| Quest of the lost systems |
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| Chapter One: Yagura |
| Section 3: The Morishita System |
The more it was investigated, the more refined the system got to be,
which gave momentum for more frequent use of it in official games. So much
so that, for a certain period, yagura virtually meant the Morishita System.
However, this seemingly flawless opening had its own Achilles' heel. Diagram
9 is from the first game that has revealed the Morishita System's weak point.
It was played by Yoshikazu Minami(b) and Teruichi Aono(w) in Kisei-sen,
on February 17th, 1994.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
+---------------------------+
| * * * * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: nothing
|wR * * wS wG wB wG * * |b
|wL * wN wP * * wS wP wP |c
| * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d
|wP * * * * * * bP * |e
| * * bP bP bP * bP * * |f
|bP bP bS bG * bP bS * bP |g
| * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: nothing
|bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Diagram 9. Minami(b) vs Aono(w), up to (b)B-4b.
S-8f N-8e; S-2f Nx9g+; Sx9g P-9f; Sx9f Lx9f;
Lx9f Rx9f; L*9i P*9g; Lx9g Bx9g+; Nx9g L*7a;
(Diagram 10)
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
+---------------------------+
| * * wL * * wK * wN wL |a White in hand: S L
| * * * wS wG * wG * * |b
| * * * wP * * wS wP wP |c
| * wP wP * wP wP wP * * |d
| * * * * * * * bP * |e
|wR * bP bP bP * bP bS * |f
|bN bP * bG * bP * * bP |g
| * bK bG bB * * * bR * |h Black in hand: B N 2Ps
| * * * * * * * bN bL |i
+---------------------------+
Diagram 10. Up to (W)L*7a.
The system required quicker castling of its King than the opponent's.
It was probably too quick, which was taken advantage of by the opponent.
Then re-entered the suzume-zashi into the spotlight. What is to note is
that the suzume-zashi which had been almost totally abandoned by Black players
was now revived as a White's tactic. Ironically enough, the popularity of
the Morishita System imbued a new life into it, and White's suzume-zashi
attained the status of the Morishita System killer.
