"ZVON KAMNEI" - NEW THEORY BOOK
By Ando Meritee, 1997
In the beginning of this year one big effort reached to final stage. The new renju theory
book was ready. The authors of the book, Mihail Kozhin and Aleksander Nosovsky,
had made an excellent job. The book contains 190 pages and it covers all 26 renju
openings.
I read this book with very big interest, because almost everything in there was quite well
made, both diagrams and commentaries. This book makes a very big step introducing renju
theory to renjuplayers. There is so much to learn for young renjuplayers.
Unfortunately the book has been written only in Russian language, so people from other
countries (Sweden, Japan etc.) have definitely difficulties reading this. But of course,
diagrams are like a symbolic language which every renjuplayer understands, and also
commentaries like 22-23, 23-A etc. can be understandable. Hopefully, the authors are
looking forward to translate the book in English.
The only disadvantage of the book - there are too few authors, which affects the objectivity
of the written material. So there are lots of variants to be argued about. There are some big
mistakes in evaluating the positions. Perhaps it would be good for the book if we disclose
some unclear things. I do not blame authors for making wrong evaluations in many
positions. I am very sure that if I were the author myself, my book would contain mistakes
as well. And I would be glad if somebody showed my mistakes. There can not be any
perfection in renju as we are only human beings.
I will introduce some of my opinions about different positions of the new book. Speaking
about mistakes - even my corrections may contain mistakes.
Variant 14.25 (page 103):
Commentaries in the book:
20th (!) - the only defending move, the rest of the
moves will lose, though sometimes there is only
one way for that.
22nd move (!!) - and black has no win.
It really surprised me that it was said so. There is
always possible to say 22! - after this we haven't
found black win yet, but it is wrong to say in such
position - no win.
33
9
24
20
8
11
6
4
2
1
18 17 13 15
19 12 16
23 26
25
10 22
5
7
14 21
3
My opinion here:
9
36 28 37 20
8
11
6
4
2
5
25 41
1
7
24
26
14 21
40
18 17 13 15
39
19 12 16
38 48
A
B
23 10 22
3
27 30 46 42
29 33 31 34
44 35 43 32
45 49 47
26
9
30 28 31 20
8
11
6
4
2
5
1
7
24
18 17 13 15
23 10 22
25
22! - it could really be surprise for the
opponent who has not seen it before and he
would probably fail finding a black win after
22. With the little homework, win can still be
found. After 38th move black doesn't have
VCF threat, so white can start looking for
activity of their own. But in fact there is no
activity for white. And it is also impossible to
defend in lower side. The only white attempt
to attack with 40 and 42 is easily controlled by
43.
If 34-A then 35-B, 37-43, 39-49. But looking
at the diagram from the book there is no win
after 26, indeed. There black winning attempt
runs into double-four.
The rest of the diagrams I will present without
commentaries.
14 21
34 19 12 16
3
35 27 29 36 33
32
39 37
38
28
26
20
8
11
6
4
2
1
7
18 17 13 15
9
9
23 10 22
5
3
6
25
28 26 29
4
2
24 29 27
20
1
7
14 21
19 12 16
11
8
18 17 13 15
31
30
32
34
5
3
25
24 31 27
14 21
19 12 16
33
23 10 22
30
Variant 5.24 (page 45):
There was
said: 13th (!) and 14th (!) - the strongest moves,
after which it is not easy for black to realize the
predominance. I say that after 14th move there is
a straight attack until the winning end. It is really
nice one:
30
18
14 21 27
17 20 13 19

10
If 28-30 then 29-31, 31-33 and 35-28. If 36-38
then 37-40. However, author was right in
evaluating this position, so my diagram is not
arguing with author but just addition to the book.
9
2
1
16
3
11
4
6
7
5
41
8
12
15 25
33
42 44 45 28 40 38
43
B
A
35 39
37
Commentaries in the book: As an answer to
6th move, black plays 7-7 and then the only
15
17 16
10
8
7
5
9
2
4
1
14 10 12
35
3
6
12 11
Variant 15.72 (page 122):
Commentaries in the book: …but after 21st and
22nd move black has been chained.
However, it is easy to break these chains. 23-A
(!!). Since the position in generally is not actual
any more, I hope that Swedish renjuplayers don't
mind if I disclose their excellent idea. Though
variants after 23-A are very complicated,
experienced renjuplayer can find the continuation
for breaking chains.
24
31
Variant 4.11 (page 34):
development til 15th move. The main fight is
turning to the lower side of the board. 16-17 is
also possible.
The question is: Why should white suffer here so
much and manage with defending problems for
the rest of the game? 16-A (!) is not mentioned
by authors. Even if white does not win after 16A, they will at least control the game. Normal
development after this: 17-B, 18-C or 18-D. So
far 16-A is played three (according to my
statistics) times in international tournaments and
the score is 3:0 for white.
26
34 22 32 23
9
22 17 21
5
2
4
19
20
1
8
13
6
11
A
15
7
3
18
16
14
13
D
B
A
C
29
36
Variant 10.6 (page 74):
Commentaries in the book: Starting with move
7, there is the avalanche of forced moves falling
onto white, straight until 51st move. By the way,
it is possible 9-25.
This is a beautiful win, indeed. But for the
people who do not trust their memory so well, I
can offer a little bit shorter win. It starts with
move 11-25 (The book suggests also 9-25
which will probably lead to the same position).
This victory has been presented by Mr.
Yamaguchi and I believe it is not less beautiful.
If 20-A then 21-22. If 22-B then 23-C.
38
33 40
28 34
32 31 29 25
36
42
9
2
37 43 45 47 48
5
1
3
13 14 51 46
24 11 23
7
19
6
12
8
4
15 17 49
20 16 21 18 50
22
The last variant does not conquer with the
variant shown in the book. It is more like happy
end to this article. It might say: "Even if You
are very sure that the win You have found
seems to be the best one, there can still be some
surprises".
However, I would like to impress only positive
emotions about the new book as it contains very
much valuable information about modern renju
theory. There are no players in the world who
don't find anything new and valuable for
themselves from this book. If the readers and
authors were intrested in my further
commentaries to the book, I could go on.
35
30 26 27 10 36 39 41 44
23
16
20
A
14 12 15 10
B
13 11
9
2
1
3
19
6
C
21
22
5
7
8
17 18
4