Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Webcamera-and-Board-live today - Yamada Kumi vs Kai Tomomi, a semifinal of 1st Mynavi Joshi Open

Today is the day for the semifinal game of 1st Mynavi Joshi Open between Yamada kumi (Joryu 3 dan) and Kai Tomomi (Joryu 2 dan) . You can watch and replay the game through the linked page below(Java-capable browser required);

Yamada Kumi vs Kai Tomomi

As a result of Furigoma, Yamada became Sente(black). The game started at 10:00am(Japan Time). The thinking time per player is 3 hours and 60 second byoyomi after consuming it, so I think it will end before evening in Japan today.

You can watch live pictures by the webcameras beside the players and many photos related to this game to be uploaded frequently through the following page.

Live pictures by the webcameras (Left = Yamada)

1st Mynavi Joshi Open Broadcasting Blog

Atamakin Tsume Practice #4

"Atamakin" means Gold drop on the square ahead of the opponent's King supported by other piece of yours on the board. This gold drop is frequently used when checkmating the King in the endgame. It is necessary to be able to make an Atamakin for you to win a game. You can learn by solving Atamakin Tsume Practice problems to be posted here. Today is #4. It's a seven(!) move tsume. You have four Golds in hand in the diagram. You usually need to have four Golds in hand when you checkmate the King in the fourth rank to the back rank like this problem.

You can see the answer by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the board in order to replay the answer line. (Popup diagram to be saved for printing) Click the exclamation marks which appear below the diagram for further comments on the problem. If you click the marks again, the comment windows go away.

Boardlive today - 1st game of 33rd Kio-sen between Kio Sato and Challenger Habu

Today is the day for the 1st game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match between Kio Sato Yasumitsu and Challenger Habu Yoshiharu(2 crowns). The game started at 9:00 am in Japan. As a result of Furigoma, Habu became a Sente(black) player. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end early this evening. You can replay and watch the game through the linked page below;

1st game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

 

Atamakin Tsume Practice #3

"Atamakin" means Gold drop on the square ahead of the opponent's King supported by other piece of yours on the board. This gold drop is frequently used when checkmating the King in the endgame. It is necessary to be able to make an Atamakin for you to win a game. You can learn by solving Atamakin Tsume Practice problems to be posted here. Today is #3. It's a five move tsume. You have three Golds in hand in the diagram. You usually need to have three Golds in hand when you checkmate the King in the third rank to the back rank like this problem.

You can see the answer by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the board in order to replay the answer line. (Popup diagram to be saved for printing) Click the exclamation marks which appear below the diagram for further comments on the problem. If you click the marks again, the comment windows go away.

Top 5 winning percentage players fiscal year to January

According to latest Shukan Shogi(a weekly shogi magazine in Japan), the top 5 players with highest winning percentage in the fiscal year to January(Last April to January) are as below. The links connects with their recent games in one of the social bookmarks maintained by myself.

Class C2 and C1
1 - Murayama Yasuaki(5 dan) --- .795
2 - Toyoshima Masayuki(4 dan) --- .794
3 - Iijima Eiji(5 dan) --- .730
4 - Katagami Daisuke(5 dan) --- .703
5 - Kushida Yoichi(6 dan) --- .700

Class B2 though A
1 - Matsuo Ayumu(7 dan) --- .757
2 - Habu Yoshiharu(2 crowns) --- .720
3 - Kimura Kazuki(8 dan) --- .714
4 - Nakamura Osamu(9 dan) --- .700
5 - Goda Masataka(9 dan) --- .660

Namekata became the winner of 1st Asahi Trophy Shogi Open to gain 10 million yen

Namekata Hisashi(8 dan) became the winner of the 1st Asahi Trophy Shogi Open on Fenruary 9. He earned 10 million yen as the prize money with this victory.

Yauchi took 2nd game again of 34th Joryu Meijini-sen

Yesterday Joryu Meijin Yauchi beat Saida(Joryu 4 dan)in 131 moves in the 2nd game of 34th Joryu Meijin-sen 3-win match. The score is 2-0 led by Yauchi now. Yauchi became Sente(black) player since she was Gote in the first game. Saida adopted Gokigen Nakabisha following to last game. Yauchi traded Bishops at the 7th move which called Maruyama vaccine. Saida built anaguma-gakoi(castle) in the opening. The battle started in the right edge and it scatterd to the left side as it went by. The location of Yauchi's promoted bishop in the centeral are of the board seemed good enough to approach Saida's King in Anaguma since it could go through the saqare on 8a.

The diagram above is the resignation one when Saida resigned the game at the 131st move. There is no mate for Sente(white)'s King and Gote has no defense. After the diagram, some of the possible variations are below;

B*5d K-6g B-2g+ N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a +Bx8a +Nx8a Kx8a R*6a G*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b B*6c K-6a G*5b (mate)

B*5d K-6g B-2g+ N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a +Bx8a +Nx8a Kx8a R*6a G*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b B*6c K-8b Rx7a+ Kx7a G*7b(mate, replayable by clicking  the arrow in the right direction under the diagram)

B*5d K-6g B-2g+ N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a +Bx8a +Nx8a Kx8a R*6a N*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b G*6b K-8b Rx7a+(mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a(!) Kx8a R*6a G*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b B*6c K-6a G*5b (mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a(!) Kx8a R*6a G*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b B*6c K-8b +Rx7a Kx7a G*7b(mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) Gx8c G*8a(!) Kx8a R*6a N*7a S*7b(!) Kx7b G*6b K-8b Rx7a+(mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) K-8a G*9a K-8b R*8a(mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) K-8b S*9a K-8a G*8b(!) Gx8b G*7a(mate)

S*7b +Nx7b Gx7b N*8c(!) K-8b S*9a K-8c N*7e(mate)

B*5d K-6g S*8a R*5a Bx2g+ N*8c(!) Gx8c +Nx8a  +Bx8a Rx8a+ Kx8a S*7b(!)  Kx7b  B*5d  N*6c  Bx6c+ Kx6c  N*5e  K-5c  G*4c  K-5d  B*6c  Kx5e G*4f(mate)

In any case, Gote was hopeless.

The schedule of the rest games are as below;

3rd game - Fenruary 20 2008

The dates for 4th & 5th games are not fixed yet.

English materials published by City of Tendo

Tendo is the city in Japan that produces more than 90% of shogi pieces crafted in Japan. International Shogi Festival will be held there in this fall. Here are the links to the English materials the city publishes in its website. The first one is a must-see if you are interested in the aspect of  shogi pieces as craftwork..

TENDO and SHOGI PIECES(pdf file)
TENDO Guide Book(pdf file)
TENDO City Map

Atamakin Tsume Practice #2

"Atamakin" means Gold drop on the square ahead of the opponent's King supported by other piece of yours on the board. This gold drop is frequently used when checkmating the King in the endgame. It is necessary to be able to make an Atamakin for you to win a game. You can learn by solving Atamakin Tsume Practice problems to be posted here. Today is #2. It's three move tsume. You usually need to have two Golds in hand when you checkmate the King in the second rank like this problem.

You can see the answer by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the board in order to replay the answer line. (Popup diagram to be saved for printing) Click the exclamation marks which appear below the diagram for further comments on the problem. If you click the marks again, the comment windows go away.

Atamakin Tsume Practice #1

"Atamakin" means Gold drop on the square ahead of the opponent's King supported by other piece of yours on the board. This gold drop is frequently used when checkmating the King in the endgame. It is necessary to be able to make an Atamakin for you to win a game. You can learn by solving Atamakin Tsume Practice problems to be posted from now. Today is #1. It's one move tsume.

You can see the answer by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the board in order to replay the answer line.(Popup diagram to be saved as an image file for printing) Click the exclamation marks which appear below the diagram for further comments on the problem. If you click the marks again, the comment windows go away.