From: Manabu Terao JAPAN SUN COM> Date: 6 nov 1998 Subject: Shogi strength drill - #2 Dear Shogi Fans, Here is Problem #2. Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS) Problem #2 A check move of G*2b will be heavy by K1c. Gold advancing to 3a and enabling pawn promotion P3b+ will be slow. It often occurs that your opponent's King is placed at the head of a Lance in the endgame. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +--------------------------------------------+ White in hand: | | | | | | | | wN | wL | a +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |(Nothing) | | | | | | | | bG | | wK | b | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ | | | | | | | bP | wP | | c +--------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | wP | d +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | bP | | e +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | bP | f +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | g +--------------------------------------------+ Black in hand: | | | | | | | | | | h +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |G | | | | | | | | | | bL | i | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ Answer #2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +--------------------------------------------+ White in hand: | | | | | | | | wN | wL | a +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |(Nothing) | | | | | | | | bG | | wK | b | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ | | | | | | | bP | wP | | c +--------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | wP | d +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | bP | bP | e +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | f +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | g +--------------------------------------------+ Black in hand: | | | | | | | | | | h +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |G | | | | | | | | | | bL | i | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ The right answer is P1e. Point : Against the edge king push the edge pawn Your opponent's King often escape to the head of a edge lance when you approach to the King in the endgame. It's no problem for you to find a forced mate then. But if you cannot find a forced mate, pushing edge pawn will be the quickest way to approach the King. Failure line example --- G*2b, K1c, Gx2a or Gx1a. This will be not good as the 2 Golds on board are easy to idle. Thus, pawn push of P1e aims at the forced mate to begin with the next move of G*2b, K1c, Px1d which leads you a securer win. It is recommended that you should force your opponent's King to a edge file in the endgame. And win according to the shogi proverb "Against the edge king push the edge pawn" End of this message