Side Pawn Capture

Name and setup

Yoko means side, fu is the pawn and tori means capture. Both players open their bishop diagonals early and trade rook pawns. Instead of blocking the 2nd file with a pawn drop, White trades on the 8th file, and Black's rook on 2d swings over to take the pawn on 3d. White's bishop moves to 3c in reply, and Black's rook must get off that diagonal, typically retreating to 3f and then 2f.

A pawn for time

Black wins a pawn but spends several moves with the rook, while White gains quick development and open lines for counterplay. With both bishop lines open and both rooks active, positions turn sharp early, and kings tend to stay in a central arrangement rather than a full castle.

Timing a pawn drop on 8g matters for Black, because White's rook on the 8th file aims at the bishop on 8h. One careless rook move can lose material on the open diagonals.