Masuda versus Kuri

White's Free King is removed from the board, and it's square is occupied by the left-side Vertical Mover. The Ferocious Leopard is moved up from 2a to 2b, and then White starts the game.

When playing against a Free King handicap, it seems natural to me to open up the centre early, to make use of the central position of the Vertical Mover. With these last two moves, Kuri shows he is going to play a very different strategy. The Vertical Mover will stay where it is for a very long time, finally coming into play in the endgame.

P - 1g might be played to aim at an endgame combination on the edge. Presumably not on this occaision.

Retreating the Lion is to defend against P - 8g. But since he has sacrificed a Pawn to get this fine Lion position, I don't think he should abandon it so lightly. He should use it to support his own attack on the third, fourth and fifth files. Therefore play C - 7i.

In the game, we see Masuda tries to play his attack without any support from the Lion at all. He uses his Lion purely defensively. This rarely turns out well, as the Lion is a better attacker than a defender.

Cuts the Phoenix out from defending the tenth file. Black will now be permanently cramped on his left flank. It is in this situation that a break-in by the Lion can be most effective.

Kuri uses the same defensive strategy of not advancing the Pawn to 3e/10h. Whilst this prevents the Phoenix from defending the file, and cramps the defence, it does mean it will take the attacker longer to break in with the Lion. But when the Lion does get in, it proves to be more dangerous, as there is little room for it to be chased away. So this is a strategy of racing to be first to give mate. This minimises the effect of the Free King, which is at it's strongest in a wide-open endgame, rather than a tight mating race.

Like Black's P - 1g, this is intended to produce combinations on the edge. In turn these will help White's Lion to invade. Note that White's Side Mover can get out of the way with just one move, which makes the attack feasible (once the Leopard on 11i has been diverted). Contrast this with the way Black's Side Mover gets out the way later on. White's attack is well under way, but Black's hasn't even begun to emerge yet.

Black has a problem. It is natural to play Ln - 5g, to support his attack that is beginning to take shape. But then White will play GB x 9h. Ky - 7g might also prove to be awkward in some circumstances. Still, I think Black should play like this.

Playing lightly. Black can now open the third file immediately, but he doesn't have a target to attack, nor a Lion to get in and wreak havoc, nor any minor pieces to support the attack. White's defensive pieces have a little more room for maneuver, and the pressure in the centre is increased.

Kuri is being remarkably patient. Not only is he bringing both Silvers up for that attack, but a Blind Tiger too (actually, he has a reasonable route for it).

The Rook has more flexibility here, but that is not why Kuri moved it. He is allowing the Vertical Mover to come to 8c, but there is another reason too, as we shall see.

Played (presumably) so as to strike back at the Lion. He would do better to proceed with an attack, but it is difficult now. At least he can try to get the Lion across now.

I presume P - 10h was played with the aim of getting the Bishop on 11j to do something useful (as well as making room for the Silver). I think he should play Ln - 5h. White just ignores the move, and increases the pressure in the centre.

SM - 10d looked odd, but now we can see why it (and R - 8a) was played ‐ Kuri has built a new castle and an escape route for the King. He need not fear a mating attack any more.

Why Masuda retreated his Reverse Chariot is beyond me.

So the Side Mover can defend. Now White can win a Pawn or two with GB x 9h, but he has a Free King deficit to make up.

Now the Lion can invade at 11i, after the combination on the edge. If Black plays VM - 11j to defend against this, then perhaps White will defend in turn with BT - 4c, and Black will find it hard to attack. Perhaps Masuda was tired of defending, or maybe he just didn't see the threats. Anyway, he now springs his own combination.

Why not L x 12i+ first? S x 10h, I think (which should have been played in response to RC x 12i+).

+VM x 9j looks better to me

If L - 12c+, +B - 11i. Or if R x 11j, R x 1c. I think that would be a better choice for Black.

Note how the Vertical Mover has finally come into play without ever moving. I think this game clearly demonstrates that the Lion should be used primarily in attack.