From: Satoshi Nagaura MXC MESH NE JP> Date: 7 mar 1999 Subject: The Record of My Fierce Games By Hifumi Kato (From Shogi-Sekai Hello Shogi Fans, I have translated an article from Shogi Sekai, February'99 edition. Any comment, suggestions, appreciated. Satoshi The Record of My Fierce Games - Describe my 40 years' tracks inscribed on the shogi board By Hifumi Kato (9-dan) The 6th Fujitsu Cup "Tatsujin(=adept)" Championship: Black-Hifumi Kato White-Keiji Mori (Playing With New Strategy) "Tatsujin" Championship: I happen to play with Mr.Keiji Mori (9-dan) at Fujitsu Cup Tatsujin Championship. This year (1998) I played with Mr.Mori two games and won one and lost one. One was in Ryuo tournament, and I lost to him then at the re-play match after draw by repetition where I was black and he took central rook opening. It was my first game against central rook opening which made draw by repetition, and it was not a good game for me. I predicted that Mr.Mori would take central rook opening if I took Black since I had often lost my games to Mr.Mori with central rook opening. It became my major issue how to contrive my strategy. Records and witness's counts are being carried in "Shukan Asahi (Asahi Weekly)". The 6th Fujitsu Cup Tatsujin Championship August 14 1998 At Tokyo Shogi Kaikan (Time Limit: 3 Hours For Each Player) 1.P-7f 2.P-3d 3.P-2f 4.P-4d 5.P-2e 6.B-3c 7.S-4h 8.S-3b 9.K-6h 10.S-4c 11.P-3f 12.R-5b 13.K-7h 14.K-6b 15.P-5f 16.K-7b 17.G4i-5h 18.P-5d 19.P-4f 20.G-3b 21.S-5g (Diagram-1) Central Rook Opening As Expected: Mr.Mori came with central rook opening as expected whereas I moved Pb-7f for the first move. The reason why I moved Kb-6h next to Sw-3b during the moves was that there was possibility of such sequence as Sw-4c, Kb-6h, and Pw-3e if Pb-5f on behalf of Kb-6h. The reason of 9.K-6h, 10.S-4c, & 11.P-3f is also to blocks Pw-3e. I avoided the Pw-3e formation although Black still has ways to go even if Pw-3e is moved whereas only few players take the Pw-3e formation. We saw central rook opening when he moved Rw-5b next to Pb-3f. Then, sound moves followed. 21.S-5g is looking forward to Pbx4e next to Pw-4e. Sb-4e makes strong move of Pw-4e possible. (DIAGRAM-1) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: nothing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN wS wG * * * wN wL |a | * * wK * wR * wG * * |b |wP wP wP wP * wS wB wP wP |c | * * * * wP wP wP * * |d | * * * * * * * bP * |e | * * bP * bP bP bP * * |f |bP bP * bP bS * * * bP |g | * bB bK * bG * * bR * |h |bL bN bS bG * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: nothing up to 11.S-5g. 22.K-8b 23.S7i-6h 24.S-7b 25.R-3h 26.G-3a 27.P-3e 28.Px3e 29.Rx3e 30.R-3b (Diagram-2) Start of Combat: Mr.Mori moved 22.K-8b, then made his castle with 24.S-7b next to my 23.S7i-6h. Then, I slid as 25.R-3h. 26.P-6d against it will make me advantageous with such a foreseen sequence as 27.P-3e 28.Px3e 29.Rx3e 30.P*3d 31.R-3f 32.S-6c 33.N-3g 34.G-7b 35.P-2d 36.Px2d 37.P-4e 38.Px4e 39.Bx3c+ 40.Gx3c 41.P*2b 42.Rx2b 43.Nx4e. I would be straightforward if exchanging the pawns in the 3rd file, pulled down my rook as R-3f, obtaining a good shape as N-3g, and attacking from Pb-2d. Although I often play this type of games, I seldom lost them. I experienced many easy victory games with this opening because being able to attack only with rook, bishop, and pawns whereas the king is quite firm. The games between Mr.Mori and myself have never gone like this. Against my R-3h, he pulled back as 26.G-3a. In the previous game here conducting such a plot as Rb-2h, Gw-3b, Rb-3h, Gw-3a, and Rb-2hI resulted in draw by repetition, and it was not good for me. In this game against his Gw-3a, I chose to start combat with 27.P-3e 28.Px3e 29.Rx3e. As expected, he swung as 30.R-3b. Progressing to Diagram-2, next common moves are 31.R-3f 32.B-2b 33.P*3e 34.G-4b 35.N-3g 36.P-1d. It is a difficult game whereas White has the drop of Pw*3h. I made the previous Ryuo match draw by repetition in order to avoid this sequence. Although not many actual games with this type of com abt are played, black looks to be hasty there. The combat becomes monotonous, and tends to make the attack stagnant. Despite so, not many raging rook players actually play like this because the camping form of white is not firm. (DIAGRAM-2) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * wG wN wL |a | * wK wS * * * wR * * |b |wP wP wP wP * wS wB wP wP |c | * * * * wP wP * * * |d | * * * * * * bR bP * |e | * * bP * bP bP * * * |f |bP bP * bP bS * * * bP |g | * bB bK bS bG * * * * |h |bL bN * bG * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: P up to 15...R-3b. 31.R-3h 32.B-2b 33.P*3e 34.P-1d 35.G-4g 36.P-9d 37.P-9f 38.P-4e 39.P-6f (Diagram-3) Expect Rb-3h To Work: I pulled back as 31.R-3h. This was my plan. If Rb-3f on behalf of Rb-3h, it goes like Bw-2b, Pb*3e, and Gw-4b as mentioned before. Although Pw-4e on behalf of Bw-2b, is also valid, i will be enough with Bbx3c+, Rwx3c, and Pb*3e. I also wrote about the variations of Pw-4e in a book after well studied since it is important. I could not be confident of it in the games with Mr.Mori although I actually wanted to pull back at a center rank like Rb-3f. Exposing such as new move as Rb-3h, I was waiting for his next move. If 32.P-4e, my plan was 33.Bx3c+ 34.Rx3c 35.P*3e 36.Px4f & 37.Sx4f. This is a new combat. Mr.Mori immediately pulled back as 32.B-2b. Then, I defended it as 33.P*3e. Hereupon, he pushed as 34.P-1d. I climbed as 35.G-4g. I judged that it was more powerful to go for Gb-3f in this form although I did not want to move this gold ahead if possible. Against 35.G-4g, he moved 36.P-9d, then he pushed up as 38.P-4e next to 37.P-9f. I will be hard if I go like 39.Bx2b+ 40.Gx2b 41.Px4e 42.B*2g 43.R-4h 44.Bx4e+ against it. There is no concrete way to reproach it although the form like Gwx2b against Gbx2b never be good. I blockaded the bishop's diagonal as P-6f against 39.P-6f. I though I was enough around here then. From Diagram-4 if 40.S-4d, the followings become as 41.Px4e 42.Sx3e 43.P*3f 44.P*4f 45.Sx4f 46.Sx4f 47.Gx4f. I presumed that i would be enough here because he did not have next attacks to go. My plan to have moved Gb-4g becomes effective if such a line comes up. (DIAGRAM-3) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: P 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * wG wN wL |a | * wK wS * * * wR wB * |b | * wP wP wP * wS * wP * |c |wP * * * wP * * * wP |d | * * * * * wP bP bP * |e |bP * bP bP bP bP * * * |f | * bP * * bS bG * * bP |g | * bB bK bS * * bR * * |h |bL bN * bG * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: nothing up to 20.P-6f. 40.B-1c 41.Px4e 42.Rx3e 43.G-3f 44.R-3b 45.P*3e 46.G-4b 47.P-1f 48.B-2b 49.G-4f 50.P-6d 51.R-2h 52.B-3c 53.S-6g (Diagram-4) Combat With Good Formation: At Diagram-3 if Pwx4f, Gbx4f has no problem. Mr.Mori came up as 40.B-1c. Then, I moved 41.Px4e, and next to 42.Rx3e, moved 43.G-3f. Next to 44.R-3b, I dropped as 45.P*3e. I would be dangerous if Pw*3d is effective soon after Pb*3e. Sabaki is likely to be achieved if it becomes like Pw*3d, Pbx3d, and Swx3d. So, I was planning to move Pb-2e if Pw*3e. Then, if Pw-3e, Pbx2c+ was effective. If 48.Bx2d next to 47.P-2d, 49.G-2e 50.B-1c 51.Px3d 52.P*4f and 53.G-5h was being planned. Although these sequences after Pb-2e looked dangerous for me, I anticipated for sure that he would not have further attack then. In the case of48.Px2d against 47.P-2d, I evaluated myself to be advantageous with such a sequence as 49.Px3d 50.Sx3d 51.P*3e 52.S-2e and 53.G-4f. I was sufficiently able to cope with this situation because Mr.Mori's camp was not so firm, either whereas it was one of the points to decide the game whether Pw*3d was effective nor not against my pressing down as Pb*3e. He came up as 46.G-4b. I pushed up as 47.P-1f to aim for Pb-1e, and stepped aside as 49.G-4f next to 48.B-2b. $B!! (BP*3d is aimed if move Rb-2h. So, I moved Rb-2h next to Pw-6d after making my formation well as Bb-4f. Such as sequence as Pb-2d, Pwx2d, and Rbx2d becomes effective for next. Mr.Mori defended as 52.B-3c. Gw-3c would not succeed with him since it is a little bit dull shape although it is viable on behalf of Bw-3c. I moved up 53.S-6g after seeing Bw-3c. Then, I aimed for such a good shape as Gb-6h next. I can respond combat anytime when I complete this deployment. Diagram-4 shows you one conclusion of my inventive move of Rb-3h. Then, I was thinking that my plan was realized to block Mr.Mori's sabaki with utilization of the right gold. The time consumption until then was nearly 2 hours for me and nearly 1 hour and half for him. (DIAGRAM-4) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: P2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * * wN wL |a | * wK wS * * wG wR * * |b | * wP wP * * wS wB wP * |c |wP * * wP wP * * * wP |d | * * * * * bP bP bP * |e |bP * bP bP bP bG * * bP |f | * bP * bS bS * * * * |g | * bB bK * * * * bR * |h |bL bN * bG * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: nothing up to 27.S-6g. 54.P-6e 55.G-6h 56.Px6f 57.Bx6f 58.Bx6f 59.S5gx6f 60.P*6e 61.S-5g 62.G-5c 63.P-2d 64.Px2d 65.B*7g (Diagram-5) Plunge Into Middle Game: Mr.Mori snubbed as 54.P-6e. If 55.Px6e, Such a sequence will be seen as 56.Bx8h+ 57.Kx8h 58.B*3i 59.R-5h 60.P*3h (aiming for Bw-2h+ next). I stood up as 55.G-6h. And, to 56.Px6f I respond as 57.Bx6f. Then, it progressed as 58.Bx6f 59.S5gx6f. Here, he came to drop as 60.P*6e. If I move 61.Sx6e, after 62.P*6f, 63.S-5h, and 64.G-5c, Rw-6b becomes effective. So, against 60.P*6e, I pulled back as 61.S-5g. Here, he tried to achieve sabaki as 62.G-5c. So, I moved 63.P-2d, and next to 64.Px2d, dropped as 65.B*7g. Rbx2d is also powerful on behalf of 65.B*7g at Diagram-5. If Rw*3c next, I am better off with Rbx2a+. If Pw*2b against Rbx2d, I thought next move was difficult. So, actually I dropped Bb*7ginside my own camp instead. If Rw*2b against this, I will be sufficient with Rbx2d. By the way, although Pw-6e at Diagram-5 can be a strong point, exchanging the pawns in the 6th file does not mean my disadvantage because I also have an attack as Pb*6b. (DIAGRAM-5) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: B P3 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * * wN wL |a | * wK wS * * * wR * * |b | * wP wP * wG wS * * * |c |wP * * * wP * * wP wP |d | * * * wP * bP bP * * |e |bP * bP * bP bG * * bP |f | * bP bB bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * bR * |h |bL bN * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: P up to 33.B*7g. 66.B*3c 67.Bx3c+ 68.Nx3c 69.Rx2d 70.Nx4e 71.Gx4e 72.B*3c 73.R-2a+ 74.Bx9i+ 75.B*7g 76.+Bx7g 77.Nx7g (Diagram-6) Promote My Rook In: Mr.Mori defended it as 66.B*3c. I moved 67.Bx3c+. If 68.Rx3c, Rb*2b is effective. So, he took as 68.Nx3c. Then, I achieved sabaki as 69.Rx2d. And, the game went on to Diagram-6. I thought I was advantageous because his +Bishop disappeared at Diagram-6 after 75.B*7g 76.+Bx7g 77.Nx7g. At diagram-6, if Rw-6b, 79.P*6f, 80.Px6f, and 81.S5gx6f is the good sequence. Mr.Mori pointed out this Pb*6f in the post mortem. Pb*6f is really a good move. And,if Lw*6f at Diagram-6, NbX6e, Lwx6g+, and Gbx6g will make me better off. (DIAGRAM-6) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: B L P4 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * * bR+wL |a | * wK wS * * * wR * * |b | * wP wP * wG wS * * * |c |wP * * * wP * * * wP |d | * * * wP * bG bP * * |e |bP * bP * bP * * * bP |f | * bP bN bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * * * |h | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: B N P2 up to 39.Nx7g. 78.B*1b 79.+Rx1a 80.Bx4e 81.Nx6e 82.G5c-5b 83.L*4h 84.P*4g 85.Lx4g 86.B-3f 87.Lx4c+ 88.Gx4c 89.P*4d (Diagram-7) Winning Position: He came to drop as 78.B*1b. I moved 79.+Rx1a, and after 80.Bx4e, jumped up as 81.Nx6e. This one move was big. If 82.G-6d against it, such a sequence will become severe as 83.P*6b 84.Rx6b 85.N-5c+. He pulled back as 82.G5c-5b against it. Then, I dropped as 83.L*4h. This was absolutely a good hit. Here, there was such a way to combat as 86.P*4d 87.Lx4e 88.P*3a, and it found to be so difficult although it was discussed in the postmortem for details. Although it does not mean that I would become disadvantageous, I could not avoid playing a close game. In the real game, after L*4h, the game went on to Diagram-7 with usual moves, and I became in a winning position. 89.P*4d was an excellent move for me. Pbx4c+ is so severe that he can not ignore this. If 90.Gx4d, such a sequence will lead you to forces mate as 91.P*6b 92.Rx6b 93.N-5c+ 94.Rx6g+ 95.Kx6g 96.P*6f 97.Sx6f 98.P*6e 99.+Rx6a 100.Sx6a 101.S*7a 102.Kx7a 103.N*6c 104.K-7b 105.G*8b. During that sequence, if Bb*5c on behalf of 91.P*6b, Gw-4c next would give you confusion. (DIAGRAM-7) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: G L2 P3 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * wG * * * * bR+|a | * wK wS * * * wR * * |b | * wP wP * * wG * * * |c |wP * * * wP bP * * wP |d | * * * bN * * bP * * |e |bP * bP * bP * wB * bP |f | * bP * bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * * * |h | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: B S N P3 up to 45.P*4d. 90.G-4b 91.P*6b 92.G-7a 93.N*6c 94.Sx6c 95.P-6a+ 96.P*3a 97.+Px7a 98.Kx7a 99.S*4c (Diagram-8) Become Near Mate Position: Mr.Mori pulled back as 90.G-4b. I dropped as 91.P*6b at his vital point, and next to 92.G-7a, approached his camp as 93.N*6c, 94.Sx6c, and 95.P-6a+. 93.N*6c is obviously severe. If Gw-7b, it is quicker that 97.S*7a 98.K-9b and 99.+P-6b. Against 95.P-6a, he defended as 6.P*3a. Then, it went on to Diagram-8, where I was clearly in a winning position. (DIAGRAM-8) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: G N L2 P3 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN wK * * * wP * bR+|a | * * * * * wG wR * * |b | * wP wP wS * bS * * * |c |wP * * * wP bP * * wP |d | * * * bN * * bP * * |e |bP * bP * bP * wB * bP |f | * bP * bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * * * |h | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: B G P2 up to 50.S*4c. 100.Rx3e 101.Sx4b= 102.L*8e 103.S-5c+ 104.G*7b 105.+R-2b 106.R-3b 107.+Rx3b 108.Px3b 109.G*6b (Diagram-9) Aim For Forced Mate: Although here at this point I was in the counting down mode, I did not have any confusion. I was clearly seeing ahead forced mate until Diagram-9. (DIAGRAM-9) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: R N L P4 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN wK * * * * * * |a | * * wG bG * * wP * * |b | * wP wP wS bS+ * * * * |c |wP * * * wP bP * * wP |d | * wL * bN * * * * * |e |bP * bP * bP * wB * bP |f | * bP * bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * * * |h | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: R B G P2 up to 55.G*6b. 110.K-8b 111.Gx7b 112.Sx7b 113.B*7a 114.Kx7a 115.G*6b 116.K-8b 117.Gx7b 118.K-9b 119.R*9c 120.resigns (Diagram-Resigns) (Time Consumed: Black=3 hours, White=2 hours and 43 minutes) (DIAGRAM-Resigns) White: Keiji Mori White in hand: R B G N L P4 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ |wL wN * * * * * * * |a |wK * bG * * * wP * * |b |bR wP wP * bS+ * * * * |c |wP * * * wP bP * * wP |d | * wL * bN * * * * * |e |bP * bP * bP * wB * bP |f | * bP * bS bS * * * * |g | * * bK bG * * * * * |h | * * * * * * * bN bL |i +---------------------------+ Black: Hifumi Kato Black in hand: G S P2 up to 60.R*9c. Finish A Hot Game: My new strategy was successful at this game. Although it is not a formation which will be seen so often for the future, there is still possibility for this form of game to be played again. Although this "Tasujin Championship" has the age limit, I am trying not to mind of it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Black: Hifumi Kato White: Keiji Mori 1.P-7f 2.P-3d 3.P-2f 4.P-4d 5.P-2e 6.B-3c 7.S-4h 8.S-3b 9.K-6h 10.S-4c 11.P-3f 12.R-5b 13.K-7h 14.K-6b 15.P-5f 16.K-7b 17.G4i-5h 18.P-5d 19.P-4f 20.G-3b 21.S-5g 22.K-8b 23.S7i-6h 24.S-7b 25.R-3h 26.G-3a 27.P-3e 28.Px3e 29.Rx3e 30.R-3b 31.R-3h 32.B-2b 33.P*3e 34.P-1d 35.G-4g 36.P-9d 37.P-9f 38.P-4e 39.P-6f 40.B-1c 41.Px4e 42.Rx3e 43.G-3f 44.R-3b 45.P*3e 46.G-4b 47.P-1f 48.B-2b 49.G-4f 50.P-6d 51.R-2h 52.B-3c 53.S-6g 54.P-6e 55.G-6h 56.Px6f 57.Bx6f 58.Bx6f 59.S5gx6f 60.P*6e 61.S-5g 62.G-5c 63.P-2d 64.Px2d 65.B*7g 66.B*3c 67.Bx3c+ 68.Nx3c 69.Rx2d 70.Nx4e 71.Gx4e 72.B*3c 73.R-2a+ 74.Bx9i+ 75.B*7g 76.+Bx7g 77.Nx7g 78.B*1b 79.+Rx1a 80.Bx4e 81.Nx6e 82.G5c-5b 83.L*4h 84.P*4g 85.Lx4g 86.B-3f 87.Lx4c+ 88.Gx4c 89.P*4d 90.G-4b 91.P*6b 92.G-7a 93.N*6c 94.Sx6c 95.P-6a+ 96.P*3a 97.+Px7a 98.Kx7a 99.S*4c 100.Rx3e 101.Sx4b= 102.L*8e 103.S-5c+ 104.G*7b 105.+R-2b 106.R-3b 107.+Rx3b 108.Px3b 109.G*6b 110.K-8b 111.Gx7b 112.Sx7b 113.B*7a 114.Kx7a 115.G*6b 116.K-8b 117.Gx7b 118.K-9b 119.R*9c 120.resigns ----------------------------------------- Satoshi Nagaura Mail: snagaura mxc mesh ne jp HP: http://www2a.biglobe.ne.jp/~snagaura/ -----------------------------------------