From: Takako Noda JA2 SO-NET OR JP> Date: 2 nov 1997 Subject: "QUEST" yagura (8) 1-3-2 Next I'll show you the game in which White took the bo-gin. Again from the meijin-sen played by Nakahara(b) and Yonenaga(w) on April 10 & 11, 1991. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG wK * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP * wP wB wP wP wP * * |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bN * * |g | * bK bG bB * bS bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 3. Nakahara(b) vs Yonenaga(w), up to (w)S-7c. S-5g S-8d; P-6e B-4b; S5g-6f N-7c; N-2e S-2d; B-4f R-8c; P-5e Px5e; Bx5e P-9e; P*5d (Diagram 4) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL * * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: P | * * * * * wB wG wK * |b | * wR wN wP * wG * wP wP |c | * wS wP * bP wP wP wS * |d |wP wP * bP bB * * bN * |e | * * bP bS * * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * * |g | * bK bG * * * bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 4. Up to (b)P*5d. Against the bo-gin, Black pushes his P on the 6th file to place the right S on 6f. This is another joseki to remember. The last move on Diagram 4,(b)P*5d, did the trick to lead the game in Black's favor. If White counters with Gx5d, then will follow: Bx7c+, Sx7c, N*4f. Nakahara actually won this game in a breeze. Now another position: with an exchange of Ps on the 7th file. Diagram 5, below, is from Ryu-o-sen, Game 4 played by Morishita(b) and Tanigawa(w) on Nov. 26 & 27, 1991. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * wK wB wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG * * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP wP |c |wP wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP * * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * bP bP |g | * bK bG bB * bS * bR * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 5. Morishita(b) vs Tanigawa(w), up to (w)P-9d. After Diagram 5: (from Black) 1.P-3e Px3e 2.Bx3e P-7e 3.Px7e Bx7e 4.P-6e K-3a 5.R-3h K-2b 6.B-4f R-9b 7.S-5g B-4b 8.S5g-6f P-9e 9.P-1f P-1d 10.P*7e (Diagram 6) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: 2 Ps |wR * * * * wB wG wK * |b | * * wS wP * wG wS wP * |c | * wP * * wP wP * * wP |d |wP * bP bP * * * * * |e | * * * bS bP bB * * bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * bP * |g | * bK bG * * * bR * * |h Black in hand: P |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 6. Up to (b)P*7e. Black goes ahead to exchange Ps on the 3rd file. After seeing White also exchanged Ps on the 7th, Black then pushes the P on the 6th file. The rest of the moves will go naturally along the 6th file, checking White's moves with the well-positioned B on 4f. Since Black's R is on 3h, his/her R & B have comparatively more free space. You can't say the position is in favor of either side, but there is another factor that goes with shogi games, which is a feel of ease. In this case, Black should feel easier about his/her future deployment, while White has a lot to be cautious of. The next game will show you how Black fared when White attacked from the 5th file. Diagram 7 is from the game 3 of the Kisei-sen played by Habu(b) and Tanigawa(w) on July 9, 1993. Take note of the last move on the diagram, (b)L-1g. It used to be customary to play P-4f instead, but L-1g was decided to be better against White's P-5e. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * wR * * * * wG wK * |b |wP * * wP wS wG wS wP * |c | * * wP wB wP wP wP * wP |d | * wP * * * * * * * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bP bP |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bN * bL |g | * bK bG bB * bS bR * * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * * * |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 7. Habu(b) vs Tanigawa(w), up to L-1g. P-5e; P-6e B-7c; Px5e P-6d; S-5g Px6e; S-5f R-6b; N-2e S-2d; B-4f S-6d; R-1h B-8d; P-1e B-3i+; Px1d P*1b; P-3e (Diagram 8) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing | * * * wR * * wG wK wP |b |wP * * * * wG * wP * |c | * * wP wS * wP wP wS bP |d | * wP * wP bP * bP bN * |e | * * bP * bS bB * bP * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP * * bL |g | * bK bG * * * * * bR |h Black in hand: 2Ps |bL bN * * * * wB+ * * |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 8. Up to (b)P-3e. As was shown above, in response to White's P-5e, Black first plays P-6e and then Px5e. If White plays Bx5e, Black moves the right S to 5g,then on 6f. When (w)P-6d is played, as was in this game, Black takes the suzume-zashi formation. The actual game ended in Black's win after a relentless attack by Morishita. (To be continued) Takako Noda