Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Number of shogi players reduced to 129 in Brainking.com at End of Feb.

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR reduced to 129 at the end of Feburuary(JST). The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of January, 2006, the number of players was decreased by 1.

The details by country are as followings;

Czech --- 24(-1)
USA --- 22(-1)
Netherland --- 7(+1)
Russia --- 6(-2)
UK --- 6(0)
Slovakia --- 5(+1)
France --- 4(+1)
Sweden --- 4(+1)
Bergium --- 4(0)
Germany --- 3(0)
England --- 3(0)
Australia --- 3(0)
Japan --- 3(0)
Canada --- 3(+1)
Italy --- 2(0)
Portugal --- 2(0)
Austria --- 1(0)
Estonia --- 1(0)
Finland --- 1(0)
Guatemala --- 1(0)
Israel --- 1(0)
Korea --- 1(0)
Latvia --- 1(0)
New Zealand --- 1(0)
Northern Ireland --- 1(0)
Norway --- 1(0)
Sami --- 1(0)
Spain --- 1(0)
Switzerland --- 1(0)
Turkey --- 1(0)
Wales --- 1(0)
Unknown --- 13(-2)

Habu won the 3rd game of Kio title match

On February 26, the 3rd game of Kio title match was held in Shizuoka prefecture in Japan. Habu play Sente(black) and won the game with 139 moves. After the game, the score is 1-2 led by Challenger Meijin Moriuchi. You can replay the full game in ShizuokaOnline.com.

The diagram below is at the resignation when Habu dropped his Silver on 4b. At the diagram, Habu's King was very safe on 8b guarded by a Bishop, Silver, promoted Lance and two promoted pawns. So Sente(black) should win unless he let Gote(white)'s King escape to his upper space. After the diagram, the possible variation would be followings;

K4c Rx2c+ L*3c P*4d Gx4d Sx4d+ K4b G*4c K4a G*5b(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b= Kx4b Rx2c+ G*3c P*4d S*3b G*4c Sx4c Px4c+ Kx4c S*3b K5b G*4c Gx4c +Rx4c K6a +R4a(mate).

Gx4b Sx4b= Kx4b Rx2c+ G*3c P*4d S*3b G*4c Gx4c Px4c+ Sx4c G*4a Kx4a +Rx4c L*4b G*3b(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b K2b S3a= Kx3a Rx2c+ R*3b G*4c G*2b Gx3b Gx3b G*4a Kx4a R*6a K4b R5a+(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b K2b S3a= K3c Rx2c+ Kx2c P*2d Kx2d B5a+ N*3c P2e K2c G*2b(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b K2b S3a= K3c Rx2c+ Kx2c P*2d K3b G*2c K4c G*4b(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b K3b G*4c Kx4c Rx2c+ G*3c Sx3c+ Nx3c P*4d K4b G*4c K4a +R3b(mate)

Gx4b Sx4b K3b G*4c K2b S3a= K1b Rx2c+ Kx2c P*2d Kx2d B5a+ N*3c P*2e K2c G*2b(mate)

Black should win the game in any variation.

Schedule update in verious countries

San Francisco shogi club is resuming monthly meetings on the first sunday of every
month. The coming gathering will occur on March 5. For more information, please read the announcement.

On March 25 through 30, Meijin Moriuchi will go to Budapest in Hungary to take part in the Chess Open. He will make a shogi exhibition there. For more information, please read the announcement.

From March 30 to April 2, Shogi-Tournament Pullach 2006 will be held in Germany, if you are interested, please read the announcement.

On April 1 and 2, the U.S. Shogi Championship is said to be held in Washington DC. For more information, please read the announcement.

16th World Computer Shogi Championship

According to the announcement distributed to shogi-l, the 16th World Computer Shogi Championship will be held by Computer Shogi Association on May 3 through 5 in Chiba prefecture in Japan. 52 programs have applied.

Challenger Moriuchi won 2nd game of Kio title match

(CORRECTION on Feb. 26)It turned out the diagram below is not at resignation. I'm sorry for delay in correction due to my trip to France. The actual proceeding after the diagram is as follows; Gx9c Nx7c+ G7b L*8b Gx8b +Nx8b Kx8b S*7a K7c +B4d(resign).

Moriuchi won the 2nd game of Kio title match today with 121 moves. Now the score is 2-0 lead by Moriuchi. Habu must not lose one more game to defend his title. You can replay the game here.

Moriuchi's final move was L*9c. I think it is a bit difficult to which one should win at a glance of the resignation diagram on the left. Let me try to explain the variations after the final lance drop on 9c.

First, Gote(White) could not checkmate Sente's King unless he took a Gold or Silver in hand. If he had either, then there would be a mate like P9i+ Kx9i G(S)*9h(mate). Gote's quickest approach to Sente's King without a Gold or Silver would be B*5g, aiming at next Bx7i+ Kx7i G*7h Gx7h Nx7h+(mate). In other words, if Sente made a hisshi(brinkmate) with series of threatmating move without giving a Gold or Silver, Sente should win the game.

There are 4 possible responses against Gote's L*9c. They are G*9c, N*9c, S9b or B*9b(P9b would be a illegal move since there were P9h already). Let's see each variation.

In case of G*9c, the variation would be Nx7c+ Nx7c +Bx6a B*5g +Bx8c L*8a +Rx8a Kx8a S*7b K9i G*8a(mate).  How about dropping B*5g earlier instead of capturing the kNight on 7c? Then it would be a mate line again like G*9c Nx7c+ B*5g S*8b K9b Sx9c+ Kx8c +Bx6a N*7b Lx8d Kx8d  S*8e K9c(Kx8e instead,  L*8f(mate)) G*8f K9b G*8g K9a L*9b(mate).

In case of N*9c, the variation would be Nx7c+ Gx7c +Bx6a L*8a S*8b Kx8b +B7a K9b +Bx8a(mate).

In case of S9b, the variation would be Lx9b+ Kx9b Nx7c+ Nx7c +Bx6a L*7b S*8c(!) Kx8c N*9e L*9e G*9d Kx9d Px9e K8c G*9d K9b L*9c Gx9c Gx9c Kx9c L*9d K8b +B7a K8c +B9c(mate).

In case of B*9b, this would be the most complicated variation, I cannot find a clear winning line for Sente. But the possible variation would be +Rx6a Lx9f Sx9f G*9c(taking a Lance to aim at the mate such as P9i+ Kx9i L*9g K8i L9h+) L*6h. Then Gote's attack would be running out of pieces in hand. I wish I could see how Moriuchi would respond to B*9b.

Notice:22nd European Shogi Championship in France

Every summer, The European Shogi Championship is held in one of FESA member countries. This year, it will be held between Jul. 06 and 09 at Colmar in France. The details can be found at the official notice. How about travelling to Colmar to take part in the biggest shogi tournament in Europe?

Title Match Result - 3rd game, Ladies Meijin

On February 8, the 3rd game of Ladies Meijin Title match between Ladies Meijin and Yauchi lady 3dan was took place. Shimizu made a first move. Yauchi defeated Shimizu with 148 moves. The score after this game is 0-3 led by Yauchi which means Yauchi has taken Ladies Meijin Title from Shimizu. Congratulation on Yauchi!

The diagram is at the resignation after Gote(White)'s K2b-1b. There are no mate for Gote's King. For example, P*1c Nx1c S*2a K-2c S*4e N*3e K-3d then Gote can't make any more check. On the other hand, Sente's King is in hisshi(brinkmate) since Gote(White) has thousands pieces in hand such as one Bishop, three Golds, one Silver, One Night,  and three Pawns. If Sente(Black) made a defensive move like S*7g, then mate line exists like G*5h K-6g G*5g K-6f G-5f(mate). How about S*7h instead of S*7g, again mate line exists like G*5h, K-7i G*6h(mate).

You can replay the full game record here. Ladies Meijin title match is sponsored by THE HOCHI SHIMBUN.

You can replay the full game records of the 1st game and the 2nd game. Yauchi won all the game. She played Gote(White) in the 1st game and Sente(Black) in the 2nd game.

Title Match Result - 1st game, Kio sen

Challenger Moriuchi won the first game of Kio-title match with 166 moves.(3 wins in advance will be the next Kio) on February 4. It was a big win for Moriuchi since his turn of this game was Gote(White). The left diagram is at the resignation soon after Moriuchi made the final move of K2a-1a.

At the diagram, there was no mate for Moriuchi's King, For example, after K1a, P*1b Kx1b P*1c K-1a N*2c +Rx2c(No mate). On the other hand, Habu's king was in Hisshi(brinkmate). If it was Gote(White)'s turn, there was a mate such as S*7h+ Kx7h B*6i K6g R*5g K6h G*7h(mate).

What would happen if Sente(Black) made a move like +Bx3c to threatmate Gote(White)'s King and to defend the square of 8h at the diagram? There would be a mate again as following; Sx7h+ K-9h G*8h +Bx8h +Sx8h Kx8h B*7i Kx7i R*6i K8h B7i K9h(or K7g) R6h+(mate). I think this is why Habu could not help resigning at that time.

You can replay the full game here.

Number of shogi players reached 130 in Brainking.com at End of Jan.

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR reached 130 at the end of January(JST).  The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of December, 2005, the number of players was increased by 5 and that of countires was 32 which increased by 1 comparing with the end of the year 2005.

The details by country are as followings;

Czech --- 25(-2)
USA --- 23(+4)
Russia --- 8(+2)
UK --- 6(-1)
Netherland --- 6(0)
Slovakia --- 4(-2)
Sweden --- 3(-2)
Bergium --- 4(0)
Germany --- 3(-1)
England --- 3(0)
Australia --- 3(0)
France --- 3(0)
Japan --- 3(0)
Canada --- 2(+1)
Italy --- 2(0)
Portugal --- 2(-1)
Austria --- 1(0)
Estonia --- 1(0)
Finland --- 1(-1)
Guatemala --- 1(0)
Hungary --- 0(-1)
Israel --- 1(0)
Korea --- 1(0)
Latvia --- 1(0)
New Zealand --- 1(0)
Northern Ireland --- 1(0)
Norway --- 1(0)
Sami --- 1(0)
Spain --- 1(0)
Switzerland --- 1(+1)
Turkey --- 1(0)
Wales --- 1(+1)
Unknown --- 15(+8)