From: Reijer Grimbergen yz yamagata-u ac jp> Date: 28 oct 2005 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 1114, September 21st 2005) Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Is your computer freezing up or slowing down? Repair corrupt files and harmful errors - protect your PC Take a 2-minute PC health check-up at no charge! http://click.topica.com/= caad3p7a2i6YsbnuqMaa/PC PowerScan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is another report, this time with two games: the 6th game of the Oi= =20 title match and the 2nd game of the Oza match, both between Habu and=20 Sato. Habu won both games to level the Oi match at 3-3 and to take a 2-0= =20 lead in the Oza match. Here are the games with comments: [Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Oi"] [White "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"] [Event "46th Oi-sen, Game 6"] [Date "September 12th and 13th 2005"] 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00 3.S7i-6h 00:02:00 00:01:00 4.P3c-3d 00:02:00 00:01:00 5.S6h-7g 00:02:00 00:01:00 Habu plays almost every opening these days, but when he is in trouble,=20 he likes to go back to basics: the Yagura opening. After the Meijin and=20 the Kisei match, this is the third time that he plays the Yagura in a=20 game that he must win to keep the match alive. He won both the Meijin=20 and the Kisei games to take these matches to the final game (which he=20 lost in both cases). 6.S7a-6b 00:02:00 00:02:00 7.P5g-5f 00:04:00 00:02:00 8.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:05:00 9.S3i-4h 00:10:00 00:05:00 10.K5a-4a 00:10:00 00:05:00 11.G6i-7h 00:19:00 00:05:00 12.P5c-5d 00:19:00 00:08:00 13.K5i-6i 00:21:00 00:08:00 14.S3a-4b 00:21:00 00:08:00 15.G4i-5h 00:22:00 00:08:00 16.P7c-7d 00:22:00 00:09:00 17.P6g-6f 00:24:00 00:09:00 18.S6b-5c 00:24:00 00:22:00 19.B8h-7i 00:57:00 00:22:00 20.P5d-5e 00:57:00 00:59:00 21.P5fx5e 01:02:00 00:59:00 22.B2bx5e 01:02:00 00:59:00 23.B7i-4f 01:02:00 00:59:00 24.B5ex4f 01:02:00 02:14:00 25.P4gx4f 01:02:00 02:14:00 26.P4c-4d 01:02:00 02:15:00 27.G5h-6g 01:14:00 02:15:00 28.G6a-5b 01:14:00 02:39:00 29.S4h-4g 01:40:00 02:39:00 30.G5b-4c 01:40:00 02:42:00 31.K6i-7i 01:50:00 02:42:00 32.K4a-3a 01:50:00 02:43:00 33.S4g-5f 03:39:00 02:43:00 Opening theory says that the exchange of the bishops is good for black.=20 The pawns on the 2nd and 3rd row are still on their original squares and= =20 with bishops in hand this is an advantage, because the rook on 2h can=20 move freely without allowing a bishop drop. In contrast, the white rook=20 is tied to the 8b spot, because moving it would allow B*8c. Therefore,=20 33.S5f is especially effective, as white can not counter the pressure in= =20 the center with the rook. Sato didn't explain his choice of opening=20 after the game, so it is unclear whether he made a mistake, or if he=20 just wasn't convinced the white position was bad. True enough, the=20 difference seems to be small, but the initiative is with black=20 throughout this game. 34.K3a-2b 03:39:00 04:08:00 35.K7i-8h 03:49:00 04:08:00 35.P4e is also an attacking option, but too dangerous with the king=20 still on 7i. 36.S4b-3c 03:49:00 04:13:00 37.P2g-2f 04:08:00 04:13:00 38.S5c-6d 04:08:00 04:29:00 39.P6f-6e 04:21:00 04:29:00 40.S6d-5c 04:21:00 04:30:00 41.P3g-3f 04:21:00 04:30:00 42.N8a-7c 04:21:00 06:02:00 43.N2i-3g 05:29:00 06:02:00 44.S5c-5d 05:29:00 06:10:00 45.S7g-6f 05:29:00 06:10:00 46.B*5i 05:29:00 06:18:00 47.N3g-2e 05:31:00 06:18:00 48.B5i-3g+ 05:31:00 06:35:00 49.R2h-1h 05:33:00 06:35:00 50.+B3gx4f 05:33:00 06:39:00 51.P*5e 05:47:00 06:39:00 52.S5d-4e 05:47:00 06:39:00 53.S5fx4e 05:47:00 06:39:00 54.+B4fx4e 05:47:00 06:39:00 55.N2ex3c+ 05:57:00 06:39:00 56.N2ax3c 05:57:00 06:51:00 57.B*5a 06:12:00 06:51:00 58.S*6b 06:12:00 06:54:00 59.S*8c 06:12:00 06:54:00 60.S6bx5a 06:12:00 06:55:00 61.S8cx8b=3D 06:12:00 06:55:00 62.N7c-8e 06:12:00 07:00:00 63.S*5d 06:27:00 07:00:00 64.G4cx5d 06:27:00 07:22:00 65.P5ex5d 06:27:00 07:22:00 66.B*4i 06:27:00 07:22:00 67.R*4a 06:38:00 07:22:00 68.P1c-1d 06:38:00 07:22:00 69.G*6h! 06:39:00 07:22:00 Now the difference in king position is very clear. The first comment by=20 Sato after the game was: "The king was weak...". With this gold drop the= =20 black king position is an iron wall and the double threat Rx5a+ and P5c+= =20 can only be defended by one move. 70.S5a-5b 06:39:00 07:27:00 71.R4ax9a+ 06:41:00 07:27:00 72.P6c-6d? 06:41:00 07:47:00 The move any professional would play, but wrong. Correct was 72.N*5e.=20 Then 73.Sx5e +Bx5e K9h and both Sato and Habu stopped analyzing here.=20 Giving a check that just chases the king further away from the danger=20 area is bad style. Furthermore, going for the formation S6f-G6g with P6d= =20 is the most natural way of playing. Finally, 72.P6d is connected with=20 70.S5b and therefore fits in the flow of play. However, there is a=20 hidden opportunity for white after K9h: Bx6g+ G6hx6g S*6i G7i P*5h!=20 which threatens mate after G*8h next. When Habu saw this position, he=20 could not hide his surprise: "Ah, that threatens mate...". Instead of=20 P*5h, the more often seen S*5h would be easily countered with G6g-6h.=20 Even if black defends against the mating threat, white has the strong=20 S*7g as well, so there seems to be no defense. Black has to find=20 something after Bx6g+, but the post-mortem analysis did not come up with= =20 something better than sennichite. 73.P5d-5c+ 07:19:00 07:47:00 74.S5bx5c 07:19:00 07:47:00 75.L*5f 07:19:00 07:47:00 76.P*5e 07:19:00 07:54:00 77.S6fx5e 07:23:00 07:54:00 78.P7d-7e 07:23:00 07:57:00 79.R1h-4h 07:32:00 07:57:00 80.B4ix6g+ 07:32:00 07:57:00 81.G6hx6g 07:32:00 07:57:00 82.P7ex7f 07:32:00 07:57:00 83.B*4a 07:38:00 07:57:00 84.G*3a 07:38:00 07:58:00 Sato regretted this move. Better is 84.N*7e first and only after G6f the= =20 defensive drop G*3a. Then black has nothing better than Bx7d+ and there=20 is still a long fight ahead. 85.S5e-6f! 07:40:00 07:58:00 Attack on the silver on 5c and defense of the vital square 7g. Black is=20 winning. 86.P*5e 07:40:00 07:59:00 87.B4ax3b+ 07:53:00 07:59:00 88.G3ax3b 07:53:00 07:59:00 89.G*2a 07:53:00 07:59:00 90.K2b-1c 07:53:00 07:59:00 91.R4hx4e 07:53:00 07:59:00 92.P4dx4e 07:53:00 07:59:00 93.+R9a-4a 07:53:00 07:59:00 94.R*4b 07:53:00 07:59:00 95.B*3a 07:54:00 07:59:00 96.K1c-2d 07:54:00 07:59:00 97.+R4ax3b 07:54:00 07:59:00 98.R4bx3b 07:54:00 07:59:00 99.B3ax5c+ 07:54:00 07:59:00 100.R*3h 07:54:00 07:59:00 101.S*4c 07:56:00 07:59:00 102.B*4f 07:56:00 07:59:00 103.S4cx3d+ 07:57:00 07:59:00 104.K2d-1c 07:57:00 07:59:00 105.+B5c-3e 07:57:00 07:59:00 106.B4fx3e 07:57:00 07:59:00 107.P3fx3e 07:57:00 07:59:00 108.S*1b 07:57:00 07:59:00 109.+S3dx3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 110.B*6i 07:59:00 07:59:00 111.P*7i 07:59:00 07:59:00 112.S1bx2a 07:59:00 07:59:00 113.+S3cx3b 07:59:00 07:59:00 114.S2ax3b 07:59:00 07:59:00 115.N*2e 07:59:00 07:59:00 116.B6ix2e+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 117.P2fx2e 07:59:00 07:59:00 118.P6dx6e 07:59:00 07:59:00 119.R*6c 07:59:00 07:59:00 120.P*3c 07:59:00 07:59:00 121.B*3a 07:59:00 07:59:00 122.S*2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 123.B3ax2b+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 124.K1cx2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 125.G*4b 07:59:00 07:59:00 Black has had a on position for a long time now, but Sato refuses to=20 give up. Rather than resign gracefully which is the way top=20 professionals usually finish their games, he seems to have decided to=20 play on until he is mated. Trying to win until the final move is more=20 important than thinking about appearances. 125.G*4b should have been the= =20 final blow, though. There is no reasonable way to defend anymore.=20 However, Sato still refuses to let it go. 126.G*2a 07:59:00 07:59:00 127.B*5d 07:59:00 07:59:00 128.B*4a 07:59:00 07:59:00 129.G4bx4a 07:59:00 07:59:00 130.P6ex6f 07:59:00 07:59:00 131.R6c-6b+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 132.K2b-1c 07:59:00 07:59:00 133.B5dx3b+ 07:59:00 07:59:00 134.G2ax3b 07:59:00 07:59:00 135.S*2b 07:59:00 07:59:00 Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00 10 moves after 125.G*4b, Sato finally resigns. The mate is very simple:=20 136.K1b S*1c, 136.Kx2b B*3a K2a S*2b or 136.Gx2b +Rx2b Kx2b B*3a etc.=20 For the third match in a row, Habu wins a Yagura game to take the match=20 to the final game. The last two times he didn't fare well. It is hard to= =20 imagine that someone like Habu will lose three matches in a row in the=20 final game. On the other hand, it was hard to imagine that Habu would=20 lose two matches in a row in the final game... [Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Oza"] [White "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"] [Event "53rd Oza-sen, September 16th 2005"] 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00 3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00 4.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:00:00 5.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:00:00 6.P4c-4d 00:01:00 00:00:00 7.P2f-2e 00:02:00 00:00:00 8.S3a-4b 00:02:00 00:01:00 9.P2e-2d 00:06:00 00:01:00 10.P2cx2d 00:06:00 00:01:00 11.R2hx2d 00:06:00 00:01:00 12.S4b-4c 00:06:00 00:01:00 Already a very interesting moment in the game. Sato has allowed the=20 exchange of pawns on the 2nd file, which surprised everyone. There seems= =20 to be no merit for white in this, but Sato has a devious plan... 13.R2d-2h? 00:09:00 00:01:00 And Habu falls for it. Had he seen what Sato intended, he would have=20 played 13.S4h instead, because keeping the rook on 2d as long as=20 possible is required here. 14.P3d-3e! 00:09:00 00:03:00 The point. Sato doesn't want to drop the pawn back on 2c, but on 2e,=20 putting pressure on the black rook. For this, he needs to put the silver= =20 on 3d, which is why black should have tried to keep his rook on 2d.=20 After the game, Sato jokingly referred to his strategy as "inchiki=20 senpou", which means "fake strategy" or "bogus strategy". We will=20 probably never see it again, but it did what it was supposed to do: Sato= =20 gets a very good position. 15.S3i-4h 00:43:00 00:03:00 16.R8b-4b 00:43:00 00:10:00 17.K5i-6i 00:59:00 00:10:00 18.S4c-3d 00:59:00 00:13:00 19.S7i-6h 01:00:00 00:13:00 20.K5a-6b 01:00:00 00:26:00 21.P5g-5f 01:05:00 00:26:00 22.R4b-4c 01:05:00 00:57:00 23.S4h-5g 01:14:00 00:57:00 24.P*2e 01:14:00 00:59:00 25.K6i-7i 01:18:00 00:59:00 26.R4c-2c 01:18:00 00:59:00 27.P*2g 01:18:00 00:59:00 The early pawn exchange has given black nothing. Worse, he has to drop=20 the pawn back on 2g where it started the game. White has won the opening. 28.S7a-7b 01:18:00 01:00:00 29.P7f-7e 01:45:00 01:00:00 30.P6c-6d 01:45:00 01:06:00 31.S6h-7g 01:47:00 01:06:00 32.S3d-4e 01:47:00 01:46:00 33.P4g-4f 02:02:00 01:46:00 34.S4e-5d 02:02:00 01:49:00 35.S7g-7f 02:02:00 01:49:00 36.K6b-7a 02:02:00 01:50:00 37.P5f-5e 02:05:00 01:50:00 38.S5d-6c 02:05:00 01:51:00 39.B8h-7g 02:05:00 01:51:00 40.K7a-8b 02:05:00 01:53:00 41.K7i-8h 02:05:00 01:53:00 42.G3b-4c 02:05:00 02:11:00 43.P8g-8f 02:11:00 02:11:00 44.P5c-5d 02:11:00 02:11:00 45.S5g-6f 02:15:00 02:11:00 46.P4d-4e 02:15:00 02:13:00 47.P4fx4e 02:20:00 02:13:00 48.G4c-3d 02:20:00 02:13:00 49.P5ex5d 02:36:00 02:13:00 50.S6cx5d 02:36:00 02:13:00 51.R2h-5h 02:37:00 02:13:00 52.S5d-6c 02:37:00 02:28:00 53.P7e-7d 03:11:00 02:28:00 54.P7cx7d 03:11:00 02:29:00 55.P*7e 03:11:00 02:29:00 56.P*4f 03:11:00 02:51:00 57.G4i-4h 03:11:00 02:51:00 58.G3dx4e 03:11:00 03:09:00 59.P7ex7d 03:11:00 03:09:00 60.S6cx7d 03:11:00 03:09:00 61.P*7c 03:43:00 03:09:00 62.N8ax7c 03:43:00 03:44:00 63.R5h-5d 03:50:00 03:44:00 64.G4e-4d 03:50:00 03:44:00 65.R5dx6d 03:50:00 03:44:00 66.S7d-6c 03:50:00 03:44:00 67.S6f-7e 03:50:00 03:44:00 68.P*7d 03:50:00 03:49:00 69.R6dx4d 03:52:00 03:49:00 70.P7dx7e? 03:52:00 03:49:00 Sato is counting on a variation that is not as good for him as it seems.= =20 Had he correctly judged that, he would have played 70.Bx4d instead. For=20 example, 71.Bx4d Px7e S8g P4g+ Gx4g R4c is good for white. 71.P*7d 04:00:00 03:49:00 72.S6cx7d 04:00:00 03:57:00 73.R4dx7d 04:09:00 03:57:00 74.B2bx7g+ 04:09:00 03:57:00 75.N8ix7g 04:09:00 03:57:00 76.P7ex7f 04:09:00 03:57:00 77.R7dx7f 04:09:00 03:57:00 78.B*3b 04:09:00 04:20:00 Sato thought that this bishop drop was good, but it is not so simple. 79.P*5d 04:10:00 04:20:00 80.B3bx5d 04:10:00 04:20:00 81.R7f-5f 04:10:00 04:20:00 82.P*7f 04:10:00 04:20:00 83.R5fx5d 04:10:00 04:20:00 84.P7fx7g+ 04:10:00 04:20:00 85.G7hx7g 04:10:00 04:20:00 86.S*6e 04:10:00 04:20:00 87.R5d-4d 04:15:00 04:20:00 88.P*7f 04:15:00 04:20:00 89.G7g-8g 04:15:00 04:20:00 90.N*7e? 04:15:00 04:33:00 Sadly, this is the decisive mistake. The game stays very close until the= =20 end, but black is one move quicker because of a very unusual mating=20 threat. Correct was 90.S*7g. If black takes this silver, the king=20 becomes too exposed, so the only reply is 91.K9h but then 92.N*7e S*7i=20 R5c P*5g R5d! is good for white. It is hard to take this rook as Rx5d=20 Sx5d Gx7f is answered by R*7h! Sx7h Sx7h=3D and hisshi. 91.P*7h 04:16:00 04:33:00 92.R2c-5c 04:16:00 04:43:00 93.P*5g 04:33:00 04:43:00 94.R5c-6c 04:33:00 04:52:00 Sato thought that 94.P*6f was good here, but after Px6f Sx6f S*7i there=20 is no good way to continue. The change of plan turns the game around. 95.B*9f 04:38:00 04:52:00 96.P9c-9d 04:38:00 04:58:00 97.B*5e 04:47:00 04:58:00 98.R6c-5c 04:47:00 04:59:00 99.B5e-6d 04:47:00 04:59:00 100.N7ex8g+ 04:47:00 04:59:00 101.K8hx8g 04:47:00 04:59:00 102.G*5d 04:47:00 04:59:00 103.B6dx5c+ 04:50:00 04:59:00 104.G5dx5c 04:50:00 04:59:00 105.R4d-4b+ 04:51:00 04:59:00 106.P9d-9e 04:51:00 04:59:00 107.B9f-4a+ 04:53:00 04:59:00 108.P*5b 04:53:00 04:59:00 109.+B4a-3b 04:53:00 04:59:00 110.G5c-6d 04:53:00 04:59:00 111.+R4b-4d 04:54:00 04:59:00 112.S*7e 04:54:00 04:59:00 113.+B3bx6e 04:54:00 04:59:00 114.N7cx6e 04:54:00 04:59:00 115.N*7d 04:55:00 04:59:00 116.G6dx7d 04:55:00 04:59:00 117.+R4dx7d 04:55:00 04:59:00 If this would not have been a mating threat, white could have played=20 B*5i here and win. However, 117.+Rx7d is a mating threat and in fact a=20 very beautiful one: S*9c Lx9c S*7c Sx7c G*8a Kx8a R*7a! (Kx7a +Rx7c or=20 Gx7a +Rx8c). 118.P7f-7g+ 04:55:00 04:59:00 119.P7hx7g 04:55:00 04:59:00 120.B*6i 04:55:00 04:59:00 121.S*7h 04:56:00 04:59:00 122.P*7f 04:56:00 04:59:00 123.+R7dx6e 04:57:00 04:59:00 124.B6ix7h+ 04:57:00 04:59:00 125.K8gx7h 04:57:00 04:59:00 126.P7fx7g+ 04:57:00 04:59:00 127.K7hx7g 04:57:00 04:59:00 128.S*7f 04:57:00 04:59:00 129.+R6ex7f 04:57:00 04:59:00 130.S7ex7f 04:57:00 04:59:00 131.K7gx7f 04:57:00 04:59:00 132.P*7c 04:57:00 04:59:00 133.B*6d 04:58:00 04:59:00 134.N*8d 04:58:00 04:59:00 135.K7f-6f 04:58:00 04:59:00 136.B*3c 04:58:00 04:59:00 137.K6f-5f 04:58:00 04:59:00 138.S7b-6c 04:58:00 04:59:00 139.N*9d 04:59:00 04:59:00 140.L9ax9d 04:59:00 04:59:00 141.S*9a? 04:59:00 04:59:00 It makes no difference for the final result, but as Sato pointed out,=20 there is a mate in this position: G*9c Kx9c R*9a G*9b S*8b Kx8b G*8a=20 etc. "Ah, that was simple..." was Habu's reaction, smiling wryly. 142.K8bx9a 04:59:00 04:59:00 143.B6dx7c+ 04:59:00 04:59:00 Resigns 04:59:00 04:59:00 No mate, but the hisshi 143.S*8b S*9c is good enough. Sato again=20 dictated the pace early, but unlike the games they played in the early=20 summer, he is no longer capable of taking this advantage over the finish= =20 line. Habu takes a 2-0 lead and needs only one more win for a record=20 14th straight Oza title. --=20 Reijer Grimbergen Department of Informatics, Yamagata University Jonan 4-3-16, Yonezawa, 992-8510 Japan Tel: +81-(0)238-26-3740 FAX: +81-(0)238-26-3299 http://gamelab.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp/ Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Oprah vs Dr. Phil- who is your favorite? 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