Shogi Reborn: Mind's Gambit

After winning the Shogi Computer Battle, he once again became the man of the hour, but people quickly forget such things. As May began, Ten'i's growth in shogi strength started to plateau. Originally, shogi skills don't improve in a straight upward line. If anything, they grow in a staircase-like pattern.

"For someone like me, continuing to improve in a straight line was the strange part."

(Shogi software improves exponentially, though. But well, we should be fine for another two or three years.)

"Master, what exactly is the second gate you mentioned? The first gate was easy to understand."

"Before speculating about the second gate, try playing about 100,000 matches. If you do five rounds of fifty simultaneous matches every day, you'll reach that number in just over a year."

"That sounds... incredibly time-consuming."

"Well, in your case, Ten'i, you might reach it with just 10,000 matches. You passed the first gate faster than I did."

"...So basically, you're telling me to accumulate more matches."

While playing a training match with Ten'i, we also discussed future plans. Experience is the key to passing the next gate, and accumulating a significant number of matches is essential.

At the same time, she's hitting the skill plateau—a wall every shogi player faces multiple times, and breaking through it takes time. She can probably hold her own against Sora right now, but she's at a slight disadvantage.

"Hmm, maybe it's time for a change of environment. You know Tamashiro, the Living Stone General, right?"

"Of course, I know him. He's the leader of the Ranging Rook faction."

"Go train with him. Play three simultaneous matches."

"...Wait, have you arranged this already?"

"I'm about to."

In the original story, Kuzu and Ai asked Tamashiro for training during the rainy season, probably around June. It was after Tamashiro's title match, so he might have free time now. We decided to head to Gokigen no Yu. When facing a skill plateau, stubborn effort is one path, but changing one's environment can also be highly effective. Such changes often result in significant improvements—or setbacks.

"This is Gokigen no Yu."

"...What kind of place is this?"

"A public bathhouse."

"Shou, call the police."

"Look up! The bathhouse has an attached shogi dojo—Tamashiro's dojo, to be precise."

Changing environments doesn't mean randomly picking any dojo. If we're going to change, it might as well be somewhere familiar. Since the MyNavi Women's Open involves many female players, Ten'i needs more experience against Ranging Rook strategies. Many female players favor Ranging Rook tactics.

(Ranging Rook requires memorizing fewer standard strategies. There was even a time when people said, 'If you want to quickly become a professional female player and earn money, play Ranging Rook.')

"If Tamashiro heard that, he'd kill you. Also, you'd make every female shogi player your enemy."

(He's pretty scary in his own right. But the scariest person is Ten'i's assistant, Aki. She carries a gun.)

We handed over the seat fee to Asuka, who was managing the front desk, and headed upstairs. Back when Kuzu visited, he wasn't exactly welcomed. However, since I managed to defeat shogi software twice using Ranging Rook despite being an orthodox Static Rook player, the reception was... lukewarm. It's understandable. Someone who had always been a Static Rook player suddenly switching to Ranging Rook and winning against AI would leave a mixed impression on die-hard Ranging Rook enthusiasts.

"What do you want? A study group?"

"No, I want your help with training a disciple. I'd like you to train Ten'i. She's going to participate in the upcoming MyNavi Women's Open."

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes."

Tamashiro, the Living Stone General, was in the middle of instructing some customers in matches, so I brought up the topic. He looked me over, then glanced at Ten'i. Tamashiro has an intimidating, almost gangster-like presence. Though to be fair, there's an actual gangster standing behind Ten'i.

"Take a seat. And if that paper bag contains food, I'm going to be angry."

"Of course not. What I brought as compensation are game records from when I defeated shogi software using Ranging Rook. Specifically, matches where I played Central Rook as the second player."

"...How many games?"

"150."

"Alright, what do you need me to do?"

"You're very straightforward!"

It seemed the compensation was more than sufficient, and Tamashiro was now eager to train Ten'i. First, it would be best to have him evaluate her current strength.

"Please do a three-board simultaneous match. Observing her in multi-board play will give you a better sense of her current abilities."

"You're asking me to play three boards simultaneously, one-on-one? ...Well, since I've already been paid, I'll handle it lightly."

And so, the three-board match between Ten'i and Tamashiro began. One match was with a bishop handicap, one with a lance handicap, and the last was an even match.

(...It would be disrespectful to ask for all three matches to be even.)

"Master, are you stupid? Even your current request is rude enough. Asking an active A-class professional to train your disciple with game records that might not even be useful."

(Those records might not be useful to Ai, but Tamashiro definitely wants them. And yes, I'm aware I'm being rude.)

Looking at the three boards, Ten'i had a slight advantage in the bishop handicap match. To defeat an A-class professional even with a bishop handicap would require at least a level equivalent to a 2-dan in the Shogi Training League. Ten'i was growing remarkably fast.

"The lance handicap and even match are completely one-sided, though."

(Of course they are. We're talking about a title-holding player ranked among the top ten active professionals.)

"Ugh, I lost...!"

"I'm honestly surprised..."

Because Ten'i played at a fast pace, Tamashiro naturally matched her speed. The even match ended quickly in Ten'i's loss, leaving the lance and bishop handicap matches. Ten'i was playing the lance handicap match as if it were an even match, so her loss there was imminent.

This left both players fully focused on the bishop handicap match. At some point, Tamashiro had extinguished his cigarette, shifting from a casual instructional mode to a serious competitive stance. For an adult, he's rather unreserved. Not that I'm in a position to judge.

"...I lost."

"There's only one match left—the bishop handicap. But honestly, it's hard to predict the outcome."

(Even Ai can't predict the winner?)

"At this point, if I took over either side, I could probably win."

In the bishop handicap match, Ten'i boldly attacked while skillfully avoiding Tamashiro's counterattacks. In bishop handicap games, defensive skills are said to be critical, but Ten'i managed to skillfully handle the superior player's offensive moves...

(...Wait, she's switching to full defense at this point?)

"This... well, it sort of works. But it's definitely better to keep attacking."

(She's trying to match strength against an A-class professional. This isn't going to end well.)

"Actually, she's holding on better than expected. Ten'i is surprisingly resilient... Oh, she's about to resign."

"...I lost."

"Hey, Ogi. Where did you find such a talent?"

"I raised her."

"...Your phrasing is annoying, but it's true. You trained her well."

In the end, Ten'i was crushed under the full force of Tamashiro's skill. This guy really hates losing. But honestly, it was a good game. Tamashiro may be called a master of fluid play or the head of the Ranging Rook faction, but ultimately, that just means he's a true orthodox Ranging Rook player.

From now on, I'll tell Ten'i to keep challenging Tamashiro in these three-board matches. While she's here, she can also play simultaneous matches against the other Ranging Rook enthusiasts who gather at this dojo. There's no better environment for building experience against Ranging Rook strategies. After all, in online shogi, you can't choose your opponent's style.

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