I-tsu-tsu Co. Ltd.

Shogi 24 October 2016

Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi – : Step 1-8 How to defense against “Oute” (check)

Akiko Nakakura

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with tra-ditional Japanese culture.

“Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi –“ is available on the blog of I-tsu-tsu Co., Ltd.

Even a novice player will be able to play a standard Shogi. There are three steps and one step has approximately 20 lessons.
You will be able to play Mini Shogi in Step 1, and it is full of fun!

The previous step

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with traditional Japanese culture.“Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi –” is available on the blog of I-tsu-tsu Co., Ltd.Even a novice player will be able to pla...

Step 1-8 How to defense against Oute

Akiko-Sensei: Both of you did well in the previous lesson of Oute.
Kaori: Yes, it is fun to do Oute (Check)

Akiko-Sensei: It is good to hear that. 🙂 Today, let’s take a defense side.
Kaori: Oh, I don’t like that. I lose when my Gyoku (King) is captured.
Akiko-Sensei: Yes, that’s right, but your Gyoku (King) is not captured if you fully learn how to defense against Oute.
Ayumi&Kaori: Yes!

1. Escape

Oute with FU
Oute with Fu (Pawn)

Akiko-Sensei: Is this a condition of Oute?
Kaori: Yes, it is Oute with Fu (Pawn).
Akiko-Sensei: Well done, Kaori. Then, we need to think what we should do against this Oute?  What would you do, Ayumi?
Ayumi: Well, I slide myGyoku (King)!

Escape Oute with FU
Escape Oute with Fu (Pawn)

Akiko-Sensei: Good job! You should run away to where Fu (Pawn) cannot move.  For example, what would you do in the following condition?

Oute with KIN
Oute with Kin (Gold)

Kaori: Well, I’ll move it to this square, perhaps.

Escape Oute with KIN
Escape Oute with Kin (Gold)

Akiko-Sensei: Good try, but Kin (Gold) can go there, so your Gyoku (King) can be captured.
Kaori: Oh, I see.
Akiko-Sensei: So, where should you run away?  How about here?

Escape from Oute with KIN
Escape from Oute with Kin (Gold)

Kaori: Yes! Kin (Gold) cannot move back-diagonally.
Akiko-Sensei: Correct! You should run away to where your opponent’s piece cannot come.  To escape is one solution for Oute.

2. Capture

Akiko-Sensei: Please look at this picture once again.

Oute with FU
Oute with Fu (Pawn)

Ayumi and Kaori are staring at the board.

Akiko-Sensei: There is another good way besides running away.  Can you think of anything?
Ayumi: Well, how about capturing this Fu (Pawn)?

Capturing FU
Capturing Fu (Pawn)

Akiko-Sensei: Brilliant, Ayumi!  Yes, you can capture this Fu (Pawn).  Capturing the attacking piece is another solution.  Then, how about the following?

Oute with GIN and FU
Oute with GIN and FU

Kaori: I capture this Gin (Silver).

Akiko-Sensei: Oh, Kaori, is that really okay?  Something is behind the Gin (Silver).

Being captured by FU
Being captured by Fu (Pawn)

Ayumi: Oh, our Gyoku (King) will be captured by this Fu (Pawn).

Akiko-Sensei: Yes, that is right.  You need to confirm if your Gyoku (King) is safe afterward when you capture the opponent’s checking piece for defense.
Kaori: ;(
Akiko: It is better to run away as below in this case.

Running away
Running away

We learn how to defense Oute today.

Ayumi & Kaori: Yes!  We learn how to escape and capture.
Akiko-Sensei: That is right.  You don’t go panic, stay calm and find solutions against Oute.

The next step

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with traditional Japanese culture.“Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi –“ is available on the blog of I-tsu-tsu Co., Ltd.The previous stepEven a novice player wi...

この記事の執筆者Akiko Nakakura

I-tsu-tsu Co. Ltd. President, lady's professional shogi player. After winning successive victories in the female amateur master’s tournament in 1991 and 1992, she made her debut as a professional shogi player in her third (last) year in high school. She retired from professional shogi play after a 21-year career in March 2015, and currently involved in activities to spread the game of shogi among children.

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