Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Number of shogi players increased to 136 in Brainking.com at End of Mar.

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR increased to 136 at the end of March(JST). The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of February, 2006, the number of shogi players increased by 7. Please refer to the definition of BKR(BrainKing Rating) if you like.

The details by country are as followings; India, Syria and Thailand show up in the list for the first time.

USA --- 26(+4)
Czech --- 20(-4)
Russia --- 9(+3)
UK --- 5(-1)
Netherland --- 5(-2)
Slovakia --- 5(0)
Bergium --- 5(+1)
Germany --- 5(+2)
England --- 3(0)
Australia --- 3(0)
Canada --- 3(0)
France --- 3(-1)
Sami --- 3(+2)
Finland --- 2(+1)
Italy --- 2(0)
Japan --- 2(-1)
Portugal --- 2(0)
Sweden --- 2(-2)
Switzerland --- 2(+1)
Austria --- 1(0)
Estonia --- 1(0)
Guatemala --- 1(0)
India --- 1(+1)
Israel --- 1(0)
Korea --- 1(0)
Latvia --- 1(0)
New Zealand --- 1(0)
Northern Ireland --- 1(0)
Norway --- 1(0)
Spain --- 1(0)
Syria --- 1(+1)
Thailand --- 1(+1)
Turkey --- 0(-1)
Wales --- 1(0)
Unknown --- 15(+2)

shogi

Moriuchi Meijin in Budapest played a 2pc handicap game with an ama.

The Wooldridges unveiled the report titled Toshiyuki Moriuchi, Meijin was in Budapest. The author LW uploaded the gamerecord of his game with Meijin and his comment which must be interesting to you.

LW raised a valuable suggestion that the 2pc handicap games between a top professional and a good amateur should be viewed more in the report;

These games must be viewed as training games and are worth studying. I believe that European players learning shogi can pick up more from studying a two piece handicap given by a top professional against a good amateur than from an even game between two top professionals.

What do you think? I think this depends upon what level a learner is in. If he/she is in a level of 1 dan approximately, I think it's true.

shogi

The 3rd Shogi Solving Championship

According to plural sources, the 3rd Shogi Solving championship was held on Mar. 22 in Shogi Kaikan(JSA's building in Sendagaya, Tokyo). The championship was competed by 22 participants. Both professional and amateur players took part. The top five solvers are as followings;

1st place - Atsushi Miyata(5dan, pro)

2nd place - Masato Shinoda(12th Ama Ryuo, ama)

3rd place - Hirokazu Ueno(4dan, pro)

4th place - Akihito Hirose(4dan, pro)

5th place - Taichi Nakamura(4dan, pro)

Miyata 5dan kept winning the championship three times since the first event.

For those who are interested in what problems were presented, please refer to the followings;(the problems in the 3rd Championship is not unveiled on the Net yet.)

Link to the 10 problems in the 2nd Shogi Solving Championship

Link to the 10 problems in the 1st Shogi Solving Championship

Miyata 5dan solved all the 10 problems in the 2nd Championship in 90 minutes and did the same in the 1st championship in 76 minutes. How quick! These have given his opponents horror in the endgame and that's the why he is nicknamed 'Super Atsushi-kun' in the shogi world.

Finally Habu defended Osho Title

On Mar. 21 & 22, the 7th game of the 55th Osho title match between Osho Habu and Kisei Sato was held in Sado Island in Niigata prefecture, Japan. Before the game, the score was 3-3. Habu won the first three games in a row and Sato won back the rest three games in a row, too. Since 4 wins in a row after 3 losses never happened in the history of shogi title matches, the result of the game gained broader attention.

Sato went first(lower side, or Black) and Habu won the game with 98 moves. You can replay the full game here. The resignation diagram on the left is the position when Habu's promoted pawn approached to Sato's King from 5g to 6g. I try to explain why Sato resigned the game at the diagram.

Habu has a Gold, kNight and Pawn in hand. If it was his turn at the diagram, there would be a following mating line. G*7g Nx7g +Px7g K-9h, Gx8h Sx8h Rx8h+(mate) So Sente(black) must prevent  the mate by P-8f or P-9f intending to escape to upper space. But both would be in vain as followings;

In case of P-8f, then Gx8h Sx8h L*8f Kx8f Rx8h+ L*8g +Rx8g Kx8g S*7h K-8f(9g, 9h, or 8h) G*8g(mate)

In case of P-9f, then N*8d would give hisshi(brinkmate) to Sente(black)'s King. Since there is no mate for Gote(white)'s King, Black is forced to resign the game.

1 move tsume problem - 004

This is a diagram of  1 move tsume problem #4 with extra pieces in hand. In shogi, you must often choose a right piece to drop(or move) to secure victory.

At the diagram, you have a Bishop, Silver, kNight in hand. Please consider what next move will checkmate the Gote's King on 2b. Don't let Gote's King go away to his upper space. You will find the answer clicking 'comment' in this entry.

Shogi Workshop to be held on Oct 6 thru 8 in Germany

According to Forum Shôgi France, one evening blitz tournament and two day workshop about shogi will be held in Black Forest, Germany on Oct 6(Fri) through 8(Sun.). It may be a good opportunity for European players(especially beginners) to learn shogi more and to meet friends through shogi. For more information, please visit either of the followings;

Announcement in English

Announcement in German

Schedule update in verious countries

On March 18 and 19, French open 2006 will be held in Paris, France. If you are interested, please read the reminder of the event .

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(in German). or English notice.

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.

On May 3 through 5, The 16th World Computer Shogi Championship will be held in Chiba, Japan. If you are interested, please refer to CSA's announcement.

On May 20-21, the Austrian Shogi Open 2006 will be held in Graz, Austria. There will be 5 rounds swiss system tournament. If you are interested, please refer to the followings;
Announcement in German
Announcement in English

Moriuchi took Kio title from Habu

On March 11, Moriuchi won the 4th game of 31st Kio title match with 117 moves and took the title from Habu. The score after the game is 3-1 lead by Moriuchi.

Here is the resignation diagram with Moriuchi's final move of S7h-8g. Moriuchi played Sente(lower side). Moriuchi had a Rook, Gold Lance and two pawns while Habu had three kNights and 7 pawns. It's difficult to say which to win at a glance. Let's examine in details.

At the diagram, there is no mate for both Kings. Sente's King is in danger but no mate such as S*9g+ Kx9g P9f Sx9f N*8e Px8e Lx9f Kx9f P*9e Kx9e +Bx7g K8d. Sente's King cannot be trapped. So, Gote have to take the gold on 7g by +Bx7g to brinkmate Sente's King. But due to the promoted Bishop's move from 6h to 7g, mating Gote' King will be enabled. The mating line is as follows; G*2a(!) Kx2a R*4a K1b P*1c Kx1c Rx1a+ N*1b Lx1e P*1d +B3a(mate). If the promoted bishop stayed on 6h, Gote could take the pawn drop on 1c by +B6h-1c and Gote's King could not be trapped. I think the timing of the resignation has given a beautiful resignation diagram which is rich in afterglow.

Congratulation on Moriuchi. Habu has no time for rest. The play-off match with Tanigawa 9dan to decide the challenger against Meijin Moriuchi is scheduled on Mar. 16 and the 7th(final) game of 55th Osho title match will take place on Mar. 21 & 22. What a busy schedule Habu has!

4th game of Kio Title Match

Today is the day for 4th game between Kio Habu and Challenger Meijin
Moriuchi. The game is being held at Kanazawa New Grand Hotel in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Before the game, Moriuchi leads the score by 2-1. Habu cannot
lose any more game to defend his title. You can watch and replay the
game at

http://vhost1.nsk.ne.jp/~nk.syougi/taikyoku.html

Moriuchi made a first move(Sente, lower side in the diagram).

The opening strategy is Kakugawari(Bishop Exchange). It is expected to
end this evening in Japan.

In addition, on March 12, Hokuriku Junior Kio sen will be held at the same hotel.. Elementary, Junior-high and high school student players are expected as participants.

Web Ring Test

This is just a test of WebRing.