From: Jochum Drechsler WEB DE> Date: 25 feb 2002 Subject: Opening Question Dear shogi-players, in the German Shogi Championship (results will follow tomorrow) I played against the newcomer and rising star Karl Wartlick. In one position Karl could have taken the side pawn, but droped a pawn in front of my rook. I was not sure how to react. Here are the moves: Karl -- Jochen 1. P-7f P-3d 2. P-2f P-8d 3. P-2e P-8e 4. G6i-7h G4a-3b 5. P-2d Px2d 6. R2hx2d P-8f 7. Px8f R8bx8f 8. P*8g (Rx7f) This is the position. I decided to take the side pawn. Is that reasonable? What would have been the best developement? Thomas (Majewski) and I could find it in any shogi books. Do you have any ideas? Thank you, Jochen. Here follows the complete game, if you are interested: German Championship Hannover 2002 24. 2. 2002 round 5 Sente Karl Wartlick Gote Jochum Drechsler 1. P-7f 2. P-3d 3. P-2f 4. P-8d 5. P-2e 6. P-8e 7. G6i-7h 8. G4a-3b 9. P-2d 10. Px2d 11. R2hx2d 12. P-8f 13. Px8f 14. R8bx8f 15. P*8g 16. R8fx7f 17. B8hx2b+ 18. S3ax2b 19. B*6e 20. B*3c 21. R2dx2b+ 22. B3cx2b 23. B6ex7f 24. B2bx9i+ 25. N8i-7g 26. L*7d 27. P*7e 28. L7dx7e 29. R*2e 30. L7ex7f 31. R2ex2a+ 32. R*3a 33. +R2ax3a 34. G3bx3a 35. N*2c 36. G3a-4a 37. S*8h 38. +B9ix8h 39. S7ix8h 40. L7fx7g+ 41. S8hx7g 42. B*1d 43. B*8c 44. S*7d 45. B8cx6a+ 46. Kx6a 47. R*2a 48. B*3b 49. R2ax1a+ 50. B1dx4g+ 51. G*5h 52. +B4g-1d 53. N2c-3a+ 54. N*4f 55. G5h-6h 56. G4ax3a 57. +R1ax3a 58. R*4a 59. +R3ax4a 60. B3bx4a 61. L*4h 62. P*2h 63. S3ix2h 64. P*2g 65. S2h-3i 66. R*2b 67. P*2c 68. R2bx2c 69. R*3a 70. R2c-2d 71. G*4b 72. P-2h+ 73. G4bx4a 74. +Px3i 75. G4a-4b 76. K-7b 77. B*6a 78. K-8b 79. G4i-5h 80. R2dx2i+ 81. K-6i 82. +P-3h 83. L*5i 84. +Px4h 85. K-7i 86. +Px5h Karl resigns.