From: Patrick Davin <patrick <at> LYRA <dot> VEGA <dot> OR <dot> JP>
Date: 13 nov 1997
Subject: Re: This week in Shukan Shogi (no.712, November 12th 1997)

Thanks, Reijer.  As usual, an excellent report.

I beg to differ, however, on a point very early on in the Ryuo game.

Reijer writes:
>Black: Sanada, Challenger
>White: Tanigawa, Ryu-O
>10th Ryu-O sen, Game 3, November 6th and 7th 1997
>1.P7g-7f           1/1          0/0
>2.P3c-3d           0/1          4/4
>3.P2g-2f           1/2          0/4
>4.P4c-4d           0/2          0/4
>5.S3i-4h           19/21        0/4
>
>This is a bit unusual in modern professional practice. The move P2f is
>considered a minus point when playing the Yagura opening by black. So,
>black players play P2e here to force B3c, after which white has almost
>no choice but to play Furibisha (Ranging Rook). This was what Tanigawa
>had planned for this game. The differences are very subtle, and it is hard
>to say if they have any influence on the outcome of the game. Sanada ignores
>this reasoning and plays the opening differently.

Actually, in this ubiquitous opening position, the more flexible 5. S4h
is the main line and not at all unusual.  5. S4h occurs here over 70% of
the time; 5. P2e is played in the remainder.

It's not a question of which move is better.  They are both excellent.
As Reijer says, the differences are subtle.  5. P2e discourages the Yagura
but allows a playable Mukaibisha.  5. S4h allows a very wide choice
between Yagura and Furibisha.

Some pros thus choose 5. S4h against opponents who are known to be strong
in the Furibisha and 5. P2e against Ibisha players.  Given that Tanigawa
has proven to be strong in _any_ opening, and that Sanada probably feels
slightly more comfortable in the Yagura than vs Furibisha, his choice of
5. S4h seems natural.

If Sanada had played 5. P2e, Tanigawa would almost certainly have played
a Furibisha and the game would have been entirely different.  Whether it
would have affected the result is another question.  Very few games are
decided in the first 5 moves...


Sorry to be such a nitpicker...  We amateurs probably shouldn't be
bothered by such subtleties in the first few moves...