From: Hans_Geuns <geuns <at> EURONET <dot> NL>
Date: 11 jan 1996
Subject: Re: FWD (from Rob Hooft): Re: Game Commentary (43d Oza-sen,

>> After reading Hans Geuns translation: can any real shogi player
>> explain to a 13Kyu (too lazy to read a decent Shogi book) what the
>> essence of a "Twisting Rook" game is?

Some additions to Steven Lamb's terse description:

The first few moves of the game Mori-Habu are the characteristic way to get
into the
Twisting Rook:
1.P2f P8d  2.P2e P8e  3.G7h G3b  4.P2d Px2d  5.Rx2d P'2c  6.R2f S7b
(Black now has to make a choice of strategy: either to play a Double Static
Rook or to choose Twisting Rook) 7.P9f (shows his intention of playing
Twisting Rook, else he would have played P1f probably) P1d (shows he sees
Black intention) 8.P7f P8f (P3d is also possible; if White delays P3d, Black
has the option of playing the "cat" variation of the "Rook on pawn" -- I
believe it is called -- by playing R3f first; Black can get a rather
annoying advantage if he can play Rx3d for free) 9.Px8f Rx8f  10.N7g (now it
is really clear that Black wants to play Twisting Rook). A possible
continutation is then shown in the game. Black's Rook switches to the 7th
file (or 8the file) -- "twisting" his Rook.
Some characteristics: Black wants to play aggressively and attack with Rook,
Knight(7g) and Silver (if possible). In some variations the Bishop switches
to 9g to help the attack. (Black will avoid an early Bishop's exchange.)
Black builds a low partial Mino castle at the right. White may have some
difficulties building a good castle. He will aim at delaying Black's attack
(on 8th and 7th file)(needs his right side -- seen from White's standpoint
-- Silver and Gold to do so) and maybe at playing a vanguard Pawn (high Pawn
on 5th rank) on the 2th or 4th file (or as in the game).
Because White's King is rather weak, White should beware of exchanging the
Rooks at an early stage (Black has very strong Rook drops inside White's
camp, White doesn't).


Hans Geuns
geuns <at> euronet <dot> nl