From: Reijer Grimbergen <grimbergen <at> FU <dot> IS <dot> SAGA-U <dot> AC <dot> JP>
Date: 30 may 2003
Subject: A long time ago in Shukan Shogi (no. 988 and 989, April 9th and 16th 2003)

The computer shogi tournament and a trip to Europe have left me with a
big backlog in Shukan Shogi reports. A stack of no less than eight
Shukan Shogi is not very encouraging, but I hope that in the coming
weeks I will find the time to get back on schedule. Here are the first
two games of the Asahi Open Match between Horiguchi and Fukaura. Fukaura
won both games to get a great start in this best-of-five match. Here are
the games with comments.

[Black "Horiguchi Kazushiza, Asahi"]
[White "Fukaura Koichi, Challenger"]
[Event "21st Asahi Open, Game 1"]
[Date "April 3rd 2003"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:00:00
3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:00:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:00:00
5.P2f-2e 00:01:00 00:00:00
6.P8d-8e 00:01:00 00:00:00
7.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:00:00
8.G4a-3b 00:01:00 00:00:00
9.P2e-2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
10.P2cx2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
11.R2hx2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
12.P8e-8f 00:01:00 00:00:00
13.P8gx8f 00:01:00 00:00:00
14.R8bx8f 00:01:00 00:00:00
15.R2dx3d 00:01:00 00:00:00
16.B2b-3c 00:01:00 00:00:00
17.R3d-3f 00:02:00 00:00:00
18.S3a-2b 00:02:00 00:01:00
19.G4i-3h 00:04:00 00:01:00
20.K5a-4a 00:04:00 00:02:00
21.K5i-5h 00:06:00 00:02:00
22.R8f-8d 00:06:00 00:03:00
23.P*8g 00:06:00 00:03:00
24.S7a-6b 00:06:00 00:03:00
25.R3f-2f 00:06:00 00:03:00
26.P5c-5d 00:06:00 00:04:00
27.S3i-4h 00:07:00 00:04:00
28.P5d-5e 00:07:00 00:04:00
29.P3g-3f 00:09:00 00:04:00
30.R8d-3d 00:09:00 00:10:00
31.S4h-3g 00:11:00 00:10:00
32.B3c-4d 00:11:00 00:12:00

The popular Chuza Yokofudori was no surprise. Fukaura is playing a very
positive game with R3d followed by B4d, putting pressure on the black
position. He has played this before and also played it a few times in
training games. Horiguchi must have known this, but still has trouble to
find something good against this formation.

33.R2f-2h 00:12:00 00:12:00
34.N2a-3c 00:12:00 00:12:00
35.S7i-6h 00:17:00 00:12:00
36.G6a-5a 00:17:00 00:12:00
37.P6g-6f 00:58:00 00:12:00
38.P7c-7d 00:58:00 00:25:00
39.S6h-6g 00:58:00 00:25:00
40.N8a-7c 00:58:00 00:26:00
41.P4g-4f 01:16:00 00:26:00
42.S2b-2c 01:16:00 00:36:00
43.P6f-6e?! 02:01:00 00:36:00

The Asahi Open match is played with relatively short thinking times (3
hours per player), which means that good opening preparation is very
important. Fukaura is known for preparing well and this might have been
the deciding factor in this game. Horiguchi has already used 2 hours and
the fighting hasn’t even started yet. 43.P6e is played after long
thought, but probably not good.

44.P*2f! 02:01:00 00:58:00

Good reply. Black is suddenly in trouble.

45.S3gx2f 02:05:00 00:58:00
46.R3dx3f 02:05:00 00:58:00
47.G3h-3g 02:29:00 00:58:00

Not a move that one wants to play, as both gold and silver are in an
awkward position. Trying to go for sennichite might be an option here
with 47.S3g R3d P*3f P*2f, but both players had seen that white can play
48.R3e instead of R3d which gives white a good position.

48.R3f-3d 02:29:00 01:01:00
49.P*3e 02:29:00 01:01:00
50.R3d-1d 02:29:00 01:02:00
51.G3g-4g 02:34:00 01:02:00

White threatened to win the silver with P*2e, so Horiguchi decides to
try to weather the storm and rearrange his generals.

52.P5e-5f 02:34:00 01:28:00
53.S6gx5f 02:36:00 01:28:00
54.B4dx8h+ 02:36:00 01:29:00
55.G7hx8h 02:36:00 01:29:00
56.P7d-7e 02:36:00 01:29:00
57.S2f-3g 02:37:00 01:29:00
58.P*2f 02:37:00 01:53:00
59.R2hx2f 02:37:00 01:53:00
60.P*2e 02:37:00 01:55:00
61.R2f-2h 02:37:00 01:55:00
62.P7ex7f 02:37:00 01:55:00
63.S5f-6g 02:37:00 01:55:00
64.R1d-7d 02:37:00 01:56:00
65.P*7e 02:40:00 01:56:00
66.R7d-2d 02:40:00 02:00:00
67.S6gx7f? 02:46:00 02:00:00

This is an important oversight. So far, Horiguchi had managed to keep
his position together and Fukaura started to worry that he would run out
of moves. Correct was 67.P*2g. For example, 68.B*4d B*6f Bx6f Sx6f B*9d
K5i and it is difficult for white to find a way to break trough.

68.P*3h! 02:46:00 02:04:00

Now black has to allow promotion of the pawn or the bishop. The only
compensation for black is that white no longer has any pawns in hand.

69.K5h-4i 02:50:00 02:04:00
70.B*6i?! 02:50:00 02:29:00

A change of plan that was unnecessary. Fukaura planned 70.B*5d 71.P*2g
72.Nx6e and now he thought that because this knight has to be
sacrificed, the attack wasn’t sound. However, after 73.B*6g P3i+ Kx3i
Nx5g+ Gx5g P*3f S4h P2f Px2f P*2g white seems to have a decisive attack.

71.K4ix3h 02:53:00 02:29:00
72.B6i-5h+ 02:53:00 02:29:00
73.G8h-7g 02:53:00 02:29:00

Black has managed to connect his generals again, but the price has been
high.

74.P6c-6d 02:53:00 02:31:00

With this move, white gets a pawn in hand again, which was the last
troubling thing in his position. From here on, it seemed only a matter
of time before black would have to resign. Still, in short games it is
hard to play an endgame perfectly...

75.G7g-6g 02:59:00 02:31:00
76.P6dx6e 02:59:00 02:32:00
77.P*2g 02:59:00 02:32:00
78.K4a-3a 02:59:00 02:34:00
79.N8i-7g 02:59:00 02:34:00
80.K3a-2a 02:59:00 02:36:00

Typical Fukaura play. He takes two moves to improve his king position
instead of attacking immediately with the risk of overextending his
position.

81.P8g-8f!? 02:59:00 02:36:00

Interesting move. Horiguchi wants to put pressure on the white rook and
this move is in preparation for that. Objectively, white can just play
R6d followed by P6f here, but Horiguchi is trying everything to make
something happen and almost succeeds.

82.P6e-6f 02:59:00 02:37:00
83.G6gx6f 02:59:00 02:37:00
84.+B5h-5i 02:59:00 02:38:00
85.P*6h 02:59:00 02:38:00
86.R2d-6d 02:59:00 02:38:00
87.N7g-6e 02:59:00 02:38:00
88.N7cx6e 02:59:00 02:41:00
89.G6fx6e 02:59:00 02:41:00
90.R6d-2d? 02:59:00 02:42:00

A mistake that might have been costly. Correct was 90.R6c and white has
all kinds of nasty knight drops (on 5c, 7c or 8d) and would have won easily.

91.P1g-1f? 02:59:00 02:42:00

In byoyomi, Horiguchi misses a very good chance. 91.N*3f could have
turned the table. For example, 92.R8d P8e (using the speculative 81.P8f)
R9d P9f and the white rook is in big trouble. On the other hand, if the
white rook leaves the 4th rank, black can launch a strong counter attack
with moves like N*1e and P3d. 91.P1f is one preparation move too many.
Horiguchi was afraid that the knight on 3f might become a target for
attack and that Fukaura had deliberately allowed this move.

92.P*3f 02:59:00 02:42:00

This must have been a relief for Fukaura. Without the knight drop on 3f,
white can cruise to victory.

93.S3gx3f 02:59:00 02:42:00
94.N*4d 02:59:00 02:42:00
95.N*4h 02:59:00 02:42:00
96.+B5ix6h 02:59:00 02:46:00
97.P4f-4e 02:59:00 02:46:00
98.P*5f 02:59:00 02:48:00
99.P5gx5f 02:59:00 02:48:00
100.N4dx3f 02:59:00 02:48:00
101.N4hx3f 02:59:00 02:48:00
102.R2d-8d 02:59:00 02:48:00
103.P8f-8e 02:59:00 02:48:00
104.R8d-9d 02:59:00 02:48:00
105.G6e-5e 02:59:00 02:48:00
106.S*4f 02:59:00 02:48:00
107.K3h-4i 02:59:00 02:48:00
108.+B6h-7i 02:59:00 02:48:00
109.K4i-5h 02:59:00 02:48:00
110.S4fx4g+ 02:59:00 02:50:00
111.K5hx4g 02:59:00 02:50:00
112.G*4f 02:59:00 02:50:00
113.K4g-5h 02:59:00 02:50:00
114.+B7i-5g 02:59:00 02:55:00
115.K5h-6i 02:59:00 02:55:00
116.G4fx5f 02:59:00 02:55:00
117.G5ex5f 02:59:00 02:55:00
118.+B5gx5f 02:59:00 02:55:00
119.N*1e 02:59:00 02:55:00
120.P*6g 02:59:00 02:55:00
121.N1ex2c+ 02:59:00 02:55:00
122.G3bx2c 02:59:00 02:56:00
123.P4e-4d 02:59:00 02:56:00
124.G*6h 02:59:00 02:58:00
125.R2hx6h 02:59:00 02:58:00
126.P6gx6h+ 02:59:00 02:58:00
127.K6ix6h 02:59:00 02:58:00
128.R*7h 02:59:00 02:58:00
Resigns 02:59:00 02:58:00

White wins after 129.K5i Rx7f+ which threatens mate with N*6g next.
Fukaura had a little scare in the endgame, but played this game almost
flawlessly. A win with white in the first game of a best of five match
is very important and he should already be considered the favorite in
this match. Horiguchi needs something good with white in game 2 to avoid
going two down with three to play.

[Black "Fukaura Koichi, Challenger"]
[White "Horiguchi Kazushiza, Asahi"]
[Event "21st Asahi Open, Game 2"]
[Date "April 11th 2003"]
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00
3.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:01:00
4.P8d-8e 00:00:00 00:01:00
5.G6i-7h 00:00:00 00:01:00
6.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:01:00
7.P2e-2d 00:00:00 00:01:00
8.P2cx2d 00:00:00 00:01:00
9.R2hx2d 00:00:00 00:01:00
10.P*2c 00:00:00 00:01:00
11.R2d-2h 00:00:00 00:01:00

Moving the rook back to 2h in the Aigakari is not known as the most
attacking way to play the opening, but it is played quite often in
professional games and Fukaura will have prepared it thoroughly.

12.P9c-9d 00:00:00 00:11:00
13.P9g-9f 00:00:00 00:11:00
14.S7a-7b 00:00:00 00:11:00
15.S3i-3h 00:00:00 00:11:00
16.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:11:00
17.S3h-2g 00:00:00 00:11:00
18.P8e-8f 00:00:00 00:11:00
19.P8gx8f 00:00:00 00:11:00
20.R8bx8f 00:00:00 00:11:00
21.P*8g 00:00:00 00:11:00
22.R8f-8d 00:00:00 00:11:00
23.S2g-3f 00:00:00 00:11:00
24.R8d-7d 00:00:00 00:12:00

The hineribisha strategy. This is usually adopted by black, but because
this is a relatively slow opening, there is not much difference when it
is played by white. The ideas are to make it hard for black to open the
diagonal of the bishop, which makes it hard for black to build a good
castle formation. In the end, white will move the rook over to the right
side of the board and use the Mino castle for the king. The game becomes
a kind of ranging rook game and this might be one of the reasons that
white does not have very good results with this opening. Players who are
used to static rook positions often have a hard time finding good plans
in ranging rook positions.

25.K5i-6i 00:02:00 00:12:00
26.P1c-1d 00:02:00 00:12:00
27.P1g-1f 00:02:00 00:12:00
28.K5a-6b 00:02:00 00:12:00
29.S7i-6h 00:02:00 00:12:00
30.K6b-7a 00:02:00 00:12:00
31.K6i-7i 00:02:00 00:12:00
32.K7a-8b 00:02:00 00:13:00
33.P4g-4f 00:06:00 00:13:00
34.S3a-4b 00:06:00 00:15:00
35.S3f-4g 00:17:00 00:15:00
36.P3d-3e 00:17:00 00:16:00
37.G4i-3h 00:18:00 00:16:00
38.S4b-3c 00:18:00 00:23:00
39.P6g-6f 00:32:00 00:23:00
40.S3c-4d 00:32:00 00:44:00
41.P5g-5f 01:01:00 00:44:00
42.P5c-5d 01:01:00 00:44:00
43.P7g-7f 01:01:00 00:44:00
44.R7dx7f 01:01:00 00:53:00
45.G3h-4h 01:01:00 00:53:00
46.R7f-7d 01:01:00 00:57:00
47.G4h-5g 01:01:00 00:57:00
48.P5d-5e 01:01:00 00:57:00
49.P6f-6e 01:02:00 00:57:00
50.P5ex5f 01:02:00 01:18:00
51.S4gx5f 01:04:00 01:18:00
52.P*5e 01:04:00 01:19:00
53.S5f-4g 01:08:00 01:19:00
54.S4d-5c 01:08:00 01:23:00
55.G5g-6f 01:08:00 01:23:00
56.R7d-2d 01:08:00 01:29:00
57.P*2e 01:08:00 01:29:00
58.R2d-3d 01:08:00 01:29:00
59.B8h-7g 01:09:00 01:29:00
60.S5c-5d 01:09:00 01:40:00
61.S6h-6g 01:09:00 01:40:00
62.B2b-3c 01:09:00 01:41:00
63.K7i-8h 01:10:00 01:41:00
64.G3b-4b 01:10:00 01:42:00
65.P2e-2d! 01:26:00 01:42:00

White hoped to complete his castle with G3b-4b-5b, but Fukaura does not
allow it and attacks.

66.P2cx2d 01:26:00 01:42:00
67.P3g-3f 01:26:00 01:42:00
68.P6c-6d? 01:26:00 02:07:00

Horiguchi did not like 68.Px3f R3h B4d Sx3f P*3g Rx3g B2f R2g Rx3f P*3g
but he still should have tried this.

69.P6ex6d 01:28:00 02:07:00
70.P*6e 01:28:00 02:07:00
71.G6f-7f 01:28:00 02:07:00

The pawn on 6d actually becomes a good attacking base for black in
combination with another strong attack...

72.P3ex3f 01:28:00 02:08:00
73.R2h-3h 01:29:00 02:08:00
74.B3c-4d 01:29:00 02:14:00
75.P4f-4e 01:57:00 02:14:00
76.S5dx4e 01:57:00 02:18:00
77.P*7d! 01:57:00 02:18:00

There it is. White is in trouble.

78.S4e-5d 01:57:00 02:34:00

78.Px7d is answered by 79.Gx6e and black threatens both Gx5e and P*7c
Nx7c Gx7d. Furthermore, with the open diagonal to the king, there is
always the threat of a check with Bx5e.

79.R3hx3f 02:03:00 02:34:00
80.P*3e 02:03:00 02:34:00
81.P7dx7c+ 02:05:00 02:34:00
82.S7bx7c 02:05:00 02:34:00
83.R3f-4f 02:05:00 02:34:00
84.G4b-5c 02:05:00 02:40:00
85.P*7e 02:06:00 02:40:00
86.G6a-7b 02:06:00 02:45:00
87.P9f-9e 02:10:00 02:45:00
88.G5cx6d? 02:10:00 02:56:00

Horiguchi is too focused on taking this nasty pawn. Correct was 88.Px9e
and after for example 89.P*9c Gx6d Lx9e P*9d Lx9d G8c P9b+ Lx9b Lx9b+
Kx9b things are far from easy for black. “This would probably take more
than 200 moves to win” (Fukaura).

89.P9ex9d 02:10:00 02:56:00
90.P*9b 02:10:00 02:56:00
91.P*5b 02:12:00 02:56:00
92.N2a-3c?! 02:12:00 02:58:00

The final mistake. Horiguchi hoped to get some counter play with S4e
followed by P3f, but this is not going to happen. Better was 92.P3f Sx3f
P5f which gives white some hope.

93.N2i-3g! 02:12:00 02:58:00

The perfect reply. 92.N3c now only leads to a knight exchange that gives
the black attack decisive strength.

94.N3c-2e 02:12:00 02:58:00
95.N3gx2e 02:17:00 02:58:00
96.P2dx2e 02:17:00 02:58:00
97.P5b-5a+ 02:24:00 02:58:00
98.N*8d 02:24:00 02:58:00
99.G7f-8e 02:26:00 02:58:00
100.S5d-6c 02:26:00 02:59:00
101.N*7d 02:29:00 02:59:00

The decisive move.

102.S7cx7d 02:29:00 02:59:00

Or 102.K8c R8f and white can not defend against Gx8d Sx8d Rx8d Kx8d B9e.

103.P7ex7d 02:29:00 02:59:00
104.G6dx7d 02:29:00 02:59:00
105.G8ex7d 02:30:00 02:59:00
106.S6cx7d 02:30:00 02:59:00
107.S*6a 02:30:00 02:59:00
108.G*6b 02:30:00 02:59:00
109.S6ax7b+ 02:34:00 02:59:00
110.G6bx7b 02:34:00 02:59:00
111.G*4e! 02:35:00 02:59:00

This ends all of white’s hope to keep his position together. Black wins
material and also threatens to bring the bishop into play on 5e.

112.P*7f 02:35:00 02:59:00
113.B7g-8f 02:35:00 02:59:00
114.P5e-5f 02:35:00 02:59:00
115.G4ex4d 02:35:00 02:59:00
116.P4cx4d 02:35:00 02:59:00
117.R4fx5f 02:38:00 02:59:00
Resigns 02:38:00 02:59:00

Horiguchi has no choice but to resign. He is a bishop against a knight
behind, his pieces are not working and he can’t avoid the promotion of
the rook. For the second game in a row he has not been able to threaten
Fukaura’s king at all. Will he be able to turn things around with black
in the third game?


--

Reijer Grimbergen
Department of Information Science
Saga University
1 Honjo-machi, Saga-shi, 840-8502 Japan
E-mail: grimbergen <at> fu <dot> is <dot> saga-u <dot> ac <dot> jp
URL: http://www.fu.is.saga-u.ac.jp/~grimberg/
Tel: +81-(0)952-28-8821
Fax: +81-(0)952-28-8650