From: Manabu Terao <Manabu.Terao <at> JAPAN <dot> SUN <dot> COM>
Date: 13 nov 1998
Subject: Shogi strength drill - #3

Dear Shogi Fans,

Here is Problem #3.

Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS)


Problem #3

G4a-3b, or G3b taking Silver?
Neither of them is recommended. There would be a more
effective move. Let's try.

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    | bG |    | wN | wL |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |(Nothing)         |
|    |    |    |    |    | bG | wS | wK |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    | wP | wP |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    | wL |    | wP |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |GSN               |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+


Answer #3

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    | bG |    | wN | wL |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |(Nothing)         |
|    |    |    |    |    | bG | wS | wK |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    | wP | wP |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    | wL |    | wP |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    | bN |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |GS                |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+

The right answer is K*2e.

Point : You must not drive the opponent's King escape up the board.

In case of the sequence of S3a, K1c, and G3b instead of the right move N*2e,
Black could gain a Silver, while entering King might happen.

After N2e drop, next moves such as S*3a, K1b, G*2b turn out mate, without
any defending method. This technique is called squeezing(shibari), a good
tactics to approach the opponent's King. It is easy to bring the opponent's
King near mate when it's in the back rank, which is not the case in the
upper part.

Although it depends on the situation, normally don't let the opponent's
King go out to the upper part such as 3rd and 4th ranks.

Not to check but to approach the opponent's King by surrounding him is
recommended except that check must be done to avoid opponent's threatmate.

End of this message