From: Takako Noda JA2 SO-NET OR JP> Date: 23 aug 1997 Subject: "QUEST" yagura (3) Suzume-zashi (Continued) The game was played by Keiji Mori(b) and Hifumi Kato(w) on May 25, 1979, as a preliminary match for Oi(rhymes with "boy", meaning kingly status). It went exactly the same way as the Yonenaga-Nakahara game did, all the way through Diagram 3 up to (b)L*2f, except that both Ps on the 9th file stayed immobile. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ White in hand: N,4Ps |wL wN * * * * * * * |a | * wR * * * wB wG wK * |b |wP * wS wP * wG * wP wN |c | * * wP * wP wP * * * |d | * wP * bP * * wP * * |e | * * bP * bP * wB bL * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * * |g Black in hand: S | * * bG * * bS * bL * |h |bL bN * bK * * * * bR|i +---------------------------+ Diagram 4. Mori(b) vs Kato(w), up to L*2f. Moves from Diagram 4: (from White) N*1d; Lx2c+, Gx2c; Lx2c+, Kx2c; G*3g, B-2e; P*2f, B-3d; G-4f, 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 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 offense. 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 5. 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. All these investigations boil down to: That it would be best for Black to open fire when his king is still on 7i. Diagram 6 shows another variation, in which, starting from Diagram 3, (b)B-6h, (w)S-8d, (b)K-7i, (w)N-7c were made, followed by exactly the same moves from (b)P-6e through (w)B-3f, as Yonenaga and Nakahara did. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ White in hand: N, 4Ps |wL * * * * * * * * |a | * wR * * * wB wG wK * |b |wP * wN wP * wG * wP wN |c | * wS wP * wP wP * * * |d | * wP * bP * * wP * * |e | * * bP * bP * wB * * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * * |g Black in hand: S | * * bG * * bS bL bL * |h |bL bN bK * * * * * bR |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 6. Up to (b)L*3h. The difference is Black's L*3h, paying heed to what happened after (b)L*2f, (w)N*1d. To drop L on 3h is simple enough, but claiming White's B. Likely moves from Diagram 6: (from White) P*1h; R-2i, B-1d; Lx3e, P*3d; P*2d, Px2d; S*1e, B-2e! Lx2e, Nx2e; Sx2d, Bx2d; Rx2e, P*2c; White's P*1h is a move to make in response to (b)L*3h. If (b)R-3i instead of 2i, then (w)B-1e. So Black's best move should be R-2i. A few moves later, at (b)S*1e, White's B-2e looks suicidal but brilliant. When (w)P*2c, the last move above, was made, you will see that Black's attack is completely thwarted. To sum it up, when Black's king steps into 8h position, White attacks by bo-gin, while the king is yet to be castled, White then comes killing all the threats, beginning with B*3f. I must add that in actual games, however, variations are almost innumerable, some of which are really tangling, but gradually and slowly suzume-zashi got less popular among professional players. There is another type of counterattack by White, which is deemed quite powerful. (To be continued) Takako Noda