Lightning Speed Endgame Technique

Koji Tanigawa, Meijin

Part Three: Winning Endgame Technique

Chapter 6: Identifying the Key Point

Diagram 1

The position in Diagram 1 is from my game against Moriyasu 9-dan in the 7th All-Japan Professional Tournament. Moriyasu has just moved his gold from 6c to 7c. In this game I countered White's 4th file rook anaguma opening with vanguard pawns at the head of my king and got the better game, but my opponent's stubborn resistance gave me a lot of trouble. Although the position should have been good for me, I couldn't find a knock-out blow and my impatience resulted in the bad move P-9e. Three moves before Diagram 1, I had spent 26 minutes on S-6f, and I thought for 11 minutes over P-9e. But I became frustrated looking for a decisive move and the time I took was not reflected in the accuracy of my calculation. Instead of P-9e, I could have kept my advantage with the solid S*7d (Diagram A). While defending my pawn on 8c, this would have restricted White's ability to confuse the situation. In the position in Diagram A, he would have been hard pressed to find a good continuation.

Diagram A

Diagram 2

After P-9e, the game continued ...P-6e; S-7g Bx7e; Px9d B-3i+; R-9h P*9g; Rx9g (Diagram 2). In this position, Moriyasu thought for 10 of his remaining 19 minutes and played ...G*8d. This was the crucial moment in the endgame. In Diagram 2, ...+P-5g was another possible move. Play might proceed P*7d Gx8c; P*8d +Px6g; Px8c+ +Px7g; Bx7g (Diagram B), and it will be difficult for White to continue to threaten mate. The aim of Moriyasu's ...G*8d in Diagram 2 is to dislodge Black's silver on 8e, which is very effectively placed both for attack and defense. You should make a point of remembering this technique of targeting the most effective piece on the board.

Diagram B

Diagram 3

After ...G*8d, the game continued Sx8d Gx8d; P-9c+ Lx9c; P*9d (Diagram 3). I thought the position in Diagram 2 was a little difficult for me, but my P*9d was a good confusing move that was easy to overlook. If I had answered ...Lx9c with Rx9c+ Nx9c; Lx9c+, White would have played the fine attacking and defensive rook drop ...R*9i (Diagram C), when Black has no way of mating and is clearly lost. White's rooks on 9i and 3b, operating both vertically and horizontally, are very effective in defense.

Diagram C

Diagram D

If White meets P*9d with ...Lx9d, Black wins with Rx9d Gx9d; Lx9d P*9c; L*8e (Diagram D) P*8d; G*7d R*7i; Lx8d Rx8i+; G*8h (Diagram E). In this position, Black is threatening mate by P*9b Kx9b (or ...Rx9b; S*8b Gx8b; Px8b+ Rx8b; Lx8b+, etc.); P-8b+ Gx8b; S*8c, etc. In the line leading to Diagram E, the lance drop L*8e (Diagram D) is the key move. Simply playing G*7d instead allows White to drop his silver very effectively with ...S*8e. In this game, 8e was the key point for both sides, and the side that controlled it was able to gain the advantage. Just as there are pieces that are so effective that they should be stubbornly defended or attacked and eliminated, there are key points in a game of Shogi. The ability not just to notice vital pieces but to identify the key points and control them directly affects the outcome of the game.

Diagram E

A Difficult Struggle

Diagram 4

In Diagram 4, I cannot afford to run about with my rook. Simply escaping with R-7f, for instance, is effectively answered by ...P*7e. I therefore played L*7c. If White defends with ...P*7b, R-7f is now possible because he can no longer drop a pawn on 7e. But what if White answers R-7f with ...S*7e? Now Black can play P*9d Gx9d; S*8b Gx8b; Px8b+ Kx8b; G*7d (Diagram F), which seems to give him the better chances.

Diagram F

Diagram 5

In the game, Moriyasu responded to L*7c tenaciously with ...G-8a. This is quite a stubborn defense. In mutual time pressure, he may have judged intuitively that this would keep his king safe. After using my remaining three minutes, I played P*9d (Diagram 5). Play continued ...Px9f; Px9c+ R*7i; S*8b Gx8b; Px8b+ Rx8b; +Px8b Kx8b; R*6b (Resignation Diagram) and Moriyasu 9-dan resigned. From the Resignation Diagram, after ...Kx7c; G*7b K-8c; G-8b K-9c, or ...K-8c; G*8b K-9c, or ...K-9c; G*9b K-8c; G-8b K-9c, Black plays P*9d and, after either ...Kx9d or K-7d, N*8f leads to a neat forced mate.

Resignation Diagram

The game ended quickly from the position in Diagram 5 because Moriyasu played the weak move ...Px9f, resulting in a relatively straightforward win for Black. Returning to the position after P*9d (Diagram 5), White's best move here was ...Gx9d. What would have happened if he had taken this pawn? Although I couldn't calculate this line to the end, I had no choice but to play P*9d in the heat of byoyomi. I would have answered ...Gx9d with S*7b. This does not threaten mate, but if White now takes the rook with ...Px9f, Black continues his attack with G*8b Gx8b; Px8b+ Kx8b; G*8c K-9a; P*8b (Diagram G) and, since White has no mate here, Black wins by one move. After S*7b, therefore, White would have to play ...Gx7b; Lx7b+ Rx7b (Diagram H).

Diagram G

Diagram H

In Diagram H, Black would like to play G*7c but this contains a pitfall. After ...L*8d; S-8f S*7h; Kx7h Rx7c, the gold is removed with check. The correct move in Diagram H is the cool P*7c. This does not threaten mate, but as White is not threatening mate either after taking the rook with ...Px9f, it is not too slow. Play might continue ...L*8d; G*8f R-3b; Rx9e (Diagram I) with a difficult and unclear struggle ahead, where Black still seems to be in the fight. But since I was now in byoyomi, having to play each move in one minute, I very much doubt whether I would have coolly played the correct P*7c or ridden out the storm in the difficult ending from Diagram I.

Diagram I

The Thrill of the Endgame

Mistakes are an intrinsic part of Shogi. In all kinds of position, everyone makes big mistakes as well as those so slight that they take you by surprise. The main thing is to be able to switch to a positive attitude and not get down on yourself when you make a mistake. It is no use crying over spilt milk. It is very important to be able to forget, think positively, and look at the board in a fresh frame of mind.

Moriyasu's ...G*8d aimed to eliminate the key silver on 8e and the ensuing struggle focused on the control of this key point. In the endgame, the more the players strike the key points and the more precisely they do so, the more rapidly will they achieve the ultimate aim of mating each other's king. This speed and power is the greatest thrill of the endgame.