Ninja Silver (忍者銀 ninja gin) is a shogi strategy used as part of the rapid attack Yagura.^[1]

Explanation

In 2014, Nobuyuki Yashiki (9th-Dan) began using this strategy as one of his specialties. The Yashiki-style twin silvers strategy is also called "nin-nin". The name comes from Yashiki's nickname "Ninja Yashiki", as his play-style was often varied and was difficult to predict.

The basic strategy is a quick-attack in a Double Yagura game. The shape in the diagram is referred to as "Ninja Silver", with a pawn having advanced from a twin silvers position. The basic procedure is to advance the right silver to 37, and to move the left silver not to 77, but first to 57 and then 66, keeping the bishop's line open.

From there, as in the diagram, the silvers line up in the center (in some cases), the central pawn is exchanged, and the attack begins with the aim of exchanging the bishop and silver along the 3rd-file (or 7th-file for Gote). The right silver can also be used as a Climbing Silver.

As in the diagrams, Yashiki played this strategy as both Sente and Gote, and used it against both Yagura and Ranging Rook strategies.

See also

• Rushing Silver
• Crab Silvers

References

• Nobuyuki Yashiki, 2016, Super Attack Yagura, Yashiki Style Twin Silver Strategy (MyNavi Shogi Books) MyNavi Publishing 978-4839959531 (Japanese)
• "Shogi Sekai" Editing Department (Print), 2015, Yashiki Style "Ninja Silver" Strategy (Shogi Sekai August 2015 Issue) MyNavi Publishing (Japan Shogi Association Issue) (Japanese)