KAKUGEN

Defend the King with three Generals, Attack with Rook, Bishop, Silver and Knight.
(Gyoku no mamori wa Kin Gin 3 mai, seme wa Hi, Kaku, Gin, Kei)
Vocabulary: Gyoku= King, no=of, mamori=guard, wa=as for, Kin=Gold, Gin=Silver, mai=piece, seme (noun)=attack, Hi=Rook, Kaku=Bishop, Kei=Knight

(1)

You might have heard about how the Fujii system and the Crab Silver diverge from the basic formation. They can be very effective indeed when employed by a skillful hand. But I advise you to learn the basics first and then attempt the trickier lines.

Diagram 1 is from one of the most popular openings: static Rook vs ranging Rook.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  * wG  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wK wS  * wG wR wS  *  * |b
 | * wP wP wP wP  * wB wP wP |c
 |wP  *  *  *  * wP wP  *  * |d
 | *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
 |bP  * bP  * bP  * bP  *  * |f
 | * bP  * bP bS bP  *  * bP |g
 | * bB bK  * bG bS  * bR  * |h
 |bL bN  * bG  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 1. Up to S5g.

Black, with the static Rook, is setting up for a quick attack. White, on the other hand, has formed a Mino-castle with two Golds and a Silver. Black will then play S4f, reinforcing his attack. This may seem at odds with "three generals' defence," but in this case the Silver on 4h is regarded as part of the defence.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  * wG  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wK wS  * wG wR wS  *  * |b
 | * wP wP wP wP  * wB wP wP |c
 |wP  *  *  *  * wP wP  *  * |d
 | *  *  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
 |bP  * bP  * bP  *  *  *  * |f
 | * bP bB bP  * bP bP  * bP |g
 | * bK bS  * bG bS  * bR  * |h
 |bL bN  * bG  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 2. Up to S-7h

Diagram 2 shows the beginning of a slow game, where the static Rook side has built up the left Mino-castle, vying with White's sturdy guard.

In a ranging-against-static-Rook game, the right half of the board (where the Rooks sit) is likely to become the battlefield, rather than making direct attack against each King.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL  *  * wG  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wK wS  *  * wR  *  *  * |b
 | * wP wN wG  *  * wB wP  * |c
 | *  * wP wP wP wS wP  * wP |d
 |wP  *  *  *  * wP  * bP  * |e
 | *  * bP bP bP  * bP  * bP |f
 |bP bP  * bG bS bP bN  *  * |g
 |bL bS  * bB  *  *  * bR  * |h
 |bK bN bG  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 3. Up to S-4d

Diagram 3 represents Black's anaguma with the static Rook. The Gold on 6g prepares for the future attack from the mid-area.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL  *  * wG  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wK wS  *  *  *  * wR  * |b
 | * wP wN wG  * wS wB wP  * |c
 | *  * wP  * wP wP wP  * wP |d
 |wP  *  * wP  *  *  * bP  * |e
 | *  * bP  * bP  * bP  * bP |f
 |bP bP bS bP  * bP  *  *  * |g
 |bL bS bG bB  *  *  * bR  * |h
 |bK bN bG  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 4. Up to S-7g

Diagram 4 is the absolute in anaguma castles, with four generals. This does not violate the three-generals guideline but makes even more sturdy defence, maybe a little too sturdy. You need to improvise when you want to attack with such scanty pieces for offence.

(2)

Next we will look into a typical double-static-Rook opening.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL  *  *  *  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wR  *  *  * wB wS wK  * |b
 |wP  * wN wS  * wG wG wP wP |c
 | *  * wP wP wP wP wP  *  * |d
 | * wP  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
 | *  * bP bP bP bP bP  *  * |f
 |bP bP bG bG  * bS bN  * bP |g
 | * bK bS bB  *  *  * bR  * |h
 |bL bN  *  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 1.

In Diagram 1, both players have exactly the same position with three Generals in defence and RBSN in offence. Both are in good shape. An intense battle is expected to ensue from here.

 White in hand: nothing
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  *  *  *  *  * wN wL |a
 | * wR  *  *  * wS wS wK  * |b
 |wP  * wB wP  * wG wG wP wP |c
 | *  * wP  * wP wP wP  *  * |d
 | * wP  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
 | *  * bP bP bP bP bP  *  * |f
 |bP bP bG bG  * bS bN  * bP |g
 | * bK bS bB  *  *  * bR  * |h
 |bL bN  *  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 2. Up to ...S4b.

In Diagram 2, Black's fortress is the same as above while White employs all the generals for defence. The Bishop on 7c functions to restrain Black's deployment rather than aiming at a direct attack. This again is too defence-oriented, and I would not advise you to employ it.

 White in hand: B
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL  *  *  *  *  * wK wN wL |a
 | * wR  *  * wG  * wG  *  * |b
 | *  * wN  * wP  * wS wP  * |c
 |wP  * wP wP wS wP wP  * wP |d
 | * wP  *  *  *  *  * bP  * |e
 |bP  * bP bP bS bP bP  * bP |f
 | * bP bS  * bP  * bN  *  * |g
 | *  * bG  * bG  *  * bR  * |h
 |bL bN bK  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: B
 Diagram 3. Up to ...N7c

Diagram 3 shows both camps having the same position, the Bishop-exchange with the reclining Silver in this case. The Silver above the Pawn on 5th file is called the reclining Silver. With this position, a fierce battle seems to be imminent, since the Bishop is in hand instead of sitting on the board. This should yield wider variety of offence.

Proceeding from the position in the diagram, Black will play P-4e, followed by Px4e, P-3e. Ideally Black should play K-8h or G-6h before opening the attack. Modern joseki teaches us, however, that procrastination is very costly in this position.

 White in hand: P
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wR  *  *  *  * wK wN wL |a
 | *  *  *  *  * wG wG wB  * |b
 | *  * wN  * wP wS  * wP  * |c
 |wP  * wP wP wS wP wP  * wP |d
 | *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * |e
 |bP bP bP  * bS bP bP bR bP |f
 | * bS  * bP bP  * bN  *  * |g
 | * bB bG bG  *  *  *  *  * |h
 |bL bN bK  *  *  *  *  * bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: P
 Diagram 4. Up to ...R8a

In Diagram 4, both players have taken the Aigakari opening, which includes Pawn-exchange in the Rook files. From here Black can play P-3e, Px3e, P-4e. For White's part, the position is a tad on the defensive, but playing S-6e is a possibility.

(3)

Finally, some positions from the double-ranging-Rook opening. In this opening, the opponent's attacking pieces are aiming at the head of your King, so your castle had better be well-prepared for an attack from above.

 White in hand: P
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  *  *  *  *  *  * wL |a
 | * wS wK wG wG  *  *  *  * |b
 | * wP wP wP wP  * wN  * wB |c
 |wP  *  *  *  * wP wR  * wP |d
 | * bP  * bP  *  * wS wP  * |e
 |bP bR bP bB bS  *  *  * bP |f
 | *  * bN  * bP bP bP bP  * |g
 | *  *  *  * bG bG bK bS  * |h
 |bL  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 1. Up to ...B1c.

Diagram 1 is a typical double-ranging-Rook opening called Kin-Muso, or Two-Piece-Gold. Incidentally, this includes typically bad shape called the wall-Silver, but is strong against an attack from above, nonetheless.

 White in hand: P
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  *  *  *  *  *  * wL |a
 | * wS wK wG wG wR  *  *  * |b
 | * wP wP wP wP  * wN  *  * |c
 |wP  *  *  *  * wP wS wB wP |d
 | * bP  * bP  *  *  * wP  * |e
 |bP bR bP bB bS bP bP  * bP |f
 | *  * bN  * bP bG bS bP  * |g
 | *  *  *  *  * bG bK  *  * |h
 |bL  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 2. Up to N7g.

In Diagram 2, Black has taken the Yagura castle instead of the Kin-Muso. Remember Yagura is also the right castle when playing the double-ranging-Rook. Compared with the Kin-Muso, the notorious wall-Silver is no longer there, so your King should enjoy more breathing space.

 White in hand: P
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wK wN  *  *  *  *  *  * wL |a
 |wL wS wG wG  * wR  *  *  * |b
 |wP wP wP wP wP  * wN  *  * |c
 | *  *  *  *  * wP wS wB wP |d
 |bP bP bP bP  *  *  * wP  * |e
 | * bR  * bB bS bP bP  * bP |f
 | *  * bN  * bP bG bS bP  * |g
 | *  *  *  *  *  * bG bK  * |h
 |bL  *  *  *  *  *  * bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: nothing
 Diagram 3. Up to N7g.

In Diagram 3, Black has built the Yagura, while White has ensconced the King in the anaguma castle. Note that the Golds are on 6b and 7b, which makes an anomalous anaguma castle. Anaguma's Golds are normally on 7a and 7b. Two Golds side-by-side is a countermeasure against the attack from above when playing double-ranging-Rook. Three Generals should make a good defence, but their placement differs from position to position.

 White in hand: P
   9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 +---------------------------+
 |wL wN  * wG  *  *  *  * wL |a
 | * wK wS  * wG  *  *  *  * |b
 | * wP wP wP wS wP  * wP  * |c
 |wP  *  *  *  * wB wR  *  * |d
 | * bS bP bP wP  *  * wN wP |e
 |bP bR  * bB  *  *  *  *  * |f
 | *  * bN  * bP bP bP bP bP |g
 | *  *  *  *  * bS bG  *  * |h
 |bL  *  *  * bG  * bK bN bL |i
 +---------------------------+
 Black in hand: P
 Diagram 4. Up to ...N2e.

White in Diagram 4 has built the Mino-castle. However, as far as the double-ranging-Rook is concerned, the Mino is not a very good defence. Incidentally, Black's King is not very safe, either, with his vulnerable right edge.

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