Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Shimizu tied the score - 4th game of 19th Joryu oui-sen

On October 29, the 4th game of 19th Joryu oui-sen between Joryu Oui Ishibashi and Challenger Joryu 2 crowns Shimizu took place at Hotel Clement Tokushima in Tokushima prefecture. Shimizu was Sente player and she beat Ishibashi in 142 153 moves. The score after this game is 2-2. Since this is 3-win match, the next game will be final to decide the next Joryu-oui.. The diagram below is the resignation one.

After the diagram, the possible variations would be as followings;.

K-6b G*5b K-7b R-6a+(mate)

K-7b S*8a K-6b G*5b(mate)

N*6a S*6b(!) Kx6b N*5d(!) Kx5a G*4b(mate)

N*6a S*6b(!) Kx6b N*5d(!) K-7b Rx6a+(!) Kx6a G*6b(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction)

There might be more variations, but Gote was hopeless anyway. The 5th game will be held on November 12, 2008.

Lesson #17 has been uploaded - HIDETCHI's video series "How to play Shogi（将棋）"

The Lesson#17 is now available to watch on Youtube. Up to #16, let's say the contents are for complete novices. From #17 onwards, I think it's going into the contents for beginners who already graduated from the level of complete novices.

YouTube - How to play Shogi(将棋) -Lesson#17- Castles for Double Static Rook Opening

Photo report of "Japan Night" in Nancy on October 25

Shogi Association in Alsas published a photo report on "Japan Night" held in Nancy where the four poeple from the association presented shogi to the visitors. The report is available to read not only in French but also in English with many phots. Très bien!

• Japan Night - Nancy - 25th October 200  (In English)

• Nuit du Japon - Nancy - 25 Octobre 2008 (In French)              

2nd game of 21st Ryuo-sen between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu started

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 2nd game of 21st Ryuo-sen 4-win match between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu. Habu is Sente Player. The game started at 9:00 am at Lake Toya Manseikaku in Hokkaido. Before the game, Habu led the score in 1-0. The winner of this series will take 32 million yen as prize money.

You may watch and replay the game through either of the links below;

Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java

The official website and blow of the 21st Ryuo-sen are linked below;

Official Site | Ryuo-sen Plus(Official Blog)

Good article to read - Tiny Works of Shogi Art : Tendo Satoh Takashi Shouten

I think this is a good article to read, especially if you are interested in quality shogi pieces(Koma).

PingMag MAKE - The Japan-based interview magazine about “Making things” » Archive » Tiny Works of Shogi Art : Tendo Satoh Takashi Shouten

Do you feel sympathy?

No explanation needed. Here it is.

Twitter / Luis Anaya: I'm up, my wife does not l ...

Boardlive now - 4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen

Today is the day for the 4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen. The title is being competed in a three-win match. 2 crowns Shimizu Ichiyo challenges Joryu Oui Ishibashi Sachio at Hotel Clement Tokushima in Tokushima prefecture. Shimizu is Sente player in this game. You may watch or replay the game through the virtual board linked below.

4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen (Javascript used) | Kifu for Flash(Unofficial)

Playing room (Left = Ishiashi)| Board (These are to be updated frequently)

The game started at 9:00am in Japan. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Here is the link to the toppage of the 4th game. The left photo is Ishibashi.

http://www3.topics.or.jp/19joryu/

Boardlive now and in the afternoon - 2nd Asahi Trophy Shogi Open

The following two games started today at 10:00am(JST) and the sequntial game will take place at 2:00pm. The thinking time per player is 40 minutes and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it.

1. Goda Masataka(9 dan, Sente) vs Shima Akira(9 dan) - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java
2. Matsuo Ayumu(7 dan, Sente) vs Nakata Hiroki(8 dan) - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java
3. Matsuo Ayumu(Sente) vs Shima Akira - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java

The toppage of the official tournament blog is here.(in Japanese)

Shogi meetup info for New Yokers and a related good reading material

Here is meet-up information for New Yokers who are interetsted in shogi. The meetup will be held at 8:30pm on October 29.

Mission #14: Search out the Shogi Master at Naniwa!!! - Nippon Food Club of NYC (New York, NY) - Meetup.com

And here is the link to an artilcle which seems to be written by a New Yoker who was recently fascinated by shogi including the information of regular meetups of New York Shogi Club.

SHOGI CHOPSTICKS NEW YORK

Sato(6 dan) & Hayamizu(Lady 2 dan) helped to promote Shogi in Alsace, France

After the 1st game of 21st Ryuo-sen between Ryuo Watanabe and Meijin Habu held in Paris, Sato (6 dan) and Hayamizu (Lady 2 dan) did not return to Japan together with the tournament players and staffs and stayed in France for a few more days to promote shogi there. They went to Colmar in Alsace from Paris. Association Shogi  d'Alsace published the reports in two languages such as French and English with many photos on their website. Here are the likns to them.

• Visit of Sato Sinya and Hayamizu Chisa - Colmar - 21st of October 2008 (In English)

• Visite de Sato Sinya et Hayamizu Chisa - Colmar - 21 Octobre 2008 (In French)

I'm impressed that the shogi community in Alsace has a hand-made big shogi board for presentation which turned out through some of the photos in the linked pages above.