Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Winning percentage of the combination of the first two moves

According to Suzuki Hirohiko in Shukan Shogi(Weekly Shogi) latest edition, the winning persentage of Sente and Gote of the combination of the first two moves are the following;

<Fiscal Year 2007>
P-7f P-3d --- Sente = 667 win and 601 loss, 52.6%
P-7f P-8d --- Sente = 276 win and 238 loss, 53.7%

<Fiscal Year 2008>
P-7f P-3d --- Sente = 612 win and 671 loss,  47.7%
P-7f P-8d --- Sente = 267 win and 107 loss,  56.3%

Many professional players say they still feel shogi is a game which Sente is more or less advantageous. However, The reason why the winning percentage of Sente with P-7f P-3d became under 50% is due to increase of the options of Gote's opening and Sente did not established countermeasure for all of them yet in the fiscal year 2008. In general, Sente can choose what opening strategy to be used with P-7f P-8d while Gote can do that with P-7f P-3d.

Cochise is the winner - PlayOK tournament #3377338

Cochise is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on June 3, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

 PlayOK.com - tournament #3377338 (shogi)

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 tournament table below;

Reijer Grimbergen's Reports on 19th Wolrd Computer Shogi Championships

Reijer published his report on the captioned championship on his website. Here is the link.

19th CSA Computer Shogi Championships

If you would like to read his reports about World Computer Shogi Championships in the past, visit the page which has the link-list below.

Shogi articles

My twitter entries on the moves of Day 2 of 5th game of 67th Meijin-sen

Goda won the game in 137 moves. The score after the game is 3-2 led by Goda. He needs one more win to take Meijin-title. You can replay the game here.(Sente = Goda).

Here is the duplication of my twitter entries about each move of the Day 2.

                  1.

                   2. 137. P*3d, Threatening to capture the Knight. After this move, Habu resigned the game.42 minutes ago from web

                   3. 136. Px4d, Gote took the pawn on 4d.43 minutes ago from web
                   4. 135. +B-4g, Connecting the kNight on 3g. If Gote took the kNgiht on 3g, +Bx3g would kill the Silver on 2g. Gote still had no effective move.43 minutes ago from web
                   5. 134. S*5d, Almost compulsory.44 minutes ago from web
                   6. 133. P-4d, Gote could not take it by Px4d since the Gold on 3b was on the diagonal line of the promoted Bishop on 6e to be captured.about 1 hour ago from web
                   7. 132. P*3f, Dropping a pawn to take the kNight on 3g.about 1 hour ago from web
                   8. 131. +Bx3e, Sente took back the Rook. Sente made a good trade.about 1 hour ago from web
                   9. 130. Rx3e, Gote took the silver by the Rook.about 1 hour ago from web
                  10. *on 3d should read on 3e.about 1 hour ago from web
                  11. 129. +B-4f, Escaping from the Silver on 2g keeping the connection with Silver on 3d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  12. 128. S*2g,(!) Silver sacrifice.about 1 hour ago from web
                  13. 127. S*3e, Threatening to take the Rook on 3d. If the Rook went away somewhere, then P*3d would be a winning move.about 1 hour ago from web
                  14. 124. Sx3d 125. Sx3d 126.Rx3d, Natural Silver trade was done.about 1 hour ago from web
                  15. 123. P*3d, Threatening to take the kNight on 3c.about 1 hour ago from web
                  16. 122. R-8d, Escaping from the Silver on 3e.about 1 hour ago from web
                  17. 121. S-3e, Threatening to take the Rook on 3d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  18. 120. Rx3d, Gote took it by the Rook.about 1 hour ago from web
                  19. 119. P-3d, Pawn sacrifice to capture the kNight on 3c.about 1 hour ago from web
                  20. 118. R-2d, Escaping from the promoted Bishop on 6e.about 1 hour ago from web
                  21. 117. G-5h, But Sente did not take the Rook.about 1 hour ago from web
                  22. 116. P*2e, Gote did not let the Rook away from the promoted Bishop.about 1 hour ago from web
                  23. 115. +B-6e, Threatening to take the Rook on 5d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  24. 114. G-3b, Made the Gold closer to his King.about 1 hour ago from web
                  25. 113. S-4f, Giving pressure to the Rook on 5d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  26. 112. R-5d. Escaping from the pawn on 4e.about 1 hour ago from web
                  27. 111. P-4e, Threatening to take the Rook on 4d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  28. 110. +R-5a, Gote had no effective move.about 1 hour ago from web
                  29. 109. S-4g, Silver advancement. Sente's formation was getting better and better.about 1 hour ago from web
                  30. 108. R-4d, Escaping from the promoted Bishop on 7e.about 1 hour ago from web
                  31. 107. +B-7e, Threatening to take the Rook on 6d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  32. 106. P-9d, Gote did not resign the game yet.about 1 hour ago from web
                  33. 105. P-4f, Giving the pressure on the Rook.about 1 hour ago from web
                  34. 104. R-6d, Escaping from the promoted Bishop on 6f.about 1 hour ago from web
                  35. 103. +B-6f, Threatening to take the Rook on 8d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  36. 102. +R-5b, Transferring the Rook to the central file to advance the pawn to 5d.about 1 hour ago from web
                  37. 101. K-6h, I did not understand what this meant.about 1 hour ago from web
                  38. 100. K-7b, Habu made a castle anyway. But the position seemed hopeless.about 1 hour ago from web
                  39. 99. P-9f, Giving the pressure to the Rook on 8d. Sente did not need to be in a hurry.about 1 hour ago from web
                  40. 98. P-5c, Pawn advancement to make the promoted Rook transfer to the central file.about 1 hour ago from web
                  41. 97. S-8g, Silver advancement to give pressure to the Rook on 8d.. Sente's plan was to mate the Rook first.about 1 hour ago from web
                  42. 96. G-6b, Connecting with the pawn on 6c.about 1 hour ago from web
                  43. 95. +B-3f, Threatening to take the pawn on 6c.about 1 hour ago from web
                  44. 94. P-6c, Pawn advancement to activate the Gold on 6a.about 1 hour ago from web
                  45. 93. +Bx2f, Getting rid of a pawn on 2f. Sente had no menace from Gote.about 1 hour ago from web
                  46. 92. K-6a, Gote had no proper move to make. It intended to make a castle anyway.about 1 hour ago from web
                  47. 91. +B-3f, Threatening to take the Pawn on 2f. I was at a loss what's Gote's next move. It seemd no effective one I could think of.about 2 hours ago from web
                  48. 90. S-2c, This was compulsory.about 2 hours ago from web
                  49. 89. P-3e, Good pawn advancement to take the Silver on 3d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  50. 88. S-3d, Almost compulsory.about 2 hours ago from web
                  51. 87. N-3g, This was a very good activation of the kNight threatening to take the Silver on 2e. Goda clearly led the position.about 2 hours ago from web
                  52. 86. R-8d, Escaping from the promoted Bishop on 4f.about 2 hours ago from web
                  53. 85. +B3g-4f, Threatening to take the Rook on 2d and make it possible to jump the kNight to 3g.about 2 hours ago from web
                  54. 84. Rx2d, Taking the pawn on 2d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  55. 83. S-3h, It's protecting the square of 2g to enable +B-4f soon later.about 2 hours ago from web
                  56. 82. P*2f, It could get promoted such as P-2g+ if Sente played +B-4f instantly.about 2 hours ago from web
                  57. 81. +B-3g, Goda seemed to think that the position followed him. He avoided the course of repetition.about 2 hours ago from web
                  58. 80. S-2e, Threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 2f. If Sente responded with +B-3e, repetition would be likely to occur.about 2 hours ago from web
                  59. 79. +B-2f, Then Sente pulled back the promoted bishop to the other side.about 2 hours ago from web
                  60. 78. S-3d, Sente's plan here was repetition.about 2 hours ago from web
                  61. 77. +B-3e, Escaping from the Silver on 4e.about 2 hours ago from web
                  62. 76. S-4e, Threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 4f.about 2 hours ago from web
                  63. 75. +B3e-4f, Escaping from the Silver on 3d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  64. 74. +R-3b, Almost compulsory. The silver on 3d was still connected by the Rook on 9d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  65. 73. P*2d, Letting the promoted Rook away from the 2nd file before the promoted Bishop escaped from the Silver on 3d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  66. 72. S-3d, Threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 3e and the kNight on 2i.about 2 hours ago from web
                  67. 71. +B-3e, Escaping from the Silver on 2e.about 2 hours ago from web
                  68. 70. Sx2e, Taking a pawn on 2e threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 2f.about 2 hours ago from web
                  69. 69. +B-2f, Almost compulsory.about 2 hours ago from web
                  70. 68. P*4c, Pawn drop to take the promoted Bishop on 4d supported by the Silver on 3d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  71. 67. +B4c-4d, Escaping from the Silver on 3d.about 2 hours ago from web
                  72. 66. S-3d, Threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 4c.about 2 hours ago from web
                  73. 65. +B-5e, Since the vertical line of the promoted Rook was blocked by 63.P*2e, Sente moved the promoted Bishop on the centeral area.about 2 hours ago from web
                  74. 64. +R-1c That's why Gote pulled the promoted Rook back to 2c, instead of taking it.about 2 hours ago from web
                  75. 63. P*2e, Gote could not take it by Nx2e, since it would be killed by the next P*2f.about 2 hours ago from web
                  76. 62. S-4e, This was to prevent Sente from playing +B-4f after dropping a pawn on 2e.about 2 hours ago from web
                  77. 61. +B-2h, Sente would like to activate the right promoted Bishop from the edge.about 2 hours ago from web
                  78. 60. S-4d, Habu pulled the Silver back to 4d. If he played S-2f, then I thought P*2e Nx2e P*2g S-1e P-1f Sx1f P-2f would be.about 2 hours ago from web
                  79. 59. P-3f, Threatening to take the Silver on 3e activating the diagonal line of the promoted Bishop on 1h to jump the kNight to 3g later.about 2 hours ago from web
                  80. 58. +R-2d, This made the promoted Rook more workable both vertically and horizontally.about 2 hours ago from web
                  81. 57. +Bx4c, Sente at last took the pawn on 4c only after the possibility to kill the Silver on 8b disappeared.about 2 hours ago from web
                  82. 56. P*8c, Preventing Sente from killing the Silver on 8b by dropping a pawn there from Sente's side.about 2 hours ago from web
                  83. 55. +B-1h, Escaping from the Silver on 3e, He still had a chance to kill the Silver on 8b by dropping a pawn on 8c.about 2 hours ago from web
                  84. 54. S-3e, Threatening to take the promoted Bishop on 3f.about 2 hours ago from web
                  85. 53. N-7g, Keeping Gote from taking the promoted Bishop on 6e.about 2 hours ago from web
                  86. 52. +R-1e, Habu could not allow to trade the promoted Rook for the promoted Bihsop. So it went away to 1e threatening to take horse on 6e.about 2 hours ago from web
                  87. 51. +B-3f, Goda pull his promoted Bishop away to 3f threatening to take the Promoted Rook to keep initiative.about 2 hours ago from web
                  88. 50. P*6b Gote would like to pull away the promoted Bishop near his King.about 2 hours ago from web
                  89. 49. +B-6e, This had two aims. One was to kill the Silver to drop a pawn on 8c, the other was to take the pawn on 4c with threatmate.about 2 hours ago from web
                  90. 48. Rx2f, Almost compulsory.about 3 hours ago from web
                  91. 47. P*2f, As a effect of sacrificing pawn with promotion like 45.Px2b, Sente could make this pawn drop legally.about 3 hours ago from web
                  92. 46. Gx2b, Gote had to take it.about 3 hours ago from web
                  93. 45. P-2b+ Pawn sacrifice with promotion. Sente had to take it. This made the pawn on 4c floating.about 3 hours ago from web
                  94. 44. R-9d, Getting away from the promoted Bishop on 6f.about 3 hours ago from web
                  95. 43. +B-6f Threatening to take the Rook on 4d.about 3 hours ago from web
                  96. 42. G-7a Gote could not allow the kNight to be captured since the Silver on 8b was floating as a effect of sacrificing 37.P*8b.about 3 hours ago from web
                  97. 41. Bx6c+ Taking a pawn on 6c with Bishop promotion to threaten to take the kNight 8a.about 3 hours ago from web
                  98. 40. Rx2e+ Gote could not allow the Rook to be captured for nothing. This was almost compulsory.about 3 hours ago from web
                  99. 39. B*1h, Protecting the kNight on 2i to threaten to take the Rook on 2g.about 3 hours ago from web
                 100. 38. Sx8b, Gote had to take it. He could not allow Sente to make Tokin(promoted Pawn).about 3 hours ago from web
                 101. 37. P*8b Good pawn sacrifice to make Gote's silver isolated.about 3 hours ago from web
                 102. 36. R-4d, If Gote let the Rook away to 5d or 3d, then fork drop such as B*3f or B*1f was waining. That's why R-4d was almost compulsory.about 3 hours ago from web
                 103. 35. B-7e, Going away from the Pawn on 5b, it was threatening to take the Rook on 8d to keep initiative.about 3 hours ago from web
                 104. 34. P*5b, This was the sealed move. Habu dropped a pawn to pull away the promoted Bishop.about 3 hours ago from web

My twitter entries on the moves of Day 1 of 5th game of 67th Meijin-sen

Here they are. 33 moves were played on Day 1. Sente is 9-dan Goda while Gote is Meijin Habu. According to NHK BS(TV), Habu's sealed move was 34. P*5b.

1. 33. P*2c, Sente would like to invite Gote's Gold to 2nd file to mate the King such as B*4b K-4a B-3a+ K-5a +B3a-4b. Gote couldn't take itabout 15 hours ago from web
     
2. 32. R*2g, Gote dropped the Rook to threatening to take the kNight on 2i which was floating.about 15 hours ago from web
3. 31. Bx5c+, Sente traded a Rook for a Bishop with Bishop promotion. Which got more from this trade? I heard they say Sente did.about 15 hours ago from web
4. 30.Sx2d, Taking back the Rook on 2d.about 15 hours ago from web
5. 29. Bx4d Taking the Bishop.about 15 hours ago from web
6. 28. S-2c, Threatening to take the Rook on 2d.about 15 hours ago from web
7. 27. B*5e(!), If Gote took it by Bx5e, he would lose the Rook by Rx8d. Then please see B*9e would not work since Sente's King were on 5h.about 15 hours ago from web
8. 26. N-3c, Habu jumped his kNight to 3c. This might jump to 4e to attack the head of the King on 5h in the endgame.about 19 hours ago from web
9. *meaned should read meantabout 19 hours ago from web
10. 25. R-2d, This meaned that Rx8d would be prepared if Gote played Bx8h+. And Rx8h Gx8h Bx8h R-8d would be another fierce variation.about 19 hours ago from web
11. 24. B*4dabout 19 hours ago from web
12. 22. Bx8h 23. Sx8h B*4d, Habu did Bishop trade to drop it on 4d on a dare from Goda. The position was getting tense suddenly.about 19 hours ago from web
13. *Bishop promotion should read Bishop trade.about 19 hours ago from web
14. 21. R-2f(!) It's a daring move. What would happen if Gote made B*4d after Bishop promotion?about 19 hours ago from web
15. 20. R-8d, Habu pulled back his Rook to 8d, not 8e. This is called aerial fight.about 19 hours ago from web
16. 19. K-5h, Goda reseved P*8g and moved his King to 5h. Now, his King can not be checked such as B*9e after bishop trade.about 19 hours ago from web
17. The question now is which squares Habu will pull back his Rook to, 8e or 8d.about 21 hours ago from web
18. 18. S-2b, It's preparation for Sente's Rook transfer back to the 2nd file such as R-2f. It prevented the Rook from getting promoted already.about 21 hours ago from web
19. 17. R-3f, It's to connect with the Pawn on 7f to keep Gote from taking it by the Rook on 8f.about 21 hours ago from web
20. 16. B-3c, It was no more symmetrical. If Gote kept it symmetrical such as 16. Rx7f, it would bring him instant loss by Bx2b+ Sx2b Rx3b+(!).about 22 hours ago from web
21. 15. Rx3d Goda took the Pawn on 3d which is called Yokofutori(Side Pawn). If he did not like it, he could have chosen 15. R-2f instead.about 22 hours ago from web
22. [Shogi] Wmforo.com • Curso de SHOGI (Ajedrez japonés)http://bit.ly/MdxF6about 22 hours ago from web
23. 12. P-8f 13. Px8f 14. Rx8f, Habu traded Rook pawns. The position was symmetrical.about 22 hours ago from web
24. 9.P-2d 10. Px2d 11.Rx2d, Goda traded Rook pawns.about 22 hours ago from web
25. 7. G-7h 8. G-3b, Both protected the heads of their Bishops each other using their left Golds.about 22 hours ago from web
26. 6. P-8e, Habu showed he intended to choose Yokofutori. If he liked Itteson Kakugawari, then he should have traded Bihsopes here instead.about 22 hours ago from web
27. 5. P-2e, Goda advanced his Rook pawn again to aiming for trading Rook pawns.about 22 hours ago from web
28. The possible opening strategies at 4th move would be whether Yokofutori(Side Pawn) or Itteson Kakugawari(Bishop exchange with a tempo loss)about 22 hours ago from web
29. 4. P-8d, Habu advanced his Rook pawn. This showed he would not choose Furibisha(ranging Rook), either.about 22 hours ago from web
30. 3. P-7f, Goda opened his Bishop's diagonal line.about 22 hours ago from web
31. 2. P-3d, Habu responded to it by opening his Bishop's diagonal line instead of advancing Rook pawn too.about 22 hours ago from web
32. 1. P-2f, Goda advanced Rook pawn. He showed he would not choose Furibisha(ranging Rook).about 22 hours ago from web
33. 5th game of 67th Meijin-sen between Goda(Sente) and Habu started this morning.about 22 hours ago from web

5th game of 67th Meijin-sen started today

5th game of 67th Meijin-sen(best of seven match) started today between Meijin Habu and 9 dan Goda. It will end tomorrow evening. Before the game, the score is tied in 2-2. You can replay the game here(unofficial source, Java-capable window will be needed)

「Habu to put his pieces in order 」

「Goda to put his pieces in order 」

Racine is the winner again - PlayOK tournament #3354249

Racine is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on May 30, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

PlayOK.com - tournament #3354249 (shogi)

 

 

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 tournament table below;

Racine is the winner - PlayOK tournament #330403

Racine is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on May 20, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

 PlayOK.com - tournament #3330403 (shogi)

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 tournament table below;