From: Colin Paul Adams <colin <at> COLINA <dot> DEMON <dot> CO <dot> UK>
Date: 1 dec 1999
Subject: Re: CHU: Black's quick attack on 5th file (really)

>>>>> "Nick" == Nick Bardsley <nbardsley <at> ICC <dot> CO <dot> UK> writes:

    Nick> OK. Bearing in mind that the following is the suggestion of
    Nick> a Chu Shogi beginner,

I was hoping to provoke discussion with the more experienced Chu
players out there.
Still, this raises a point or two:

    Nick> 1.Ln-6h / Ln-7e 2.P-8h / P-5e 3.Ln-6g / Ph-5d 4.Ph-8i / P-8e
    Nick> 5.P-5h / P-10e 6.P-10h / P-3e 7.P-3h / DH-11e 8.DH-11h /
    Nick> DH-2e 9.DH-2h / P-6e 10.P-7h / Ky-6d 11.Ky-7i / Ky-8d

    Nick> If Black's Kylin attacks the White Lion on 7e with Ky-7g
    Nick> ..., the Lion still retreats with ... Ln-6d but after
    Nick> Black's next move the White Kylin can both threaten the
    Nick> White Kylin on 7g and act on 5e with ... Ky-7e. (It also
    Nick> occupies 8d before, I think, Black is ready to attack
    Nick> properly and ... Ky-7e will clear it, of course.)

1) If White is going to play like this, then he should not move the
Lion at all. Simply Ky-6d followed by Ky-7e is two moves faster. See
historical game 1 in MSM. This aims at a quick attack by white on file 8.

2) But playing this way against Black's attack, White will be forced
to play Ky x Ky at some time. This is my strategy when playing as
Black. I can then place Coppers on 6i and 7i, and a Silver on 5i. So I
have a strong centre, the better Lion position, no worries on how to
develop the castle, as the kylin is out of the way, and I'm two tempi
ahead in the attack (one for playing first, and one for forcing white
to initiate the exchange of kylins (but only if I can recapture with a
pawn).
In short, Black's opening strategy is an outstanding success if play
goes along these lines.

    Nick> PS. Has the development each side exhibits up to move
    Nick> 9. been found to be the best and most efficient for each
    Nick> side? (I wondered if White could do better but didn't think
    Nick> about it deeply.)

White MUST do better.
--
Colin Paul Adams
Preston Lancashire