Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Downloadable file of the Commentary Show for 1st game of 34th Kio-sen

Japan Shogi Association let the video file of the Commentary Show for 1st game of 34th Kio-sen between Kio Sato Yasumitsu and Kubo Toshiaki(8 dan) become downloadable up to March 1. The commentators are Fukuzaki 9 dan and Chiba Joryu 3 dan.

http://www.shogi.or.jp/movie/kiou_part01.wmv (140MB, 1 hour and 15 minutes long)

The first 5 minutes of the video is for the start of the real game including Kio Sato's opening a piece box, picking up Osho, letting the pieces in order, Furigoma, and so on. I think this is experimental trial by JSA. If you are interested, please download it by March 1(Japan Time).

Hamshogi Walkthrough Video on YouTube - 2pc Handicap

Here is the one beating Hamster in 2 piece handicap posted by kinchorru

YouTube: ハム将棋　ハム2枚　短手数

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

 

Handicap: Other(Special 2pcs handicap)

  1. ...   K-4b     2.P-6f   P-3d     3.P-7f   P-8d     4.N-7g   Bx6f   
  5.R-6h   Bx5g+    6.Rx6c+  +Bx4g    7.+R-6a  S-7b     8.+R-7a  +B-8c 
  9.N-6e   N-3c    10.+R-6b  K-4a    11.Nx5c=  quit   


  1. ...   K-4b    

* Hamster protected the squares of 5c, 4c and 3c.

2.P-6f   P-3d    

*P-6f closed your Bishop's diagonal line. This pawn advancement is to trap Hamster in the future. Hamster opened his Bishop's diagonal line to take it.

3.P-7f   P-8d 

* You opened your Bishop diagonal line but it's blocked your pawn on 6f advanced previously. Hamster's P-8d is a natural move to activate his one of major pieces such as Rook.

4.N-7g   Bx6f

* Your N-7g lured Hamster to take the Pawn on 6f. Hamster took it. 

5.R-6h   Bx5g+

* Your plan was to use the Rook vertically. Hamster took the Pawn on 5g with promotion.

6.Rx6c+  +Bx4g   

* Your Rook got promoted with taking a pawn on 6c in return for Hamster's Bishop promotion. Hamster took a pawn on 4g to take the kNight on 2i in the next move.

7.+R-6a  S-7b

* Your Rx6a threatened Hamster to take his Silver on 7a which was floating. Aiming at a floating piece is one of the basic tactics in shogi. Hamster's S-7b avoided being captured and threatened you back to take your promoted Rook. You had to move it to somewhere. To which square would be good?

8.+R-7a  +B-8c 

* Your +R-7a avoided being captured by Hamster's Silver on 7b and threatened him to take his Rook on 8b at the same time to keep initiative. Keeping initiative is very important in the endgame in Shogi. Hamster had to pull his Promoted Bishop to 8c to connect with both his Rook and Silver.

9.N-6e   N-3c

* Your N-6e had two meanings such as giving threat on the square of 5c which was near Hamster's King and offering Bishop exchange. Hamster denied Bishop trade by N-3c. But it was his blunder.

8.+Rx5b  Kx5b

* You took Hamster's Rook by your Rook. Hamster took it back. This was an even trade and you kept your initiative to make a next move after the trade.

9.Bx5c+  K-5a   

* Your Bishop got promoted in check with taking a pawn. Hamster's King went back to its original position.

10.+R-6b  K-4a 

* +R-6b was a move of checking Hamster's King. Hamster did not drop a pawn on 5b due to illegal move of double pawn. Then he had to pull back his King to 4a.

11.Nx5c=  resigns

* You had a choice to take the Pawn on 5c by your kNight whether getting promoted or unpromoted. The right move was with unpromotion to checkmate the King.

Hamshogi Walkthrough Video on YouTube - 4pc Handicap

Here is the one beating Hamster in 4 piece handicap posted by kinchorru

YouTube: ハム将棋　ハム4枚　短手数

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

Handicap: Other(Special 4pcs handicap)

  1. ...   K-4b    

* Hamster protected the squares of 5c, 4c and 3c.

2.P-6f   P-3d    

*P-6f closed your Bishop's diagonal line. This pawn advancement is to trap Hamster in the future. Hamster opened his Bishop's diagonal line to take it.

3.P-9f   Bx6f    

* P-9f lured Hamster to take the Pawn on 6f. Hamster took it by Bx6f

4.R-6h   Bx5g+

* Your plan of using Rook horizontally was revealed. Hamster's bishop got promoted with taking a pawn on 5g.    

5.Rx6c+  +Bx4g   

* Your Rook got promoted with taking a pawn on 6c in return for Hamster's Bishop promotion. Hamster took a pawn on 4g to take the kNight on 2i in the next move.

6.B-9g   R-5b    

* B-9g made you have numerical advantage on 5c with your Promoted Rook and Bishop. Hamster added his Rook's line to 5c to protect it.

7.P*5d   +Bx2i 

* P*5d was a very good pawn drop to utilize your Bishop's diagonal line. Hamster could not take it since his King would be exposed in check. Hamster gave up defending the square of 5c and took the kNight on 2i.

8.+Rx5b  Kx5b

* You took Hamster's Rook by your Rook. Hamster took it back. This was an even trade and you kept your initiative to make a next move after the trade.

9.Bx5c+  K-5a   

* Your Bishop got promoted in check with taking a pawn. Hamster's King went back to its original position.

10.R*5b   K-4a   

* You dropped a Rook in hand to check Hamster's King supported by your promoted Bishop on 5c.

11.R-4b+  resigns

* Your Rook got promoted to checkmate Hamster's King supported by your Promoted Bishop on 5c. You could beat Hamster to use only your Rook, Bishop and pawns in 4pc handicap. It's important to learn how to activate your major pieces such as Rook and Bishop.

Hamshogi Walkthrough Video on YouTube - 6pc Handicap

Here is the one beating Hamster in 6 piece handicap posted by kintyorru

YouTube: ハム将棋　6枚落ち　短手数

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

Handicap: Other(Special 6pcs 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-3d

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

4.N-7g   Bx6f

*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.

5.R-6h   Bx5g+ 

*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.

6.Rx6c+  +Bx4g

*Your Rook suceeded in getting promoted. It's a very powerful piece now. Hamster's promoted bishop is trying to take your kNight on 2i.

7.N-6e   R-8a 

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

  8.+R-5b  K-3a 

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

9.B-2b+ resigns

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

Shogi Trailer(Video)

I recently found the following video was uploaded on YouTube.

YouTube: Shogi Trailer

This is the trailer of the shogi documentary film which is being created by the staffs of www.nifu.tv.

[Aniview] Reviews: Shion No Ou

Today I found the following "screenshot" review about Shion no Ou.

YouTube: [Aniview] Reviews: Shion No Ou

Spanish subbed Hachi-One Diver

It seems available through the following link. The main character of this J-Drama is a shogi player who failed to exit Shoreikai to become a professional player based on the original manga with the same title created by Shibata Yokusaru.

D-Addicts :: View topic - [Japan Service] Hachi-One Diver cap.01 spanish subs

Part2 of HIDETCHI's How to Play Shogi started

It looks like Part2 is extensively dealing with Tesuji/Tactics. The first one is about Pawn Tactics.

YouTube: Shogi Exercise #1 - Pawn Tactics

HIDETCHI started his new video series - Shogi Openings

HIDETCHI started his new video series titled Shogi Openings. Here is #1.

YouTube: Shogi Openings - Quick Ishida's Attack by Black #1

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