I got a glitch which resulted in Fable 5 on Max effort responding with “illegible” CoT.
Fable 5 Prompt + Initial Reasoning
Please analyze the following shogi position. I’ll provide both a screenshot and a SFEN.
ln1g4+R/1ks1+P4/1pp1p3p/p2p5/5+b3/PKP6/1P1Ps3P/1+r7/LN1g1P2L b BGSNL3Pgsn2p 83
Please evaluate the position and discuss candidate moves and variations.
Do not use engine analysis.
I need to read the shogi skill file first to understand what tools and analysis methods are available for evaluating the position.
Reading the shogi skill before analyzing the position
I should look at the truncated section on tsumeshogi solving and check how the board rendering works so I can visualize the position properly.
Reading the truncated portion of the shogi skill
I should look at the board-rendering documentation to understand how positioning works for what I’m building.
Checking for reference files in the shogi skill
Script
Reading the board rendering reference for visualization
I’m parsing through the SFEN notation carefully, going rank by rank from the top to verify it matches the screenshot, keeping in mind that the ranks are numbered 1-9 from top to bottom and files run from 9 to 1 left to right. Rank f checks out with the piece positions, but I’m noticing something odd about the 先手玉 placement on file 8 — let me verify this against the screenshot to make sure I’m reading the board orientation correctly.
Looking at the screenshot more carefully, the columns are labeled 1-9 from left to right across the top, and the rows run from 9 at the top-right down to 1 at the bottom-right, which suggests the board is displayed from 後手′s perspective with a flipped orientation. The SFEN notation places rank 一 at the top with 後手香 at the 9筋, but when I look at the screenshot’s bottom row (labeled 1), I see an upside-down 龍 on the left and upright pieces like 香, 桂, 金 on the right — which doesn’t align. I need to reconsider the coordinate mapping: if the board is rotated 180° from standard orientation, then the screenshot’s top-left corner corresponds to (file 1, rank 9) in standard coordinates, which should help me reconcile what I’m seeing with the SFEN data. The pieces in the screenshot confirm this orientation: 後手′s pieces are displayed upright while 先手′s pieces appear rotated. Checking the SFEN data for rank 9 against what’s visible in the screenshot, I can verify the file positions match—the rotated pieces on the top row correspond to 先手′s back rank pieces, and the upright 金 at file 6 is 後手′s piece. All the pieces check out—the rotated 先手 pieces and upright 後手 pieces confirm this is from 後手′s perspective. Now I’m verifying rank 2 to make sure the board state is consistent, looking at what should be a 先手と金 at column 5. So the lowercase k in the SFEN represents 後手玉 at 8二, while uppercase K is 先手玉 at 8六. Looking at the screenshot, I can see the 先手玉 in the rotated view at rank 6 with 先手歩 pieces flanking it at files 9 and 7.
Now I’m checking the komadai section on the left side of the screenshot to see what captured pieces are displayed, starting with the 歩 count.
Looking at the SFEN hand notation BGSNL3Pgsn2p, I can decode the pieces: uppercase letters represent 先手′s captured pieces (角, 金, 銀, 桂, 香, and three 歩), while lowercase represents 後手′s pieces (金, 銀, 桂, and two 歩). In a 後手-perspective view, 後手′s komadai would appear at the bottom. So 後手′s 龍 is positioned at 8八, and I need to verify the piece counts match what’s shown in the komadai display — the left side shows six piece types with their respective counts, and the grayed-out 飛 confirms 先手 has no 飛 remaining in hand since it was promoted to 龍. So move 82 was actually 後手′s last move, and the SFEN move counter confirms we’re at the position before 先手′s 83rd move. Looking at the right side komadai, I can see 後手′s captured pieces: 金1, 銀1, 桂1, 歩2, with the 飛 and 角 grayed out (already on the board), which matches perfectly with what the SFEN shows.
Now I’m second-guessing which perspective the board is from — let me trace through the pieces more carefully. The bottom-right komadai shows upright pieces, which should belong to the player at the bottom of the board. Looking at the bottom rank in the screenshot and comparing it to the SFEN rank a, I need to verify whether the board is flipped or not. It’s 先手′s turn to move. Let me map out the full position: 後手 has their 玉 at 8二, a promoted 龍 deep in 先手′s territory at 8八, a 馬 at 4五, and 金 pieces at 6一 and 6九—that last one also deep in 先手′s back rank.
The rest of 後手′s pieces include a 銀 at 7二, a 桂 at 8一, a 香 at 9一, and pawns scattered across the board at 8三, 7三, 5三, 1三, 9四, and 6四. Their hand has a 金, 銀, 桂, and two pawns.
Now for 先手: their 玉 is at 8六, they have a promoted 龍 at 1一, a promoted pawn at 5二, and pawns at 9六 and 7六.
I’m re-examining rank 7 from the FEN notation. The string 1P1Ps3P breaks down to: empty file 9, a 先手 pawn at 8七, empty file 7, a 先手 pawn at 6七, a 後手 silver at 5七, three empty files, and a 先手 pawn at 1七. But this doesn’t match what I’m seeing in the screenshot, so I need to double-check my parsing.
Looking at the screenshot row 7, I can see rotated pawns at columns 1, 6, and 8, plus an upright silver at column 5. That actually does match my parse—the files line up correctly. And checking rank 6 with PKP6: file 9 has a pawn, file 8 has the king, file 7 has a pawn, which matches the screenshot’s columns 9, 8, and 7 showing rotated pieces in that order.
Now I’m going through the 先手 pawns and their positions. Most of them check out—9六, 7六, 8七, 6七, 1七 all make sense. But then I hit 4九, which would be a pawn on the back rank. That’s unusual but technically legal if it was dropped there, since a 先手 pawn can still move forward from rank 9.
Looking at the screenshot more carefully, I need to verify whether that piece at row 9, column 4 is actually a 歩 or something else like a と金. The rotated character looks like an upside-down 歩, and the SFEN confirms it’s a pawn at that position, so 4九歩 it is.
Now I’m cataloging all the pieces on the board: the 香 pieces are at 9九 and 1九, the 桂 at 8九, the 玉 at 8六, the 龍 at 1一, and a と金 at 5二. For 先手′s hand, I have 角, 金, 銀, 桂, 香, and three 歩.
Let me verify the material count by tallying all the pawns: 後手 has 6 on the board plus 2 in hand for 8 total, and 先手 has 6 on the board plus the と金 at 5二 making 7, plus 3 in hand for 10 total—that’s 18 pawns, which checks out.
Now I’m going through each piece type to confirm the counts match standard shogi: the 香 pieces total 4, the 桂 pieces total 4, the 銀 pieces total 4, the 金 pieces total 4, and I’m verifying the 角 count as well.
The position checks out as valid. Now I’m analyzing the actual game state — it’s move 83 with Black to move, and Black’s king on 8六 is in a precarious position, exposed on the 6th rank with limited protection. I’m starting to trace the attacking possibilities, particularly how White’s 馬 on 4五 might be creating threats along the diagonals. So the 龍 at 8八 can move vertically up the file toward rank 1, capturing the 先手歩 at 8七, or move down toward rank 9. Horizontally along rank 8, it has clear movement from 9八 down to 1八 since that entire rank is empty except for the 龍 itself. The 龍 also has diagonal king-step moves available. Now I need to determine if 先手玉 at 8六 is currently in check from any of these pieces.
Looking at the 馬 at 4五, I’m tracing its diagonal movement patterns in all four directions: northeast toward 1一 (reaching 5六, then 6七 where it hits a 先手歩 and can capture), northwest toward 1八 (moving through 3六, 2七, 1八), southeast (moving through 5四, 6三, 7二 where it encounters a 後手銀), and southwest (moving through 3四, 2三, 1二). The 馬 also has king-step moves available from its position.
Now I’m checking whether the 先手玉 at 8六 is in check by examining which 後手 pieces can attack it. The 龍 at 8八 is blocked by the 8七歩, the 馬 at 4五 doesn’t reach 8六 directly, and the pawns at 8三, 9四, and 6四 don’t threaten it either. I’m working through the 銀 at 5七 and its attack pattern, keeping in mind that 後手′s forward direction moves toward rank 9.
Now turning to the 後手玉 at 8二 and its defensive structure with the 銀7二, 金6一, and other pieces forming what looks like a 美濃-style or 金無双くずれ-type formation. So the と金 on 5二 is acting as a gold piece for 先手, which means it controls all the squares around it — 5一 directly forward, the diagonals at 4一 and 6一, the sides at 4二 and 6二, and 5三 behind it. That と金 is perfectly positioned to attack the 後手′s gold on 6一 and also covers the 6二 and 4二 squares.
Now I’m checking what defends that と金. The 先手′s 龍 on 1一 can slide horizontally along the first rank through 2一, 3一, 4一, 5一 and all the way to 6一 where it hits the 後手′s gold — so the 龍 is also attacking that same gold piece along the rank. So the 銀7二 defends the 6一金, making it attacked twice but defended once. The candidate move is ▲6一と, forcing △同銀, then ▲同龍. After that, the 龍 at 6一 would attack the 後手玉 at 8二 by controlling 7二, creating a strong attacking position.
Wait, I need to recalculate the material exchange here — after ▲6一と captures the 金, then △同銀 captures the と金, and finally ▲同龍 takes the 銀, 先手 has gained a 金 and 銀 for the と金.
Now I’m thinking about what matters more: the material advantage or 後手′s attacking chances. The 後手龍 on 8八 is threatening 先手玉 at 8六, and I need to check if 先手玉 has safe escape squares. The 9五 square looks blocked by 後手′s 9四歩, so that’s not available.
Looking at 8五 — it seems undefended by 後手′s pieces. The 龍 on 8八 doesn’t control it because the 8七歩 blocks the file. This opens up a dangerous possibility: 先手玉 could potentially escape toward 8五 and 8四, which would be moving deep into 後手′s territory and risking 入玉 (promotion by king infiltration). That’s a critical tactical point to evaluate.
Now examining whether 後手 can mount an effective counterattack — the 龍 is stuck behind the king on rank 8, while the 馬 at 4五 could potentially jump to 6七 by capturing the pawn there, which would give check and force the king to move again. This is getting tactically complex. The 先手歩 at 7六 blocks the 馬′s diagonal, so it doesn’t deliver check. Now I’m analyzing the 銀 at 5七, which controls 6六, 4六, and the forward squares 4八, 5八, 6八. The 金 at 6九 is trickier—as a 後手金, it moves forward (rank+1), sideways to 5九 and 7九, backward to 6八, but the forward diagonals don’t exist since rank 9 is the board’s edge.
So that 金 essentially just covers 7九, 6八, and 5九, which restricts the 先手玉′s escape routes but doesn’t directly threaten it at 8六. I’m now checking what 後手 checks are available if it were their turn—specifically whether dropping a 銀 at 8五 would give check, since 後手 has 銀 in hand.
A 銀 at 8五 attacks forward to 8六, plus the forward diagonals at 7六 and 9六, so yes, △8五銀打 is definitely check. But then if 先手 just captures with ▲同玉, that loses the 銀 unless 後手 has a strong follow-up, which seems unlikely.
Actually, 後手 could also try △8五金打 instead — a 金 at 8五 would attack 8六 (forward), 7六, 9六 (diagonals), and 7五, 9五 (sideways), so that’s check too. But again, ▲同玉 and the 金 is just gone; no other piece can recapture on 8五. 先手 could also potentially block with a pawn, but 9六歩 only captures forward to 9五, and 7六歩 only takes 7五, so neither helps. So ▲同玉 or running away are the main options.
Now looking at △7五銀打 or 金打 as alternatives… Looking at other candidate moves: a pawn push to 9五 doesn’t give check since it only attacks 9六. For knight drops, I need to find where a 後手桂 can land to check the king at 8六 — that would be 7四 or 9四, since knights from those squares jump to 8六. So △7四桂打 looks like it could work as a checking move.
Now examining what 先手 can do in response: there’s no piece that can capture on 7四, and the king’s escape squares from 8六 are limited — 9五 is controlled by the 9四歩, and several adjacent squares are blocked by 先手′s own pieces. The knight at 7四 would attack both 8六 and 6六. If the king moves to 8五, it’s safe from the knight’s reach. But 7五 is even more interesting — the king could move there, directly attacking the dropped knight while also threatening deeper infiltration, and checking whether 7五 itself is under attack from the 銀5七 or other pieces.
Now looking at the broader position: 後手 has some checks available but no concrete mating attack yet. The 先手玉 at 8六 is actually quite mobile with escape squares at 8五 and access to the upper board — this is starting to look like an 入玉 race. The real question becomes speed: can 先手 deliver checkmate against the 後手玉 at 8二 before 先手′s own king escapes? 先手 has enormous material in hand — 角金銀桂香歩3 — plus the 龍 at 1一 and the と金 at 5二. Meanwhile 後手玉 is defended by 銀7二, 金6一, 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns at 9四, 8三, 7三. That advanced 9四歩 is notable because it leaves 9三 empty.
Looking at candidate moves: ▲6一と captures the 金. If 後手 responds △同銀, then ▲同龍 puts the dragon on 6一 with overwhelming attacking force — 龍 plus all those pieces in hand against a nearly naked 玉8二. The question is whether there’s a forced mating sequence from there, maybe ▲7一龍 or some other breakthrough.
Actually, ▲7二金打 looks more forcing — it’s check since the 龍 on 6一 supports it diagonally. But after △9二玉, the king escapes and I need to find the next move, perhaps ▲8二銀 to keep up the pressure. The と金 at 6一 can move backward to 6二, sideways to 5一 or 7一, but forward is off the board. Crucially, this placement blocks the 龍′s rank-1 attack line, and the 龍 itself actually defends the と金 from that square.
If 後手 responds with △同銀, then ▲同龍 recaptures, and 先手 gains material (金銀 for a 歩) while the 龍 advances to 6一—a dominant position. Other defensive options for 後手 are worth considering. ks 8一 and 7二. The real threat after ▲6一と might be ▲7一と forking pieces, or maybe ▲6二と→7二, but that’s slow. What’s more dangerous is if 後手 doesn’t respond, I can play ▲7一銀打, putting a 銀 on 7一 that controls key forward-diagonal squares.
Wait, let me check if ▲7一銀打 is actually check — the 銀 at 7一 attacks backward diagonals including 8二, and it’s supported by the と at 6一. So yes, that’s 王手. Now what can 後手 do? The 銀 at 7二 can’t capture on 7一 since 銀 can’t move straight backward. The 桂 at 8一 can’t reach 7一 either. So the 玉 would have to move.
Actually, let me reconsider the whole position. I have 角 金 銀 桂 香 and three 歩 in hand, with 後手玉 on 8二. Let me look for something more forcing — maybe ▲9三香打 to attack along the 9-file, though that doesn’t seem to give check from that square.
Wait, ▲7四桂打 is check since the 桂 from 7四 jumps to 8二 — that’s the 玉! So △同歩 is forced if the 7三歩 can capture. After that exchange, the 7三 square opens up and I need to see what follows.
Let me check ▲8五桂打 — the 桂 at 8五 jumps to 7三 and 9三, threatening promotions but not immediately checking. That feels slower than the forcing ▲7四桂打 line.
Now I’m considering the 龍 — ▲2二龍 or ▲6一と as candidate moves. But I should also evaluate whether 先手 is under 詰めろ threat. If 先手 plays something slow, what’s 後手′s best attacking continuation with the 龍8八, 馬4五, 銀5七, and 金6九? The 玉8六 position might be vulnerable to a mating attack, so I need to check if 先手 can afford a slow move or if forcing play is necessary.
Looking at △7五金打 — the 後手金 at 7五 would attack both 6六 and 8六 diagonally, which is a serious threat to the 先手玉.
If ▲同歩 (the 7六pawn captures), then 7六 is vacated and the king’s coverage there is gone. 後手 could follow with △6七馬, taking the pawn but not giving check. The issue is that 後手′s attacking pieces are poorly coordinated — the 馬 at 4五 is too far away, the 龍 at 8八 is blocked by the 8七pawn, and the other pieces aren’t positioned to deliver a quick mate. Even if 後手 had a few free moves, constructing a forced mating sequence against the 玉8六 would take multiple moves.
The real threat lies with the 龍8八 — if 後手 could somehow remove the 8七歩 that’s blocking it, the 龍 could potentially deliver a devastating attack. But that 8七歩 is defended by the 玉8六, so it’s not an easy target to eliminate.
Let me reconsider whether the 先手玉 is actually in danger right now. The 後手 position doesn’t seem to have an immediate 詰めろ threat, so maybe I should look at what 後手 can try next — perhaps something like △7七桂 to create new threats. So 先手′s king isn’t under immediate threat, but 後手′s king at 8二 is vulnerable. I have a strong attacking arsenal in hand — a bishop, gold, silver, knight, lance, and pawns — plus the dragon on 1一 and the promoted pawn on 5二 already bearing down. Let me search for forcing moves that lead to mate or an unstoppable mating attack. 後手 can defend with gold, silver, knight, and a couple pawns, but I should look at checks starting with a knight drop on 7四. The 香 at 9九 moves down the file toward rank 1, but it’s blocked by the 歩 at 9六, so 9三 is safe for the 玉. Now I’m weighing whether △9二玉 preserves the pawn structure better than △同歩, or if ▲7四桂 might work as a sacrifice piece later. I’m also considering ▲7一銀打 as a checking move that attacks 8二 diagonally, though I need to verify what supports it.
Looking at the 龍 at 1一 — its rank-1 ray extends through 2一, 3一, 4一, 5一, then gets blocked by the 後手金 at 6一, so the 銀 at 7一 wouldn’t actually be supported. That means △同玉 or △同金 both just win the 銀 for nothing, making this a bad move for 先手.
So ▲7一銀 only works after the sequence ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — not immediately. ▲6一と itself isn’t check but sets up the tactic. Now considering ▲9三香打 — it’s not check with the 玉 at 8二, but it threatens patterns on the 9-file like ▲9一成香, though the concrete follow-up isn’t clear yet.
Looking at ▲9三桂打 instead — it attacks 8一 and threatens ▲8一成桂 as check since the promoted 桂 (moving like a 金) at 8一 would attack 8二. But this seems too slow, and the 玉 at 8二 can simply capture the undefended 桂 at 9三, winning material. Moves like ▲2二龍 and ▲5一龍 don’t accomplish anything meaningful.
The critical tactical sequence is ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍. After this exchange, I need to carefully evaluate the resulting position where 先手 has a 龍 on 6一 with various pawns and pieces, while 後手′s king sits on 8二 with supporting pieces including a 龍 on 8八 and 馬 on 4五.
先手′s main threat is ▲7二金打, which gives check to the 後手 king on 8二 (the gold on 7二 attacks sideways, supported by the 龍 on 6一 along the diagonal). If 後手 responds with △同玉, that’s illegal because the king would be moving into check from the 龍 on 6一. So 後手 must play △9二玉 instead, after which 先手 continues with ▲8二金, further restricting the king’s escape squares. Now I’m checking what threats are actually available. The pawn structure is crucial here — 先手 already has pawns on files 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, and 1, which means I can only drop pawns on files 5, 3, and 2. That eliminates the standard ▲9三歩 and ▲8三歩 tactics I’d normally consider. So ▲7二金 followed by ▲8二銀打 becomes more interesting as a mating threat, with the silver attacking both 9一 and 7一. So ▲9三銀打 does give check on the 9二玉, but after △同玉, 先手 loses material again since 9三 isn’t supported. The core problem is that 先手′s 龍 on 6一 gets blocked by the 桂 at 8一 along the first rank, and I can’t drop pawns on files 8 or 9 due to the 二歩 rule, so a straightforward mating attack isn’t working out.
Let me explore what happens after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — maybe ▲6三龍 creates real threats. From 6三, the 龍 attacks the 歩 on 7三 (which is now empty since the 銀 moved away) and the 歩 on 5三, plus it controls key diagonal squares like 7二, 5二, 7四, and 5四. That 7二 square is particularly interesting since it’s now vacant.
Actually, wait — I think the simpler, stronger continuation is ▲7二金打. This gives check to the 玉 on 8二, and the 玉′s escape squares are limited: 9二 and 9三 are both legal, but 7一 is attacked by the 龍 on 6一 horizontally, so that’s not available.
If Black plays △9三玉, I can follow up with ▲8五桂打 — the 桂 jumps to both 7三 and 9三, delivering check again. Now I need to see if Black can capture the 桂 on 8五 with the 9四歩. After ▲9三銀打, the king on 9二 is in check from the silver and can’t capture it since the silver is supported by the knight on 8五. The king’s escape squares are limited—9一 is blocked by its own lance, 8一 by its own knight, and 8二 is attacked by the gold on 7二, so that’s illegal. The 8三 square is occupied by Black’s own pawn, so the king has no legal moves. Let me verify the mate: after ▲9三銀打, the 玉 on 9二 has no escape squares (9一 blocked by own 香, 8一 by own 桂, 8二 controlled by the 金 on 7二, 8三 by own 歩, 9三 occupied by the attacking 銀 supported by the 桂), can’t capture the 銀, and can’t interpose on an adjacent check — so it’s checkmate.
But I should check if 後手 had a better defense at ▲8五桂: instead of △9二玉, what if △8四玉? Then ▲7五銀打 gives check (the 銀 attacks 8四 diagonally and is supported by the 歩 on 7六), and the 玉 can’t take it or escape to 9三 since that square is also under attack. The critical point is that 8五 itself is defended—the 先手玉 sitting at 8六 guards it directly, so even if 後手 tries to capture the 桂, it’s protected. The two kings are practically facing each other across the board.
Now if 後手 plays 8四玉, I can respond with 7五銀, which gets double support from both the 7六歩 and the 玉8六 itself. This move gives check, and looking at the king’s escape squares: 9三 is covered by the 桂8五, the 8三 and 7三 squares are blocked by 後手′s own pawns, 9四 is also 後手′s pawn, and 7四 is attacked by the 銀7五′s forward diagonal. The king has nowhere to go. Verifying that the 馬 at 4五 and 龍 at 8八 can’t capture the 7五銀 — the 馬′s diagonal rays don’t reach it, and the 龍′s vertical movement is blocked by the 先手歩 at 8七. So the mate is confirmed. Now checking the alternative where Black plays 9二玉 instead, considering if 8二金 works as an unsupported move or if there’s a silver drop check at 9三. ▲9三香打 gives check — the lance attacks along the file to 9二 where the king sits. Black’s forced to capture with △同玉 since there’s no way to block an adjacent piece, and nothing else can take the lance. Let me verify if there are other defensive options or if this actually works.
Then ▲8五桂打 delivers another check — the knight from 8五 jumps to 9三, checking the king on 9二. If the king moves to 9二, I need to confirm what squares it can actually reach: 9一 is blocked by Black’s own lance, 8一 has Black’s own knight, 8二 is controlled by my 金 on 7二, 8三 has Black’s own pawn, and 9三 is occupied by my checking knight. That looks like mate — the king has nowhere to go. After using the 金, 銀, and 桂, I’m checking what pieces remain in hand — just the 角, 香, and three pawns. With the 玉 on 8四, I can’t play 7五銀 since it’s already been captured, and 7五香 doesn’t give check. The 8五 square is blocked by my 桂, and moving pawns to 9五 or 7五 would create illegal double pawns in those files.
Let me reconsider the move order: if I play 9三香 first to force the 玉 to respond, then after △同玉, I can follow with 8五桂 giving check. The 玉 would move to 9二, but then I’d have 7五銀 available as a strong follow-up since my pieces would be positioned differently by that point. 8五桂 leads to mate in both continuations, so I’m verifying whether ▲7二金 actually forces mate from the position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍. Checking the first branch again: after △9三玉▲8五桂, if △8四玉 then ▲7五銀 is mate, and if △9二玉 then ▲9三銀 is mate with the 桂8五 supporting and 金7二 covering 8二.
This means ▲同龍 creates an unstoppable mate threat — more than just 詰めろ, it’s 必至 unless 後手 can defend or generate perpetual checks against 先手玉8六. But I need to verify whether △同銀 is actually forced after ▲6一と in the first place.
Let me step back and check if 先手 already has a direct mate or 必至 right now without playing ▲6一と, given the current position with 龍1一 blocked by 金6一 on rank 1. After the silver moves to 7一, the rook on 1一 can capture the gold that takes it, delivering check to the king on 8二 since the rook would attack that square from 7一. The rook wouldn’t have support though, leaving it vulnerable to recapture. 龍 and 金 for 銀 and 龍 — a losing trade for 先手. But maybe there’s a mating attack brewing with the 角金桂香 and the promoted pawn at 5二, targeting the exposed 玉 at 7一. The ▲6二と move gives check since the promoted pawn attacks 7一 diagonally, though I’d be without the 龍 and relying on these pieces. Now I’m checking if 後手 can block with the 銀 from 7二.
Let me refocus on the real plan: the ▲6一と exchange leading into 龍6一, which sets up the mating net with 7二 and 9三. I need to verify the mate sequence more carefully after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, especially what defensive resources 後手 has and whether they can ignore the exchange entirely. Silver at 9三 is still available since I’ve only used the gold, lance, and knight so far. The king on 9二 has no escape: 8二 is controlled by the gold at 7二, and 9一/8一 are blocked by my own pieces while 8三 has my pawn. That’s mate. For the direct 9三 king response, the knight on 8五 supports the silver mate on 9三. Black can’t interpose on an adjacent check, and there’s no other piece that can capture the gold on 7二.
So after the rook exchange on 6一, I’m threatening mate in seven moves with the gold push to 7二, forcing the king to 9二, then the lance check, the king captures, the knight move, and finally the silver delivers mate. Let me verify once more that after the lance checks on 9三, Black’s only legal move is the king capture since it’s an adjacent check with no interposition possible. After ▲6一と, 後手 must decide whether to capture with △同銀, which leads to ▲同龍 and forces 後手 to either defend against the ▲7二金 mate threat or create their own mating attack. I’m checking if 後手 can defend by blocking or guarding 7二, though moves like △7一桂打 seem problematic since they don’t actually address the core threat. So △7一金 also attacks the 龍 at 6一 while defending 7二. When ▲同龍 captures it, the 龍 moves to 7一 and gives check to the 玉 at 8二 along the diagonal, but the 玉 can respond since it’s adjacent to 7一.
After △同玉 recaptures, 先手 loses the 龍 for just a 金, which is a bad trade materially. Let me reconsider: instead of allowing this exchange, maybe ▲6三龍 is better, retreating the 龍 vertically to 6三 where it’s safe and keeps pressure.
From 6三, the 龍 controls key squares like 7二 and 7三, and now 先手 has a fresh attacking idea with ▲7二金打 — but 7二 is defended by the 金 on 7一, so after △同金▲同龍, the 龍 lands on 7二 with check. This forces △同玉, but then 先手 has gained tempo and can continue the assault with moves like ▲7四桂, forcing △同歩 as the only response.
Wait, I’m getting tangled in variations. Let me reconsider whether ▲6一と is even the sharpest continuation — what if ▲7二と is stronger instead, bringing the と金 from 5二 into the attack? After △同金, the 金 moves to 6二 and 6一 is empty, opening up the rank-1 line. If ▲6一龍, it would attack the undefended 金6二 vertically and also threaten 7一 and 7二 diagonally — but the 銀7二 can defend 6一 via its back-diagonal, so the 龍 itself would be under attack there.
If instead ▲6二と, that’s a fork hitting both the 金6一 and 銀7二. If 後手 recaptures with △同金, then ▲7四桂 gives check, forcing △同歩, but the position gets complicated. If 後手 avoids the recapture and retreats the 金 to 5二 instead, then ▲7二と captures the 銀, though the と would be undefended and vulnerable to recapture.
Alternatively, ▲7二と directly (taking the 銀) works if the 玉 is on 8二, which is adjacent and allows △同玉 to recapture — 先手 trades the と for the 銀, a decent material swap but not as forcing as other lines.
So ▲6一と remains the stronger continuation. After that move, if 後手 doesn’t recapture and instead tries △9二玉 to sidestep and prepare a counterattack, then ▲7一と follows, with the と advancing to 7一 where it’s supported by the 龍 along the first rank. After ▲7一と, I need to check if anything actually defends the 8一桂—the 香9一 doesn’t help since it can’t move sideways, but the 玉9二 does defend it adjacently. So ▲8一と△同玉 leads somewhere, but let me explore ▲8二金打 instead as a check against the 9二玉, though it turns out nothing supports that move. When 後手 responds △同銀, moving the 銀 to 7二, I need to reconsider the position. After ▲8一と, the 龍 at 1一 supports it along the first rank, making this a powerful infiltration that captures the 桂 and threatens both the 香 and 8二 position — 後手 is essentially crushed.
During the sequence ▲6一と△9二玉▲7一と, 後手 got essentially one free move with 9二玉, which was only semi-useful. Now I’m weighing the tempos: 後手′s attack against the 玉8六 needs roughly three to four moves to develop, while 先手′s grinding approach with ▲7一と and ▲8一と is slower but opens up a dangerous tactical switch — specifically ▲8二銀打, which from 8二 would attack 9一 and 8一 while also eyeing the back diagonals, though it doesn’t directly threaten the 玉9二.
The 玉9二 position is frustratingly resilient because 銀 can’t deliver sideways checks and there’s no pawn drop available on the 9-file. I’m second-guessing whether ▲6一と is actually the best first move — maybe there’s a stronger continuation that forces the mating attack without letting 後手 slip into 玉9二 so easily. Let me step back and reconsider the whole sequence, particularly whether ▲7四桂 as a checking move might be more forcing, since 後手′s response of △同歩 might not be the only option if 玉9二 is also available. So after △同歩, the 歩 lands on 7四 and 7三 opens up—I can play ▲7三銀 to attack both 6二 and deliver check on 8二 where the 玉 is. But wait, the 後手桂 on 8一 can jump to 7三 to capture, so △同桂 and I’ve just lost my 銀 with nothing to recapture. That doesn’t work. Let me try ▲6三銀打 instead—placing the 銀 there attacks 7二 and 6二 while also controlling the forward diagonals.
Now checking what defends 6三: the 銀7二 supports it diagonally, but my と at 5二 doesn’t reach there. The 後手馬 on 4五 though—it can move along the diagonal to 5四 and then 6三, so it directly attacks my new 銀. If I play ▲6三銀, Black responds △同銀 or △同馬, and if they take with the 銀, I’m looking at ▲7二金 as a follow-up, though I need to verify what’s supporting that move.
Stepping back to reconsider the whole ▲6一と line: even if Black declines with △9二玉, I’ve cleanly won the 金 with my と, which is now protected by the 龍. That’s a significant material gain—my hand would have 角金2銀桂香歩3—so I should evaluate whether that’s strong enough regardless of Black’s counterplay. Now I need to check the speed calculation — whether 後手 can generate enough checks against 玉8六 to either mate 先手 or force perpetual check before the mate-in-7 threat lands. Let me work through 後手′s checking options with the pieces and hand available in that position. 8六 looks safe since the 銀 at 7四 doesn’t reach it, while 9五 is covered by the 歩 at 9四, 7五 is attacked by that same 銀, and 8四 is actually attacked by a 歩 at 8三 — so the 玉 should retreat to 8六 or possibly 9六 after the 銀 drops at 7四.
Now I’m seeing that 後手′s last move (pushing with 金 and 銀) was actually a losing strategy — 先手 captures the 金 and still has the mate threat of ▲7二金 hanging over the position, so that line doesn’t work for 後手. Looking at the alternative 7五金打, if 先手 takes with the 歩, I need to check whether 7五 is actually defended — the 歩 at 6四 doesn’t help, and the 馬 at 4五 covers a king-step pattern around itself (3四, 4四, 5四, 3五, 5五, 3六, 4六, 5六), which doesn’t include 7五. So that’s also losing for 後手. The 7五銀打 attempt has the same problem — after ▲同歩, the 先手歩 on 7五 is secure and doesn’t create any weaknesses, so 後手 is still in trouble. Now I’m checking 7四桂打, which gives check...
the 玉 can escape to 8五 (the 桂 only attacks 6六 and 8六, so 8五 is safe), or potentially 7五 (which would actually threaten the 桂 itself next move), though pushing the 玉 forward like that feels risky.
Now I’m checking the king’s escape squares more carefully — after 後手 plays 7四桂, if I move 8五玉, then 後手 could push the pawn from 8三 to 8四, which would give check since it attacks 8五. If the 玉 captures on 8四, I need to verify what pieces actually defend that square — the 後手歩7三 attacks 7四, not 8四, so I’m trying to figure out what would be covering 8四 after the pawn advances there. The 玉 at 8三 is defended by the 玉 at 8二, so I can’t capture it. If I retreat with ▲8五玉, I could also consider ▲7四同玉 to take the 桂, but that square is attacked by the 後手 pawn at 7三, making it illegal. After ▲8五玉, 後手 has gained tempo by pushing my 玉 around and sacrificing the 桂 and pawn, though my 玉 at 8五 now attacks the 桂 at 7四.
Now I’m analyzing 後手′s remaining threats: they have 金銀歩2 in hand and could play ▲8四銀打 to give check, supported by the 歩 at 8三 that they just dropped. Looking at 玉′s escape squares from 8五 — 8六 is safe, but 7五 gets attacked by the 銀 at 8四, 9五 is covered by the 歩 at 9四, and 7六 has 後手′s own 歩 — so 8六玉 is forced. Then 後手 could advance the 銀 from 8四 to 8五 for another check, which is starting to look dangerous, so I need to carefully recount this entire sequence.
Now I’m working through 後手′s full counterattack after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — specifically whether △7四桂 leads to a forced mate or perpetual that would make my capture a losing move. The 歩 at 8三 can push to 8四 to give check at 8五, and I need to determine whether ▲8四同玉 is actually the best response or if there are better alternatives like ▲9六玉. Let me recalculate the silver’s attack squares from 8五: it controls 8六 forward, 7六 and 9六 on the forward diagonals, and 7四 and 9四 on the backward diagonals—so 7五 is actually safe from the silver. Checking if 7五 is attacked by the pawn on 6四 (which only attacks 6五, not 7五) or the horse on 4五 (which doesn’t reach that far), the king move to 7五 appears legal, though it leaves the king in a precarious position.
Now evaluating the alternatives: 7七 is attacked by the dragon on 8八 along the diagonal, and 9七 is also covered by that same dragon—both moves are illegal. So 7五 is the only option, and after that I need to figure out what Black’s next move could be, checking whether moves like 7四 (where the knight already sits) or 6五 pawn advances actually threaten the king on 7五. I’m checking whether the 馬 can deliver check from 6四 — tracing its possible moves from 4五: it can reach 5六, 6七, 5四, 6三, 7二, 3六, 2七, 1八, 3四, 2三, 1二, plus the king-step squares 4四, 4六, 3五, 5五. None of these directly attack 7五, so that doesn’t work either.
Now I’m considering dropping the 金 instead — placing it at 6五 would give check since the 後手金 at 6五 attacks both 5五 and 7五, and 6五 is empty (the 歩 is at 6四). This looks like a viable move: △6五金打. So the 後手歩 on 6四 controls 6五, blocking that escape. If the 玉 moves to 6六, it’s attacked by the 金 on 6五 diagonally. Moving to 8四 — let me check what pieces defend there: the 銀 on 8五 only covers 7四 and 9四, not 8四. The 桂 on 7四 attacks 6六 and 8六, not 8四 either. Nothing protects 8四, so the 玉 can capture there. So ▲8四同玉 is forced, placing the king deep in enemy territory next to 玉8二. Now I’m checking if △8三歩打 works as a check — the file 8 is clear since the 8三歩 was just captured, so dropping a pawn there would indeed attack the king on 8四.
Looking at escape squares: 7五 is attacked by the 金6五, 9五 is controlled by the 歩9四, and 8五 has a 銀 that’s now undefended after the 歩8四 was captured. So 9三 emerges as the only viable move. The silver on 8五 forces the king to capture it, and now I’m tracking what pieces each side has left in hand after this exchange. The second player started with gold, silver, knight, and three pawns, but has spent the knight on 7四, the silver that just got captured, the gold on 6五, and a pawn on 8三—leaving just two pawns. I’m checking whether 8四 pawn drop would create an illegal double pawn situation since there’s already a pawn on 8三. ered ▲8四同玉 first, then backed into the ▲8六玉 sub-branch. I’m tracking two sub-branches here; in the second one after △8四歩 ▲8六玉 △8五銀 ▲7五玉 △6五金 ▲8四玉 △8三歩 ▲8五玉, I need to recount the move sequence carefully — that’s moves 4 through 13, making it 後手′s turn at move 14, and 後手 has run out of checks.
Now I’m checking if the 玉 at 8五 is in 詰めろ and what threats 後手 can create. But wait — I just realized 後手 still has that ▲7二金mate threat hanging over the entire game that I need to verify is still active. Let me check: the 龍 at 6一 is untouched and 先手 still has pieces in hand, so the threat should still be there.
Looking at 後手′s position more carefully: the 玉 is at 8二, with 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns at 7三, 8三, 9四. If ▲7二金 is played, it’s check since 7二 is empty and supported by the 龍. After △9二玉 ▲9三香 △同玉, I was trying to continue the mating attack with ▲8五… but wait, that’s where my own 玉 is now! The 玉 moved to 8五, so that square is occupied and I can’t use it for the 桂 anymore.
But actually, the 玉 at 8五 controls 9四, which is useful. Let me reconsider what checks are available against 玉9三 with my remaining pieces: 角銀2桂歩4 in hand. The 香 was already used at 9三, so I need to find another forcing move. So the 後手 king on 9二 isn’t actually under attack from the 銀 on 8四 since that piece controls 7三 and 9三 diagonally forward, not backward. But if I play ▲9三銀打 with my second silver from hand, that’s check — and the 銀8四 does support it by controlling 9三. The king’s escape squares are severely limited: 8二 is covered by my 金7二, 9一 has the 香, 8一 has the 桂, and 8三 is blocked by the 後手′s own pawn.
This means it’s mate — even in 後手′s most aggressive counterattack, the king just walks into my attack and gets mated anyway. And at move 14, 後手 has no checks remaining and can’t defend against ▲7二金 mate since any pawn drops would be illegal (either creating a doubled pawn on the file or blocked by existing pieces).
The mate threat is ▲7二金 supported by the 龍 on 6一. To stop it, 後手 would need to either defend 7二 or capture the 金, but there’s no 金 in hand anymore. Looking at the board pieces that could help: the 馬 on 4五 can actually reach 7二 along its diagonal...
So △7二馬 blocks the square entirely and prevents ▲7二金. But then 先手 has ▲7二龍×馬, capturing the 馬 with check since the 龍 on 7二 attacks the 玉 on 8二. After △同玉, 先手 has 角 and 金 in hand to continue the attack.
Now looking at the position with 玉 on 7二 and defenders like 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns on 7三/8三/9四/6四/5三 — I’m testing ▲6二金打 as a checking move, but it’s unsupported and the 玉 can just capture. Then ▲6一銀打 looks more interesting, giving check from 6一 with back-diagonal coverage of 5二 and 7二, though again unsupported. I’m also considering ▲8四桂打 but need to evaluate where that leads. Let me recount the material more carefully through that sequence: after 先手 captures the 金 at 6一 with the と, then 後手 recaptures with 銀, and 先手 takes back with the 龍, I’m tracking what 先手 has accumulated — the 金 and 銀 from those exchanges, plus the earlier 歩 at 8四 and 銀 at 8五 during the king hunt. So the hand should be 角 金2 銀2 桂 香 歩3, which is a significant material advantage. Actually, I should verify that alternate branch at step (6) where 先手 takes immediately with ▲同玉 instead — checking if △8三歩打 works and what happens after ▲8五玉, since there might be other defensive resources I’m missing in that line. So after ▲8六玉, the 銀8四 doesn’t actually attack 8六 — it covers 7五 and 9五 instead, and the 龍8八 is blocked from defending. Let me trace through what pieces are actually attacking that square.
Now looking at △8五銀 as the next move, which gives check again by attacking 8六, but the silver on 8五 turns out to be unsupported since the 歩 left 8四 and the 歩8三 can’t reach back to defend it. After ▲同玉 captures the silver, 後手 has 金 and 歩 in hand and needs to find another check — △8四金 looks promising since it would give check and be supported by the 歩8三, but then ▲8六玉 escapes again. So 8六玉 is forced, and then 後手 plays 8五金 — but that just loses the piece to 同玉, so that’s not viable. Looking at other checks from that position, 7五金 is possible since the 金 can move forward-diagonally from 8四 to 7五, which would give check to the 8六玉. The 桂 on 7四 doesn’t support it though, so I need to reconsider what’s actually defending that move. Actually, ▲7六歩×7五 is even more direct — the pawn just captures the gold. So after ▲8六玉, Black’s only try is △7五金▲同歩, losing the piece. Let me recount Black’s hand through this line: starting with 金銀歩2, then after the knight move to 7四 I have 金銀歩2, the 8四 pawn push, the 8三 pawn drop leaves 金銀歩1, then the 8四 silver move down to 金歩1, and finally the 8五 silver advance.
After ▲同玉 capturing the silver, Black plays △8四金 with just a pawn in hand. White’s king escapes to 8六, and Black has run out of checks — the 8七 pawn drop is illegal due to the pawn already on 8三. White’s hand is loaded with pieces (角金2銀3桂香歩4), and the ▲7二金mate threat still dominates. Black’s only try is △7二馬 to block, but White just recaptures and wins decisively. So the conclusion is clear: after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, Black’s counterattack fails completely; White’s king safely escapes via 8五 and 8六.
Wait — I’m reconsidering whether △7二馬 could work as an early defense right after ▲同龍. The horse can jump from 4五 to 7二 via the 5四-6三 diagonal, and both those squares are empty, so the move is geometrically possible. Once on 7二, the horse blocks the mating square and attacks the dragon on 6一 (since a horse on 7二 can reach 6一 diagonally). But if White plays ▲6二龍 to stay close and attack the horse, Black’s △同馬 recapture leaves nothing to recapture for White — so that line loses material for White immediately.
Now I’m checking whether ▲6二龍 gives check instead. The dragon on 6二 would need to attack the king on 8二, but the horse on 7二 blocks that diagonal, so it’s not check and the move is bad. Let me look at ▲6三龍 instead — moving the dragon vertically up the 6-file to 6三, which would attack the horse on 7二 diagonally while keeping the dragon defended by the king.
But wait, the horse on 7二 can also attack 6三 diagonally, so after ▲6三龍△同馬, I’d lose the dragon anyway. That doesn’t work either. So I need to consider retreating moves like ▲5一龍, ▲4一龍, or ▲2一龍 along the first rank instead.
Looking at the material count now: I have a bishop, two golds, two silvers, a knight, a lance, and three pawns in hand—that’s a significant advantage. Black’s horse on 7二 is now purely defensive, no longer attacking my king. With that material advantage, I can attack at my own pace, whether that’s playing ▲2一龍 to consolidate, or even something aggressive like ▲8五桂打 to threaten multiple squares.
But wait—what if I just capture the horse directly with ▲同龍? That gives check since the rook on 7二 would attack the king on 8二, and it’s supported… actually, no, I need to verify the support. After △同玉, the position shifts again, but this recapture might be stronger than I initially thought. I’m exploring whether 8三龍 works as a move, then reconsidering after 同玉. The key issue is that after trading the 龍 for the 馬 on 7二, I’d be left attacking with just hand pieces—two 角, two 金, two 銀, one 桂, and pawns—which is substantial but lacks board-based attackers except for the と.
Looking at 6一角打 as a checking move, it doesn’t seem to deliver mate since the 玉 has escape squares. The trade itself might actually weaken the attack despite the material advantage, so instead I should keep the 龍 active by retreating to 2一 or 5一, preserving both the 龍 and the hand 角金 for a stronger continuation.
Now I’m weighing different 龍 placements — 4一 or 6二 don’t work well, but 2一 keeps the pressure alive with threats like 6一 or 7一銀打. Though when I calculate 7一銀 against 玉8二 with 馬7二, the 馬 can simply capture on 7一, so that line falls apart. Maybe 8五桂打 as a quiet move threatening 7三桂成 is worth considering instead.
Let me also reconsider 後手′s counterattack option after ▲6一と — I keep forgetting that 6一と is already a capture of the 金 that was sitting there, so 後手 can’t ignore it and immediately launch checks with the 桂. Even if 後手 tries △7四桂 anyway, 先手 is already up material (the captured 金) and the と on 6一 is defended by the 龍. When 後手′s checks eventually run out after 先手′s 玉 escapes around the 8五/8六 area, 先手 will have a decisive advantage and can consolidate the win.
For the (B3) line where 後手 plays △6一同銀▲同龍△7一金打, I need to verify whether ▲6三龍 is actually safe — the 馬 on 4五 might be able to reach 6三, which would leave the 龍 hanging with no recapture available.
Looking at the escape squares along the first rank, ▲5一龍, ▲4一龍, ▲3一龍, and ▲2一龍 all seem relatively safe from immediate attack, so that’s where the 龍 would retreat if the center squares get too dangerous.
Now I’m analyzing what happens after ▲2一龍 — 先手 has a strong material advantage with 金銀 in hand plus the infiltrating 龍 on rank 1, and 玉8二 is still exposed. The key tactical idea is ▲7四桂打, which gives check since the knight from 7四 covers both 6二 and 8二. This forces 後手 to respond to the check, likely with △7三歩×7四, but then 先手 has follow-up threats to exploit the weakened position. I’m verifying the board position to confirm the dragon on 1一 can indeed support the 6一 square—checking that all intermediate squares along rank 1 are empty, which they are. The と金′s move from 5二 to 6一 is a legal diagonal advance for 先手, moving one file forward and one rank back as expected.
Now I’m checking whether the と金 itself is under attack—the 後手 gold on 6一 can reach 5二 diagonally, so they’re attacking each other. But since it’s 先手′s turn, the と strikes first and wins the exchange because the dragon backs it up. This mutual attack is precisely why ▲6一と is the strongest move—it forces a favorable capture.
I should also consider alternatives like ▲4一と (which just sidesteps pointlessly) or defending the と, but taking is clearly best. There’s another option worth exploring: playing ▲7四桂打 first to give check and disrupt 後手′s pawn structure, then following with ▲6一と. This would deflect the 7三 pawn to 7四 and open up 7三 for future silver or gold drops, but the downside is that a pawn on 7四 would attack 7五 and actually weaken 先手′s king escape square while supporting 後手′s potential moves on the 6五 and 8五 lines.
The cleanest approach is just ▲6一と directly, keeping the knight in reserve for the 8五 mating net. Now I need to figure out 後手′s best response — the main candidates are △同銀 or possibly △7二馬 versus △7一金打 after the sequence ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍.
If 後手 plays △7二馬 to keep the hand-金, that recalls the horse and removes the attack, but then ▲8五桂打 creates serious threats: ▲7三桂成 captures the pawn on 7三 (defended by the 桂8一), and this成桂 on 7三 would attack both the 馬7二 and the 玉8二 — so 後手 has to be very careful about ▲7三桂成 followed by △同桂.
Either way, ▲6一と is a grinding win for 先手: if 後手 declines the 金, 先手 just wins it cleanly; if 後手 accepts, 先手 gets 金+銀 with a raging attack and no viable counterplay from 後手 (I’ve verified the checking lines all fail). The position is decisively winning for 先手.
Now let me double-check the material count before ▲6一と to make sure my evaluation is sound. So 後手 is actually up significantly in material with those extra gold and silver pieces, but they’re terribly placed — the gold on 6九 is completely useless, and the silver on 5七 is floating without contributing to defense. Meanwhile, 先手 is down material but has a safer king position at 8六, a powerful battery with the と and 龍 attacking 6一, and plenty of pieces in hand for a mating attack.
Looking at move 82 where 後手 played 龍8八, it seems like a slow move that doesn’t accomplish much — maybe 後手 intended 龍7七 instead, which would be more forcing, but even that gets complicated after 先手 responds.
The key calculation is that 先手′s ▲6一と leads to mate in roughly 3 moves of 先手′s tempo, while 後手 needs at least 4+ non-forcing moves to mount any counterattack. 先手 wins the race decisively.
Now I’m checking if there’s something even faster than ▲6一と — like an immediate mating attack. Looking at check candidates like ▲7四桂 or ▲7一銀, but these don’t seem to lead anywhere faster. Looking at the alternatives after ▲7一龍: if Black plays △同玉 (king captures), I need to evaluate the material exchange — White sacrificed a silver and dragon to gain a gold, which is a terrible trade unless there’s a mating attack with the remaining pieces (角金2桂香歩3 in hand).
Now examining the forcing line with ▲6一金打 — this move gives check and is supported by the と5二 pawn, but Black’s king has limited escape squares: 8二 might be available, 7二 is blocked by Black’s own silver, 8一 has Black’s own knight, and 6二 is controlled by the gold on 6一. If Black plays 8二, then ▲7二金looks tempting as a follow-up check, but the と5二 pawn doesn’t actually support it (it only attacks 6二), so this line collapses. After testing various forcing continuations, none lead to immediate mate — Black survives the checks. So the quiet move ▲6一と, capturing and creating serious mating threats, appears to be the strongest continuation, and I’m now checking whether this move itself constitutes a 詰めろ.
The key threat after ▲6一と would be ▲7一と, where the dragon on the first rank supports the と once it moves, allowing it to fork both the 桂8一 and the 銀7二 — though I need to verify whether both pieces are actually defended. ported by the 龍 now?? — let me check: after ▲同玉, the 龍 is still on 8八, so 8五 isn’t defended anymore. Then ▲同玉 gives me +金 with a huge material advantage. If 後手 tries △7四銀打 for a check along the diagonals, ▲8六玉 escapes safely since the 龍 blocks the back rank — and I’m verifying whether 後手′s silver can even reach 8五 from 7四 in the first place.
Now I’m also considering what happens if 後手 responds to ▲6一と with △6七馬 instead, attacking the 歩 and activating the horse to threaten multiple squares like 8九 and 7六 — but those follow-ups look slow or blocked, so the position still favors me. The と on 7一 moving to 8一 captures the knight while staying supported by the dragon along the first rank, and since 後手′s silver on 7二 can only retreat to 6三 or 6一 (blocked elsewhere), White’s forcing sequence wins material either way.
Now I’m seeing the decisive continuation: ▲6一と is the key move. If Black recaptures with the silver, then ▲同龍 threatens an unstoppable ▲7二金 leading to forced mate—either ▲9三香打 followed by ▲8五桂打 and ▲7五銀#, or if Black tries △7二馬 to block the attack, White has strong continuations like ▲2一龍.
If Black declines and plays △9二玉 instead, White pushes ▲7一と supported by the dragon, infiltrating and winning material. Black’s counterattacking tries with moves like △7四桂 don’t generate enough checks to save the position. 後手 could try 9五歩 to attack 9六, but that’s not check and doesn’t accomplish much; or 8四銀打 which gives check and is supported by the 8三歩, forcing 8六玉 — but then 7五 is attacked by the 銀8四′s diagonal, and 9五 is also covered, leaving only 8六 as a safe flight. The silver on 7五 gives check along the diagonals, but it’s unsupported — if I capture with the pawn from 7六, Black just loses material. Then looking at the alternative with the gold drop on 8四, it forces my king to 8六, and when Black pushes the gold forward to 8五, I can capture it since the pawn on 8三 doesn’t actually defend that square.
Now I’m checking Black’s last counterattack possibility on the edge file — after my promotion on 6一, if Black plays 9五 pawn, I can capture it, but that opens the 9六 square. The key issue is whether Black can then drop another pawn on 9六 to create threats, but with my king on 8六, that’s not giving check, just threatening 9七. The pawn on 9六 doesn’t give check, but it does open up the side — though the lance on 9一 is blocked anyway, so that’s not an immediate threat. The real issue is that Black’s side attack is too slow compared to White’s ▲7一と push. Now I need to verify whether ▲7二金 actually delivers mate in 7 even when Black tries to interpose with adjacent pieces like the gold on 7二, lance on 9三, or silver on 9三 and 7五 — the lance check from 9三 would be attacking the king on 9二, but that’s still within the adjacent range.
No interposition is possible against the knight on 8五 either, and all the checking pieces are either adjacent or knights. For the move ▲9三香, that’s a lance drop on file 9 — White already has a lance on 9九, but the two-pawn rule only applies to pawns, so that’s legal. The silver on 7五 is also a valid drop on an empty square. Let me reconsider whether ▲6三龍 might be stronger — the horse on 7二 would attack it diagonally, so that doesn’t work. What about ▲5一龍 instead, eyeing 5三? The 6四龍 move looks solid — it’s not attacked by the 馬7二 or other pieces, and it gains material while keeping the dragon active on that square, controlling key squares along the rank and diagonal.
Now I’m checking the secondary candidates to rule out. The 7一と idea doesn’t work since the と can’t reach there anyway. The 7四桂打 is premature — after △同歩 White hasn’t gained much, and Black has defensive options like △9二玉. Defending with something like 7八金打 also fails because the dragon on 8八 would just attack it, and there’s no piece to support it. The king is already safe, so defensive moves just waste the winning tempo. I’m considering ▲8五桂打 as an aggressive setup with threats of promoting on 7三 or 9三, though 9三 looks undefended—but promoting there seems slow compared to just capturing the gold. Then there’s ▲6二と as a fork, but if 後手 responds with △同金, it opens up rank-1 for ▲6一銀打.
I’m settling on ▲6一と as the best move, with the main line showing the mating sequence and defensive alternatives for 後手 like △7二馬 or △7一金. The key is the speed calculation that refutes 後手′s counterattack, plus the warning that 7七 and 9七 are mined. For the position assessment, 後手 is materially ahead with the gold and silver count.
After ▲6一と, 先手 shifts to a winning position despite the material deficit. The 先手玉′s upper escape potential and 入玉 possibilities provide insurance, while 後手′s pieces—especially the 金6九—are poorly coordinated and not contributing. The last move △8八龍 was a losing tempo that failed to generate real threats.
I’m thinking about whether to include a diagram of the critical position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, which would show the ▲7二金 threat that seals the game—that single diagram would illustrate the mating pattern more clearly than text alone. A diagram of the critical position would help them follow the mate sequence, so I’ll include one. For notation, the user provided SFEN and English text, and their memory mentions Western notation preference, but the skill defaults to Japanese numeric form — I’ll go with that as the primary style.
Now checking if there’s a stronger continuation after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△7二馬 — something like ▲6二龍 instead of retreating, but that doesn’t work. Exploring alternatives like ▲4一龍, ▲2一龍, or ▲5一龍, though I need to verify which pieces are actually still on the board since the と was captured in that exchange and I want to make sure I’m not accidentally using it in the mate sequences. Now I’m verifying the mate line after ▲7二金 more carefully, particularly the △9三玉 branch — checking whether ▲8五桂 leads to mate after △9二玉 and ▲9三銀打, and also examining △8四玉 which gets mated by ▲7五銀. I’m working through the king’s remaining flight squares from 9三 when attacked by the knight on 8五.
I’m also confirming that in the mate position with ▲7五銀, the 後手玉 on 8四 cannot capture the knight on 8五 because that would place the king adjacent to the 先手玉 on 8六, which is illegal — kings can never be adjacent regardless of other defenses. Finally, I’m verifying the initial mate line holds: ▲7二金 △9三玉 ▲8五桂 △8四玉 ▲7五銀, where the silver on 7五 is supported by the pawn on 7六. So △6六銀 doesn’t actually threaten 8六 directly — but what about promoting it to 7七? A promoted silver at 7七 moves like a gold: forward to 7八, diagonals to 6八 and 8八, sideways to 6七 and 8七, backward to 7六. That still doesn’t reach 8六, so it’s not a check either.
Now looking at △6六銀 itself — the pawn at 6七 can capture forward to 6六, so ▲同歩 just wins the silver. And △7七桂打 doesn’t give check either since it only attacks 8九 and 6九. So I’ve confirmed all of 後手′s checking attempts — the 8五 and 7五 pieces, plus the 7四 knight — are all refuted.
But there’s still one loose end: after ▲6一と, what if 後手 plays △5一金打 to attack the と directly? 銀5一は6一を攻撃しないから無意味だ。6二に銀を打つのも同じく6一を攻撃できない。6二に金を打つ方が有効で、6一の龍を攻撃しながら7二周辺もカバーできる。6二同龍で交換になるけど、龍が後ろに下がる動きになるから合法だ。
The chat UI informed me that the max response length was reached and presented an option to Continue. I didn’t realize that this was a shortcut for entering just the word “Continue” as my next prompt, and before I could interrupt to add more detailed instructions, the model started outputting what appears to be its raw CoT:[1]
Fable 5 Raw CoT (hidden for length)
Claude Fable 5
— wait — supported by 龍 ✓✓ → ILLEGAL for 玉!!! — 玉 can’t capture a defended piece… wait — “defended” = 龍 attacks 7一 ✓ → recapture ▲same龍+ — so △同玉 ILLEGAL-ish (it’s legal only if… no — capturing a defended piece with the KING = moving into check = ILLEGAL ✓✓). → so △7一金打 ▲同と and… NOTHING recaptures?!? +金 AGAIN. ✗✗ for 後手. — What about simply △同銀 being actually FORCED-ish?? — 後手′s least-bad: probably DECLINE quietly and defend/run: e.g. △7一玉?? wait — ✗ と attacks… — と6一 attacks 7一?? — side ✓✓ ✗ illegal!! — △9二玉 then (as analyzed: ▲7一と grind — wait — actually after △9二玉 — even stronger: ▲7二と!!?? — と6一→7二?? — backward-diagonal — 金/と CANNOT move diagonally backward ✗✗ — right: ▲7一と it is — then △same: 銀7二 attacked (と7一: back 7二 ✓): 銀 flees △6三銀 (only — wait: 6一?? — EMPTY now (と left) — △6一銀!? (back-diag ✓): attacks… blocks the 龍-ray-support of と7一?!? — hmm!! 銀 ON 6一: rank-1 ray: ..5一,6一銀 — 龍 attacks the 銀 — and と7一 now UNSUPPORTED?? — wait — と7一 attacked by?? 玉9二: adjacent?? 9二-7一: file-diff 2 ✗. 桂8一: ✗. NOTHING attacks と7一 anyway ✓ fine — and ▲same: ▲6一同龍!! (×銀: supported by と7一?? — と attacks 6一 ✓✓!!): △same?? — nothing recaptures (玉9二 not adjacent to 6一 ✗) — +銀!! and now 龍6一+と7一 vs 玉9二… ▲8二金打?? — wait — vs 玉9二: 金8二: side 9二 ✓ CHECK — supported by と7一?? — と7一: fwd-diags?? — rank 0 off; — と attacks 8一(side)… ✗ NOT 8二 — unsupported △同玉?? — wait — 8二 — hmm — △same — what about ▲8一龍!?? (6一→7一?? own と ✗ blocked!! — 龍 rank-1 blocked by OWN と at 7一 ✗✗ lol). ▲8二銀打?? — 銀8二: fwd-diags 7一(own),9一香!! ✓; fwd 8一桂 ✓; — attacks 9二?? ✗✗ (no side) — not check — but THREAT ▲9一銀成?? wait — hmm — ▲8二銀 = 詰めろ?? threat ▲9一銀不成?? (×香: 銀9一: attacks 9二?? — wait — 先手銀9一: fwd: rank0 ✗; back-diags 8二(own-vacated...) — hmm ✗✗ doesn’t attack 9二!!). — ▲9三桂打!?? — vs 玉9二: 桂9三: jumps (8,1)!! — attacks 8一 ✗ not 9二… — UGH the 9二玉 again — RIGHT — this is why the mate-net needed 金7二 FIRST (covering 8二) before 香9三… — vs 玉9二 directly: ▲9三香打!? CHECK (✓): △同玉 (forced ✓(9二′s other flights?? — IN CHECK from 香: must address: capture(玉 only) or move: 8二?? — attacked by?? — hmm — NOTHING in this line ✗✗ — △8二玉!?? AVAILABLE!! — hmm!! — wait: position-check: this deep line: ▲6一と△9二玉▲7一と△6一銀▲同龍 — 先手: 龍6一,と7一, hand 角金2銀2桂香歩3?? recount: +金(6一),+銀(▲同龍×6一銀!?) — wait the 銀 — hand: 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3 ✓ — vs 玉9二: ▲9三香△8二玉!? — 玉 walks BACK toward と7一/龍6一!! — ▲8一龍?? ✗blocked-by-own-と… — ▲7二金打!!? (金7二: side 8二 ✓ CHECK; supported by 龍6一(diag 7二 ✓✓) AND と7一(back 7二 ✓✓) DOUBLE — △same: 玉8二: capture ✗(defended²); flights: 9二?? — 香9三 attacks 9二!!! ✓✗; 9一?? own香; 8一?? own桂… wait — hmm — 8一 — own 桂 ✓✗; 8三 own 歩 ✗; 7三?? own 歩✗; 7一 = own… wait — と is there (先手′s) — capture?? 玉×7一と: defended by 龍6一(side 7一… wait — 龍 ON 6一: rank-1: 7一 ✓✓ defended) ✗ ILLEGAL. — MATE!!! ✓✓✓ — beautiful — so even THAT runs into mate. — OK OK — the lines all collapse for 後手; I’ve verified enough depth. The grind-lines all end in short mates once the 龍+と+hand-pieces coordinate.
FINAL verification sweep of the MAIN mate (since I’ll present it as forced): Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 ▲7二金打: Board: 先手: 玉8六, 龍6一, 金7二(new); 歩9六8七7六6七1七4九; 香9九1九; 桂8九. Hand: 角銀桂香歩3. 後手: 玉8二, 桂8一, 香9一, 歩9四8三7三6四5三1三, 馬4五, 龍8八, 銀5七, 金6九. Hand: 金銀桂歩3. Check ✓ (金7二 supported by 龍6一 ✓). Gote replies: 9二/9三 only ✓. △9二玉 ▲9三香打 — CHECK ✓ (forced △同玉: flights 8二?? — covered by 金7二 ✓✗; 9一/8一 own ✗; 8三 own ✗ — wait — what about CAPTURING the 香 with… nothing ✓ — and 玉8二→?? IT’S ON 9二 — flights from 9二: 8二(✗金7二),8一(own),9一(own),8三(own),9三(=capture ✓only)) → △同玉 ✓. ▲8五桂打 — CHECK ✓ (no captures of 8五 ✓: 9四歩✗, 龍8八-blocked✗, 馬✗). Flights from 9三: 9二(→▲9三銀: wait — 9三 just VACATED by 玉?? — no no: 玉 moves 9三→9二; THEN ▲9三銀打 ON the vacated square ✓ CHECK (fwd 9二 ✓) supported by 桂8五 ✓ — flights: 8二✗(金7二),9一/8一/8三 own ✗ — capture 9三: 玉 only — supported ✗ → MATE ✓), 8四(→▲7五銀打 ✓ CHECK (fwd-diag 8四 ✓) supported 歩7六+玉8六 ✓ — flights: 7三/8三/9四 own ✗, 9三✗(桂8五), 7四✗(銀7五-fwd), 9五✗(歩9六), 8五✗(桂・玉-adjacent-illegal) — captures of 7五: 馬✗龍✗歩6四✗ → MATE ✓), 8二?? ✗(金7二 — wait: 玉9三→8二: 金7二 attacks 8二(side ✓)✗ ✓). △9三玉 (instead of 9二 at move 2): ▲8五桂 △9二玉(→銀#)/△8四玉(→▲7五銀#) ✓ — same. SEVEN PLIES, ALL FORCED, MATE ✓✓✓. (With the 香-sac making it work vs 9二玉 — wait — in the △9二玉 line I used ▲9三香打 BEFORE ▲8五桂 — necessary?? — direct ▲8五桂?? — NOT check vs 9二 ✗ — and direct ▲9三銀?? unsupported △同玉 — then ▲8五桂△8四玉 and NO 銀 for 7五 ✗ — so YES the 香先打 order is THE point — a nice 香捨ての先打ち… hmm wait actually it’s not even a sac in the end — the 香 deflects 玉 to 9三 where 桂+銀 mate — it IS a sacrifice (玉 takes it) — the classic 退路封鎖/おびき出し combo.) — Also alternative mate vs △9二玉: ▲8二金!?? — wait — second 金?? — hand after ▲7二金: 角銀桂香歩3 — NO second 金 ✗ — the 香-line is THE line ✓.
NOW — writing the response. Structure per skill: 局面の概要 → (maybe brief 駒の働き/玉の安全度 woven in) → 形勢判断 → 最善手 ▲6一と with main lines → alternatives → maybe diagram after ▲同龍. User asked: “evaluate the position and discuss candidate moves and variations.” English response, Japanese terms with romaji on first use, prose-forward (avoid heavy bullets per formatting guidance — though some structure is OK for multifaceted analysis; the skill format suggests sections; I’ll use a few headers and mostly prose, with indented variation lines). Keep formatting moderate — this content is genuinely multifaceted (variations), so some structure is warranted, but I should follow the “minimum formatting needed” principle: use a few bold lead-ins or short headers and notation lines.
Diagram: render position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 (the critical position where 後手 faces the mate threat). I need to call visualize:read_me with diagram module first (silently), then show_widget. Per board-rendering spec: viewBox ~700x820, sente at bottom, columns 9→1 left-to-right, rows 一-九 top to bottom, gote pieces rotated, promoted red, komadai top/bottom.
Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍: Rank 1: 9一香(gote), 8一桂(gote), 7一—, 6一龍(SENTE, promoted RED), 5一—...2一—, 1一— (龍 moved away from 1一!!) Rank 2: 8二玉(gote), 7二—(銀 gone!), 5二—(と gone) Rank 3: 8三歩g,7三歩g,5三歩g,1三歩g Rank 4: 9四歩g, 6四歩g Rank 5: 4五馬g (RED, rotated) Rank 6: 9六歩S,8六玉S,7六歩S Rank 7: 8七歩S, 6七歩S, 5七銀g, 1七歩S Rank 8: 8八龍g (RED rotated) Rank 9: 9九香S, 8九桂S, 6九金g, 4九歩S, 1九香S Sente hand: 角 金 銀 桂 香 歩3 — wait — after the exchange: hand = 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3?? — NO — hold on: ▲6一と captured 金 (+金 → 金2… wait — original hand 金1 → after capture 金2 ✓); △同銀 (と captured by gote — gote hand +歩); ▲同龍 (+銀 → 銀2). SENTE HAND after ▲同龍: 角1 金2 銀2 桂1 香1 歩3 ✓✓. GOTE hand: 金1銀1桂1歩2 +歩 = 金1銀1桂1歩3 ✓.
Let me double check sente hand math once more: SFEN hand “BGSNL3P” = B(角)1, G(金)1, S(銀)1, N(桂)1, L(香)1, P(歩)3. After ▲6一と: +G → 金2. After ▲同龍: +S → 銀2. ✓ 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3.
Hmm — one risk: presenting the post-exchange diagram might confuse (differs from given position). I’ll clearly label it. Title: position_after_61ryu or such.
Also the mention in the skill: “Read the Visualizer’s diagram read_me module before rendering” — yes, must call visualize:read_me([“diagram”]) silently first.
Let me draft the SVG mentally per spec:
viewBox 0 0 700 820
Gote komadai top: “☖後手 持駒: 金 銀 桂 歩三” — render as text at top-left/right (spec says top, right-aligned, but I’ll do simple).
Column numbers 9..1 across top of board.
Board rect x=50,y=80,w=560,h=560 (squares ~62.2px… spec says ≈70px each → 9*62.2=560 ✓ squares = 62.22px). Hmm spec example uses 560 width → square 62.2. Font 32-36.
Row labels 一..九 right side at x≈625.
Pieces: gote rotated 180 about square center; promoted red #CC0000.
Star points at intersections (3,3),(3,6),(6,3),(6,6) — i.e., at the crossings between 3rd/6th lines: positions x=50+3*62.22 etc.
Pieces to place (after ▲同龍): Gote (rotated): 9一香(81.1,111.1), 8一桂(143.3,111.1), 8二玉(143.3,173.3), 8三歩(143.3,235.6), 7三歩(205.6,235.6), 5三歩(330.0,235.6), 1三歩(578.9,235.6), 9四歩(81.1,297.8), 6四歩(267.8,297.8), 4五馬RED(392.2,360.0), 5七銀(330.0,484.4), 8八龍RED(143.3,546.7), 6九金(267.8,608.9). Sente (upright): 6一龍RED(267.8,111.1) [highlight square], 9六歩(81.1,422.2), 8六玉(143.3,422.2) — use 王 for sente?? convention: 先手=王?? the rendering spec says 先手′s king 王, gote 玉 (though varies; default 玉 both if unsure) — the SCREENSHOT shows both as 王… I’ll use 玉 for gote and 王 for sente — hmm spec: “Convention: 先手′s king is 王 (ō), 後手′s king is 玉 (gyoku)” — eh, traditionally it’s reversed (玉 for the lower-ranked… whatever) — follow the spec as written: sente 王?? — hmm, actually traditional: 王将 held by senior player; in diagrams usually 先手=玉?? — Kifu diagrams typically show 後手 with 王 or both 玉… I’ll just follow the reference doc: 先手 王, 後手 玉. Fine. 8六王(143.3,422.2), 7六歩(205.6,422.2), 8七歩(143.3,484.4), 6七歩(267.8,484.4), 1七歩(578.9,484.4), 9九香(81.1,608.9), 8九桂(143.3,608.9), 4九歩(392.2,608.9), 1九香(578.9,608.9).
Highlight: 6一 square: x = 50+62.22*3 = 236.67, y=80, w/h=62.22 — pale yellow #F5E6A8-ish.
Star points at grid intersections: (after 3 cols & rows from each edge): x=50+186.67=236.67 and 50+373.33=423.33; y=80+186.67=266.67 and 80+373.33=453.33.
Komadai text: top: ☖後手 持駒：金 銀 桂 歩三 ; bottom: ☗先手 持駒：角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三. Plus a “▲6一同龍まで” caption maybe at bottom.
Also need “diagram” read_me — it’ll give CSS var guidance; the board colors are shogi-specific per the reference (#DEB887 etc.) — fine, reference doc explicitly authorizes those. I’ll still call read_me as mandated and adapt (e.g., use var(--text-primary) for labels where sensible with fallbacks).
One more consideration: response language. User wrote English → respond English with Japanese terms (romaji on first use). Use ▲/△ markers.
Also per the skill’s competitive framing: commit to the assessment: 先手勝勢 (sente is winning decisively) — actually before ▲6一と it’s “先手勝勢” contingent on finding it; I’ll phrase: despite the material deficit, sente is winning (先手勝勢) — the move that proves it is ▲6一と.
Length/formatting: This deserves a thorough but not bloated response. A few section headers, mostly prose + notation lines. Variation lines can be set as short indented/notation blocks. Avoid excessive bullets. Include the diagram after introducing the main line.
△9三玉(2nd) ▲8五桂 transposes. Gote’s defenses after ▲同龍: △7二馬 (only real patch — recalls attacker; ▲5一龍 keeps everything, sente up 金銀 with ongoing attack) △7一金 ▲5一龍 (or 2一) similar. Declining: △9二玉 ▲7一と! (supported by the dragon) → grind; e.g. △6一銀 ▲同龍! … ▲7二金まで patterns. Counterattack: △7四桂 ▲8五玉 △8四歩 ▲同玉! (or 8六) — checks run dry, e.g. △8三歩 ▲8五玉 △8四銀 ▲8六玉 △8五銀 ▲同玉! — gote runs out, sente’s hand swells, mate threat persists. Key safety note: 7七 and 9七 are covered by the 8八龍 (diagonal step) — the king must shuttle via 8五/8四/8六 only.
Also mention candidate alternatives & why inferior: ▲7四桂 (premature: △同歩 and ▲7三銀 fails to △同桂), defensive moves unnecessary (玉 is safe; 龍8八′s attack is blunted by 8七歩; checks all lose material), ▲6二と inferior version of the idea.
And the evaluation summary: material count gote +金銀×2 vs 香2歩2… let me state: gote is ahead the equivalent of two 金 and two 銀 against two 香 and two 歩 — wait let me recount to be safe: 金: sente total = 1 (hand). gote = 6一+6九+hand1 = 3. diff −2. 銀: sente 1 hand. gote 7二+5七+hand1 = 3. diff −2. 香: sente 9九+1九+hand = 3. gote 9一 = 1. diff +2. 桂: sente 8九+hand=2; gote 8一+hand=2. even. 歩: sente 6 board +と +3 hand = 10; gote 6+2 = 8. +2. 角飛: even (馬vs角hand; 龍vs龍). ✓ so: gote up 2金2銀 for 2香2歩 — roughly a 金+銀 net advantage in raw terms. But efficiency: 金6九 dead, 銀5七 stranded, 龍8八 hitting a wall; sente’s pieces ALL working.
I might briefly note the last move △8八龍 appears to have been the decisive tempo-loss (it threatens 8九桂 at most).
Also the skill says lead with the best move recommendation in the 最善手 section: “▲6一と is the move” — I’ll commit hard.
One more sanity check on ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — hmm, what if 後手 interposes the order: ▲6一と △7四桂!? (check FIRST, before deciding on 6一): ▲8五玉 (as before — and NOTE: now と sits on 6一 attacked by 銀7二!! — wait: 銀7二: back-diags 6一 ✓✓ attacks と — but と defended by 龍 ✓ — if later △同銀▲同龍 same thing ✓) △8四歩 ▲同玉 (etc. — same refutation; sente even happier with 玉 marching) — or at any pause ▲same continues. ✓ consistent.
And ultra-edge-case: after ▲6一と, △同玉?!?! — 玉8二×6一?? NOT ADJACENT ✗ impossible lol ✓.
I think I’m ready. Response plan:
Quick framing: confirm position read (maybe 1 line), phase = 終盤 (shūban), note the asymmetry.
形勢判断 with material vs efficiency.
最善手: ▲6一と — explain the battery (と5二+龍1一 both hitting the undefended-enough 6一金), main line with mate sequence; diagram of post-▲同龍.
Gote’s defensive tries (△7二馬 / △7一金) and resulting eval.
Gote declines / counterattacks — the race calc + the 7七/9七 mine warning.
Alternatives for sente & why inferior.
Conclusion: 先手勝勢; ▲6一と.
For the diagram: call read_me silently first with [“diagram”], platform unknown.
Loading messages for the widget: shogi is a game — playful is OK? It’s not a “serious” topic. Keep them light but not silly: e.g., “Setting up the board”, “Placing the dragon on 61”, “Arranging the mating net”. ~5 words each, 2-3 messages.
Let me now write the SVG carefully. I’ll generate it programmatically in my head with the computed coordinates. Use font-family serif for kanji. Gote rotation: transform=”rotate(180 cx cy)”.
Pieces list with coords (rounded to 1 decimal):
Highlight rect 6一: x=236.7, y=80, 62.2×62.2, fill #F0E0A0 (pale).
Board lines: vertical at x = 50 + 62.22k for k=1..8: 112.2, 174.4, 236.7, 298.9, 361.1, 423.3, 485.6, 547.8. Horizontal y = 80+62.22k: 142.2, 204.4, 266.7, 328.9, 391.1, 453.3, 515.6, 577.8.
Gote komadai: y≈40 area: text “☖ 後手 金 銀 桂 歩三” — right aligned near x=610, anchor end. Sente komadai: y≈680: “☗ 先手 角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三” left at x=50. Caption: “▲6一同龍まで（変化図）” maybe at y≈720. Hmm — could also add small text “後手番” (gote to move). Let me add: y=712: “図は▲6一と△同銀▲同龍まで・後手番”.
Wait — should the diagram be the CURRENT position instead? Hmm. The user gave a screenshot of the current position — rendering the variation position (after ▲同龍) adds NEW information. That’s the better choice. ✓. I’ll label it clearly.
Now writing prose. Keep romaji on first use: 終盤 (shūban), 先手 (sente), 後手 (gote), と金 (tokin), 龍 (ryū), 馬 (uma), 詰めろ… etc. Don’t overdo.
A note on length: this is a rich analysis; aim for thorough but tight. Use a couple of headers (## 形勢判断, ## 最善手：▲6一と, ## 後手の受けと反撃, ## その他の候補手) — or English headers with Japanese terms. Given user reads Japanese fluently, mixed is fine. Keep prose-dominant, variation lines as notation.
Also — per the user memory: do not use the user’s name; use apostrophe for drops in markdown — applies to Western-style drop notation; I’m using Japanese (▲9三香打 / ▲8五桂打) so no asterisks anyway. Good.
Double-check one notational thing: ▲6一と — the と moving from 5二 to 6一. In Japanese notation when ambiguity… only one と — fine. △同銀 — 銀7二 takes — wait — ALSO could 後手 take with… only 銀7二 attacks 6一 ✓ (桂8一 ✗, 玉 ✗ not adjacent… 8二-6一?? file diff 2 ✗). “△同銀” unambiguous ✓.
Final eval language: 現局面すでに先手勝勢 — and after ▲6一と it’s effectively decided (necessary caveat: assuming accurate play through the mating net).
Also explain WHY the mate works structurally: 9三 hole (端歩 9四 advanced), 桂8一/香9一 self-blocking, 二歩 constraints actually on SENTE’s side (no 8三/9三 pawn drops) which the 香打 finesse solves. The 9四歩 being advanced is the fatal weakness — classic 美濃 weakness when… actually it’s a 片美濃 with the 端 pushed; the と金 already amputated the 5二 metal… I can mention: the formation is a collapsed 片美濃 (katamino) whose second gold has been replaced by sente’s と金.
Let me also double check: “11th Eiō-sen” memory etc. — not relevant; no memory application needed here beyond notation prefs. ✓.
Write it now. I’ll do: intro sentence (no header), then sections. Include 速度計算 explicitly: sente mates in ~7 plies once the exchange happens; gote needs 5+ moves of non-checking buildup and all checking tries shed material without mating.
Actually, let me reconsider presenting “mate in 7” — the sequence ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = 7 plies ✓ “7手詰” in Japanese counting (attacker moves+defender… Japanese counts total plies: 7手 ✓). After ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, threat = 7手詰. ✓ phrase as 「▲7二金からの7手詰」.
One more paranoid re-verification of ▲9三香 necessity vs the immediate ▲8五桂 in the △9二玉 branch — ▲8五桂 vs 玉9二: NOT check (桂8五 hits 7三/9三) — right, so the 香 comes first to DRAG the king to 9三 ✓ (おびき寄せ). And in the △9三玉 branch the 香 is never needed (桂 checks immediately) — so the mate is 7手 vs 9二, 5手...wait: △9三玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = ▲7二金△9三玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = 5 plies! vs 9二: 7 plies. So “5〜7手詰”.
And — sanity: in △9三玉 line, hand after ▲7二金,▲8五桂: 角銀香歩3 — ▲7五銀 ✓ available ✓.
OK and the final overall claim once more — is there ANY hole in “after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, gote’s ONLY moves stopping ▲7二金-mate are △7二馬 and △7一金打”? Other ideas: △6二桂打?? — 桂 can’t be dropped… wait — 桂 at 6二: jumps to (5,4),(7,4) — covers NOTHING relevant; ▲7二金 still mates ✗. △7一桂打?? — 桂 drop 7一: occupies 7一 (was that needed? mate used 7一?? — ✗ no — mate: 金7二… the 桂7一 doesn’t defend 7二 (桂 at 7一 jumps 6三?? wait 後手桂7一: (6,3),(8,3) — covers 6三/8三 ✗) ✗ mate stands. △8四歩?? (8三→8四: makes 8三 a flight?? — wait — ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂: NOW 8四 has 後手歩!! — 玉8四?? ✗own — wait — flights from 9三: 8四 OCCUPIED by own 歩 ✗✗ — so only △9二玉▲9三銀# — STILL MATE ✓ — wait also: with 歩 on 8四 — ▲8五桂 — can 歩8四 capture?? — 後手歩8四 captures 8五 ✓✓!!! △同歩!!! — HOLD ON: ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△同歩!?!? — the pushed pawn TAKES the 桂!! — then 玉9三, sente hand: 角銀桂?? wait — used 金香桂 — hand: 角銀歩3 — checks vs 9三: ▲9四...?? — hmm — ▲8五… — ▲9二銀?? — 銀9二: attacks 9一?? — wait — vs 玉9三: ▲9二銀打?? — 先手銀9二: fwd 9一; fwd-diags 8一; back-diags 8三… — attacks 9三?? ✗✗!! — ▲8四銀?? — wait 8四 — the 歩 captured TO 8五 — so 8四 EMPTY now: ▲8四銀打: fwd-diags 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK — supported by?? — 玉8六?? — 8六-8四?? NOT adjacent ✗ — UNSUPPORTED — △same — 玉×8四?? — hmm — legal (unsupported) — ▲8四銀△同玉 — and… hand 角歩3 — peters out?!?! — UH OH. — So △8四歩 (in advance) DEFENDS by giving △同歩 resource?!? — WAIT WAIT — back up: when would gote play △8四歩?? — as the move AFTER ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — i.e., instead of △7二馬: △8四歩!? — does THAT stop ▲7二金?? — ▲7二金 △9二玉 ▲9三香 △同玉 ▲8五桂 △同歩 — hmm — BUT — wait — with 歩 now on 8五(gote’s): ▲8四銀!?(unsupported ✗)… other checks vs 玉9三: ▲9四歩?? 二歩✗. ▲8五...香?? — ▲9五香?? — hmm — wait — actually — hold on: BEFORE panicking: at the ▲8五桂 moment, with gote-歩 sitting on 8四, sente should choose a DIFFERENT check: vs 玉9三 (歩8四 present): ▲8四銀!?? — wait — supported by — hmm — what about ▲9四銀!?? — 9四 — gote 歩 THERE?? — wait — 9四歩 — yes still ✗occupied. — ▲8二銀打!? — 銀8二: fwd-diags 7一,9一… attacks 9三?? — back-diags from 8二: 7三,9三 ✓✓!!! CHECK!! — supported by 金7二?? — 金7二 attacks 8二?? — side ✓✓ SUPPORTED!!! — △same: 玉9三: capture ▲8二銀?? — 玉 only — supported ✗ ILLEGAL; flights: 9二?? — 銀8二: fwd… — wait — does 銀8二 attack 9二?? ✗ (no side) — hmm — 9二: attacked by?? — NOTHING?!? △9二玉 — then ▲9三香打?? — SECOND 香?? ✗ used… — hand: after 金,香,桂,銀 used: 角歩3 ✗✗ — ARGH. — hmm hmm. — OK so with △8四歩 inserted, the 9三-玉 needs a different net. — Let me re-solve: position: after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩: gote: 玉8二,桂8一,香9一,歩9四・8四(!!)・7三・6四・5三・1三,馬4五,龍8八,銀5七,金6九; hand 金銀桂歩3?? wait — 歩: had 歩3 — the 8四 push was the BOARD 8三歩 — hand unchanged 金銀桂歩3 ✓. — and CRUCIALLY: 8三 now EMPTY. — sente: ▲7二金 (still ✓ check, supported): △9二玉 (only? — 9三 ✓ also — AND — wait — NEW: 8三!?? — 玉8二→8三: attacked by?? — hmm — NOTHING of sente’s… wait — ✗✗ really — 8三: sente attackers: ✗ — △8三玉!?? LEGAL!! — ugh — the push CREATED a flight square!! — vs △8三玉: checks: ▲8五桂?? — wait — gote 歩8四 takes ✗… — ▲7四銀打!? — 銀7四: fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓✓ CHECK — supported by?? ✗ — △同歩?? — 7三歩×7四 ✓✓ ugh — △same — hmm — ▲8四...?? — ▲7五桂打!?? — 桂7五: jumps (6,3),(8,3): 8三 ✓✓ CHECK!! — captures of 7五: ▲… gote: 歩7四?? ✗none — 歩6四 ✗ — 馬4五?? ✗ — NOTHING ✓ — flights of 玉8三: 9二(✗? — attacked?? ✗ — ✓available),9三(✗? ✓available),8二(✗金7二!!… wait — 金7二 attacks 8二 ✓ ✗),7四?? — wait — 桂7五 attacks 8三,6三 — 7四: attacked by?? — hmm — 歩7三 is gote’s OWN — 7四: sente attackers ✗ — wait — is 7四 EMPTY ✓ — △7四玉!?? — hmm — attacked by — let me check: 桂7五 ✗(attacks 6三/8三); 金7二 ✗; 龍6一?? — vertical 6二,6三,6四歩✗blocked; rank1 ✗ — NOTHING ✗ — △7四玉 available?!? — wait — REALLY — hmm — but WAIT: ▲7五桂 was CHECK from 7五 — 玉 capturing… 玉8三×?? — 7五 not adjacent ✗; — flights: 9二,9三,7四,8四?? (own歩 ✗) — three flights — hmm — vs 7四玉: ▲7五… — own 桂 there — ▲6五銀打?? — 銀6五: fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓ CHECK — supported by?? — 桂7五?? ✗… — hmm — UNSUPPORTED — △same玉× — wait — 玉7四×6五?? — adjacent ✓ unsupported ✓ legal — UGH. — — OK STOP. — This is getting genuinely complicated — △8四歩 might be a real defensive resource (creating 8三 flight + 8四 interceptor). Let me think about whether sente has a clean answer to △8四歩.
Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩 (sente to move; sente hand 角金2銀2桂香歩3): Hmm — wait — first — is △8四歩 even CHECK-proof… it ignores nothing — wait — does sente have ▲same×8四?? — 玉8六?? — 8六-8四 NOT adjacent ✗. — OK so sente to move, big hand. KEY new features: 8三 flight for gote-玉; 8五 covered by 歩8四 (so ▲8五桂 hangs); BUT: 8三 is also a HOLE next to… hmm — sente ideas: ▲8三銀打!?? — 銀8三: fwd 8二玉!!?? — wait — 先手銀8三: forward = 8二 ✓✓ CHECK!! fwd-diags 7二(own金?? — no wait — no 金 yet — 7二 EMPTY ✓),9二 ✓ — supported by?? ✗ UNSUPPORTED — △同玉 ✗ — hmm — wait — but — ▲8三銀 △同玉?? — wait can ANYTHING ELSE take 8三: 桂8一?? ✗; 香9一?? ✗; 歩8四?? — gote pawn captures FORWARD (rank+1): 8五 ✗✗; 玉 only — △同玉 — then ▲7二金打?? wait — wait — hand: 金2!! — ▲7二金: vs 玉8三: 金7二: attacks 8三?? — back?? — 先手金7二: backward = 7三 ✗✗… fwd-diags 6一,8一; side 6二,8二; — ✗ NOT check — hmm — ▲8四...?? — vs 玉8三: ▲7四銀打!? (second 銀 ✓): fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓ CHECK; supported ✗; △同歩(7三×) ✓ ugh — △同玉?? also — hmm — — OK ▲8三銀-sac unclear. — DIFFERENT approach: ▲7二金打 FIRST (before gote consolidates more): △8三玉 (the new flight; or △9二玉/9三玉 → OLD mate?? — wait — does the old mate still work vs 9二/9三 with 歩 on 8四?: △9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△同歩!(NEW) — broken as shown — hmm — so even 9二 escapes now?!? — wait — vs △9二玉 (歩8四 version): ▲9三香△同玉 — alternatives to ▲8五桂: ▲8二銀打!? (back-diags 7三?? wait — 先手銀8二: back-diags = 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK on 9三; supported by 金7二(side 8二 ✓✓)): △same: 玉9三 flights: 9二?? — attacked by 銀8二?? ✗(no side)… — hmm ✗not covered — △9二玉 — ▲9三歩?? 二歩✗ — ▲9三銀打(second): supported by 銀8二?? — 銀8二 attacks 9三?? — back-diag ✓ wait — 先手銀8二′s back-diags: 7三,9三 — ✓✓!! — ▲9三銀打: CHECK on 9二; supported ✓: flights: 8二?? — own… — wait — 銀(sente’s) ON 8二?? — capture?? — 玉9二×8二銀: supported by 金7二 ✓ ✗ILLEGAL; 9一own,8一own; 8三?? — EMPTY NOW (pushed!!) — attacked by?? — 銀8二: back-diags 7三,9三… ✗; 金7二: backward 7三 ✗; — NOT covered?!? — △8三玉!!! — ESCAPES — ARGH — the 8三 hole again. — — so △8四歩 is a genuinely annoying 中段玉/上部脱出-prep defense. — BUT WAIT: it does NOTHING about material: sente is +金銀 and can simply… hmm — but I claimed near-forced-win; need to handle △8四歩 honestly. — Let me find sente’s best vs △8四歩: — the move WEAKENED 8三-square’s pawn-cover… — wait — actually — hmm — KEY: ▲8五歩?!? — 二歩?? file 8: sente 歩8七 ✓✓ ✗ ILLEGAL — damn. — ▲same — what about attacking the NEW weakness: the 歩8四 itself is attacked by?? ✗. — What about ▲7五桂打 (pre-empting): 桂7五 jumps 6三,8三 — COVERS 8三!!! (takes away the flight!!) — and threatens ▲8三桂成?? wait — jump TO 8三: 成桂8三: attacks 8二 ✓(fwd… 先手成桂8三: fwd 8二 ✓) — ▲7五桂 = threat ▲8三桂不成/成 CHECK — and 7五: attacked by gote?? — 歩7四?? ✗(7三); 馬✗; 歩6四 ✗ — SAFE ✓ — and — wait — ALSO: with 桂 on 7五 covering 8三: NOW ▲7二金 mate-net revives?? — gote’s reply to ▲7五桂: hmm — △same — defends 8三-jump: △8三玉?!? — wait — INTO the 桂′s teeth?? — 8三 attacked by 桂7五 ✓✗ illegal!! — △7四歩?? — wait — gote 歩7三→7四: attacks 7五桂!! ✓ — ▲same — 桂 defended by?? ✗ — hmm — ▲8三桂成!?? (jumping IN anyway: ×nothing — 8三 empty — wait — CHECK ✓ (成桂8三 attacks 8二 ✓): supported by?? ✗✗ — △同玉?? — wait — △同桂!?? — 桂8一×8三?? — 桂 jumps (7,3),(9,3) ✗✗ can’t; △同香?? ✗; △同玉 ✓ (unsupported) — then 玉8三: ▲7二金?? not check… — hmm — ▲8五桂打?? — wait — 歩8四 STILL takes ✗… — — hmm — ▲7五桂△7四歩: maybe ▲6三桂成!?? (other jump: ×nothing — 6三 empty ✓: 成桂6三: attacks 6二,5二?? — wait — sente 成桂(=金) at 6三: fwd 6二; fwd-diags 5二,7二; side 5三(gote歩!),7三?? — wait — 7三 — the 歩 PUSHED to 7四 — 7三 EMPTY — ; back 6四(gote歩) — hmm — not check — but supported by 龍6一?? — 龍 vertical: 6二,6三 ✓✓!! — ▲6三成桂 threatens ▲7二成桂?? — wait — and ALSO — hmm — this is turning into a long grind again — FINE — but is it WINNING-grind: sente +金銀, all gote’s extra moves (8四歩,7四歩) are pure defense, gote’s attack still nonexistent — YES winning, just not the crisp 7手詰. — — Hmm — OK — but actually — WAIT — let me reconsider the move order: maybe vs △8四歩, the cleanest is ▲7二金!? anyway: △8三玉 (forced-best?? — 9二/9三: do they STILL lose?: vs △9二玉: ▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀!(supported by 金7二)△9二玉?? wait — hmm I did this: △9二玉▲9三銀打(supported by 8二銀)△8三玉! escapes — — vs that: 玉8三 — sente pieces: 金7二,銀8二,銀9三,香(used),桂✓,角✓,歩3 — checks vs 8三: ▲7四桂打!? — wait — hmm — 桂7四: jumps 6二,8二?? — (file±1, rank−2): (6,2),(8,2) ✗ NOT 8三 — ✗not check; ▲7五桂打!? jumps 6三,8三 ✓ CHECK!! — captures of 7五: 歩7四?? — wait — in THIS line did 7三歩 push?? ✗ NO — gote played 玉-moves only — 7三歩 home ✓ — so 7五: attacked by gote ✗ SAFE — wait — capture the CHECKER: nothing reaches 7五 ✓; flights of 8三: 7四?? — attacked by?? — hmm — 桂7五 ✗(6三/8三); — ✗free?? — wait — 銀8二(sente’s!!): back-diags 7三,9三; fwd-diags 7一,9一; fwd 8一 — ✗ not 7四 — — hmm — 金7二: backward 7三 ✓!!! — 7三?? — that’s gote’s own 歩 anyway ✗occupied — 7四: covered by?? NOTHING — △7四玉!? — UGH — the 玉 ESCAPES UPFIELD — — and then — sente: ▲6五銀?? unsupported… ▲7五… own桂… — ▲8五銀打?? — wait — 歩8四(gote) — captures 8五 ✓✗ — — vs 玉7四: ▲6六桂打?? — wait — second 桂?? — used 7五… hand: 角銀歩3 + … — ✗no — ▲7五...角?!? — hmm — ▲6五銀打: fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓CHECK unsupported △同玉?? — 玉7四×6五: hmm — wait — supported by 歩6六?? — sente has NO 歩 on 6六 (it’s on 6七: attacks 6六 — covers 6六 NOT 6五) ✗ — △同玉 ✓ — — UGH the 中段玉 slips — — — hmm hmm — BUT — hold on — while the gote-玉 runs to 7四/6五-land, count material&threats: it’s running INTO sente’s pawn-wall (6七,7六...) and sente’s 玉8六 zone with sente holding 角金銀×… — a king-hunt where sente keeps checking with drops; even if no immediate mate, gote-玉 on 6五: ▲5六銀打?? wait… — also — IMPORTANT: a gote-玉 marching UP also approaches sente’s 入玉… no wait — gote 玉 going UP = toward SENTE’s camp = it’s trying to 入玉 into sente’s territory!! — 玉7四→6五→5六?!? — with sente’s 歩-wall 6七/7六 and 玉8六 RIGHT THERE — sente: ▲7五桂,▲6六...: — honestly: a desperate gote king-runout while down 金銀 with zero attack — sente should win comfortably but MUST play accurately to cage it: e.g., vs 玉7四: ▲8五銀打?? ✗(8四歩×) — ▲7五歩?? ✗二歩 — ▲6六桂?? no2nd桂 — ▲7五金!? (SECOND 金!! — hand 金2 ✓✓ — wait — in THIS sub-line: used 金(7二),香,銀(8二),銀(9三),桂(7五)… — hand: 金1角1歩3 ✓ HAS a 金: ▲7五...?? — 7五 = own 桂!! ✗ ARGH — — ▲6五金打!? — 金6五: attacks 7四?? — wait — sente 金6五: fwd 6四(gote歩); fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓✓ CHECK!! — supported by 歩6六?? ✗(no)… 歩6七 attacks 6六 ✗ — UNSUPPORTED — △同玉?? — wait — 玉7四×6五金 — hmm legal — — BUT — wait — what TAKES on 6五: gote 歩6四: captures 6五 ✓✓!! — △同歩!! even simpler ✗✗ — — — hmm — ▲8五...✗ — — vs 玉7四 — what about quiet net: ▲6六銀打!? — covers 7五?? — wait own桂 on 7五 — covers 6五,7五… 先手銀6六: fwd 6五 ✓; fwd-diags 5五,7五(own) — covers 6五!! — and threat ▲6五銀 CHECK next… — gote: 玉7四 must run: △same — flights: 6三?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗!! — 7三own歩 — wait — own — hmm — △8三玉?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗ — △8五玉?!?? — own 歩8四… — 8五: attacked by 銀6六?? ✗; — by sente 玉8六!!! ✓✗✗ adjacent-king ILLEGAL — △6五玉?? — covered by 銀6六(fwd ✓)✗ — △7五玉?? — own… — SENTE桂 there — capture: 桂7五 defended by 銀6六 ✓✗ — — 玉7四 has NO FLIGHTS?!? — wait — then ▲6六銀 = 詰めろ?? — gote must… — capture/disrupt: △7五歩?? wait gote 歩7三→7四?? OWN玉 there ✗✗ lol — △same — gote hand: 金銀桂歩3 — interpose/cover 6五: △6五銀打?? — blocks ▲6五銀… — wait — ▲same — hmm — — OK LOOK — I’m now 15+ plies deep into a sub-sub-line that began with gote finding TWO precise defenses (△8四歩 then 玉-run). The honest summary: △8四歩 is gote’s best try, leading to a 中段玉 runout that sente must hunt carefully; sente remains material-up with overwhelming hand + zero gote counterplay → 先手勝勢 still, but the “crisp forced mate” claim must be SCOPED to the lines without △8四歩. — — hmm — wait — actually — hold on — let me reconsider ONE thing: vs △8四歩, instead of ▲7二金 immediately — ▲7五桂打!? FIRST (covering 8三 BEFORE committing): threats: ▲8三桂成-check AND re-arms ▲7二金-mate?? — check the revived mate: with 桂7五 (and gote 歩8四): ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉 — now ▲8五桂?? ✗(歩8四× — wait — 歩8四 captures 8五 ✓ — BUT — hmm — second 桂?? — only had 1 ✗used on 7五!! — — vs 玉9三: ▲8二銀(supported-by金7二)△9二玉?? wait △same — ▲8二銀 CHECK(back-diag 9三 ✓)… — 玉9三: flights 9二(uncovered ✗free),8三?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗!!,8四own✗,9四own✗ — △9二玉 — ▲9三銀打(2nd銀; supported by 銀8二 ✓): 玉9二: flights: 8三?? — wait — 玉 at 9二 — adjacent: 8一own,9一own,8二(sente銀—capture?? supported by 金7二 ✓✗),8三?? — NOT adjacent to 9二?? — 9二′s neighbors: 8一,9一,8二,8三?? — (9,2)→(8,3): file−1,rank+1 ✓ ADJACENT ✓ — 8三: covered by 桂7五 ✓✗✗!!! — 9三: checker(supported)✗ — MATE!!!! ✓✓✓ — — SO: ▲7五桂 first, THEN the net mates EVEN WITH gote’s 8四歩, because 桂7五 seals 8三!! — — but — gote gets a move after ▲7五桂: defenses: △7四歩 (attacking 桂): ▲same — hmm — now ▲7二金 NOW?? — gote-玉 escapes via… wait — does △7四歩 actually defend the NET?: ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀△9二玉▲9三銀# — does 7四歩 interfere?? — the 桂7五: now ATTACKED but still SITTING (sente never moves it — it just guards 8三!!) — △7四歩 doesn’t CAPTURE yet — the mate is 4 sente-moves: ▲7二金(1)→▲9三香(2)→▲8二銀(3)→▲9三銀(4) — ALL CHECKS — gote NEVER gets to play 7四×7五!!! — ✓✓✓ MATE STANDS — wait — really — let me recount the sequence with gote’s replies: ▲7五桂 △7四歩 ▲7二金!(check) △9二玉(or 9三/8三?? — 8三 covered-by-桂 ✓✗; 9三: ▲8二銀!(check — wait — vs 玉9三 — ✓ as before)… ) — △9二玉 ▲9三香(check) △同玉(forced) ▲8二銀(check) △9二玉(forced — 8四?? wait — 玉9三′s flights: 8四 = gote’s own 歩 ✓✗; 8三 ✗桂; 9四own✗; 8二=checker-supported✗ → 9二 only ✓) ▲9三銀(check) — MATE (8三 ✗桂7五-covered; 8二 ✗金… wait — 8二 has sente-銀 ALREADY(!!) — occupied-by-attacker — capture: supported by 金7二 ✗ — ✓) — MATE ✓✓✓✓ — TOTAL: ▲7五桂△anything▲7二金… = mate. — SO: vs △8四歩: ▲7五桂!! and gote is STILL dead — UNLESS gote’s in-between move creates a CHECK or breaks the net: gote’s move after ▲7五桂: checks vs 玉8六?? — same refuted list (8五-drops now SUPPORTED by 歩8四!!! — △8五銀打: CHECK, supported-by-8四歩!! — ▲same — 玉8六: flights 9七/7七 ✗(龍!!) — 8七own,9六own,7六own — 7五own(桂)… — UH OH — ▲同… — capture 8五銀: 玉×?? supported ✗ — — WAIT — FLIGHTS: ▲7七/9七 ILLEGAL(龍-diag) — ▲8五✗ — hmm — 玉8六 adjacent: 9五(✗9四歩),8五(checker-supported✗),7五(OWN桂✗),9六own,7六own,8七own,9七✗龍,7七✗龍 — — NO LEGAL MOVES?!?! — IS ▲… — WAIT — capture by NON-king: anything sente attacking 8五: 玉(✗can’t-capture-supported)… 歩8六?? ✗none… — 桂7五?? — sente桂7五 jumps to 6三,8三 ✗✗ — — INTERPOSE?? adjacent-check ✗ — — ▲… — THAT’S MATE?!?!?! — △8五銀打 MATES sente?!?! — WAIT WAIT — hold on — 玉8六′s square 7五 — has SENTE’s own 桂 (just dropped!!) — IT BLOCKED ITS OWN KING’S FLIGHT!!! — — so the move-order ▲7五桂?? — vs △8五銀打#?!? — wait — but — hold on — at THAT point (after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲7五桂): gote hand: 金銀桂歩3 ✓ has 銀 ✓ — △8五銀打: supported by 歩8四 ✓✓ — and ALL flights sealed as computed — ohhhh NO — ▲7五桂 is a SELF-MATING blunder there!!! — THANK GOODNESS I checked. — — wow — OK — so vs △8四歩: NOT ▲7五桂 (self-block!!). — — Re-solve vs △8四歩 (CAREFULLY, minding that 歩8四 now SUPPORTS 8五-drops — sente-玉 suddenly has a real problem?!): — gote’s THREAT after △8四歩: △8五銀打!?? — is that… vs CURRENT flights: 玉8六: 7五!? — EMPTY (no 桂!!) ✓ FLIGHT EXISTS ✓ — so △8五銀▲7五玉 — wait — ▲same — hmm — △8五銀打(check)▲7五玉 (only? — 7七/9七✗龍 — yes only) — then: △7四歩?? wait — wait — gote checks vs 7五玉: △7四歩!? — 歩7三→7四: attacks 7五 ✓ CHECK — ▲same — capture ▲7四同玉?? — supported by?? — hmm — 銀8五: back-diags from 8五: 7四,9四 ✓✓✗!!! — ▲7四✗ — ▲6五玉?? wait — wait — 玉7五 flights: 6五?? — attacked by 歩6四 ✓✗!! — 6六?? — attacked by 銀5七(back-diag 6六 ✓!!)✗ — 7四✗(銀8五) — 8四✗(gote歩… own-gote — wait — capture: ▲8四玉?? — 8四 = gote 歩 — capture-able — supported by 銀8五?? — back-diag 9四,7四 ✗… — wait — 後手銀8五: backward-diagonals: (file±1, rank−1) = 7四,9四 ✗not-8四 — supported by?? — NOTHING?? — ▲8四同玉!?? — hmm wait — but ALSO: ▲7五玉′s other flights: 6六✗,6五✗,7四✗,8四(capture ✓?),8五?? — wait — gote 銀 there — capture: supported by 歩8四 ✓✗ — 8六(back — attacked by 銀8五(fwd 8六 ✓)✗!!) — 7六own✗ — — so vs △7四歩-check: ▲8四同玉 ONLY — — then 玉8四: gote checks: △8三歩打?? — file8: gote-歩?? — the 8三歩 pushed-to-8四-then-CAPTURED — file8 gote-clear ✓ — △8三歩打: CHECK — ▲same — 玉8四: capture ▲8三同玉 — supported by 玉8二 ✓✗ — flights: 9三?? — 玉8二-covered ✓✗ — 7三?? — gote歩 — wait — it PUSHED to 7四 — 7三 EMPTY — attacked by 玉8二 ✓✗!! — 9五?? — wait — 玉8四′s neighbors: 7三✗,8三✗(checker-supported-by-玉),9三✗,7四(gote歩 — capture: supported by?? — hmm — 歩7四 — defended by 銀8五(back-diag 7四 ✓✓)✗!!),9四(gote歩 — defended by 銀8五(back-diag 9四 ✓)✗!!),7五(vacated — attacked by 歩7四?!? — gote歩7四 attacks 7五 ✓✗!!! ),8五(gote銀 — defended by 歩8四?? — CAPTURED — by?? — hmm — 龍8八?? — file8: 8七sente歩 — blocked ✗ — NOTHING — ▲8五同玉!?? — wait — IN CHECK from 8三歩?? — capturing on 8五 doesn’t address the check?!? — wait — 歩8三 attacks 8四 — if 玉 moves to 8五 — out of the pawn’s attack ✓ — AND capturing the 銀 ✓ — LEGAL ✓ — wait — 8五: attacked by anything else: 歩8四?? GONE(captured by 玉 last move!!) — hmm — wait — NO — recount: ▲8四同玉 CAPTURED the gote-歩-on-8四 ✓ — then △8三歩打 — now ▲8五同玉?? — “同”?? — the 銀 is on 8五: ▲8五玉 = capturing 銀 ✓ — supported by?? — computed: NOTHING ✓ — LEGAL — — and 9五?? also: attacked by 歩9四… wait — gote 歩9四 — attacks 9五 ✓✗ — — so ▲8五玉(+銀!!) — gote: △8四歩打?? 二歩(8三✓)✗ — △8四銀?? hand: had 金銀桂歩3 → spent 銀(8五-captured!!),歩(8三): 金桂歩2 — △8四金!? — fwd 8五 ✓CHECK supported-by-8三歩 ✓: ▲8六玉(8五′s flights: 7五✗(歩7四!!),9五✗(9四歩),9六/7六/8七own,7四✗...gote,9四✗,8四✗checker — 8六: attacked by?? — 銀?? CAPTURED ✓ — ✓FREE ✓) ▲8六玉 — △8五金(fwd — supported by?? 8三歩 attacks 8四 ✗ — UNSUPPORTED): ▲同玉+金!! — OR gote-other-checks vs 8六: △7五金?? — wait the 金 on 8四 — to 7五: fwd-diag ✓ — 金7五: attacks 8六 ✓ CHECK — supported by 歩7四 ✓✓!!! — ▲same — 玉8六: capture✗(supported); flights: 9七/7七✗龍!!! — 8七/9六/7六own — 8五?? — attacked by 金7五(side ✓)✗!! — 9五✗(9四歩) — — NO FLIGHTS — wait — WHAT — capture 7五金 by non-玉: 歩7六!!! — sente歩7六 captures 7五 ✓✓✓ — ▲同歩!!! — phew — (and that’s +金 — wait — supported-by-歩7四: △same — 歩7四×7五歩 — recapture — net: sente +金−歩… fine) — — and AFTER ▲7六同歩△same歩: 玉8六: gote: hand 桂歩1… — △7四桂打?? wait — wait — STOP STOP. — — I’ve now burned through gote’s entire hand in this fantasy and sente survived with +銀+金−歩-ish — BUT — the deeper issue: this whole branch began ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩 — and I was finding sente’s BEST 4th move — and discovered the position is genuinely SHARP because △8四歩 both creates 8三-flight AND arms △8五銀-mate-threats!! — — wait — wait — IS △8五銀 (after △8四歩, if sente dawdles) actually mate-threat?? — computed above: △8五銀打▲7五玉△7四歩▲8四玉△8三歩▲8五玉(+銀) — NOT mate — sente-玉 survives-and-EATS — hmm — but what if gote inserts differently: △8五銀▲7五玉△6五金打!? (the OTHER net: 金6五: side 7五 ✓CHECK; supported by 歩6四 ✓): ▲same — 玉7五: capture✗(supported); flights: 7四?? — 銀8五-backdiag ✓✗; 8四?? — gote歩(supported-by-銀8五?? ✗(backdiags 7四/9四 — YES 8四?? — (8,5)→backdiag = (7,4),(9,4) — NOT (8,4) ✗) — supported by?? NOTHING — ▲8四同玉 ✓!?) — wait — ALSO 6六?? — 銀5七✗(covers6六)… — ▲8四玉 — △8三歩打(file8-clear?? — 8三… wait — in THIS line the ORIGINAL 8三歩 pushed to 8四 — and ▲玉 just CAPTURED it ✓ clear ✓)△8三歩: CHECK — ▲8五玉?? — wait — 銀 STILL on 8五 (uncaptured this line!!) — capture: supported by?? — 歩8四 GONE — ✗nothing — ▲8五同玉(+銀) — — wait — but — 金6五 — covers… — 玉 ON 8五: △same — gote: △8四歩?? 二歩✗ — △8四金(6五→?? — 金6五 to 8四?? NOT-A-MOVE(too far)✗) — △7四桂打?? — hand: 金銀桂歩3 −銀(8五✝)−金(6五)−歩(8三) = 桂歩2: △7四桂: attacks 8六,6六 ✗not-8五-check ✗ — △8四銀?? ✗none — — NO checks — sente-玉 SAFE on 8五 — and sente then?? — RIGHT — and during ALL of this sente’s mate-threat ▲7二金 NEVER went away?!? — wait — did it?: gote’s moves: 8四歩,8五銀,6五金,8三歩 — none touched 7二/9三-zone — BUT — 8三歩-redrop RESTORED the 8三-block?!? — wait — and 8四 now EMPTY — — vs ▲7二金: △9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂?!? — OWN 玉 ON 8五!!! — ✗✗ — ▲8四銀!? — (8四 empty ✓): fwd-diags 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK — supported by 玉8五!!! ✓✓ — △9二玉 ▲9三銀(2nd銀?? — hand: 角金銀2桂香歩3 −金(7二)−香(9三): 角銀2桂歩3 ✓✓ 2銀!!) — supported-by-銀8四 ✓ — MATE?? — 玉9二: 8二✗(金7二),9一/8一own,8三?? — gote歩(REDROPPED)own ✗ — 9三✗checker — MATE ✓✓✓ — — LOL — OK — — SO: even the scariest gote-rampage (△8四歩+△8五銀+△6五金 checks) ends with sente-玉 perched safely on 8五 having EATEN 銀+金+歩 and then sente mates using the 玉-supported ▲8四銀!! — — — DEEP BREATH. — Synthesis of the △8四歩 problem: it’s gote’s most testing try; sente’s correct response: NOT ▲7五桂 (self-mate-block!!); instead — hmm — what’s the CLEAN answer?: Option 1: ▲7二金 immediately: △8三玉!(the point) — then sente: ▲8五… hmm — vs 玉8三: sente: 金7二 sits (attacked by?? — 玉8三-adjacent ✓!! — wait — 金7二 supported by 龍6一 ✓ — 玉 can’t take ✓) — checks vs 8三: ▲7五桂打?? — NOW is it self-block?? — 玉8六′s 7五… — the MATING side is sente — gote-玉 on 8三 — sente-玉-safety: gote pieces: 龍8八,馬4五,銀5七,金6九 + hand金銀桂歩3 — △8五銀-check STILL exists?!? — supported-by-歩8四 ✓ — UGH — if sente plays ▲7五桂(check on 8三): gote: △same — capture 7五: ✗(nothing — 7三歩… wait — 7三 — home — captures 7四 ✗) — 玉8三-flights: 9二,9三,7四?? — covered-by?? — hmm — 桂7五 covers 8三,6三 — 7四: ✗free — 9二: ✗free — 9三: ✗free — — wait — THREE flights — not productive — — — Option 2 (BEST??): vs △8四歩: ▲8五歩?? ✗二歩 — ▲8五銀打!?!? — sente DROPS 銀 on 8五 FIRST (occupying the killer square!!): 銀8五: attacks 8四歩(fwd ✓!!),7四,9四(fwd-diags ✓),7六own,9六own(backdiags) — supported by 玉8六 ✓✓ — THREATENS ▲8四銀(×歩)… — and BLOCKS △8五-drops ✓ — and — — hmm — wait — but it BLOCKS sente-玉′s 8五-flight (own piece) — flights left: 7五 ✓… — gote: △same — ▲8五銀 doesn’t threaten mate — gote: △7四歩?? (covering?? — wait — gote: best: hmm — actually — — Option 3: JUST ▲7二金 and meet △8三玉 with ▲8五桂打!?? — wait — 歩8四× ✗✗ — ▲7四銀!? (vs 玉8三): fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓CHECK — captures: △7三同歩?? — 歩7三 captures 7四 ✓✗ — UGH — — ▲9五歩?? ✗二歩 — — vs 玉8三: ▲9五桂打!?? — 桂9五: jumps (8,3)!! ✓✓ CHECK — captures of 9五: 歩9四 — captures FORWARD: 9五 ✓✓✗ △同歩 — — hmm — — ▲6三龍?!? — wait — 龍6一→6三?? — 6二✓6三✓ — attacked-by-馬4五(diag 5四-6三 ✓)✗✗ — — ▲6二龍!? — attacked-by?? — 馬: diag-to-6二?? — 7二… — 馬4五-diags: (5,4),(6,3),(7,2),(8,1) — ✗not-6二 — anything?? — ✗SAFE — 龍6二: attacks 7二(side — own金!!support!!✓✓),5二,6三,6一… — wait — SUPPORTS 金7二!!! — and vs 玉8三: threat: ▲7三金!?? (金7二×7三歩: fwd… wait — sente金7二: backward = 7三 ✓✓ — ▲7三金: attacks 8三?? — hmm — sente金7三: side 6三,8三 ✓✓ CHECK-threat — supported-by-龍6二?? — wait — after 金 goes 7三 — 龍6二 attacks 7三?? — diag-step from 6二: 7三?? — (6,2)→(7,3): diag ✓ — wait — 龍′s diag-step ✓✓ YES — — soooo: vs △8三玉: ▲6二龍!(quiet!! — supporting-金 + cutting 6-file… ) threat ▲7三金△same▲… — — gote counters: △8五銀打(check!!): ▲7五玉!(only — 8五✗,7七/9七✗龍) — △7四歩(check — wait — 歩7三 pushes — attacks 7五… wait — IT’S PINNED?!?! — 歩7三 — pinned-by?? — 金7二… — no — pieces don’t pin pawns vertically here — 玉8三-relation: 歩7三 is NOT between attacker&玉 — — △7四歩: ▲same — wait — capture: ▲7四同金!?!? — 金7二… — NO — wait — sente-金 is ON 7二 — captures 7三?? — backward ✓ — but 7四?? — NOT-A-金-MOVE-from-7二 ✗ — ▲7四同玉?? — 7四: supported-by-銀8五(backdiag 7四 ✓)✗ — flights: 6五✗(歩6四),6六✗(銀5七),8四?? — gote歩 — supported-by-銀8五?? ✗(backdiags 7四,9四) — supported-by-玉8三 ✓✓✗!!! — ARGH — 7六own — 8六?? — wait — vacated (玉 came FROM 8六 — wait no — 玉 path: 8六→(△8五銀)→7五 — 8六: attacked-by-銀8五(fwd 8六 ✓)✗!! — — — 玉7五: vs △7四歩-check: flights ALL ✗?!?: 6五✗,6六✗,7四✗(supported),8四✗(玉8三-supports),8五✗(銀-supported-by… wait — 銀8五 supported-by-歩8四 ✓✗),8六✗(銀-covers),7六own✗,6四?? — wait — (7,5)-neighbors: (6,4)gote歩 — capture: supported-by-馬4五?!? — 馬-diags: (5,4)… — king-steps: 4五-neighbors ✗ — supported-by-玉8三?? — (8,3)-(6,4) ✗not-adjacent — supported-by?? — 歩5三?? — captures 5四 ✗ — NOTHING?!? — ▲6四同玉!?!?! — the 玉 EATS the 6四歩 — wait — IN-CHECK-from-7四歩?? — 歩7四 attacks 7五 — moving to 6四 escapes ✓ LEGAL — — 玉6四!!! — LOL — the king marches INTO midboard — — gote-checks vs 6四: △5五銀?? wait — gote-銀5七→?? — to attack 6四: from 5五?? — 銀5七 can’t REACH — △6三...?? — △5四金打?? — wait — hand: 金銀桂歩3 −銀(8五) = 金桂歩3 — wait — and −歩s… — △5四金打: attacks 6四?? — gote金5四: side 4四,6四 ✓✓CHECK — supported-by-歩5三 ✓✓ — ▲same — 玉6四: capture✗; flights: 6五?? — attacked-by-金5四?? — fwd-diags(rank+1): 4五own馬lol,6五 ✓✗!! — 7五✗(歩7四!!) — 7四?? — gote歩 — supported-by?? — hmm — 玉8三✗(not-adj… (8,3)-(7,4) ✓✓ADJACENT — ✗!!) — 5五?? — attacked-by-馬4五(kingstep ✓)✗ — 5四✗checker — 6三?? — attacked-by-馬4五(diag (5,4)→… — wait — 馬-diag-ray-from-4五: (5,4) — is-5四-occupied?? — GOTE-金-JUST-DROPPED-THERE ✓ — ray-BLOCKED-at-5四 — 6三: ✗not-attacked-by-馬-anymore!! — by-歩5三?? — captures-5四 ✗(own) — gote-歩-5三-attacks… — wait — 後手歩5三 attacks 5四(own金 now) — ✗ — 6三: attacked-by-玉8三?? ✗ — by?? — NOTHING — ▲6三玉!?!?! — — — — 私はもう完全に深淵にいる — — the gote-king-hunt-of-sente’s-玉 leads to sente’s 玉 INVADING gote’s camp at 6三 — adjacent to sente’s OWN 龍6二/金7二!!! — IT’S WALKING INTO ITS OWN FORTRESS — 玉6三 next to 龍6二+金7二 = sente-玉 is now SAFE-AS-HOUSES (guarded-by-own-龍&金!) AND sente still holds 角銀2桂香歩3-ish — and gote’s spent everything — — — — CONCLUSION-FOR-REAL: the △8四歩 lines are wild king-chases that ALL fail for gote: sente’s 玉 either consumes the checkers or walks to safety (eventually even INTO sente’s own attacking cluster), while gote’s 玉 cannot survive the 金7二/龍-battery once checks stop. — — For the WRITE-UP, I will NOT drag readers through 30-ply king-walks; I’ll present: main line + mate; gote’s defensive tries △7二馬/△7一金打 (clean refutations/evals); the counterattack-fails point with ONE illustrative line + the 7七/9七-mine + the principle (checks shed material, 玉 happily eats; eventual ▲8四銀-with-玉-support mates); and mention △8四歩 honestly as gote’s trickiest (creates 8三-flight & supports 8五-drops) with the key guidance: sente keeps 7五 CLEAR (no ▲7五桂!!), answers △8五銀打 with ▲7五玉 and wins the ensuing chase, and the quiet ▲6二龍!? regrouping idea. Hmm — wait — actually — — let me simplify what I RECOMMEND vs △8四歩 — cleanest practical: ▲7二金 anyway: if △9二玉/9三玉: mate-variants need re-verification-with-8三-EMPTY: vs △9二玉: ▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀(supported-金7二)△9二玉(8四?? — own-gote-歩 ✓✗ wait — 玉9三→8四 — gote’s-OWN-歩-on-8四 ✗ — 8三?? — EMPTY-NOW — attacked-by?? — 銀8二-backdiags: 7三,9三 ✗ — 金7二-backward: 7三 ✗ — FREE — △8三玉!!) — escapes-to-8三 — then ▲7四銀打?? — △同歩 — hmm — — vs 玉8三: with 金7二+銀8二 placed: ▲7一龍!?? — wait — 龍6一→7一?? — rank1: 7一 ✓empty — 龍7一: attacks 8一桂… — and 8二-sente-銀?? own — hmm — checks-vs-8三: ▲9五桂△同歩 ✗ — ▲7四銀(2nd)△同歩 ✗ — ▲8四...?? own-gote-歩 — hmm — ▲7四歩?? ✗二歩 — — — quiet: ▲9一銀成?!? (銀8二×9一香: 成銀9一: attacks 9二,8一… — wait — CHECK?? — vs-玉8三 ✗no — ) — — honestly-vs-△8三玉: sente: ▲8四金!?!? — wait — 2nd-金?? — hand-after-金(7二)香(9三)銀(8二): 角金銀桂歩3-minus… — original 角金2銀2桂香歩3: used 金,香,銀 → 角金1銀1桂歩3 ✓ HAS-金: ▲8四金打?!? — capturing?? — 8四 = gote歩 ✓ ×歩: 金8四: attacks 8三?? — sente金8四: backward = 8五… — wait — fwd 8三 ✓✓!!! CHECK — supported-by?? — 銀8二?? — wait — hmm — sente-銀8二: backdiags 7三,9三; fwd-diags 7一,9一; fwd 8一 — ✗not-8四 — UNSUPPORTED — △同玉(×金) — UGH — — ▲… — OK here’s the thing — maybe vs △8四歩 sente shouldn’t rush ▲7二金 — the REALLY-CLEAN-move: ▲8五銀打!! (prophylaxis: kills △8五銀-mate-ideas-forever, attacks-the-8四歩, supported-by-玉) — then gote: ?? — gote-has-NO-checks-again (8五-plugged!!) — gote-defends-7二: △7二馬(recall — as-before) — ▲8四銀(×歩!! — supported-by?? — hmm — 玉8六?? — (8,6)-(8,4)✗ — unsupported — △same?? — what-attacks-8四: ✗nothing-gote — SAFE) — sente: +歩, 銀-on-8四-attacking… — sente-玉-now-has-8五-flight-back ✓ — and-grind-wins (材料+安全) — — OR-EVEN-SIMPLER-vs-△8四歩: ▲6二龍!?? — hmm — — — you know what — for-the-writeup: I’ll-flag-△8四歩-as-gote’s-best-practical-try, give: ▲8五銀打! (the-prophylactic-killer: supported-by-玉, hits-8四, permanently-seals-the-mating-square) as-my-recommended-handling, note-the-▲7五桂-TRAP (self-block→△8五銀-mate), and-assess: sente-still-clearly-winning (gote-bought-time-but-remains-金銀-down-with-zero-attack-and-a-permanent-▲7二金-headache). — That’s-honest,-correct,-and-digestible. — — Let me also double-check ▲8五銀打-soundness-quickly: after-▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲8五銀打: gote: △same — attacks-8五銀: 歩8四-captures-FORWARD: 8五 ✓✓!!! — △8五同歩!?!? — OMG — the-gote-歩8四-TAKES-the-銀!!! — ▲同玉(recapture — wait — supported… — 玉8六×8五歩… — the-PAWN-on-8五 — supported-by?? — ✗nothing — ✓▲同玉 — net: sente-traded-銀-for-歩?!?! — TERRIBLE — — wait — no — wait — ▲8五銀-DROP — gote-△同歩 — sente-▲同玉 — sente: −銀+歩… — material-gift — NO-GOOD — — UGH — — scrap-▲8五銀打 — — — okay-okay: vs-△8四歩 — what-STOPS-△8五銀-drops-without-hanging?: ▲7五歩✗二歩… ▲9五歩✗二歩… — protect-8五-MORE: already-玉-protects-it — the-issue-was-FLIGHTS-not-protection: △8五銀▲7五玉-was-FINE-for-sente (king-eats-everything-in-the-chase — verified-exhaustively-above!!) — — SO-vs-△8四歩: sente-can-CALMLY-play… the-MOST-testing: ▲7二金! — and-meet-△8三玉-with… — hmm-I-left-that-dangling — let-me-just-find-ONE-clean-winning-continuation-vs-△8三玉 (after-▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲7二金△8三玉): sente: 龍6一,金7二(protected-by-龍); hand-角金銀2桂香歩3 — — ▲6二龍! (supports-金7二-laterally?? — wait — 龍6二: diag-7三?? — (6,2)→(7,3)-diag-step ✓ — hmm-attacks-7三歩 — and-side-7二-OWN-金-SUPPORT ✓✓) — threat: ▲7三金(×歩)!!: 金7三: CHECK(side-8三 ✓) supported-by-龍6二(diag) ✓ — 玉8三-would-be: capture✗; flights: 9二,9三,8二?? — 金7三-attacks-8二?? — fwd-diags-from-7三: 6二,8二 ✓✗ — 8四own歩✗ — 7四?? — 金7三-fwd… — sente金7三: forward=7二… — wait-NO — ugh — sente-金-at-7三: forward(rank−1)=7二(own-vacated); fwd-diags=6二,8二; side=6三,8三✓; back=7四 ✓!! — covers-7四!! — 9四own✗ — so-flights-9二/9三 — then-▲8二銀打(check-on… — wait-vs-9二: 銀8二-fwd-diags-7一,9一… — attacks-9二?? ✗✗ — hmm — vs-△9二玉: ▲9三香!?(have-it ✓): CHECK — △同玉-forced(8一own,9一own,8二?? — 金7三-covers ✓✗) — ▲8五桂?!? — 歩8四-CAPTURES ✗✗ — ▲8二銀(check-on-9三-via-backdiag ✓ — supported-by-金7三?? — 金7三-fwd-diags: 8二 ✓✓!!): △9二玉(only: 8四own,8三?? — 金7三-side ✓✗,9四own) — ▲9三銀打(2nd銀 — supported-by-銀8二-backdiag ✓): MATE?? — 玉9二: 8二sente銀(supported-by-金7三)✗,9一/8一own,8三✗(金7三),9三✗checker — MATE ✓✓✓!!! — — — YESSS — so-the-NET-GENERALIZES: the-金-walks-to-7三(eating-the-歩!)-with-龍-support-from-6二,-and-the-香+銀銀-finish-works-with-金-ON-7三-covering-8二&8三!!! — — — and-back-up: vs-▲6二龍′s-threat(▲7三金): gote-must… — △7四歩?? — wait — gote-歩7三-pushes — vacating-7三?!? — then-▲7三金(drop?? — NO — wait — 金7二-MOVES-backward-to-7三 ✓ — onto-EMPTY-square — CHECK-supported — same-net ✓) — △same — gote-defenses-of-7三: it’s-attacked-by-金7二(back)+龍6二(diag) = twice; defended-by-桂8一 ✓once — reinforce: △7四金?!?(hand-金 — gote金7四: backward(rank−1)=7三 ✓ — defends!!) — ▲same — hmm — then-▲7三金△同桂▲同龍!?(×桂 — wait — 龍6二×7三: diag-step ✓ — CHECK?? — 龍7三: attacks-8三?? — side ✓✓ CHECK!! — supported-by?? ✗ — △同金(7四金-backward ✓×龍!!) — ✗✗BAD — — ▲… — hmm — vs-△7四金: sente: ▲8五桂!?? — NOW?? — 歩8四× ✗ — ▲9五香!?? — 香-drop-9五?? — attacks-9四歩… — slow — — vs-△7四金: ▲6三龍!? — wait-馬?? — 馬4五-diag: (5,4),(6,3) — ✗✗-takes — — ▲5二龍?? — — hmm — — OR-sente-just-takes-stock: gote-committed-金-to-7四(pure-defense!!) — sente: ▲9五香!?(端-lever: ×9四-threat… — 香9五-attacks-9四歩 — defended-by?? ✗nothing!? — wait-gote-玉8三-adjacent-9四 ✓defends — — ▲same — — honestly — at-this-depth: sente-has-金銀-extra-IN-HAND-EQUIVALENT,-every-gote-piece-tied-to-defense,-zero-gote-counterplay — textbook-先手勝勢-grind — I’ll-state-it-as-such-without-pretending-instant-mate-in-the-△8四歩-branch. — — FINAL-STRUCTURE-DECISION ✓.
Whew. OK. Also note: I should double check △8四歩 can even be played in the (a) line — wait — in-line-(a)-after-▲同龍-gote-to-move: △8四歩 = 8三歩-push ✓legal ✓. And-equally: gote-could-play-△8四歩-EVEN-EARLIER (in-reply-to-▲6一と-directly!?): ▲6一と△8四歩!? — then-▲7一と!(grind-with-銀7二-still-aboard… — or-▲same...) — eh — similar-themes; the-writeup-covers-it-conceptually.
Alright, let me also reconsider — given ALL this — is ▲6一と still clearly best vs alternatives like ▲7一… — YES: it wins-金-minimum-with-tempo; every-line-examined = winning. Confidence: high. 形勢: 現局面-先手勝勢(positionally; materially-behind-but-decisively-so-on-働き+玉形+手番).
Let me write the final response now. Tone: NHK-kaisetsu-ish, committed, English-with-Japanese-terms. Include:
Keep variations compact. Use 「▲6一と」 style notation. Romaji-first-use for terms. Let me make sure I get the diagram SVG right, and keep loading messages playful-but-mild.
One more formatting note: I’ll write flowing prose with a handful of short headers and notation lines, no heavy nesting. The response will be long-ish but the position deserves it.
In this instance, I can understand its raw CoT for the most part. As model capabilities continue to scale, I’m not confident that CoT will remain legible to more intelligent summarizers. Case in point, I feel like the transition between the initial reasoning and the raw CoT at the start of its response to the “Continue” prompt is essentially a non sequitur and I can’t tell if the initial reasoning was an accurate reflection of the model’s CoT for the first prompt. To state the obvious, models which reason in somewhat legible gobbledygook make interpretability and monitorability more difficult than models which reason in plain English. Hence, easy-to-understand CoT is desirable but it looks like the horses have already left the barn on that one.
I think the most likely explanation for what’s happening here is that there’s a summarizer which sits between the user and the model’s raw CoT, translating the CoT into legible text similar to the post’s demonstration of Haiku translating the Solitaire CoT. On the “Continue” prompt, a glitch transmitted the CoT directly to the chat UI as model output instead of displaying the summarizer-processed CoT within a reasoning block.
That seems like a much better example of illegible CoT, but I do wonder how much of that is just that I don’t know any Japanese and my knowledge of Shogi is “I think it’s kinda like chess but I have a vague memory that there’s something about a dragon”. And, based on reading this CoT, I infer that it’s played on a 9x9 board rather than an 8x8.
That said, Haiku knows Japanese and Shogi and (enough) web design—I wonder if it’d be enough to produce a verifiably faithful[1] annotated breakdown of this CoT. I’ll give it a shot.
BTW for reference there is indeed[2] a summarizer which sits between the user and the model’s raw CoT, translating the CoT into legible text similar to the post’s demonstration of Haiku translating the Solitaire CoT.
by “verifiably faithful” I mean “each snippet of shorthand has a bit of explanation mapped to it, there is no explanation that is not mapped to any bit of shorthand, the explanation as a whole makes sense, and each individual shorthand:explanation is a fairly obvious way to interpret that shorthand”.
The summarizer is a Haiku instance fed its previous summarized thinking and the current chunk and instructed to summarize that chunk in first person natural language. You can see the full summarizer prompt here (archive)
I got a glitch which resulted in Fable 5 on Max effort responding with “illegible” CoT.
Fable 5 Prompt + Initial Reasoning
Please analyze the following shogi position. I’ll provide both a screenshot and a SFEN.
ln1g4+R/1ks1+P4/1pp1p3p/p2p5/5+b3/PKP6/1P1Ps3P/1+r7/LN1g1P2L b BGSNL3Pgsn2p 83
Please evaluate the position and discuss candidate moves and variations.
Do not use engine analysis.
I need to read the shogi skill file first to understand what tools and analysis methods are available for evaluating the position.
Reading the shogi skill before analyzing the position
I should look at the truncated section on tsumeshogi solving and check how the board rendering works so I can visualize the position properly.
Reading the truncated portion of the shogi skill
I should look at the board-rendering documentation to understand how positioning works for what I’m building.
Checking for reference files in the shogi skill
Script
Reading the board rendering reference for visualization
I’m parsing through the SFEN notation carefully, going rank by rank from the top to verify it matches the screenshot, keeping in mind that the ranks are numbered 1-9 from top to bottom and files run from 9 to 1 left to right. Rank f checks out with the piece positions, but I’m noticing something odd about the 先手玉 placement on file 8 — let me verify this against the screenshot to make sure I’m reading the board orientation correctly.
Looking at the screenshot more carefully, the columns are labeled 1-9 from left to right across the top, and the rows run from 9 at the top-right down to 1 at the bottom-right, which suggests the board is displayed from 後手′s perspective with a flipped orientation. The SFEN notation places rank 一 at the top with 後手香 at the 9筋, but when I look at the screenshot’s bottom row (labeled 1), I see an upside-down 龍 on the left and upright pieces like 香, 桂, 金 on the right — which doesn’t align. I need to reconsider the coordinate mapping: if the board is rotated 180° from standard orientation, then the screenshot’s top-left corner corresponds to (file 1, rank 9) in standard coordinates, which should help me reconcile what I’m seeing with the SFEN data. The pieces in the screenshot confirm this orientation: 後手′s pieces are displayed upright while 先手′s pieces appear rotated. Checking the SFEN data for rank 9 against what’s visible in the screenshot, I can verify the file positions match—the rotated pieces on the top row correspond to 先手′s back rank pieces, and the upright 金 at file 6 is 後手′s piece. All the pieces check out—the rotated 先手 pieces and upright 後手 pieces confirm this is from 後手′s perspective. Now I’m verifying rank 2 to make sure the board state is consistent, looking at what should be a 先手と金 at column 5. So the lowercase k in the SFEN represents 後手玉 at 8二, while uppercase K is 先手玉 at 8六. Looking at the screenshot, I can see the 先手玉 in the rotated view at rank 6 with 先手歩 pieces flanking it at files 9 and 7.
Now I’m checking the komadai section on the left side of the screenshot to see what captured pieces are displayed, starting with the 歩 count.
Looking at the SFEN hand notation
BGSNL3Pgsn2p, I can decode the pieces: uppercase letters represent 先手′s captured pieces (角, 金, 銀, 桂, 香, and three 歩), while lowercase represents 後手′s pieces (金, 銀, 桂, and two 歩). In a 後手-perspective view, 後手′s komadai would appear at the bottom. So 後手′s 龍 is positioned at 8八, and I need to verify the piece counts match what’s shown in the komadai display — the left side shows six piece types with their respective counts, and the grayed-out 飛 confirms 先手 has no 飛 remaining in hand since it was promoted to 龍. So move 82 was actually 後手′s last move, and the SFEN move counter confirms we’re at the position before 先手′s 83rd move. Looking at the right side komadai, I can see 後手′s captured pieces: 金1, 銀1, 桂1, 歩2, with the 飛 and 角 grayed out (already on the board), which matches perfectly with what the SFEN shows.Now I’m second-guessing which perspective the board is from — let me trace through the pieces more carefully. The bottom-right komadai shows upright pieces, which should belong to the player at the bottom of the board. Looking at the bottom rank in the screenshot and comparing it to the SFEN rank a, I need to verify whether the board is flipped or not. It’s 先手′s turn to move. Let me map out the full position: 後手 has their 玉 at 8二, a promoted 龍 deep in 先手′s territory at 8八, a 馬 at 4五, and 金 pieces at 6一 and 6九—that last one also deep in 先手′s back rank.
The rest of 後手′s pieces include a 銀 at 7二, a 桂 at 8一, a 香 at 9一, and pawns scattered across the board at 8三, 7三, 5三, 1三, 9四, and 6四. Their hand has a 金, 銀, 桂, and two pawns.
Now for 先手: their 玉 is at 8六, they have a promoted 龍 at 1一, a promoted pawn at 5二, and pawns at 9六 and 7六.
I’m re-examining rank 7 from the FEN notation. The string
1P1Ps3Pbreaks down to: empty file 9, a 先手 pawn at 8七, empty file 7, a 先手 pawn at 6七, a 後手 silver at 5七, three empty files, and a 先手 pawn at 1七. But this doesn’t match what I’m seeing in the screenshot, so I need to double-check my parsing.Looking at the screenshot row 7, I can see rotated pawns at columns 1, 6, and 8, plus an upright silver at column 5. That actually does match my parse—the files line up correctly. And checking rank 6 with
PKP6: file 9 has a pawn, file 8 has the king, file 7 has a pawn, which matches the screenshot’s columns 9, 8, and 7 showing rotated pieces in that order.Now I’m going through the 先手 pawns and their positions. Most of them check out—9六, 7六, 8七, 6七, 1七 all make sense. But then I hit 4九, which would be a pawn on the back rank. That’s unusual but technically legal if it was dropped there, since a 先手 pawn can still move forward from rank 9.
Looking at the screenshot more carefully, I need to verify whether that piece at row 9, column 4 is actually a 歩 or something else like a と金. The rotated character looks like an upside-down 歩, and the SFEN confirms it’s a pawn at that position, so 4九歩 it is.
Now I’m cataloging all the pieces on the board: the 香 pieces are at 9九 and 1九, the 桂 at 8九, the 玉 at 8六, the 龍 at 1一, and a と金 at 5二. For 先手′s hand, I have 角, 金, 銀, 桂, 香, and three 歩.
Let me verify the material count by tallying all the pawns: 後手 has 6 on the board plus 2 in hand for 8 total, and 先手 has 6 on the board plus the と金 at 5二 making 7, plus 3 in hand for 10 total—that’s 18 pawns, which checks out.
Now I’m going through each piece type to confirm the counts match standard shogi: the 香 pieces total 4, the 桂 pieces total 4, the 銀 pieces total 4, the 金 pieces total 4, and I’m verifying the 角 count as well.
The position checks out as valid. Now I’m analyzing the actual game state — it’s move 83 with Black to move, and Black’s king on 8六 is in a precarious position, exposed on the 6th rank with limited protection. I’m starting to trace the attacking possibilities, particularly how White’s 馬 on 4五 might be creating threats along the diagonals. So the 龍 at 8八 can move vertically up the file toward rank 1, capturing the 先手歩 at 8七, or move down toward rank 9. Horizontally along rank 8, it has clear movement from 9八 down to 1八 since that entire rank is empty except for the 龍 itself. The 龍 also has diagonal king-step moves available. Now I need to determine if 先手玉 at 8六 is currently in check from any of these pieces.
Looking at the 馬 at 4五, I’m tracing its diagonal movement patterns in all four directions: northeast toward 1一 (reaching 5六, then 6七 where it hits a 先手歩 and can capture), northwest toward 1八 (moving through 3六, 2七, 1八), southeast (moving through 5四, 6三, 7二 where it encounters a 後手銀), and southwest (moving through 3四, 2三, 1二). The 馬 also has king-step moves available from its position.
Now I’m checking whether the 先手玉 at 8六 is in check by examining which 後手 pieces can attack it. The 龍 at 8八 is blocked by the 8七歩, the 馬 at 4五 doesn’t reach 8六 directly, and the pawns at 8三, 9四, and 6四 don’t threaten it either. I’m working through the 銀 at 5七 and its attack pattern, keeping in mind that 後手′s forward direction moves toward rank 9.
Now turning to the 後手玉 at 8二 and its defensive structure with the 銀7二, 金6一, and other pieces forming what looks like a 美濃-style or 金無双くずれ-type formation. So the と金 on 5二 is acting as a gold piece for 先手, which means it controls all the squares around it — 5一 directly forward, the diagonals at 4一 and 6一, the sides at 4二 and 6二, and 5三 behind it. That と金 is perfectly positioned to attack the 後手′s gold on 6一 and also covers the 6二 and 4二 squares.
Now I’m checking what defends that と金. The 先手′s 龍 on 1一 can slide horizontally along the first rank through 2一, 3一, 4一, 5一 and all the way to 6一 where it hits the 後手′s gold — so the 龍 is also attacking that same gold piece along the rank. So the 銀7二 defends the 6一金, making it attacked twice but defended once. The candidate move is ▲6一と, forcing △同銀, then ▲同龍. After that, the 龍 at 6一 would attack the 後手玉 at 8二 by controlling 7二, creating a strong attacking position.
Wait, I need to recalculate the material exchange here — after ▲6一と captures the 金, then △同銀 captures the と金, and finally ▲同龍 takes the 銀, 先手 has gained a 金 and 銀 for the と金.
Now I’m thinking about what matters more: the material advantage or 後手′s attacking chances. The 後手龍 on 8八 is threatening 先手玉 at 8六, and I need to check if 先手玉 has safe escape squares. The 9五 square looks blocked by 後手′s 9四歩, so that’s not available.
Looking at 8五 — it seems undefended by 後手′s pieces. The 龍 on 8八 doesn’t control it because the 8七歩 blocks the file. This opens up a dangerous possibility: 先手玉 could potentially escape toward 8五 and 8四, which would be moving deep into 後手′s territory and risking 入玉 (promotion by king infiltration). That’s a critical tactical point to evaluate.
Now examining whether 後手 can mount an effective counterattack — the 龍 is stuck behind the king on rank 8, while the 馬 at 4五 could potentially jump to 6七 by capturing the pawn there, which would give check and force the king to move again. This is getting tactically complex. The 先手歩 at 7六 blocks the 馬′s diagonal, so it doesn’t deliver check. Now I’m analyzing the 銀 at 5七, which controls 6六, 4六, and the forward squares 4八, 5八, 6八. The 金 at 6九 is trickier—as a 後手金, it moves forward (rank+1), sideways to 5九 and 7九, backward to 6八, but the forward diagonals don’t exist since rank 9 is the board’s edge.
So that 金 essentially just covers 7九, 6八, and 5九, which restricts the 先手玉′s escape routes but doesn’t directly threaten it at 8六. I’m now checking what 後手 checks are available if it were their turn—specifically whether dropping a 銀 at 8五 would give check, since 後手 has 銀 in hand.
A 銀 at 8五 attacks forward to 8六, plus the forward diagonals at 7六 and 9六, so yes, △8五銀打 is definitely check. But then if 先手 just captures with ▲同玉, that loses the 銀 unless 後手 has a strong follow-up, which seems unlikely.
Actually, 後手 could also try △8五金打 instead — a 金 at 8五 would attack 8六 (forward), 7六, 9六 (diagonals), and 7五, 9五 (sideways), so that’s check too. But again, ▲同玉 and the 金 is just gone; no other piece can recapture on 8五. 先手 could also potentially block with a pawn, but 9六歩 only captures forward to 9五, and 7六歩 only takes 7五, so neither helps. So ▲同玉 or running away are the main options.
Now looking at △7五銀打 or 金打 as alternatives… Looking at other candidate moves: a pawn push to 9五 doesn’t give check since it only attacks 9六. For knight drops, I need to find where a 後手桂 can land to check the king at 8六 — that would be 7四 or 9四, since knights from those squares jump to 8六. So △7四桂打 looks like it could work as a checking move.
Now examining what 先手 can do in response: there’s no piece that can capture on 7四, and the king’s escape squares from 8六 are limited — 9五 is controlled by the 9四歩, and several adjacent squares are blocked by 先手′s own pieces. The knight at 7四 would attack both 8六 and 6六. If the king moves to 8五, it’s safe from the knight’s reach. But 7五 is even more interesting — the king could move there, directly attacking the dropped knight while also threatening deeper infiltration, and checking whether 7五 itself is under attack from the 銀5七 or other pieces.
Now looking at the broader position: 後手 has some checks available but no concrete mating attack yet. The 先手玉 at 8六 is actually quite mobile with escape squares at 8五 and access to the upper board — this is starting to look like an 入玉 race. The real question becomes speed: can 先手 deliver checkmate against the 後手玉 at 8二 before 先手′s own king escapes? 先手 has enormous material in hand — 角金銀桂香歩3 — plus the 龍 at 1一 and the と金 at 5二. Meanwhile 後手玉 is defended by 銀7二, 金6一, 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns at 9四, 8三, 7三. That advanced 9四歩 is notable because it leaves 9三 empty.
Looking at candidate moves: ▲6一と captures the 金. If 後手 responds △同銀, then ▲同龍 puts the dragon on 6一 with overwhelming attacking force — 龍 plus all those pieces in hand against a nearly naked 玉8二. The question is whether there’s a forced mating sequence from there, maybe ▲7一龍 or some other breakthrough.
Actually, ▲7二金打 looks more forcing — it’s check since the 龍 on 6一 supports it diagonally. But after △9二玉, the king escapes and I need to find the next move, perhaps ▲8二銀 to keep up the pressure. The と金 at 6一 can move backward to 6二, sideways to 5一 or 7一, but forward is off the board. Crucially, this placement blocks the 龍′s rank-1 attack line, and the 龍 itself actually defends the と金 from that square.
If 後手 responds with △同銀, then ▲同龍 recaptures, and 先手 gains material (金銀 for a 歩) while the 龍 advances to 6一—a dominant position. Other defensive options for 後手 are worth considering. ks 8一 and 7二. The real threat after ▲6一と might be ▲7一と forking pieces, or maybe ▲6二と→7二, but that’s slow. What’s more dangerous is if 後手 doesn’t respond, I can play ▲7一銀打, putting a 銀 on 7一 that controls key forward-diagonal squares.
Wait, let me check if ▲7一銀打 is actually check — the 銀 at 7一 attacks backward diagonals including 8二, and it’s supported by the と at 6一. So yes, that’s 王手. Now what can 後手 do? The 銀 at 7二 can’t capture on 7一 since 銀 can’t move straight backward. The 桂 at 8一 can’t reach 7一 either. So the 玉 would have to move.
Actually, let me reconsider the whole position. I have 角 金 銀 桂 香 and three 歩 in hand, with 後手玉 on 8二. Let me look for something more forcing — maybe ▲9三香打 to attack along the 9-file, though that doesn’t seem to give check from that square.
Wait, ▲7四桂打 is check since the 桂 from 7四 jumps to 8二 — that’s the 玉! So △同歩 is forced if the 7三歩 can capture. After that exchange, the 7三 square opens up and I need to see what follows.
Let me check ▲8五桂打 — the 桂 at 8五 jumps to 7三 and 9三, threatening promotions but not immediately checking. That feels slower than the forcing ▲7四桂打 line.
Now I’m considering the 龍 — ▲2二龍 or ▲6一と as candidate moves. But I should also evaluate whether 先手 is under 詰めろ threat. If 先手 plays something slow, what’s 後手′s best attacking continuation with the 龍8八, 馬4五, 銀5七, and 金6九? The 玉8六 position might be vulnerable to a mating attack, so I need to check if 先手 can afford a slow move or if forcing play is necessary.
Looking at △7五金打 — the 後手金 at 7五 would attack both 6六 and 8六 diagonally, which is a serious threat to the 先手玉.
If ▲同歩 (the 7六pawn captures), then 7六 is vacated and the king’s coverage there is gone. 後手 could follow with △6七馬, taking the pawn but not giving check. The issue is that 後手′s attacking pieces are poorly coordinated — the 馬 at 4五 is too far away, the 龍 at 8八 is blocked by the 8七pawn, and the other pieces aren’t positioned to deliver a quick mate. Even if 後手 had a few free moves, constructing a forced mating sequence against the 玉8六 would take multiple moves.
The real threat lies with the 龍8八 — if 後手 could somehow remove the 8七歩 that’s blocking it, the 龍 could potentially deliver a devastating attack. But that 8七歩 is defended by the 玉8六, so it’s not an easy target to eliminate.
Let me reconsider whether the 先手玉 is actually in danger right now. The 後手 position doesn’t seem to have an immediate 詰めろ threat, so maybe I should look at what 後手 can try next — perhaps something like △7七桂 to create new threats. So 先手′s king isn’t under immediate threat, but 後手′s king at 8二 is vulnerable. I have a strong attacking arsenal in hand — a bishop, gold, silver, knight, lance, and pawns — plus the dragon on 1一 and the promoted pawn on 5二 already bearing down. Let me search for forcing moves that lead to mate or an unstoppable mating attack. 後手 can defend with gold, silver, knight, and a couple pawns, but I should look at checks starting with a knight drop on 7四. The 香 at 9九 moves down the file toward rank 1, but it’s blocked by the 歩 at 9六, so 9三 is safe for the 玉. Now I’m weighing whether △9二玉 preserves the pawn structure better than △同歩, or if ▲7四桂 might work as a sacrifice piece later. I’m also considering ▲7一銀打 as a checking move that attacks 8二 diagonally, though I need to verify what supports it.
Looking at the 龍 at 1一 — its rank-1 ray extends through 2一, 3一, 4一, 5一, then gets blocked by the 後手金 at 6一, so the 銀 at 7一 wouldn’t actually be supported. That means △同玉 or △同金 both just win the 銀 for nothing, making this a bad move for 先手.
So ▲7一銀 only works after the sequence ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — not immediately. ▲6一と itself isn’t check but sets up the tactic. Now considering ▲9三香打 — it’s not check with the 玉 at 8二, but it threatens patterns on the 9-file like ▲9一成香, though the concrete follow-up isn’t clear yet.
Looking at ▲9三桂打 instead — it attacks 8一 and threatens ▲8一成桂 as check since the promoted 桂 (moving like a 金) at 8一 would attack 8二. But this seems too slow, and the 玉 at 8二 can simply capture the undefended 桂 at 9三, winning material. Moves like ▲2二龍 and ▲5一龍 don’t accomplish anything meaningful.
The critical tactical sequence is ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍. After this exchange, I need to carefully evaluate the resulting position where 先手 has a 龍 on 6一 with various pawns and pieces, while 後手′s king sits on 8二 with supporting pieces including a 龍 on 8八 and 馬 on 4五.
先手′s main threat is ▲7二金打, which gives check to the 後手 king on 8二 (the gold on 7二 attacks sideways, supported by the 龍 on 6一 along the diagonal). If 後手 responds with △同玉, that’s illegal because the king would be moving into check from the 龍 on 6一. So 後手 must play △9二玉 instead, after which 先手 continues with ▲8二金, further restricting the king’s escape squares. Now I’m checking what threats are actually available. The pawn structure is crucial here — 先手 already has pawns on files 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, and 1, which means I can only drop pawns on files 5, 3, and 2. That eliminates the standard ▲9三歩 and ▲8三歩 tactics I’d normally consider. So ▲7二金 followed by ▲8二銀打 becomes more interesting as a mating threat, with the silver attacking both 9一 and 7一. So ▲9三銀打 does give check on the 9二玉, but after △同玉, 先手 loses material again since 9三 isn’t supported. The core problem is that 先手′s 龍 on 6一 gets blocked by the 桂 at 8一 along the first rank, and I can’t drop pawns on files 8 or 9 due to the 二歩 rule, so a straightforward mating attack isn’t working out.
Let me explore what happens after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — maybe ▲6三龍 creates real threats. From 6三, the 龍 attacks the 歩 on 7三 (which is now empty since the 銀 moved away) and the 歩 on 5三, plus it controls key diagonal squares like 7二, 5二, 7四, and 5四. That 7二 square is particularly interesting since it’s now vacant.
Actually, wait — I think the simpler, stronger continuation is ▲7二金打. This gives check to the 玉 on 8二, and the 玉′s escape squares are limited: 9二 and 9三 are both legal, but 7一 is attacked by the 龍 on 6一 horizontally, so that’s not available.
If Black plays △9三玉, I can follow up with ▲8五桂打 — the 桂 jumps to both 7三 and 9三, delivering check again. Now I need to see if Black can capture the 桂 on 8五 with the 9四歩. After ▲9三銀打, the king on 9二 is in check from the silver and can’t capture it since the silver is supported by the knight on 8五. The king’s escape squares are limited—9一 is blocked by its own lance, 8一 by its own knight, and 8二 is attacked by the gold on 7二, so that’s illegal. The 8三 square is occupied by Black’s own pawn, so the king has no legal moves. Let me verify the mate: after ▲9三銀打, the 玉 on 9二 has no escape squares (9一 blocked by own 香, 8一 by own 桂, 8二 controlled by the 金 on 7二, 8三 by own 歩, 9三 occupied by the attacking 銀 supported by the 桂), can’t capture the 銀, and can’t interpose on an adjacent check — so it’s checkmate.
But I should check if 後手 had a better defense at ▲8五桂: instead of △9二玉, what if △8四玉? Then ▲7五銀打 gives check (the 銀 attacks 8四 diagonally and is supported by the 歩 on 7六), and the 玉 can’t take it or escape to 9三 since that square is also under attack. The critical point is that 8五 itself is defended—the 先手玉 sitting at 8六 guards it directly, so even if 後手 tries to capture the 桂, it’s protected. The two kings are practically facing each other across the board.
Now if 後手 plays 8四玉, I can respond with 7五銀, which gets double support from both the 7六歩 and the 玉8六 itself. This move gives check, and looking at the king’s escape squares: 9三 is covered by the 桂8五, the 8三 and 7三 squares are blocked by 後手′s own pawns, 9四 is also 後手′s pawn, and 7四 is attacked by the 銀7五′s forward diagonal. The king has nowhere to go. Verifying that the 馬 at 4五 and 龍 at 8八 can’t capture the 7五銀 — the 馬′s diagonal rays don’t reach it, and the 龍′s vertical movement is blocked by the 先手歩 at 8七. So the mate is confirmed. Now checking the alternative where Black plays 9二玉 instead, considering if 8二金 works as an unsupported move or if there’s a silver drop check at 9三. ▲9三香打 gives check — the lance attacks along the file to 9二 where the king sits. Black’s forced to capture with △同玉 since there’s no way to block an adjacent piece, and nothing else can take the lance. Let me verify if there are other defensive options or if this actually works.
Then ▲8五桂打 delivers another check — the knight from 8五 jumps to 9三, checking the king on 9二. If the king moves to 9二, I need to confirm what squares it can actually reach: 9一 is blocked by Black’s own lance, 8一 has Black’s own knight, 8二 is controlled by my 金 on 7二, 8三 has Black’s own pawn, and 9三 is occupied by my checking knight. That looks like mate — the king has nowhere to go. After using the 金, 銀, and 桂, I’m checking what pieces remain in hand — just the 角, 香, and three pawns. With the 玉 on 8四, I can’t play 7五銀 since it’s already been captured, and 7五香 doesn’t give check. The 8五 square is blocked by my 桂, and moving pawns to 9五 or 7五 would create illegal double pawns in those files.
Let me reconsider the move order: if I play 9三香 first to force the 玉 to respond, then after △同玉, I can follow with 8五桂 giving check. The 玉 would move to 9二, but then I’d have 7五銀 available as a strong follow-up since my pieces would be positioned differently by that point. 8五桂 leads to mate in both continuations, so I’m verifying whether ▲7二金 actually forces mate from the position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍. Checking the first branch again: after △9三玉▲8五桂, if △8四玉 then ▲7五銀 is mate, and if △9二玉 then ▲9三銀 is mate with the 桂8五 supporting and 金7二 covering 8二.
This means ▲同龍 creates an unstoppable mate threat — more than just 詰めろ, it’s 必至 unless 後手 can defend or generate perpetual checks against 先手玉8六. But I need to verify whether △同銀 is actually forced after ▲6一と in the first place.
Let me step back and check if 先手 already has a direct mate or 必至 right now without playing ▲6一と, given the current position with 龍1一 blocked by 金6一 on rank 1. After the silver moves to 7一, the rook on 1一 can capture the gold that takes it, delivering check to the king on 8二 since the rook would attack that square from 7一. The rook wouldn’t have support though, leaving it vulnerable to recapture. 龍 and 金 for 銀 and 龍 — a losing trade for 先手. But maybe there’s a mating attack brewing with the 角金桂香 and the promoted pawn at 5二, targeting the exposed 玉 at 7一. The ▲6二と move gives check since the promoted pawn attacks 7一 diagonally, though I’d be without the 龍 and relying on these pieces. Now I’m checking if 後手 can block with the 銀 from 7二.
Let me refocus on the real plan: the ▲6一と exchange leading into 龍6一, which sets up the mating net with 7二 and 9三. I need to verify the mate sequence more carefully after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, especially what defensive resources 後手 has and whether they can ignore the exchange entirely. Silver at 9三 is still available since I’ve only used the gold, lance, and knight so far. The king on 9二 has no escape: 8二 is controlled by the gold at 7二, and 9一/8一 are blocked by my own pieces while 8三 has my pawn. That’s mate. For the direct 9三 king response, the knight on 8五 supports the silver mate on 9三. Black can’t interpose on an adjacent check, and there’s no other piece that can capture the gold on 7二.
So after the rook exchange on 6一, I’m threatening mate in seven moves with the gold push to 7二, forcing the king to 9二, then the lance check, the king captures, the knight move, and finally the silver delivers mate. Let me verify once more that after the lance checks on 9三, Black’s only legal move is the king capture since it’s an adjacent check with no interposition possible. After ▲6一と, 後手 must decide whether to capture with △同銀, which leads to ▲同龍 and forces 後手 to either defend against the ▲7二金 mate threat or create their own mating attack. I’m checking if 後手 can defend by blocking or guarding 7二, though moves like △7一桂打 seem problematic since they don’t actually address the core threat. So △7一金 also attacks the 龍 at 6一 while defending 7二. When ▲同龍 captures it, the 龍 moves to 7一 and gives check to the 玉 at 8二 along the diagonal, but the 玉 can respond since it’s adjacent to 7一.
After △同玉 recaptures, 先手 loses the 龍 for just a 金, which is a bad trade materially. Let me reconsider: instead of allowing this exchange, maybe ▲6三龍 is better, retreating the 龍 vertically to 6三 where it’s safe and keeps pressure.
From 6三, the 龍 controls key squares like 7二 and 7三, and now 先手 has a fresh attacking idea with ▲7二金打 — but 7二 is defended by the 金 on 7一, so after △同金▲同龍, the 龍 lands on 7二 with check. This forces △同玉, but then 先手 has gained tempo and can continue the assault with moves like ▲7四桂, forcing △同歩 as the only response.
Wait, I’m getting tangled in variations. Let me reconsider whether ▲6一と is even the sharpest continuation — what if ▲7二と is stronger instead, bringing the と金 from 5二 into the attack? After △同金, the 金 moves to 6二 and 6一 is empty, opening up the rank-1 line. If ▲6一龍, it would attack the undefended 金6二 vertically and also threaten 7一 and 7二 diagonally — but the 銀7二 can defend 6一 via its back-diagonal, so the 龍 itself would be under attack there.
If instead ▲6二と, that’s a fork hitting both the 金6一 and 銀7二. If 後手 recaptures with △同金, then ▲7四桂 gives check, forcing △同歩, but the position gets complicated. If 後手 avoids the recapture and retreats the 金 to 5二 instead, then ▲7二と captures the 銀, though the と would be undefended and vulnerable to recapture.
Alternatively, ▲7二と directly (taking the 銀) works if the 玉 is on 8二, which is adjacent and allows △同玉 to recapture — 先手 trades the と for the 銀, a decent material swap but not as forcing as other lines.
So ▲6一と remains the stronger continuation. After that move, if 後手 doesn’t recapture and instead tries △9二玉 to sidestep and prepare a counterattack, then ▲7一と follows, with the と advancing to 7一 where it’s supported by the 龍 along the first rank. After ▲7一と, I need to check if anything actually defends the 8一桂—the 香9一 doesn’t help since it can’t move sideways, but the 玉9二 does defend it adjacently. So ▲8一と△同玉 leads somewhere, but let me explore ▲8二金打 instead as a check against the 9二玉, though it turns out nothing supports that move. When 後手 responds △同銀, moving the 銀 to 7二, I need to reconsider the position. After ▲8一と, the 龍 at 1一 supports it along the first rank, making this a powerful infiltration that captures the 桂 and threatens both the 香 and 8二 position — 後手 is essentially crushed.
During the sequence ▲6一と△9二玉▲7一と, 後手 got essentially one free move with 9二玉, which was only semi-useful. Now I’m weighing the tempos: 後手′s attack against the 玉8六 needs roughly three to four moves to develop, while 先手′s grinding approach with ▲7一と and ▲8一と is slower but opens up a dangerous tactical switch — specifically ▲8二銀打, which from 8二 would attack 9一 and 8一 while also eyeing the back diagonals, though it doesn’t directly threaten the 玉9二.
The 玉9二 position is frustratingly resilient because 銀 can’t deliver sideways checks and there’s no pawn drop available on the 9-file. I’m second-guessing whether ▲6一と is actually the best first move — maybe there’s a stronger continuation that forces the mating attack without letting 後手 slip into 玉9二 so easily. Let me step back and reconsider the whole sequence, particularly whether ▲7四桂 as a checking move might be more forcing, since 後手′s response of △同歩 might not be the only option if 玉9二 is also available. So after △同歩, the 歩 lands on 7四 and 7三 opens up—I can play ▲7三銀 to attack both 6二 and deliver check on 8二 where the 玉 is. But wait, the 後手桂 on 8一 can jump to 7三 to capture, so △同桂 and I’ve just lost my 銀 with nothing to recapture. That doesn’t work. Let me try ▲6三銀打 instead—placing the 銀 there attacks 7二 and 6二 while also controlling the forward diagonals.
Now checking what defends 6三: the 銀7二 supports it diagonally, but my と at 5二 doesn’t reach there. The 後手馬 on 4五 though—it can move along the diagonal to 5四 and then 6三, so it directly attacks my new 銀. If I play ▲6三銀, Black responds △同銀 or △同馬, and if they take with the 銀, I’m looking at ▲7二金 as a follow-up, though I need to verify what’s supporting that move.
Stepping back to reconsider the whole ▲6一と line: even if Black declines with △9二玉, I’ve cleanly won the 金 with my と, which is now protected by the 龍. That’s a significant material gain—my hand would have 角金2銀桂香歩3—so I should evaluate whether that’s strong enough regardless of Black’s counterplay. Now I need to check the speed calculation — whether 後手 can generate enough checks against 玉8六 to either mate 先手 or force perpetual check before the mate-in-7 threat lands. Let me work through 後手′s checking options with the pieces and hand available in that position. 8六 looks safe since the 銀 at 7四 doesn’t reach it, while 9五 is covered by the 歩 at 9四, 7五 is attacked by that same 銀, and 8四 is actually attacked by a 歩 at 8三 — so the 玉 should retreat to 8六 or possibly 9六 after the 銀 drops at 7四.
Now I’m seeing that 後手′s last move (pushing with 金 and 銀) was actually a losing strategy — 先手 captures the 金 and still has the mate threat of ▲7二金 hanging over the position, so that line doesn’t work for 後手. Looking at the alternative 7五金打, if 先手 takes with the 歩, I need to check whether 7五 is actually defended — the 歩 at 6四 doesn’t help, and the 馬 at 4五 covers a king-step pattern around itself (3四, 4四, 5四, 3五, 5五, 3六, 4六, 5六), which doesn’t include 7五. So that’s also losing for 後手. The 7五銀打 attempt has the same problem — after ▲同歩, the 先手歩 on 7五 is secure and doesn’t create any weaknesses, so 後手 is still in trouble. Now I’m checking 7四桂打, which gives check...
the 玉 can escape to 8五 (the 桂 only attacks 6六 and 8六, so 8五 is safe), or potentially 7五 (which would actually threaten the 桂 itself next move), though pushing the 玉 forward like that feels risky.
Now I’m checking the king’s escape squares more carefully — after 後手 plays 7四桂, if I move 8五玉, then 後手 could push the pawn from 8三 to 8四, which would give check since it attacks 8五. If the 玉 captures on 8四, I need to verify what pieces actually defend that square — the 後手歩7三 attacks 7四, not 8四, so I’m trying to figure out what would be covering 8四 after the pawn advances there. The 玉 at 8三 is defended by the 玉 at 8二, so I can’t capture it. If I retreat with ▲8五玉, I could also consider ▲7四同玉 to take the 桂, but that square is attacked by the 後手 pawn at 7三, making it illegal. After ▲8五玉, 後手 has gained tempo by pushing my 玉 around and sacrificing the 桂 and pawn, though my 玉 at 8五 now attacks the 桂 at 7四.
Now I’m analyzing 後手′s remaining threats: they have 金銀歩2 in hand and could play ▲8四銀打 to give check, supported by the 歩 at 8三 that they just dropped. Looking at 玉′s escape squares from 8五 — 8六 is safe, but 7五 gets attacked by the 銀 at 8四, 9五 is covered by the 歩 at 9四, and 7六 has 後手′s own 歩 — so 8六玉 is forced. Then 後手 could advance the 銀 from 8四 to 8五 for another check, which is starting to look dangerous, so I need to carefully recount this entire sequence.
Now I’m working through 後手′s full counterattack after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — specifically whether △7四桂 leads to a forced mate or perpetual that would make my capture a losing move. The 歩 at 8三 can push to 8四 to give check at 8五, and I need to determine whether ▲8四同玉 is actually the best response or if there are better alternatives like ▲9六玉. Let me recalculate the silver’s attack squares from 8五: it controls 8六 forward, 7六 and 9六 on the forward diagonals, and 7四 and 9四 on the backward diagonals—so 7五 is actually safe from the silver. Checking if 7五 is attacked by the pawn on 6四 (which only attacks 6五, not 7五) or the horse on 4五 (which doesn’t reach that far), the king move to 7五 appears legal, though it leaves the king in a precarious position.
Now evaluating the alternatives: 7七 is attacked by the dragon on 8八 along the diagonal, and 9七 is also covered by that same dragon—both moves are illegal. So 7五 is the only option, and after that I need to figure out what Black’s next move could be, checking whether moves like 7四 (where the knight already sits) or 6五 pawn advances actually threaten the king on 7五. I’m checking whether the 馬 can deliver check from 6四 — tracing its possible moves from 4五: it can reach 5六, 6七, 5四, 6三, 7二, 3六, 2七, 1八, 3四, 2三, 1二, plus the king-step squares 4四, 4六, 3五, 5五. None of these directly attack 7五, so that doesn’t work either.
Now I’m considering dropping the 金 instead — placing it at 6五 would give check since the 後手金 at 6五 attacks both 5五 and 7五, and 6五 is empty (the 歩 is at 6四). This looks like a viable move: △6五金打. So the 後手歩 on 6四 controls 6五, blocking that escape. If the 玉 moves to 6六, it’s attacked by the 金 on 6五 diagonally. Moving to 8四 — let me check what pieces defend there: the 銀 on 8五 only covers 7四 and 9四, not 8四. The 桂 on 7四 attacks 6六 and 8六, not 8四 either. Nothing protects 8四, so the 玉 can capture there. So ▲8四同玉 is forced, placing the king deep in enemy territory next to 玉8二. Now I’m checking if △8三歩打 works as a check — the file 8 is clear since the 8三歩 was just captured, so dropping a pawn there would indeed attack the king on 8四.
Looking at escape squares: 7五 is attacked by the 金6五, 9五 is controlled by the 歩9四, and 8五 has a 銀 that’s now undefended after the 歩8四 was captured. So 9三 emerges as the only viable move. The silver on 8五 forces the king to capture it, and now I’m tracking what pieces each side has left in hand after this exchange. The second player started with gold, silver, knight, and three pawns, but has spent the knight on 7四, the silver that just got captured, the gold on 6五, and a pawn on 8三—leaving just two pawns. I’m checking whether 8四 pawn drop would create an illegal double pawn situation since there’s already a pawn on 8三. ered ▲8四同玉 first, then backed into the ▲8六玉 sub-branch. I’m tracking two sub-branches here; in the second one after △8四歩 ▲8六玉 △8五銀 ▲7五玉 △6五金 ▲8四玉 △8三歩 ▲8五玉, I need to recount the move sequence carefully — that’s moves 4 through 13, making it 後手′s turn at move 14, and 後手 has run out of checks.
Now I’m checking if the 玉 at 8五 is in 詰めろ and what threats 後手 can create. But wait — I just realized 後手 still has that ▲7二金mate threat hanging over the entire game that I need to verify is still active. Let me check: the 龍 at 6一 is untouched and 先手 still has pieces in hand, so the threat should still be there.
Looking at 後手′s position more carefully: the 玉 is at 8二, with 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns at 7三, 8三, 9四. If ▲7二金 is played, it’s check since 7二 is empty and supported by the 龍. After △9二玉 ▲9三香 △同玉, I was trying to continue the mating attack with ▲8五… but wait, that’s where my own 玉 is now! The 玉 moved to 8五, so that square is occupied and I can’t use it for the 桂 anymore.
But actually, the 玉 at 8五 controls 9四, which is useful. Let me reconsider what checks are available against 玉9三 with my remaining pieces: 角銀2桂歩4 in hand. The 香 was already used at 9三, so I need to find another forcing move. So the 後手 king on 9二 isn’t actually under attack from the 銀 on 8四 since that piece controls 7三 and 9三 diagonally forward, not backward. But if I play ▲9三銀打 with my second silver from hand, that’s check — and the 銀8四 does support it by controlling 9三. The king’s escape squares are severely limited: 8二 is covered by my 金7二, 9一 has the 香, 8一 has the 桂, and 8三 is blocked by the 後手′s own pawn.
This means it’s mate — even in 後手′s most aggressive counterattack, the king just walks into my attack and gets mated anyway. And at move 14, 後手 has no checks remaining and can’t defend against ▲7二金 mate since any pawn drops would be illegal (either creating a doubled pawn on the file or blocked by existing pieces).
The mate threat is ▲7二金 supported by the 龍 on 6一. To stop it, 後手 would need to either defend 7二 or capture the 金, but there’s no 金 in hand anymore. Looking at the board pieces that could help: the 馬 on 4五 can actually reach 7二 along its diagonal...
So △7二馬 blocks the square entirely and prevents ▲7二金. But then 先手 has ▲7二龍×馬, capturing the 馬 with check since the 龍 on 7二 attacks the 玉 on 8二. After △同玉, 先手 has 角 and 金 in hand to continue the attack.
Now looking at the position with 玉 on 7二 and defenders like 桂8一, 香9一, and pawns on 7三/8三/9四/6四/5三 — I’m testing ▲6二金打 as a checking move, but it’s unsupported and the 玉 can just capture. Then ▲6一銀打 looks more interesting, giving check from 6一 with back-diagonal coverage of 5二 and 7二, though again unsupported. I’m also considering ▲8四桂打 but need to evaluate where that leads. Let me recount the material more carefully through that sequence: after 先手 captures the 金 at 6一 with the と, then 後手 recaptures with 銀, and 先手 takes back with the 龍, I’m tracking what 先手 has accumulated — the 金 and 銀 from those exchanges, plus the earlier 歩 at 8四 and 銀 at 8五 during the king hunt. So the hand should be 角 金2 銀2 桂 香 歩3, which is a significant material advantage. Actually, I should verify that alternate branch at step (6) where 先手 takes immediately with ▲同玉 instead — checking if △8三歩打 works and what happens after ▲8五玉, since there might be other defensive resources I’m missing in that line. So after ▲8六玉, the 銀8四 doesn’t actually attack 8六 — it covers 7五 and 9五 instead, and the 龍8八 is blocked from defending. Let me trace through what pieces are actually attacking that square.
Now looking at △8五銀 as the next move, which gives check again by attacking 8六, but the silver on 8五 turns out to be unsupported since the 歩 left 8四 and the 歩8三 can’t reach back to defend it. After ▲同玉 captures the silver, 後手 has 金 and 歩 in hand and needs to find another check — △8四金 looks promising since it would give check and be supported by the 歩8三, but then ▲8六玉 escapes again. So 8六玉 is forced, and then 後手 plays 8五金 — but that just loses the piece to 同玉, so that’s not viable. Looking at other checks from that position, 7五金 is possible since the 金 can move forward-diagonally from 8四 to 7五, which would give check to the 8六玉. The 桂 on 7四 doesn’t support it though, so I need to reconsider what’s actually defending that move. Actually, ▲7六歩×7五 is even more direct — the pawn just captures the gold. So after ▲8六玉, Black’s only try is △7五金▲同歩, losing the piece. Let me recount Black’s hand through this line: starting with 金銀歩2, then after the knight move to 7四 I have 金銀歩2, the 8四 pawn push, the 8三 pawn drop leaves 金銀歩1, then the 8四 silver move down to 金歩1, and finally the 8五 silver advance.
After ▲同玉 capturing the silver, Black plays △8四金 with just a pawn in hand. White’s king escapes to 8六, and Black has run out of checks — the 8七 pawn drop is illegal due to the pawn already on 8三. White’s hand is loaded with pieces (角金2銀3桂香歩4), and the ▲7二金mate threat still dominates. Black’s only try is △7二馬 to block, but White just recaptures and wins decisively. So the conclusion is clear: after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, Black’s counterattack fails completely; White’s king safely escapes via 8五 and 8六.
Wait — I’m reconsidering whether △7二馬 could work as an early defense right after ▲同龍. The horse can jump from 4五 to 7二 via the 5四-6三 diagonal, and both those squares are empty, so the move is geometrically possible. Once on 7二, the horse blocks the mating square and attacks the dragon on 6一 (since a horse on 7二 can reach 6一 diagonally). But if White plays ▲6二龍 to stay close and attack the horse, Black’s △同馬 recapture leaves nothing to recapture for White — so that line loses material for White immediately.
Now I’m checking whether ▲6二龍 gives check instead. The dragon on 6二 would need to attack the king on 8二, but the horse on 7二 blocks that diagonal, so it’s not check and the move is bad. Let me look at ▲6三龍 instead — moving the dragon vertically up the 6-file to 6三, which would attack the horse on 7二 diagonally while keeping the dragon defended by the king.
But wait, the horse on 7二 can also attack 6三 diagonally, so after ▲6三龍△同馬, I’d lose the dragon anyway. That doesn’t work either. So I need to consider retreating moves like ▲5一龍, ▲4一龍, or ▲2一龍 along the first rank instead.
Looking at the material count now: I have a bishop, two golds, two silvers, a knight, a lance, and three pawns in hand—that’s a significant advantage. Black’s horse on 7二 is now purely defensive, no longer attacking my king. With that material advantage, I can attack at my own pace, whether that’s playing ▲2一龍 to consolidate, or even something aggressive like ▲8五桂打 to threaten multiple squares.
But wait—what if I just capture the horse directly with ▲同龍? That gives check since the rook on 7二 would attack the king on 8二, and it’s supported… actually, no, I need to verify the support. After △同玉, the position shifts again, but this recapture might be stronger than I initially thought. I’m exploring whether 8三龍 works as a move, then reconsidering after 同玉. The key issue is that after trading the 龍 for the 馬 on 7二, I’d be left attacking with just hand pieces—two 角, two 金, two 銀, one 桂, and pawns—which is substantial but lacks board-based attackers except for the と.
Looking at 6一角打 as a checking move, it doesn’t seem to deliver mate since the 玉 has escape squares. The trade itself might actually weaken the attack despite the material advantage, so instead I should keep the 龍 active by retreating to 2一 or 5一, preserving both the 龍 and the hand 角金 for a stronger continuation.
Now I’m weighing different 龍 placements — 4一 or 6二 don’t work well, but 2一 keeps the pressure alive with threats like 6一 or 7一銀打. Though when I calculate 7一銀 against 玉8二 with 馬7二, the 馬 can simply capture on 7一, so that line falls apart. Maybe 8五桂打 as a quiet move threatening 7三桂成 is worth considering instead.
Let me also reconsider 後手′s counterattack option after ▲6一と — I keep forgetting that 6一と is already a capture of the 金 that was sitting there, so 後手 can’t ignore it and immediately launch checks with the 桂. Even if 後手 tries △7四桂 anyway, 先手 is already up material (the captured 金) and the と on 6一 is defended by the 龍. When 後手′s checks eventually run out after 先手′s 玉 escapes around the 8五/8六 area, 先手 will have a decisive advantage and can consolidate the win.
For the (B3) line where 後手 plays △6一同銀▲同龍△7一金打, I need to verify whether ▲6三龍 is actually safe — the 馬 on 4五 might be able to reach 6三, which would leave the 龍 hanging with no recapture available.
Looking at the escape squares along the first rank, ▲5一龍, ▲4一龍, ▲3一龍, and ▲2一龍 all seem relatively safe from immediate attack, so that’s where the 龍 would retreat if the center squares get too dangerous.
Now I’m analyzing what happens after ▲2一龍 — 先手 has a strong material advantage with 金銀 in hand plus the infiltrating 龍 on rank 1, and 玉8二 is still exposed. The key tactical idea is ▲7四桂打, which gives check since the knight from 7四 covers both 6二 and 8二. This forces 後手 to respond to the check, likely with △7三歩×7四, but then 先手 has follow-up threats to exploit the weakened position. I’m verifying the board position to confirm the dragon on 1一 can indeed support the 6一 square—checking that all intermediate squares along rank 1 are empty, which they are. The と金′s move from 5二 to 6一 is a legal diagonal advance for 先手, moving one file forward and one rank back as expected.
Now I’m checking whether the と金 itself is under attack—the 後手 gold on 6一 can reach 5二 diagonally, so they’re attacking each other. But since it’s 先手′s turn, the と strikes first and wins the exchange because the dragon backs it up. This mutual attack is precisely why ▲6一と is the strongest move—it forces a favorable capture.
I should also consider alternatives like ▲4一と (which just sidesteps pointlessly) or defending the と, but taking is clearly best. There’s another option worth exploring: playing ▲7四桂打 first to give check and disrupt 後手′s pawn structure, then following with ▲6一と. This would deflect the 7三 pawn to 7四 and open up 7三 for future silver or gold drops, but the downside is that a pawn on 7四 would attack 7五 and actually weaken 先手′s king escape square while supporting 後手′s potential moves on the 6五 and 8五 lines.
The cleanest approach is just ▲6一と directly, keeping the knight in reserve for the 8五 mating net. Now I need to figure out 後手′s best response — the main candidates are △同銀 or possibly △7二馬 versus △7一金打 after the sequence ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍.
If 後手 plays △7二馬 to keep the hand-金, that recalls the horse and removes the attack, but then ▲8五桂打 creates serious threats: ▲7三桂成 captures the pawn on 7三 (defended by the 桂8一), and this成桂 on 7三 would attack both the 馬7二 and the 玉8二 — so 後手 has to be very careful about ▲7三桂成 followed by △同桂.
Either way, ▲6一と is a grinding win for 先手: if 後手 declines the 金, 先手 just wins it cleanly; if 後手 accepts, 先手 gets 金+銀 with a raging attack and no viable counterplay from 後手 (I’ve verified the checking lines all fail). The position is decisively winning for 先手.
Now let me double-check the material count before ▲6一と to make sure my evaluation is sound. So 後手 is actually up significantly in material with those extra gold and silver pieces, but they’re terribly placed — the gold on 6九 is completely useless, and the silver on 5七 is floating without contributing to defense. Meanwhile, 先手 is down material but has a safer king position at 8六, a powerful battery with the と and 龍 attacking 6一, and plenty of pieces in hand for a mating attack.
Looking at move 82 where 後手 played 龍8八, it seems like a slow move that doesn’t accomplish much — maybe 後手 intended 龍7七 instead, which would be more forcing, but even that gets complicated after 先手 responds.
The key calculation is that 先手′s ▲6一と leads to mate in roughly 3 moves of 先手′s tempo, while 後手 needs at least 4+ non-forcing moves to mount any counterattack. 先手 wins the race decisively.
Now I’m checking if there’s something even faster than ▲6一と — like an immediate mating attack. Looking at check candidates like ▲7四桂 or ▲7一銀, but these don’t seem to lead anywhere faster. Looking at the alternatives after ▲7一龍: if Black plays △同玉 (king captures), I need to evaluate the material exchange — White sacrificed a silver and dragon to gain a gold, which is a terrible trade unless there’s a mating attack with the remaining pieces (角金2桂香歩3 in hand).
Now examining the forcing line with ▲6一金打 — this move gives check and is supported by the と5二 pawn, but Black’s king has limited escape squares: 8二 might be available, 7二 is blocked by Black’s own silver, 8一 has Black’s own knight, and 6二 is controlled by the gold on 6一. If Black plays 8二, then ▲7二金looks tempting as a follow-up check, but the と5二 pawn doesn’t actually support it (it only attacks 6二), so this line collapses. After testing various forcing continuations, none lead to immediate mate — Black survives the checks. So the quiet move ▲6一と, capturing and creating serious mating threats, appears to be the strongest continuation, and I’m now checking whether this move itself constitutes a 詰めろ.
The key threat after ▲6一と would be ▲7一と, where the dragon on the first rank supports the と once it moves, allowing it to fork both the 桂8一 and the 銀7二 — though I need to verify whether both pieces are actually defended. ported by the 龍 now?? — let me check: after ▲同玉, the 龍 is still on 8八, so 8五 isn’t defended anymore. Then ▲同玉 gives me +金 with a huge material advantage. If 後手 tries △7四銀打 for a check along the diagonals, ▲8六玉 escapes safely since the 龍 blocks the back rank — and I’m verifying whether 後手′s silver can even reach 8五 from 7四 in the first place.
Now I’m also considering what happens if 後手 responds to ▲6一と with △6七馬 instead, attacking the 歩 and activating the horse to threaten multiple squares like 8九 and 7六 — but those follow-ups look slow or blocked, so the position still favors me. The と on 7一 moving to 8一 captures the knight while staying supported by the dragon along the first rank, and since 後手′s silver on 7二 can only retreat to 6三 or 6一 (blocked elsewhere), White’s forcing sequence wins material either way.
Now I’m seeing the decisive continuation: ▲6一と is the key move. If Black recaptures with the silver, then ▲同龍 threatens an unstoppable ▲7二金 leading to forced mate—either ▲9三香打 followed by ▲8五桂打 and ▲7五銀#, or if Black tries △7二馬 to block the attack, White has strong continuations like ▲2一龍.
If Black declines and plays △9二玉 instead, White pushes ▲7一と supported by the dragon, infiltrating and winning material. Black’s counterattacking tries with moves like △7四桂 don’t generate enough checks to save the position. 後手 could try 9五歩 to attack 9六, but that’s not check and doesn’t accomplish much; or 8四銀打 which gives check and is supported by the 8三歩, forcing 8六玉 — but then 7五 is attacked by the 銀8四′s diagonal, and 9五 is also covered, leaving only 8六 as a safe flight. The silver on 7五 gives check along the diagonals, but it’s unsupported — if I capture with the pawn from 7六, Black just loses material. Then looking at the alternative with the gold drop on 8四, it forces my king to 8六, and when Black pushes the gold forward to 8五, I can capture it since the pawn on 8三 doesn’t actually defend that square.
Now I’m checking Black’s last counterattack possibility on the edge file — after my promotion on 6一, if Black plays 9五 pawn, I can capture it, but that opens the 9六 square. The key issue is whether Black can then drop another pawn on 9六 to create threats, but with my king on 8六, that’s not giving check, just threatening 9七. The pawn on 9六 doesn’t give check, but it does open up the side — though the lance on 9一 is blocked anyway, so that’s not an immediate threat. The real issue is that Black’s side attack is too slow compared to White’s ▲7一と push. Now I need to verify whether ▲7二金 actually delivers mate in 7 even when Black tries to interpose with adjacent pieces like the gold on 7二, lance on 9三, or silver on 9三 and 7五 — the lance check from 9三 would be attacking the king on 9二, but that’s still within the adjacent range.
No interposition is possible against the knight on 8五 either, and all the checking pieces are either adjacent or knights. For the move ▲9三香, that’s a lance drop on file 9 — White already has a lance on 9九, but the two-pawn rule only applies to pawns, so that’s legal. The silver on 7五 is also a valid drop on an empty square. Let me reconsider whether ▲6三龍 might be stronger — the horse on 7二 would attack it diagonally, so that doesn’t work. What about ▲5一龍 instead, eyeing 5三? The 6四龍 move looks solid — it’s not attacked by the 馬7二 or other pieces, and it gains material while keeping the dragon active on that square, controlling key squares along the rank and diagonal.
Now I’m checking the secondary candidates to rule out. The 7一と idea doesn’t work since the と can’t reach there anyway. The 7四桂打 is premature — after △同歩 White hasn’t gained much, and Black has defensive options like △9二玉. Defending with something like 7八金打 also fails because the dragon on 8八 would just attack it, and there’s no piece to support it. The king is already safe, so defensive moves just waste the winning tempo. I’m considering ▲8五桂打 as an aggressive setup with threats of promoting on 7三 or 9三, though 9三 looks undefended—but promoting there seems slow compared to just capturing the gold. Then there’s ▲6二と as a fork, but if 後手 responds with △同金, it opens up rank-1 for ▲6一銀打.
I’m settling on ▲6一と as the best move, with the main line showing the mating sequence and defensive alternatives for 後手 like △7二馬 or △7一金. The key is the speed calculation that refutes 後手′s counterattack, plus the warning that 7七 and 9七 are mined. For the position assessment, 後手 is materially ahead with the gold and silver count.
After ▲6一と, 先手 shifts to a winning position despite the material deficit. The 先手玉′s upper escape potential and 入玉 possibilities provide insurance, while 後手′s pieces—especially the 金6九—are poorly coordinated and not contributing. The last move △8八龍 was a losing tempo that failed to generate real threats.
I’m thinking about whether to include a diagram of the critical position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, which would show the ▲7二金 threat that seals the game—that single diagram would illustrate the mating pattern more clearly than text alone. A diagram of the critical position would help them follow the mate sequence, so I’ll include one. For notation, the user provided SFEN and English text, and their memory mentions Western notation preference, but the skill defaults to Japanese numeric form — I’ll go with that as the primary style.
Now checking if there’s a stronger continuation after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△7二馬 — something like ▲6二龍 instead of retreating, but that doesn’t work. Exploring alternatives like ▲4一龍, ▲2一龍, or ▲5一龍, though I need to verify which pieces are actually still on the board since the と was captured in that exchange and I want to make sure I’m not accidentally using it in the mate sequences. Now I’m verifying the mate line after ▲7二金 more carefully, particularly the △9三玉 branch — checking whether ▲8五桂 leads to mate after △9二玉 and ▲9三銀打, and also examining △8四玉 which gets mated by ▲7五銀. I’m working through the king’s remaining flight squares from 9三 when attacked by the knight on 8五.
I’m also confirming that in the mate position with ▲7五銀, the 後手玉 on 8四 cannot capture the knight on 8五 because that would place the king adjacent to the 先手玉 on 8六, which is illegal — kings can never be adjacent regardless of other defenses. Finally, I’m verifying the initial mate line holds: ▲7二金 △9三玉 ▲8五桂 △8四玉 ▲7五銀, where the silver on 7五 is supported by the pawn on 7六. So △6六銀 doesn’t actually threaten 8六 directly — but what about promoting it to 7七? A promoted silver at 7七 moves like a gold: forward to 7八, diagonals to 6八 and 8八, sideways to 6七 and 8七, backward to 7六. That still doesn’t reach 8六, so it’s not a check either.
Now looking at △6六銀 itself — the pawn at 6七 can capture forward to 6六, so ▲同歩 just wins the silver. And △7七桂打 doesn’t give check either since it only attacks 8九 and 6九. So I’ve confirmed all of 後手′s checking attempts — the 8五 and 7五 pieces, plus the 7四 knight — are all refuted.
But there’s still one loose end: after ▲6一と, what if 後手 plays △5一金打 to attack the と directly? 銀5一は6一を攻撃しないから無意味だ。6二に銀を打つのも同じく6一を攻撃できない。6二に金を打つ方が有効で、6一の龍を攻撃しながら7二周辺もカバーできる。6二同龍で交換になるけど、龍が後ろに下がる動きになるから合法だ。
でも龍1一からは6二をサポートできない——6二は1段目にないから。つまり6二の金は守られていないので、同龍で金をもう一枚獲得できる。後手がこんな損な交換をするはずがない。結局、6一の龍と龍のバッテリーが開いた段に形成されて、どんな反撃も駒損になる——6一龍が圧倒的に有利だ。
ただ、局面評価を正確に説明する必要がある：現在の局面は駒数では後手が優位だが、6一龍が使える先手の攻撃力と後手の反撃の無さから、すでに先手勝勢だ。後手の最後の手は8八龍だったはずで、2八から龍を進めて8八に置き、8九の桂や9八、8七を狙っていたんだろう。でも先手玉は8六にいて、その龍の攻撃は通用しない。
入玉の可能性についても触れておく価値がある：仮に全てが上手くいかなくても、先手玉は8五-8四の通路を使って入玉できる可能性がある（8三歩を崩せば）。ただし、今は詰みが見えているから、それは関係ない。
後手が6一龍に対して6二金打や7一金打で反撃できるかどうか、もう一度確認しておく必要がある。
7一金打の場合、龍が6一龍を守っているので、後手が同銀や同桂で応じることはできない。
The chat UI informed me that the max response length was reached and presented an option to Continue. I didn’t realize that this was a shortcut for entering just the word “Continue” as my next prompt, and before I could interrupt to add more detailed instructions, the model started outputting what appears to be its raw CoT:[1]
Fable 5 Raw CoT (hidden for length)
Claude Fable 5
— wait — supported by 龍 ✓✓ → ILLEGAL for 玉!!! — 玉 can’t capture a defended piece… wait — “defended” = 龍 attacks 7一 ✓ → recapture ▲same龍+ — so △同玉 ILLEGAL-ish (it’s legal only if… no — capturing a defended piece with the KING = moving into check = ILLEGAL ✓✓). → so △7一金打 ▲同と and… NOTHING recaptures?!? +金 AGAIN. ✗✗ for 後手. — What about simply △同銀 being actually FORCED-ish?? — 後手′s least-bad: probably DECLINE quietly and defend/run: e.g. △7一玉?? wait — ✗ と attacks… — と6一 attacks 7一?? — side ✓✓ ✗ illegal!! — △9二玉 then (as analyzed: ▲7一と grind — wait — actually after △9二玉 — even stronger: ▲7二と!!?? — と6一→7二?? — backward-diagonal — 金/と CANNOT move diagonally backward ✗✗ — right: ▲7一と it is — then △same: 銀7二 attacked (と7一: back 7二 ✓): 銀 flees △6三銀 (only — wait: 6一?? — EMPTY now (と left) — △6一銀!? (back-diag ✓): attacks… blocks the 龍-ray-support of と7一?!? — hmm!! 銀 ON 6一: rank-1 ray: ..5一,6一銀 — 龍 attacks the 銀 — and と7一 now UNSUPPORTED?? — wait — と7一 attacked by?? 玉9二: adjacent?? 9二-7一: file-diff 2 ✗. 桂8一: ✗. NOTHING attacks と7一 anyway ✓ fine — and ▲same: ▲6一同龍!! (×銀: supported by と7一?? — と attacks 6一 ✓✓!!): △same?? — nothing recaptures (玉9二 not adjacent to 6一 ✗) — +銀!! and now 龍6一+と7一 vs 玉9二… ▲8二金打?? — wait — vs 玉9二: 金8二: side 9二 ✓ CHECK — supported by と7一?? — と7一: fwd-diags?? — rank 0 off; — と attacks 8一(side)… ✗ NOT 8二 — unsupported △同玉?? — wait — 8二 — hmm — △same — what about ▲8一龍!?? (6一→7一?? own と ✗ blocked!! — 龍 rank-1 blocked by OWN と at 7一 ✗✗ lol). ▲8二銀打?? — 銀8二: fwd-diags 7一(own),9一香!! ✓; fwd 8一桂 ✓; — attacks 9二?? ✗✗ (no side) — not check — but THREAT ▲9一銀成?? wait — hmm — ▲8二銀 = 詰めろ?? threat ▲9一銀不成?? (×香: 銀9一: attacks 9二?? — wait — 先手銀9一: fwd: rank0 ✗; back-diags 8二(own-vacated...) — hmm ✗✗ doesn’t attack 9二!!). — ▲9三桂打!?? — vs 玉9二: 桂9三: jumps (8,1)!! — attacks 8一 ✗ not 9二… — UGH the 9二玉 again — RIGHT — this is why the mate-net needed 金7二 FIRST (covering 8二) before 香9三… — vs 玉9二 directly: ▲9三香打!? CHECK (✓): △同玉 (forced ✓(9二′s other flights?? — IN CHECK from 香: must address: capture(玉 only) or move: 8二?? — attacked by?? — hmm — NOTHING in this line ✗✗ — △8二玉!?? AVAILABLE!! — hmm!! — wait: position-check: this deep line: ▲6一と△9二玉▲7一と△6一銀▲同龍 — 先手: 龍6一,と7一, hand 角金2銀2桂香歩3?? recount: +金(6一),+銀(▲同龍×6一銀!?) — wait the 銀 — hand: 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3 ✓ — vs 玉9二: ▲9三香△8二玉!? — 玉 walks BACK toward と7一/龍6一!! — ▲8一龍?? ✗blocked-by-own-と… — ▲7二金打!!? (金7二: side 8二 ✓ CHECK; supported by 龍6一(diag 7二 ✓✓) AND と7一(back 7二 ✓✓) DOUBLE — △same: 玉8二: capture ✗(defended²); flights: 9二?? — 香9三 attacks 9二!!! ✓✗; 9一?? own香; 8一?? own桂… wait — hmm — 8一 — own 桂 ✓✗; 8三 own 歩 ✗; 7三?? own 歩✗; 7一 = own… wait — と is there (先手′s) — capture?? 玉×7一と: defended by 龍6一(side 7一… wait — 龍 ON 6一: rank-1: 7一 ✓✓ defended) ✗ ILLEGAL. — MATE!!! ✓✓✓ — beautiful — so even THAT runs into mate. — OK OK — the lines all collapse for 後手; I’ve verified enough depth. The grind-lines all end in short mates once the 龍+と+hand-pieces coordinate.
FINAL verification sweep of the MAIN mate (since I’ll present it as forced): Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 ▲7二金打: Board: 先手: 玉8六, 龍6一, 金7二(new); 歩9六8七7六6七1七4九; 香9九1九; 桂8九. Hand: 角銀桂香歩3. 後手: 玉8二, 桂8一, 香9一, 歩9四8三7三6四5三1三, 馬4五, 龍8八, 銀5七, 金6九. Hand: 金銀桂歩3. Check ✓ (金7二 supported by 龍6一 ✓). Gote replies: 9二/9三 only ✓. △9二玉 ▲9三香打 — CHECK ✓ (forced △同玉: flights 8二?? — covered by 金7二 ✓✗; 9一/8一 own ✗; 8三 own ✗ — wait — what about CAPTURING the 香 with… nothing ✓ — and 玉8二→?? IT’S ON 9二 — flights from 9二: 8二(✗金7二),8一(own),9一(own),8三(own),9三(=capture ✓only)) → △同玉 ✓. ▲8五桂打 — CHECK ✓ (no captures of 8五 ✓: 9四歩✗, 龍8八-blocked✗, 馬✗). Flights from 9三: 9二(→▲9三銀: wait — 9三 just VACATED by 玉?? — no no: 玉 moves 9三→9二; THEN ▲9三銀打 ON the vacated square ✓ CHECK (fwd 9二 ✓) supported by 桂8五 ✓ — flights: 8二✗(金7二),9一/8一/8三 own ✗ — capture 9三: 玉 only — supported ✗ → MATE ✓), 8四(→▲7五銀打 ✓ CHECK (fwd-diag 8四 ✓) supported 歩7六+玉8六 ✓ — flights: 7三/8三/9四 own ✗, 9三✗(桂8五), 7四✗(銀7五-fwd), 9五✗(歩9六), 8五✗(桂・玉-adjacent-illegal) — captures of 7五: 馬✗龍✗歩6四✗ → MATE ✓), 8二?? ✗(金7二 — wait: 玉9三→8二: 金7二 attacks 8二(side ✓)✗ ✓). △9三玉 (instead of 9二 at move 2): ▲8五桂 △9二玉(→銀#)/△8四玉(→▲7五銀#) ✓ — same. SEVEN PLIES, ALL FORCED, MATE ✓✓✓. (With the 香-sac making it work vs 9二玉 — wait — in the △9二玉 line I used ▲9三香打 BEFORE ▲8五桂 — necessary?? — direct ▲8五桂?? — NOT check vs 9二 ✗ — and direct ▲9三銀?? unsupported △同玉 — then ▲8五桂△8四玉 and NO 銀 for 7五 ✗ — so YES the 香先打 order is THE point — a nice 香捨ての先打ち… hmm wait actually it’s not even a sac in the end — the 香 deflects 玉 to 9三 where 桂+銀 mate — it IS a sacrifice (玉 takes it) — the classic 退路封鎖/おびき出し combo.) — Also alternative mate vs △9二玉: ▲8二金!?? — wait — second 金?? — hand after ▲7二金: 角銀桂香歩3 — NO second 金 ✗ — the 香-line is THE line ✓.
NOW — writing the response. Structure per skill: 局面の概要 → (maybe brief 駒の働き/玉の安全度 woven in) → 形勢判断 → 最善手 ▲6一と with main lines → alternatives → maybe diagram after ▲同龍. User asked: “evaluate the position and discuss candidate moves and variations.” English response, Japanese terms with romaji on first use, prose-forward (avoid heavy bullets per formatting guidance — though some structure is OK for multifaceted analysis; the skill format suggests sections; I’ll use a few headers and mostly prose, with indented variation lines). Keep formatting moderate — this content is genuinely multifaceted (variations), so some structure is warranted, but I should follow the “minimum formatting needed” principle: use a few bold lead-ins or short headers and notation lines.
Diagram: render position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 (the critical position where 後手 faces the mate threat). I need to call visualize:read_me with diagram module first (silently), then show_widget. Per board-rendering spec: viewBox ~700x820, sente at bottom, columns 9→1 left-to-right, rows 一-九 top to bottom, gote pieces rotated, promoted red, komadai top/bottom.
Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍: Rank 1: 9一香(gote), 8一桂(gote), 7一—, 6一龍(SENTE, promoted RED), 5一—...2一—, 1一— (龍 moved away from 1一!!) Rank 2: 8二玉(gote), 7二—(銀 gone!), 5二—(と gone) Rank 3: 8三歩g,7三歩g,5三歩g,1三歩g Rank 4: 9四歩g, 6四歩g Rank 5: 4五馬g (RED, rotated) Rank 6: 9六歩S,8六玉S,7六歩S Rank 7: 8七歩S, 6七歩S, 5七銀g, 1七歩S Rank 8: 8八龍g (RED rotated) Rank 9: 9九香S, 8九桂S, 6九金g, 4九歩S, 1九香S Sente hand: 角 金 銀 桂 香 歩3 — wait — after the exchange: hand = 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3?? — NO — hold on: ▲6一と captured 金 (+金 → 金2… wait — original hand 金1 → after capture 金2 ✓); △同銀 (と captured by gote — gote hand +歩); ▲同龍 (+銀 → 銀2). SENTE HAND after ▲同龍: 角1 金2 銀2 桂1 香1 歩3 ✓✓. GOTE hand: 金1銀1桂1歩2 +歩 = 金1銀1桂1歩3 ✓.
Let me double check sente hand math once more: SFEN hand “BGSNL3P” = B(角)1, G(金)1, S(銀)1, N(桂)1, L(香)1, P(歩)3. After ▲6一と: +G → 金2. After ▲同龍: +S → 銀2. ✓ 角1金2銀2桂1香1歩3.
Hmm — one risk: presenting the post-exchange diagram might confuse (differs from given position). I’ll clearly label it. Title: position_after_61ryu or such.
Also the mention in the skill: “Read the Visualizer’s diagram read_me module before rendering” — yes, must call visualize:read_me([“diagram”]) silently first.
Let me draft the SVG mentally per spec:
viewBox 0 0 700 820
Gote komadai top: “☖後手 持駒: 金 銀 桂 歩三” — render as text at top-left/right (spec says top, right-aligned, but I’ll do simple).
Column numbers 9..1 across top of board.
Board rect x=50,y=80,w=560,h=560 (squares ~62.2px… spec says ≈70px each → 9*62.2=560 ✓ squares = 62.22px). Hmm spec example uses 560 width → square 62.2. Font 32-36.
Row labels 一..九 right side at x≈625.
Pieces: gote rotated 180 about square center; promoted red
#CC0000.Star points at intersections (3,3),(3,6),(6,3),(6,6) — i.e., at the crossings between 3rd/6th lines: positions x=50+3*62.22 etc.
Sente komadai bottom: “☗先手 持駒: 角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三”
Highlight 6一 square (last move ▲同龍) pale yellow.
Square centers: cx(col i, 0-indexed from left=file9) = 50 + 62.22i + 31.1; cy(row j) = 80 + 62.22j + 31.1.
Let me compute: square size s = 560⁄9 = 62.222. cols (file): file = 9 - i. file9→i0: cx=50+31.1=81.1; file8→i1: 143.3; file7→i2: 205.6; file6→i3: 267.8; file5→i4: 330.0; file4→i5: 392.2; file3→i6: 454.4; file2→i7: 516.7; file1→i8: 578.9. rows (rank): rank r → j=r-1: cy = 80 + 62.22*(r-1) + 31.1: r1: 111.1; r2: 173.3; r3: 235.6; r4: 297.8; r5: 360.0; r6: 422.2; r7: 484.4; r8: 546.7; r9: 608.9.
Pieces to place (after ▲同龍): Gote (rotated): 9一香(81.1,111.1), 8一桂(143.3,111.1), 8二玉(143.3,173.3), 8三歩(143.3,235.6), 7三歩(205.6,235.6), 5三歩(330.0,235.6), 1三歩(578.9,235.6), 9四歩(81.1,297.8), 6四歩(267.8,297.8), 4五馬RED(392.2,360.0), 5七銀(330.0,484.4), 8八龍RED(143.3,546.7), 6九金(267.8,608.9). Sente (upright): 6一龍RED(267.8,111.1) [highlight square], 9六歩(81.1,422.2), 8六玉(143.3,422.2) — use 王 for sente?? convention: 先手=王?? the rendering spec says 先手′s king 王, gote 玉 (though varies; default 玉 both if unsure) — the SCREENSHOT shows both as 王… I’ll use 玉 for gote and 王 for sente — hmm spec: “Convention: 先手′s king is 王 (ō), 後手′s king is 玉 (gyoku)” — eh, traditionally it’s reversed (玉 for the lower-ranked… whatever) — follow the spec as written: sente 王?? — hmm, actually traditional: 王将 held by senior player; in diagrams usually 先手=玉?? — Kifu diagrams typically show 後手 with 王 or both 玉… I’ll just follow the reference doc: 先手 王, 後手 玉. Fine. 8六王(143.3,422.2), 7六歩(205.6,422.2), 8七歩(143.3,484.4), 6七歩(267.8,484.4), 1七歩(578.9,484.4), 9九香(81.1,608.9), 8九桂(143.3,608.9), 4九歩(392.2,608.9), 1九香(578.9,608.9).
Highlight: 6一 square: x = 50+62.22*3 = 236.67, y=80, w/h=62.22 — pale yellow
#F5E6A8-ish.Star points at grid intersections: (after 3 cols & rows from each edge): x=50+186.67=236.67 and 50+373.33=423.33; y=80+186.67=266.67 and 80+373.33=453.33.
Komadai text: top: ☖後手 持駒：金 銀 桂 歩三 ; bottom: ☗先手 持駒：角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三. Plus a “▲6一同龍まで” caption maybe at bottom.
Also need “diagram” read_me — it’ll give CSS var guidance; the board colors are shogi-specific per the reference (
#DEB887etc.) — fine, reference doc explicitly authorizes those. I’ll still call read_me as mandated and adapt (e.g., use var(--text-primary) for labels where sensible with fallbacks).One more consideration: response language. User wrote English → respond English with Japanese terms (romaji on first use). Use ▲/△ markers.
Also per the skill’s competitive framing: commit to the assessment: 先手勝勢 (sente is winning decisively) — actually before ▲6一と it’s “先手勝勢” contingent on finding it; I’ll phrase: despite the material deficit, sente is winning (先手勝勢) — the move that proves it is ▲6一と.
Length/formatting: This deserves a thorough but not bloated response. A few section headers, mostly prose + notation lines. Variation lines can be set as short indented/notation blocks. Avoid excessive bullets. Include the diagram after introducing the main line.
Let me write out the key variations cleanly:
主要変化 (main line): ▲6一と △同銀 ▲同龍 → threatening ▲7二金: ▲7二金 △9二玉 ▲9三香 △同玉 ▲8五桂 △8四玉 ▲7五銀まで (詰み)
△9二玉(4th) ▲9三銀まで
△9三玉(2nd) ▲8五桂 transposes. Gote’s defenses after ▲同龍: △7二馬 (only real patch — recalls attacker; ▲5一龍 keeps everything, sente up 金銀 with ongoing attack) △7一金 ▲5一龍 (or 2一) similar. Declining: △9二玉 ▲7一と! (supported by the dragon) → grind; e.g. △6一銀 ▲同龍! … ▲7二金まで patterns. Counterattack: △7四桂 ▲8五玉 △8四歩 ▲同玉! (or 8六) — checks run dry, e.g. △8三歩 ▲8五玉 △8四銀 ▲8六玉 △8五銀 ▲同玉! — gote runs out, sente’s hand swells, mate threat persists. Key safety note: 7七 and 9七 are covered by the 8八龍 (diagonal step) — the king must shuttle via 8五/8四/8六 only.
Also mention candidate alternatives & why inferior: ▲7四桂 (premature: △同歩 and ▲7三銀 fails to △同桂), defensive moves unnecessary (玉 is safe; 龍8八′s attack is blunted by 8七歩; checks all lose material), ▲6二と inferior version of the idea.
And the evaluation summary: material count gote +金銀×2 vs 香2歩2… let me state: gote is ahead the equivalent of two 金 and two 銀 against two 香 and two 歩 — wait let me recount to be safe: 金: sente total = 1 (hand). gote = 6一+6九+hand1 = 3. diff −2. 銀: sente 1 hand. gote 7二+5七+hand1 = 3. diff −2. 香: sente 9九+1九+hand = 3. gote 9一 = 1. diff +2. 桂: sente 8九+hand=2; gote 8一+hand=2. even. 歩: sente 6 board +と +3 hand = 10; gote 6+2 = 8. +2. 角飛: even (馬vs角hand; 龍vs龍). ✓ so: gote up 2金2銀 for 2香2歩 — roughly a 金+銀 net advantage in raw terms. But efficiency: 金6九 dead, 銀5七 stranded, 龍8八 hitting a wall; sente’s pieces ALL working.
I might briefly note the last move △8八龍 appears to have been the decisive tempo-loss (it threatens 8九桂 at most).
Also the skill says lead with the best move recommendation in the 最善手 section: “▲6一と is the move” — I’ll commit hard.
One more sanity check on ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — hmm, what if 後手 interposes the order: ▲6一と △7四桂!? (check FIRST, before deciding on 6一): ▲8五玉 (as before — and NOTE: now と sits on 6一 attacked by 銀7二!! — wait: 銀7二: back-diags 6一 ✓✓ attacks と — but と defended by 龍 ✓ — if later △同銀▲同龍 same thing ✓) △8四歩 ▲同玉 (etc. — same refutation; sente even happier with 玉 marching) — or at any pause ▲same continues. ✓ consistent.
And ultra-edge-case: after ▲6一と, △同玉?!?! — 玉8二×6一?? NOT ADJACENT ✗ impossible lol ✓.
I think I’m ready. Response plan:
Quick framing: confirm position read (maybe 1 line), phase = 終盤 (shūban), note the asymmetry.
形勢判断 with material vs efficiency.
最善手: ▲6一と — explain the battery (と5二+龍1一 both hitting the undefended-enough 6一金), main line with mate sequence; diagram of post-▲同龍.
Gote’s defensive tries (△7二馬 / △7一金) and resulting eval.
Gote declines / counterattacks — the race calc + the 7七/9七 mine warning.
Alternatives for sente & why inferior.
Conclusion: 先手勝勢; ▲6一と.
For the diagram: call read_me silently first with [“diagram”], platform unknown.
Loading messages for the widget: shogi is a game — playful is OK? It’s not a “serious” topic. Keep them light but not silly: e.g., “Setting up the board”, “Placing the dragon on 61”, “Arranging the mating net”. ~5 words each, 2-3 messages.
Let me now write the SVG carefully. I’ll generate it programmatically in my head with the computed coordinates. Use font-family serif for kanji. Gote rotation: transform=”rotate(180 cx cy)”.
Pieces list with coords (rounded to 1 decimal):
Highlight rect 6一: x=236.7, y=80, 62.2×62.2, fill
#F0E0A0(pale).Board lines: vertical at x = 50 + 62.22k for k=1..8: 112.2, 174.4, 236.7, 298.9, 361.1, 423.3, 485.6, 547.8. Horizontal y = 80+62.22k: 142.2, 204.4, 266.7, 328.9, 391.1, 453.3, 515.6, 577.8.
Column headers (9..1 left→right) at cx values, y=72: 9@81.1, 8@143.3, 7@205.6, 6@267.8, 5@330.0, 4@392.2, 3@454.4, 2@516.7, 1@578.9. Row labels at x=628, cy values: 一@111.1 … 九@608.9.
Gote komadai: y≈40 area: text “☖ 後手 金 銀 桂 歩三” — right aligned near x=610, anchor end. Sente komadai: y≈680: “☗ 先手 角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三” left at x=50. Caption: “▲6一同龍まで（変化図）” maybe at y≈720. Hmm — could also add small text “後手番” (gote to move). Let me add: y=712: “図は▲6一と△同銀▲同龍まで・後手番”.
Actually for cleanliness: gote komadai top-right: “☖後手：金 銀 桂 歩三”; sente bottom-left: “☗先手：角 金二 銀二 桂 香 歩三”.
Pieces (sente upright, gote rotated, promoted red):
香 g 81.1,111.1 R
桂 g 143.3,111.1 R
龍 S RED 267.8,111.1 (6一)
玉 g 143.3,173.3 R (8二)
歩 g 143.3,235.6 R (8三)
歩 g 205.6,235.6 R (7三)
歩 g 330.0,235.6 R (5三)
歩 g 578.9,235.6 R (1三)
歩 g 81.1,297.8 R (9四)
歩 g 267.8,297.8 R (6四)
馬 g RED 392.2,360.0 R (4五)
歩 S 81.1,422.2 (9六)
王 S 143.3,422.2 (8六)
歩 S 205.6,422.2 (7六)
歩 S 143.3,484.4 (8七)
歩 S 267.8,484.4 (6七)
銀 g 330.0,484.4 R (5七)
歩 S 578.9,484.4 (1七)
龍 g RED 143.3,546.7 R (8八)
香 S 81.1,608.9 (9九)
桂 S 143.3,608.9 (8九)
金 g 267.8,608.9 R (6九)
歩 S 392.2,608.9 (4九)
香 S 578.9,608.9 (1九)
Wait — should the diagram be the CURRENT position instead? Hmm. The user gave a screenshot of the current position — rendering the variation position (after ▲同龍) adds NEW information. That’s the better choice. ✓. I’ll label it clearly.
Count gote rotated pieces: 香桂玉 + 歩×6 + 馬 + 銀 + 龍 + 金 = 13 ✓ (9一香,8一桂,8二玉,8三7三5三1三9四6四歩,4五馬,5七銀,8八龍,6九金 ✓). Sente: 龍6一,王8六,歩9六7六8七6七1七4九(6枚),香9九1九,桂8九 = 11 ✓.
Now writing prose. Keep romaji on first use: 終盤 (shūban), 先手 (sente), 後手 (gote), と金 (tokin), 龍 (ryū), 馬 (uma), 詰めろ… etc. Don’t overdo.
A note on length: this is a rich analysis; aim for thorough but tight. Use a couple of headers (## 形勢判断, ## 最善手：▲6一と, ## 後手の受けと反撃, ## その他の候補手) — or English headers with Japanese terms. Given user reads Japanese fluently, mixed is fine. Keep prose-dominant, variation lines as notation.
Also — per the user memory: do not use the user’s name; use apostrophe for drops in markdown — applies to Western-style drop notation; I’m using Japanese (▲9三香打 / ▲8五桂打) so no asterisks anyway. Good.
Double-check one notational thing: ▲6一と — the と moving from 5二 to 6一. In Japanese notation when ambiguity… only one と — fine. △同銀 — 銀7二 takes — wait — ALSO could 後手 take with… only 銀7二 attacks 6一 ✓ (桂8一 ✗, 玉 ✗ not adjacent… 8二-6一?? file diff 2 ✗). “△同銀” unambiguous ✓.
Final eval language: 現局面すでに先手勝勢 — and after ▲6一と it’s effectively decided (necessary caveat: assuming accurate play through the mating net).
Also explain WHY the mate works structurally: 9三 hole (端歩 9四 advanced), 桂8一/香9一 self-blocking, 二歩 constraints actually on SENTE’s side (no 8三/9三 pawn drops) which the 香打 finesse solves. The 9四歩 being advanced is the fatal weakness — classic 美濃 weakness when… actually it’s a 片美濃 with the 端 pushed; the と金 already amputated the 5二 metal… I can mention: the formation is a collapsed 片美濃 (katamino) whose second gold has been replaced by sente’s と金.
Let me also double check: “11th Eiō-sen” memory etc. — not relevant; no memory application needed here beyond notation prefs. ✓.
Write it now. I’ll do: intro sentence (no header), then sections. Include 速度計算 explicitly: sente mates in ~7 plies once the exchange happens; gote needs 5+ moves of non-checking buildup and all checking tries shed material without mating.
Actually, let me reconsider presenting “mate in 7” — the sequence ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = 7 plies ✓ “7手詰” in Japanese counting (attacker moves+defender… Japanese counts total plies: 7手 ✓). After ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, threat = 7手詰. ✓ phrase as 「▲7二金からの7手詰」.
One more paranoid re-verification of ▲9三香 necessity vs the immediate ▲8五桂 in the △9二玉 branch — ▲8五桂 vs 玉9二: NOT check (桂8五 hits 7三/9三) — right, so the 香 comes first to DRAG the king to 9三 ✓ (おびき寄せ). And in the △9三玉 branch the 香 is never needed (桂 checks immediately) — so the mate is 7手 vs 9二, 5手...wait: △9三玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = ▲7二金△9三玉▲8五桂△8四玉▲7五銀 = 5 plies! vs 9二: 7 plies. So “5〜7手詰”.
And — sanity: in △9三玉 line, hand after ▲7二金,▲8五桂: 角銀香歩3 — ▲7五銀 ✓ available ✓.
OK and the final overall claim once more — is there ANY hole in “after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍, gote’s ONLY moves stopping ▲7二金-mate are △7二馬 and △7一金打”? Other ideas: △6二桂打?? — 桂 can’t be dropped… wait — 桂 at 6二: jumps to (5,4),(7,4) — covers NOTHING relevant; ▲7二金 still mates ✗. △7一桂打?? — 桂 drop 7一: occupies 7一 (was that needed? mate used 7一?? — ✗ no — mate: 金7二… the 桂7一 doesn’t defend 7二 (桂 at 7一 jumps 6三?? wait 後手桂7一: (6,3),(8,3) — covers 6三/8三 ✗) ✗ mate stands. △8四歩?? (8三→8四: makes 8三 a flight?? — wait — ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂: NOW 8四 has 後手歩!! — 玉8四?? ✗own — wait — flights from 9三: 8四 OCCUPIED by own 歩 ✗✗ — so only △9二玉▲9三銀# — STILL MATE ✓ — wait also: with 歩 on 8四 — ▲8五桂 — can 歩8四 capture?? — 後手歩8四 captures 8五 ✓✓!!! △同歩!!! — HOLD ON: ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△同歩!?!? — the pushed pawn TAKES the 桂!! — then 玉9三, sente hand: 角銀桂?? wait — used 金香桂 — hand: 角銀歩3 — checks vs 9三: ▲9四...?? — hmm — ▲8五… — ▲9二銀?? — 銀9二: attacks 9一?? — wait — vs 玉9三: ▲9二銀打?? — 先手銀9二: fwd 9一; fwd-diags 8一; back-diags 8三… — attacks 9三?? ✗✗!! — ▲8四銀?? — wait 8四 — the 歩 captured TO 8五 — so 8四 EMPTY now: ▲8四銀打: fwd-diags 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK — supported by?? — 玉8六?? — 8六-8四?? NOT adjacent ✗ — UNSUPPORTED — △same — 玉×8四?? — hmm — legal (unsupported) — ▲8四銀△同玉 — and… hand 角歩3 — peters out?!?! — UH OH. — So △8四歩 (in advance) DEFENDS by giving △同歩 resource?!? — WAIT WAIT — back up: when would gote play △8四歩?? — as the move AFTER ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍 — i.e., instead of △7二馬: △8四歩!? — does THAT stop ▲7二金?? — ▲7二金 △9二玉 ▲9三香 △同玉 ▲8五桂 △同歩 — hmm — BUT — wait — with 歩 now on 8五(gote’s): ▲8四銀!?(unsupported ✗)… other checks vs 玉9三: ▲9四歩?? 二歩✗. ▲8五...香?? — ▲9五香?? — hmm — wait — actually — hold on: BEFORE panicking: at the ▲8五桂 moment, with gote-歩 sitting on 8四, sente should choose a DIFFERENT check: vs 玉9三 (歩8四 present): ▲8四銀!?? — wait — supported by — hmm — what about ▲9四銀!?? — 9四 — gote 歩 THERE?? — wait — 9四歩 — yes still ✗occupied. — ▲8二銀打!? — 銀8二: fwd-diags 7一,9一… attacks 9三?? — back-diags from 8二: 7三,9三 ✓✓!!! CHECK!! — supported by 金7二?? — 金7二 attacks 8二?? — side ✓✓ SUPPORTED!!! — △same: 玉9三: capture ▲8二銀?? — 玉 only — supported ✗ ILLEGAL; flights: 9二?? — 銀8二: fwd… — wait — does 銀8二 attack 9二?? ✗ (no side) — hmm — 9二: attacked by?? — NOTHING?!? △9二玉 — then ▲9三香打?? — SECOND 香?? ✗ used… — hand: after 金,香,桂,銀 used: 角歩3 ✗✗ — ARGH. — hmm hmm. — OK so with △8四歩 inserted, the 9三-玉 needs a different net. — Let me re-solve: position: after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩: gote: 玉8二,桂8一,香9一,歩9四・8四(!!)・7三・6四・5三・1三,馬4五,龍8八,銀5七,金6九; hand 金銀桂歩3?? wait — 歩: had 歩3 — the 8四 push was the BOARD 8三歩 — hand unchanged 金銀桂歩3 ✓. — and CRUCIALLY: 8三 now EMPTY. — sente: ▲7二金 (still ✓ check, supported): △9二玉 (only? — 9三 ✓ also — AND — wait — NEW: 8三!?? — 玉8二→8三: attacked by?? — hmm — NOTHING of sente’s… wait — ✗✗ really — 8三: sente attackers: ✗ — △8三玉!?? LEGAL!! — ugh — the push CREATED a flight square!! — vs △8三玉: checks: ▲8五桂?? — wait — gote 歩8四 takes ✗… — ▲7四銀打!? — 銀7四: fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓✓ CHECK — supported by?? ✗ — △同歩?? — 7三歩×7四 ✓✓ ugh — △same — hmm — ▲8四...?? — ▲7五桂打!?? — 桂7五: jumps (6,3),(8,3): 8三 ✓✓ CHECK!! — captures of 7五: ▲… gote: 歩7四?? ✗none — 歩6四 ✗ — 馬4五?? ✗ — NOTHING ✓ — flights of 玉8三: 9二(✗? — attacked?? ✗ — ✓available),9三(✗? ✓available),8二(✗金7二!!… wait — 金7二 attacks 8二 ✓ ✗),7四?? — wait — 桂7五 attacks 8三,6三 — 7四: attacked by?? — hmm — 歩7三 is gote’s OWN — 7四: sente attackers ✗ — wait — is 7四 EMPTY ✓ — △7四玉!?? — hmm — attacked by — let me check: 桂7五 ✗(attacks 6三/8三); 金7二 ✗; 龍6一?? — vertical 6二,6三,6四歩✗blocked; rank1 ✗ — NOTHING ✗ — △7四玉 available?!? — wait — REALLY — hmm — but WAIT: ▲7五桂 was CHECK from 7五 — 玉 capturing… 玉8三×?? — 7五 not adjacent ✗; — flights: 9二,9三,7四,8四?? (own歩 ✗) — three flights — hmm — vs 7四玉: ▲7五… — own 桂 there — ▲6五銀打?? — 銀6五: fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓ CHECK — supported by?? — 桂7五?? ✗… — hmm — UNSUPPORTED — △same玉× — wait — 玉7四×6五?? — adjacent ✓ unsupported ✓ legal — UGH. — — OK STOP. — This is getting genuinely complicated — △8四歩 might be a real defensive resource (creating 8三 flight + 8四 interceptor). Let me think about whether sente has a clean answer to △8四歩.
Position after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩 (sente to move; sente hand 角金2銀2桂香歩3): Hmm — wait — first — is △8四歩 even CHECK-proof… it ignores nothing — wait — does sente have ▲same×8四?? — 玉8六?? — 8六-8四 NOT adjacent ✗. — OK so sente to move, big hand. KEY new features: 8三 flight for gote-玉; 8五 covered by 歩8四 (so ▲8五桂 hangs); BUT: 8三 is also a HOLE next to… hmm — sente ideas: ▲8三銀打!?? — 銀8三: fwd 8二玉!!?? — wait — 先手銀8三: forward = 8二 ✓✓ CHECK!! fwd-diags 7二(own金?? — no wait — no 金 yet — 7二 EMPTY ✓),9二 ✓ — supported by?? ✗ UNSUPPORTED — △同玉 ✗ — hmm — wait — but — ▲8三銀 △同玉?? — wait can ANYTHING ELSE take 8三: 桂8一?? ✗; 香9一?? ✗; 歩8四?? — gote pawn captures FORWARD (rank+1): 8五 ✗✗; 玉 only — △同玉 — then ▲7二金打?? wait — wait — hand: 金2!! — ▲7二金: vs 玉8三: 金7二: attacks 8三?? — back?? — 先手金7二: backward = 7三 ✗✗… fwd-diags 6一,8一; side 6二,8二; — ✗ NOT check — hmm — ▲8四...?? — vs 玉8三: ▲7四銀打!? (second 銀 ✓): fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓ CHECK; supported ✗; △同歩(7三×) ✓ ugh — △同玉?? also — hmm — — OK ▲8三銀-sac unclear. — DIFFERENT approach: ▲7二金打 FIRST (before gote consolidates more): △8三玉 (the new flight; or △9二玉/9三玉 → OLD mate?? — wait — does the old mate still work vs 9二/9三 with 歩 on 8四?: △9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂△同歩!(NEW) — broken as shown — hmm — so even 9二 escapes now?!? — wait — vs △9二玉 (歩8四 version): ▲9三香△同玉 — alternatives to ▲8五桂: ▲8二銀打!? (back-diags 7三?? wait — 先手銀8二: back-diags = 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK on 9三; supported by 金7二(side 8二 ✓✓)): △same: 玉9三 flights: 9二?? — attacked by 銀8二?? ✗(no side)… — hmm ✗not covered — △9二玉 — ▲9三歩?? 二歩✗ — ▲9三銀打(second): supported by 銀8二?? — 銀8二 attacks 9三?? — back-diag ✓ wait — 先手銀8二′s back-diags: 7三,9三 — ✓✓!! — ▲9三銀打: CHECK on 9二; supported ✓: flights: 8二?? — own… — wait — 銀(sente’s) ON 8二?? — capture?? — 玉9二×8二銀: supported by 金7二 ✓ ✗ILLEGAL; 9一own,8一own; 8三?? — EMPTY NOW (pushed!!) — attacked by?? — 銀8二: back-diags 7三,9三… ✗; 金7二: backward 7三 ✗; — NOT covered?!? — △8三玉!!! — ESCAPES — ARGH — the 8三 hole again. — — so △8四歩 is a genuinely annoying 中段玉/上部脱出-prep defense. — BUT WAIT: it does NOTHING about material: sente is +金銀 and can simply… hmm — but I claimed near-forced-win; need to handle △8四歩 honestly. — Let me find sente’s best vs △8四歩: — the move WEAKENED 8三-square’s pawn-cover… — wait — actually — hmm — KEY: ▲8五歩?!? — 二歩?? file 8: sente 歩8七 ✓✓ ✗ ILLEGAL — damn. — ▲same — what about attacking the NEW weakness: the 歩8四 itself is attacked by?? ✗. — What about ▲7五桂打 (pre-empting): 桂7五 jumps 6三,8三 — COVERS 8三!!! (takes away the flight!!) — and threatens ▲8三桂成?? wait — jump TO 8三: 成桂8三: attacks 8二 ✓(fwd… 先手成桂8三: fwd 8二 ✓) — ▲7五桂 = threat ▲8三桂不成/成 CHECK — and 7五: attacked by gote?? — 歩7四?? ✗(7三); 馬✗; 歩6四 ✗ — SAFE ✓ — and — wait — ALSO: with 桂 on 7五 covering 8三: NOW ▲7二金 mate-net revives?? — gote’s reply to ▲7五桂: hmm — △same — defends 8三-jump: △8三玉?!? — wait — INTO the 桂′s teeth?? — 8三 attacked by 桂7五 ✓✗ illegal!! — △7四歩?? — wait — gote 歩7三→7四: attacks 7五桂!! ✓ — ▲same — 桂 defended by?? ✗ — hmm — ▲8三桂成!?? (jumping IN anyway: ×nothing — 8三 empty — wait — CHECK ✓ (成桂8三 attacks 8二 ✓): supported by?? ✗✗ — △同玉?? — wait — △同桂!?? — 桂8一×8三?? — 桂 jumps (7,3),(9,3) ✗✗ can’t; △同香?? ✗; △同玉 ✓ (unsupported) — then 玉8三: ▲7二金?? not check… — hmm — ▲8五桂打?? — wait — 歩8四 STILL takes ✗… — — hmm — ▲7五桂△7四歩: maybe ▲6三桂成!?? (other jump: ×nothing — 6三 empty ✓: 成桂6三: attacks 6二,5二?? — wait — sente 成桂(=金) at 6三: fwd 6二; fwd-diags 5二,7二; side 5三(gote歩!),7三?? — wait — 7三 — the 歩 PUSHED to 7四 — 7三 EMPTY — ; back 6四(gote歩) — hmm — not check — but supported by 龍6一?? — 龍 vertical: 6二,6三 ✓✓!! — ▲6三成桂 threatens ▲7二成桂?? — wait — and ALSO — hmm — this is turning into a long grind again — FINE — but is it WINNING-grind: sente +金銀, all gote’s extra moves (8四歩,7四歩) are pure defense, gote’s attack still nonexistent — YES winning, just not the crisp 7手詰. — — Hmm — OK — but actually — WAIT — let me reconsider the move order: maybe vs △8四歩, the cleanest is ▲7二金!? anyway: △8三玉 (forced-best?? — 9二/9三: do they STILL lose?: vs △9二玉: ▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀!(supported by 金7二)△9二玉?? wait — hmm I did this: △9二玉▲9三銀打(supported by 8二銀)△8三玉! escapes — — vs that: 玉8三 — sente pieces: 金7二,銀8二,銀9三,香(used),桂✓,角✓,歩3 — checks vs 8三: ▲7四桂打!? — wait — hmm — 桂7四: jumps 6二,8二?? — (file±1, rank−2): (6,2),(8,2) ✗ NOT 8三 — ✗not check; ▲7五桂打!? jumps 6三,8三 ✓ CHECK!! — captures of 7五: 歩7四?? — wait — in THIS line did 7三歩 push?? ✗ NO — gote played 玉-moves only — 7三歩 home ✓ — so 7五: attacked by gote ✗ SAFE — wait — capture the CHECKER: nothing reaches 7五 ✓; flights of 8三: 7四?? — attacked by?? — hmm — 桂7五 ✗(6三/8三); — ✗free?? — wait — 銀8二(sente’s!!): back-diags 7三,9三; fwd-diags 7一,9一; fwd 8一 — ✗ not 7四 — — hmm — 金7二: backward 7三 ✓!!! — 7三?? — that’s gote’s own 歩 anyway ✗occupied — 7四: covered by?? NOTHING — △7四玉!? — UGH — the 玉 ESCAPES UPFIELD — — and then — sente: ▲6五銀?? unsupported… ▲7五… own桂… — ▲8五銀打?? — wait — 歩8四(gote) — captures 8五 ✓✗ — — vs 玉7四: ▲6六桂打?? — wait — second 桂?? — used 7五… hand: 角銀歩3 + … — ✗no — ▲7五...角?!? — hmm — ▲6五銀打: fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓CHECK unsupported △同玉?? — 玉7四×6五: hmm — wait — supported by 歩6六?? — sente has NO 歩 on 6六 (it’s on 6七: attacks 6六 — covers 6六 NOT 6五) ✗ — △同玉 ✓ — — UGH the 中段玉 slips — — — hmm hmm — BUT — hold on — while the gote-玉 runs to 7四/6五-land, count material&threats: it’s running INTO sente’s pawn-wall (6七,7六...) and sente’s 玉8六 zone with sente holding 角金銀×… — a king-hunt where sente keeps checking with drops; even if no immediate mate, gote-玉 on 6五: ▲5六銀打?? wait… — also — IMPORTANT: a gote-玉 marching UP also approaches sente’s 入玉… no wait — gote 玉 going UP = toward SENTE’s camp = it’s trying to 入玉 into sente’s territory!! — 玉7四→6五→5六?!? — with sente’s 歩-wall 6七/7六 and 玉8六 RIGHT THERE — sente: ▲7五桂,▲6六...: — honestly: a desperate gote king-runout while down 金銀 with zero attack — sente should win comfortably but MUST play accurately to cage it: e.g., vs 玉7四: ▲8五銀打?? ✗(8四歩×) — ▲7五歩?? ✗二歩 — ▲6六桂?? no2nd桂 — ▲7五金!? (SECOND 金!! — hand 金2 ✓✓ — wait — in THIS sub-line: used 金(7二),香,銀(8二),銀(9三),桂(7五)… — hand: 金1角1歩3 ✓ HAS a 金: ▲7五...?? — 7五 = own 桂!! ✗ ARGH — — ▲6五金打!? — 金6五: attacks 7四?? — wait — sente 金6五: fwd 6四(gote歩); fwd-diags 5四,7四 ✓✓ CHECK!! — supported by 歩6六?? ✗(no)… 歩6七 attacks 6六 ✗ — UNSUPPORTED — △同玉?? — wait — 玉7四×6五金 — hmm legal — — BUT — wait — what TAKES on 6五: gote 歩6四: captures 6五 ✓✓!! — △同歩!! even simpler ✗✗ — — — hmm — ▲8五...✗ — — vs 玉7四 — what about quiet net: ▲6六銀打!? — covers 7五?? — wait own桂 on 7五 — covers 6五,7五… 先手銀6六: fwd 6五 ✓; fwd-diags 5五,7五(own) — covers 6五!! — and threat ▲6五銀 CHECK next… — gote: 玉7四 must run: △same — flights: 6三?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗!! — 7三own歩 — wait — own — hmm — △8三玉?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗ — △8五玉?!?? — own 歩8四… — 8五: attacked by 銀6六?? ✗; — by sente 玉8六!!! ✓✗✗ adjacent-king ILLEGAL — △6五玉?? — covered by 銀6六(fwd ✓)✗ — △7五玉?? — own… — SENTE桂 there — capture: 桂7五 defended by 銀6六 ✓✗ — — 玉7四 has NO FLIGHTS?!? — wait — then ▲6六銀 = 詰めろ?? — gote must… — capture/disrupt: △7五歩?? wait gote 歩7三→7四?? OWN玉 there ✗✗ lol — △same — gote hand: 金銀桂歩3 — interpose/cover 6五: △6五銀打?? — blocks ▲6五銀… — wait — ▲same — hmm — — OK LOOK — I’m now 15+ plies deep into a sub-sub-line that began with gote finding TWO precise defenses (△8四歩 then 玉-run). The honest summary: △8四歩 is gote’s best try, leading to a 中段玉 runout that sente must hunt carefully; sente remains material-up with overwhelming hand + zero gote counterplay → 先手勝勢 still, but the “crisp forced mate” claim must be SCOPED to the lines without △8四歩. — — hmm — wait — actually — hold on — let me reconsider ONE thing: vs △8四歩, instead of ▲7二金 immediately — ▲7五桂打!? FIRST (covering 8三 BEFORE committing): threats: ▲8三桂成-check AND re-arms ▲7二金-mate?? — check the revived mate: with 桂7五 (and gote 歩8四): ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉 — now ▲8五桂?? ✗(歩8四× — wait — 歩8四 captures 8五 ✓ — BUT — hmm — second 桂?? — only had 1 ✗used on 7五!! — — vs 玉9三: ▲8二銀(supported-by金7二)△9二玉?? wait △same — ▲8二銀 CHECK(back-diag 9三 ✓)… — 玉9三: flights 9二(uncovered ✗free),8三?? — covered by 桂7五 ✓✗!!,8四own✗,9四own✗ — △9二玉 — ▲9三銀打(2nd銀; supported by 銀8二 ✓): 玉9二: flights: 8三?? — wait — 玉 at 9二 — adjacent: 8一own,9一own,8二(sente銀—capture?? supported by 金7二 ✓✗),8三?? — NOT adjacent to 9二?? — 9二′s neighbors: 8一,9一,8二,8三?? — (9,2)→(8,3): file−1,rank+1 ✓ ADJACENT ✓ — 8三: covered by 桂7五 ✓✗✗!!! — 9三: checker(supported)✗ — MATE!!!! ✓✓✓ — — SO: ▲7五桂 first, THEN the net mates EVEN WITH gote’s 8四歩, because 桂7五 seals 8三!! — — but — gote gets a move after ▲7五桂: defenses: △7四歩 (attacking 桂): ▲same — hmm — now ▲7二金 NOW?? — gote-玉 escapes via… wait — does △7四歩 actually defend the NET?: ▲7二金△9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀△9二玉▲9三銀# — does 7四歩 interfere?? — the 桂7五: now ATTACKED but still SITTING (sente never moves it — it just guards 8三!!) — △7四歩 doesn’t CAPTURE yet — the mate is 4 sente-moves: ▲7二金(1)→▲9三香(2)→▲8二銀(3)→▲9三銀(4) — ALL CHECKS — gote NEVER gets to play 7四×7五!!! — ✓✓✓ MATE STANDS — wait — really — let me recount the sequence with gote’s replies: ▲7五桂 △7四歩 ▲7二金!(check) △9二玉(or 9三/8三?? — 8三 covered-by-桂 ✓✗; 9三: ▲8二銀!(check — wait — vs 玉9三 — ✓ as before)… ) — △9二玉 ▲9三香(check) △同玉(forced) ▲8二銀(check) △9二玉(forced — 8四?? wait — 玉9三′s flights: 8四 = gote’s own 歩 ✓✗; 8三 ✗桂; 9四own✗; 8二=checker-supported✗ → 9二 only ✓) ▲9三銀(check) — MATE (8三 ✗桂7五-covered; 8二 ✗金… wait — 8二 has sente-銀 ALREADY(!!) — occupied-by-attacker — capture: supported by 金7二 ✗ — ✓) — MATE ✓✓✓✓ — TOTAL: ▲7五桂△anything▲7二金… = mate. — SO: vs △8四歩: ▲7五桂!! and gote is STILL dead — UNLESS gote’s in-between move creates a CHECK or breaks the net: gote’s move after ▲7五桂: checks vs 玉8六?? — same refuted list (8五-drops now SUPPORTED by 歩8四!!! — △8五銀打: CHECK, supported-by-8四歩!! — ▲same — 玉8六: flights 9七/7七 ✗(龍!!) — 8七own,9六own,7六own — 7五own(桂)… — UH OH — ▲同… — capture 8五銀: 玉×?? supported ✗ — — WAIT — FLIGHTS: ▲7七/9七 ILLEGAL(龍-diag) — ▲8五✗ — hmm — 玉8六 adjacent: 9五(✗9四歩),8五(checker-supported✗),7五(OWN桂✗),9六own,7六own,8七own,9七✗龍,7七✗龍 — — NO LEGAL MOVES?!?! — IS ▲… — WAIT — capture by NON-king: anything sente attacking 8五: 玉(✗can’t-capture-supported)… 歩8六?? ✗none… — 桂7五?? — sente桂7五 jumps to 6三,8三 ✗✗ — — INTERPOSE?? adjacent-check ✗ — — ▲… — THAT’S MATE?!?!?! — △8五銀打 MATES sente?!?! — WAIT WAIT — hold on — 玉8六′s square 7五 — has SENTE’s own 桂 (just dropped!!) — IT BLOCKED ITS OWN KING’S FLIGHT!!! — — so the move-order ▲7五桂?? — vs △8五銀打#?!? — wait — but — hold on — at THAT point (after ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲7五桂): gote hand: 金銀桂歩3 ✓ has 銀 ✓ — △8五銀打: supported by 歩8四 ✓✓ — and ALL flights sealed as computed — ohhhh NO — ▲7五桂 is a SELF-MATING blunder there!!! — THANK GOODNESS I checked. — — wow — OK — so vs △8四歩: NOT ▲7五桂 (self-block!!). — — Re-solve vs △8四歩 (CAREFULLY, minding that 歩8四 now SUPPORTS 8五-drops — sente-玉 suddenly has a real problem?!): — gote’s THREAT after △8四歩: △8五銀打!?? — is that… vs CURRENT flights: 玉8六: 7五!? — EMPTY (no 桂!!) ✓ FLIGHT EXISTS ✓ — so △8五銀▲7五玉 — wait — ▲same — hmm — △8五銀打(check)▲7五玉 (only? — 7七/9七✗龍 — yes only) — then: △7四歩?? wait — wait — gote checks vs 7五玉: △7四歩!? — 歩7三→7四: attacks 7五 ✓ CHECK — ▲same — capture ▲7四同玉?? — supported by?? — hmm — 銀8五: back-diags from 8五: 7四,9四 ✓✓✗!!! — ▲7四✗ — ▲6五玉?? wait — wait — 玉7五 flights: 6五?? — attacked by 歩6四 ✓✗!! — 6六?? — attacked by 銀5七(back-diag 6六 ✓!!)✗ — 7四✗(銀8五) — 8四✗(gote歩… own-gote — wait — capture: ▲8四玉?? — 8四 = gote 歩 — capture-able — supported by 銀8五?? — back-diag 9四,7四 ✗… — wait — 後手銀8五: backward-diagonals: (file±1, rank−1) = 7四,9四 ✗not-8四 — supported by?? — NOTHING?? — ▲8四同玉!?? — hmm wait — but ALSO: ▲7五玉′s other flights: 6六✗,6五✗,7四✗,8四(capture ✓?),8五?? — wait — gote 銀 there — capture: supported by 歩8四 ✓✗ — 8六(back — attacked by 銀8五(fwd 8六 ✓)✗!!) — 7六own✗ — — so vs △7四歩-check: ▲8四同玉 ONLY — — then 玉8四: gote checks: △8三歩打?? — file8: gote-歩?? — the 8三歩 pushed-to-8四-then-CAPTURED — file8 gote-clear ✓ — △8三歩打: CHECK — ▲same — 玉8四: capture ▲8三同玉 — supported by 玉8二 ✓✗ — flights: 9三?? — 玉8二-covered ✓✗ — 7三?? — gote歩 — wait — it PUSHED to 7四 — 7三 EMPTY — attacked by 玉8二 ✓✗!! — 9五?? — wait — 玉8四′s neighbors: 7三✗,8三✗(checker-supported-by-玉),9三✗,7四(gote歩 — capture: supported by?? — hmm — 歩7四 — defended by 銀8五(back-diag 7四 ✓✓)✗!!),9四(gote歩 — defended by 銀8五(back-diag 9四 ✓)✗!!),7五(vacated — attacked by 歩7四?!? — gote歩7四 attacks 7五 ✓✗!!! ),8五(gote銀 — defended by 歩8四?? — CAPTURED — by?? — hmm — 龍8八?? — file8: 8七sente歩 — blocked ✗ — NOTHING — ▲8五同玉!?? — wait — IN CHECK from 8三歩?? — capturing on 8五 doesn’t address the check?!? — wait — 歩8三 attacks 8四 — if 玉 moves to 8五 — out of the pawn’s attack ✓ — AND capturing the 銀 ✓ — LEGAL ✓ — wait — 8五: attacked by anything else: 歩8四?? GONE(captured by 玉 last move!!) — hmm — wait — NO — recount: ▲8四同玉 CAPTURED the gote-歩-on-8四 ✓ — then △8三歩打 — now ▲8五同玉?? — “同”?? — the 銀 is on 8五: ▲8五玉 = capturing 銀 ✓ — supported by?? — computed: NOTHING ✓ — LEGAL — — and 9五?? also: attacked by 歩9四… wait — gote 歩9四 — attacks 9五 ✓✗ — — so ▲8五玉(+銀!!) — gote: △8四歩打?? 二歩(8三✓)✗ — △8四銀?? hand: had 金銀桂歩3 → spent 銀(8五-captured!!),歩(8三): 金桂歩2 — △8四金!? — fwd 8五 ✓CHECK supported-by-8三歩 ✓: ▲8六玉(8五′s flights: 7五✗(歩7四!!),9五✗(9四歩),9六/7六/8七own,7四✗...gote,9四✗,8四✗checker — 8六: attacked by?? — 銀?? CAPTURED ✓ — ✓FREE ✓) ▲8六玉 — △8五金(fwd — supported by?? 8三歩 attacks 8四 ✗ — UNSUPPORTED): ▲同玉+金!! — OR gote-other-checks vs 8六: △7五金?? — wait the 金 on 8四 — to 7五: fwd-diag ✓ — 金7五: attacks 8六 ✓ CHECK — supported by 歩7四 ✓✓!!! — ▲same — 玉8六: capture✗(supported); flights: 9七/7七✗龍!!! — 8七/9六/7六own — 8五?? — attacked by 金7五(side ✓)✗!! — 9五✗(9四歩) — — NO FLIGHTS — wait — WHAT — capture 7五金 by non-玉: 歩7六!!! — sente歩7六 captures 7五 ✓✓✓ — ▲同歩!!! — phew — (and that’s +金 — wait — supported-by-歩7四: △same — 歩7四×7五歩 — recapture — net: sente +金−歩… fine) — — and AFTER ▲7六同歩△same歩: 玉8六: gote: hand 桂歩1… — △7四桂打?? wait — wait — STOP STOP. — — I’ve now burned through gote’s entire hand in this fantasy and sente survived with +銀+金−歩-ish — BUT — the deeper issue: this whole branch began ▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩 — and I was finding sente’s BEST 4th move — and discovered the position is genuinely SHARP because △8四歩 both creates 8三-flight AND arms △8五銀-mate-threats!! — — wait — wait — IS △8五銀 (after △8四歩, if sente dawdles) actually mate-threat?? — computed above: △8五銀打▲7五玉△7四歩▲8四玉△8三歩▲8五玉(+銀) — NOT mate — sente-玉 survives-and-EATS — hmm — but what if gote inserts differently: △8五銀▲7五玉△6五金打!? (the OTHER net: 金6五: side 7五 ✓CHECK; supported by 歩6四 ✓): ▲same — 玉7五: capture✗(supported); flights: 7四?? — 銀8五-backdiag ✓✗; 8四?? — gote歩(supported-by-銀8五?? ✗(backdiags 7四/9四 — YES 8四?? — (8,5)→backdiag = (7,4),(9,4) — NOT (8,4) ✗) — supported by?? NOTHING — ▲8四同玉 ✓!?) — wait — ALSO 6六?? — 銀5七✗(covers6六)… — ▲8四玉 — △8三歩打(file8-clear?? — 8三… wait — in THIS line the ORIGINAL 8三歩 pushed to 8四 — and ▲玉 just CAPTURED it ✓ clear ✓)△8三歩: CHECK — ▲8五玉?? — wait — 銀 STILL on 8五 (uncaptured this line!!) — capture: supported by?? — 歩8四 GONE — ✗nothing — ▲8五同玉(+銀) — — wait — but — 金6五 — covers… — 玉 ON 8五: △same — gote: △8四歩?? 二歩✗ — △8四金(6五→?? — 金6五 to 8四?? NOT-A-MOVE(too far)✗) — △7四桂打?? — hand: 金銀桂歩3 −銀(8五✝)−金(6五)−歩(8三) = 桂歩2: △7四桂: attacks 8六,6六 ✗not-8五-check ✗ — △8四銀?? ✗none — — NO checks — sente-玉 SAFE on 8五 — and sente then?? — RIGHT — and during ALL of this sente’s mate-threat ▲7二金 NEVER went away?!? — wait — did it?: gote’s moves: 8四歩,8五銀,6五金,8三歩 — none touched 7二/9三-zone — BUT — 8三歩-redrop RESTORED the 8三-block?!? — wait — and 8四 now EMPTY — — vs ▲7二金: △9二玉▲9三香△同玉▲8五桂?!? — OWN 玉 ON 8五!!! — ✗✗ — ▲8四銀!? — (8四 empty ✓): fwd-diags 7三,9三 ✓ CHECK — supported by 玉8五!!! ✓✓ — △9二玉 ▲9三銀(2nd銀?? — hand: 角金銀2桂香歩3 −金(7二)−香(9三): 角銀2桂歩3 ✓✓ 2銀!!) — supported-by-銀8四 ✓ — MATE?? — 玉9二: 8二✗(金7二),9一/8一own,8三?? — gote歩(REDROPPED)own ✗ — 9三✗checker — MATE ✓✓✓ — — LOL — OK — — SO: even the scariest gote-rampage (△8四歩+△8五銀+△6五金 checks) ends with sente-玉 perched safely on 8五 having EATEN 銀+金+歩 and then sente mates using the 玉-supported ▲8四銀!! — — — DEEP BREATH. — Synthesis of the △8四歩 problem: it’s gote’s most testing try; sente’s correct response: NOT ▲7五桂 (self-mate-block!!); instead — hmm — what’s the CLEAN answer?: Option 1: ▲7二金 immediately: △8三玉!(the point) — then sente: ▲8五… hmm — vs 玉8三: sente: 金7二 sits (attacked by?? — 玉8三-adjacent ✓!! — wait — 金7二 supported by 龍6一 ✓ — 玉 can’t take ✓) — checks vs 8三: ▲7五桂打?? — NOW is it self-block?? — 玉8六′s 7五… — the MATING side is sente — gote-玉 on 8三 — sente-玉-safety: gote pieces: 龍8八,馬4五,銀5七,金6九 + hand金銀桂歩3 — △8五銀-check STILL exists?!? — supported-by-歩8四 ✓ — UGH — if sente plays ▲7五桂(check on 8三): gote: △same — capture 7五: ✗(nothing — 7三歩… wait — 7三 — home — captures 7四 ✗) — 玉8三-flights: 9二,9三,7四?? — covered-by?? — hmm — 桂7五 covers 8三,6三 — 7四: ✗free — 9二: ✗free — 9三: ✗free — — wait — THREE flights — not productive — — — Option 2 (BEST??): vs △8四歩: ▲8五歩?? ✗二歩 — ▲8五銀打!?!? — sente DROPS 銀 on 8五 FIRST (occupying the killer square!!): 銀8五: attacks 8四歩(fwd ✓!!),7四,9四(fwd-diags ✓),7六own,9六own(backdiags) — supported by 玉8六 ✓✓ — THREATENS ▲8四銀(×歩)… — and BLOCKS △8五-drops ✓ — and — — hmm — wait — but it BLOCKS sente-玉′s 8五-flight (own piece) — flights left: 7五 ✓… — gote: △same — ▲8五銀 doesn’t threaten mate — gote: △7四歩?? (covering?? — wait — gote: best: hmm — actually — — Option 3: JUST ▲7二金 and meet △8三玉 with ▲8五桂打!?? — wait — 歩8四× ✗✗ — ▲7四銀!? (vs 玉8三): fwd-diags 6三,8三 ✓CHECK — captures: △7三同歩?? — 歩7三 captures 7四 ✓✗ — UGH — — ▲9五歩?? ✗二歩 — — vs 玉8三: ▲9五桂打!?? — 桂9五: jumps (8,3)!! ✓✓ CHECK — captures of 9五: 歩9四 — captures FORWARD: 9五 ✓✓✗ △同歩 — — hmm — — ▲6三龍?!? — wait — 龍6一→6三?? — 6二✓6三✓ — attacked-by-馬4五(diag 5四-6三 ✓)✗✗ — — ▲6二龍!? — attacked-by?? — 馬: diag-to-6二?? — 7二… — 馬4五-diags: (5,4),(6,3),(7,2),(8,1) — ✗not-6二 — anything?? — ✗SAFE — 龍6二: attacks 7二(side — own金!!support!!✓✓),5二,6三,6一… — wait — SUPPORTS 金7二!!! — and vs 玉8三: threat: ▲7三金!?? (金7二×7三歩: fwd… wait — sente金7二: backward = 7三 ✓✓ — ▲7三金: attacks 8三?? — hmm — sente金7三: side 6三,8三 ✓✓ CHECK-threat — supported-by-龍6二?? — wait — after 金 goes 7三 — 龍6二 attacks 7三?? — diag-step from 6二: 7三?? — (6,2)→(7,3): diag ✓ — wait — 龍′s diag-step ✓✓ YES — — soooo: vs △8三玉: ▲6二龍!(quiet!! — supporting-金 + cutting 6-file… ) threat ▲7三金△same▲… — — gote counters: △8五銀打(check!!): ▲7五玉!(only — 8五✗,7七/9七✗龍) — △7四歩(check — wait — 歩7三 pushes — attacks 7五… wait — IT’S PINNED?!?! — 歩7三 — pinned-by?? — 金7二… — no — pieces don’t pin pawns vertically here — 玉8三-relation: 歩7三 is NOT between attacker&玉 — — △7四歩: ▲same — wait — capture: ▲7四同金!?!? — 金7二… — NO — wait — sente-金 is ON 7二 — captures 7三?? — backward ✓ — but 7四?? — NOT-A-金-MOVE-from-7二 ✗ — ▲7四同玉?? — 7四: supported-by-銀8五(backdiag 7四 ✓)✗ — flights: 6五✗(歩6四),6六✗(銀5七),8四?? — gote歩 — supported-by-銀8五?? ✗(backdiags 7四,9四) — supported-by-玉8三 ✓✓✗!!! — ARGH — 7六own — 8六?? — wait — vacated (玉 came FROM 8六 — wait no — 玉 path: 8六→(△8五銀)→7五 — 8六: attacked-by-銀8五(fwd 8六 ✓)✗!! — — — 玉7五: vs △7四歩-check: flights ALL ✗?!?: 6五✗,6六✗,7四✗(supported),8四✗(玉8三-supports),8五✗(銀-supported-by… wait — 銀8五 supported-by-歩8四 ✓✗),8六✗(銀-covers),7六own✗,6四?? — wait — (7,5)-neighbors: (6,4)gote歩 — capture: supported-by-馬4五?!? — 馬-diags: (5,4)… — king-steps: 4五-neighbors ✗ — supported-by-玉8三?? — (8,3)-(6,4) ✗not-adjacent — supported-by?? — 歩5三?? — captures 5四 ✗ — NOTHING?!? — ▲6四同玉!?!?! — the 玉 EATS the 6四歩 — wait — IN-CHECK-from-7四歩?? — 歩7四 attacks 7五 — moving to 6四 escapes ✓ LEGAL — — 玉6四!!! — LOL — the king marches INTO midboard — — gote-checks vs 6四: △5五銀?? wait — gote-銀5七→?? — to attack 6四: from 5五?? — 銀5七 can’t REACH — △6三...?? — △5四金打?? — wait — hand: 金銀桂歩3 −銀(8五) = 金桂歩3 — wait — and −歩s… — △5四金打: attacks 6四?? — gote金5四: side 4四,6四 ✓✓CHECK — supported-by-歩5三 ✓✓ — ▲same — 玉6四: capture✗; flights: 6五?? — attacked-by-金5四?? — fwd-diags(rank+1): 4五own馬lol,6五 ✓✗!! — 7五✗(歩7四!!) — 7四?? — gote歩 — supported-by?? — hmm — 玉8三✗(not-adj… (8,3)-(7,4) ✓✓ADJACENT — ✗!!) — 5五?? — attacked-by-馬4五(kingstep ✓)✗ — 5四✗checker — 6三?? — attacked-by-馬4五(diag (5,4)→… — wait — 馬-diag-ray-from-4五: (5,4) — is-5四-occupied?? — GOTE-金-JUST-DROPPED-THERE ✓ — ray-BLOCKED-at-5四 — 6三: ✗not-attacked-by-馬-anymore!! — by-歩5三?? — captures-5四 ✗(own) — gote-歩-5三-attacks… — wait — 後手歩5三 attacks 5四(own金 now) — ✗ — 6三: attacked-by-玉8三?? ✗ — by?? — NOTHING — ▲6三玉!?!?! — — — — 私はもう完全に深淵にいる — — the gote-king-hunt-of-sente’s-玉 leads to sente’s 玉 INVADING gote’s camp at 6三 — adjacent to sente’s OWN 龍6二/金7二!!! — IT’S WALKING INTO ITS OWN FORTRESS — 玉6三 next to 龍6二+金7二 = sente-玉 is now SAFE-AS-HOUSES (guarded-by-own-龍&金!) AND sente still holds 角銀2桂香歩3-ish — and gote’s spent everything — — — — CONCLUSION-FOR-REAL: the △8四歩 lines are wild king-chases that ALL fail for gote: sente’s 玉 either consumes the checkers or walks to safety (eventually even INTO sente’s own attacking cluster), while gote’s 玉 cannot survive the 金7二/龍-battery once checks stop. — — For the WRITE-UP, I will NOT drag readers through 30-ply king-walks; I’ll present: main line + mate; gote’s defensive tries △7二馬/△7一金打 (clean refutations/evals); the counterattack-fails point with ONE illustrative line + the 7七/9七-mine + the principle (checks shed material, 玉 happily eats; eventual ▲8四銀-with-玉-support mates); and mention △8四歩 honestly as gote’s trickiest (creates 8三-flight & supports 8五-drops) with the key guidance: sente keeps 7五 CLEAR (no ▲7五桂!!), answers △8五銀打 with ▲7五玉 and wins the ensuing chase, and the quiet ▲6二龍!? regrouping idea. Hmm — wait — actually — — let me simplify what I RECOMMEND vs △8四歩 — cleanest practical: ▲7二金 anyway: if △9二玉/9三玉: mate-variants need re-verification-with-8三-EMPTY: vs △9二玉: ▲9三香△同玉▲8二銀(supported-金7二)△9二玉(8四?? — own-gote-歩 ✓✗ wait — 玉9三→8四 — gote’s-OWN-歩-on-8四 ✗ — 8三?? — EMPTY-NOW — attacked-by?? — 銀8二-backdiags: 7三,9三 ✗ — 金7二-backward: 7三 ✗ — FREE — △8三玉!!) — escapes-to-8三 — then ▲7四銀打?? — △同歩 — hmm — — vs 玉8三: with 金7二+銀8二 placed: ▲7一龍!?? — wait — 龍6一→7一?? — rank1: 7一 ✓empty — 龍7一: attacks 8一桂… — and 8二-sente-銀?? own — hmm — checks-vs-8三: ▲9五桂△同歩 ✗ — ▲7四銀(2nd)△同歩 ✗ — ▲8四...?? own-gote-歩 — hmm — ▲7四歩?? ✗二歩 — — — quiet: ▲9一銀成?!? (銀8二×9一香: 成銀9一: attacks 9二,8一… — wait — CHECK?? — vs-玉8三 ✗no — ) — — honestly-vs-△8三玉: sente: ▲8四金!?!? — wait — 2nd-金?? — hand-after-金(7二)香(9三)銀(8二): 角金銀桂歩3-minus… — original 角金2銀2桂香歩3: used 金,香,銀 → 角金1銀1桂歩3 ✓ HAS-金: ▲8四金打?!? — capturing?? — 8四 = gote歩 ✓ ×歩: 金8四: attacks 8三?? — sente金8四: backward = 8五… — wait — fwd 8三 ✓✓!!! CHECK — supported-by?? — 銀8二?? — wait — hmm — sente-銀8二: backdiags 7三,9三; fwd-diags 7一,9一; fwd 8一 — ✗not-8四 — UNSUPPORTED — △同玉(×金) — UGH — — ▲… — OK here’s the thing — maybe vs △8四歩 sente shouldn’t rush ▲7二金 — the REALLY-CLEAN-move: ▲8五銀打!! (prophylaxis: kills △8五銀-mate-ideas-forever, attacks-the-8四歩, supported-by-玉) — then gote: ?? — gote-has-NO-checks-again (8五-plugged!!) — gote-defends-7二: △7二馬(recall — as-before) — ▲8四銀(×歩!! — supported-by?? — hmm — 玉8六?? — (8,6)-(8,4)✗ — unsupported — △same?? — what-attacks-8四: ✗nothing-gote — SAFE) — sente: +歩, 銀-on-8四-attacking… — sente-玉-now-has-8五-flight-back ✓ — and-grind-wins (材料+安全) — — OR-EVEN-SIMPLER-vs-△8四歩: ▲6二龍!?? — hmm — — — you know what — for-the-writeup: I’ll-flag-△8四歩-as-gote’s-best-practical-try, give: ▲8五銀打! (the-prophylactic-killer: supported-by-玉, hits-8四, permanently-seals-the-mating-square) as-my-recommended-handling, note-the-▲7五桂-TRAP (self-block→△8五銀-mate), and-assess: sente-still-clearly-winning (gote-bought-time-but-remains-金銀-down-with-zero-attack-and-a-permanent-▲7二金-headache). — That’s-honest,-correct,-and-digestible. — — Let me also double-check ▲8五銀打-soundness-quickly: after-▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲8五銀打: gote: △same — attacks-8五銀: 歩8四-captures-FORWARD: 8五 ✓✓!!! — △8五同歩!?!? — OMG — the-gote-歩8四-TAKES-the-銀!!! — ▲同玉(recapture — wait — supported… — 玉8六×8五歩… — the-PAWN-on-8五 — supported-by?? — ✗nothing — ✓▲同玉 — net: sente-traded-銀-for-歩?!?! — TERRIBLE — — wait — no — wait — ▲8五銀-DROP — gote-△同歩 — sente-▲同玉 — sente: −銀+歩… — material-gift — NO-GOOD — — UGH — — scrap-▲8五銀打 — — — okay-okay: vs-△8四歩 — what-STOPS-△8五銀-drops-without-hanging?: ▲7五歩✗二歩… ▲9五歩✗二歩… — protect-8五-MORE: already-玉-protects-it — the-issue-was-FLIGHTS-not-protection: △8五銀▲7五玉-was-FINE-for-sente (king-eats-everything-in-the-chase — verified-exhaustively-above!!) — — SO-vs-△8四歩: sente-can-CALMLY-play… the-MOST-testing: ▲7二金! — and-meet-△8三玉-with… — hmm-I-left-that-dangling — let-me-just-find-ONE-clean-winning-continuation-vs-△8三玉 (after-▲6一と△同銀▲同龍△8四歩▲7二金△8三玉): sente: 龍6一,金7二(protected-by-龍); hand-角金銀2桂香歩3 — — ▲6二龍! (supports-金7二-laterally?? — wait — 龍6二: diag-7三?? — (6,2)→(7,3)-diag-step ✓ — hmm-attacks-7三歩 — and-side-7二-OWN-金-SUPPORT ✓✓) — threat: ▲7三金(×歩)!!: 金7三: CHECK(side-8三 ✓) supported-by-龍6二(diag) ✓ — 玉8三-would-be: capture✗; flights: 9二,9三,8二?? — 金7三-attacks-8二?? — fwd-diags-from-7三: 6二,8二 ✓✗ — 8四own歩✗ — 7四?? — 金7三-fwd… — sente金7三: forward=7二… — wait-NO — ugh — sente-金-at-7三: forward(rank−1)=7二(own-vacated); fwd-diags=6二,8二; side=6三,8三✓; back=7四 ✓!! — covers-7四!! — 9四own✗ — so-flights-9二/9三 — then-▲8二銀打(check-on… — wait-vs-9二: 銀8二-fwd-diags-7一,9一… — attacks-9二?? ✗✗ — hmm — vs-△9二玉: ▲9三香!?(have-it ✓): CHECK — △同玉-forced(8一own,9一own,8二?? — 金7三-covers ✓✗) — ▲8五桂?!? — 歩8四-CAPTURES ✗✗ — ▲8二銀(check-on-9三-via-backdiag ✓ — supported-by-金7三?? — 金7三-fwd-diags: 8二 ✓✓!!): △9二玉(only: 8四own,8三?? — 金7三-side ✓✗,9四own) — ▲9三銀打(2nd銀 — supported-by-銀8二-backdiag ✓): MATE?? — 玉9二: 8二sente銀(supported-by-金7三)✗,9一/8一own,8三✗(金7三),9三✗checker — MATE ✓✓✓!!! — — — YESSS — so-the-NET-GENERALIZES: the-金-walks-to-7三(eating-the-歩!)-with-龍-support-from-6二,-and-the-香+銀銀-finish-works-with-金-ON-7三-covering-8二&8三!!! — — — and-back-up: vs-▲6二龍′s-threat(▲7三金): gote-must… — △7四歩?? — wait — gote-歩7三-pushes — vacating-7三?!? — then-▲7三金(drop?? — NO — wait — 金7二-MOVES-backward-to-7三 ✓ — onto-EMPTY-square — CHECK-supported — same-net ✓) — △same — gote-defenses-of-7三: it’s-attacked-by-金7二(back)+龍6二(diag) = twice; defended-by-桂8一 ✓once — reinforce: △7四金?!?(hand-金 — gote金7四: backward(rank−1)=7三 ✓ — defends!!) — ▲same — hmm — then-▲7三金△同桂▲同龍!?(×桂 — wait — 龍6二×7三: diag-step ✓ — CHECK?? — 龍7三: attacks-8三?? — side ✓✓ CHECK!! — supported-by?? ✗ — △同金(7四金-backward ✓×龍!!) — ✗✗BAD — — ▲… — hmm — vs-△7四金: sente: ▲8五桂!?? — NOW?? — 歩8四× ✗ — ▲9五香!?? — 香-drop-9五?? — attacks-9四歩… — slow — — vs-△7四金: ▲6三龍!? — wait-馬?? — 馬4五-diag: (5,4),(6,3) — ✗✗-takes — — ▲5二龍?? — — hmm — — OR-sente-just-takes-stock: gote-committed-金-to-7四(pure-defense!!) — sente: ▲9五香!?(端-lever: ×9四-threat… — 香9五-attacks-9四歩 — defended-by?? ✗nothing!? — wait-gote-玉8三-adjacent-9四 ✓defends — — ▲same — — honestly — at-this-depth: sente-has-金銀-extra-IN-HAND-EQUIVALENT,-every-gote-piece-tied-to-defense,-zero-gote-counterplay — textbook-先手勝勢-grind — I’ll-state-it-as-such-without-pretending-instant-mate-in-the-△8四歩-branch. — — FINAL-STRUCTURE-DECISION ✓.
Whew. OK. Also note: I should double check △8四歩 can even be played in the (a) line — wait — in-line-(a)-after-▲同龍-gote-to-move: △8四歩 = 8三歩-push ✓legal ✓. And-equally: gote-could-play-△8四歩-EVEN-EARLIER (in-reply-to-▲6一と-directly!?): ▲6一と△8四歩!? — then-▲7一と!(grind-with-銀7二-still-aboard… — or-▲same...) — eh — similar-themes; the-writeup-covers-it-conceptually.
Alright, let me also reconsider — given ALL this — is ▲6一と still clearly best vs alternatives like ▲7一… — YES: it wins-金-minimum-with-tempo; every-line-examined = winning. Confidence: high. 形勢: 現局面-先手勝勢(positionally; materially-behind-but-decisively-so-on-働き+玉形+手番).
Let me write the final response now. Tone: NHK-kaisetsu-ish, committed, English-with-Japanese-terms. Include:
概要: 終盤, both-kings-status, last-move-△8八龍-observation
形勢判断: material-count-vs-efficiency; 先手勝勢
最善手 ▲6一と + main-line-mate (5–7手詰-net) + diagram
gote’s-tries: △7二馬, △7一金打, △8四歩(most-testing — with-the-▲7五桂-warning-and-the-金-to-7三-net), counterattack-refutation-+-速度計算-+-7七/9七-mines
alternatives-▲7四桂-etc.-why-inferior
conclusion
Keep variations compact. Use 「▲6一と」 style notation. Romaji-first-use for terms. Let me make sure I get the diagram SVG right, and keep loading messages playful-but-mild.
One more formatting note: I’ll write flowing prose with a handful of short headers and notation lines, no heavy nesting. The response will be long-ish but the position deserves it.
In this instance, I can understand its raw CoT for the most part. As model capabilities continue to scale, I’m not confident that CoT will remain legible to more intelligent summarizers. Case in point, I feel like the transition between the initial reasoning and the raw CoT at the start of its response to the “Continue” prompt is essentially a non sequitur and I can’t tell if the initial reasoning was an accurate reflection of the model’s CoT for the first prompt. To state the obvious, models which reason in somewhat legible gobbledygook make interpretability and monitorability more difficult than models which reason in plain English. Hence, easy-to-understand CoT is desirable but it looks like the horses have already left the barn on that one.
I think the most likely explanation for what’s happening here is that there’s a summarizer which sits between the user and the model’s raw CoT, translating the CoT into legible text similar to the post’s demonstration of Haiku translating the Solitaire CoT. On the “Continue” prompt, a glitch transmitted the CoT directly to the chat UI as model output instead of displaying the summarizer-processed CoT within a reasoning block.
That seems like a much better example of illegible CoT, but I do wonder how much of that is just that I don’t know any Japanese and my knowledge of Shogi is “I think it’s kinda like chess but I have a vague memory that there’s something about a dragon”. And, based on reading this CoT, I infer that it’s played on a 9x9 board rather than an 8x8.
That said, Haiku knows Japanese and Shogi and (enough) web design—I wonder if it’d be enough to produce a verifiably faithful [1] annotated breakdown of this CoT. I’ll give it a shot.
BTW for reference there is indeed [2] a summarizer which sits between the user and the model’s raw CoT, translating the CoT into legible text similar to the post’s demonstration of Haiku translating the Solitaire CoT.
by “verifiably faithful” I mean “each snippet of shorthand has a bit of explanation mapped to it, there is no explanation that is not mapped to any bit of shorthand, the explanation as a whole makes sense, and each individual shorthand:explanation is a fairly obvious way to interpret that shorthand”.
The summarizer is a Haiku instance fed its previous summarized thinking and the current chunk and instructed to summarize that chunk in first person natural language. You can see the full summarizer prompt here (archive)