From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 31 aug 2001 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 906, August 29th 2001) This week in Shukan Shogi the fourth game of the Oi match between Habu and Yashiki. A great display of fighting spirit by Habu, who was on the brink of defeat for most of the game. In the end he prevailed to win his 9th consecutive Oi title. Here is the game with comments: Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Oi White: Yashiki Nobuyuki, Challenger 42nd Oi-sen, Game 4, August 20th and 21st 2001 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:03:00 3.P6g-6f 00:02:00 00:03:00 4.S3a-4b 00:02:00 00:11:00 5.S7i-6h 00:06:00 00:11:00 6.P5c-5d 00:06:00 00:13:00 7.S6h-6g 00:10:00 00:13:00 8.S4b-5c 00:10:00 00:16:00 9.B8h-7g 00:17:00 00:16:00 10.B2b-3c 00:17:00 00:23:00 11.R2h-8h 00:26:00 00:23:00 12.R8b-2b 00:26:00 00:32:00 Double ranging rook. Not as rare nowadays as it was about ten years ago, but still not a very common choice in title matches. The lack of joseki in this opening actual fits the style of both players. Habu because a deep understanding of shogi strategy is vital and Yashiki because ai-furibisha with white is a very active opening and Yashiki likes to play positively. Both players play the mukaibishi (opposing rook) which is most common. 13.P8g-8f 00:34:00 00:32:00 14.K5a-6b 00:34:00 00:33:00 15.P8f-8e 00:46:00 00:33:00 16.K6b-7b 00:46:00 00:35:00 17.K5i-4h 00:46:00 00:35:00 18.P2c-2d 00:46:00 00:35:00 19.K4h-3h 00:46:00 00:35:00 20.P2d-2e 00:46:00 00:35:00 21.G6i-5h 01:03:00 00:35:00 22.G4a-5b 01:03:00 00:37:00 23.P8e-8d 01:43:00 00:37:00 24.P8cx8d 01:43:00 00:37:00 25.R8hx8d 01:43:00 00:37:00 26.P*8c 01:43:00 00:37:00 27.R8d-8f 01:43:00 00:37:00 28.P2e-2f 01:43:00 00:46:00 29.P2gx2f 01:44:00 00:46:00 30.R2bx2f 01:44:00 00:46:00 31.P*2g 01:44:00 00:46:00 32.R2f-2d 01:44:00 00:46:00 33.P9g-9f 02:03:00 00:46:00 34.P9c-9d 02:03:00 00:55:00 35.P6f-6e 02:14:00 00:55:00 36.P3d-3e 02:14:00 01:43:00 37.P7f-7e 02:15:00 01:43:00 38.P1c-1d 02:15:00 01:56:00 39.P1g-1f 02:18:00 01:56:00 40.S7a-8b 02:18:00 02:01:00 41.S3i-2h 02:22:00 02:01:00 42.G6a-6b 02:22:00 02:06:00 43.G4i-4h 02:23:00 02:06:00 44.P5d-5e 02:23:00 02:58:00 45.P5g-5f 02:57:00 02:58:00 46.S5c-5d 02:57:00 03:09:00 47.P5fx5e 03:16:00 03:09:00 48.S5dx5e 03:16:00 03:10:00 49.P2g-2f? 03:16:00 03:10:00 A mistake. Habu wants to improve his position by putting the silver on 2g, but he overlooks white's next move. After the game, he said he should have played 49.S1g here, threatening to move out the silver, pressuring the white rook. 50.S8b-9c! 03:16:00 03:36:00 Now Yashiki plays this plan instead. If black doesn't do anything, this silver will move out to 8d and black is in a lot of trouble. 51.P*5f 03:58:00 03:36:00 The sealed move. Habu doesn't want to drop this pawn, but there weren't many alternatives. For example, 51.P*8e (to stop the silver) then the counter 52.P8d! is very frightening: After 53.P2e R5d R2f P*2c P*5f S4d S7f Px8e Sx8e S8d S7f P7d black is in trouble. However, the move Habu played doesn't give a much better result. 52.S5e-4d 03:58:00 03:38:00 53.S2h-2g 03:58:00 03:38:00 54.S9c-8d 03:58:00 03:48:00 55.B7g-6f 04:00:00 03:48:00 56.S4d-4e 04:00:00 04:07:00 57.P5f-5e 04:32:00 04:07:00 58.S4e-3d 04:32:00 04:47:00 This silver is in a perfect spot, helped by Habu's 51st move P*5f. White has the upper hand. 59.P*8e 04:50:00 04:47:00 60.S8d-9c 04:50:00 04:47:00 61.B6f-7g 04:50:00 04:47:00 62.B3c-4d 04:50:00 05:17:00 63.R8f-7f 04:58:00 05:17:00 64.N2a-3c 04:58:00 05:27:00 65.P5e-5d 05:25:00 05:27:00 66.B4dx7g+ 05:25:00 05:39:00 67.N8ix7g 05:25:00 05:39:00 68.B*4d 05:25:00 05:49:00 69.P7e-7d? 06:03:00 05:49:00 Habu follows a interesting but strange plan here (see his 75th move). Objectively better was probably 69.P9e Px9e P7d Px7d Lx9e P*9d P5c+ G5bx5c Rx7d P*7c Rx4d Px4d B*5a and now G4c is followed by P6d and black has a nice attack even though it might not be enough. "I don't like this at all" (Yashiki). "In the game I ended up with no moves to play, so to play a fighting move like that was the only way" (Habu). 70.P7cx7d 06:03:00 05:50:00 71.R7fx7d 06:03:00 05:50:00 72.P*7c 06:03:00 05:50:00 73.R7d-7f 06:03:00 05:50:00 74.R2d-2a 06:03:00 05:58:00 75.P*7h!? 06:34:00 05:58:00 Good or bad, this was the move that surprised everyone. Black drops the pawn he just exchanged in a very passive way. Some felt that this type of moves is a sign of Habu's brilliance. It is already preparing the position for an endgame where the only way to win is to make it difficult for the opponent. Therefore, 75.P*7h can be considered the move that has the seed of victory in it. 76.K7b-8b 06:34:00 06:13:00 77.R7f-8f 06:35:00 06:13:00 78.P3e-3f 06:35:00 06:31:00 79.R8fx3f 06:38:00 06:31:00 80.S3d-3e 06:38:00 06:32:00 81.R3f-5f 06:38:00 06:32:00 82.P*2h 06:38:00 06:46:00 83.K3hx2h 06:39:00 06:46:00 84.S3ex2f 06:39:00 06:46:00 85.S2gx2f 06:48:00 06:46:00 86.P*2g 06:48:00 06:46:00 87.K2hx2g 06:48:00 06:46:00 88.B4dx2f 06:48:00 06:46:00 89.K2g-3h 06:48:00 06:46:00 90.P*2g 06:48:00 06:48:00 Those who have trouble breaking into the enemy camp should study the sequence above. Yashiki has played a textbook example of how to use pawns to put the opponent's pieces in disarray and finally break through the defense. 91.P*2c 06:56:00 06:48:00 92.R2ax2c 06:56:00 06:53:00 93.S*3d 06:56:00 06:53:00 94.P2g-2h+ 06:56:00 06:56:00 Here white's advantage looks so big that the game might be over soon. Still, Habu is not ready to give up yet. 95.K3h-4i 06:56:00 06:56:00 96.S*4e 06:56:00 07:00:00 97.S3dx4e 06:56:00 07:00:00 98.N3cx4e 06:56:00 07:02:00 99.S*3d 06:56:00 07:02:00 100.R2c-2d 06:56:00 07:06:00 101.S3dx4e 06:57:00 07:06:00 102.B2f-3e 06:57:00 07:14:00 103.P*2e 06:59:00 07:14:00 104.R2dx2e 06:59:00 07:20:00 105.S4e-3f 07:01:00 07:20:00 106.R2e-2f 07:01:00 07:25:00 107.B*1g! 07:22:00 07:25:00 The first of a sequence of moves to make things difficult for white. First, Habu wants a rook in hand to get some pressure on the back rank. 108.+P2hx2i 07:22:00 07:29:00 109.B1gx2f 07:22:00 07:29:00 110.B3ex2f 07:22:00 07:29:00 111.S3f-4e 07:22:00 07:29:00 112.B2f-3e 07:22:00 07:33:00 113.P4g-4f 07:22:00 07:33:00 114.P*5e 07:22:00 07:45:00 115.R5f-7f 07:27:00 07:45:00 116.+P2ix1i 07:27:00 07:46:00 117.R*2a 07:31:00 07:46:00 118.L*7d 07:31:00 07:48:00 119.R7f-8f 07:31:00 07:48:00 120.B3e-1g+ 07:31:00 07:55:00 121.N*8d! 07:47:00 07:55:00 Habu magic. This knight is not attacking a piece and even though taking it is very bad, leaving it seems to be perfectly alright. However, with this knight so close to the king, white now also has things to worry about. 122.P*3a 07:47:00 07:56:00 123.R2a-2b+ 07:49:00 07:56:00 124.S*6a 07:49:00 07:58:00 125.P9f-9e 07:50:00 07:58:00 126.P9dx9e 07:50:00 07:58:00 127.R8f-8i 07:51:00 07:58:00 Habu has created a position where Yashiki can make mistakes and now waits for what's going to happen. If Yashiki finds a way to win from here with only 2 minutes left on the clock, there is nothing that can be done. If Yashiki makes a mistake, Habu's pieces are ready to clean up. Habu is not looking for truth, he is looking for a way to win. 128.L7dx7g+ 07:51:00 07:59:00 129.P7hx7g 07:51:00 07:59:00 130.N*7e 07:51:00 07:59:00 131.S6g-7f 07:53:00 07:59:00 132.B*6f 07:53:00 07:59:00 133.S7fx7e 07:53:00 07:59:00 134.B6fx7e 07:53:00 07:59:00 135.P5d-5c+ 07:53:00 07:59:00 136.+B1gx5c 07:53:00 07:59:00 137.L*5d 07:54:00 07:59:00 138.P*2a! 07:54:00 07:59:00 This seems to end all of black's hope. The promoted rook is forced out of play and without it black's attack is powerless. 139.+R2bx1a 07:56:00 07:59:00 140.N*5f 07:56:00 07:59:00 141.P*5g 07:56:00 07:59:00 142.N5fx4h+ 07:56:00 07:59:00 143.K4ix4h 07:56:00 07:59:00 144.+B5cx5d 07:56:00 07:59:00 145.S4ex5d 07:56:00 07:59:00 146.L*5f 07:56:00 07:59:00 147.S5d-4e 07:58:00 07:59:00 148.L5fx5g+ 07:58:00 07:59:00 149.G5hx5g 07:58:00 07:59:00 150.G*5f 07:58:00 07:59:00 151.L*6f 07:58:00 07:59:00 152.B7ex6f? 07:58:00 07:59:00 Finally the moment for which Habu has been waiting has come. In byoyomi Yashiki makes a vital mistake. He could have won here by playing 152.Gx6f Gx6f Bx6f G*5g Bx7g+. White is then threatening P5f (attacking the rook on 1a) and if black blocks the diagonal with a move like N*6f then L*5f is winning for white. Yashiki thought he saw a way to win, but with only minor pieces the black king has just enough legs to run away from the threats. 153.S4ex5f 07:58:00 07:59:00 154.B6fx5g+ 07:58:00 07:59:00 155.K4hx5g 07:58:00 07:59:00 156.P5ex5f 07:58:00 07:59:00 157.K5gx5f 07:58:00 07:59:00 158.P*5e 07:58:00 07:59:00 159.K5f-4g 07:58:00 07:59:00 160.L*2c 07:58:00 07:59:00 161.P*2e 07:58:00 07:59:00 162.S*5f 07:58:00 07:59:00 163.K4g-3f 07:58:00 07:59:00 164.S*3d 07:58:00 07:59:00 165.G*2f 07:58:00 07:59:00 166.G6b-5c 07:58:00 07:59:00 The only way for white to continue is to bring in another gold. This weakens the castle and also gives Habu the two moves he needs to bring the promoted rook on 1a into play. Black wins by one move. 167.+R1ax2a 07:58:00 07:59:00 168.G5c-4d 07:58:00 07:59:00 169.+R2ax3a 07:58:00 07:59:00 170.P8cx8d 07:58:00 07:59:00 171.P8ex8d 07:58:00 07:59:00 172.G*3e 07:58:00 07:59:00 173.G2fx3e 07:58:00 07:59:00 174.G4dx3e 07:58:00 07:59:00 175.K3f-2g 07:58:00 07:59:00 176.L2cx2e 07:58:00 07:59:00 177.K2g-3h 07:58:00 07:59:00 Resigns 07:58:00 07:59:00 There is clearly no mate after G*4g K4i, so Yashiki resigned. It's a pity for him that he had such a shaky start in this match as his play seemed to improve during the match. However, because of his bad start, the match is over before he has a chance to show what he is really capable of. On the other hand, Habu got his 9th consecutive Oi title in a very impressive style. There seemed to have been no psychological impact of losing the Kisei title earlier this month. He might just take the Ryu-O title instead. In other shogi news: ==================== * In the B1 class of the Junisen, round 4 was played and there were almost no surprises. Leaders Goda and Abe met each other in this round and this game was won by Goda whose strong anaguma made the difference in the endgame. Abe drops out of the lead for the time being and Goda only needs to share the top position with Shima, who beat Fukuzaki. Fukuzaki is still looking for his first win and is already in deep relegation trouble. Goda and Shima are closely followed by Inoue, who is also undefeated but from three games. Kubo got back to 3-1 with a win over Kamiya and it seems that these five players will decide who will play in the A class next year. * In B2 round three was played and the number of players without a loss is now down to four. It's not surprising that Fukaura is one of them, but he had to work hard for his win against Urano. The importance of this game can be judged from the fact that between lunch and dinner only seven moves were played. The other expected leader is Namekata, who is looking to promote for the second year in a row. He played Ariyoshi, which is an interesting match-up as both are pupils of the late Oyama even though the age difference between them is almost 40 years. It was an up and down game where Ariyoshi started by overplaying his position in the middle game where sennichite would probably have been best. However, Namekata made several minor mistakes after that to let Ariyoshi back in. In the end it was Ariyoshi who made the final mistake and lost. The other two players without a loss are Nakagawa (win over Nishikawa) and Tosa (who beat Kitahama). Nakagawa might play a role in the promotion race, but seeing Tosa there is quite surprising. In the next round the game between Namekata and Tosa will show if this is a coincidence. * In C1 all eyes were on Kimura, who just qualified for the challenger finals of the Ryu-O tournament and also started the Junisen well with two wins. In round three he had big problems with Ishikawa, who was in control for most of the game. However, Kimura hung in there and showed that these days he can pull out the wins virtually out of nowhere as a not too severe looking mistake by Ishikawa was enough for him to get back in and win. Kimura is now the only player in C1 with three wins, followed by Sugimoto and Sanada, who each have two ones and no losses. * A big upset in the Shinjin-O tournament, as Fukaura lost in the semi-finals against Matsuo. Matsuo was a little bit worse in the middle game, but when Fukaura made a mistake and played a waiting move which he thought would force his opponent to weaken his position, Matsuo took his chance and turned around the game. Because of this loss, Fukaura missed his last chance to win this tournament. Matsuo will play the final against the winner of the game between Masuda and Kimura. It would be another big upset if this wouldn't be Kimura. 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