From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 20 dec 2002 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 973, December 18th 2002) This week in Shukan Shogi the 4th game of the Ryu-O match between Habu and Abe. Before the match, many expected this would be a one-sided victory for Habu and this was only strengthened when Habu took a 2-0 lead. However, things have taken an interesting turn as Abe wins three games in a row to get to one win of taking Habu's title. No detailed comments on the fifth game yet, but game four was an amazing fight lasting 257 moves. Here is the game with comments: Black: Abe Takashi, Challenger White: Habu Yoshiharu, Ryu-O 15th Ryu-O sen, Game 4, December 9th and 10th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:04:00 3.G6i-7h 00:06:00 00:04:00 4.G4a-3b 00:06:00 00:06:00 5.S7i-6h 00:08:00 00:06:00 6.P3c-3d 00:08:00 00:08:00 7.P6g-6f 00:08:00 00:08:00 8.S7a-6b 00:08:00 00:12:00 9.P5g-5f 00:11:00 00:12:00 10.P5c-5d 00:11:00 00:16:00 11.S3i-4h 00:13:00 00:16:00 12.S3a-4b 00:13:00 00:19:00 13.G4i-5h 00:16:00 00:19:00 14.K5a-4a 00:16:00 00:20:00 15.K5i-6i 00:18:00 00:20:00 16.G6a-5b 00:18:00 00:36:00 17.S6h-7g 00:26:00 00:36:00 18.S4b-3c 00:26:00 00:44:00 19.B8h-7i 00:30:00 00:44:00 20.B2b-3a 00:30:00 00:45:00 21.P3g-3f 00:31:00 00:45:00 22.P4c-4d 00:31:00 00:47:00 23.G5h-6g 01:15:00 00:47:00 24.P7c-7d 01:15:00 00:56:00 25.B7i-6h 01:16:00 00:56:00 26.P9c-9d 01:16:00 02:19:00 27.K6i-7i 01:34:00 02:19:00 28.P9d-9e 01:34:00 02:35:00 29.S4h-3g 02:21:00 02:35:00 30.L9a-9c 02:21:00 03:37:00 The same opening as in the second game. Abe's way of thinking seems to be: "If I can't win with my favourite opening, I will never take the Ryu-O title". Habu again answers the Morishita system with the Suzeme Sashi (Spearing the Sparrow). The general opinion among professionals is that the Morishita System (S3g-S4f-N3g without P2f) has weaknesses against the Suzume Sashi. As a result, the Morishita System has almost disappeared from the professional scene. 31.S3g-4f 02:45:00 03:37:00 32.R8b-9b 02:45:00 03:39:00 33.P5f-5e 02:59:00 03:39:00 34.P5dx5e 02:59:00 03:46:00 35.S4fx5e 02:59:00 03:46:00 Abe builds up the pressure in the centre to balance the white edge attack. In the second game he never really got his attack into gear. 36.G5b-4c!? 02:59:00 03:46:00 Meijin Moriuchi found this one of the most interesting moves in this game. 36.N7c or 36.P9f are the usual ways for white to play this position. 36.G5b-4c is difficult to play, as it gives black another target for his attack in the centre and also weakens the position of the white king. In general, it is not a good idea to play the gold to 4c in the Susume sashi when the king is still on 4a. 37.R2h-5h 03:25:00 03:46:00 The alternative is 37.K8h, but Abe didn't like 38.P*5d S4f P7e Px7e Bx7e. 37.R5h is also not without risks, as there is always the potential silver drop on 6i. 38.P9e-9f 03:25:00 03:49:00 39.P9gx9f?! 03:48:00 03:49:00 The sealed move and everyone thought that this was an easy choice. However, black could have played the strong 39.S5d! here. White has three ways to respond to this: 1) 40.B6d, 2) 40.Gx5d and 3) 40.Px9g+ but black seems to get a good position in all three cases: 1) 40.B6d Sx4c+ Gx4c B4f Bx4f Px4f B*4g R5g Bx2i+ B*8c; 2) 40.Gx5d Rx5d S5c Rx7d S*7c G*8c; 3) 40.Px9g+ Sx4c+ Gx4c G*8c. 40.L9cx9f 03:48:00 03:51:00 41.L9ix9f 04:59:00 03:51:00 42.R9bx9f 04:59:00 03:51:00 43.P*9g 04:59:00 03:51:00 44.R9f-9b 04:59:00 03:56:00 White has succeeded in exchanging lances, which is one of the primary goals of the white attack. Habu has the upper hand in this position. 45.K7i-8h 05:01:00 03:56:00 46.N8a-7c 05:01:00 04:36:00 47.S7g-8f 05:06:00 04:36:00 48.L*5a 05:06:00 04:51:00 49.P*5d 05:19:00 04:51:00 50.P*5c 05:19:00 04:51:00 51.P5dx5c+ 06:04:00 04:51:00 52.S6bx5c 06:04:00 04:52:00 53.B6h-4f 06:04:00 04:52:00 Abe realises he is in trouble and tries to confuse the position. 54.N7c-8e 06:04:00 05:42:00 Not 54.P*5d because of 55.Sx4d S5cx4d Bx7c+. 55.P6f-6e 06:05:00 05:42:00 56.P4d-4e 06:05:00 05:43:00 57.B4f-5g 06:07:00 05:43:00 58.S5c-4d 06:07:00 05:51:00 59.B5gx8d 06:09:00 05:51:00 Abe is already thinking about making an entering king here. It seems to be the only way for him to have a chance of winning this game. 60.L5ax5e 06:09:00 05:53:00 61.R5h-1h 06:13:00 05:53:00 62.N8ex9g+ 06:13:00 06:01:00 63.S8fx9g 06:14:00 06:01:00 64.P*9f 06:14:00 06:03:00 65.S9g-8f 06:19:00 06:03:00 66.S*9g 06:19:00 06:23:00 67.K8h-7g 06:46:00 06:23:00 68.S9gx8f+ 06:46:00 06:48:00 69.P8gx8f 06:46:00 06:48:00 70.P9f-9g+ 06:46:00 06:48:00 71.B8d-7c+ 06:56:00 06:48:00 72.+P9g-8g 06:56:00 06:51:00 73.K7gx8g 07:01:00 06:51:00 74.R9b-9i+ 07:01:00 06:54:00 75.S*8h 07:04:00 06:54:00 76.+R9i-9c 07:04:00 07:08:00 77.+B7cx7d 07:06:00 07:08:00 78.S*9h 07:06:00 07:08:00 79.K8g-7g 07:06:00 07:08:00 80.S9hx8i= 07:06:00 07:08:00 81.G7h-8g 07:11:00 07:08:00 82.P*5f 07:11:00 07:15:00 83.P*5h 07:14:00 07:15:00 84.B3a-4b 07:14:00 07:20:00 85.P6e-6d 07:22:00 07:20:00 86.+R9c-9d? 07:22:00 07:30:00 White has a big material advantage, but it is very hard to stop the black king from entering. After this mistake, white can no longer avoid this. Better was 86.Bx6d and it is still very much in doubt whether the black king can find a safe haven in the white camp. 87.P7f-7e 07:26:00 07:30:00 88.K4a-3a 07:26:00 07:32:00 89.P6dx6c+ 07:35:00 07:32:00 90.+R9dx7d 07:35:00 07:37:00 91.P7ex7d 07:35:00 07:37:00 92.N*7e 07:35:00 07:37:00 93.K7g-7f 07:35:00 07:37:00 94.N7ex8g+ 07:35:00 07:39:00 95.K7f-8e 07:35:00 07:39:00 96.+N8gx8h 07:35:00 07:45:00 97.P7d-7c+ 07:35:00 07:45:00 Abe has abandoned all his pieces to make two tokins in the white position that will give his king enough support to walk to the other side of the board. 98.K3a-2b 07:35:00 07:46:00 99.R*9a 07:39:00 07:46:00 Now the black king is safe to enter. Habu has no chance to mate the black king, so his only option is to make an entering king himself and win on material. 100.B*3i 07:39:00 07:46:00 Threatens both G*8g and G*2h. Getting the black rook on 1h means five extra points in case of mutual entering kings. 101.K8e-9d 07:42:00 07:46:00 102.G*2h 07:42:00 07:48:00 103.K9d-8c 07:43:00 07:48:00 104.G2hx1h 07:43:00 07:51:00 105.L1ix1h 07:43:00 07:51:00 106.B4bx8f 07:43:00 07:51:00 107.K8c-7b 07:44:00 07:51:00 108.R*9c 07:44:00 07:51:00 109.R9a-8a+ 07:44:00 07:51:00 110.R9c-9g+ 07:44:00 07:51:00 111.P*6f 07:48:00 07:51:00 112.S*9b 07:48:00 07:52:00 113.+R8a-8e 07:49:00 07:52:00 114.B8f-5i+ 07:49:00 07:52:00 115.P*9c 07:51:00 07:52:00 116.P*8d 07:51:00 07:54:00 117.+R8e-7d 07:52:00 07:54:00 118.+R9gx9c 07:52:00 07:54:00 119.P*8c 07:53:00 07:54:00 120.+B5ix5h 07:53:00 07:56:00 121.G6g-7f 07:53:00 07:56:00 122.+B5hx4g 07:53:00 07:56:00 123.P8c-8b+ 07:53:00 07:56:00 124.P5f-5g+ 07:53:00 07:56:00 125.P6f-6e 07:53:00 07:56:00 126.+P5g-5f 07:53:00 07:56:00 127.G7f-7e? 07:54:00 07:56:00 With his king safe, black has gotten very good winning chances and it is time for black to find a way to attack the white king. Here Abe misses a good chance to combine attack and defence. After 127.+Px9b +Rx9b +P8b +R9f K8b followed by +R7b black's attack is very strong. It is highly unlikely that the white king will be able to escape up the board. Now the outcome of the game is again unclear: an incredible mud fight is ahead. 128.+R9c-9e 07:54:00 07:56:00 129.G7e-6d 07:55:00 07:56:00 130.+P5f-6f 07:55:00 07:56:00 131.+P8bx9b 07:55:00 07:56:00 132.+P6fx6e 07:55:00 07:56:00 133.+P9b-8b 07:56:00 07:56:00 134.+P6ex6d 07:56:00 07:57:00 135.+R7dx6d 07:56:00 07:57:00 136.B3i-7e+ 07:56:00 07:57:00 137.G*9f 07:56:00 07:57:00 138.+B7ex6d 07:56:00 07:57:00 139.G9fx9e 07:56:00 07:57:00 140.+B6d-5d 07:56:00 07:57:00 141.G9ex8d 07:56:00 07:57:00 142.R*6i 07:56:00 07:57:00 143.R*6a 07:56:00 07:57:00 144.P4e-4f 07:56:00 07:58:00 145.K7b-8a 07:56:00 07:58:00 146.+B4gx3f 07:56:00 07:58:00 147.K8a-9a 07:56:00 07:58:00 148.P4f-4g+ 07:56:00 07:58:00 149.G8d-7d 07:56:00 07:58:00 150.P1c-1d 07:56:00 07:58:00 151.G7d-6d 07:56:00 07:58:00 152.+B5d-7f 07:56:00 07:58:00 153.N*6e 07:56:00 07:58:00 154.+B3fx2g 07:56:00 07:58:00 155.S*5b 07:56:00 07:58:00 156.G4c-5d 07:56:00 07:58:00 157.L*2h 07:58:00 07:58:00 158.+B2gx1h 07:58:00 07:58:00 159.P*2d 07:58:00 07:58:00 160.G5dx6d 07:58:00 07:58:00 161.P2dx2c+ 07:58:00 07:58:00 162.G3bx2c 07:58:00 07:58:00 163.P*2d! 07:58:00 07:58:00 Good move. The simple 163.Rx2a+ Kx2a Lx2c+ gives white a later Rx2i+ with defence and the bishop on 1h is still working well. 164.+B1hx2h 07:58:00 07:58:00 Now Rx2i+ no longer defends and the bishop is no longer on an important diagonal. 165.R6ax2a+ 07:58:00 07:58:00 166.K2bx2a 07:58:00 07:58:00 167.P2dx2c+ 07:58:00 07:58:00 168.G*2b 07:58:00 07:58:00 169.P*2d 07:58:00 07:58:00 170.S3cx2d 07:58:00 07:59:00 171.+P2cx2d 07:58:00 07:59:00 172.G*3c 07:58:00 07:59:00 173.+P2dx3c 07:58:00 07:59:00 174.S4dx3c 07:58:00 07:59:00 175.N*2e 07:58:00 07:59:00 176.R6ix6e+ 07:58:00 07:59:00 177.G*4c 07:58:00 07:59:00 178.+R6e-9e 07:58:00 07:59:00 179.K9a-8a 07:58:00 07:59:00 180.+B7fx4c 07:58:00 07:59:00 181.S5bx4c+ 07:58:00 07:59:00 182.R*4a 07:58:00 07:59:00 183.S*7a 07:58:00 07:59:00 184.R4ax4c 07:58:00 07:59:00 185.+P6cx6d 07:58:00 07:59:00 186.+B2h-2g 07:58:00 07:59:00 187.B*6c 07:58:00 07:59:00 188.+B2gx6c 07:58:00 07:59:00 189.+P7cx6c 07:58:00 07:59:00 190.K2a-1b 07:58:00 07:59:00 191.B*5a? 07:58:00 07:59:00 Habu has not been able to find a way to make an entering king and black has again a winning position. Here Abe missed the simple 191.G*1c Gx1c B*3b, threatening mate and the rook. The outcome of the game doesn't change, but now there are still a lot of moves left to play. 192.G*9a 07:58:00 07:59:00 193.+P8bx9a 07:58:00 07:59:00 194.+R9e-8f 07:58:00 07:59:00 195.G*8b 07:58:00 07:59:00 196.S*2d 07:58:00 07:59:00 197.N2ex3c+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 198.S2dx3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 199.S*3a 07:59:00 07:59:00 200.+R8f-2f 07:59:00 07:59:00 201.+P6d-5d 07:59:00 07:59:00 202.R4c-4a 07:59:00 07:59:00 203.S3ax2b+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 204.S3cx2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 205.B5a-6b+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 206.+R2fx2i 07:59:00 07:59:00 207.G*3b 07:59:00 07:59:00 208.R4a-4f 07:59:00 07:59:00 209.+P5dx5e 07:59:00 07:59:00 210.L*3a 07:59:00 07:59:00 211.G3bx2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 212.+R2ix2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 213.G*4e 07:59:00 07:59:00 214.R4f-3f 07:59:00 07:59:00 215.+P5e-4d 07:59:00 07:59:00 216.L*3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 217.P*3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 218.B*6g 07:59:00 07:59:00 219.P3ex3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 220.L3cx3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 221.+B6b-5a 07:59:00 07:59:00 222.N*3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 223.P*2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 224.+R2bx2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 225.S*4c 07:59:00 07:59:00 226.G*2c 07:59:00 07:59:00 227.+P4dx3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 228.G2cx3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 229.S4cx3d+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 230.R3fx3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 231.G4ex3d 07:59:00 07:59:00 232.B6gx3d+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 233.R*4b 07:59:00 07:59:00 234.K1b-1c 07:59:00 07:59:00 235.R4bx4g+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 236.N*3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 237.+R4g-4a 07:59:00 07:59:00 238.N3e-2g+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 239.P*3f 07:59:00 07:59:00 240.N*2c 07:59:00 07:59:00 241.L*3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 242.N2cx3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 243.P3fx3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 244.+B3dx3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 245.N*1f 07:59:00 07:59:00 246.+R2d-2f 07:59:00 07:59:00 247.+R4ax3a 07:59:00 07:59:00 248.S*2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 249.+B5ax3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 250.S2bx3a 07:59:00 07:59:00 251.L*2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 252.+B3ex2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 253.+B3cx2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 254.+R2fx2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 255.N1fx2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 256.K1cx2d 07:59:00 07:59:00 257.G*3f 07:59:00 07:59:00 Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00 Finally, this historical fight ends with Abe winning and levelling the match at 2-2. The final position will be printed many times. It almost looks like a tsume shogi problem with only 14 pieces on the board. There are so many pieces in hand that the players dropped them numerous times from the komadai during the post-mortem analysis. A record-breaking game as it was the longest game ever to be played in the Ryu-O, both in number of moves (previous record 203 moves) and in time (the game finished at 20:59 in the evening). Abe will not care much about these facts, but more about getting completely back in this match after being 2-0 down. The next game will be pivotal... In other shogi news: ==================== * In the A-class Junisen the final game of round 6 was played. Sato joins Tanigawa, Habu and Fujii in the lead with a win against Shima. All four have now 4-2 and considering their strength it seems almost unthinkable that the next Meijin challenger will not be one of them. * In C1 the 7th round was played. The big game was between leader Horiguchi Kazushiza and Sugimoto, who shared second place. Sugimoto won, throwing the promotion race wide open again as six players now share the lead with 6-1: Ariyoshi, Sugimoto, Kitajima, Horiguchi, Katsumata and Matsuo. The outcome is very hard to predict as there are still a lot of games to be played between these players: Matsuo still meets Sugimoto and Ariyoshi, Sugimoto also plays Kitajima and Katsumata, Katsumata still plays Horiguchi. This is good news for Yashiki, who still has some hope of catching up at 5-2. * Habu seems to be in a bit of tunnel lately, as he is losing one big game after another. Still, luck was on his side in the last round of the Osho league, as Goda beat leader Moriuchi and Habu himself beat Tanigawa. This ended the league games with Habu, Goda and Moriuchi shared in first place with 4-2 scores. The rule is that in case of a tie, the two highest ranked players play a decisive game to decide the challenger. Tough on Moriuchi, as he is ranked lower in the class than Habu and Goda, so they will play a play-off game on December 30th to decide the challenger of Sato. I will be away from the office for Christmas and New Year, so this is the last Shukan Shogi report for 2002. My next report will probably be around January 10th. 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