14th Ryu-O Match Game 4
Black: Fujii Takeshi, Ryu-O
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger
14th Ryu-O sen, Game 4, November 20th and 21st 2001
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:03:00
3.P6g-6f 00:03:00 00:03:00
4.S7a-6b 00:03:00 00:04:00
5.R2h-6h 00:06:00 00:04:00
6.K5a-4b 00:06:00 00:08:00
7.P1g-1f 00:08:00 00:08:00
8.K4b-3b 00:08:00 00:10:00
9.S3i-3h 00:17:00 00:10:00
10.P5c-5d 00:17:00 00:27:00
Only five days before this game, both players met in the fifth round
of the A class Junisen. In that game, Habu played the Migishikenbisha
(P6d followed by S6c, S7d and R6b) and won a very short and very wild
game. In this game, Habu plays a more orthodox plan.
11.P1f-1e 00:57:00 00:27:00
12.S6b-5c 00:57:00 01:01:00
13.S7i-7h 01:38:00 01:01:00
14.G6a-5b 01:38:00 01:41:00
15.G6i-5h 02:01:00 01:41:00
16.P8c-8d 02:01:00 01:58:00
17.B8h-7g 02:10:00 01:58:00
18.P8d-8e 02:10:00 02:02:00
19.S7h-6g 02:21:00 02:02:00
20.B2b-3c 02:21:00 02:17:00
21.P4g-4f 02:36:00 02:17:00
22.K3b-2b 02:36:00 02:23:00
23.P3g-3f 02:38:00 02:23:00
24.P4c-4d 02:38:00 02:40:00
25.N2i-3g 02:45:00 02:40:00
26.G5b-4c 02:45:00 02:44:00
27.P6f-6e 02:47:00 02:44:00
28.G4a-3b 02:47:00 02:48:00
29.S3h-4g 02:51:00 02:48:00
30.L1a-1b 02:51:00 03:17:00
More than anything else, Habu seems to be playing a psychological
game here. He is 2-1 up and playing white, so he is not under a lot
of pressure to win this game. He has decided to face the Fujii system
head on. Losing such a game would be a pity but not devastating.
However, winning it would not only give him a 3-1 lead with three
to play, but also send a message to Fujii that he can beat his famous
system. Habu probably didn't find any technical way to fight Fujii's
Furibisha opening, so psychology is his main weapon.
31.N3g-2e 02:57:00 03:17:00
32.B3c-4b 02:57:00 03:23:00
33.P4f-4e 02:57:00 03:23:00
34.P5d-5e 02:57:00 03:28:00
35.S4g-4f 03:02:00 03:28:00
36.P2c-2d 03:02:00 03:30:00
37.S4fx5e 03:03:00 03:30:00
38.P2dx2e 03:03:00 03:30:00
39.P4ex4d 03:03:00 03:30:00
40.G4c-3c 03:03:00 03:30:00
41.S6g-5f 03:05:00 03:30:00
42.P8e-8f 03:05:00 04:33:00
43.P8gx8f 03:10:00 04:33:00
44.S5cx4d 03:10:00 04:34:00
45.S5ex4d 03:12:00 04:34:00
46.B4bx8f 03:12:00 04:34:00
47.S4dx3c+ 03:12:00 04:34:00
48.N2ax3c 03:12:00 04:35:00
49.P*8e 03:33:00 04:35:00
This all looks pretty wild, but has actually been played a number
of times before. Fujii and Habu also played this position before in
television game in January 2000. Fujii won that game, but he was not
happy with the way the opening went after 49.Bx8f Rx8f P*8h S*7i
S*7g. In this game he plays 49.P*8e instead, sacrificing a pawn to
pull the rook closer.
50.R8bx8e 03:33:00 05:25:00
51.S*8h 03:52:00 05:25:00
52.P*5e 03:52:00 05:29:00
53.S5f-4g 04:27:00 05:29:00
54.B8fx7g+ 04:27:00 05:49:00
55.N8ix7g 04:28:00 05:49:00
Fujii's idea. This knight now attacks the rook. After saving the rook
it is black's turn to move.
56.R8e-8d 04:28:00 05:49:00
57.B*7e 05:21:00 05:49:00
58.R8d-7d 05:21:00 05:57:00
59.P*4d 05:24:00 05:57:00
60.P*4f 05:24:00 06:44:00
The first critical phase of the game. There are too many weaknesses
in white's camp to play a patient game.
61.P4d-4c+ 07:06:00 06:44:00
61.Sx4f Rx4d P*4e R7d followed by B*2h next is good for white, so it
was either P4c+ or S3h here. Therefore, more than anything, after the
game Fujii regretted that he spent so much time on this move (102
minutes). Most of this time was spent on a move Habu didn't play and
we will soon see that Fujii really could have used some extra minutes
in the difficult endgame that is to follow.
62.P4fx4g+? 07:06:00 06:50:00
Played after only 6 minutes, but a mistake. Correct was 62.Gx4c. Fujii
feared this simple move, as black has no continuation after either
63.G*2c Kx2c B3a+ S*3b or 63.Sx4f S3b.
63.B7ex3a+! 07:12:00 06:50:00
Strong sacrifice. The attack with only generals is very dangerous. Black
has the upper hand here.
64.G3bx3a 07:12:00 06:50:00
65.G5hx4g 07:12:00 06:50:00
66.S*2d 07:12:00 07:08:00
67.S*4b 07:16:00 07:08:00
68.G3ax4b 07:16:00 07:09:00
69.+P4cx4b 07:16:00 07:09:00
70.S*2c 07:16:00 07:11:00
71.G*4c 07:24:00 07:11:00
72.P*4f 07:24:00 07:13:00
Surprisingly, it is not so easy to finish off the white king. Habu even
has time to put some pressure on his opponent. A tough decision here:
attack or defend?
73.G*3b 07:49:00 07:13:00
In character, Fujii picks attack.
74.S2cx3b 07:49:00 07:13:00
75.+P4bx3b 07:49:00 07:13:00
76.K2b-2c 07:49:00 07:13:00
77.S*1a 07:52:00 07:13:00
Interesting way of using a silver in attack. It probably is the only
move, but Habu might just survive anyway. The time difference here is
a big factor: Fujii has only 8 minutes left for the rest of the game,
while Habu still has 47 minutes.
78.P3d-3e 07:52:00 07:32:00
This endgame has so many variations that it is impossible to tell if
this or 78.Sx1e is better. After 78.Sx1e +Px3c K2d S2b+ (a mating
threat) N*1f G3g is also very difficult.
79.P3fx3e 07:52:00 07:32:00
80.S*3a! 07:52:00 07:33:00
Nice defensive sacrifice that gives white time to escape. Some thought
that Habu would quickly win from here. However, this is far from over yet.
81.+P3bx3a 07:52:00 07:33:00
82.S2dx3e 07:52:00 07:33:00
83.S*3f? 07:52:00 07:33:00
Ouchi (9-dan), who is famous for his endgame strength, pointed out that
83.G3f is probably good for black. 83.G3f 84.Sx3f 85.S*3e is not a mating
threat, but puts the white king in so much danger that white can't even
afford to give black a knight. Moreover, 86.P4g+ is not a mating threat,
so this will not help. Habu planned to play 86.G*3d, but after 87.S2b+
Kx2b Sx3d Rx3d G*3b K2c G3bx3c Rx3c Gx3c Kx3c R*3b K4d Rx3f+ black wins.
84.K2c-3d? 07:52:00 07:37:00
White has dodged a bullet, but this is making things very complicated
again. Correct was pulling back the silver with 84.S2d and black has
no moves to continue his attack.
85.S3fx3e 07:52:00 07:37:00
86.K3dx4c 07:52:00 07:37:00
87.P*4d 07:54:00 07:37:00
88.K4c-5b 07:54:00 07:40:00
89.S3ex4f 07:54:00 07:40:00
Habu has escaped but is still without much of a defense while Fujii's
position is quite solid. It is hard to say who is better here.
90.B*8i 07:54:00 07:47:00
91.P6e-6d 07:56:00 07:47:00
92.G*6g 07:56:00 07:53:00
93.R6h-3h 07:56:00 07:53:00
94.P*3d 07:56:00 07:53:00
95.P4d-4c+ 07:56:00 07:53:00
96.K5b-6b 07:56:00 07:54:00
97.K5i-4h 07:56:00 07:54:00
98.P2e-2f 07:56:00 07:54:00
99.P2gx2f 07:56:00 07:54:00
100.R7dx7f 07:56:00 07:54:00
101.P*8d 07:58:00 07:54:00
102.R7f-8f 07:58:00 07:54:00
103.R3hx3d 07:59:00 07:54:00
104.R8fx8h+ 07:59:00 07:56:00
105.P*7h? 07:59:00 07:56:00
This is a standard pawn sacrifice to either block the rook or the
bishop, but here it is a blunder. After the simple 105.K3g, Habu
planned to play 106.Gx5g. Black can win after 107.Gx5g Bx3d+ S*5c K7a
P*7b Kx7b G*8c K6a S5b=, but after 107.Gx5g white has a complicated
mate starting with 108.P*3f. Habu thought this was his best winning
chance, but he also saw that objectively jishogi is the most likely
outcome after 107.+P5c Kx5c Rx3c+ K6d Gx5g K7e. If only Fujii would
have had a couple of minutes more here...
106.G*2g! 07:59:00 07:56:00
Of course. Now the black king can not escape up the board anymore.
107.P6dx6c+ 07:59:00 07:56:00
108.K6bx6c 07:59:00 07:56:00
109.G4g-3g 07:59:00 07:56:00
110.+R8hx7h 07:59:00 07:56:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:56:00
111.S*5h is mate after Gx5h Gx5h +Rx5h Kx5h N*6f etc. and after 111.K4g
P*3e black has no defense. Another hard battle between Habu and Fujii,
but despite all this good and interesting shogi Habu now has comfortable
lead of 3-1 in this match. It seems very likely that he will add an
extra crown to the four he already holds. Fujii is very tough, but
winning three games in a row against Habu....