Yagura Castle: Key Steps and Strategies for Building a Solid Defense

The Yagura Castle / 矢倉囲い (aka Fortress) is a highly renowned formation mainly used in static rook vs. static rook battles. It is strong against attacks from above but has a weakness against attacks from the side.

This formation is also common in games between beginners who prefer static rook strategies, making it a good setup for new players to learn as they start exploring shogi.

How To Build A Yagura Fortress

1. Open the bishop’s diagonal.
2. Advance a pawn to prevent the exchange of bishops.
3. If the opponent’s rook pawn advances, defend with a silver general.
4. Secure the defense by surrounding the king with two gold generals.
5. Deploy the bishop used for offense from the castle.
6. Move the king into the castle.

First and foremost, it’s crucial to open the bishop’s diagonal early. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you can defend with a silver general if your opponent’s rook attacks. Additionally, block the opponent’s bishop’s diagonal to prevent bishop exchanges and gradually complete the Yagura castle formation.

Developing Variations: Different Ways to Strengthen the Yagura

In mutual rook games, the basic Yagura formation is one of the most common setups.

There are many variations from this basic form, and small changes in the formation can make the setup stronger against attacks from the sides or from above. These variations affect the characteristics and defensive strength of the formation.

We’ll highlight a few well-known variations. These are very useful in actual games, so be sure to learn them.

銀矢倉 (Gin-Yagura) – Silver Yagura

Pros:

• The silver general at 7-8 supports the gold general, making it strong against attacks from the lower ranks.
• Flexible in responding to attacks from above.

Cons:

• Requires the right gold general for attacking.
• Takes more moves to set up.

平矢倉 (Hira-Yagura) – Flat Yagura

Pros:

• Eliminates the potential for an attack from the opponent’s bishop on the 6-9 square.
• The connection between the two gold generals is strong, making it more resistant to side attacks than the basic Yagura.

Cons:

• Generally weaker against attacks from above compared to the basic Yagura.

片矢倉 (Kata-Yagura) – One-Sided Yagura

Pros:

• Can be assembled even without a bishop.
• Strong against bishop attacks.
• Can be assembled one move faster than the basic Yagura.

Cons:

• Overall defense is weaker compared to the basic Yagura.

銀立ち矢倉 (Gin-Tachi Yagura) – Silver Stand Yagura

Pros:

• The Silver Stand makes the setup stronger against attacks from above and prevents the opponent from placing a knight on the 8-5 square.
• You have the option to place a knight or bishop on the 7-7 square, depending on the situation.

Cons:

• The open square on 7-7 can be a concern as it allows the opponent’s bishop to potentially attack along that line.

菊水矢倉 (Kikusui Yagura) – Kikusui Yagura

Pros:

• The king is positioned one rank lower than in the basic Yagura, making it stronger against attacks from above.
• The king is out of the opponent’s bishop’s line of attack, providing better defense against bishop-related attacks.

Cons:

• The lower rank is open and vulnerable to attacks from the sides.
• Be cautious when exchanging rooks!

総矢倉 (Sō-Yagura) – Comprehensive Yagura

Pros:

• The four-piece formation makes it particularly strong against attacks from above.

Cons:

• Fewer attacking pieces.

菱矢倉 (Hishi-Yagura) – Diamond Yagura

Pros:

• The advanced right silver general can be used for attacking at any time.
• It provides better defense against attacks along the opponent’s bishop diagonal.

Cons:

• The strength against lateral attacks remains the same as in the basic Yagura.
• With the silver general moved up, the right side of your camp becomes weaker.

矢倉穴熊 (Yagura Anaguma) – Yagura Anaguma

Pros:

• In any Yagura Anaguma setup, the king is positioned away from the battlefield, making it harder to check.

Cons:

• There are no escape squares for the king.

Return to Castles List