Infinity Starting with Hikaru no Go

Page 85

In the current Go world, the diagonal star opening is the most popular move when Black moves first.

As for the double star formation, although some people do use it, it's not very common.

Compared to the most common diagonal star layout, the double star layout places more emphasis on the speed of the layout.

This means that the two-star opening requires players to have a stronger offensive mindset.

If the efficiency and speed of occupying the edges are not high enough after the two-star layout, it will lead to layout failure and put oneself at a disadvantage.

Therefore, without a high degree of certainty, most players will choose the relatively safe diagonal star opening.

However, most of the people present were not very familiar with Chen Anxia.

At the same time, his own chess skills limited his perspective, making it impossible for him to discern what type of player Chen Anxia was from his previous games.

Therefore, only a small portion of these people were surprised by the double star formation, while the majority had no reaction to it.

After all, a two-star configuration is not an uncommon layout.

In their view, Chen Anxia is very likely a player who fights hard and might even be good at the two-star opening.

Unlike them, Fujiwara Sai frowned slightly and looked puzzled after seeing Chen Anxia's double-star formation.

In Fujiwara Sai's view, Chen Anxia's chess principles so far, whether it was the seemingly impenetrable principles he displayed when playing against him before, are still impressive.

Even when playing against Yuko Miki, he demonstrated a mastery of the game, prioritizing stability over speed in his opening moves.

It can be said that Chen Anxia's current strategy is completely inconsistent with the two major principles of chess he had previously employed.

'So why did he choose the double star formation?'

Fujiwara Sai asked himself this question in his heart.

Then, Fujiwara Sai realized a possibility, his expression changed, and he muttered, "Could it be... that he possesses a third, top-tier Go principle?!"

Not only Fujiwara no Sai, but also Shizuka Ken, who had seen Chen Anxia's previous games, was puzzled and did not understand why Chen Anxia would play a double-star opening that was inconsistent with his usual opening style.

However, Kenjiro Shibazuka did not consider any possibility like Sai Fujiwara did; he was simply puzzled.

The reason for this is that Kenjiro Shezuka does not know enough about Anxia Chen.

At the same time, the chess principles that Chen Anxia displayed in the previous games were only the tip of the iceberg of true chess principles, preventing Shezuka Ken from seeing their true terrifying nature.

Beside him, Shintaro Ichiyanagi looked at the two-star opening and couldn't help but think of the game between Chen Anxia and Shinsuke Ichiyanagi.

Seemingly realizing something, Shintaro Ichiyanagi's eyes lit up with anticipation as he murmured, "Is it finally going to appear?"

"The future you hold in your hands!"

As for Hikaru Shindo, Akira Toya, Shinsuke Ichiyanagi, Kiyoharu Shiba, and the others, they didn't think much of it and were all waiting for the game to continue.

Meanwhile, inside the offices of the Japanese Go Association.

Meijin Touya and Seiji Ogata did not personally go to the arena.

Because of Touya Meijin's immense fame, if he were to personally attend the event, it could not only cause a commotion but also put pressure on the competitors, potentially disrupting the competition.

Therefore, Touya Meijin, accompanied by Ogata Seiji, remained in the office.

The match between Chen Anxia and Iwashima was relayed in real time by staff via walkie-talkie.

At this moment, in the office, Meijin Touya, playing black, and Seiji Ogata, playing white, were simultaneously replicating the game between Anxia Chen and Otoshima Iwashima.

After the two-star opening appeared, Ogata Seiji frowned slightly, puzzled as to why Chen Anxia would play a two-star opening that was inconsistent with his usual style.

Not only Ogata Seiji, but also Touya Meijin was puzzled.

However, Meijin Touya knew that Chen Anxia, ​​with his skill level, would not make a meaningless opening.

Therefore, there must be some deeper meaning behind this double-star formation...

On the field, Iwashima completely ignored the strategy Chen Anxia employed.

In Iwashima's view, no matter what strategy Chen Anxia employs, he will be defeated by his chess AI.

Soon after the chess AI analyzed the point with the highest winning probability, Iwashima picked up a white stone and placed it in the lower right corner star point, which also resulted in a two-star opening.

After learning about Iwashima's move from Miki Yuko, Miki Soji did not hesitate at all. He placed his stone near the star point in the upper right corner, which was occupied by white, and launched an attack with a small knight's move.

Miki Soji was acutely aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the double-star configuration.

The reason why Miki Soji chose the double star opening is partly because he felt a connection to the principles of cosmic chess, believing that the double star opening subtly aligns with these principles.

On the other hand, Miki Soji also wanted to deliver a crushing blow to Iwajima with overwhelming force, a wake-up call of defeat.

Yuko Miki perfectly replicated the moves of Aoshi Miki.

At the same time that Yuko Miki replicated the move, Chen Anxia heard a voice guiding his moves in his mind.

This time, however, Chen Anxia did not follow the voice in his mind to attack the star point in the upper right corner of the white stones with a small knight's move.

Because at this moment, Chen Anxia saw an incomparably brilliant star on the chessboard that had transformed into a vast galaxy before him.

This star was so dazzling and beautiful that Chen Anxia desperately wanted to get closer and touch it. Even the voice in her mind was ignored at this moment.

Instinctively, Chen Anxia reached out and picked up a black chess piece, then slowly approached the star.

In the end, the black chess piece in Chen Anxia's hand and the star completely merged into one.

This also means that Chen Anxia's black piece has been placed.

Upon seeing Chen Anxia's move, Fujiwara Sai was stunned, Ichiyanagi Shintaro was stunned, and Yamato Ken was stunned...

Not only them, but almost everyone who knew chess was stunned, their faces showing bewilderment.

Even the staff responsible for transmitting the game records in real time forgot their mission after seeing Chen Anxia's move and just stared blankly at the game.

At the same time, Yuko Miki also saw that the black stone that had been placed in the upper right corner of the virtual chessboard in front of her, attacking the white stones with a small knight's move, suddenly disappeared.

Instead, a black stone appeared above the right center star position.

Upon seeing this, Yuko Miki was also stunned.

While still stunned, Yuko Miki unconsciously murmured, "This is... a triple star system!?"

......

Chapter 128 Three-star layout, winning rate up to 50%! (Additional update for わたぬききみひろ)

In the game, after Chen Anxia's move, Black occupied the upper right, middle right, and lower right star positions at the start, forming a three-star formation.

Of course, this can also be called a triple star formation.

The Three Stars formation is the first time it has appeared in the history of Go in the world of "Hikaru no Go," and it is also the first time it has appeared in the history of Go in the player's world.

This is why all those who understand chess react this way upon seeing the Three Stars opening.

Inside the office of the Island Go Association, Meijin Touya and Seiji Ogata were unaware of the situation at the venue, only somewhat surprised that the latest game records had not been sent over for so long.

After all, the game has only just begun, and theoretically there should be no need for a long period of deliberation.

Not to mention that this competition is also subject to time restrictions.

However, although Meijin Touya and Seiji Ogata were surprised by this, they did not urge them. After all, the situation on the chessboard is ever-changing, and even players of their caliber cannot know everything about the chessboard.

Meanwhile, in the world where the player resides, Miki Soji is also waiting for Miki Yuko's game record.

While waiting, Miki Soji heard Miki Yuko muttering to herself.

The muttering made Miki Soji pause for a moment, somewhat confused about what Miki Yuko meant by the three stars.

There weren't many reservations between Miki Soji and Miki Yuko. After expressing his confusion, Miki Soji directly asked, "Yuko, what do you mean by the Tri-Star?"

Upon hearing what Aoshi Miki said, Yuko Miki immediately snapped out of her daze.

After taking a deep breath, Miki Yuko couldn't help but say, "Father, Chen Anxia didn't follow your move just now and played an attacking small knight's move."

"Instead, it was placed on the star point in the middle right, forming a three-star pattern with the black stones on the upper right and lower right star points."

As she spoke, Miki Yuko looked at Chen Anxia's back with a complicated expression.

Originally, Miki Yuko thought that Chen Anxia was just an NPC character in the world of "Hikaru no Go".

Based on this, now that he has accepted the mission and a mission-specific virtual chessboard has been created in front of him.

Therefore, as long as I place a piece on the virtual chessboard, Chen Anxia should completely follow my will in placing the pieces.

After all, no matter how intelligent the NPC characters are, they are still controlled by the Truth Superbrain and cannot disobey its commands.

The task I received was issued by the Truth Superbrain, which is equivalent to an order from the Truth Superbrain.

Logically speaking, Chen Anxia, ​​as an NPC character, should not be able to disobey the orders of the Truth Superbrain.

However, in Miki Yuko's view, Chen Anxia's move just now was indeed a disobedience to the Truth Superbrain's command.

If this was a pre-planned plot, then it could be explained, albeit reluctantly.

But Miki Yuko knew that the player currently playing against Chen Anxia was a real player.

This shows that the current game of chess could not possibly be a pre-planned scenario.

This also means that the move Chen Anxia just made was truly a move made according to his own will.

After realizing this, Yuko Miki couldn't help but ask herself, 'Is Chen Anxia, ​​who possesses his own will, still considered a character-based NPC?'

'But if we don't count NPC characters, then what is Chen Anxia?'

'Could it be that it's a real person...?'

......

On the other side, Miki Soji was taken aback after hearing Miki Yuko's words.

Then, Miki Soji took the black stone he had just placed and put it on the star point in the right center.

After that, Miki Soji focused intently on the three-star chess pattern in front of him.

This three-star formation, or rather, the three-star layout, was something that Miki Soji had never seen before; it can be said to be a completely new layout.

This layout was created by a child named Chen Anxia.

However, Miki Soji did not underestimate this strategy.

Because Miki Soji knew that the new chess principle he was striving to approach and touch, which was the chess principle leading to the universe, was something he had glimpsed from Chen Anxia's opening moves.

Therefore, Chen Anxia has always held a very special place in Miki Soji's heart.