From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 13 mar 2002 Subject: These weeks in Shukan Shogi (no. 931 and 932, This week in my Shukan Shogi report no less than three title matches: two Kio games and one Osho game. Habu won both of the Kio games against challenger Sato to go 2-1 up, but he lost the fourth game of the Osho match to go 3-1 down and is only one loss away from giving up his title to Sato. Here are the games with comments. First, the fourth game of the Osho match. Black: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger White: Habu Yoshiharu, Osho 51st Osho-sen, Game 4, February 20th and 21st 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:02:00 3.P2g-2f 00:03:00 00:02:00 4.P8c-8d 00:03:00 00:04:00 5.P2f-2e 00:05:00 00:04:00 6.P8d-8e 00:05:00 00:05:00 7.G6i-7h 00:05:00 00:05:00 8.G4a-3b 00:05:00 00:06:00 9.P2e-2d 00:05:00 00:06:00 10.P2cx2d 00:05:00 00:07:00 11.R2hx2d 00:05:00 00:07:00 12.P8e-8f 00:05:00 00:07:00 13.P8gx8f 00:05:00 00:07:00 14.R8bx8f 00:05:00 00:07:00 15.R2dx3d 00:05:00 00:07:00 16.B2b-3c 00:05:00 00:08:00 Habu didn't play the Yokofudori in the second game, but that was a surprise. The Yokofudori is the opening with the best winning percentage for white, but Habu might have feared Sato's deep study of the openings. No player knows more about the opening than he does. This time he meets Sato's opening preparation head-on. 17.K5i-5h 00:30:00 00:08:00 18.S3a-2b 00:30:00 00:29:00 19.G4i-3h 00:36:00 00:29:00 20.K5a-4a 00:36:00 00:38:00 21.R3d-3f 00:43:00 00:38:00 22.G6a-5a 00:43:00 01:04:00 23.B8hx3c+ 01:24:00 01:04:00 24.N2ax3c 01:24:00 01:07:00 25.S7i-8h 01:24:00 01:07:00 26.R8f-8d 01:24:00 01:15:00 27.S3i-4h 01:31:00 01:15:00 28.S7a-6b 01:31:00 02:03:00 29.N8i-7g 01:51:00 02:03:00 This was a move that Sato prepared for his game in the A class Junisen against Tanigawa two weeks earlier. Even though that game was an easy victory for Sato, he said after this Osho title match game that he didn't believe that it would lead to better play for black. He said he is happy with a position where the chances are equal. 30.P*8g 01:51:00 03:19:00 31.S8hx8g 02:15:00 03:19:00 32.P*8f 02:15:00 03:19:00 33.S8g-9f 02:25:00 03:19:00 34.B*8g 02:25:00 03:22:00 35.G7h-8h 02:26:00 03:22:00 36.B8gx9f+ 02:26:00 03:32:00 37.P9gx9f 02:26:00 03:32:00 38.P8f-8g+ 02:26:00 03:33:00 39.B*6f 02:28:00 03:33:00 40.R8d-2d 02:28:00 03:36:00 41.P*2e 02:31:00 03:36:00 42.R2dx2e 02:31:00 03:39:00 43.P*2f 02:31:00 03:39:00 44.R2e-2c 02:31:00 03:43:00 45.G8hx8g 02:33:00 03:43:00 46.S*4e 02:33:00 03:44:00 47.R3f-3e 02:47:00 03:44:00 48.R2cx2f 02:47:00 03:47:00 49.P*2h!? 02:48:00 03:47:00 So far this game is identical to the game between Sato and Tanigawa. In that game Sato played 49.P*2g, which seems the more natural move, as it gives black an escape route for the king to the right. However, in the post-mortem analysis of the Junisen game, Sato and Tanigawa agreed that P*2h might be the better move. Whether this is true is difficult to say, but it is almost certain that Habu only analyzed the position after 49.P*2g. 50.P*3d 02:48:00 04:41:00 An indication of Habu's surprise. He takes 54 moves to end the first day with sealing 50.P*3d. Kamiya (7-dan) expected 50.Rx6f Px6f B*2d Rx4e Nx4e R*7i! here, which seems just enough to defend against white's attack. Still, after that the position is still very close, so it is hard to say who is better. Habu decided to chase the black rook instead. 51.R3e-1e 02:52:00 04:41:00 52.P1c-1d 02:52:00 04:49:00 53.R1e-1f 02:54:00 04:49:00 54.R2f-2d 02:54:00 04:49:00 55.B6fx3c+ 03:29:00 04:49:00 56.S2bx3c? 03:29:00 04:50:00 A natural move that turns out to be a bad mistake. In 99 out of a 100 positions Sx3c is better than Gx3c, but not in this case. Sato said after the game that he thought he had made a mistake as he had read here: 56.Gx3c R6f P3e G8h R8d P*8e R6d R2f (the same as in the game) and now K3b!. In this case, the gold is not in a bad position at all. Still, there was no turning back here and Sato could only hope that Habu hadn't seen this. He must have been very relieved that Habu only took a minute to play 56.Sx3c. From here on there is still a lot of exciting shogi to follow, but Sato now gets a big, perhaps decisive advantage. 57.R1f-6f 03:29:00 04:50:00 58.P3d-3e 03:29:00 04:52:00 59.G8g-8h 03:37:00 04:52:00 60.R2d-8d 03:37:00 05:55:00 61.P*8e 04:54:00 05:55:00 62.R8d-6d 04:54:00 05:55:00 63.R6f-2f 04:55:00 05:55:00 64.K4a-3a! 04:55:00 05:55:00 This type of move is the reason why Habu wins so many games. 64.P*2d is the obvious defense, but after 65.G7h, black has nothing to worry about anymore. Habu gives up the lance, but keeps the extra pawn that will give him a chance to attack and therefore a chance to win. 65.N*2c 05:08:00 05:55:00 66.K3a-4b 05:08:00 06:01:00 67.N2cx1a+ 05:08:00 06:01:00 68.P*8f? 05:08:00 06:16:00 This makes things worse. Better was 68.S2d to go after the black rook. Then 69.B7e P*2e R6f Rx6f Bx6f (or Px6f) R*7i and black has to be very careful. 69.P6g-6f! 05:37:00 06:16:00 A perfect defense against the white threat P8g+ followed by B*7h. From here Habu said he had no real chance to win anymore. 70.P3e-3f 05:37:00 07:08:00 71.L*3e 05:54:00 07:08:00 72.S4e-3d 05:54:00 07:09:00 73.L3ex3d 05:55:00 07:09:00 74.R6dx3d 05:55:00 07:09:00 75.S*2c 06:04:00 07:09:00 76.G3bx2c 06:04:00 07:09:00 77.R2fx2c+ 06:04:00 07:09:00 78.S*3b 06:04:00 07:09:00 79.+R2c-2e 06:15:00 07:09:00 80.R3d-6d 06:15:00 07:17:00 81.+R2e-7e 06:22:00 07:17:00 82.P7c-7d 06:22:00 07:27:00 83.+R7ex8f 06:27:00 07:27:00 84.R6dx6f 06:27:00 07:27:00 85.P*6g 06:28:00 07:27:00 86.B*6d 06:28:00 07:27:00 87.+R8f-8g 06:37:00 07:27:00 88.P*8f 06:37:00 07:27:00 89.+R8g-7h 06:40:00 07:27:00 90.R6fx7f 06:40:00 07:27:00 91.G*6f 07:01:00 07:27:00 92.P7d-7e 07:01:00 07:32:00 93.+N1a-1b 07:01:00 07:32:00 94.L*7a 07:01:00 07:43:00 95.P*7d 07:03:00 07:43:00 96.R7fx6f 07:03:00 07:43:00 97.P6gx6f 07:03:00 07:43:00 98.P7e-7f 07:03:00 07:43:00 99.N7g-6e 07:04:00 07:43:00 100.L7ax7d 07:04:00 07:43:00 101.R*1a 07:23:00 07:43:00 102.G*7g 07:23:00 07:46:00 103.P4g-4f 07:35:00 07:46:00 104.G7gx7h 07:35:00 07:46:00 105.G8hx7h 07:35:00 07:46:00 106.P7f-7g+ 07:35:00 07:46:00 107.G*3a 07:46:00 07:46:00 108.+P7gx7h 07:46:00 07:48:00 109.G3ax3b 07:46:00 07:48:00 110.K4bx3b 07:46:00 07:48:00 111.S*2b 07:47:00 07:48:00 Against most players, this would be the game winner. 112.Sx2b R2a+ is too severe. 112.R*4a! 07:47:00 07:51:00 Habu finds another magic trick to complicate the position. The white king can suddenly find some relative safety on 5b. 113.R1ax4a+ 07:49:00 07:51:00 114.K3bx4a 07:49:00 07:53:00 115.S2bx3c+ 07:49:00 07:53:00 116.K4a-5b 07:49:00 07:53:00 117.S*7b 07:55:00 07:53:00 118.G*3a! 07:55:00 07:53:00 The move 112.R*4a only works in combination with this gold drop. Sato is running out of time and things are still far from easy. 119.B*1c 07:55:00 07:53:00 120.G*3b 07:55:00 07:54:00 121.K5h-4g 07:58:00 07:54:00 122.P5c-5d 07:58:00 07:56:00 123.+S3cx3b 07:58:00 07:56:00 124.G3ax3b 07:58:00 07:56:00 125.+N1b-2b 07:58:00 07:56:00 126.G3b-4b 07:58:00 07:56:00 127.S7bx8a=?! 07:59:00 07:56:00 A small mistake that makes the game quite close. The safe route would have been 127.R*3a G4b-4a R3d+ followed by B3e+ which is both defending and threatening mate. 128.+P7h-6h 07:59:00 07:57:00 129.N*3d 07:59:00 07:57:00 130.G4b-3c 07:59:00 07:57:00 131.S8a-7b+ 07:59:00 07:57:00 132.G3cx3d 07:59:00 07:57:00 133.R*3b 07:59:00 07:57:00 134.N*4b 07:59:00 07:57:00 135.R3b-3a+ 07:59:00 07:57:00 136.G3d-2e 07:59:00 07:58:00 This suddenly is a white mating threat. Sato is a little lucky that there is still a way to win. 137.P3gx3f 07:59:00 07:58:00 138.P*7a 07:59:00 07:59:00 139.+S7bx6b 07:59:00 07:59:00 140.K5bx6b 07:59:00 07:59:00 141.B1c-3e+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 142.G2ex3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 143.S*5c 07:59:00 07:59:00 144.K6b-7b 07:59:00 07:59:00 145.+R3ax3e 07:59:00 07:59:00 Game over. This gives black an escape route up the board. 146.S*4i 07:59:00 07:59:00 147.S5cx6d+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 148.S*5h 07:59:00 07:59:00 149.K4g-3g 07:59:00 07:59:00 150.S4ix3h+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 151.K3g-2f 07:59:00 07:59:00 Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00 No mate for white and after 152.Px6d G*7c K6a N5c= white is mated, so there is no defense. With this victory Sato gets within one game of taking the Osho title from Habu. Moreover, in this game he showed that he was the better player. It will be very hard for Habu to turn things around against a Sato who must be full of confidence now. Here are the second and the third game of the Kio match. Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio White: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger 27th Kio-sen, Game 2, February 16th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.S7i-6h 00:01:00 00:01:00 4.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:01:00 5.S6h-7g 00:01:00 00:01:00 6.S7a-6b 00:01:00 00:01:00 7.P5g-5f 00:02:00 00:01:00 8.P5c-5d 00:02:00 00:01:00 9.S3i-4h 00:02:00 00:01:00 10.G6a-5b 00:02:00 00:06:00 11.G6i-7h 00:05:00 00:06:00 12.P4c-4d 00:05:00 00:09:00 13.K5i-6i 00:06:00 00:09:00 14.G5b-4c 00:06:00 00:09:00 15.G4i-5h 00:08:00 00:09:00 16.S3a-3b 00:08:00 00:10:00 17.B8h-7i 00:10:00 00:10:00 18.B2b-3a 00:10:00 00:10:00 19.P3g-3f 00:11:00 00:10:00 20.B3a-6d 00:11:00 00:24:00 21.N2i-3g 00:19:00 00:24:00 22.K5a-4b 00:19:00 00:32:00 The first Yagura game in this double title match between Habu and Sato (they also play in the Osho). Sato plays one of his new ideas that he has been using with quite a lot of success: a left mino castle where the silver is not moving up to 3c. The general strategic idea is that keeping the silver on 3b and the gold on 4a strengthens the center and also saves two moves. White wants to use these extra moves to start a quick fight in the center. 23.P6g-6f 00:24:00 00:32:00 24.K4b-3a 00:24:00 00:32:00 25.G5h-6g 00:24:00 00:32:00 26.P7c-7d 00:24:00 00:33:00 27.B7i-6h 00:25:00 00:33:00 28.P8d-8e 00:25:00 00:37:00 29.P1g-1f 00:44:00 00:37:00 30.S6b-5c 00:44:00 00:44:00 31.K6i-7i 00:47:00 00:44:00 32.P5d-5e 00:47:00 01:17:00 33.P5fx5e 01:26:00 01:17:00 34.B6dx5e 01:26:00 01:17:00 35.P1f-1e 01:26:00 01:17:00 36.S5c-5d 01:26:00 01:33:00 Black wants to play L1g followed by R1h here to start an edge attack. However, after 37.L1g, white can play 38.S4e and the pawn on 3f is lost. This is one of the other points of the system that Sato is playing. The silver on 5d is indirectly defending against the black edge attack. Hashimoto (4-dan) thought that Habu only had something like 37.R2i here, but instead Habu strongly pushes forward on the edge. 37.P1e-1d!? 01:42:00 01:33:00 The other alternative 37.R1h is not very effective as white can just play S3c followed by S2d and move in a normal yagura castle. In that case, black's edge attack will not be successful. 38.P1cx1d 01:42:00 01:33:00 39.P*1c 01:42:00 01:33:00 40.L1ax1c 01:42:00 01:42:00 41.R2h-1h 01:46:00 01:42:00 42.P2c-2d 01:46:00 01:47:00 Defending against major pieces by getting them closer. 43.B6hx2d 01:49:00 01:47:00 44.S3b-3c 01:49:00 01:55:00 45.B2d-6h 01:58:00 01:55:00 46.P*2d 01:58:00 02:36:00 Here the commentators in the press room expected 46.R2b, which looks very strong as it defends against N2e and threatens to promote the rook. For example, 47.R2h is followed by 48.S4e and black is in trouble. However, Sato realized in time that black had the hidden reply 47.P*1b! against 46.R2b. Then, 48.Rx1b N2e and 48.Rx2g+ P1a+ are both good for black. Normally a promoted rook is worth more than a promoted pawn, but in this case the threat of +Px2a followed by Bx1c+ is quite severe. After 41 minutes Sato decided to play the defensive 46.P*2d instead. Habu has won the opening battle. 47.P2g-2f 02:09:00 02:36:00 48.P1d-1e 02:09:00 02:43:00 49.P2f-2e 02:22:00 02:43:00 50.P1e-1f 02:22:00 02:44:00 White may be in trouble, Sato stills defends strongly and actively. Black has a lot of options and that is not always a good thing. 51.P*1e 02:55:00 02:44:00 52.L1cx1e 02:55:00 02:45:00 53.R1h-2h 02:55:00 02:45:00 54.P1f-1g+ 02:55:00 02:51:00 55.R2h-2f 02:55:00 02:51:00 56.P2dx2e 02:55:00 02:59:00 57.R2fx2e 02:55:00 02:59:00 58.P*1d 02:55:00 03:00:00 59.P*2d 03:12:00 03:00:00 60.P*2b 03:12:00 03:00:00 61.K7i-8h! 03:16:00 03:00:00 62.G4a-3b 03:16:00 03:06:00 63.P9g-9f! 03:18:00 03:06:00 High class play. The timing for playing two defense strengthening moves like K8h and P9f is extremely difficult. Most players would try to cash in on their advantage by playing Lx1g followed by G5f without taking these preliminary defensive measures. The problem is to judge that the opponent has no moves to improve his position. This requires a deep understanding of the dynamics of shogi. Actually, in the press room there were also doubts about black's positions. Without pawns, wouldn't it be hard to attack? Habu shows why he is Habu. 64.P9c-9d 03:18:00 03:08:00 65.L1ix1g 03:26:00 03:08:00 66.L1ex1g+ 03:26:00 03:08:00 67.G6g-5f 03:26:00 03:08:00 68.B5e-6d 03:26:00 03:16:00 69.P*5e 03:28:00 03:16:00 70.N2a-1c?! 03:28:00 03:18:00 Sato judges that he can no longer wait and goes for the mutual attack. Although Shukan Shogi doesn't give an alternative, it seems that white can not win the following mating race. 71.P2d-2c+! 03:28:00 03:18:00 Strong. Even with the rook, white's attack is not strong enough. 72.N1cx2e 03:28:00 03:21:00 73.+P2cx3b 03:28:00 03:21:00 74.K3ax3b 03:28:00 03:21:00 75.N3gx2e 03:28:00 03:21:00 76.P8e-8f 03:28:00 03:39:00 77.S7gx8f 03:32:00 03:39:00 78.L*8d 03:32:00 03:41:00 79.P5ex5d 03:36:00 03:41:00 80.L8dx8f 03:36:00 03:41:00 81.P8gx8f 03:36:00 03:41:00 82.P*8g 03:36:00 03:41:00 83.K8hx8g 03:36:00 03:41:00 84.R*5h 03:36:00 03:46:00 It seems that white also has something going here as there is the strong threat of 86.Rx6h+ Gx6h Bx8f. 85.N*5e! 03:39:00 03:46:00 The perfect reply. 86.Rx6h+ now fails to 87.Nx4c+ Kx4c G*5c and now either Bx5c Px5c+ Kx5c Gx6h or K3b Gx6h Bx8f S*4c (leading to mate) and black wins. 86.B6dx5e 03:39:00 03:49:00 87.P5d-5c+! 03:40:00 03:49:00 Another good move to decide the game. 88.Rx5f+ +Px4c Kx4c S*6g completely stops the white attack. 88.G4cx5c 03:40:00 03:59:00 89.G5fx5e 03:42:00 03:59:00 90.P*8e 03:42:00 03:59:00 91.N2ex3c+ 03:49:00 03:59:00 92.K3bx3c 03:49:00 03:59:00 93.B*2d 03:49:00 03:59:00 94.K3c-4c 03:49:00 03:59:00 95.L*5i 03:50:00 03:59:00 96.P8ex8f 03:50:00 03:59:00 97.K8g-7g 03:50:00 03:59:00 98.R5hx4h+ 03:50:00 03:59:00 99.G5ex4d 03:50:00 03:59:00 Resigns 03:50:00 03:59:00 And mate after 99.Kx4d (Gx4d G*3c mate) S*3c K4c G*4b Rx4b Sx4b+ K4d S*3c K4e R*4f or 99.K5b Gx5c K6a G*6b Rx6b Gx6b Kx6b B5a+ etc. A fine win for Habu, to even the match at 1-1. The third game will be very important in this short best-of-five match. Black: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger White: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio 27th Kio-sen, Game 3, February 25th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:01:00 4.P4c-4d 00:00:00 00:01:00 5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:01:00 6.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:01:00 7.S3i-4h 00:01:00 00:01:00 8.R8b-4b 00:01:00 00:02:00 Habu and Sato change openings every game. This time it is Habu's turn to play the ranging rook. 9.K5i-6h 00:01:00 00:02:00 10.P9c-9d 00:01:00 00:02:00 11.K6h-7h 00:05:00 00:02:00 12.S3a-3b 00:05:00 00:02:00 13.P5g-5f 00:05:00 00:02:00 14.S3b-4c 00:05:00 00:03:00 15.S4h-5g 00:09:00 00:03:00 16.S7a-7b 00:09:00 00:05:00 17.P3g-3f 00:09:00 00:05:00 18.K5a-6b 00:09:00 00:11:00 19.B8h-7g 00:09:00 00:11:00 20.K6b-7a 00:09:00 00:15:00 21.K7h-8h 00:09:00 00:15:00 22.K7a-8b 00:09:00 00:28:00 23.L9i-9h?! 00:11:00 00:28:00 Sato aims for the anaguma, but in this game this castle is never realized. In the end, having the lance on 9h instead of 9i becomes significant, so after the game Sato said he regretted the timing of this move. 24.S4c-5d 00:11:00 00:29:00 25.P6g-6f 01:01:00 00:29:00 26.R4b-3b 01:01:00 00:51:00 27.B7g-5i!? 01:18:00 00:51:00 The most important moment in the opening. Habu has just moved the rook to 3b to change the attack to the third file. Sato is defending against this with 27.B5i, as 28.B4b can be answered with 29.B2f and because white now has to defend the pawn on 4d with 30.S4c, black gets the time to move in the anaguma with 31.K9i. Of course, Habu can't allow that and with the bishop no longer on the main diagonal, this is the time to try and attack. Sato of course knew this before playing 27.B5i, so he felt confident that he could counter this attack: a "come and get me if you can" strategy. 28.P4d-4e 01:18:00 01:33:00 29.G4i-5h 01:21:00 01:33:00 30.P6c-6d 01:21:00 01:34:00 31.G6i-7h 01:37:00 01:34:00 32.P6d-6e 01:37:00 02:02:00 33.B5i-7g 01:42:00 02:02:00 Moving back, but Sato has achieved his objective of an early fight, so the bishop maneuver has not been a waste of time. 34.P6ex6f 01:42:00 02:05:00 35.S5gx6f 01:44:00 02:05:00 36.P*6e 01:44:00 02:11:00 37.S6f-7e 01:50:00 02:11:00 38.B3cx7g+ 01:50:00 02:18:00 39.N8ix7g 01:50:00 02:18:00 40.R3b-4b 01:50:00 02:18:00 41.B*5g 02:12:00 02:18:00 42.P4e-4f 02:12:00 02:26:00 43.P4gx4f 02:13:00 02:26:00 44.P3d-3e 02:13:00 02:26:00 45.P2e-2d 02:15:00 02:26:00 46.P3ex3f 02:15:00 02:28:00 47.P2dx2c+ 02:16:00 02:28:00 This is an important tokin, so black seems to have the upper hand here. 48.P*2g 02:16:00 02:30:00 49.R2hx2g 02:22:00 02:30:00 50.B*4i 02:22:00 02:30:00 51.R2g-2h 02:22:00 02:30:00 52.B4ix5h+ 02:22:00 02:31:00 53.R2hx5h 02:22:00 02:31:00 54.G*4g 02:22:00 02:31:00 55.R5h-5i 02:28:00 02:31:00 56.G4gx5g 02:28:00 02:36:00 57.R5ix5g 02:28:00 02:36:00 58.R4bx4f 02:28:00 02:36:00 59.P*4g 02:47:00 02:36:00 60.B*4h 02:47:00 02:46:00 61.P4gx4f 03:10:00 02:46:00 So far things have been going well for black, but in the previous moves there must have been some mistake in Sato's calculations. Exchanging the rook is not what black wants in this position, but 61.R6g fails to 62.Rx5f. It is now Habu who seems to be in control again. 62.B4hx5g+ 03:10:00 02:46:00 63.+P2c-3b? 03:11:00 02:46:00 Better was 63.P*6b G7a G*6a R*2h Gx7a Kx7a G*6a Sx6a Px6a+ and the white king is quite exposed. 64.R*2h 03:11:00 03:02:00 65.+P3bx4a? 03:11:00 03:02:00 Underestimates the next move. 66.P6e-6f! 03:11:00 03:08:00 Sato only considered 66.Rx2i+ after which 67.G*8i is a good defense. Habu's move is much stronger. 67.G*6h 03:24:00 03:08:00 68.+B5gx6h 03:24:00 03:12:00 69.S7ix6h 03:24:00 03:12:00 70.G*6g 03:24:00 03:12:00 71.G*7i 03:24:00 03:12:00 72.G6gx7h 03:24:00 03:13:00 73.G7ix7h 03:24:00 03:13:00 74.G*6i!? 03:24:00 03:15:00 A difficult decision. White has the option here to make sennichite with 74.G*6g G*7i Gx7h Gx7h G*6g etc. Habu is a little ahead of time and also playing with the white pieces, so a sennichite is not bad for him. Also, it is far from clear in this position that white has anything more than the replay with reversed colors. Avoiding sennichite here is a good sign of Habu's fighting spirit and also has the psychological effect of showing Sato that Habu thinks he can win this position. Objectively, this may not be the case, but Sato might lose some confidence in his position here. This effect is further enhanced by Habu taking only 2 minutes to make this decision. 75.P*3h 03:33:00 03:15:00 Sato actually thought that white should have taken the sennichite. Here, he considered 75.B*5g but didn't play this, as 76.Gx6h Bx6h followed by another drop on 6g will again lead to sennichite. Sato didn't want to give Habu another chance for a replay here, so he played this pawn drop defense tesuji. 76.G6ix6h 03:33:00 03:36:00 Not good is 76.+Rx3h G*5i Gx5i B*1f +Rx2i Bx6a+ Sx6a R*3b G*6b +P5a G5h P*6i! as it now becomes very difficult to attack the black king. 77.G7hx6h 03:33:00 03:36:00 78.R2hx2i+ 03:33:00 03:36:00 79.P*6i? 03:34:00 03:36:00 A serious mistake. After 79.G*8i S*6g P*6i Sx7f+ +P5a Gx5a G*7h +Sx7e B*6d it seems that black has the initiative in the attacking race. 80.P6f-6g+ 03:34:00 03:36:00 81.G6hx6g 03:36:00 03:36:00 82.+R2ix6i 03:36:00 03:36:00 83.G*7i 03:38:00 03:36:00 84.+R6ix6g 03:38:00 03:36:00 85.G*7h 03:38:00 03:36:00 86.+R6gx7f 03:38:00 03:36:00 87.B*4d 03:44:00 03:36:00 88.S*6g? 03:44:00 03:41:00 The thick defense 88.S*6b was better. After 88.S*6g, winning has gotten quite complicated. 89.+P4a-5a 03:47:00 03:41:00 90.G6ax5a 03:47:00 03:43:00 91.B4dx5c+ 03:48:00 03:43:00 92.G*6b 03:48:00 03:44:00 93.+B5cx5d 03:52:00 03:44:00 94.S6gx7h+ 03:52:00 03:44:00 95.G7ix7h 03:52:00 03:44:00 96.+R7fx7e 03:52:00 03:44:00 97.S*7f 03:52:00 03:44:00 98.+R7e-2e 03:52:00 03:46:00 99.P*6c 03:54:00 03:46:00 100.S7bx6c 03:54:00 03:51:00 101.+B5dx6c 03:54:00 03:51:00 102.+R2e-2i! 03:54:00 03:54:00 Only this move keeps the advantage. Taking the promoted bishop without thinking would throw away everything: 102.Gx6c P*6d G6c-6b P*7b!. This threatens B*7a and Kx7b fails to S*6c. Therefore, white has to take sennichite after Gx7b S*6c G*7a Sx7b+ etc. 103.P*7i 03:58:00 03:54:00 The difference. Because of the bad position of the lance on 9h, white is threatening mate in one. To defend against this, black has to drop a pawn here that he can no longer use on 7b. 104.G6bx6c 03:58:00 03:54:00 105.P*6d 03:58:00 03:54:00 106.G6c-6b 03:58:00 03:54:00 107.B*4d? 03:59:00 03:54:00 This makes things too easy for white. Better was 107.S*6c which threatens mate after R*7b Gx7b sx7b+ Kx7b B*5d. To defend against this, white's best defense seems to be 108.G*6a, but using this gold in defense makes it much harder to mate the black king. 108.P*5c 03:59:00 03:56:00 109.S*6c 03:59:00 03:56:00 110.S*6i 03:59:00 03:56:00 111.N7g-8e 03:59:00 03:56:00 112.B*5g 03:59:00 03:56:00 113.R*6g 03:59:00 03:56:00 114.S6ix7h+ 03:59:00 03:57:00 115.P7ix7h 03:59:00 03:57:00 116.+R2i-7i 03:59:00 03:57:00 117.K8h-7g 03:59:00 03:57:00 118.G6bx6c 03:59:00 03:57:00 119.R6gx5g 03:59:00 03:57:00 120.S*8h 03:59:00 03:57:00 Resigns 03:59:00 03:57:00 Simple mate after 121.K6g G*6h K6f N*7d K7e G*8d K6e G5d. Another interesting game, but definitely not a flawless game, especially not by Sato. An important win with the white pieces for Habu, as he is now 2-1 up and only one win away from his 12th consecutive Kio title. In other shogi news: ==================== * A junisen, final round: Fujii-Moriuchi 0-1, Morishita-Sato 0-1, Habu-Senzaki 1-0, Miura-Kato 1-0, Tanigawa-Aono 1-0. Moriuchi challenges Maruyama for the Meijin title. Kato and Senzaki are relegated to B1. Details of this dramatic day have already been described in an excellent early posting to Shogi-L by Richard Sams. * Oi challenger leagues: White group, first round: Moriuchi-Fukaura 1-0, Minami-Awaji 0-1; Red group, first round: Nakamura-Tanigawa 0-1. * Asahi Open, quarterfinals: Maruyama-Nakahara 0-1, Tanigawa-Habu 0-1, Horiguchi Kazushiza-Sato Yasumitsu 1-0. Quite a surprising semi-final line-up with the games Sugimoto-Nakahara and Habu-Horiguchi. Despite the overwhelming strength of the A class professionals, only Habu managed to get to the semi-finals. More later this 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