From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 6 jun 2003 Subject: Two more games from Shukan Shogi (no. 992 and 993, May 7th and 14th 2003) In this Shukan Shogi report the final game of the Asahi Open match between Horiguchi and Fukaura and the third game of the Meijin match between Moriuchi and Habu. Fukaura showed his deep understanding of the Kakugawari opening to beat Horiguchi and take the Asahi Open title with a 3-1 match victory. Habu won his third game in a row in a very short game (only 70 moves) to take a 3-0 lead against Meijin Moriuchi. Here are the games with comments: [Black "Fukaura Koichi, Challenger"] [White "Horiguchi Kazushiza, Asahi"] [Event "21st Asahi Open, Game 4"] [Date "May 1st 2003"] 1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:01:00 4.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:10:00 5.G6i-7h 00:00:00 00:10:00 6.P8d-8e 00:00:00 00:10:00 7.B8h-7g 00:00:00 00:10:00 8.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:10:00 9.S7i-8h 00:00:00 00:10:00 10.B2bx7g+ 00:00:00 00:10:00 11.S8hx7g 00:00:00 00:10:00 12.S3a-4b 00:00:00 00:10:00 13.S3i-3h 00:00:00 00:10:00 14.S7a-7b 00:00:00 00:10:00 15.P9g-9f 00:00:00 00:10:00 16.P9c-9d 00:00:00 00:28:00 17.P4g-4f 00:00:00 00:28:00 18.P6c-6d 00:00:00 00:28:00 19.S3h-4g 00:00:00 00:28:00 20.S7b-6c 00:00:00 00:28:00 21.K5i-6h 00:00:00 00:28:00 22.G6a-5b 00:00:00 00:28:00 23.P1g-1f 00:00:00 00:28:00 24.P1c-1d 00:00:00 00:28:00 25.G4i-5h 00:01:00 00:28:00 26.P7c-7d 00:01:00 00:29:00 27.P3g-3f 00:01:00 00:29:00 28.K5a-4a 00:01:00 00:29:00 29.K6h-7i 00:01:00 00:29:00 30.K4a-3a 00:01:00 00:29:00 31.S4g-5f 00:01:00 00:29:00 32.S6c-5d 00:01:00 00:29:00 33.P4f-4e 00:05:00 00:29:00 34.N8a-7c 00:05:00 00:32:00 35.P6g-6f 00:08:00 00:32:00 36.G5b-6c 00:08:00 00:34:00 37.N2i-3g 00:09:00 00:34:00 38.S4b-3c 00:09:00 00:37:00 The main point of this variation of the Kakugawari opening is the pawn on 4e. This pawn is pushed in part to avoid P4d by white, but a more important objective is to drop the bishop on 4f, which is a very powerful position for the bishop. In the past, there have been 12 professional games with the P4e variation and in all of these games black sooner or later dropped the bishop on 4f. Furthermore, black won 10 out of these 12 games (white won one game and one game ended in sennichite). Fukaura will have been fully aware of this data and it is therefore a token of his strength that he decides to do it differently in this game. He elects to keep the bishop in hand and support the pawn on 4e with the rook. 39.R2h-4h 00:10:00 00:37:00 40.L9a-9c?! 00:10:00 00:40:00 This lance becomes a target for attack, but white is already running out of moves in this position. 41.K7i-8h 00:13:00 00:40:00 42.S3c-4b 00:13:00 00:46:00 43.G5h-6h 00:32:00 00:46:00 Fukaura's new plan. He strengthens his castle by pulling all his generals back around his king. White has only two generals in defense, which might be a big factor once the position is opened up. 44.S4b-3c 00:32:00 00:52:00 45.S5f-6g 00:35:00 00:52:00 46.S3c-4b 00:35:00 01:49:00 47.P5g-5f 00:47:00 01:49:00 48.P6d-6e 00:47:00 01:49:00 Horiguchi's patience has run out. Opening the position here might well be suicidal, though. 49.P6fx6e 00:52:00 01:49:00 50.S5dx6e 00:52:00 01:49:00 51.B*5e 00:53:00 01:49:00 52.B*6d 00:53:00 01:49:00 53.P*6f 01:40:00 01:49:00 54.S6e-5d 01:40:00 01:49:00 55.B5ex6d 01:40:00 01:49:00 56.G6cx6d 01:40:00 01:49:00 57.P1f-1e 01:40:00 01:49:00 58.P1dx1e 01:40:00 01:50:00 59.P4e-4d 01:40:00 01:50:00 60.P4cx4d 01:40:00 02:33:00 61.R4hx4d 01:40:00 02:33:00 62.B*2h 01:40:00 02:33:00 63.B*7a!? 01:49:00 02:33:00 The point, but in the end not 100% satisfactory for black. Kato Hifumi suggested 63.B*9a after the game. Fukaura said that this might be playable, but that after 64.R7b Rx5d Px5d S*8c R7a B8b+ R4a +Bx7c Bx3g+ P6e S3c Px6d R4i+ he feared the attack of the two rooks. 64.R8b-5b 01:49:00 02:46:00 Not much choice. After 64.R9b, Fukaura planned to play 65.P*4c Gx4c (Sx4c Rx6d; S4bx4c Bx5c+) Rx4c+ S5dx4c G*8b which is good for black. 65.B7ax9c+ 02:07:00 02:46:00 A change of plan. Fukaura initially intended 65.P5e Sx5e Rx6d Sx6d G*6b, but realized in time that after Rx6b Bx6b+ Bx3g+ is not so clear. White might have good chances to make an entering king here. 66.B2hx3g+ 02:07:00 02:46:00 67.+B9c-8c 02:07:00 02:46:00 68.S4b-3c 02:07:00 02:46:00 69.R4d-4i 02:07:00 02:46:00 70.G6d-6c 02:07:00 02:46:00 71.P5f-5e 02:07:00 02:46:00 72.S5dx5e 02:07:00 02:51:00 73.P7f-7e 02:10:00 02:51:00 74.P*4h 02:10:00 02:59:00 75.R4i-3i 02:11:00 02:59:00 76.+B3g-2h 02:11:00 02:59:00 77.R3i-7i 02:13:00 02:59:00 78.P7dx7e 02:13:00 02:59:00 79.P*7d 02:13:00 02:59:00 80.N7c-6e 02:13:00 02:59:00 81.P6fx6e 02:13:00 02:59:00 82.R5b-4b 02:13:00 02:59:00 83.P7d-7c+ 02:13:00 02:59:00 84.G6c-5d 02:13:00 02:59:00 85.P6e-6d 02:14:00 02:59:00 86.P4h-4i+ 02:14:00 02:59:00 87.P6d-6c+ 02:14:00 02:59:00 88.P*6f? 02:14:00 02:59:00 Horiguchi has spent a lot of time in this game and this is the moment he regretted that. He had a chance here to get back in the game. The simple 88.R4h+ would have made the endgame very close. For example, 89.G5h +R3i is good for white as the threat +B4f next is quite devastating. 89.L*4g! 02:18:00 02:59:00 This lance gets lost, but white can only get a good attack with a promoted rook. This now takes too long to accomplish. 90.P*4f 02:18:00 02:59:00 91.S6g-5f 02:18:00 02:59:00 92.P4fx4g+ 02:18:00 02:59:00 93.+P6cx5c! 02:19:00 02:59:00 The move that Horiguchi overlooked in byoyomi. Combined with black's next move, this gives the black attack decisive strength. 94.G5dx5c 02:19:00 02:59:00 95.N*4e 02:19:00 02:59:00 96.S5ex5f 02:19:00 02:59:00 97.+B8cx5f 02:20:00 02:59:00 98.G5c-5d 02:20:00 02:59:00 99.N4ex3c+ 02:22:00 02:59:00 100.G3bx3c 02:22:00 02:59:00 101.+P7c-6c 02:24:00 02:59:00 102.N*8d 02:24:00 02:59:00 103.+B5fx6f 02:27:00 02:59:00 104.N*7f 02:27:00 02:59:00 105.K8h-9h 02:27:00 02:59:00 106.N7fx6h+ 02:27:00 02:59:00 107.G7hx6h 02:29:00 02:59:00 108.L*6e 02:29:00 02:59:00 109.+B6fx7e 02:33:00 02:59:00 110.P*6d 02:33:00 02:59:00 111.+B7ex8d 02:37:00 02:59:00 112.L6ex6h+ 02:37:00 02:59:00 113.S7gx6h 02:37:00 02:59:00 114.+B2h-5e 02:37:00 02:59:00 115.S*6f 02:37:00 02:59:00 116.P*7h 02:37:00 02:59:00 117.R7ix7h 02:37:00 02:59:00 118.+B5e-5f 02:37:00 02:59:00 119.R7h-7a+ 02:38:00 02:59:00 120.P*4a 02:38:00 02:59:00 121.S*6g 02:40:00 02:59:00 122.+P4g-5g 02:40:00 02:59:00 123.S6gx5f 02:40:00 02:59:00 124.+P5gx6h 02:40:00 02:59:00 125.L*4g! 02:40:00 02:59:00 Another lance drop on 4g to finish the game. 126.Rx4g+ Sx4g G*7h looks dangerous, but is met with +Bx8e which defends against the mating threat and threatens mate next with +Rx4a. 126.G*8h 02:40:00 02:59:00 127.K9hx8h 02:40:00 02:59:00 128.G*7h 02:40:00 02:59:00 Desperate try. White has to give up too much material. 129.+R7ax7h 02:40:00 02:59:00 130.+P6hx7h 02:40:00 02:59:00 131.K8hx7h 02:40:00 02:59:00 132.R*4h 02:40:00 02:59:00 133.P*6h 02:43:00 02:59:00 134.R4bx4g+ 02:43:00 02:59:00 135.S5fx4g 02:43:00 02:59:00 136.S*7f 02:43:00 02:59:00 137.G*4b 02:44:00 02:59:00 138.P4ax4b 02:44:00 02:59:00 139.G*4a 02:44:00 02:59:00 140.K3ax4a 02:44:00 02:59:00 141.+B8d-5a 02:44:00 02:59:00 142.K4a-3b 02:44:00 02:59:00 143.+B5ax4b 02:44:00 02:59:00 144.K3bx4b 02:44:00 02:59:00 145.R*7b 02:44:00 02:59:00 146.K4b-4c 02:44:00 02:59:00 147.R7b-5b+ 02:44:00 02:59:00 148.K4c-4d 02:44:00 02:59:00 149.N*5f 02:44:00 02:59:00 Resigns 02:44:00 02:59:00 Simple mate after 150.K4e N*3g. A fine performance by Fukaura in this game finishes a solid match in which he showed that he was just a little too strong for Horiguchi at this moment. However, Horiguchi is a very gifted player and it is highly likely that we will see him back at the big stage in the not too distant future. [Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"] [White "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"] [Event "61st Meijin-sen, Game 3"] [Date "May 7th and 8th 2003"] 1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:01:00 3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:01:00 4.P4c-4d 00:02:00 00:04:00 5.P2f-2e 00:03:00 00:04:00 6.B2b-3c 00:03:00 00:05:00 7.S3i-4h 00:03:00 00:05:00 8.P9c-9d 00:03:00 00:07:00 9.G4i-5h 00:05:00 00:07:00 10.R8b-4b 00:05:00 00:15:00 The Furibisha was more or less as expected. Habu likes to play different openings in his matches and he often picks the Furibisha when he is ahead. Some thought he might go for Nakabisha, but a Shikenbisha it is. 11.K5i-6h 00:05:00 00:15:00 12.S3a-3b 00:05:00 00:19:00 13.K6h-7h 00:05:00 00:19:00 14.S3b-4c 00:05:00 00:20:00 15.P5g-5f 00:11:00 00:20:00 16.S7a-7b 00:11:00 00:23:00 17.S4h-5g 00:19:00 00:23:00 18.P9d-9e 00:19:00 00:31:00 19.P3g-3f 00:25:00 00:31:00 20.K5a-6b 00:25:00 00:46:00 21.P3f-3e 00:29:00 00:46:00 This quick attack tries to make use of the fact that the white king is still not in the Mino castle. It is a rather new idea, as all 12 games with this move have been played in the last three years. It hasn't been an overwhelming success, as black and white both won 6 games, but it is interesting enough to be studied. Goda's style seems to fit this idea well, as he won all three games he played with this attack. A textbook example is his 2001 Osho game against Kubo. Kubo played 22.Px3e and lost after 23.S4f P3f R2f R3b S3e P4e Bx3c+ Rx3c B*5g!. Since then, taking the pawn on 3e is considered dangerous for white and 22.R3b has become the main line of defense for white. 22.R4b-3b 00:29:00 01:37:00 23.P4g-4f 00:33:00 01:37:00 24.P3dx3e 00:33:00 02:11:00 25.P4f-4e 00:35:00 02:11:00 26.G4a-5b 00:35:00 02:12:00 27.P4ex4d 00:42:00 02:12:00 28.S4c-3d 00:42:00 02:12:00 29.R2h-4h 00:43:00 02:12:00 30.R3b-4b 00:43:00 02:35:00 31.S5g-4f 00:57:00 02:35:00 32.K6b-7a 00:57:00 02:36:00 33.P*3b? 02:28:00 02:36:00 A new move that unfortunately for Moriuchi backfires. In the past, there have been three games with 33.S4e. Then 34.Sx4e Rx4e S*3d R4h (or R4i) P*4e P*3b! is considered slightly better for black (Rx3b N3g gives black good attacking chances). 34.B3cx4d! 02:28:00 04:49:00 Played after more than two hours and a complete surprise to all following the game. The professionals in the press room were nicely divided along Furibisha and Ibisha players. Furibisha players like Suzuki Daisuke liked 34.R4a, while Ibisha veterans like Kato and Aono liked 34.Rx3b. Then 35.S4e Sx4e Rx4e S*3d S*4c leads to a very wild variation: Gx4c Px4c+ Bx8h+ Kx8h Sx4e +Px3b. However, Habu has picked a variation that is even wilder. The main reason for taking so long for this move is that, just like in game 2, he doesn't want to show this move to Moriuchi before the end of the first day. He sealed this move and when umpire Aono opened the envelope the next day, he couldn't completely hide his surprise. 35.B8hx4d 02:40:00 04:49:00 36.R4bx4d 02:40:00 04:49:00 37.B*5e 02:40:00 04:49:00 38.R4d-7d 02:40:00 04:52:00 39.B5ex1a+ 02:45:00 04:52:00 40.R7dx7f 02:45:00 04:55:00 41.K7h-8h 03:35:00 04:55:00 42.R7fx5f 03:35:00 05:09:00 43.G5h-4g 04:22:00 05:09:00 44.R5fx4f!! 04:22:00 05:27:00 Up until now Moriuchi played with complete confidence, but this move changes everything. Only a player of Habu's talent can judge that this rook sacrifice is good enough to take the lead in the game. White's attack looks extremely thin, as he has only a bishop and a silver to work with. However, black has no pawns in hand and the difference in king defence is quite big. During the two hours that Habu took to seal his move, he must have weighted the chances of Rx4f and finally decided to go for it. 45.G4gx4f 04:23:00 05:27:00 46.B*5g 04:23:00 05:27:00 47.G4f-4g? 05:43:00 05:27:00 A mistake that makes it impossible for Moriuchi to stop the white attack. 47.R4g was the only move here. After 48.B3i+, black has a number of moves to choose from: 49.N3g is not good because of 50.S*3h R*4a Sx4g+ Gx4g +B3h G4h +B6e 49.R*4a is also good for white after 50.+Bx2i Rx2a+ +Bx4g Gx4g R*4i. However, according to Suzuki, black could have put up a fight with 49.G5e P*4c R5i and after +B3h R4f +B2h R2f +Bx1i +B2a black is definitely not out of trouble, but white still has a lot of possibilities to make a mistake in the long fight that is ahead. 48.B5gx4h+ 05:43:00 05:49:00 49.G4gx4h 05:43:00 05:49:00 50.R*2h 05:43:00 05:50:00 51.L*4i 05:46:00 05:50:00 Here 51.R*4a would have been better, but it doesn't make much difference. 52.P*4g 05:46:00 06:09:00 53.+B1a-5e 05:47:00 06:09:00 54.R2hx2i+ 05:47:00 06:10:00 55.B*5f 05:48:00 06:10:00 56.+R2i-3i 05:48:00 06:21:00 57.B5fx4g 05:52:00 06:21:00 58.N*3f 05:52:00 06:24:00 59.G6i-5h 06:31:00 06:24:00 60.N3fx4h+ 06:31:00 06:35:00 61.G5hx4h 06:31:00 06:35:00 62.G*4e 06:31:00 06:43:00 63.+B5e-6e 06:39:00 06:43:00 64.P*4f 06:39:00 06:55:00 65.B4g-2i 06:49:00 06:55:00 66.S*4g 06:49:00 06:57:00 67.N*7e 06:51:00 06:57:00 68.+R3ix2i 06:51:00 07:05:00 69.N7ex8c+ 07:12:00 07:05:00 70.P6c-6d 07:12:00 07:19:00 Resigns 07:41:00 07:19:00 After 71.+Nx7b Gx7b R*3b N*6a there is no way to continue and if the promoted bishop moves, white wins easily after Sx4h+. Black has no attack and is way behind in material. Not a good game for the Meijin, whose new opening idea was brilliantly countered by Habu. Moriuchi is now three games down with four to play, which seems impossible to come back from. -- 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