From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 1 jun 2001 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 893, May 30th 2001) Not much time for the Shukan Shogi report this week, so without further introduction here is the fourth game of the Meijin match between Maruyama and Tanigawa: Black: Maruyama Tadahisa, Meijin White: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger 59th Meijin-sen?Game 4 May 18th and 19th 2001 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:01:00 4.P4c-4d 00:01:00 00:03:00 5.P2f-2e 00:01:00 00:03:00 6.B2b-3c 00:01:00 00:03:00 7.S3i-4h 00:01:00 00:03:00 8.P9c-9d 00:01:00 00:07:00 9.G4i-5h 00:15:00 00:07:00 10.R8b-4b 00:15:00 00:09:00 11.K5i-6h 00:25:00 00:09:00 12.S3a-3b 00:25:00 00:14:00 13.K6h-7h 00:27:00 00:14:00 14.S7a-7b 00:27:00 00:23:00 15.P5g-5f 00:34:00 00:23:00 16.S3b-4c 00:34:00 00:27:00 17.S4h-5g 00:54:00 00:27:00 18.P9d-9e 00:54:00 00:40:00 19.P3g-3f 01:14:00 00:40:00 For the first time Maruyama is going to try to build an anaguma against Tanigawa's Shikenbisha opening. Of course Tanigawa doesn't know this yet, and that is the point of playing 19.P3f first. This gives black the option of playing a quick attack, which is bad for white if the king is still on 5a, so white more or less has to play the next move. 20.K5a-6b 01:14:00 00:43:00 With the king on 5a, it is hard for black to play the anaguma as the Fujii system is very strong. However, with the king on 6b, the white camp is vulnerable, so a quick attack against the anaguma is risky. 21.B8h-7g 01:17:00 00:43:00 22.K6b-7a 01:17:00 00:51:00 23.K7h-8h 01:29:00 00:51:00 24.K7a-8b 01:29:00 01:05:00 25.L9i-9h 02:14:00 01:05:00 26.R4b-3b 02:14:00 02:01:00 This is an attacking plan against the anaguma that was popular two or three years ago. If black tries to complete the anaguma with 27.K9i, then white can launch a strong attack with P3e followed by P4e. 27.P5f-5e 02:49:00 02:01:00 Maruyama closes the bishop's diagonal, giving white no opportunity for a quick attack. From now on the game was expected to continue at a slow pace, but Tanigawa has other plans. 28.G4a-5b 02:49:00 02:57:00 29.K8h-9i 02:57:00 02:57:00 30.P5c-5d!? 02:57:00 03:28:00 It's almost the end of the first day and Tanigawa decides to open the game early. There have been games with 30.B5a S4f P6d, but this is a new move (or better, a new attacking strategy). 31.S5g-5f 04:00:00 03:28:00 32.P5dx5e 04:00:00 04:07:00 33.S5fx5e 04:09:00 04:07:00 34.P*5d 04:09:00 04:13:00 35.S5e-6f 04:14:00 04:13:00 36.B3c-4b 04:14:00 04:15:00 37.B7g-6h 04:58:00 04:15:00 38.B4b-6d 04:58:00 04:15:00 39.P*5e 06:03:00 04:15:00 40.P5dx5e? 06:03:00 05:01:00 A mistake that gives Maruyama the advantage. Pulling back the bishop with 40.B4b was the correct move. Black's threat of breaking through on the 2nd file is too dangerous. Probably Tanigawa's temperament didn't allow him to pull back a piece that he just moved out. 41.P2e-2d 06:08:00 05:01:00 42.P5e-5f 06:08:00 05:01:00 43.B6h-4f 06:17:00 05:01:00 44.P2cx2d 06:17:00 05:06:00 45.R2hx2d 06:18:00 05:06:00 46.P*2b 06:18:00 05:06:00 47.P*2c 06:40:00 05:06:00 48.B6dx4f 06:40:00 05:52:00 Both players wanted the opponent to take this bishop, so the fact that Tanigawa takes it is a clear indication that black has the advantage. Black will win a knight and even though his anaguma is incomplete, this is not enough compensation. 49.P4gx4f 06:40:00 05:52:00 50.B*3c 06:40:00 05:52:00 51.R2d-2g 06:43:00 05:52:00 52.P2bx2c 06:43:00 05:52:00 53.R2gx2c+ 06:47:00 05:52:00 54.R3b-2b 06:47:00 05:52:00 55.+R2cx2b 06:49:00 05:52:00 56.B3cx2b 06:49:00 05:52:00 57.R*2h 06:51:00 05:52:00 58.B2b-3c 06:51:00 05:52:00 59.R2hx2a+ 06:51:00 05:52:00 60.R*2d 06:51:00 05:52:00 61.+R2ax2d 08:01:00 05:52:00 62.B3cx2d 08:01:00 05:52:00 63.R*2a 08:05:00 05:52:00 64.B2dx4f 08:05:00 06:02:00 65.B*6e! 08:05:00 06:02:00 In the press room all analysis was aiming for the standard B5e followed by N7d attack. 65.B*6e was a complete surprise. It must have surprised Tanigawa too, as he took more than an hour for his next move. 65.B*6e is an unusual move, but very strong. It is hard to defend against N*5e next. Also, this bishop works in defense. 66.P9e-9f 08:05:00 06:40:00 67.P9gx9f 08:05:00 06:40:00 68.P*9g 08:05:00 06:40:00 69.L9hx9g 08:05:00 06:40:00 70.P6c-6d 08:05:00 06:42:00 71.B6ex4c+ 08:25:00 06:42:00 72.G5bx4c 08:25:00 06:42:00 73.N*6c? 08:25:00 06:42:00 A mistake that lets Tanigawa back in. Better was 73.Rx1a+. After 74.R*2h P*5i P5g+ Sx5g Bx5g+ L*6c P*2a Lx6a+ black keeps his advantage. 74.B*6b! 08:25:00 06:44:00 Now black's attack suddenly becomes quite difficult. 75.P*5b? 08:33:00 06:44:00 Very risky. This pawn can now no longer be used on 5i to keep the rook out. 76.R*4i? 08:33:00 06:47:00 Too eager. Tanigawa realizes that he's back in the game and rushes his attack. If he would have played 76.P9e first, he would suddenly have good chances: 77.Px9e (P5a+ Px9f is good for white) R*4i S7h B7i+ S*5i (black can't play a pawn here) +Bx9g Nx9g P*9g K8h Px9g+ Kx9g and white can choose between N*8e and P7d, which both look very strong. 77.S7i-7h 08:34:00 06:47:00 78.P*9e? 08:34:00 07:28:00 If the right plan is played in the wrong order, often more than one move turns out to be bad. This is now the losing move. White would still have good fighting chances after 78.Rx6i+ Sx6i B7i+ R*6h P5g+ Sx5g P*9e Px9e +Bx9g Nx9g P*9f. 79.K9i-8h! 08:45:00 07:28:00 This early escape is winning. White can no longer get to the black king in time. 80.P9ex9f 08:45:00 07:42:00 81.L9gx9f 08:45:00 07:42:00 82.L9ax9f 08:45:00 07:42:00 83.P5b-5a+ 08:49:00 07:42:00 84.L9f-9h+ 08:49:00 07:46:00 85.K8hx9h 08:49:00 07:46:00 86.R4ix6i+ 08:49:00 07:46:00 87.S7hx6i 08:49:00 07:46:00 88.B4f-7i+ 08:49:00 07:46:00 89.S*8h 08:49:00 07:46:00 90.P*9g 08:49:00 07:58:00 91.N8ix9g 08:49:00 07:58:00 92.+B7ix6i 08:49:00 07:58:00 93.L*9f 08:49:00 07:58:00 Drop where you're opponent wants to drop. This is a mating threat as well. 94.P*9c 08:49:00 08:12:00 95.R*9i 08:50:00 08:12:00 Resigns 08:50:00 08:18:00 White has no way to attack and 97.+Px6a leaves him without defense. After 6 minutes Tanigawa decides to resign. Maruyama bounces back from a bad game and ties the match at 2-2. Still, in this game there were some flaws as well even though Tanigawa didn't take the chances he was offered. One still feels that the momentum is with Tanigawa in this match, but the fifth game will be vital. In other shogi news: ==================== * Tanigawa beat Nakamura in the Red Group of the Oi leagues to keep his chances of keeping his place in the league next year in his own hands. Winner of this group is of course Moriuchi, who is waiting whether Yashiki or Fukaura is his opponent in the challenger game. * Challenger Yauchi looked on her way to a sensational 2-0 lead in the Ladies Osho match against Shimizu, but Shimizu survived and won to make it 1-1 instead. Next week I'll be on a business trip, so no "This week...". The fifth game of the Meijin match will probably be posted in the week after that. BTW, this game is now being played (probably already finished when most of you read this) and can be viewed at: http://www.mainichi.co.jp/life/hobby/meijin01/5/playback/1-1.html 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