Shogi glossary
Mino castle
Japanese: 美濃囲い
In shogi, the Mino castle (mino-gakoi) is the standard Ranging Rook castle: king on 2h, silver on 3h, golds on 4i and 5h. It is quick to build and especially strong against attacks coming from the side.
Ranging Rook castle: king 2h, silver 3h, golds 4i and 5h.
How to build it
First move the rook off 2h, because the king cannot get past it. Then walk the king from 5i to 4h, 3h and 2h, bring the silver up from 3i to 3h, and move the left gold from 6i to 5h; the right gold already waits on 4i. In a typical Fourth-file Rook game the castle is complete with Black's tenth move.
Strengths and weaknesses
The silver and the two golds form a compact V and protect each other: the gold on 4i covers both 3h and 5h, and the silver on 3h covers 4i. That chain resists rooks and dragons sweeping along the lower ranks. Its soft spots are the 1st-file edge and the king's head, so opponents attack with edge pawns and pawns aimed at the square in front of the king.
White's mirror-image Mino puts the king on 8b, the silver on 7b and the golds on 6a and 5b.
When to use it
The Mino goes with every Ranging Rook setup: Fourth-file, Third-file, Central and Opposing Rook. If the game turns slow, upgrade it to a High Mino.
Try it · from “The Mino Castle”
Complete the Mino castle.
FAQ
Why can't I build a Mino with my rook still on 2h?
The king needs 2h as its home square, and the rook blocks its walk along rank h. Ranging Rook players swing the rook left first, which is why the Mino belongs to Ranging Rook.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: The Mino Castle · The Fourth-file Rook
Openings: Fourth-file Rook · Third-file Rook · Mino and Boat Castles
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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