High Mino

How it differs from the Mino

The finished shape is king 2h, silver 3h, golds 4g and 4i, with the pawn on 4f in front. The raised gold guards that pawn and also covers 3f, 5f and the squares beside it on rank g, so pawn pushes on the 3rd, 4th and 5th files meet more resistance. The price is that 5h is left empty, so the castle has one defender fewer along rank h than the regular Mino.

When to build it

The High Mino suits slow games, when the opponent builds an Anaguma or another solid castle instead of attacking at once. It costs only two extra moves, pawn to 4f and gold to 4g, so a Ranging Rook player can add it while waiting for the opponent to commit. It is a natural next step after the Mino in both the Fourth-file Rook and the Third-file Rook. Against a rapid attack that is already underway, keeping the plain Mino and meeting the attack is usually simpler.