Yagura (shogi)

Yagura or Fortress (矢倉 yagura) is both a Static Rook opening (矢倉戦法 yagura senpō) and a castle in shogi.

It is usually played in a Double Static Rook (相居飛車 aiibisha) opening, which is often a Double Yagura (相矢倉 aiyagura) opening. However, it may also occur in different Double Static Rook openings such as Yagura vs Right Fourth File Rook.

The Yagura castle (矢倉囲い yagura gakoi), which is the defining characteristic of Yagura games, is considered by many to be one of the strongest defensive positions in Double Static Rook games.^[1]

The term yagura is the Japanese word for a tower-like structure in traditional Japanese castles.

Double Yagura

Double Yagura (相矢倉 aiyagura) games have both players using Yagura formations.

Blocking bishop with pawn

At move 6, White also has an option to play Climbing Silver by advancing their rook pawn to the e rank. (See: White Climbing Silver.)

New Yagura 24-Move Set

New Yagura 24-Move Set (新矢倉24手組 shin yagura nijū-tegumi)

Blocking bishop with silver

Blocking White's bishop with a silver (and also defending the eighth file from a possible attack) is an older Yagura joseki, which typically also includes advancing Black's rook pawn.

The more recent joseki advances Black's pawn on the sixth file instead. (See above.)

Classic Yagura 24-Move Set

Classic Yagura 24-Move Set (旧矢倉24手組 kyū yagura nijū-tegumi)

Compared to the New Yagura 24-Move Set, note that the Classic Yagura 24-Move Set is (a) symmetrical where both sides have the same formation and (b) that only Black's formation differs (White's formation is the same in both the old and new josekis.)

Right Gold to 6g variant

Right Gold To 6g (6七金右 roku-nana kin migi)

Spearing the Sparrow

Spearing the Sparrow (雀刺し suzume-zashi)

Quick Yagura castling

Quick Yagura castling

White's Yagura Climbing Silver

Waki System

Morishita System

See also

• Yagura castle
• Yagura vs Right Fourth File Rook
• Static Rook
• Shogi opening

References

Bibliography

• Aono, Teruichi (2009) [1983]. Better moves for better shogi. Translated by Fairbairn, John (2nd ed.). Ishi Press. ISBN 978-4-87187-999-6. 
• Aono, Teruichi (1983). Guide to shogi openings: Unlock the secrets of joseki 将棋定跡のカギ: 和英 定跡問題集. Translated by Fairbairn, John. 山海堂. ISBN 4-381-00598-8. 
• Fairbairn, John (1981). "How to play the fortress opening part 1". Shogi (29): 4–6. 
• Fairbairn, John (1981). "How to play the fortress opening part 2". Shogi (30): 14–15. 
• Fairbairn, John (1984). Shogi for Beginners. Ishi Press. ISBN 978-4-8718-720-10. 
• Hosking, Tony (1997). The art of shogi. The Shogi Foundation. ISBN 978-0-95310-890-9. 
• Kitao, Madoka (2011). Joseki at a glance. Translated by Kawasaki, Tomohide. Nekomado. ISBN 978-4-9052-2501-0. 
• Kitao, Madoka (2013). Sabaki at a glance. Translated by Kawasaki, Tomohide. Nekomado. ISBN 978-4-9052-2510-2. 
• "kieta senpō no nazo" 消えた戦法の謎 [Quest of the lost systems]. Shogi.Net. Mainichi Communications Co. 1995.  · Partial translation of 消えた戦法の謎 kieta senpō no nazo by Kiyokazu Katsumata.
• 斎藤, 慎太郎 (2016). 対矢倉: 左美濃新型急戦. マイナビ出版. 
• Yebisu, Miles (2016). Comprehensive shogi guide in English: How to play Japanese chess. Laboratory Publishing. 

External links

• How to Defend in Shogi (by Yasuharu Ōyama):
  • Basic Formation 4: Yagura
  • Basic Formation 5: Gin-yagura
• YouTube Hidetchi's:
  • Yagura #1
  • How to play Shogi (将棋): Lesson 14: Opening Principles · Contains some discussion of Yagura opening (from 2 min 28 sec)
  • Rapid Encountered Yagura, Primitive Climbing Silver
• Shogifan 将棋ファン: Yagura -1 矢倉
• Shogi Openings (professional Akira Nishio's blog):
  • About a Yagura castle
  • Yagura: Silver-46 Strategy (1)
  • Basic Tactics For Breaking Yagura Castle (1)
  • Basic Tactics For Breaking Yagura Castle (2)
  • Basic Tactics For Breaking Yagura Castle (3)
  • Basic Tactics For Breaking Yagura Castle (4)
• Shogi Shack:
  • Yagura Intro
  • Yagura Silver-3g
  • Climbing Silver Against Yagura
• Shogi Maze:
  • Yagura Opening Formation
  • Yagura Strategy: How To Build The Formation
  • Yagura Strategy: Battle 1
  • Yagura Strategy: Battle 2
  • Ai-SouYagura: Check Of Sennichite 1
  • Ai-SouYagura: Check Of Sennichite 2
  • Ai-SouYagura: Check Of Sennichite 3
  • Yagura: Gote's Quick Attack With Bogin 1
  • Yagura: Gote's Quick Attack With Bogin 2
  • Yagura: Silver-3g Strategy
  • Yagura: Sente's Quick Battle Opening with Pawn-3e
  • Yagura: Yonenaga-ryu Quick Attack
• Yamajunn's Basic Shogi Opening:
  • Yagura
  • Yagura: Yonte Kaku
• Shogi Opening:
  • Yagura: Akutsu Style Pawn-55 Rapid Attack
  • Yagura: Time Lugging Climbing Silver
  • Yagura: 3 Move Bishop Strategy
• Yet Another Shogi Site:
  • Yagura Rapid Attack: Yonenaga/Fujimori style against ▲P35 variation
  • Double Yagura: Identical formation
• Quest of the Lost Systems: Yagura: R-2i Formation
• Global Shogi: Double Yagura (AiYagura-相矢倉)
• 将棋タウン: 矢倉戦法