From: Manabu Terao <Manabu.Terao <at> JAPAN <dot> SUN <dot> COM>
Date: 28 may 1999
Subject: Shogi strength drill - #29

Dear Shogi Fans,

Here is Problem #29.

Manabu Terao(on behalf of ISPS)

Problem #29

How would you defend your King if it is on the diagonal line of the opponent's
Bishop? How would you do without any piece in hand?

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |                  |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    | wP | wP |    | wP | wB |    |    |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
| bP |    |    | wP |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    | bp | bP | bP | bP |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    |    | bK | bG | bG |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      |                  |
| bL | bN |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+

Answer #29

   9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
+--------------------------------------------+       White in hand:
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  a   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      | P                |
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  b   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  c
+--------------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  d
+--------------------------------------------+
|    | wP | wP |    | wP | wB |    |    |    |  e
+--------------------------------------------+
| bP |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  f
+--------------------------------------------+
|    | bp | bP | bG | bP |    |    |    |    |  g
+--------------------------------------------+      Black in hand:
|    | bK |    | bG |    |    |    |    |    |  h   +------------------+
+--------------------------------------------+      | P                |
| bL | bN |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |  i   |                  |
+--------------------------------------------+      +------------------+

The answer is : K8h, Px6g+, Gx5h-6g

Point : Early escape of your King gains 8 moves.

Allowing White to capture your Gold by Px6g, Gx5h-6g, P*6f will
be too innocent.

You can escape from dangerous position to use the technique of "early escape
of your King"  in case that you have no piece in hand or that you have no
good move of dropping any piece for defense.

There is a shogi proverb "Early escape of your King gains 8 moves".
Although it's doubtful that you actually gain 8 moves, it's still a light
defensive "tesuji".

Swithchig your King to 8h means moving it out of the diagonal line of White's
Bishop to a safer point. Now you do not have to worry about White's Px6g+ and
P*6f as it will be no problem to capture them by Gx5h-6g and Gx6f.