From: Hans_Geuns <geuns <at> EURONET <dot> NL>
Date: 28 apr 1996
Subject: Re: Tsume question

Michael J. Shelton wrote:
>.  I have a question pertaining to a Tsume problem, Shogi Yuryaku #3 in "Ito
>Soin" on the
>World Wide Web.
> Here is the problem:
>
>9      8      7      6      5      4      3      2      1
>--    --     --      --     --     --    --     --     --  a
>wL    --     wG      --     wN     --    --     --     --  b
>--    wP     --      --     bR     --    wP     --     --  c
>wP    wK     wN      --     wP     --    --     wP     bS  d
>--    --     --      --     --     --    --     --     --  e
>bP    bP     wP      bP     --     wP    --     --     --  f
>--    --     --      bS     bP     --    --     --     --  g
>--    --     --      --     --     --    --     --     --  h
>--    --     --      --     --     --    --     --     --  i

Don't forget to mention that Black has in hand:
        B, G, G, N, N, P

>
> I have deliberated over this problem for quite a while, before I broke down
>and looked at
>the answer. The first move given is rook to 7c, answered by King capture at
>7c. However
>when I was playing it, I answered first with Gold capture at 7c (At least
>when I debated
>that possible sequence)
> My question to any who can assist me is: Why wouldn't the White Gold move in
>instead of the King? It appears to my (admittedly novice level) of Shogi that
>this would be a better move. wG x7c doesn't appear to be an illegal move....

1. ... Gx7c is legal but leads to a quicker mate:
1.R5c-7c+ G7bx7c 2.G'8e K8d-9c 3.B'7a (that's why G7b shouldn't move on the
first move) X'8b 4.G8ex9d K9cx9d 5.G'9e K9d-9c 6.N'8e mate
(The solution is 15 moves, although there appear to be some variations in 17
moves if
after 1.R7c+ Kx7c 2.N'6e K8d 3.G'7e white doesn't capture but plays 3. ... K9c.)

Hans Geuns
geuns <at> euronet <dot> nl