Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

A new shogi vatriant without Kanji pieces - Let's Catch the Lion(Dobutsu Shogi, Animal Shogi)

Dobutsu Shogi is a new shogi variant. The rules has been invented by Kitao Madoka(Joryu Shodan) and the design has been done by Fujita Maiko(Joryu 1 kyu). It's started to be sold in Japan since last year and the mass production version has started to be sold since this September. Briefly, it a simple version of Shogi. Both sides have four seperate pieces and captured pieces can be reused like shogi. The board has 3x4 squares. It's easy to remember the rules but I hear there are possible 200 million positions.

It will be demonstrate for the first time to the foreign markets at the opportunity of Essen Spiele. But I was told there is alreday a video review about it in English. Here is the link of it.

YouTube: Let's Catch the Lion Review

And here is the link to the review thread of "Let's Catch the Lion" on boardgamegeek.

[Video Review] Let's Catch the Lion! | Let's Catch the Lion! | BoardGameGeek

It seems it'll be available to buy it online at FunagainGames.

Funagain Games: Let's Catch the Lion! (Shogi for kids)

I hope this will be an entry game for childrens so that they will get interested in Shogi with growing up. And it's fun for adults as well.

Daniil is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3794721

Daniil is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on October 10, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3794721 (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;

Xy0406 is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3773939

Xy0406 is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on October 03, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3773939 (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;

Karthum is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3752952

Karthum is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on September 26, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3752952 (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;

oneye is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3752926

Oneye is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on September 23, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3752926 (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;

wwwshogipl is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3732580

Wwwshogipl is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on September 19, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3732580 (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;

Tom2700 is the winner - PlayOK Shogi Tournament #3711464

Tom2700is the winner of the captioned on-line shogi tournament held on September 12, 2009. Here is the link to the result.

• PlayOK.com - tournament #3711464 (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;

Bishop exchange up to the 10th move is increasing significantly

According to Katsumata Kiyokazu(6 dan) in latest Shogi Sekai which is a monthly magazine, the rate that Bishop exchange occurs up to the 10th move comparing between 1998 and 2008 is as below;

1998 --- 62/2238 games(2.7%)
2008 --- 545/2379games(22.9%)

As you see above, the openings with Bishop trade at the early stage increased significantly. I guess this has been caused by the increase of Gote's adoptation of Itteson Kakugawari(Bishop exchange losing a tempo) and Gokigen Nakabisha(Gokigen Central Rook)

As to Gokigen Nakabisha, HIDETCHI already started making several videos linked below;

YouTube - Shogi Openings: Gokigen Central Rook #1
YouTube - Shogi Openings: Gokigen Central Rook #2 (G(R)-5h variation)

And HIDETCHI is also started making videos of Bishop Exchange. I hope Itteson Kakugawari will be covered in his videos in the near future.

YouTube - Shogi Openings: Bishop Exchange #1
YouTube - Shogi Openings: Bishop Exchange #2

I highly recommend you to be a subscriber of HIDETCHI's Channel on YouTube if you are not yet. The number of the subscribers has already exceeded 1000. In order to do that, go to the link and click the Subscribe button you can find in the page like below.

Boardlive now - Nakai Hiroe(Joryu 6 dan) vs Yamada Akemi(Joryu 2-dan)

Today is the day for the game of 3rd Mynavi Joshi Open between Nakai Hiroe(Joryu 6 dan) and Yamada Akemi(Joryu 2-dan). As a result of Furigoma, Yamada became Sente. It started at 10:00 am in Japan. The allotted thinking time per player is 3 hours and less than 60 seconds per move(Ippun Shogi) after consuming it. Here are the links to the live boards.

Kifu for Flash
Kifu for Java

The official blog of 3rd Mynavi Joshi Open(In Japanese) which is uploading many photos is here.

It's on Ustreamlive as well

Nakai Hiroe | Yamada Akemi | The board and piece stands

Boardlive today

Today is the day for the 1st game of 20th Joryu Oui-sen best of five match between Joryu Oui Ishibashi Sachio and Joryu Meijin Shimizu Ichiyo. The venue of the game is at Morikawa's House as the registered national tangible cultural property in Ichinomiya City, Aichi prefecture. As a result of Furigoma(five pawn toss), Shimizu became Sente. You can replay and watch the game through the following page.

Shimizu vs Ishibashi

The official page of the game can be found here(in Japanese).
And frequently updating photo of the playing room is here. (Left = Ishibashi).

The allotted thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it.