From: Manabu Terao - Sales Planning Staff JAPAN SUN COM> Date: 7 nov 1997 Subject: Gold's good shape Dear shogi fans, These days I enjoy playing e-mail shogi with some friends outside Japan using PBeM server. One of them asked me what is Gold's good shape. Here is the major part of my answer without private information. I hope this will somewhat help you. Regards Manabu Terao General rule of Gold's good shape. Rule 1 --- Golds are key pieces in defence. There are 7 positions to form a good shape on the board if you play black such as 3h, 4g, 4i, 5h, 6g, 6i, 7h(See Diagram 1,If you play white, 180 degree rotation is applicable for whole diagrams). I do not know well why these make good shape. It's a feeling endorsed by many players' experience. Diagram 1 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | | | | | | | | f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | |/ G\| |/ G\| | | | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | |/ G\| |/ G\| |/ G\| | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | |/ G\| |/ G\| | | | i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Rule 2 --- A Gold next to one of the abovementiond positioned Gold vertically or horizontally between 3th and 7th file also makes good shape(See Diagram 2 and 3) Diagram 2 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f |/ P\| |/ P\| |/ P\| | | | | f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | |/ P\| |/ P\| | | | | | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | |/ K\|/ G\|/ G\| | | | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i |/ L\|/ N\| | | | | | | | i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 3 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| |/ P\| f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | | | |/ G\| |/ P\| | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | | | |/ G\|/ K\| | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | | | | | |/ N\|/ L\| i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 4-7 show the development from Kata Mino castle to Silver Crown castle. Diagram 8-10 show develpment of Gold Yagura Castle. Both castles are popular and considerd good shape. Please see both always accord to the Rule 1. Please keep these in your in mind when you forget jeseki sequesnce in opening. Diagram 4 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| | |/ P\| f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | | | | |/ P\|/ P\| | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | | | | |/ S\|/ K\| | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | |/ G\| |/ G\| |/ N\|/ L\| i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 5 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | | |/ P\|/ P\| | |/ P\| f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | | | | |/ P\|/ P\| | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | | |/ G\| |/ S\|/ K\| | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | | | |/ G\| |/ N\|/ L\| i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 6 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| |/ P\| f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | | | |/ G\|/ N\|/ P\| | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | | | | |/ S\|/ K\| | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | | | |/ G\| |/ N\|/ L\| i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 7 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g | | | | | |/ G\|/ N\|/ S\| | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | | | | |/ G\|/ K\| | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | | | | | | | | |/ L\| i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 8 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| | | | | f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g |/ P\|/ P\| | | |/ P\| | | | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | | |/ S\|/ G\| | | | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i |/ L\|/ N\| |/ G\|/ K\| | | | i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 9 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| | | | | f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g |/ P\|/ P\|/ S\| | |/ P\| | | | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | | |/ G\| |/ G\| | | | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i |/ L\|/ N\| |/ K\| | | | | | i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Diagram 10 +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ f | | |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| | | | | f +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ g |/ P\|/ P\|/ S\|/ G\| |/ P\| | | | g +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ h | |/ K\|/ G\| | | | | | | h +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ i |/ L\|/ N\| | | | | | | | i +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 e.o.m