1P-764th-file rook begins with opening the bishop's path.2P-84Gote responds by making space in front of the rook and advancing the rook-pawn.2.P-34Opening the bishop's path is also a natural move.3R-68The rook is without delay moved to become 4th-file rook. It is called 4th-file rook because it is in the 4th file *from the left*.4P-85Gote moves the rook-pawn ahead another space. In response to P-85, there is only one valid move for Sente to make. A hint is, it must block the Gote's pawn exchange.5B-77If this move is not remembered, you will not be able to play 4th-file rook.5.K-48If, instead, Sente moves their king...6.P-86Gote is free to advance their pawn and initiate the exchange7.Px868.Rx86This sequence is a failure of Sente's defense.6P-34Gote, who has finished moving the rook-pawn, now begins to develop their bishop by opening the bishop's path.7P-66This move closes the bishop's path that is currently under attack by Gote.
In response to P-34, always move P-66.8S-62Moving S-72 instead would be primitive climbing silver, which will be discussed in a later chapter.9S-78Sente moves the left silver up a space. This move is rather boring, but soon, Sente will move P-65, opening the bishop to Gote's bishop. By moving the left silver here, it can both ensure the exchange is equal while protecting the 8th file from the rook's pawn exchange.10K-42Gote begins to castle the king. Sente and Gote will soon battle in the 6th-8th files, and having the king near the battlefield is a great disadvantage in the endgame.11K-48Sente also moves to castle the king, aiming for 28.12K-32Gote continues to castle.13K-38Sente further castles the king.13.S-38Moving S-38 sets the foundation for Mino castle, which will be followed by K-39 ~ K-28. Both strategies are strong.14G61-52Gote moves their right gold. With this move, Boat castle has been completed.15K-28Continuing to castle, Sente's king has reached its destination. Moving the lance forward a space would make Anaguma castle possible.16P-74Gote has finished castling their king, and now begins to attack the head of the bishop.17S-38With this move, Mino castle is finished (half-Mino castle).18P-14Gote pushes forward the king's side pawn. This move creates an escape path for the king.19P-16In response, Sente pushes their 1st-file pawn forward as well. If Sente ignores this pawn push, their king's escape path is closed off while Gote's king's path widens. In the endgame, this move can decide whether or not the king is checkmated.20S-73Gote begins to use their right silver to attack.20.P-54Gote may also push their 5th-file pawn, this will be explained in a later chapter.21G69-5822S-84Gote begins their climbing silver attack.23S-67Gote will next push P-75, aiming for the weak spot at the bishop's head pawn at 76.24P-75Gote, aiming for the bishop's head, begins their attack.24.S-95Gote may also move their silver S-95...25.Bx95But this move results in the capture of Gote's silver by the bishop.25R-78"Move the rook to the file in which the battle is occurring."25.Px75If Sente takes Px75...26.Sx75Gote can push their silver forward, aiming at the bishop's head.27.P*76Sente can try to defend with a dropped pawn...28.P-86But Gote continues on, pushing P-86.29.Px8629.Px7530.Px87+30.Sx8626Px76Gote continues their attack.27Sx76Sente takes, protecting the bishop.28R-72Gote moves their rook to aim at taking Sente's now-vulnerable silver.28.P*75If Gote tries to drop a pawn and attack the silver...29.S-67Sente can just retreat and Gote is back where it started.29B-88Sente moves their bishop out of the line of fire, allowing the rook to defend the silver.29.B-68Another possible move29.B-59Another possible move29.P-65Another possible move30P*77This pawn drop is called the focal point pawn (焦点の歩). Moving the rook or the bishop will block the other's path.31Rx77Sente had three options:
- Take with the rook
- Take with the bishop
- Take with the knight
But, taking with bishop or knight will result in Rx76 and Sente's knight will be taken. Losing a silver early on would be fatal, so Sente takes with their rook.32Bx66This move was possible because Gote's P-76 opened up Sente's bishop's path. Gote is aiming to take Sente's rook and promote Bx77+33S-67Rather than retreating the rook, Sente moves the silver back to counter-attack the bishop.33.R-78If Sente flees...34.Bx88+Gote is free to exchange bishops...35.Rx8836.Rx76And can take the silver as well.34Bx77+Gote takes a powerful piece from Sente and promotes their bishop35Bx77Sente completes the exchange with its bishop, protected by the knight.35.Nx77Taking with the knight blocks off the bishop's path. This is a bad shape for Sente.36S-22Gote prevents Sente from promoting Bx11+.36.Rx77+Should Gote decide to take Rx77+...37.Nx77Sente takes with Nx77
Sente's castle is stronger than Gote's, putting it at an advantage should they both drop rooks.37B*55Sente's dropped bishop has two targets, Bx22+ and Bx91+.37.B*66This is also a strong move.38S-33Gote has no choice but to protect the king, otherwise Sente's bishop can upgrade and prove fatal.39Bx91+This is a big move in which Sente both captures a piece and promotes their bishop to a horse.40R*79Gote drops a rook in Sente's camp41+Bx81Sente takes another piece while targeting Gote's rook.42R-74Gote must prevent their rook from being taken.42.R72x77+Should Gote decide to initiate a rook-bishop exchange...43.Nx77Sente can take with their knight44.Rx77+And now Sente has an advantage (rook in hand).
In addition. Gote's 84 silver is left to just sit around.43+B-92Sente has accomplished capturing a few pieces, but it still doesn't have enough to attempt to capture Gote's king. They continue to target Gote's rook to supplement its fighting power.44R-71Gote's best move is to retreat its rook again.44.R-64If Gote attempts to evade Sente's bishop like so...45.N*56Sente can trap Gote's rook like so, and any attempt to escape will result in capture.46.R-5447.L*5545+B-82Sente persistently chases after Gote's rook.46R-51The rook flees to the safety of its own territory, patiently waiting for a chance to switch to counterattack.47P*74What should Sente aim for next? There are many ways to move forward, the easiest to understand and recommended move is to attack with a tokin (promoted pawn). Sente can promote P-73+, B-72, +P-62.
The next chapter will discuss when Gote begins a climbing silver attack without moving their king.