From: Takako Noda JA2 SO-NET OR JP> Date: 13 nov 1997 Subject: "QUEST" yagura (9) 1-3-3 Thus, the Morishita System can be called the first responsive type of the Yagura opening. In response to White's passive attitude, Black takes the S-4g formation; against White's bo-gin, the S-6f formation. As for the R's positioning, it varies according to the opponent's moves, such as on the first file for suzume-zashi, on the third file, or on the 5th file for the center attack. The more it was investigated, the more refined the system got to be, which gave momentum for more frequent use of it in official games. So much so that, for a certain period, yagura virtually meant the Morishita System. However, this seemingly flawless opening had its own Achilles' heel. Diagram 9 is from the first game that has revealed the Morishita System's weak point. It was played by Yoshikazu Minami(b) and Teruichi Aono(w) in Kisei-sen, on February 17th, 1994. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing |wR * * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wL * wN wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d |wP * * * * * * bP * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP * * |f |bP bP bS bG * bP bS * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: nothing |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 9. Minami(b) vs Aono(w), up to (b)B-4b. S-8f N-8e; S-2f Nx9g+; Sx9g P-9f; Sx9f Lx9f; Lx9f Rx9f; L*9i P*9g; Lx9g Bx9g+; Nx9g L*7a; (Diagram 10) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * wL * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: S L | * * * wS wG * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |wR * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: B N 2Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 10. Up to (W)L*7a. The system required quicker castling of its King than the opponent's. It was probably too quick, which was taken advantage of by the opponent. Then re-entered the suzume-zashi into the spotlight. What is to note is that the suzume-zashi which had been almost totally abandoned by Black players was now revived as a White's tactic. Ironically enough, the popularity of the Morishita System imbued a new life into it, and White's suzume-zashi attained the status of the Morishita System killer. When White assumes the suzume-zashi formation, Black has to cope with it by pushing P on the R file, thereby arrives the position shown in Diagram 9. Did you notice the White's positioning was not exactly the same as the basic one described in Section 1? The difference lies in where the suzume-zashi side's G stands: the G here stays on 5b instead of 4c. Moves after Diagram 10: (from Black) P-8f P-7e; Px7e L*7b; K-8g R-9e; P*9f Rx7e; P*7g P*9e; Px9e Rx9e; P*9f R-9b; B-4f P*9h; N*8c Lx7g+; G6gx7g Lx7g+; Gx7g P-9i+; N-9a+ S*9h; Rx9h +Px9h; +Nx9b R*4h; R*8a G-5a; P*7h +Px9g; K-7f P*7d; (Diagram 11) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * bR * * wG wK * wN wL |a White in hand: G N |bN+ * * wS * * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |bP bP bK bP bP bB bP bS * |f |wP+ * bG * * bP * * bP |g | * * bP * * wR * * * |h Black in hand: B S 2Ls | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 11. Up to (w)P*7d. Look again at the last move on Diagram 10. According to a theory, the move for the suzume-zashi player to make here (instead of L*7a) was P-7e. In this case, however, it won't do, because Black will then play B-4f. L*7a was a well-thought-out move, which has a story behind it. As a matter of fact, I was the one who was shocked to see the move for the first time at the kenkyu-kai (a practice meet in which several pros get together and play shogi for investigation) held in January of that year. I was Black and playing against Tadahisa Maruyama (now 7-dan, and will certainly be an A-class player next year). At our post mortem Aono 9-dan joined in. A while after the Minami-Aono game just cited, Aono-sensei said to me, "Thanks to you and Maruyama-kun, I managed to win. But, boy, was it tough!" It was only then that I knew about this game. You may well wonder how a crude suzume-zashi which didn't work as a Black tactic can be effective as a White's trick. This is a good example to show that sometimes in shogi it's better not to make a move. White's right G stays on 5b, and that's where it functions better for the guard. Now another series of moves from a different angle. What if Black's S escapes onto 8f when White plays P-9f, counting on his B coming to 4f? The next diagram is from a Ryu-O-sen game played by Morishita(b) and Yonenaga(w) on June 23rd, 1994. This game was the major reason that Morishita has now stopped playing his own system. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: P |wR * * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wL * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e |wP bS bP bP bP * bP bS * |f | * bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: N |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 12. Morishita(b) vs Yonenaga(w), up to S-8f. S-8f P-8e; N*8d R-8b; Sx8e P-9g+; Lx9g Lx9g+; Nx9g P*9f; Sx9f Rx8d; L*8f R-9d; P*9e R-9c; L-8b+ P-6d; (Diagram 13) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: N L | * bL+ * wS wG wB wG * * |b |wR * * * * * wS wP wP |c | * * wP wP wP wP wP * * |d |bP * * * * * * bP * |e |bS * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: P2 | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 13. Up to (w)P-6d. Please note a slight difference in position of each game. In Yagura, the most delicate difference in position could mean a great change in the play that follows. In this game, Black can drop N on 8d to counter White's P-8e. Actually Morishita seemed to have been confident up to L- 8b+, but P-6d crushed his optimistic outlook. See for yourself on Diagram 13 that White's R has a clear path sideways, plus a threatening move of P-6e is on its way. Enough to ensure White's dominance. After the creator, Morishita, lost to the suzume-zashi, the Morishita System was not played anymore when White took G-5b position. There was one exception, though. It was Habu, who challenged the White suzume-zashi with a new idea. The game was played between Habu(b) and Akira Shima(w) on December 13th, 1994, as Game No.1 in Kisei-sen. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: N L | * * * wS wG wB wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * wR wP * wP wP wP * * |d |bS * * * * * * bP * |e | * * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f |bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: L 3Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 14. Habu(b) vs Shima(w), up to S-9e. S-9e R-8a; P*9c P-7e; P-9b+ R-5a; Px7e Bx7e; S-8f B-6d; S-3g L*8c; N-8e N*7d; P*7e Nx8f; Px8f Lx8e; Px8e Bx7e; (Diagram 15) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * * wR wK * wN wL |a White in hand: S,N,2Ps |bP+ * * wS wG * wG * * |b | * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c | * * * * wP wP wP * * |d | * bP wB * * * * bP * |e | * * * bP bP * bP * * |f | * * * bG * bP bS * bP |g | * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: N,2Ls,2Ps | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Diagram 15. Up to (w)Bx7e. Habu's idea was S-9e, but it was not much of improvement, as the actual proceedings suggested. However, Habu with his gift for victory, came up with a beguiling series of moves after Diagram 15: (b)L*7g(What a move!), (w)B-4b, (b)P*7e(Another stunt!). And yes, Habu won the game. It should be noted, however, even Habu has stopped to induce White to form the suzume-zashi after this. Eventually it was concluded that the above position is not easy for Black to play. Thus, the Morishita System has come to its end, implying that the suzume-zashi will always be a possibility against Yagura. (To Be Continued) Takako Noda