ughaibu: Am I correct that furibisha is what we call in English "ranging rook" and ibisha is "static rook"?

If these are not best learnt as opening sequences of moves, could you describe what you think are good opening goals of the openings that you play? What would you think of as key developments by the opponent to begin seeking to attain those goals?

I have observed a number of players playing a central rook opening that seems to bear a resemblance to the 2-piece handicap games in which I have received odds, i.e., the opening looks somewhat similar but with an added rook and bishop for the attack. Do you think that there is a commonality in goals for the central rook opening and the play of the odds-giver for a 2-piece handicap game?

You mentioned in an earlier posting the anaguma castle. Is there a natural order of piece arrangement of which anaguma ("bear in the hole"?) is the outcome? What would you think are the relative strengths of the bishop-side or rook-side anaguma?

At home, my son was asking about one castle that he remembers is called the "snow cave." Do you know what characterizes its formation, what are its strengths and weaknesses, what are the methods for assaulting such a castle, etc.?

Thank you for entertaining these questions.

ughaibu: Thank you for the reply and the comments. Are there standard opening sequences that you could describe, and do you recommend that an inexperienced player like myself play an opining like the yokufutori?

Nasmichael: I agree with you about shogi having wonderful gameplay, but respectfully, I am not equally enthusiastic about some other variants that have added this feature. Chess-gi inexplicably lacks the elegance of shogi. Shatranj-gi or makruk-gi seem more enjoyable, but, in my opinion, they lack the charm that shogi possesses.

Mino is a castle, as I understand it, whose arrangement aims to defend against an attack coming across the rear ranks; High Mino balances against an attack that may come along the rear ranks and the files around the head of the king. Silver Crown aims at thwarting an assault that comes head-on from the files.

I do not want to pretend to a knowledge that I do not have, so I truly hope to read the thoughts here of experienced shogi players and their evaluation of proper gameplay. When I have seen games played at the Shogi Dojo online or the ThaiBG shogi site, I admire the moves but am at pains to appreciate their depth.

When playing stronger players, I have been most gratified that the very well constructed handicap system of shogi permits play on a near even footing. I have seen some exciting games where newcomers were able to play against shogi professionals and come close to (and occasionally score) wins. The truly nice thing is that the handicaps have themes whereby progress through the various handicaps teaches tactics and strategy progressively.

I am curious if the players of shogi who read this board have a favorite shogi castle? I have been impressed how shogi castles may evolve from one configuration to another in response to developments in the game, e.g., Mino → High Mino → Silver Crown.

The science of play in shogi has always impressed me. Is this an opinion that others share?