15th Ryu-O Match Game 6
Black: Abe Takashi, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Ryu-O
15th Ryu-O sen, Game 6, December 26th and 27th 2002
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:05:00
3.G6i-7h 00:04:00 00:05:00
4.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:07:00
5.S7i-6h 00:07:00 00:07:00
6.P3c-3d 00:07:00 00:10:00
7.P6g-6f 00:07:00 00:10:00
8.S7a-6b 00:07:00 00:12:00
9.P5g-5f 00:09:00 00:12:00
10.P5c-5d 00:09:00 00:14:00
11.S3i-4h 00:10:00 00:14:00
12.S3a-4b 00:10:00 00:19:00
13.G4i-5h 00:12:00 00:19:00
14.K5a-4a 00:12:00 00:25:00
15.K5i-6i 00:13:00 00:25:00
16.P7c-7d 00:13:00 00:27:00
17.G5h-6g 00:18:00 00:27:00
18.G6a-5b 00:18:00 00:40:00
19.S6h-7g 00:19:00 00:40:00
20.S4b-3c 00:19:00 00:43:00
21.B8h-7i 00:20:00 00:43:00
22.B2b-3a 00:20:00 00:45:00
23.P3g-3f 00:21:00 00:45:00
24.P4c-4d 00:21:00 00:50:00
25.B7i-6h 01:14:00 00:50:00
26.G5b-4c 01:14:00 02:15:00
27.K6i-7i 01:15:00 02:15:00
28.B3a-6d 01:15:00 02:16:00
29.N2i-3g 01:43:00 02:16:00
30.K4a-3a 01:43:00 02:16:00
31.R2h-3h 01:43:00 02:16:00
32.K3a-2b 01:43:00 02:17:00
33.K7i-8h 02:04:00 02:17:00
Except for the very first game, the opening in this match has been
quite predictable. Yagura in the games where Abe has black and Yokofudori
in the games where Habu has black. After the gruelling game 4, Habu
seems to have lost confidence in the early edge attack he played
against Abe's Morishita System. In this game he plays a very orthodox
Yagura opening.
34.P8d-8e 02:04:00 02:31:00
35.P2g-2f 02:31:00 02:31:00
36.S6b-5c 02:31:00 02:42:00
37.S4h-5g 02:46:00 02:42:00
38.S3c-2d 02:46:00 02:53:00
39.S5g-4f 03:21:00 02:53:00
40.P9c-9d 03:21:00 03:09:00
41.P1g-1f 03:25:00 03:09:00
42.P1c-1d 03:25:00 03:14:00
43.L1i-1h 03:32:00 03:14:00
44.P9d-9e 03:32:00 04:03:00
45.P6f-6e 04:00:00 04:03:00
46.B6d-7c 04:00:00 04:05:00
47.N3g-2e 04:00:00 04:05:00
48.S5c-4b 04:00:00 04:12:00
This is a position that Abe has played before. In a 1997 Junisen
game he played the black pieces against Ono. There it followed
49.P5e Px5e P1e Px1e P3e P4e Sx4e Px3e P7e and in the end white won.
Other moves that have been tried are 49.P3e and 49.P1e.
49.P5f-5e 05:27:00 04:12:00
Abe plays the same move he played against Ono. It is highly likely that
he had some improvement of the black play, but we will not know that in
this game.
50.P4d-4e 05:27:00 04:46:00
Habu is the one who varies first. After 50.Px5e black can play 50.P3e or
50.P1e which is also playable for both sides. In other positions, 50.P4e
is a common response to a black pawn push, but in this position it took
Abe completely by surprise.
51.S4fx4e 05:30:00 04:46:00
52.B7cx5e 05:30:00 04:46:00
53.P4g-4f!? 06:12:00 04:46:00
Hard to play as it seems that white can now just exchange the pawns on
the 8th file after 54.P8f Px8f Rx8f. However, Habu said after the game
that he was in trouble after P4f. He might have been counting on 53.B4f
Bx4f Px4f P*4d S5f B*2g which favours white.
54.B5e-7c 06:12:00 06:13:00
Played after 87 long minutes. It is unclear why Habu didn't play 54.P8f
here. After 54.B7c, white wins a silver, but black gets a very strong
attack in the centre. No way of telling who has the advantage.
55.S7g-6f 06:13:00 06:13:00
56.P8e-8f 06:13:00 06:14:00
57.P8gx8f 06:16:00 06:14:00
58.P5d-5e 06:16:00 06:14:00
59.B6h-7g 06:26:00 06:14:00
60.P*4d 06:26:00 06:29:00
61.S6fx5e 06:26:00 06:29:00
62.P4dx4e 06:26:00 06:29:00
63.P4fx4e 06:26:00 06:29:00
64.S4b-3c 06:26:00 06:46:00
65.S5e-4d 06:37:00 06:46:00
66.S2dx2e 06:37:00 07:08:00
67.P2fx2e 06:39:00 07:08:00
68.S*4g 06:39:00 07:08:00
69.R3h-6h? 06:46:00 07:08:00
An important mistake. Correct was 69.R3i B2h+ R7i (R5i seems to fail to
Gx4d Px4d S*5h, but even that is difficult to judge) Gx4d Px4d N*5e G*4c
Sx4d Gx4d P*8e Px8e N7c which results in a difficult position.
70.N*5f 06:46:00 07:10:00
71.S*4a? 07:02:00 07:10:00
The second mistake in a row changes the black position from questionable
to losing. Here 71.Sx4c+ was the only way to stay in the game. After
72.Gx4c, black can choose between 73.S*4d Nx6h+ G6gx6h S*3b Sx4c+ Sx4c
G*5c S*3b P4d or 73.R6i S5h= R2i S*6i. Both variations are far from easy
for white. This might have been a moment where the pressure of becoming
Ryu-O title holder might have clouded Abe's judgement.
72.N5fx6h+ 07:02:00 07:12:00
73.S4ax3b+ 07:02:00 07:12:00
74.K2bx3b 07:02:00 07:12:00
75.G6gx6h 07:02:00 07:12:00
76.R*5i 07:02:00 07:16:00
77.N*5e 07:14:00 07:16:00
78.G4cx4d 07:14:00 07:36:00
79.P4ex4d 07:15:00 07:36:00
80.R5ix5e+?! 07:15:00 07:36:00
Strange. The general opinion in the press room was that 80.Sx4d would
win easily here. For example, 81.G*4c K2b Nx6c+ B5e and here Habu
feared G*6i, but after R2i+ Gx4d S*6f is winning for white.
81.G*4c 07:32:00 07:36:00
82.K3b-2b 07:32:00 07:36:00
83.P*5b? 07:39:00 07:36:00
A desperate attempt at trying to keep the white king contained, but this
overlooks white's reply. Better was 83.Bx5e Bx5e N7g B*4f and even though
it seems white is still winning, black has more chances of setting up a
good attack than in the game.
84.+R5ex2e! 07:39:00 07:41:00
Now the white king can escape up the board and there is no way for black
to prevent this.
85.P*2f 07:50:00 07:41:00
86.+R2ex3f 07:50:00 07:48:00
87.P*3b 07:53:00 07:48:00
88.N*6f 07:53:00 07:52:00
89.P3b-3a+ 07:54:00 07:52:00
90.N6fx7h+ 07:54:00 07:52:00
91.G6hx7h 07:54:00 07:52:00
92.S*6i 07:54:00 07:52:00
93.G*6h 07:56:00 07:52:00
94.S6ix7h+ 07:56:00 07:53:00
95.G6hx7h 07:56:00 07:53:00
96.P*8g 07:56:00 07:54:00
97.K8hx8g 07:56:00 07:54:00
98.S*6i 07:56:00 07:56:00
99.S*6g 07:59:00 07:56:00
100.K2b-1c!? 07:59:00 07:57:00
This move shows how important it is for Habu to win this game. The
professional way of playing this position is attacking the black king
as soon as you are convinced that your attack is one move faster than
your opponent's. However, in this special case Habu opts for a tactic
that strong amateurs often play: rather than winning, make a position
from which it is impossible to lose. The game will last longer, but Abe
gets no chance to turn the tables.
101.+P3ax2a 07:59:00 07:57:00
102.K1c-2d 07:59:00 07:57:00
103.B7g-6h 07:59:00 07:57:00
104.B7c-4f 07:59:00 07:57:00
105.B6hx4f 07:59:00 07:57:00
106.+R3fx4f 07:59:00 07:57:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:57:00
In this position without hope Abe resigned. A game that will be
remembered for the pressure upon both players rather than the playing
level. Abe will be disappointed that he was not able to convert a
promising middle game position. However, he will get another chance
in the decisive game. Habu or Abe, who will be the next Ryu-O?