This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 1285, January 28th 2009)
Reijer Grimbergen
but here is the first game of the Osho match between Habu and Fukaura.
What looked like an easy victory for Habu became quite interesting in
the end, although it seemed like Fukaura never had a real chance to turn
the tables. Here is the game with comments:
[Black "Fukaura Koichi, Challenger"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"]
[Event "58th Osho-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "January 17th and 18th 2009"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
This first game of the Osho match was played in a rather unusual
environment: the Sistine Hall of the Otsuka Museum of Art in Tokushima.
The museum houses replicas of more than 1000 famous works of art and
this hall is completely devoted to Michelangelo's work in the Sistine
Chapel in Rome. Habu and Fukaura played their game under a full size
replica of Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment", which is about 13 by 12
meters in size. Actually, this venue was intended for the 6th game of
the 57th Osho match between Habu and Kubo, but because Habu won the
match 4-1 this game became obsolete. Last year, the intended playing
room was the "El Greco Room", which would have been closed to the
public. However, when Habu saw pictures of the museum before the match,
he suggested to hold the game in the Sistine Hall and make it open to
the public for the full two days. Although title match games are often
open to the public for the last part, it is very unusual to have a game
open to the public for the full length of two days. Despite this,
Fukaura agreed that it would make this a very special occasion, so the
players agreed to have a completely open game, playing two days under
the ominous images of the second coming of Christ and the apocalypse.
First judgment went to Fukaura, with four tokins giving him the black
pieces.
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:04:00
3.P2g-2f 00:04:00 00:04:00
4.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:08:00
5.G6i-7h 00:04:00 00:08:00
6.P8d-8e 00:04:00 00:14:00
7.B8h-7g 00:04:00 00:14:00
8.P3c-3d 00:04:00 00:15:00
9.S7i-8h 00:04:00 00:15:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:04:00 00:16:00
The classic Kakugawari opening. Although some expected a Yagura opening
in this game, the Kakugawari is not a surprise, because Fukaura has been
quite successful with this opening against Habu.
11.S8hx7g 00:04:00 00:16:00
12.S3a-4b 00:04:00 00:16:00
13.S3i-3h 00:08:00 00:16:00
14.S7a-7b 00:08:00 00:16:00
15.P4g-4f 00:08:00 00:16:00
16.P6c-6d 00:08:00 00:32:00
17.S3h-4g 00:08:00 00:32:00
18.S7b-6c 00:08:00 00:32:00
19.K5i-6h 00:08:00 00:32:00
20.S6c-5d 00:08:00 00:34:00
21.S4g-5f 00:14:00 00:34:00
22.P4c-4d 00:14:00 00:36:00
23.G4i-5h 00:15:00 00:36:00
24.G6a-5b 00:15:00 00:39:00
25.P9g-9f 00:20:00 00:39:00
26.P9c-9d 00:20:00 00:43:00
27.P1g-1f 00:20:00 00:43:00
28.P1c-1d 00:20:00 00:45:00
29.P3g-3f 00:20:00 00:45:00
30.K5a-4a 00:20:00 00:46:00
31.K6h-7i 00:29:00 00:46:00
32.K4a-3a 00:29:00 00:49:00
33.P6g-6f 00:30:00 00:49:00
34.P7c-7d 00:30:00 00:58:00
35.N2i-3g 00:37:00 00:58:00
36.N8a-7c 00:37:00 00:59:00
37.P2f-2e 00:59:00 00:59:00
38.S4b-3c 00:59:00 01:13:00
39.P4f-4e 01:02:00 01:13:00
40.P4dx4e 01:02:00 01:14:00
41.P2e-2d 01:03:00 01:14:00
42.P2cx2d 01:03:00 01:15:00
43.P1f-1e 01:06:00 01:15:00
44.P1dx1e 01:06:00 01:17:00
45.P7f-7e 01:07:00 01:17:00
46.P7dx7e 01:07:00 01:18:00
47.P3f-3e 01:08:00 01:18:00
48.S3c-4d 01:08:00 01:27:00
49.R2hx2d 01:27:00 01:27:00
50.P*2c 01:27:00 01:28:00
51.R2d-2f 01:28:00 01:28:00
52.G5b-6c 01:28:00 02:04:00
53.P*7d 01:51:00 02:04:00
54.G6cx7d 01:51:00 02:09:00
55.P3ex3d 01:51:00 02:09:00
56.P7e-7f 01:51:00 02:10:00
Although it seems that this opening has been analyzed to death, there is
still no definite conclusion about who is better. This position also is
still a topic of debate. 56.P7f Sx7f P8f is one of the things that has
been tried here, but 56.P8f Sx8f P*3f and 56.P*8h Kx8h P*3f have also
been played often.
57.S7gx7f 01:58:00 02:10:00
58.P8e-8f 01:58:00 02:11:00
59.P8gx8f 03:44:00 02:11:00
60.P*8h 03:44:00 02:29:00
61.K7ix8h 03:52:00 02:29:00
62.R8bx8f 03:52:00 02:35:00
63.S7f-8g 03:56:00 02:35:00
64.R8f-8a 03:56:00 02:42:00
65.P3d-3c+ 04:14:00 02:42:00
66.G3bx3c 04:14:00 03:12:00
67.B*7b?! 04:16:00 03:12:00
This is Fukaura's new move, but it is unlikely that it will be played
more often as it seems to give white a clear advantage. In a game
between Tanigawa and Watanabe, black played N2e followed by P*1b, which
is the kind of positive attacking play suited to Tanigawa's style.
67.B*7b aims at making a promoted bishop that works both in defensive
and attack (in that order) and is therefore more suited for Fukaura's
style, who likes to limit his opponent's options. Still, after 68.R8a
B6a+ black has made his promoted bishop, but now it is white's turn to
attack, which is not considered a wise option in this type of position.
68.R8a-8b 04:16:00 03:22:00
69.B7b-6a+ 04:16:00 03:22:00
70.P*8f 04:16:00 03:25:00
71.S8g-9h 04:16:00 03:25:00
72.P*7g 04:16:00 03:34:00
73.K8hx7g 04:18:00 03:34:00
74.N7c-8e 04:18:00 03:35:00
75.K7g-6h 04:25:00 03:35:00
76.P*7g 04:25:00 03:37:00
77.G7h-7i?! 05:38:00 03:37:00
This second inaccuracy makes the black position very difficult to
defend. For example, after 77.Nx7g Nx7g+ Gx7g P8g+ Sx8g P*7f G7h B*7g
K6i Bx9i+ P*8c and if the white rook moves to 9b, black has a strong
attack with P*2b followed by N*3d.
78.P2c-2d 05:38:00 04:06:00
After messing up the black position, Habu calmly takes away the biggest
threat N2e and waits for the black attack. This is a very professional
way of playing, inviting an overplay in a position where there is no
good attacking plan.
79.P*4b 05:56:00 04:06:00
80.P*3f 05:56:00 04:50:00
81.P*3d 06:52:00 04:50:00
Not good is 81.Rx3f because of 82.B*2g.
82.G3c-3b 06:52:00 05:29:00
83.P*2c 06:53:00 05:29:00
84.S4d-3e 06:53:00 06:04:00
85.+B6a-5a 07:06:00 06:04:00
86.G3bx2c 07:06:00 06:24:00
87.R2f-2i 07:22:00 06:24:00
88.P3fx3g+ 07:22:00 06:41:00
89.+B5a-4a 07:22:00 06:41:00
90.K3a-2b 07:22:00 06:41:00
91.+B4ax7d 07:22:00 06:41:00
Habu has played the position to perfection. The black king is attacked
from both sides, while the black promoted bishop was forced to pick up
the gold on 7d, which moved it away from the attack. It seems like the
black position will fall soon and in the press room a quick end to the
game was expected. However, one of Fukaura's strengths is that he is
very good with his back against the wall. Beating him once is almost
never enough and in this game he almost manages to turn the tables.
92.P4e-4f 07:22:00 07:10:00
93.K6h-6g 07:23:00 07:10:00
94.P4f-4g+ 07:23:00 07:11:00
95.G5h-6h 07:23:00 07:11:00
96.+P4g-4f 07:23:00 07:13:00
97.K6g-7f 07:25:00 07:13:00
98.+P4fx5f 07:25:00 07:14:00
99.P5gx5f 07:25:00 07:14:00
100.P7g-7h+! 07:25:00 07:18:00
This move was praised by Abe (8-dan). It seems to just repair the bad
gold on 7i, but Habu has judged correctly that the only way to attack
the black king is with pawn drops on the 7th file.
101.G7ix7h 07:25:00 07:18:00
102.P*7e 07:25:00 07:19:00
103.+B7dx7e 07:29:00 07:19:00
104.B*3h 07:29:00 07:23:00
105.R2i-5i 07:34:00 07:23:00
106.+P3g-4h 07:34:00 07:23:00
107.+B7ex6d 07:40:00 07:23:00
108.R8b-8a 07:40:00 07:32:00
109.R5i-7i 07:40:00 07:32:00
110.B3hx5f+ 07:40:00 07:37:00
111.G7h-6g 07:41:00 07:37:00
112.P*7e 07:41:00 07:40:00
113.K7fx7e 07:41:00 07:40:00
114.P*7d 07:41:00 07:40:00
115.K7ex8f 07:43:00 07:40:00
116.N8e-7g+ 07:43:00 07:54:00
117.P*8b 07:43:00 07:54:00
118.R8ax8b! 07:43:00 07:54:00
The path to victory is very narrow, but Habu finds it.
119.+B6dx8b 07:50:00 07:54:00
120.+N7gx6g 07:50:00 07:54:00
121.P4b-4a+ 07:52:00 07:54:00
122.G*8d 07:52:00 07:54:00
123.+B8b-6d 07:54:00 07:54:00
124.S*8e 07:54:00 07:55:00
125.K8f-9g 07:54:00 07:55:00
126.P9d-9e 07:54:00 07:55:00
The difficult thing was to decide before 118.Rx8b that this move was
winning, despite the fact that it is not a mating threat. Black seems to
have all kinds of attacking threats, but none of them is sufficiently
strong enough to mate the white king in time.
127.R*8b 07:57:00 07:55:00
The alternative is 127.R*6b, because 128.P*3b (like in the game) loses
to +Bx5c. However, after 128.K1c P*1d Kx1d +Bx3g black is threatening
mate, but white is one move earlier with Sx9f K8h P*8g Sx8g Sx8g+ Kx8g
N*7e Rx7e P*8f and mate.
128.P*3b 07:57:00 07:57:00
129.+B6dx5c 07:58:00 07:57:00
130.P9ex9f 07:58:00 07:57:00
131.K9g-8h 07:58:00 07:57:00
132.+B5fx6f 07:58:00 07:57:00
133.N8i-7g 07:58:00 07:57:00
134.P9f-9g+ 07:58:00 07:57:00
135.S9hx9g 07:58:00 07:57:00
136.L9ax9g+ 07:58:00 07:57:00
137.K8hx9g 07:59:00 07:57:00
138.P*9f 07:59:00 07:57:00
139.K9g-9h 07:59:00 07:57:00
140.N*8f 07:59:00 07:57:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:57:00
Mate after 141.K8i S*7h or 141.K8h P*8g etc. The only way to avoid mate
is to take the knight with 141.+Bx8f, but after 142.Sx8f there is no
longer a mating threat against the white king while there is no defence
for black. A good start for Habu in this match, winning the first game
with the white pieces. However, for Fukaura this loss is as good as they
come, because he played very well in this game, losing only because of a
failed opening idea. Despite this, losing the second game with the white
pieces would spell trouble, so he really wants to strike back immediately.
--
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/