From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 11 may 2002 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 939 and 940, Two more Shukan Shogi reports to get almost back to schedule. This time the main games are the third game of the Asahi Open en the second game of the Meijin match. Horiguchi turned the tables in the Asahi Open by winning two straight after dropping the opening game against Sugimoto. Moriuchi has a dream start in the Meijin match by taking a 2-0 lead against Maruyama. Here are the games with comments: Black: Sugimoto Masataka, 6-dan White: Horiguchi Kazushiza, 5-dan 20th Asahi Open, Game 3, April 17th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:00:00 3.P1g-1f 00:01:00 00:00:00 4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:02:00 5.P6g-6f 00:02:00 00:02:00 6.S7a-6b 00:02:00 00:02:00 7.S7i-7h 00:02:00 00:02:00 8.P5c-5d 00:02:00 00:02:00 9.R2h-6h 00:03:00 00:02:00 10.K5a-4b 00:03:00 00:02:00 11.S7h-6g 00:03:00 00:02:00 12.K4b-3b 00:03:00 00:02:00 13.S3i-3h 00:03:00 00:02:00 14.G6a-5b 00:03:00 00:02:00 15.G6i-5h 00:03:00 00:02:00 16.S6b-5c 00:03:00 00:56:00 17.P1f-1e 00:05:00 00:56:00 18.B2b-3c 00:05:00 01:00:00 19.P4g-4f 00:05:00 01:00:00 20.K3b-2b 00:05:00 01:00:00 21.P3g-3f 00:05:00 01:00:00 22.P8d-8e 00:05:00 01:00:00 23.B8h-7g 00:05:00 01:00:00 24.P4c-4d 00:05:00 01:06:00 25.N2i-3g 00:05:00 01:06:00 26.G5b-4c 00:05:00 01:09:00 27.P6f-6e 00:16:00 01:09:00 28.G4a-3b 00:16:00 01:09:00 29.S3h-4g 00:16:00 01:09:00 30.P7c-7d 00:16:00 01:15:00 31.G4i-3h 00:18:00 01:15:00 This position is quite often played in professional games, for example in the title match games between Fujii and Habu. Interesting are the different styles with which this position can be handled. Most often played is 31.N2e B5a P4e, which is in the Fujii-style: "attack when you can". Sugimoto is a Furibisha player with a different temperament. He prefers 31.G3h, inviting the opponent to play one more move to weaken his position. If white would answer with 32.L1b, black attacks with 33.N2e. 32.P9c-9d 00:18:00 01:35:00 Horiguchi doesn't take the risk. After 32.P9d the game slows down. 33.K5i-4h 00:58:00 01:35:00 34.B3c-5a 00:58:00 01:44:00 35.P9g-9f 01:00:00 01:44:00 36.B5a-7c 01:00:00 01:44:00 37.S6g-5f 01:13:00 01:44:00 38.N2a-3c 01:13:00 01:48:00 39.K4h-3i 01:13:00 01:48:00 40.K2b-2a 01:13:00 01:48:00 41.K3i-2h 01:18:00 01:48:00 42.S5c-4b 01:18:00 01:51:00 43.R6h-8h 01:24:00 01:51:00 44.B7c-6b 01:24:00 01:53:00 45.S5f-6g 01:24:00 01:53:00 46.N8a-7c 01:24:00 02:12:00 47.S6g-6f 01:36:00 02:12:00 48.B6b-5c 01:36:00 02:12:00 49.P5g-5f 01:40:00 02:12:00 50.S3a-2b 01:40:00 02:14:00 White has managed to get into the "Millennium castle" and seems to have the upper hand here. Sugimoto didn't agree with the general opinion, even though with the next move he admits that he has to open the game before white can complete his castle with S4b-3a. 51.P9f-9e?! 01:58:00 02:14:00 The alternative is 51.P5e, but after Px5e Sx5e Nx6e B5i P3e is a problem for black. Then Px3e P*3f Sx3f P*5f is good for white. However, 51.P9e also seems to be in white's favour. Despite the confidence with which Sugimoto played in this position, it seems that his opening is a little suspect. 52.P9dx9e 01:58:00 02:14:00 53.P5f-5e 01:58:00 02:14:00 54.P5dx5e 01:58:00 02:16:00 55.P7f-7e 01:58:00 02:16:00 56.P7dx7e 01:58:00 02:19:00 57.L9ix9e 02:12:00 02:19:00 58.P7e-7f 02:12:00 02:20:00 59.B7g-5i 02:13:00 02:20:00 60.L9ax9e 02:13:00 02:20:00 61.P*7d 02:13:00 02:20:00 More natural is 61.Bx9e, but Sugimoto didn't like 62.R9b P*9f S4b-3a!. After Bx7c+ Rx9f L*9b P*9g Lx9g Bx9g+ Nx9g Rx9g+ black is a full bishop up, but the difference in rook activity still makes this a better position for white. 62.P7f-7g+ 02:13:00 02:23:00 63.S6fx7g 02:30:00 02:23:00 64.L9e-9g+ 02:30:00 02:26:00 65.R8h-6h 02:30:00 02:26:00 66.+L9gx8g 02:30:00 02:26:00 67.P7dx7c+ 02:30:00 02:26:00 68.+L8gx7g 02:30:00 02:41:00 69.N8ix7g 02:30:00 02:41:00 70.R8b-9b 02:30:00 02:43:00 71.L*9h 02:42:00 02:43:00 And black seems to be OK, as 72.P*9g is answered strongly by 73.P6d. 72.B5c-9g+! 02:42:00 02:43:00 Great bishop sacrifice that shows that white still has the upper hand. Not only is the rook activated, +Px6c is no long a powerful move as it doesn't attack the bishop anymore. 73.L9hx9g 02:43:00 02:43:00 74.R9bx9g+ 02:43:00 02:43:00 75.+P7cx6c 02:44:00 02:43:00 76.P*7f?! 02:44:00 02:50:00 Better was 76.L*5f Sx5f L*5g Gx5g Px5f. Now the game gets quite close again. 77.P*5d 02:47:00 02:50:00 78.L*5a! 02:47:00 02:56:00 Good move. This importantly slows down the black attack. 79.P5d-5c+ 02:51:00 02:56:00 80.L5ax5c 02:51:00 02:56:00 81.P6e-6d 02:51:00 02:56:00 82.P7fx7g+ 02:51:00 02:56:00 83.R6h-6e 02:51:00 02:56:00 84.S4b-3a 02:51:00 02:57:00 85.+P6cx5c 02:52:00 02:57:00 86.G4cx5c 02:52:00 02:57:00 87.B*4a 02:57:00 02:57:00 88.+P7g-6g 02:57:00 02:59:00 89.P6d-6c+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 90.G5c-4c 02:58:00 02:59:00 91.G5hx6g 02:59:00 02:59:00 92.G4c-5d 02:59:00 02:59:00 93.R6ex8e 02:59:00 02:59:00 94.+R9gx6g 02:59:00 02:59:00 95.B5i-8f 02:59:00 02:59:00 96.P*6d 02:59:00 02:59:00 97.R8e-8a+ 02:59:00 02:59:00 98.S*4i? 02:59:00 02:59:00 Hard to see in byoyomi, but 98.N*2e first and playing 100.S*4i only after 99.N*2i would have been better. Now Sugimoto gets a chance to really get back in the game. 99.+P6c-5b? 02:59:00 02:59:00 A chance missed. Sugimoto really regretted this move after the game. Turning to defence with 99.N*5i would have been better, even though it seems that after 100.+Rx4g Nx4g N*2d R*7b G*4b Bx3b+ Gx3b G*4a L*4b white can still stop the black attack. 100.+R6gx4g 02:59:00 02:59:00 101.G3hx4g 02:59:00 02:59:00 102.G*3h 02:59:00 02:59:00 103.K2h-1g 02:59:00 02:59:00 104.K2a-1b! 02:59:00 02:59:00 The game winner. This early escape just give white the breathing space needed to mate the black king. 105.N*2e 02:59:00 02:59:00 106.G3hx3g 02:59:00 02:59:00 107.B4ax3b+ 02:59:00 02:59:00 108.S3ax3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 109.P1e-1d 02:59:00 02:59:00 110.N3cx2e 02:59:00 02:59:00 111.K1g-2f 02:59:00 02:59:00 112.P1cx1d 02:59:00 02:59:00 113.P*1c 02:59:00 02:59:00 114.S2bx1c 02:59:00 02:59:00 115.R*4b 02:59:00 02:59:00 116.S*1e 02:59:00 02:59:00 117.L1ix1e 02:59:00 02:59:00 118.B*1g 02:59:00 02:59:00 119.K2fx2e 02:59:00 02:59:00 120.L*2d 02:59:00 02:59:00 Resigns 02:59:00 02:59:00 Mate after 121.Kx3d N*2b or 121.K1f Px1e etc. An interesting game that showed that even at the top level there can be an important difference of opinion about a middle game position. In the end it turned out that Horiguchi was right and this brings him within one game of tournament victory. Sugimoto has to win with white in the fourth game to stay in the match. Here is the second game of the Meijin match: Black: Maruyama Tadahisa, Meijin White: Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger 60th Meijin-sen, Game 2, April 24th and 25th 2002 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:02:00 3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:02:00 4.G4a-3b 00:01:00 00:02:00 5.G6i-7h 00:03:00 00:02:00 6.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:02:00 7.B8h-7g 00:03:00 00:02:00 8.P3c-3d 00:03:00 00:02:00 9.S7i-8h 00:04:00 00:02:00 10.B2bx7g+ 00:04:00 00:02:00 11.S8hx7g 00:05:00 00:02:00 A brave decision to play the Bishop Exchange opening. Before the game there were three opening scenarios discussed by the commentators. Moriuchi would either play Shikenbisha, the Chuza variation of the Yokofudori or defend against the Kakugawari (Bishop Exchange). The Shikenbisha seemed most likely. In the Chuza variation of the Yokofudori, white is expected to attack first and this is quite dangerous against Maruyama, who is extremely good at stopping the opponent's attack. The Kakugawari seemed to be even more risky, as Maruyama is (together with Tanigawa) the leading expert in this opening. In the last three years, Maruyama has had an overwhelming record of 14 wins against only two losses with this opening when he played black. Still, Moriuchi decides to meet it head on. A choice that was made a little bit easier by his win in the first game, but he must have felt that it would be hard to become Meijin if he couldn't beat Maruyama in his specialty. 12.S3a-4b 00:05:00 00:02:00 13.P9g-9f 00:07:00 00:02:00 14.S7a-7b 00:07:00 00:02:00 15.S3i-3h 00:07:00 00:02:00 16.P9c-9d 00:07:00 00:06:00 17.P4g-4f 00:09:00 00:06:00 18.P6c-6d 00:09:00 00:09:00 19.S3h-4g 00:10:00 00:09:00 20.S7b-6c 00:10:00 00:09:00 21.K5i-6h 00:11:00 00:09:00 22.P1c-1d 00:11:00 00:11:00 23.P1g-1f 00:12:00 00:11:00 24.K5a-4a 00:12:00 00:12:00 25.K6h-7i 01:06:00 00:12:00 26.G6a-5b 01:06:00 00:16:00 27.P3g-3f 01:21:00 00:16:00 28.S6c-5d 01:21:00 00:38:00 29.G4i-5h 01:30:00 00:38:00 30.P6d-6e 01:30:00 00:53:00 31.S4g-5f 01:38:00 00:53:00 32.P4c-4d 01:38:00 00:56:00 33.N2i-3g 01:51:00 00:56:00 34.K4a-3a 01:51:00 00:58:00 35.G5h-4g 01:51:00 00:58:00 36.S4b-3c 01:51:00 01:07:00 37.P2f-2e 01:52:00 01:07:00 38.P7c-7d 01:52:00 01:38:00 Positive play. If black allows B*6d next, it will be hard to attack, so it is now or never. Still, opening the diagonal to the rook is risky and this is why most games continue with 38.G5b-4c followed by K2b. 39.P4f-4e 02:31:00 01:38:00 40.P4dx4e 02:31:00 02:07:00 41.S5fx4e 02:32:00 02:07:00 42.S5dx4e 02:32:00 03:15:00 43.B*5e! 03:04:00 03:15:00 Subtle move. Black forces the knight to 7c, allowing to play a strong attack later on. Black has the advantage here. 44.B*7c 03:04:00 03:18:00 45.B5ex7c+ 03:05:00 03:18:00 46.N8ax7c 03:05:00 03:18:00 47.N3gx4e 03:05:00 03:18:00 48.B*6d 03:05:00 04:09:00 The point of 43.B*5e. If white plays 48.S4d here, black has 49.S*6d with attack on the knight. White has no good defence against that. 49.P*4f 03:19:00 04:09:00 50.S3c-4d 03:19:00 04:09:00 51.B*6a 05:09:00 04:09:00 52.S4dx4e 05:09:00 04:38:00 In the press room 52.S*6c was expected, but Moriuchi pointed out after the game that 53.S*7a R8d Bx5b+ Sx5b S6b+ is good for black. 53.P2e-2d 05:12:00 04:38:00 54.P2cx2d 05:12:00 04:40:00 55.B6ax5b+ 05:12:00 04:40:00 56.R8bx5b 05:12:00 04:40:00 57.G*6c 05:12:00 04:40:00 58.R5b-9b 05:12:00 04:42:00 59.G6cx6d 05:12:00 04:42:00 60.S4ex4f 05:12:00 04:42:00 61.G4g-5f 05:13:00 04:42:00 61.G4h or 61.Gx4f also look good for black. Still, 61.G5f is not a bad move. 62.B*3g 05:13:00 05:33:00 63.R2h-1h? 06:09:00 05:33:00 This is an important mistake which turns the tables. As Habu pointed out 63.Rx2d P*2c R2g Bx1i+ Gx7c L*2d P*2e +B1h Px2d +Bx2g Gx4f R*4i K8h Rx4f+ L*2i would have been good for black as white can't move the promoted bishop without allowing Px2c+. 64.S4fx5g+ 06:09:00 05:59:00 65.G5fx5g 06:53:00 05:59:00 66.B3gx6d+ 06:53:00 06:02:00 67.B*6a 07:00:00 06:02:00 68.R9b-4b 07:00:00 06:42:00 69.S*4c 07:01:00 06:42:00 70.G3bx4c 07:01:00 06:42:00 71.S*5a 07:01:00 06:42:00 72.R4b-4a 07:01:00 06:42:00 73.B6ax4c+ 07:01:00 06:42:00 74.R4ax4c 07:01:00 06:42:00 75.G*4b 07:12:00 06:42:00 76.R4cx4b 07:12:00 06:42:00 77.S5ax4b+ 07:12:00 06:42:00 78.K3ax4b 07:12:00 06:42:00 79.R*4d 07:12:00 06:42:00 80.S*4c 07:12:00 06:44:00 81.R4dx6d 07:12:00 06:44:00 82.G*7a! 07:12:00 06:45:00 Good move. This not only defends against the rook promotion on 6b, it also aims at capturing the rook. The more natural looking 82.G*5a would be answered with 82.R6c+ and it is almost impossible to kill the dragon. 83.B*4f!? 07:38:00 06:45:00 83.R6c+ fails to S*7b +Rx7d G*6c, and both 83.B*6b G*5d R6c+ S*7b +Rx5d Gx6b and 83.B*8b Gx8b R6b+ S*5b +Rx8b B*9c are also winning for white, so most commentators thought the game would be over soon here. 83.B4f is a very hard move to play, as this is black's final piece and using a major piece for a drop outside the enemy camp seems to be a terrible waste. However, it is a tribute to Maruyama's strength that he still plays this brave move, which is the only way to try and hang in there. 84.S*5d 07:38:00 07:19:00 85.R1h-2h 07:57:00 07:19:00 86.S*3c 07:57:00 07:33:00 87.R6dx7d 08:05:00 07:33:00 88.P*7b 08:05:00 07:36:00 89.K7i-8h 08:12:00 07:36:00 90.P8e-8f 08:12:00 07:45:00 91.P8gx8f 08:13:00 07:45:00 92.P*4e 08:13:00 08:02:00 93.B4f-3g 08:16:00 08:02:00 94.P*8g 08:16:00 08:15:00 95.G7hx8g 08:29:00 08:15:00 96.S5d-6c 08:29:00 08:17:00 97.R7d-8d 08:31:00 08:17:00 98.G*9c? 08:31:00 08:28:00 By carefully filling all the holes in his camp with piece drops, Moriuchi has built a winning position. However, 98.G*9c is a mistake. White would have won quickly after 98.G*7d R8c+ P*8b. 99.P*4d 08:33:00 08:28:00 100.S4c-3b 08:33:00 08:29:00 101.R8d-6d 08:33:00 08:29:00 102.G7a-6b 08:33:00 08:33:00 103.P*2e 08:39:00 08:33:00 104.S6cx6d 08:39:00 08:38:00 105.B3gx6d 08:42:00 08:38:00 106.R*3i? 08:42:00 08:38:00 Better was the simple 106.S4d. 107.P2ex2d 08:44:00 08:38:00 108.P*2g 08:44:00 08:39:00 109.R2h-5h 08:46:00 08:39:00 110.S3cx4d 08:46:00 08:39:00 111.P2d-2c+ 08:48:00 08:39:00 112.S3bx2c 08:48:00 08:41:00 113.P*2b 08:48:00 08:41:00 114.G6b-6c 08:48:00 08:44:00 115.B6d-7e 08:48:00 08:44:00 116.P*8e 08:48:00 08:46:00 117.P*5i 08:50:00 08:46:00 118.P8ex8f 08:50:00 08:46:00 119.S7gx8f 08:50:00 08:46:00 120.N*8c 08:50:00 08:48:00 121.B7ex9c+ 08:51:00 08:48:00 122.L9ax9c 08:51:00 08:49:00 123.P2bx2a+ 08:51:00 08:49:00 With this promoted pawn near the king, black suddenly has good chances for attack. It can be called only luck that white still has a way to win in this position. 124.B*5e 08:51:00 08:49:00 125.K8h-9h 08:51:00 08:49:00 126.P*8e 08:51:00 08:55:00 127.S8f-7g 08:51:00 08:55:00 128.P9d-9e 08:51:00 08:55:00 129.G5g-5f 08:54:00 08:55:00 130.B5ex1i+ 08:54:00 08:55:00 131.N*5e 08:54:00 08:55:00 132.S4dx5e 08:54:00 08:55:00 133.G5fx5e 08:54:00 08:55:00 134.N*8f 08:54:00 08:55:00 135.S7gx8f 08:54:00 08:55:00 136.P8ex8f 08:54:00 08:56:00 137.G8gx8f 08:54:00 08:56:00 138.L*9g! 08:54:00 08:56:00 Moriuchi must have been very happy that he found this move, which is the only way for white to win. Simply 138.Px9f G4d S*9g Nx9g Px9g+ K8i N*7g K7i is winning for black. Without a pawn drop on the 7th file, white has no way to get to the king. 139.K9h-8h 08:54:00 08:56:00 No choice. After 139.Nx9g or 139.Kx9g, the white attack gains decisive speed after 140.Px9f. 140.+B1ix5e 08:54:00 08:56:00 141.R5hx5e 08:54:00 08:56:00 142.B*4d 08:54:00 08:56:00 143.B*7g 08:55:00 08:56:00 144.S*6h 08:55:00 08:58:00 145.R5ex4e 08:56:00 08:58:00 146.S6hx7g= 08:56:00 08:58:00 147.N8ix7g 08:56:00 08:58:00 148.B*5e 08:56:00 08:58:00 149.S*6h 08:57:00 08:58:00 150.L9gx9i+ 08:57:00 08:58:00 151.K8h-7h 08:59:00 08:58:00 152.R3ix3f+ 08:59:00 08:58:00 153.R4ex4d 08:59:00 08:58:00 154.B5ex4d 08:59:00 08:58:00 155.B*6a 08:59:00 08:58:00 156.L*5b 08:59:00 08:58:00 157.S*3a 08:59:00 08:58:00 158.K4b-4c 08:59:00 08:58:00 159.P*3g 08:59:00 08:58:00 160.+R3f-5f 08:59:00 08:58:00 161.N*4h 08:59:00 08:58:00 162.G*8h 08:59:00 08:58:00 163.K7hx8h 08:59:00 08:58:00 164.R*9h 08:59:00 08:58:00 Resigns 08:59:00 08:58:00 White wins after both 165.K8g Rx6h+ or 165.K7i +L8i Kx8i Rx6h+. A huge win for Moriuchi, who now defeated Maruyama in his two favourite openings. Still, in this second game it was not Maruyama's opening that was the cause for his defeat, so if he is able to win game three, it will still be Moriuchi who has to come up with something new in game 4. Maruyama has a very important game coming up. Going 3-0 down will almost certainly mean the loss of his Meijin title... In other shogi news: ==================== * In the Kisei challenger tournament the semi-final between Sato and Kimura ended in a victory for Sato. It was the first time ever that they played each other, even in training games they didn't play before. It will not be a pleasant memory for Kimura, as Sato showed there is still a difference between winning lots of games and winning important games. The game was a complete display of Sato's great ability as he carefully converted an opening lead to victory. He will now play the winner of the game between Maruyama and Kubo for the right to challenge Kisei Goda. * In the Oza challenger tournament Fujii reached the quarterfinals with a win against Kitahama. A victory that showed all the strong points of the Fujii system, as Kitahama realised to late that he was in danger. Morishita also reached the final eight with a win against Tsukada. Interesting in this game was that Morishita is famous for his defending skills while Tsukada is famous for his attack. In this game, however, roles were reversed as Tsukada voluntarily took a defensive position. Morishita turned out to be better at attacking than Tsukada at defending and won. Young Watanabe beat veteran Naito (45 years his senior) to get to the final eight. Watanabe is only 17, and clearly a gifted player, but in his first two years as a professional he has not been able to make a serious impact. Maybe the Oza tournament will be his chance to brea through. Not easy, though, as he will be facing Osho Sato, who beat Fukaura. Kubo also reached the final eight with a come from behind win against Aono in a game that had to be replayed after sennichite. The quarterfinals are now as follows: Morishita plays the winner of the game between Maruyama and Inoue, Watanabe plays Sato, Goda plays the winner of the game between Moriuchi and Nakagawa and Fujii plays Kubo. * In the Oi leagues the final games of the third round were played. In the White group Sato beat Minami despite a bad opening to take the lead with three straight wins. Moriuchi lost surprisingly to veteran Awaji to fall one game behind at 2-1. Awaji also has 2-1 and still has all his chances in his own hands, as he faces Sato in the final round. In the Red Group Tanigawa joined Kimura in the lead with a win against Yashiki. Last year's Oi challenger Yashiki likes this tournament, but he has serious problems playing Tanigawa. He lost in the play-offs against Tanigawa for two years in a row (in 1999 and 2000). Losing in the league again has Yashiki fall back to 1-2, which means he will not be challenger again this year. Tanigawa and Kimura will play in the next round and this game will probably decide the winner of the Red Group. It is not very likely that I will be able to send another Shukan Shogi report next week (another business trip coming up), but I hope to be back on a normal schedule in the week after that. 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