[--that nearly derails him, but he remembers. Quasi-alliance. Benefit of the doubt.]

Then you should know enough to get this. In shogi, the opening moves are among the most vital. It sets the stage, and many flaws in the endgame can be traced back to it.

Worded like that, it sounds simple. But in the first turn alone, there are thirty possible moves. That's thirty paths, and each move after multiplies their combinations.