According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR decreased to 157 at the end of April(JST). The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of March, 2007, the number of shogi players decreased by 3. Please refer to the definition of BKR(BrainKing Rating) if you like to know.
The details by country are as followings; .
USA --- 34(+2) Czech --- 13(+1) France --- 9(-1) Netherland --- 9(0) Russia --- 9(+3) Slovakia --- 8(+4) Portugal --- 7(+1) Italy --- 6(-2) Australia --- 5(-1) England --- 4(-3) Sweden --- 4(+1) UK --- 4(-1) Spain --- 3(+1) Canada --- 2(-2) Estonia --- 2(+1) Germany --- 2(+1) Japan --- 2(0) Malaysia --- 2(+1) Switzerland --- 2(-1) Wales --- 2(+1) Austria --- 1(-2) Argentina --- 1(0) Basque --- 1(0) Belgium --- 1(-1) Dominica --- 1(0) Hong Kong --- 1(0) Israel --- 1(0) Latvia --- 1(0) Luxembourg --- 1(0) New Zealand --- 1(-1) Norway --- 1(0) South Africa --- 1(0) Ukraine --- 1(0) Unspecified --- 14(+1)
Here is Ajax shogi board(Aja-ban) created by かずひで. You can move any pieces on the board. The first button at the right side of the board is for flipping the board. The second one is for showing initial position. The third one is for editing tsumeshogi positions. Have fun!
On April 24 & 15, the second game of 65th Meijin-sen between
Meijin Moriuchi and
challenger Goda 9 dan was held in Tottori prefecture, Japan. Moriuchi was Sente(Black, or lower side of the diagram) player and Goda won it in 134 moves. You may replay the game here.
The diagram above is the resignation diagram when Goda dropped his kNight on 7e as the 134th moves. After the diagram, there is no mate for Gote's King. However, Sente's King has no defense. The possible variation after the N*7e
are as followings;
Bx3b+ Rx3b S*1d K-2b G*2c K-3a Gx3b Kx3b R*5b B*4b(!) Rx5e+ Nx8g+ Kx8g L*8f Sx8f Px8f K-7f S*6g K-7g G*8g Kx6f G*7f(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagram)
On April 19, the second game of 25th Asahi Open between Asahi Habu and challenger Akutsu 5 dan was held in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Akutsu was Sente(black, or the first mover). He won the game in 71 moves. For those who can read Japanese, here is the link to the page of Asahi Open of Asahi.com. The score becomes 1-1. Since it is 3-wins match, the next game will be important to both players.
The diagram above is the resignation diagram when Akutsu dropped his kNight on 4e. After the diagram, Gote(White, or upper side of the diagram)'s King would be mated. The possible variation after the N*4e are as followings;
K-4d B*3e K-5e G-4f(mate)
K-4d B*3e Kx4e G-4f(mate)
K-6b Sx7b+ Kx7b B*6a K-8b G*8c K-7a G-7b(mate)
K-6c Sx7b+ Kx7b B*6a K-7c G*8c K-6b G-7b(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction.)
Here is another example to show the importance of Rook Pawn exchange. In this case, Sente(black) will trade his Rook Pawn, too. Gote(white)'s moves are somewhat odd and not be the best again in order to clearly show the effect of Rook Pawn trade. However, if Gote is a novice and have knowledge of chess opening, he may play like this with the intention of trying to control the center field in the beginning. You can beat him easily learning this tip.
Suppose you are Sente player. You advance your Rook Pawn from 2g to 2e quickly. Gote's 2. P-5d is not a very bad move if he intents to transfer his Rook to the 5th file. However, the next 4. P-6d is a bad move. He should have played 4. P-3d instead of 4. P-6d. You are going to exchange your Rook Pawn by 5. P-2d.
Diagram 2
Line to Diagram 2 from 1 - 5.P-2d 6. Px2d 7.Rx2d 8. P-3d
You succeed in trading your Rook Pawn. You have a pawn in hand now. If Gote play 8. G-3b instead of 8. P-3d to prevent you from get your Rook promoted by R-2c+, then you can drop a Pawn in Hand on 2c to kill Gote's Bishop. It will be a big material advantage to gain a Bishop for a pawn. This is why Gote opens his Bishop diagonal line by 8. P-3d to save his Bihsop. What do you think the best next move is at the diagram 2? Rook promotion by R-2c+? or any other means?
Diagram 3
Line to Diagram 3 from 2 - 9.R-2h(!) 10. G-3b
Amazing Rook retreat
It's amazing that Rook retreat from 2d to 2h is the best move instead of 9. R-2c+. Yes, you can lead the position by such Rook Promotion. The possible variation after 9. P-2c+ is the following; 10.G-3b 11. +Rx3d 12. B-4d 13. +R-2e 14. S-2b. You gain a Pawn advantage with Rook promotion which is clearly good for you, but it is not satisfactory development from Diagram 2 and there is more tactful line to break through the 2nd file. Please look at Diagram 3 and think about the next move by using your Pawn in hand as a result of Rook Pawn trade just before. P*2c to threat to take Gote's Bishop? It's too direct. Let's see the best move using your Pawn in hand.
Diagram 4
Line to Diagram 4 from 3 - 11. P*2d(!)
Tarefu(Dangling Pawn)
The best move at the Diagram 3 is 11. P*2d. P*2d is called Tarefu(Dangling Pawn) and it is Tesuji(one or one set of standard tactical moves). Tarefu is dropping a pawn on a square where it can be got promoted without taking opponent's piece in the next move. As you know, Pawn will be empowered to the equivalent of Gold after promotion. Since Gold can move by one square to the six direction, Promoted Pawn(Tokin) becomes as six times strong as raw Pawn. Furthermore, if your Promoted Pawn is captured, it lessens the power of the equivalent of Gold and becomes back to just raw Pawn. Look at Diagram 3 4 again. Please think about how many pieces of both Sente and Gote can reach the square of 2c. Two pieces for Sente(Pawn on 2d and Rook on 2h) and one for Gote(Gold on 3b). This means you have numerical superiority by 2-1 on the square of 2c. You can break through the 2nd file with it. Let's see how it is happening.
Diagram 5
Line to Diagram 5 from 4 - 12. S-4b 13.P-2c+
Now you succeed in breaking through the 2nd file with Pawn promotion. Gote cannot help losing material.
Diagram 6
Line to Diagram 6 - 14. Gx2c 15. Rx2c+
Now you can get your Rook promoted gaining a Gold for a Pawn which is big material advantage thanks to Tarefu(Dangling Pawn) of P*2d. Please consider why you can drop a Pawn on 2d. It is because you have exchanged your Rook Pawn and have a pawn in hand. Rook Pawn exchange brings you a substantial power of breaking through the Rook file as you see above.
You can see an example of variation for Gote's King to be mated by clicking the arrow in the right direction under any of the diagrams.
On April 10 & 11, the first game of 65th Meijin-sen between Meijin Moriuchi and
challenger Goda 59 dan was held in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan. Moriuchi have had 5 terms of Meijin so he will be entitled to become Eisei Meijin(Eternal Meijin) if he win this 4-wins match.
As a
result of Furigoma, Goda became Sente(black, or the first mover). He
won the game in 119 moves. You may replay the game here.
The diagram above is the resignation diagram when Goda dropped his Pawn on 7d. After the diagram, Gote(White, or upper side of the
diagram)'s King would be mated. The possible variation after the P*7d
are as followings;
If you are a chess player, you may know Rook in chess can not work immediately after the game starts. On the other hand, Rook in shogi can work instantly. This entry is to show you how to activate your Rook very quickly in the opening. Suppose you are Sente(Black) player In the diagram. You should advance your Rook Pawn from 2g to 2f as the first move. The intention of it is to exchange Rook Pawn on the square of 2d at the head of Gote(White)'s Bishop in a few moves. In shogi, the head of Bishop is much more vulnerable than that in chess since there are lot of lower-valued pieces than Bishop such as Pawn, Lance, Silver and Gold can move straightforward with capturing in shogi. On the other hand, no lower-valued piece than Bishop can move straightforward with capture in chess.
After your P-2f, Gote replies with P-9d. You advanced your Rook Pawn to 2e. Gote responds it with P-9e. (Gote's move looks somewhat peculiar. But this is for the purpose of showing you the effectiveness of Rook Pawn exchange clearly).
From the position in the diagram above, you can exchange your Rook Pawn.
P-2d Px2d Rx2d
Now you see Gote cannot prevent Sente from getting the Rook promoted or dropping a Pawn on 2c. So Gote moves like P8c-8d, then you can drop the pawn on 2c to kill Gote's bishop.
Please confirm Gote's Bishop cannot move anywhere. You already succeed in gaining big material advantage. Rook Pawn exchange is one of the fastest ways to win a game like this if Gote does not know appropriate defense. So why not giving it a try in your games?
Clicking the arrow in the right direction in the diagram, then you will find an example line for you to mate Gote's King.
On April 5, the first game of 25th Asahi Open between Asahi Habu and challenger Akutsu 5 dan was held in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. As a resutl of Furigoma, Habu became Sente(black, or the first mover). He won the game in 93 moves. For those who can read Japanese, here is the link to the article page of Asahi.com.
The diagram above is the resignation diagram when Habu dropped his Gold on 2a. After the diagram, Gote(White, or upper side of the diagram)'s King would be mated. The possible variation after the G*2a are as followings;
According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR increased to 160 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, 2007, the number of shogi players decreased increased by 13. Please refer to the definition of BKR(BrainKing Rating) if you like to know.
The details by country are as followings; .
USA --- 32(+2) Czech --- 12(0) France --- 10(+3) Netherland --- 9(+1) Italy --- 8(+1) England --- 7(+3) Australia --- 6(0) Portugal --- 6(0) Russia --- 6(0) UK --- 5(0) Canada --- 4(+1) Slovakia --- 4(+1) Austria --- 3(0) Sweden --- 3(-1) Switzerland --- 3(0) Belgium --- 2(+1) Denmark --- 2(+1) Japan --- 2(-1) New Zealand --- 2(0) Spain --- 2(-1) Argentina --- 1(0) Basque --- 1(0) Dominica --- 1(0) Estonia --- 1(0) Germany --- 1(0) Hong Kong --- 1(0) Hungary --- 1(0) Israel --- 1(0) Jamaica --- 1(+1) Kiribari --- 1(+1) Latvia --- 1(0) Luxembourg --- 1(0) Malaysia --- 1(+1) Norway --- 1(+1) South Africa --- 1(+1) Thailand --- 1(0) Tibet --- 1(0) Ukraine --- 1(0) Wales --- 1(0) Finland --- 0(-1) Unspecified --- 13(-1)
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