From: Manabu Terao JAPAN SUN COM> Date: 5 feb 1999 Subject: Shogi strength drill - #14 Dear Shogi Fans, Here is Problem #14. Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS) Problem #14 You may know "Mino castle" is weak against the combination of kNight and Bishop. You can easily find the ending moves. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +--------------------------------------------+ White in hand: | wL | wN | | wG |+bR | | | | | a +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | wK | wS | | | | | | | b | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ | wP | wP | wP | | | | | | | c +--------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | d +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | bB | | | | | e +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | f +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | g +--------------------------------------------+ Black in hand: | | | | | | | | | | h +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |N | | | | | | | | | | | i | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ Answer #14 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +--------------------------------------------+ White in hand: | wL | wN | |+bR | | | | | | a +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ | | | wK | | wS | | | | | | | b | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ | wP | wP | wP | | | | | | | c +--------------------------------------------| | | | bN | | | | | | | d +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | bB | | | | | e +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | f +--------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | g +--------------------------------------------+ Black in hand: | | | | | | | | | | h +------------------+ +--------------------------------------------+ |G | | | | | | | | | | | i | | +--------------------------------------------+ +------------------+ The answer is N*7d, K9b +Rx6a Point : N*7d against Mino Castle. How about Rx6a+, Sx6a, N*7d instead of the answer sequence? You need to consider a little more. K7b will be followed and you fail. You have to drop N*7d at first. If K7a, you can capture the Gold by +Rx6a. Then Kx6a will be followed by Gx6b, a mate. Sx6a followed by G*8b, also a mate. Your opponent has no other way than letting his King escape by K9b. Then your +Rx6a leads to a brinkmate("hisshi", see the answer diagram). In case of Sx6a, G*8b is a checkmate. N*7d is often a fatal blow against Mino castle. If your opponent's move is P9d at the answer diagram, you can checkmate by +Rx7b, K9c, B6f, P8d and +R8b End of this message