Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

A video review about Shotest Shogi

Yesterday I found the following video review about Shotest Shogi for Xbox360 and so on posted by arkfullofsorrow. I think it's a very good idea of reviewing a game software application in this way since you can watch the various application screens as you already have it. His review about Shotest Shogi is "Mildly Recommended" in summary. For more details, please watch the video linked below. The part of Shotest Shogi will begin from 0:31 to 3:16.

YouTube: 'Zit Worth It - Shotest Shogi and Rocketbowl

Another game boardlved on January 20

There were another game boardlived on January 20. It's a game of Tenga-sen. Allotted thinking time is 2 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it.

Nakai Hiroe(Joryu 6 dan,win) vs Funato Yoko(Joryu 2 dan) won by Nakai in 101 moves.

Hamshogi Walkthrough Video on YouTube - 8pc Handicap

Here is the one beating Hamster in 8 piece handicap posted by kintyorru.

YouTube: ハム将棋　ハム8枚　短手数

This is the line from the start to the end with some comments of mine.

Handicap: Other(Special 8pcs handicap)

  1. ...   K-4b     2.P-7f   

*P-7f opened your Bishop's diagonal line. It goes to the square of 3c.

K-3b     3.P-6f   

*P-6f closed your Bihop's diagonal line. This pawn advancement is to trap Hamster in the future.

P-3d     4.P-4f   P-8d     5.N-7g   

*The pawn on 6f became floating due to kNight jump to 7g. So Hamster can take it. But this is a trap to activate your Rook.

Bx6f     6.R-6h   

*Thie horizontal Rook transfer is the answer to Bx6f. You will allow the Bishop get promoted, while your Rook will break through the Hamster's camp with promotion in the next moves.

Bx5g+    7.Rx6c+ 

*Your Rook suceeded in getting promoted. It's a very powerful piece now.

+Bx4f    8.N-6e   

*This kNight jump of N-6e has two aims such as Nx5c+ and B-1a+. Generally speaking, a move with plural aims is often a good move in shogi.

R-8a   

*Hamster prevented your Bishop from getting promoted to 1a, but...,

  9.+R-5b 

*Hamster will have to move the King since he cannot drop a Pawn on 4b since double pawn is not allowed.

K-3a    10.B-2b+ 

*Checkmate with your major pieces(R & B) getting promoted. Promotion of major pieces is one of the critical ways of winning a shogi game.
resigns

Kakinoki Shogi for iPhone has been released

Kakinoki Shogi for iPhone has been released. Here are the related links;

Kakinoki Shogi for iPhone | Kakinoki Shogi Software

iPhone Apps - Kakinoki Shogi (Japanese Chess) | Apptism

[App Store Release] Kakinoki Shogi (Japanese Chess) - iPod touch Fans forum

App Shopper: Kakinoki Shogi (Japanese Chess) (Games)

Kakinoki Shogi (Japanese Chess)

Features: - Human vs. computer, human vs. human, computer vs. computer. - 6 levels of computer play. - Choose Western or Japanese pieces. - Show the legal moves of the selected piece. - Undo of moves. - Save/Load game file. - Send game scores by mail. - Show history of moves. - Help about Shogi rules. LANGUAGES: English, Japanese

Result of today's Asahi trophy shogi open and Mynavi joshi open

There were 4 games played and wiblived today. The furst three are for Asahi trophy shogi open and the rest is for Mynavi Joshi open.

Kubo Toshiaki(8 dan) vs Namekata Hisashi(former Asahi) - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java (won by Kubo in 105 moves)

Fukaura Koichi(Oui) vs Nakagawa Daisuke(7 dan) - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java (won by Fukaura in 83 moves)

Fukaura vs Kubo - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java (won by Kubo in 170 moves)

Satomi Kana(Kurashiki Tohka) vs Nakamura Marika(Joryu sho dan) - Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java (won by Nakamura in 110 moves)

WMM plans to develop the world's first online learning environment for mind sports

I found interesting statement by WMM CEO Don Morris is included in the news release WMM made on January 13, 2009.

World Mind Masters Introduces New Monthly Online Tournaments (pdf file)

"We also have plans to develop the world's first free online learning environment for intellectual mind sports - the World Mind Masters Academy - offering online players the opportunity to participate in interactive master classes, and eventually the chance for the best players to compete for university scholarships,"

Although this statement is included in the release of their monthly Xiangqi tournament for 2009, the stated online learning environment does not seem to be limited to Xiangqi only since "intellectual mind sports" are in the plural and their mission is not limited to Xiangqi only.

Habu took the first game of 58th Osho-sen 4-win match

On January 18, the 1st game of 58th Osho-sen 4-win match between Osho Habu and Challenger Oui Fukaura was held at Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto City, Tokushima prefecture. As a result of Furigoma, Fukaura became Sente player in this game. The opening strategy was Kakugawari(Bishop exchange) and Koshikakegin(Reclining Silver). Habu won it in 140 moves.

This is the link to the article in The Mainichi Daily News

Japanese shogi champ Habu wins first round of Osho match - The Mainichi Daily News

The diagram below is the resignation one where Gote dropped his kNight on 8f as a check. After the position in the diagram, the followig variations would be possible. Sente would be hopless in any cases.

+Bx8f Sx8f G*8h S*9g K-8i Sx8h+ Kx8h P*8g K-8i G*8h(mate)

K-8h P*8g Kx8g +B-7f K-8h S*8g K-8i S-9h+ Lx9h +Bx9h(mate)

K-8i S*7h Gx7h +Nx7h Rx7h Nx7h+ Kx7h G*6h(!) Kx6h R*5h K-6i +P-5i K-7i +B-5g K-8i +B-6g K-7i R-7h+(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction)

K-8i S*7h Gx7h +Nx7h Rx7h Nx7h+ Kx7h G*6h(!) K-8g +B-7f K-8h R*7h K-8i G-7i(mate)

K-8i S*7h Gx7h +Nx7h Rx7h Nx7h+ Kx7h G*6h(!) K-8h R*8h K-8g +B-7f(mate)

K-8i S*7h Gx7h +Nx7h Rx7h Nx7h+ Kx7h G*6h(!)K-8i R*7i K-9h R-7h+ P*8h +B-7f L*8g +Bx8g(mate)

 

Sessyufree is the winner - PlayOK tournament #2845575

Sessyufree is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on January 17, 2009. Here is the link to the result. You can replay the games by clicking each point in the table on the linked page. Since the page will disappear in 6 months from the tournament date, I'm uploading the screenshot of the result below.

PlayOK.com - tournament #2845575 (shogi)

Kurokigoishiten(On-line shogiboard shop in Japan)

It sells shogi boards, not shogi pieces since it is maily for selling Go stones. Anyway it opens English pages. If you are interested, please visit the following pages.

Direct Sales Manufacturer　KUROKI GOISHI TEN

Go Board / Shogi Board - Kurokigoishi Co., Ltd.

Question from customer

                                  Voice of the customer archive                       

Lesson#38 - 40 are available - HIDETCHI's video series of How to play Shogi

HIDETCHI's first shogi video series of How to play Shogi has been completed with 40 lessons. Here are the links to the latest three.

YouTube: How to play Shogi -Lesson#38- Shogi Board as Arts and Crafts

YouTube: How to play Shogi -Lesson#39- Shogi Pieces as Arts and Crafts

YouTube: How to play Shogi -Lesson#40- Final Advice "How to Become a Strong Player"