From: Satoshi Nagaura MXC MESHNET OR JP> Date: 17 jan 1999 Subject: JT Shougi Series '98 I have just translated an article on Shogi-Sekai (Feb'99 edition). Please bear with my awkward English. JT Shougi Series '98 Semifinal second game at Hiroshima Yoshiharu Habu (four crowns holder) VS. Nobuyuki Yashiki (7-dan) A Game of typical Anaguma (bear in the hole castle) commentator: Y.Habu I faced the game with a will that I shall make it this time since I often had lost games at JT's semifinals and considered them as a large barrier whereas I played a game at Hiroshima after an interval of 7 years. I was anticipating that fourth file rook opening was one of the strategies he might take this time because it was so popular this year although he did any. This formation is still in a stage of studying through trial and error for the first 20 moves, and I do not yet have a conclusion about it although I also often take the opening whichever side (black or white) I take. The sequence of the real game made me realize his study. Black: Yoshiharu Habu White: Nobuyuki Yashiki 1.P-7f P-3d 2.P-2f P-4d 3.P-2e B-3c 4.S-4h S-3b 5.P-5f R-4b 6.K-6h S-7b 7.K-7h G4a-5b 8.G4i-5h P-9d 9.B-7g S-4c 10.K-8h S-5d 11.P-6f P-6d 12.S-5g P-7d 13.L-9h N-7c 14.K-9i P-9e 15.S-8h P-6e Although more games used to reserve Bishop exchanges from Pw-4e by withholding Sw-4c, recently more games watch for Sw-6e by quickly moving from Sw-4c and Sw-5d. It is Mr.Yashiki's contrivance to watch out the decisive fight from Pb-6e rather without moving Pw-4e. 16.G-6g S7b-6c (Diagram-1) (Daiagram-1) White: Nobuyuki Yashiki White in hand: nothing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL * * wG wK * * wN wL |a | * * * * wG wR * * * |b | * wP wN wS wP * wB wP wP |c | * * wP * wS wP wP * * |d |wP * * wP * * * bP * |e | * * bP bP bP * * * * |f |bP bP bB bG bS bP bP * bP |g |bL bS * * * * * bR * |h |bK bN * bG * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Yoshiharu Habu Black in hand: nothing up to 16...S7b-6c. Sw7b-6c (Diagram-1) was the move which perhaps Mr.Yashiki really wanted. 17.G-7h P-7e Gb-7h was quite sensuous to prepare for the fight from the upper part although Gb-7i was rather common. 18.Px6e Px7f Against Pw-7e, Pbx7e is also strong, followed by Nw-8e, Bb-8f, Pw-4e, Pbx6e and Nwx9g+ although it is a difficult offensive and defensive battle. If Nwx6e against Pbx6e in this game, Pb-2d after Rb-6f, Nwx5g+, and Bbx5g is so severe that it would made Anaguma's stride. In addition, it was also welcome it would deprive of edge attack although it was Silver-Knight exchange. 19.Gx7f Sx6e 20.G-7e S6e-7d Since Gbx6e was impossible against Swx6e, Gbx7e must be moved. Then, Sw-7d was really a soft move in his character. 21.B-5e (Diagram-2) Sx7e (Diagram-2) White: Nobuyuki Yashiki White in hand: P2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL * * wG wK * * wN wL |a | * * * * wG wR * * * |b | * wP wN wS wP * wB wP wP |c | * * wS * * wP wP * * |d |wP * bG * bB * * bP * |e | * * * * bP * * * * |f |bP bP * * bS bP bP * bP |g |bL bS bG * * * * bR * |h |bK bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Yoshiharu Habu Black in hand: P2 up to 21.B-5e. Against the next Bb-5e(Diagram-2), Swx7e was, however, a questionable move. On behalf of Sx7e, I was anticipating G6a-6b, Gbx7d, Swx7d, Pb-2d, Pwx2d, and Sb-6f, then it would be a difficult game because the sitting king of White was not in bad shape. Although he might taken the gold from his mental power, this move was a decisive point. 22.Bx7c+ G6a-6b 23.+Bx9a P-4e 24.P-5e P*6f Although I also wanted to drop Nb-5e on behalf of Pb-5e, since Pw-5d, Nbx6c+, Gw6bx6c, then Nw-7f was an unpleasant diagonal, I restrained from doing so. If the game became slow, my Bishop+ was getting effective. 25.L*6i S-7d 26.Sx6f Sx6f 27.Lx6f P*6e 28.P*7e (Diagram-3) Px6f (Diagram-3) White: Nobuyuki Yashiki White in hand: G S 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |bB+ * * * wK * * wN wL |a | * * * wG wG wR * * * |b | * wP * * wP * wB wP wP |c | * * wS * * * wP * * |d |wP * bP wP bP wP * bP * |e | * * * bL * * * * * |f |bP bP * * * bP bP * bP |g |bL bS bG * * * * bR * |h |bK bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Yoshiharu Habu Black in hand: S N P2 up to 28.P*7e. Nb-8f might be also effective on behalf of Pb-7e (Diagram-3) I was not sure how was exchanging S and N after dropping Sw-8e. I wanted to think about this sequence more if more time was available. The drop of P-7e suddenly brought us to end-game without middle-game. 29.Px7d L*7e 30.P-7c+ Lx7h+ 31.+Px6b Gx6b 32.Rx7h P-6g+ 33.R-7a+ G*6a 34.L*4c Gx7a Although Rb+7f was common for its own escape against Gw*6a, Pw*7g was so severe after Sw*7h. Besides, I would loose even if Pb-7i, high-handily followed by Swx8i+, Kbx8i, Gw-6f, Rb+7d, Nw-7f. Even Anaguma is quick to be checkmated when in a shape to be checked. So, I judged that I couldn't defend it, then dropped Lb*4c. Since Rwx4c would lead him to threating mate by Sb-3b, Gw-7a, and Sb-4c+, he must take the Rb+ then. 35.Lx4b+ Kx4b 36.S*5a Kx5a Although the first glance told me Bb+6d, it did not look like threatmate. Thus, decided Sb*5a in order to make the King down to the back range. Black was then fine even if many pieces were delivered to White. 37.S*3b (Diagram-4) G*4a (Diagram-4) White: Nobuyuki Yashiki White in hand: R G S2 L P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |bB+ * wG * wK * * wN wL |a | * * * wG * * bS * * |b | * wP * * wP * wB wP wP |c | * * * * * * wP * * |d |wP * * * bP wP * bP * |e | * * * * * * * * * |f |bP bP * wP+ * bP bP * bP |g |bL bS * * * * * * * |h |bK bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Yoshiharu Habu Black in hand: R G N P2 up to 37.S*3b. The prospect became clear at Sb*3b (Diagram-4) and Gw*4a. White should have defended with Lw*4a on behalf here. Then, after Rb*3a and Sw*5b, Nb*4c would make White loose because Kw-6a and Sbx4a+ was not threatmate. So, although it should be Nb*6d after Rb*3a and Sw*5b, it would be followed by toughly Sw*6c, Nb-5b+, and Swx5b (Diagram-A). (Diagram-A) White in hand: R G S P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |bB+ * wG * wK wL bR wN wL |a | * * * wG wS * bS * * |b | * wP * * wP * wB wP wP |c | * * * * * * wP * * |d |wP * * * bP wP * bP * |e | * * * * * * * * * |f |bP bP * wP+ * bP bP * bP |g |bL bS * * * * * * * |h |bK bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: G N P2 up to 38...S*5b. Then, if Sb*4c, Gw*4b, which would give me hard time. It was manifested afterward that White would still win with Sbx4a+, Swx4a, Sb*3b, Sw*5b, and Lb*4c from Diagram-A. For instance, if Nw*4b, Lbx4b+, Bwx4b, and Nb*4c. If Gw*4b, then (44.Sx4a+ Sx4a 45.G*3b S*5b 46.Lx4b+ Bx4b 47.Gx4b Kx4b 48.Rx2a+) It is threatmate and winning of Black as follows: (49.S*3c K-5a 50.N*6c Gx6c 51.G*4b K-6a 52.Gx5b Kx5b 53.+Rx4a Kx4a 54.S*4b K-5b 55.B*4a) However, if Lw*4a had been made in the real game, I did not know whether I could finish the king off since I could not see ahead completely. For, the above variations were the conclusion made afterward, spending many hours. 38.G*4c Gx3b In the real game, the general situation was determined with Gw*4c, which can take the Bishop at 3c, after Gb*4a. 39.Gx3b S*4a 40.N*4c K-6a 41.Gx3c S*8b 42.R*5a K-7b 43.Rx7a+ Kx7a 44.G*8a K-6a 45.G*5a K-7b 46.+Bx8b K-6c 47.B*8e resigns Overall, I think this game was a typical Anaguma's winning game. I will be in the final after 8 years' interval, and the opponent is Mr.Sato (mejin), who is very good at quick game. I wish I could win the final with playing such a game as to satisfy the coming audience. ----------------------------------------- Satoshi Nagaura Mail: snagaura mxc meshnet or jp HP: http://www2a.meshnet.or.jp/~snagaura/ -----------------------------------------