From: Leung Kai Wan HKUSUA HKU HK> Date: 10 nov 1997 Subject: Shogi Lecture for the Beginers Hello everyone, The following material is uploaded on behalf of Mr. Dick Iwakura for the request of some friends here who asked for his old postings. regards, Kai Wan Leung leungkw hkusua hku hk Hong Kong ----- Begin Included Message ----- SHOGI LECTURE FOR THE BEGINNERS (If you are more than Shodan, you don't need to read this lecture) LECTURE NO.1 Initial Set Up of Playing Shogi ------------------------ Please don't forget the following manners when you start playing Shogi with your respectful opponent: 1. As long as the traditional culture concerns, we respect the person who has good modesty to the people. Conversation during play is absolu- tely prohibited. 2. When you will pick up the piece (KOMA), you have to pick up the Gyoku(King) first. It has very strict rule that lower class person should have Gyoku and upper one takes Ou. we call them both Koma as King.. But there are big difference. If the opponent is the same class as you, you can choose either one of both. 3. After you pick up the Gyoku, you will pick up Kin(Gold) and put this Kin to your left-hand side of Gyoku. Next you pick up other Kin and put it right-hand side of Gyoku. 4. Then you take Gin(Silver), Keima(Knight),Kyousha(Lance) in order. 5. After bottom rank is finished, you will take Fu(Pawn) and put this Fu to 5C/5G position. Then you will follow the same way of others. 6. After you finish Fu, you take Kaku(Bishop) and finally you take Hisha(Rook). (We call this way as "OH-HASHI" style). 7. If the handicap is even, you will take 5 Fu and swing them inside of your hands and drop them. If Fu appears more than three pcs., the person who was swinging (you) will take Sente(Black). If there are Tokin more than three pcs., your opponent takes Sente. For handicapped game, the upper class persons always take Sente. But scoring should be written as if the lower class were Sente. Eg. 62 Gin, 76 Fu, 53 Fu, 46 Fu $B!D!D!D (B The lower class persons must tell the upper class "ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA' after the game review (actually Koma-Ochi game is teaching) has been finished. 8. After Sente/Gote is decided, both side must mention clearly "ONEGAI SHIMASU!". Then start the game. 9. When you will resign the game, you have to mention very clearly "MAKEMASHITA' or "ARIMASEN'. 10.Please note Shogi is extremely traditional game and I hope my students in this lecture keeps the above rules very strictly when you will play Shogi game anytime. Because this is traditional beauty. 11. This is the common sense when people will learn Karate or Judo also. JAPANESE SHOGI WORDS ------------------------------------- I hope you try to remember at least following few words: 1. The words of Piece Original Name After Promoted King Gyoku N on Rook Hisha or Hi Ryu Bishop Kaku Uma Gold Kin None Silver Gin Nari-Gin Knight Kei or Keima Nari-Kei Lance Kyo or Kyosha Nari-Kyo Pawn Fu Tokin or To 2. The words of Movement I will describe it all in English because ordinal Japanese can understand simple English. Right - The right-hand side piece moves. (Migi) Left - The left-hand side piece moves. (Hidari) Side - The piece moves to side (Yoru) Up --- The piece moves to up (Agaru) Down - The piece moves to down (Sagaru) Straight - The piece moves to straight up. (Sugu) Back ----- The piece moves to back. (Hiku) Exception: When you can capture the opponent's Koma, we can say Do-Fu, Do-Kyo, Do-Kaku only etc. Example ; Sente Gote ------ ------ 1, 26 Fu 2. 84 Fu 3. 25 Fu 4. 85 Fu 5. 24 Fu 6. Do-Fu 7. Do-Hi 8. 86 Hi 9. Do-Fu 10. 87 Fu (I don't mention 87 Fu drop ) 10. 23 Fu 12. 88 Fu naru 11. Do-Gin 14. 35 Kaku 12. 22 Fu naru 16. Do-Gin 13. 28 Hi 18. 57 Kaku naru Toryo (resign) Gote won the game at step naru ---- promotes Nari-Gin - Promoted Silver The numbers on the left is the movement step. International Notation is a kind of Chess method. Shogi never uses such a notation. Every professionals explain that "my step No.28's 78 Kyo-Naru was mistake" something like this way. Sente must be odd step number and Gote even numbers. For other special words, you can learn them step by step with me. The merit of the Japanese Notation ----------------------------------- 1. You can communicate any Japanese Ama./Pro. Players by this way very easily. So professionals are easy to teach you. On the other hands, they can not teach you under so called "International" notation . 2. You can read any Japanese Shogi books after you study a few more Kanji characters. If you already play by actual Kanji Koma, you don't need to study more. This is all. 3. What I want all of you is to become SHODAN as soon as possible. You can learn all necessary formula from books. I believe you can surely do it after a few lectures of mine to get the black belt within 3-4 years. 4. I and other members on other famous Shogi page will use this kind of notation under the recommendation of JSA. 5. If you can write your score (Kifu) completely, I can give you Class 4 strength at least. Class 4 means that you can beat me under the handicap of two pcs (without Hisha and Kaku) for all the games. If you can play Blind game, you are already becoming 2 dan or more. 6. In order to confirm your strength, we play together in new JAVA Shogi server, where you can know your real strength by playing with many of us. Unfortunately, nobody can use the "International" notation there. So to review your scores, we need to study this format. Otherwise, other strong amateurs or professionals can not give you any good suggestions even if they know how to write good English to you. Very few Japanese Player can write you with International notation. JAVA Shogi Server: http://www.info.waseda.ac.jp/muraoka/shogi/index.html New JAVA Shogi functions Kifu Records, Handi-Capped games etc. If you really respect our culture and love SHOGI, Please study one hour to remember all the necessary words for above for your lifetime Shogi Hobby. If you don't have anytime to study them now, please just print this out and when you will be confused, you just refer it please. This is technical part but real good Shogi players respect the opponent with good manner and gentle modesty. Needless to say, you can not be so glad when you win the game in front of your opponent. Instead, you have to give and show your opponent very deep sympathy because he or she really would like to cry by loosing the game. If your time allows for the review of the game, you have to consider with your opponent very carefully and try to find out any method that opponent could win if he or she moved with other way. This is gentlemen Shogi-Ship. Frankly speaking, to be stronger or weaker is not so much important in Shogi. The attitude of the game create your own beauty and people will like you more. On the other hands, all strong Ama/Pro Players are strictly keeping good attitude for Shogi Play all the time without exception. This is the hint to be a skilful player. If you can not keep the way I mentioned all above, you are not qualified to be a skilful Shogi Player. It is very easy if you can think of the people's mind. You can also enter into "ZEN" world thru Shogi later. Anyway, please enjoy Shogi more. My next upload is starting Lecture of Habu's Brain No.8 "Hineri-Hisha (Switching Rook)" This strategy is very effective if opponent likes to take the way of Static Rook. You are not requested to give me any comments thru Shogi Discussion List. Please give me your e-mail if you have any kind of comments or questions. I just hope you to be a good Shogi Player only and you can teach your friends later on. NOTE: If you can write your Kifu under the above way, please send me by e-mail, so I can give you good suggestion for next gam I need to receive your lost game Kifu. To review your lost game is the nearest way to be stronger. However, after you become Shodan, you need to have lectures from Professionals. Thanks friends and best regards Dick Iwakura Hong Kong Shogi Club (a Branch of Japan Shogi Federation) Email: dickcon ma kcom ne jp SHOGI LECTURE FOR THE BEGINNERS =============================== LECTURE NO.2 -- SWITCHING ROOK How are you everybody? This is Dick Iwakura of Hong Kong Shogi Club and let's start the No.2 Lecture of Switching Rook. Please review the last one again. To become a skilful Shogi Player, please make it a rule as studying several points every day. First of all, Tsume Shogi Problem is very important for you to be stronger at ending stage of Shogi Play, so please try to solve the 5-7 steps problem everyday at least 10. If you are still super beginner, please start themfrom 3 steps. You may know many skilful movements from Tsume Shogi. I recommend all of you to study "Hajimete no Tsume Shogi" written by Mr.Futakami (9 Dan) who is the chairman of Shogi Renmei now. Second, please try to solve the problem of "What is the next step?" You can learn the skilful methods of middle stage of Shogi fight. I recommend the book titled "Tsugi no Itte" written by Mr.Nakahara (Eternal 10 Dan). This is a kind of old book but it will be very effective for the beginners or many Shogi players less than Shodan. Let's start the lecture. Please move the piece (Koma) on your actual Shogi board. Beginners Play of Switching Rook (3-4 Kyu each) =============================================== Sente Gote -------- ------- 26 FU 84 FU 25 FU 85 FU 78 KIN 32 KIN 24 FU DO FU DO HI 23 FU 26 HI 34 FU (#1) 36 HI 33 KIN 76 FU 86 FU DO FU DO HI 96 FU (#2) 62 GIN 77 KEI 82 HI (#3) 48 GYOKU 41 GYOKU 38 GIN 32 GYOKU 75 FU 42 GIN 97 KAKU (#4) COMMENTS: #1 -- Usually Gote moves 62 Gin or 72 Gin instead of 34 FU. 62 Gin is old style and 72 Gin is new one. (will explain you later) #2 -- 96 FU must be earlier than 76 FU to avoid other complex v variations. #3 -- Hisha must be going back to Rank 2. Otherwise, Sente will drop 85 FU. Then Hisha will be died by 85 FU. #4 -- The Shogi beginners are all surprised with this 97 Kaku because Gote's Hisha can promote as 89 HI-NARI but you are not necessary to be afraid of this Hisha Nari. Because you can kill this Ryu at the end. Can somebody try to kill this Ryu (Dragon) ?. Try to give me the score you moved. The above score has already made many mistakes for both side. If you can be Shodan or more, you will never move as above. Hineri-Hisha Match by both Shodan ---------------------------------- Sente Gote ------- ------ 26 FU 84 FU 25 FU 85 FU 78 KIN 32 KIN 24 FU DO FU DO HI 23 FU 26 HI 62 GIN 96 FU 34 FU 36 HI 33 KIN 76 FU 86 FU DO FU DO HI 75 FU (#1) 82 HI 77 KEI (#2) 41 GYOKU 48 GYOKU 32 GYOKU 38 GIN 42 GIN 97 KAKU ! 64 FU 86 HI (#3) 84 FU 68 GIN 63 GIN 66 FU 44 FU 46 FU (#4) 43 KIN 67 GIN 54 KIN 76 HI 45 FU DO FU DO KIN 65 FU (#5) DO FU 74 FU DO FU ???? (#6) Explanation: #1 - 75 FU - This is to try to exchange the Hisha and if Gote moves to capture 36 HI, DO-FU. Then see this status. You can drop Hisha many places of Gote but not so many places in Sente's side. Switching Rook always will try to exchange Hisha and this is why Sente feels very comfortable. not so many places in Sente's side. Switching Rook always will try to exchange Hisha and this is why Sente feels very comfortable. status. You can drop Hisha many places of Gote but not so many places in Sente's side. Switching Rook always will try to exchange Hisha and this is why Sente feels very comfortable. #2 - 77 KEI - If you drop 87 FU, Gote will be satisfied and you don't need to drop FU. Instead jump KEIMA to 77. If Gote drop 86 FU, you can drop 85 FU. Then Gote's 86 FU will be free of charges. This is why Sent Sente's 96 FU is very important. If you won't move 96 FU earlier, Gote's 87 FU can end the game. #3 - 86 HI - It still tries to exchange Hisha. Gote still can not exchange it, so he drops 84 FU. 85 FU drop is no sense because of DO HI. Also 83 FU drop let Hisha very tight. Therefore, there is only a way for 84 FU. Until this stage, this is essential of Switching Rook and I hope you can move it several times to remember the correct steps. #4 - 46 FU - This 46 FU is very important also. If you move 67 GIN instead of this, Gote will move 45 FU. Then if Gote moves next 43 KIN, his Kaku will start working which is no profit for Sente. Please reject Gote's 45 FU. Then Gote's Kaku is still not effective #5 - This is the timing of Shikake (fighting start) because you can see 61's KIN is not joined with any Koma. Of course, Sente wish to move 39 GYOKU and 58 GIN to protect GYOKU but at the same time, Gote will protect it by 52 KIN-43 KIN. You must be brave and start attack now! When you attack it, it is important to move FUs first . You move 65 FU, 74 FU, then Hisha and Kaku is going through smoothly. #6 --The Sente can become to be very superior by this move but how? This is my question to all of you. This actually very famous movement of Tsugi no Itte (Next step). Please try to think and give me an answer by mentioning at least next 5 steps. Switching Rook is very comfortable method for Sente because Gote always must refuse to exchange Hisha and also this method can study your sensitivity for both static and ranging rook at the same time. However, if you move 26FU and Gote moves 34 FU, this is other game. Shogi's strategy can be decided by first 5 steps or less usually. The above moments are still amateur's one and I will show you the thoughts of Habu san in next lecture, which is very interested in Shogi player around 2-3 Kyu. WHAT IS HABU'S BRAIN!? I am waiting for your any questions or comments regarding Switching Rook. Thanks for reading. Ganbatte ! Best regards Dick Iwakura Hong Kong Shogi Club A pupil of Mr.Kenji Kobayashi (8 Dan) email: dickcon ma kcom ne jp ----- End Included Message -----