From: Manabu Terao <Manabu.Terao <at> JAPAN <dot> SUN <dot> COM>
Date: 25 dec 1998
Subject: Shogi strength drill - #9

Dear Shogi Fans,

Here is the problem #9.

There will be no drill next weekend. The problem #10 will be forwarded on the
second Friday of next year.

Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS)

Problem #9

This is chosen to show "the technic of sending
aside(Okuri no Tesuji). Sending the King into a
narrow space. There will be two lines.

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    | wN | wL |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |G                 |
|    |    |    | bR | wG | wK |    |    |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    | bP | wP | wP | wP | wP |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | wP |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    | bP |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |GS                |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+


Answer #9

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    | bS | wN | wL |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |G                 |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |+bR |    |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    | bP | wP | wP | wP | wP | wK |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | wP |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    | bP |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |GG                |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+

The right answer line is G*3b   Kx3b
                         Rx5b+  G*4b
                         G*2b   Kx2b
                         +Rx4b  G*3b
                         S*3a   K1c
                         +Rx3b


Point : The technic of sending aside(Okuri no Tesuji) is
       one of the standard patterns of endgame.

R6a+ or R7b+(Approx. 50 kyu).

Although R6a+ leads next mate aiming G*4a,K3b,Rc5b, it
will make the King secure with G*5a for example.

S*3a,Kx3a,Rx5b+,G*3b(Approx.40Kyu) = Reference Figure(below)

Sacrificing Silver make it possible to capture Gold with the promotion
of Rook. This line is sometimes certainly probable, but not suitable
in this case.

G*3b is a fine move. If White answers by K5a, then either S*4b,Gx4b
Gx4b or Rx5b+,Kx5b,G*6b will lead mate, respectively. After
G*3b,Kx3bbRx5b+,G*4b,  you can also play S*4a,K2b,+Rx4b as the other
correct line. However, the line G*2b,Kx2b,Rx4b is chosen here for emphasizing
the technic of sending aside(Okuri no Tesuji).
Answering S*3a to G*3b with +Rx3b after wK1c is surely a hot
chase.
Though the answer sequence is rather long,  this problem may not be so difficult.
This technic is an indispensable to learn for endgame. We say 'Avoid the
check if possible', but this technic of sending aside is one of the
exceptions. We must foresee the opponent's King can not escape before
sending the King to the edge.

After the answer figure, White's P1e does not help the King with G*2d,Px2d,
+R2b,K1d,+Rx2d(mate).

Reference #9

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    | wK | wN | wL |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |S                 |
|    |    |    |    |+bR |    | wG |    |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    | bP | wP | wP | wP | wP |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | wP |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    | bP |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |GG                |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+