From: Manabu Terao <Manabu.Terao <at> JAPAN <dot> SUN <dot> COM>
Date: 20 nov 1998
Subject: Shogi strength drill - #4

Dear Shogi Fans,

Here is Problem #4.

Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS)


Problem #4

 Although White King(9d) is in a difficult position, P*9e is prohibited
 as it is pawn mate by drop. Where should the pawn be dropped then?


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



Answer #4


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

The right answer is P*9f.


Point : Good move to prepare mate by pushing pawn.

As P*9e is prohibited because of pawn mate by drop, it is not difficult
to find P*9f. First P*9f, then, mate will be done either by P9e
(pawn push) or G9e. It is easy to capture the opponent's King in front of
his pawns. So, it is a good tactics to drive the opponent's King to being
in front of his pawns. In this case, White King on the 4th rank in front
of his pawns is in a difficult situation to defend himself.

P*9f fits the shogi proverb <<A pawn is worth a thousand Golds >> This is a
good example to drop a piece indirectly but effectively.