Colin Adams versus Thomas Majewski

This game was played on Saturday, 4th October, 1997. The time limits were 90 minutes for each player, plus one minute per move overtime.

The time remaining is occasionally shown in the form (h:mm).

Colin Adams took Black.

Colin's comments look like this.

Thomas's comments look like this.

This move is not good, because White will have difficulties in developing his his left flank. Up to this point the opening has been quite normal, though Black's manouvre DK - 7j, to make room for the Copper looks slightly better than White's similar manouvre.

8b looks like a better square for White's Dragon King. I am following a standard sequence to arrange my pieces for an attack up the first file. This is based upon the moves shown by Wayne Schmittberger in [MSM] on page 53 (first example joseki), except I use a slightly different manoeuvre to get the Dragon King to the back rank. This is based on my theory that moving the Dragon Horses out to the flank (2e/11e/2h/11h) should not necessarily be regarded as joseki - sometimes it is better to leave them where they are. I believe that leaving the Dragon Horse at home on the attacking flank will save two moves, as it only gets in the way of your build up, and will have to be withdrawn again, having served no purpose.

But this means I have to use a different move order to Wayne, to get round the obstructive Dragon Horse.

It seems to work, though the whole scheme is slow, and may be disruptable by a quick attack down the eighth file.

White's manoeuvres with the Vertical Movers and Bishops is one I often see, but I don't use myself much. I think it is more suitable for White to employ this manoeuvre than Black, as it's primary aim is to embarrass the Lion in the centre.

As I replay the game, I am puzzled as to why I played this move. But now I remember ‐ I am intending to bring my Copper up from 3l to 6i, so I need to prepare an escape route for my Lion. The Lion will be able to proceed via 4h to support the attack on the first and second files. Note that because White's Bishop has moved from 10b to 11c, the Lion will be fairly safe on 4h. So Black appears to have gained a tempo with respect to the Lion/Bishop manoeuvres. It is for this reason that I don't tend to employ such manoeuvres myself ‐ there is a danger that they will prove too slow.

Black does not follow White's example of developing the Dragon Horse this time. The idea is to start an attack on this side, thereby proving that White's Dragon Horse is too far advanced.

See my previous comments on deploying Dragon Horses. Actually, the chief idea is to make room for the Ferocious Leopard to come up the second file, in order to support the attack down the first file. But I do hope to gain momentum for the attack by playing P - 2f at some point. But Thomas eliminates this possibility on move 31. This is almost certainly a good idea, as otherwise I may get too many tactical opportunities. Good shape is very important in Chu Shogi, as it is often impractical to analyse the positions.

Huh? What's he up to? (That was my thought at the time. It turns out that Thomas has come up with a neat defence and counter-attack plan.)

At this point I was feeling quite complacent. I do not think much of the Copper on 9e - it looks like becoming the bad shape of a Copper in front of it's pawns. But I should have paid more attention. There is so little time! See the section called Problems with time limits.

Thomas rushes to improve his shape before the attack comes. I would much prefer to see a Dragon Horse on 2e, rather than a pawn. It will now be much harder for me to press the attack, though I still haven't forseen Thomas's plan, which is to counter-attack down the second file.

But the question must be asked ‐ what has the Dragon Horse gained by moving to 2e? The answer appears to be very little. It has not obstructed any of White's pieces until now, and it hasn't really restricted Black's Lion. The same question might be asked of Black's Dragon Horse on 11h. I am firmly convinced that the attitude of "it's joseki to develop the Dragon Horses to the wings" must be eliminated from a Chu Shogi player's mind. The Dragon Horse should not be moved until it has to move, but there is the question of whether to allow the Lion too much freedom. Difficult. It needs thought (and longer time limits!).

I have suceeded in driving White's Lion into an attacking position, whilst my left flank is still in poor shape for defence, blocking the path of my Side Mover, and opening the diagonal for the Bishop on 10c to harass my Lion when it moves to 9h. Brilliant! White could hardly hope for better.

Good idea. During the game I thought it to be neat, to remove this DK to the back rank. The real purpose of this move can be seen later.

I have to give Wayne Schmittberger the credit for this idea.

Forces P - 4h, which blocks the advance of the minor pieces (S, C).

Well, no. The minor pieces weren't going to come that way. The Lion was. But now the Lion can go via 4i. I think B-10b is premature. Black's Lion now has more freedom to act.

This is to allow the Dragon Horse to retreat to 5k. But since I was going to do this, why did I move it to 3i? Well, I have caused his Lion to take a diversion. It turns out to have worked well, but I am not convinced that this should have been the result.

White's minor pieces seem uncoordinated. I am not now afraid of an attack, so I can neglect the left side, and concentrate upon my own attack.

Not good. This gives black a target to attack.

Not good. Wastes a tempo.

Now it dawned on me. My pieces are in bad shape, especially the copper, which keeps the SM on the first file.

A pawn sacrifice to drive away the lion and giving my own lion room to go to my left flank to help defend. The white advance on my right is much too slow to start a counterattack.

If Ln-3g, P-5f.

Not good. Black is strong in the centre.

Should I play FL x 1g instead? I am trying to save a tempo here, as I will have to move the Reverse Chariot forward anyway, but it is a bit exposed here. Now the Ferocious Leopard cannot get forward so easily. I was later to regret this move.

It is very important to keep white's lion away from 3f.

White may as well play Px7h first.

Hasty? If I had forseen Thomas's plan, I may not have played this immediately. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that I should have played FLx1g. That way, I can play P-2f whenever I want to. Now I am afraid that I may not be able to do so if I don't play it now.

Another pawn sacrifice. This time to give the lion access to 3e.

Terrible! A complete waste of a move. It is obvious that the White Lion will move to 3e. Therefore The Black Lion should not capture the pawn until he is forced to move off the second file. Then Ln x 3f - 4g will probably be the best move. Black should play R-1j.

Now White must play P x 7h first. But Black is asleep. The point is, Black cannot play P x 7g whilst the White Lion remains close enough to recapture, as the White Lion will then destroy Black's centre.

It took me a long time to realize where this DK came from. Compare comment on 33. DK - 5i.

At this point, Black is better, and White has less than forty minutes on the clock. Black would do better to play RC-1h, then develop the left side. Persistently attacking in the face of a well-organised defence is foolish.

I am digging a hole for myself.

A surprise to Colin. But I have to do something dramatic, as I fear to be pushed off the board. Black can continue piling up pieces and White is still in bad shape, meaning his own pieces disturb each others movements.

Yes it was a surprise. Whilst waiting for Thomas to move, I had realised that FL - 2f was a strong move. Now I can play RC - 1h, and, if C x 3g, P x 3g and I am ok. Unfortunately, I looked no further than the material gain. Greedy!

The dust has settled and black has made material profit. But white is left with his long ranging pieces on this side and can make abreakthrough.

Loss of a tempo and achieves nothing special.

I'm not convinced. Black must activate his left side pieces.

This helps Black.

This too helps Black.

A blunder. I noticed that Side Movers are being overlooked quite often.

A birthday present. But it's a month late.

This removes a defender from the third rank.

Yes. DH-10h, or something else, would be better.

The Soaring Eagle does not attack the Lion.

Overlooked the Kylin.

Just when I was getting nicely back into the game, too. Annoying.

White entered the black position with his Lion and can bring up more pieces over the flank. The game should be won now, if he would not have been in overtime.

I had overlooked that the Lion could enter at 4i. It certainly looks grim now.

Better is Ln x! 4j. But I wanted to promote this Phoenix to a Lion!!

Is Ln x! 4j really better? R - 1j follows. Promoting the Phoenix is a good strategy, but why not play Ln x 4j x 5k first? White will have an extra promoted Rook, and an advanced Phoenix. Black will find it very hard to defend.

What a surprise. The Phoenix promotes to a Free King, not a Lion. Nevertheless, I should have waited until I can promote it safely.

Ln x 3k followed by R - 2j/k+ looks sensible.

Good interposing move, which scares the Soaring Eagle away.

This is a mistake. +R - 1i will allow the Bishop to promote.

Both of us miss the fact that Ln x 6j would be mate. All the other players were now watching our game, and they all saw it. They told us so afterwards, but we had to replay the game before we believed them. Ln-7j was best.

I overlooked the Bishop.

I am assuming I will win now. I still need to promote my Phoenix to draw level, but I have more time.

I should promote. I do so later, but that is illegal. However, no-one noticed!

Trying to be too clever! That's the problem with overtime. Now I am ahead.

The Blind Tiger cannot take the Soaring Eagle, as Ln x 6l would be mate. But now my Lion is in danger and I have to give away the Soaring Eagle.

Black is no longer in immediate danger and can think of attacking again.

So White has to follow with his Lion.

I played an illegal move (the Copper is not allowed to promote as it declined to promote last time it moved). But as No-one noticed, the tournament rules say the move should stand.

The Phoenix doesn't really have a chance to promote, so the game is close. But I still have a time advantage.

Now it declines to farce. Time limits are to blame.

The idea is to threaten Black's Lion, but I overlooked, that he would take my Lion first with Ph x 4c and I must not take his Lion in exchange. Ph x 4c would have been check also.

He did not see it either.

Who cares for Lions???

The position seems to be equal, but Black can promote his Phoenix and also has a Vertical Mover left. He should win now.

Again overlooking the Side Mover.

For one dreadful moment, I too forgot about it. Panic! Where's my Side Mover? 12j! Can I cover? Phew! I still have one on 3f!

If this game doesn't inspire you with the though that you too can become European Champion, then try taking a look at my fourth round game against Roland Marounek!