-Several historical variants of shogi exist. Most of these were invented -before modern shogi (in some cases hundreds of years before), are much -larger than modern shogi and are not played with drops. Thus, in many -ways they are really more like giant chess games than like modern shogi. -The only one of these games to have survived in Japan is Chu (middle) -shogi, which is still played a little bit. Thanks to the efforts of -George Hodges and John Fairbairn of the Shogi Association (two British -shogi enthusiasts), these games were resurrected and rules and sets for -them can still be purchased from George Hodges (see section References and links). I hope to eventually extend GNU shogi so that it can play at -least some of these games. There are also several non-historical -variants of shogi; I don't know much about them but you can find -information about them on the internet (see section References and links). + + + + + + +
+ + +| [ < ] | +[ > ] | +[ << ] | +[ Up ] | +[ >> ] | +[Top] | +[Contents] | +[Index] | +[ ? ] | +
-The historical variants include: - - - -
+ +Note also that the move numbering system used here is the chess-type +system where one move means one move by each player. The Japanese count +one move made by each player as two moves. +
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- +
+ +Below you will find (the English translation of) an annotated game which +was published in the Dutch Shogi magazine "81" and in the Dutch +beginners booklet. It has proven to be a very useful game to explain +some basic principles of Shogi. Also, it is a rather straightforward +game compared to professional games where in most cases very diffuse +middle game fights take place. +
+ + Pieter Stouten, 14th May 1990. +
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- +
+ +Black: Michael Trent (1-dan). White: David Murphy (2-dan). +
+
+ 1. P2f P3d 2. P2e B3c
+[ This move is necessary, as otherwise white can exchange pawns: 3. P2d
+Px2d 4. Rx2d. He would thus get a pawn in hand and open up his rook
+file. ]
+
+
+ 3. P7f P4d
+[ White closes the bishop diagonal again. He plans to play ranging rook
+(the rook goes to 5b, 4b, 3 or 2b; a defensive strategy) and in that
+case he'd better avoid an exchange of bishops. One of the reasons is
+that he will have problems developing his pieces without leaving holes
+for bishop drops. ]
+
+
+ 4. S4h R3b 5. P3f S4b 6. K6h K6b
+[ In general the rook plays an important role in the attacks. It is
+wise to move the king away from the area where the initial fights will
+be and both players act according to the Shogi proverb "keep the rook
+and king apart". ]
+
+
+ 7. K7h K7b 8. P5f P5d 9. G4i-5h G4a-5b
+[ Both players use their second gold general to build their castle. ]
+
+
+ 10. S6h
+[ In itself this move is not bad. However, it will become clear that
+black plans a quick attack and in that case it is wiser to omit this
+move. ]
+
+
+ 10... S5c 11. P1f P1d
+[ The advance of the edge pawns must be timed very well. The remark at
+black's tenth move applies here too: this move is good if black wants to
+play a slow game, because it eliminates a future B1e. ]
+
+
+ 12. P4f K8b 13. N3g S7b
+[ Black develops his knight in order to start an attack over the second,
+third and fourth files. White strengthens his king's position and
+awaits the attack. He aims at a counterattack as soon as black has
+broken through into the white camp. Probably white's breakthrough will
+take place later, but he has good compensation in the form of a stronger
+castle. This theme occurs very often in static rook versus ranging rook
+games. ]
+
+
+ 14. P4e R4b
+[ Black starts his attack and white puts up a very passive defence. His
+rook has a hard task now to penetrate the black position. Moreover, he
+blocks his own bishop. It seems much better to start a counterattack
+with 14... P3e, later to be followed by B2b, B5a or Bx4d in order to use
+his rook more actively. ]
+
+
+ 15. Px4d Sx4d 16. P*4e S5c
+[ 16... Sx4e is more active. A silver general is normally more valuable
+than a knight, but white gets two pawns in hand and black none, while
+the knight might come in handy for white too. ]
+
+
+ 17. Bx3c+ Nx3c 18. P2d Px2d
+[ Black threatens to break through and white has to consider taking the
+pawn on 2d or starting a counterattack with Nx4e. If he chooses the
+latter, black can play Px2c+ followed by +P3c. The disadvantage is the
+black "tokin" (=promoted pawn) that white will get in his camp; the
+advantage is that it will cost black two more moves to promote his rook.
+Because white did not trust that the result after engaging in a
+"semeai" (=mutual attack) with 18...Nx4e would give a positive result,
+he captured the pawn on 2d. Making the right decision in moments like
+this often makes the difference between a win and a loss: miss one
+attacking chance and you will be forced to defend the whole game until
+the unavoidable defeat; on the other hand, an unsound attack can destroy
+all "aji" (=potential, meaning possibilities, threats) without getting
+anything in return. ]
+
+
+ 19. Rx2d Nx4e 20. Nx4e Rx4e 21. R2a+ P*4g
+[ Now it becomes clear why black's 10. S6h was not good. Had this move
+been omitted, then white would not have had the time to play 13... S7b
+and after R2a+ the gold on 6a would hang. Thus black would have kept
+"sente" (=initiative). Instead of 21... P*4g, B*6d is a very good
+move, because after 22. P*2h black does not have a pawn in hand anymore
+and he is being threatened with the annoying 22... N*4f 23. G5g N3h+
+24. S4g +N4h also. Black can also counter 21... B*6d with 22. N*3g.
+White would then reply with 22... R4b 23. B*3c P*4g 24. Bx4b+ Sx4b. The
+white rook has played its role and instead of spending moves on saving
+it white starts to scatter black's defences by successive pawn drops on
+the fourth file: 25. Gx4g P*4f 26. G5g N*6e 27. G5h P4g+ 28. Gx4g P*4f.
+This analysis was provided by Kato Hifumi, 9-dan professional (the
+highest regular grade). Destroying the coherence of the enemy pieces
+(their shape) by dropping pawns is one of the most important Shogi
+techniques. With the actual move 21... P*4g white missed a good
+chance. ]
+
+
+ 22. Sx4g P*4f 23. B*3g Px4g+ 24. +Rx6a +Px3g
+[ 23. B*3g seems pointless, but a closer look reveals that it is
+actually quite mean. On move 24 white cannot capture black's "Ryu"
+(=dragon =promoted rook) with his silver: 24... Sx6a 25. N*7d K7b
+26. G*8b mate. By attacking the front of the white castle and
+threatening to mate him there, black has the chance to break down the
+white defences from the side. ]
+
+
+ 25. +Rx5b S*6b
+[ Here 25... B*4d would be much better, because it is defensive and
+attacking at the same time. After e.g. 26. G*4c Bx9i+ 27. Gx5c black
+threatens 28. +Rx7b Kx7b 29. S*6a K8b 30. S*7a Kx7a 31. G*7b mate.
+White is one move quicker, however. He has the following beautiful
+"tsume" (mating sequence where every move is check): 27... N*8f 28. Px8f
+S*8g 29. Kx8g B*9h 30. K7h Bx8i+ 31. K8g +B8i-8h 32. K9f L*9e mate.
+This illustrates the sharpness of Shogi: one move can make the
+difference between winning and losing. ]
+
+
+ 26. P*4f Rx4f
+[ This move eliminates white's last chances. 26... R4b 27. +Rx4b Sx4b
+28. R*4a seems annoying, but after 28... B*3c 29. S7g B*3b white wins
+the rook and with his "tokin" on 3g there still is some hope. ]
+
+
+ 27. N*6e +P4g
+[ White cannot defend anymore, so he starts a desperate attack. Black
+does not lose the right track, however. ]
+
+
+ 28. Nx5c+ +Px5h 29. +Nx6b +Px6h 30. Gx6h N*8f 31. Px8f B*6i 32. Gx6i
+ R4h+ 33. N*6h +Rx6h 34. Gx6h S*8g 35. Kx8g N*9e 36. K7h Resigns
+[ White resigns here, because after 36... B*8g 27. K7g his attack has
+petered out. ]
+
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