Now here is move 21 through to where we currently are.

NOTE: The following has commentary added, now that the game is over.

21, 22

23, 24

25, 26

END COMMENTARY, ORIGINAL TEXT: This is presently what the board looks like. While I immediately want to provide commentary, it's probably best to save it for after the game. I will point out to all readers that, as you can see, except for the lone rook and bishop per side, most pieces are extremely slow in movement. In Western chess, we are used to pieces sliding around the board, creating an intricate web of threats. This is honestly something I love about chess! It's beautiful in the combinations you can make. Shogi is much slower and takes a while to get going, as most pieces may only make a single step at a time. However, once a few exchanges take place, the drops begin to expand the possibilities dramatically. Obviously, while shogi doesn't have nearly so much available in the way of long distant attacks, the paratrooping of your pieces is an extremely enjoyable aspect of this game, and it gets super exciting. It's a great game!

CONTINUING COMMENTARY AFTER GAME COMPLETED:

27, 28

29, 30

At this point I think Ric made his first serious error. We had played the game a few moves with mistakes on both parts, and both agreed to go back to this point, but I still think he could have played it better. I think he had hoped to counter my attack as best as possible by removing silver general, but truthfully I think he would have had better success just attacking my pawn on the rank that his rook was defending. He should have brought his left silver or gold general forward to defend the 8g square. With the pawn in hand, he could have fairly easily countered my attack by dropping that new pawn on the defended 8g square. It would require more work on my part to break through his defenses. As is, I now have gained a bishop and lost a silver, clearly the exchange in my favor.