Ureshino Opening: A Static Rook Surprise Tactics for Quick Attacks
The Ureshino Opening is a rare and surprising Static Rook strategy in shogi, beginning with an unconventional move of Silver. Learn the setup, attacking plans, and its unique characteristics.
Setting Up the Ureshino Opening
The Ureshino Opening is an intriguing surprise strategy that starts with the unusual move ▲6-8 Silver. In shogi’s opening theory, such a move is rarely seen. Let’s break down how to set up this strategy and its core attacking ideas.
- The Basic Setup
To start, you will play Static Rook, keeping the bishop’s diagonal closed and retreating it with ▲6-9 Bishop. This sets up your pieces for later development. Afterward, advance your pawn with ▲5-6 Pawn to open the bishop’s line of attack.
When your opponent exchanges pawns on the rook’s file, instead of responding with ▲8-7 Pawn, opt for ▲8-8 Pawn. This defensive move is a hallmark of the Ureshino Opening, as it prevents your opponent from striking back with moves like ▲8-8 Pawn or ▲8-6 Pawn later.
- Minimal King Safety
Before launching an attack, the Ureshino player should ensure minimal king safety. Simply move the king to ▲6-9 King, and your “castle” is complete. While this cannot be considered a proper fortress, it provides just enough protection to support your aggressive strategy.
Attacking with the Ureshino Opening
The primary attacking plan in the Ureshino Opening involves aiming for a Climbing Silver strategy. By pushing ▲5-6 Pawn, you activate the bishop’s diagonal and advance the silver piece.
A Quick Overview of Climbing Silver
Climbing Silver is a well-known attacking strategy in Static Rook openings. If you’re not familiar with it yet, check out our detailed guide on Climbing Silver to learn its fundamentals and attacking techniques.
Initiating the Attack
The attack starts with ▲3-5 Pawn. As the silver advances to ▲3-5 Silver, your opponent might push ▲3-4 Pawn to repel it. At this point, ignore the threat to your silver and play ▲2-4 Pawn. If your opponent captures your silver with ▲3-5 Pawn, you can respond with ▲2-3 Promote Pawn, creating a strong threat near their king.
This sequence allows the Ureshino player to exchange silvers, which is one of its primary goals. Memorize this attacking flow, as it forms the backbone of the strategy.
Follow-Up Options
After the silver exchange, you have several follow-up options:
- Pull the rook back vertically to launch additional attacks.
- Capture the side pawn and gain material advantage.
From here, the key is to skillfully use your captured silver to maintain attacking pressure and capitalize on your opponent’s weaknesses.
The Ureshino Opening offers a unique way to surprise your opponent and take control of the game with quick and aggressive tactics. With practice, you can master this unusual but effective strategy.
