From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 14 mar 2002 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 933, March 13th 2002) More games between Habu and Sato as this week's Shukan Shogi features the 5th game of the Osho match and the 4th game of the Kio match. Habu won both games, which means that he is still alive in the Osho match (2-3 down with two to play) and that he won the Kio title for the 12th time in a row despite a loss in the first game. Here are the games with comments: Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Osho White: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger 51st Osho-sen, Game 5, March 4th and 5th 2002 1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:03:00 3.P2f-2e 00:02:00 00:03:00 4.P8d-8e 00:02:00 00:03:00 5.G6i-7h 00:03:00 00:03:00 6.G4a-3b 00:03:00 00:03:00 7.P1g-1f 00:04:00 00:03:00 8.S7a-7b 00:04:00 00:49:00 9.S3i-3h 00:36:00 00:49:00 10.P8e-8f 00:36:00 01:09:00 11.P8gx8f 00:36:00 01:09:00 12.R8bx8f 00:36:00 01:09:00 13.P*8g 00:36:00 01:09:00 14.R8f-8b 00:36:00 01:20:00 15.P1f-1e 01:09:00 01:20:00 16.S7b-8c 01:09:00 01:25:00 17.P2e-2d 01:14:00 01:25:00 18.P2cx2d 01:14:00 01:25:00 19.R2hx2d 01:14:00 01:25:00 20.P*2c 01:14:00 01:25:00 21.R2d-2f 01:15:00 01:25:00 22.S8c-7d 01:15:00 01:28:00 23.P7g-7f 01:27:00 01:28:00 24.P3c-3d 01:27:00 01:31:00 25.R2f-3f 01:57:00 01:31:00 26.G3b-3c 01:57:00 02:16:00 27.P9g-9f 02:00:00 02:16:00 28.K5a-4a 02:00:00 02:22:00 29.K5i-4h 02:15:00 02:22:00 30.K4a-3b 02:15:00 02:25:00 31.B8h-9g 02:33:00 02:25:00 32.S3a-4b 02:33:00 02:26:00 33.P7f-7e 02:33:00 02:26:00 34.S7d-8c 02:33:00 02:26:00 35.R3f-8f 02:46:00 02:26:00 Both players play a similar strategy to game 2: Habu the hineribisha and Sato a climbing silver. Still, the colors are reversed here and the position also has more differences than similarities. 36.P5c-5d 02:46:00 02:56:00 37.S7i-6h 03:13:00 02:56:00 38.B2b-3a 03:13:00 03:02:00 39.S6h-7g 03:23:00 03:02:00 40.S8c-8d 03:23:00 03:35:00 41.R8f-6f 04:44:00 03:35:00 42.G6a-5b 04:44:00 03:47:00 43.S7g-7f 04:44:00 03:47:00 44.S4b-5c 04:44:00 03:54:00 45.S7f-6e 04:46:00 03:54:00 46.P6c-6d 04:46:00 04:32:00 47.S6e-7f 04:48:00 04:32:00 48.P9c-9d 04:48:00 04:35:00 49.B9g-8h 05:00:00 04:35:00 50.P7c-7d 05:00:00 05:26:00 51.P7ex7d 05:02:00 05:26:00 52.G5b-6c 05:02:00 05:29:00 A change of plan. Sato originally intended to go for the silver with 52.P*7e, but he realized in time that after 53.P7c+ Nx7c P*7d Px7f Rx7f G6c Px7c+ Sx7c N*4e S4d Nx3c+ Sx3c, black has the strong attack P1d Px1d P*1b Lx1b G*1b. Fortunately for white, there are several other options here. 52.R7b is also a good move, but 52.G*6c is probably the most active one. Habu admitted after the game that he didn't have much confidence in the position here. 53.P8g-8f 05:15:00 05:29:00 54.G6cx7d 05:15:00 05:29:00 55.R6f-2f 05:15:00 05:29:00 56.P4c-4d 05:15:00 05:31:00 57.K4h-3i 05:16:00 05:31:00 58.P2c-2d 05:16:00 05:38:00 59.N8i-7g 06:00:00 05:38:00 60.N8a-7c 06:00:00 05:50:00 61.B8h-7i 06:02:00 05:50:00 62.P*7e 06:02:00 05:55:00 63.S7f-8g 06:03:00 05:55:00 64.K3b-4c 06:03:00 05:56:00 65.P5g-5f 06:28:00 05:56:00 66.R8b-2b 06:28:00 05:59:00 67.P3g-3f 06:28:00 05:59:00 68.G3c-2c! 06:28:00 06:34:00 An interesting position. The white king looks very exposed, but black has no good way to open the position to try and make use of that. The position looks a little like the two piece handicap joseki, where the king is also in the middle of the board, but far from easy to mate. 69.N2i-3g 06:36:00 06:34:00 70.N2a-3c 06:36:00 06:38:00 71.G4i-4h 06:43:00 06:38:00 72.P6d-6e 06:43:00 06:41:00 73.P4g-4f 06:54:00 06:41:00 74.S5c-6d 06:54:00 06:47:00 75.G4h-4g 07:04:00 06:47:00 76.B3a-5c 07:04:00 06:47:00 77.B7i-5g 07:04:00 06:47:00 78.K4c-5b 07:04:00 06:56:00 79.R2f-2i 07:06:00 06:56:00 80.K5b-6c 07:06:00 06:57:00 81.K3i-4h 07:07:00 06:57:00 82.R2b-4b 07:07:00 07:16:00 83.P*2e 07:12:00 07:16:00 In the two title matches between Habu and Sato, we have seen a lot of early fireworks. However, in this game both players show a different side of their shogi: patience. It has taken them 83 moves and almost all of their thinking time to finally start the hostilities. Perhaps not a great service to the fans, but this is also an important part of professional shogi. 84.P2dx2e 07:12:00 07:16:00 85.N3gx2e 07:12:00 07:16:00 86.N3cx2e 07:12:00 07:16:00 87.R2ix2e 07:12:00 07:16:00 88.P*2d 07:12:00 07:16:00 89.R2e-2i 07:12:00 07:16:00 90.N*3c 07:12:00 07:22:00 Interesting point in the game. With this move, Sato shows that he is in control of the position. White threatens a strong attack with P4e next and if black defends with N*3g the attack with 83.P*2e would be pointless (black just loses a move). Habu is therefore forced to open the game here. Ironically, Sato's position turns out to be quite vulnerable to black's attack. Sato may have been able to make Habu jump through a hoop here, but he is shooting himself in the foot at the same time. 91.P8f-8e 07:22:00 07:22:00 92.N7cx8e 07:22:00 07:22:00 93.N*8f 07:22:00 07:22:00 94.N8ex7g+ 07:22:00 07:29:00 95.G7hx7g 07:22:00 07:29:00 96.G7d-7c 07:22:00 07:31:00 97.P*7d 07:22:00 07:31:00 98.G7c-8c 07:22:00 07:35:00 99.R2i-6i! 07:32:00 07:35:00 Great move. This looks extremely show, but this is not the case. If white goes for the knight with 100.P*8e, then black wins very quickly after 101.P6f Px6f Gx6f P*6e Gx6e Sx6e P*6d Kx6d N*7f. 100.P4d-4e?! 07:32:00 07:43:00 After the game, there was no clear mistake found in Sato's play, but this move might have overstretched the white position. 100.K5b might have been better. 101.P6g-6f 07:33:00 07:43:00 102.N*5e?! 07:33:00 07:50:00 Looks like a strong shobute that had some commentators in the press room speculating about Sato taking the Osho title. However, this move backfires as Habu has a very nice reply. Better might have been 102.Px6f, but after 103.Gx6f P*6h Rx6h Px4f Bx4f Rx4f Gx4f it is hard to find a good move for white despite the fact that the black pieces are all over the place. B*7i is answered by P*6i and N*4e is not very effective after K5h. 103.P5fx5e 07:36:00 07:50:00 104.S6dx5e 07:36:00 07:50:00 105.N*6g! 07:36:00 07:50:00 Great move. White can't take on 4f now, as black captures the silver on 5e with check. Also, 106.Sx4f P*4c Rx4c Gx4f Px4f N*5e wins the rook and is good for black. 106.B5c-2f 07:36:00 07:54:00 107.K4h-5h 07:43:00 07:54:00 108.S5ex6f 07:43:00 07:54:00 109.G7gx6f 07:44:00 07:54:00 110.P6ex6f 07:44:00 07:54:00 111.B5gx6f 07:44:00 07:54:00 112.P4ex4f 07:44:00 07:58:00 113.N6gx7e! 07:47:00 07:58:00 Nice finish. The knight on 6g has done an important job and is now sacrificed to open up the lines to the king, win the rook on 4b and decide the game. 114.K6c-5b 07:47:00 07:58:00 115.N7e-6c+ 07:49:00 07:58:00 116.K5bx6c 07:49:00 07:58:00 117.B6fx3c+ 07:49:00 07:58:00 118.P*6h 07:49:00 07:58:00 119.R6ix6h 07:49:00 07:58:00 120.P*6g 07:49:00 07:58:00 121.R6hx6g 07:49:00 07:58:00 122.K6c-7b 07:49:00 07:58:00 123.+B3cx4b 07:49:00 07:58:00 124.N*5e 07:49:00 07:58:00 125.R6g-6c+ 07:51:00 07:58:00 126.K7bx6c 07:51:00 07:58:00 127.N*7e 07:51:00 07:58:00 Resigns 07:51:00 07:58:00 Mate after 128.Sx7e R*7c Gx7c Px7c+ Kx7c N*6e etc. A tight game where the fighting started very late. Habu saves his Osho title for at least another game. Still, he is 2-3 down and needs to win both of the remaining games to defend his title. Especially game 6 will be important, as Sato will play with the black pieces then. Here is the final game of the Kio match: Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio White: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger 27th Kio-sen, Game 4, March 8th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:01:00 4.G4a-3b 00:02:00 00:02:00 5.G6i-7h 00:02:00 00:02:00 6.P8d-8e 00:02:00 00:02:00 7.B8h-7g 00:02:00 00:02:00 8.P3c-3d 00:02:00 00:02:00 9.S7i-8h 00:02:00 00:02:00 10.B2bx7g+ 00:02:00 00:02:00 11.S8hx7g 00:02:00 00:02:00 12.S3a-4b 00:02:00 00:02:00 13.S3i-3h 00:03:00 00:02:00 14.S7a-7b 00:03:00 00:02:00 15.P9g-9f 00:05:00 00:02:00 16.P9c-9d 00:05:00 00:02:00 17.P4g-4f 00:06:00 00:02:00 18.P6c-6d 00:06:00 00:02:00 19.S3h-4g 00:06:00 00:02:00 20.S7b-6c 00:06:00 00:02:00 21.K5i-6h 00:10:00 00:02:00 22.P1c-1d 00:10:00 00:02:00 23.P1g-1f 00:11:00 00:02:00 24.K5a-4a 00:11:00 00:02:00 25.G4i-5h 00:14:00 00:02:00 26.S6c-5d 00:14:00 00:06:00 27.P3g-3f 00:17:00 00:06:00 28.G6a-5b 00:17:00 00:07:00 29.N2i-3g 00:19:00 00:07:00 30.P4c-4d 00:19:00 00:07:00 31.S4g-5f 00:20:00 00:07:00 32.K4a-3a 00:20:00 00:09:00 33.K6h-7i 00:21:00 00:09:00 34.P7c-7d 00:21:00 00:24:00 35.P2f-2e 00:28:00 00:24:00 36.S4b-3c 00:28:00 00:24:00 37.P6g-6f 00:28:00 00:24:00 38.N8a-7c 00:28:00 00:24:00 A classic position: the Kakugawari Koshikakegin (Bishop Exchange Reclining Silver). This opening was very popular about seven years ago and has been played in hundreds of professional games. It has been studied very deeply and the general conclusion seems to be that black has the better chances. The vital question therefore was: what did Sato prepare? 39.P4f-4e 00:37:00 00:24:00 40.P4dx4e 00:37:00 00:24:00 41.P3f-3e 00:37:00 00:24:00 42.S3c-4d 00:37:00 00:31:00 43.P1f-1e 00:42:00 00:31:00 44.P1dx1e 00:42:00 00:31:00 45.P7f-7e 00:42:00 00:31:00 46.P7dx7e 00:42:00 00:31:00 47.P2e-2d 00:42:00 00:31:00 48.P2cx2d 00:42:00 00:31:00 49.R2hx2d 00:42:00 00:31:00 50.P*2c 00:42:00 00:31:00 51.R2d-2i 00:42:00 00:31:00 52.G5b-6c 00:42:00 00:34:00 53.P*1b 00:51:00 00:34:00 54.L1ax1b 00:51:00 00:34:00 55.B*1a 00:51:00 00:34:00 A position that has been played numerous times. There are two ways to continue from here: 56.Sx3e and 56.B*2b. The latter is considered the better move. 56.S4dx3e 00:51:00 00:47:00 This move is judged inferior in opening books like "Habu's brain" and "Kakugawarikoshikakegin kenkyu". 57.S5fx4e 01:04:00 00:47:00 58.B*2b!? 01:04:00 00:57:00 Here is Sato's new move. Here only 58.B*3h has been played. The combination of the two moves Sx3e and B*2b is a new plan. This position is quite dangerous for white and it is a sign of supreme confidence in his homework that Sato dared to play this plan in such an important game. 59.P*3c 02:22:00 00:57:00 60.G3bx3c 02:22:00 02:08:00 61.B1ax2b+ 02:26:00 02:08:00 62.K3ax2b 02:26:00 02:08:00 63.S4ex5d 02:26:00 02:08:00 A change of plan. Habu initially thought that 63.N2e would be good for him. This is true after both 64.G3b Sx3d and 64.G4c B*4a, but after 64.G2d Sx5d Px5d black has no good move. 64.P5cx5d 02:26:00 02:12:00 65.N3g-4e 02:41:00 02:12:00 66.G3c-3b 02:41:00 02:21:00 67.B*4a 02:51:00 02:21:00 This threatens both Bx6c+ and S*4c. The position is very close. Can black continue his attack or is white able to stop it and win in the counter attack. 68.B*7d 02:51:00 02:34:00 The only move. 69.R2i-2h! 02:58:00 02:34:00 Inviting the following move. 70.R8b-4b 02:58:00 03:10:00 This kills the black bishop and most of the commentators in the press room thought that black's attack would die. 71.S*1a! 02:59:00 03:10:00 Habu continues to find moves to fuel his attack. He played this after only one minute of thought, so this must have been according to plan. 72.K2b-3a? 02:59:00 03:21:00 A position as close as this can be decided by one mistake. In the press room 72.Kx1a was thought as good for white after 73.Bx3b+ 74.Rx3b 75.Rx2c+ 76.R2b, but things are not so easy for white after 77.+Rx3d. For example 78.R2i+ P*3i or 78.B*2e by 79.+Rx3e Bx5h+ G*3c! and now R2i+ K8h S*6i S*2b +Rx2b Gx2b Kx2b P*2c K1a R*7i is winning for black and +Bx5g K8h +Bx3e P*2c is not completely clear. Still, Sato should have tried this, as 72.K3a doesn't give him a chance to win. 73.B4ax6c+ 03:04:00 03:21:00 74.B7dx6c 03:04:00 03:21:00 75.N4e-5c+ 03:04:00 03:21:00 76.R4b-4i+ 03:04:00 03:21:00 77.K7i-8h 03:04:00 03:21:00 78.P7e-7f 03:04:00 03:27:00 79.S7gx7f 03:09:00 03:27:00 80.B*5e 03:09:00 03:42:00 Attack and defense, but Habu has seen it all. 81.G5h-4h! 03:33:00 03:42:00 Now the white promoted rook doesn't work in defense anymore. White can't afford to exchange rooks here, so... 82.+R4i-5i 03:33:00 03:57:00 83.R2hx2c+! 03:36:00 03:57:00 After the game Habu said he thought he had won here. This rook can of course not be taken (Gx2c G*4b mate) and despite the fact that this is not a mating threat, white has no way to continue his attack here. 84.B5ex1a 03:36:00 03:59:00 85.G*4b 03:40:00 03:59:00 86.G3bx4b 03:40:00 03:59:00 87.+N5cx4b 03:40:00 03:59:00 88.K3ax4b 03:40:00 03:59:00 89.G*5c 03:40:00 03:59:00 90.K4b-5a 03:40:00 03:59:00 91.+R2cx2a 03:40:00 03:59:00 92.P*4a 03:40:00 03:59:00 93.N*4c 03:40:00 03:59:00 94.K5a-6a 03:40:00 03:59:00 95.G5cx6c 03:40:00 03:59:00 96.B1ax6f 03:40:00 03:59:00 97.P*7g 03:40:00 03:59:00 Resigns 03:40:00 03:59:00 Black has multiple mating threats (+Rx4a and B*8c) and white has no mate. A fine attacking win by Habu to defend his Kio title. He has now won this title for the 12th consecutive time, getting close to Oyama's all-time record of 13 consecutive Meijin titles. In those twelve Kio matches he lost only eight games and in the Kio he currently has a winning streak with the black pieces of 24 games. In other shogi news: ==================== * B2 Junisen, final round: Ishida-Suzuki 0-1, Fukaura-Nakagawa 0-1, Kitahama-Namekata 1-0. Suzuki follows the already promoted Fukaura to B1. Nakagawa and Kitahama end their Junisen season with the same 8-2 score as Suzuki, but a lower position in the class. * C1 Junisen: Hatakeyama Mamoru-Kobayashi Hiroshi 1-0, Kimura-Arimori 1-0. Hatakeyama joins his twin brother in B2 with a difficult win against Kobayashi. Kimura shows his superiority by also winning his final game, ending with 10-0. Yashiki (who didn't play) had the same 8-2 score as Hatakeyama, but was positioned only one place lower in the class and has to try again next year. * Kisei league play-offs: Namekata-Fukaura 1-0, Fujii-Kubo 0-1. Namekata and Fujii qualify for the Kisei challenger tournament. * Oi leagues, round 2: Moriuchi-Minami 1-0 (white group), Kimura-Nakamura 1-0 (red group). Moriuchi and Kimura take the lead in their group by winning their second consecutive game. 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