From: George Fernandez EROLS COM> Date: 13 jun 1996 Subject: Bishop handicap game (pro vs amateur) Dear shogi fans, Here is a Bishop handicap game which I played against Mr. Eiji Oshima, pro 6Dan, while he was visiting the NY and DC Shogi Clubs in April, 1994. Mr. Oshima played three of us, at the same time. There was no time limit. Next week[June 22-23], I'll be playing in the Amateur RyuO tournament in Tokyo, as the "non-japanese" representative. There will be 55 other players, representing all of the prefectures in Japan. Many of the players will be "semi-pro" level or strong 5Dans and it is not likely that I will advance very far into the tournament as I'm only a 4Dan, perhaps a little above the average in that level. In an effort to share my experience in Japan with you, the Shogi-L subscribers, I will submit this and perhaps another annotated game prior to my departure. Hopefully, I will have a game worthy of review at the tournament, which I can present along with a story, upon my return[on June 28]. White always moves first in handicap games. In japanese, instead of referring to the players as SENTE and GOTE the terms SHITATE[weaker player] and UWATE[stronger player] are used for handicap games. During the game I may use the abbreviations "B" for black and "W" for white. Black(shitate): George Fernandez ama 4Dan White(uwate): Eiji Oshima pro 6Dan April, 1994 (Bishop handicap) 1. ..... S-6b 2. P-7f P-5d 3. P-5f S-5c 4. S-6h P-6d 5. P-6f This may seem a bit passive. It has been my experience, watching and playing the pros, that they often try to establish a vangard-pawn[pawn on the 5th rank, not easily removed] strategy(kuraidorisakusen) or play a vangard-pawn opening(kuraidorisenpo), both of which are hard to defend. The text discourages this type of strategy. 5. .... G4a-5b 6. S-4h P-4d 7. P-4f The same reasoning is behind this move, as it prevents the immediate P-4e. At this stage, I must start deciding where to put my King and what type of castle to adopt. 7. .... K-4b 8. P-2f K-3b 9. P-3f G-4c 10.S-4g G-5b 11.N-3g P-3d 12.S-6g S-2b 13.P-2e P-8d 14.K-4h I decide on a Right-Side King(migi-gyoku) strategy. While the castle is not so strong, it will be difficult for White[W] to use the Rook effectively in the attack. The W castle is weak against attacks from the side or back and the square 2c is likely to become weak. Exchanging the rook pawn with 14.P-2d is another way to play but not clearly beneficial here. 14. ... R-6b 15.K-3h P-6e 16.G-4h Px6f 17.Sx6f S-6d 18.G6i-5h S-3c 18.... S-6e 19.Sx6e, Rx6e 20.P-4e is good for Black. 19.R-2i P-1d 20.P-1f P-7d 21.P-9f P-9d 22.R-7i This is primarily a defensive move. 23. ... P*6e Notice that UWATE[W] now has a vangard-pawn formation. Luckily, it doesn't hinder my attacking plans. 23.S-5g P-8e 24.P-4e This move starts the middle game. It is the natural way for Black to attack from this formation as it will involve the Rook, Bishop, left Silver and right kNight. If White did have a Bishop[from the start] in this game, he would ideally place it on 7c, 8b on 8d but of course this takes a little time(3 to 4 moves). Additionally, the W castle is normally a little stronger in an even(hirate) game. 25. ... Px4e 25.Nx4e S-4d 26.R-2i The Rook's usefulness at 7i is limited. Now, that the Silver has been displaced from 3c, the Rook becomes a powerful weapon. 26.... Sx4e will be met by P*4f. 26. ... P-7e 27.P-1e Px1e 28.P*1d This tesuji(an apt move or stratagem) will limit the squares available to W in the vicinity on his King. The W Lance cannot capture the pawn: 28....Lx1d? 29.P-2d, Px2d 30.Rx2d and the Lance will be lost. On the negative side, it will cost me 1 move, expose the Lance and weaken the squares along the edge. 28. ... Px7f 29.Lx1e P*1b 30.P-3e P-5e 31.S5g-4f P-6f Mr. Oshima intensifies and complicates his attack. The game is very close now and one false step by me would be disastrous. 32.Bx6f S-6e 33.B-7e P-7g+ 34.P*4b! This is a multi-purpose move. It threatens to: 1. Support an eventual Silver drop at 4a; 2. Divert the King from 2c, and thereby allow B's Rook to promote; 3. Provoke a favorable exchange[in this case]of Bishop for Gold and 4. Promote into a Tokin very near the enemy King. When many pieces line up along a file, it is often worth considering to place a piece on that same file(!). This is one of those odd concepts in shogi, which are hard to explain but well founded. 34. ... +P-7f 35.P*6c Rx6c 36.P*6d R-8c 37.B-9g P-8f 38.Px3d Gx3d After 38.... Px8g+ there are several variations. To be honest, I can't remember which was best and haven't the time to figure it out now. As I recall, Mr. Oshima didn't like the move during the game, but we found it had some merit in the analysis, afterwards. Any suggestions?[if so, please send to my E-Mail address directly] 39.P*3e There is no turning back now. Both Kings are gradually becoming exposed to severe attacks. Professional players are usually extremely adept in their handling of captured pieces, so I was trying to be very careful. 39. ... Gx4e 40.Sx4e Sx4e 41.G*4d! N*4f 42.Sx4f Sx4f 43.B-7i The sleeping Bishop gets back into the game! I now have a clear advantage, although I've lost a Silver and have no pawns in hand. 43. ... P*4g 44.Bx4f Px4h+ 45.Gx4h G*3f 46.Bx5e P*4f 47.S*4a Kx4b 48.Sx5b+ Kx5b 49.G*3g! In Mr. Oshima's opinion, this was my best move of the game! During the game, I was reluctant to make this move, but it turns out that White's attack is now brought to an abrupt halt. Notice that this combination was made possible because I traded my Silver for a Gold, utilizing the pawn at 4b which was dropped, back on move #34. 49. ... P*5d 50.Bx4f Gx4f 51.Gx4f P*6b 52.R-6i 52. P-2d would be too slow. 52. ... S*6g 53.P*7c Rx7c 54.N*8e! This manuever eliminates the W Rook, as a defender and allows easier access to the W King. A more straightforward approach, like sacrificing the Rook at once could easily get me mated. There are some sharp combinations for W, most of them beginning with B*1f. I must be careful not to fire until I "see the white in their eyes" :-) . 54. ... R-7d 55.P*7c Nx7c 56.G*5c K-6a 57.P-6c+ Px6c 58.Gx6c S*6b 59.Nx7c+ Sx7c 60.G4d-5c P*6h 61.P*7b Resigns George I. Fernandez 2000 S. Eads Street, Apt. #504 Arlington, Virginia 22202 USA (703)521-5107 E-Mail: fernandz erols com