From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 27 apr 2001 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 888, April 25th 2001) This week in Shukan Shogi the third game of Zen Nihon Pro Tournament between Tanigawa and Moriuchi. With a 2-0 lead Moriuchi had a chance to close out the match and how close he came to doing so! He even missed mate, but in the end Tanigawa miraculously survived to fight another day. Here is the game with comments: Black: Moriuchi Toshiyuki, 8-dan White: Tanigawa Koji, 9-dan 19th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament Game 3 April 17th 2001 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00 3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 4.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00 5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:00:00 6.P8d-8e 00:00:00 00:00:00 7.G6i-7h 00:00:00 00:00:00 8.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:00:00 9.P2e-2d 00:00:00 00:00:00 10.P2cx2d 00:00:00 00:00:00 11.R2hx2d 00:00:00 00:00:00 12.P8e-8f 00:00:00 00:00:00 13.P8gx8f 00:00:00 00:00:00 14.R8bx8f 00:00:00 00:00:00 15.R2dx3d 00:00:00 00:00:00 16.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:00:00 17.R3d-3f 00:00:00 00:00:00 18.S3a-2b 00:00:00 00:00:00 19.P*8g 00:00:00 00:00:00 20.R8f-8e 00:00:00 00:00:00 21.R3f-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 22.K5a-4a 00:00:00 00:00:00 23.K5i-6h 00:00:00 00:00:00 24.S7a-6b 00:00:00 00:00:00 25.P3g-3f 00:00:00 00:00:00 26.G6a-5a 00:00:00 00:00:00 27.S3i-3h 00:00:00 00:00:00 28.P7c-7d 00:00:00 00:01:00 29.N2i-3g 00:00:00 00:01:00 30.N8a-7c 00:00:00 00:02:00 31.P4g-4f 00:00:00 00:02:00 32.R8e-5e 00:00:00 00:13:00 33.P4f-4e 00:11:00 00:13:00 34.R5e-5d 00:11:00 00:14:00 35.B8hx3c+ 00:11:00 00:14:00 36.N2ax3c 00:11:00 00:14:00 37.P6g-6f 00:11:00 00:14:00 38.P*2d 00:11:00 00:38:00 39.B*8b 00:24:00 00:38:00 40.N3c-2e 00:24:00 00:40:00 41.B8bx9a+ 00:25:00 00:40:00 42.P7d-7e 00:25:00 00:40:00 43.P4e-4d 00:40:00 00:40:00 44.P4cx4d 00:40:00 00:42:00 45.P*4b 00:53:00 00:42:00 46.K4a-5b 00:53:00 00:44:00 For the second time in a row the R8e Yokofudori. So far, this game is following the semi-final game of this Zen Nihon Pro tournament between Maruyama and Tanigawa. As Tanigawa now plays with white and he won the game against Murayama with black, it was expected that Tanigawa would be the one to play differently. However, ... 47.G4i-4h! 01:08:00 00:44:00 ... it is Moriuchi who deviates first (in the Tanigawa-Maruyama game +B9b was played). This is an interesting new plan. The R8e Yokofudori is known for its quick attacks, but Moriuchi is opting for slowing down the game by sacrificing a pawn to get his promoted bishop back in his own camp. If he succeeds (like in the game), his material profit of a lance will be very important. 48.P7ex7f 01:08:00 01:04:00 49.P*7d 01:16:00 01:04:00 50.R5dx7d 01:16:00 01:36:00 51.+B9a-9b 01:16:00 01:36:00 52.R7d-5d 01:16:00 01:36:00 53.R2f-2i 01:24:00 01:36:00 54.N2ex3g+ 01:24:00 01:44:00 55.S3hx3g 01:24:00 01:44:00 56.S2b-2c 01:24:00 01:44:00 57.P8g-8f 01:35:00 01:44:00 58.P*8e 01:35:00 01:59:00 59.+B9bx9c 01:56:00 01:59:00 60.P8ex8f 01:56:00 01:59:00 61.+B9c-7e 01:56:00 01:59:00 62.N*8g 01:56:00 02:00:00 63.L*5f 01:58:00 02:00:00 64.N8gx7i+ 01:58:00 02:17:00 65.R2ix7i 01:58:00 02:17:00 66.S*8d! 01:58:00 02:17:00 Black has managed to pull back his promoted bishop and white is no in serious trouble. This is a good move to keep the fight going. White can't afford to lose the rook and with this silver drop the rook gets into a better position and the silver on 8d can also be used for attack. In the press room 66.B*8d was analyzed, but after simply pulling back the promoted bishop, white doesn't gain much. 67.P4b-4a+ 02:13:00 02:17:00 68.K5bx4a 02:13:00 02:21:00 69.+B7ex8f 02:14:00 02:21:00 70.R5d-7d 02:14:00 02:23:00 71.N*3e 02:23:00 02:23:00 72.S8d-7e 02:23:00 02:26:00 73.+B8f-9f? 02:28:00 02:26:00 A mistake that makes things more difficult for Moriuchi. Correct was 73.Nx2c+ Sx8f +Nx3b Kx3b S*3d G5b P*8g and black has a huge advantage. After 73.+B9f "Things got a little more fun" [Tanigawa], "I couldn't move the promoted bishop anymore" [Moriuchi]. However, even after 73.+B9f, black still has the advantage. 74.P*8e 02:28:00 02:26:00 75.N3ex2c+ 02:28:00 02:26:00 76.G3bx2c 02:28:00 02:26:00 77.K6h-5h 02:30:00 02:26:00 78.G2c-3c 02:30:00 02:27:00 79.S*8c 02:39:00 02:27:00 80.R7d-8d 02:39:00 02:29:00 81.S8c-7b+ 02:40:00 02:29:00 82.P*9d 02:40:00 02:29:00 83.R7i-2i 02:43:00 02:29:00 84.P5c-5d 02:43:00 02:32:00 85.P*2e 02:43:00 02:32:00 86.P5d-5e 02:43:00 02:32:00 87.P2ex2d 02:44:00 02:32:00 88.P*2b 02:44:00 02:32:00 89.L5fx5e 02:50:00 02:32:00 90.P*5d 02:50:00 02:32:00 91.P2d-2c+ 02:54:00 02:32:00 92.P2bx2c 02:54:00 02:32:00 93.+S7bx6b 02:54:00 02:32:00 94.G5ax6b 02:54:00 02:32:00 95.S*3d! 02:54:00 02:32:00 This is a typical Moriuchi move. Giving up a full silver for a rook promotion and some attack seems a little much and the professionals in the pressroom were not convinced that this was a good move. Tanigawa also said that he was surprised by it. However, Moriuchi has judged this well. His attack is very difficult to stop and black is probably winning from here. 96.G3cx3d 02:54:00 02:36:00 97.R2ix2c+ 02:54:00 02:36:00 98.S*3c 02:54:00 02:36:00 99.P*4c 02:54:00 02:36:00 100.B*1b 02:54:00 02:37:00 101.+R2cx1c 02:55:00 02:37:00 102.N*2a 02:55:00 02:38:00 103.+R1cx1b 02:55:00 02:38:00 104.L1ax1b 02:55:00 02:38:00 105.N*4f! 02:55:00 02:38:00 This is the move that makes the silver sacrifice playable for black. 106.K4a-3b? 02:55:00 02:43:00 This should have been the losing move. White still has fighting chances after 106.G4e Nx5d Gx5e Nx6b+ K3b and white gets an extra lance in hand which is important for both attack and defense. 107.P4c-4b+ 02:56:00 02:43:00 108.K3bx4b 02:56:00 02:44:00 109.N4fx5d 02:56:00 02:44:00 110.K4b-3b 02:56:00 02:44:00 111.N5dx6b+ 02:56:00 02:44:00 112.P*5f 02:56:00 02:44:00 113.P*2d 02:56:00 02:44:00 114.G3dx2d 02:56:00 02:45:00 115.P*2e 02:56:00 02:45:00 116.G2dx2e 02:56:00 02:45:00 117.+N6b-5b 02:56:00 02:45:00 118.K3b-2c 02:56:00 02:52:00 119.G7h-6h! 02:56:00 02:52:00 Another good move by Moriuchi. This move not only defends the weak head of the king, but now black can also bring the idle promoted bishop on 9f in play. Moving this bishop to 7h puts it directly in the diagonal of the king. Black is now clearly winning. 120.S7ex6f 02:56:00 02:52:00 121.B*4c 02:56:00 02:52:00 122.R*2i 02:56:00 02:53:00 123.+B9f-7h 02:57:00 02:53:00 124.S6fx5e 02:57:00 02:53:00 125.G*4f 02:57:00 02:53:00 126.S5ex4f 02:57:00 02:55:00 127.+B7hx5f 02:57:00 02:55:00 128.S*3d 02:57:00 02:55:00 129.S3gx4f 02:57:00 02:55:00 130.L*6d 02:57:00 02:55:00 131.S*3b 02:58:00 02:55:00 132.K2c-1d 02:58:00 02:55:00 133.+B5fx2i 02:59:00 02:55:00 134.S3dx4c 02:59:00 02:55:00 135.S3bx4c+ 02:59:00 02:55:00 136.L6dx6h+ 02:59:00 02:55:00 137.K5hx6h 02:59:00 02:55:00 138.R8d-6d 02:59:00 02:55:00 139.P*6g 02:59:00 02:55:00 140.B*8f 02:59:00 02:57:00 141.K6h-5h 02:59:00 02:57:00 142.P4d-4e 02:59:00 02:57:00 143.+B2i-5f 02:59:00 02:57:00 144.G*5i 02:59:00 02:57:00 145.K5h-4g 02:59:00 02:57:00 146.P4ex4f 02:59:00 02:57:00 147.+B5fx4f 02:59:00 02:57:00 148.P*4e 02:59:00 02:57:00 149.+B4fx4e 02:59:00 02:57:00 150.G*3d 02:59:00 02:57:00 151.L*1f 02:59:00 02:57:00 152.P*1e 02:59:00 02:57:00 153.L1fx1e 02:59:00 02:57:00 154.G2ex1e 02:59:00 02:58:00 155.P1g-1f 02:59:00 02:58:00 156.G3dx4e 02:59:00 02:58:00 157.P1fx1e 02:59:00 02:58:00 158.K1d-2d 02:59:00 02:58:00 159.P*2e 02:59:00 02:58:00 160.K2dx2e 02:59:00 02:58:00 161.P*2f 02:59:00 02:58:00 162.K2e-3d 02:59:00 02:58:00 163.+S4cx3c 02:59:00 02:58:00 164.K3dx3c 02:59:00 02:58:00 165.R*5c? 02:59:00 02:58:00 In byoyomi Moriuchi misses his first chance to win. There is mate in this position after 165.G*4c K3d (Kx4c R*5c K3d S*3e etc.) S*3e K4c R*4b K3c S*2d Rx2d Sx2d Kx2d P*2e etc. However, even though 165.R*5c is not the best move, it is still winning. 166.P*4c 02:59:00 02:58:00 167.S*4b? 02:59:00 02:58:00 Here black could have won with 167.G*2c. Still, he gets another chance... 168.K3c-3b 02:59:00 02:58:00 169.S*4a?? 02:59:00 02:58:00 This is the real blunder as it gives away the game. 169.G*2c Kx2c Rx4c+ L*3c S*3b K2b S4b-3a= K1a +Rx4e picks up the gold and threatens mate at the same time. In that position, white has nothing but to resign. 170.K3b-2b 02:59:00 02:58:00 171.S4b-3a= 02:59:00 02:58:00 172.K2b-3c 02:59:00 02:58:00 173.S3a-4b= 02:59:00 02:58:00 174.K3c-4d 02:59:00 02:58:00 175.P*4f 02:59:00 02:58:00 176.G4ex3f 02:59:00 02:58:00 Resigns 02:59:00 02:58:00 Mate after 177.Kx3f L*3e K2g B*3f etc. or 177.K3h S*2g K3i S*2h. Poor Moriuchi. He played a great game that should have given him the Zen Nihon Pro title with a whitewash over Tanigawa. Instead, the match is now back to 2-1 and Tanigawa is still alive. Worse than the score will be the psychological impact. Tanigawa will be delighted with the chance he has been given, but for Moriuchi it will be hard to forget that this match should have been over by now. Game 4 will show if Moriuchi has the mental strength to forget what happened. In other shogi news: ==================== * The challenger final of the Kisei tournament will be played between Goda and Fukaura. Goda won a good game against Namekata in which his opening preparation paid off. Namekata got out of the opening with a disadvantage and despite a desperate attack, he never got a chance to win. Fukaura had to work hard for his win against Suzuki as their first game ended in sennichite. In the replay Suzuki had some chances, but Fukaura won and will now play Goda on May 12th for the right to challenge Habu. * In the Oza challenger tournament Maruyama, Fujii and Kubo reached the quarterfinals. Maruyama beat Kato with some strong attacking play. Fujii surprisingly had a very hard time against veteran Ariyoshi. This game could have gone either way until the very end, but Fujii managed to win and will now play Moriuchi next. Kubo also had a difficult game against Kimura but he also survived and will play the winner of the game between Tanigawa and Tsukada. * In the White group of the Oi leagues, Fukaura beat Hatakeyama to get to 2-1, sharing second place with Sato, behind leader Yashiki. Fukaura plays Sato in the final round, but both players have already lost against Yashiki, so they don't have their chances in their own hands. More next week, Reijer -- Reijer Grimbergen Department of Information Science Saga University 1 Honjo-machi, Saga-shi, 840-8502 Japan E-mail: grimbergen fu is saga-u ac jp URL: http://www.fu.is.saga-u.ac.jp/~grimberg/ Tel: +81-(0)952-28-8821 Fax: +81-(0)952-28-8650