamed by R-2i formation, which was succeeded by the Morishita System, which was finally defeated by White suzume-zashi. History repeats itself. I talked with Mirishita-8 dan privately. Here is what he said: It was when I was playing with Awaji-8 dan and then Aono-8 dan that the idea dawned on me. They were playing with the similar notions, which I found quite promising. I put those ideas together, so to speak. Based on the R-2i formation, which was rather weak in the offensive, I made it into something more playable in actual games. The reason why I stopped playing it? The direct cause was the game I played against Yonenaga sensei. If I'd placed my B once again onto 4f from 6h, it would have checked White's attack, but I couldn't bring myself to do so because it meant loss of time. Now I have no intention of adhering to the Morishita System. I've come to think that investigations tend to lead one to passivity over the board, in the sense that each move, rather than being a self-inspired action, becomes a self-programmed reaction. But in actual shogi games,stronger players win in the end. Now that I think about it, the game with Kunio Yonenaga brought about a change in me. I now play the Black S-3g formation which I didn't like before. I think I'm playing with less preoccupied notions now. (End of Sec3) Takako Noda