In
shogi
, also known as Japanese chess, is a strategy board game for two players. It is one of the most popular board games in Japan and is in the same family of games as Western chess, ''chaturanga, Xiangqi'', Indian chess, and '' janggi''. ''Shōgi'' ...
, the Bishop Head Pawn or Bishop's Head Pawn Push (角頭歩 or 角頭歩突き ) is a surprise
opening
Opening may refer to:
* Al-Fatiha, "The Opening", the first chapter of the Qur'an
* The Opening (album), live album by Mal Waldron
* Backgammon opening
* Chess opening
* A title sequence or opening credits
* , a term from contract bridge
* , ...
.
The opening is characterized by advancing early in the game the bishop's head pawn on 87 to 86 if played by Black or on 23 to 24 if played by White, in which it is undefended. This is a daring move since the head of the bishop (the 87 or 23 square) needs to be defended from a
Static Rook attack and moving the bishop's head pawn forward increases the vulnerability of the bishop's head.
It can be developed into a
Ranging Rook position and is played against a
Static Rook position.
The opening was used by professional
Kunio Yonenaga in tournament play in the 1960s and 1970s.
Development
1. P-76 P-34. After Black opens their bishop diagonal, if White does likewise, then Black can attempt the Bishop Head Pawn opening.
2. P-86. The Bishop Head Pawn position starts by advancing of the pawn at the head of the bishop.
2. ...P-84. White will react to the vulnerable bishop head pawn by starting to develop an attack on the eighth file with a rook pawn.
3. Bx22+ Sx22. Black responds by suddenly exchanging bishops.
4. N-77. With the bishop in hand and out of the way, Black moves their knight forward to the seventh file order to prevent White's pawn exchange on the eighth file.
See also
*
Ranging Rook
References
Bibliography
*
External links
* Shogi (etc) Diary in Japan
Kakutofu (Bishop-Pawn) Strategy将棋DB２: Kunio Yonenaga (米長邦雄) vs Kazuyoshi Nishimura (西村一義) May 5, 1964 game record
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Shogi openings
Ranging Rook openings
Shogi surprise openings