From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 14 sep 2001 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 908, September 12th 2001) Another busy week for Habu, as he had to play three important games which take up most of the space in Shukan Shogi (and in this report). Two games in the challenger final of the Ryu-O against Kimura and the first game of the Oza title match against Kubo. Let's start with that game. Here it is with comments: Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Oza White: Kubo Toshiaki, Challenger 49th Oza-sen, Game 1, September 5th 2001 1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 An important game for Habu. Just four days earlier he lost the first game of the challenger match for the Ryu-O title against Kimura because of an unbelievable blunder (he let himself be mated in one move in a won position). Habu is probably the toughest player in the game, but that must have had some considerable psychological impact. Furthermore, his opponent Kubo now makes an appearance in a title match for the second time after the Kio match six months earlier. It was expected that it would be tougher for Habu this time, as Kubo now has gotten used to the special atmosphere of a title match and might be able to play his usual game more than in the Kio match. 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:01:00 4.P4c-4d 00:01:00 00:02:00 5.S3i-4h 00:02:00 00:02:00 6.R8b-4b 00:02:00 00:03:00 Of course Kubo plays the Shikenbisha. This is not going to be a title match in which we will see a number of different opening strategies. 7.P5g-5f 00:02:00 00:03:00 8.S7a-7b 00:02:00 00:04:00 9.K5i-6h 00:03:00 00:04:00 10.S3a-3b 00:03:00 00:04:00 11.K6h-7h 00:04:00 00:04:00 12.P9c-9d 00:04:00 00:07:00 13.P9g-9f 00:06:00 00:07:00 14.K5a-6b 00:06:00 00:08:00 15.G4i-5h 00:07:00 00:08:00 16.G4a-5b 00:07:00 00:13:00 17.S4h-5g 00:14:00 00:13:00 18.K6b-7a 00:14:00 00:23:00 19.B8h-7g 00:17:00 00:23:00 20.P6c-6d 00:17:00 00:42:00 21.K7h-8h 00:22:00 00:42:00 22.B2b-3c 00:22:00 00:42:00 23.P2f-2e 00:29:00 00:42:00 24.P4d-4e 00:29:00 00:58:00 25.P6g-6f 00:36:00 00:58:00 26.P3d-3e 00:36:00 01:03:00 27.R2h-3h 01:08:00 01:03:00 28.S3b-4c 01:08:00 01:05:00 29.G6i-7h 01:08:00 01:05:00 30.K7a-8b 01:08:00 01:09:00 31.G5h-6g 01:11:00 01:09:00 32.R4b-3b 01:11:00 01:20:00 33.R3h-2h 01:14:00 01:20:00 Moving the rook back and forth is quite subtle. White wants to make an Ishida position by moving the rook to 3d and black is trying to make that as difficult as possible, gaining time to strengthen his castle. 27.R3h is important for that, as it prevents 28.R4d because of the counter punch 29.P3f. With the silver on 4c, white now needs more moves to end up with the rook on 3d. Black can't prevent that, so moving the rook back to 2h is important, as the second file must be defended against a later P2d. 34.S4c-4d 01:14:00 01:41:00 35.P1g-1f 01:18:00 01:41:00 36.P1c-1d 01:18:00 01:41:00 37.R2h-2f 01:47:00 01:41:00 38.P5c-5d 01:47:00 02:02:00 39.L9i-9h 01:52:00 02:02:00 40.L1a-1c? 01:52:00 02:20:00 Sometimes small things make a huge difference. For the Ishida shape, it is important for white to move the knight to 3c. However, if white does so, the lance on 1c is no longer defended and becomes a target for attack. 41.B7g-8f 02:11:00 02:20:00 42.B3c-4b 02:11:00 02:26:00 43.K8h-9i 02:14:00 02:26:00 44.R3b-3d 02:14:00 02:26:00 45.P6f-6e 02:24:00 02:26:00 46.S4d-5c 02:24:00 02:35:00 47.P6ex6d 02:25:00 02:35:00 48.S5cx6d 02:25:00 02:35:00 49.S7i-8h 02:25:00 02:35:00 50.N2a-3c?! 02:25:00 02:47:00 Kubo might have realized that there is a problem here. However, if 50.B5c then after 51.R2h P3f Px3f Rx3f P*3g R3d S6f P*6e S7e Sx7e Px7e black also has the advantage. Still, the actual game is worse, so Kubo should probably have settled for this variation instead of playing the natural 50.N3c. 51.S5g-6h 02:36:00 02:47:00 A surprise. Very tempting is 51.P*6e. If then 52.Sx6e, then 53.Bx4b+ 54.Gx4b 55.B*3a is a double attack on gold and lance. After 56.B*5c Bx1c+ P3f +Bx2c Bx2f +Bx3d black seems to hold all the cards: a promoted bishop, material profit of a lance and a strong anaguma castle. Therefore, it seems white has to play 52.S5c after which 53.S6f gives black a great position. When asked after the game why he didn't play this, Habu said that he didn't think it was all that great after 56.B*5c. It is hard to call this a mistake, as Habu knows exactly what he is aiming for here and that is also getting the job done. Still, 51.P*6e seems to be the easier option to get the advantage. 52.P*6e 02:36:00 02:56:00 53.S6h-7i 02:45:00 02:56:00 54.B4b-5c 02:45:00 02:57:00 55.B8f-6h! 02:51:00 02:57:00 56.P3e-3f 02:51:00 03:22:00 Opens the diagonal to the undefended lance, but white has no choice. If he just waits by playing something like 56.G6c or 56.P7d, then black can strongly attack with 57.P3f Px3f P*3e Bx3e Rx3f Bx6h+ Rx3d and white can't save both the promoted bishop and the knight. 57.R2f-2g 02:54:00 03:22:00 58.P4e-4f 02:54:00 03:22:00 59.B6hx4f 02:55:00 03:22:00 60.N3c-4e 02:55:00 03:23:00 61.P3gx3f 03:00:00 03:23:00 62.R3dx3f 03:00:00 03:25:00 63.N2i-3g! 03:00:00 03:25:00 Another good move by Habu. Kubo seems to be developing his pieces smoothly, but after this knight move it is clear that it is actually black who can fully develop his pieces. This, combined with the anaguma, is enough to give black a considerable advantage. 64.N4ex3g+ 03:00:00 03:52:00 65.R2gx3g 03:00:00 03:52:00 66.R3fx3g+ 03:00:00 03:52:00 67.B4fx3g 03:00:00 03:52:00 68.R*3i 03:00:00 04:06:00 69.B3g-4f 03:02:00 04:06:00 70.P*4e 03:02:00 04:06:00 71.B4fx1c+ 03:02:00 04:06:00 72.R3ix1i+ 03:02:00 04:06:00 73.+B1c-5g 03:02:00 04:06:00 74.B5c-1g+ 03:02:00 04:08:00 75.R*4a 03:26:00 04:08:00 76.+B1g-5c 03:26:00 04:08:00 77.R4ax4e+ 03:26:00 04:08:00 78.+R1ix1f 03:26:00 04:09:00 79.L*6h! 03:36:00 04:09:00 Brilliant. This lance makes the black defense rock solid. Furthermore, it will help in the future to attack the white mino. White has no good moves left. Every move seems to weaken his position. 80.+R1f-2g 03:36:00 04:15:00 81.+R4e-3d 03:42:00 04:15:00 82.L*4c?! 03:42:00 04:23:00 White is stuck for moves. This lance drop will work against him, but it is hard to point to an alternative. 83.+B5g-3e! 03:44:00 04:23:00 Another blow. This is a hard move to play, as this bishop seems to be well positioned (defense and attack on 9c) and black has taken a lot of trouble to promote it. Now black is offering to exchange it for the bishop on 5c, which doesn't seem so good. However, Habu has correctly judged that this bishop is what holds the white position together. Without it, attack will become much easier. 84.+B5cx3e 03:44:00 04:26:00 85.+R3dx3e 03:44:00 04:26:00 86.L4cx4g+ 03:44:00 04:29:00 87.+R3e-3b! 03:46:00 04:29:00 Looks simple, but is very strong. If white now plays the natural 88.+L5g, then Gx5g +Rx5g P*6b is very painful. After this G5bx6b (G6ax6b P*6c) +Rx6b Gx6b B*3e wins. 88.P*3a 03:46:00 04:37:00 89.+R3b-4a 03:47:00 04:37:00 90.+R2g-3h 03:47:00 04:42:00 91.P*6c 03:54:00 04:42:00 92.B*7a 03:54:00 04:51:00 It is painful to have to drop the bishop here, but black threatened +Rx5b Gx5b G*6b. 93.B*8f 04:07:00 04:51:00 94.G5bx6c 04:07:00 04:53:00 95.N*4d 04:07:00 04:53:00 96.+L4g-5g 04:07:00 04:55:00 97.G6gx5g 04:09:00 04:55:00 98.+R3h-4h 04:09:00 04:55:00 99.P*6f 04:10:00 04:55:00 100.B7ax4d 04:10:00 04:55:00 101.+R4ax4d 04:15:00 04:55:00 102.+R4hx4d 04:15:00 04:55:00 103.P6fx6e 04:15:00 04:55:00 104.S6d-5c 04:15:00 04:55:00 105.P6e-6d 04:15:00 04:55:00 106.G6c-6b 04:15:00 04:55:00 107.L*6g 04:19:00 04:55:00 Game over. The two lances on the 6th file are going to have a feast with the mino generals. White can do nothing to prevent this. 108.S5cx6d 04:19:00 04:57:00 109.P*6c 04:20:00 04:57:00 110.S7bx6c 04:20:00 04:57:00 111.B8fx6d 04:20:00 04:57:00 112.P9d-9e 04:20:00 04:59:00 113.B6dx3a+ 04:23:00 04:59:00 114.P*6d 04:23:00 04:59:00 115.L6gx6d 04:23:00 04:59:00 116.S6cx6d 04:23:00 04:59:00 117.P*6c 04:23:00 04:59:00 118.G6bx6c 04:23:00 04:59:00 119.L6hx6d 04:24:00 04:59:00 120.+R4d-3c 04:24:00 04:59:00 121.B*4b 04:25:00 04:59:00 A model attack by Habu. All Kubo can do is make the final position look a little more bearable. 122.P9ex9f 04:25:00 04:59:00 123.B4bx3c+ 04:25:00 04:59:00 124.L*9g 04:25:00 04:59:00 125.L6dx6c+ 04:27:00 04:59:00 126.L9gx9h+ 04:27:00 04:59:00 127.K9ix9h 04:27:00 04:59:00 128.N*8e 04:27:00 04:59:00 129.G*7b 04:27:00 04:59:00 Resigns 04:27:00 04:59:00 Mate after 130.Gx7b +Lx7b Kx7b S*6c K8b (Kx6c L*6d) R*7b K9c P*9d Kx9d P*9e etc. A complete victory by Habu. More than shocked by his loss against Kimura, it seems that he was very angry with himself and decided to take his game to the next level. First victim of this anger is poor Kubo, who looked confident at the start of the game, but completely crushed at the end of it. Let's see if Habu can stay angry a little longer or if Kubo can get back into the match. Winning the next game is vital in this short best-of-five title match. In other shogi news: ==================== * As I already wrote in the comments above, Habu is pretty angry with himself at the moment. The main reason for this is what happened in the first game of the Ryu-O challenger match against Kimura. Amateurs can take comfort in the thought that missing a mate in one can happen to the best of us. Until that moment, Habu was making a statement by showing Kimura that a 90% winning average means nothing to him. Kimura confidently met Habu head-on, but Habu chewed him up until that fatal moment. The king had several ways to escape from a check, but Habu picked the one that was mate immediately. Unbelievable, but true. Habu can count himself lucky that it happened in a game that didn't mean the immediate end of his Ryu-O dreams. As the challenger match is a best-of-three affair, he got another chance and made maximum use of it. The second game first ended in sennichite after Kimura seemed to have an advantage, but with reversed colors Habu beat Kimura in only 77 moves. Actually, the game could have been over earlier, as Kimura played on in a position that was completely lost. Maybe he hoped that lightning would strike twice, or maybe it was just the resilience of a player with a 90% winning percentage... Final game to decide the challenger of Ryu-O Fujii will be played on September 17th. * Miura is not having much fun so far in his first year in the A class. Last week he lost his third game in a row against Morishita, who got his first win. It was a very tough game with a long endgame where both players had to make extremely difficult decisions in byoyomi. In the end Morishita showed more stamina than his 8-year younger opponent and won in 199 moves (!). An important win for Morishita, but an even more important loss for Miura, who has to play Habu, Tanigawa and Sato next. Miura is therefore in real danger of losing six in a row, putting a lot of pressure on the final three games. But it is a little early to speculate about relegation, as former Kisei Miura is perfectly capable of beating all three of his magnificent opponents in the next rounds. * In B1 most of the games of the fifth round were played. The games Goda-Nakahara and Kubo-Takahashi were postponed. Kubo for the obvious reason of having to play in the Oza match, but I have no idea why the other games wasn't played. The luckiest man of the round was Shima, who had a terrible middle game against Tanaka. However, Tanaka got confused with so many good looking moves at his disposal and allowed Shima back in the game. After a big advantage has slipped away it is very hard to concentrate on the fight at hand, so Shima won the endgame which was still very close. For Shima this is his fifth consecutive victory and he seems determined to get back to the A class after only a one year absence. Still, Goda can also get to 5-0 if he beats Nakahara. Other players with a chance are newly promoted Abe (4-1 after a victory against Inoue), Kubo (4-1 if he beats Takahashi) and Inoue at 3-1. * In the Kio challenger final the quarterfinals are slowly taking shape. Sato Yasumitsu beat Meijin Maruyama, Moriuchi beat Tanigawa and Kimura beat Tamura to reach the final eight. Unfortunately, Shukan Shogi gives no detailed description of what happened in these games, probably for lack of space. Kimura winning is no longer a surprise (his winning percentage is still over 90% for the season), but the other two games must have been very interesting encounters between the top professionals. Anyway, Kimura will now play Moriuchi and Sato will play Iizuka in the next round. It is still unclear who the opponents of Morishita and Kubo will be in the two other quarterfinals. -- 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