| Quest of the lost systems |
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| Chapter One: Yagura |
| Section 1: suzume-zashi, or attack a la sparrow shish kebab |
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
+---------------------------+
|wL wN * * * * * * * |a White in hand: L 4Ps
| * wR * * * wB * * * |b
|wP * wS wP * wG * wK wN |c
| * * wP * wP wP wB * wN |d
| * wP * bP * * wP * wL |e
| * * bP * bP bG * bP * |f
|bP bP bS bG * bP * * * |g
| * * bG * * bS * * * |h Black in hand: S
|bL bN * bK * * * * bR |i
+---------------------------+
Diagram 5. Up to (w)L*1e.
White's N*1d did it. I have to confess that I found the move out in the
field at first, but seeing those moves up to L*1e, I had to change my mind,
for White's N and L formed a very effective guard against Black's attack.
So, the whole concept of suzume-zashi was forced to be overhauled from the
beginning: then came an idea of castling the Black's king first, so that
he won't have to worry about the defensive. Now look at the diagram below,
in which Black's king is in the safe position, 8h.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
+---------------------------+ White in hand: nothing
|wL * * * * * * wN wL |a
| * wR * * * wB wG wK * |b
| * * wN wP * wG wS wP wP |c
|wP wS wP * wP wP wP * * |d
| * wP * bP * * * * bP |e
| * * bP * bP * bP bP * |f
|bP bP bS bG * bP bN * bL |g Black in hand: nothing
| * bK bG bB * bS * * bR |h
|bL bN * * * * * * * |i
+---------------------------+
Diagram 6. Up to B-4b.
Likely moves from Diagram 5: (from Black)
N-2e, S-2d; Nx1c+, Sx1c, P-1d, Sx1d; Lx1d, Lx1d;
Rx1d, L*1a; P*1c, Lx1c; Bx1c+,Nx1c; P-3e, S-9e;
Px3d, P-8f; Px8f, P*8g; Gx8g, P*8e;
In essence, suzume-zashi can be coped with bo-gin (climbing Silver).
When Black delays his attack by making K-8h, White can resort to bo-gin.
The last move, P*8e, clearly paves the way for White's win by one move,
provided both players make no mistakes till the end.
