18th Ryu-O Match Game 3
[Black "Kimura Kazuki, Challenger"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Ryu-O"]
[Event "18th Ryu-O sen, Game 3"]
[Date "November 17th and 18th 2005"]
1.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.P7g-7f 00:03:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:03:00 00:05:00
5.G6i-7h 00:06:00 00:05:00
6.P4c-4d 00:06:00 00:07:00
Again Watanabe surprises everyone. In the first game he exchanged
bishops here and this time he again doesn't play the R8e-Yokofudori,
but the slow fight 6.P4d. The simple idea is to get the game out of
known territory, which means that black has to think himself about
how to keep the advantage of having the first move. 6.P4d was played
twice in the recent Oza match between Habu and Sato and this has made
it suddenly a quite popular opening among professionals. However, like
in the first game, it is the first time that Watanabe has played this
opening in an official game. The winning percentage for black in this
opening is good, but Kimura has lost twice against it this season, which
might have played a role in Watanabe's decision.
7.P2f-2e 00:10:00 00:07:00
8.B2b-3c 00:10:00 00:08:00
9.S3i-4h 00:15:00 00:08:00
10.G6a-5b 00:15:00 00:12:00
11.P4g-4f 00:19:00 00:12:00
12.G5b-4c 00:19:00 00:17:00
13.S4h-4g 00:25:00 00:17:00
14.S7a-6b 00:25:00 00:21:00
15.K5i-6i 00:29:00 00:21:00
16.P5c-5d 00:29:00 00:30:00
17.G4i-5h 00:39:00 00:30:00
18.K5a-4a 00:39:00 00:37:00
19.B8h-7g 00:44:00 00:37:00
20.S3a-2b 00:44:00 00:46:00
21.P3g-3f 00:48:00 00:46:00
22.B3c-4b 00:48:00 00:49:00
23.B7g-5i 00:58:00 00:49:00
24.S2b-3c 00:58:00 00:53:00
25.S7i-6h 01:16:00 00:53:00
26.K4a-3a 01:16:00 00:58:00
27.P6g-6f 01:27:00 00:58:00
28.K3a-2b 01:27:00 01:12:00
29.S4g-5f 01:35:00 01:12:00
30.P7c-7d 01:35:00 02:10:00
31.B5i-3g 01:43:00 02:10:00
It looks like black is trying to build an attacking formation, but
Kimura is actually aiming at taking away all of white's options,
forcing him into an overplay. Rather than the silver on 5f, this
bishop ties a number of white pieces.
32.N8a-7c 01:43:00 02:10:00
33.P4f-4e 01:53:00 02:10:00
34.P4dx4e 01:53:00 02:11:00
35.S5fx4e 01:53:00 02:11:00
36.P9c-9d 01:53:00 02:17:00
37.R2h-4h 02:07:00 02:17:00
Here black has a choice. The alternative is 37.S5f R7b (defending
against S6e next) P*4e to take a vanguard pawn position. However,
in this case white has a pawn in hand, which can be used to start
an attack. As pointed out, Kimura is aiming at taking away attacking
options by his opponent and 37.R4h forces a pawn drop on 4d.
38.P*4d 02:07:00 02:17:00
39.S4e-5f 02:07:00 02:17:00
40.R8b-7b 02:07:00 02:17:00
41.P9g-9f 02:26:00 02:17:00
42.P8c-8d 02:26:00 02:19:00
43.K6i-7i 02:59:00 02:19:00
44.L9a-9c 02:59:00 03:16:00
45.S6h-7g 03:09:00 03:16:00
46.S6b-5c 03:09:00 03:21:00
47.G5h-6g 03:41:00 03:21:00
48.S5c-6d 03:41:00 03:24:00
49.S7g-8f 03:49:00 03:24:00
50.L1a-1b 03:49:00 03:47:00
The sealed move. In the press room nobody expected it (the general
opinion was that white would play 50.P1d), but Watanabe saw it as his
only option. Kimura's cautious play begins to bear fruit. Watanabe is
running out of reasonable moves.
51.K7i-8h 04:01:00 03:47:00
52.K2b-1a 04:01:00 03:48:00
53.L1i-1h 04:29:00 03:48:00
54.B4b-5c 04:29:00 04:28:00
55.R4h-2h 05:28:00 04:28:00
56.N7c-8e 05:28:00 04:41:00
57.P1g-1f 05:39:00 04:41:00
58.S3c-2b 05:39:00 05:24:00
59.P1f-1e 05:56:00 05:24:00
60.B5c-4b 05:56:00 05:50:00
61.N2i-1g 06:29:00 05:50:00
Kimura's strategy has been a complete success. Black is now threatening
to start the attack with P2d Px2d P*2e and white has no decent counter
against that. Therefore, Watanabe is forced into action with a position
that is not really ready for it.
62.P5d-5e 06:29:00 05:59:00
63.S5fx5e 06:30:00 05:59:00
64.S6dx5e 06:30:00 05:59:00
65.B3gx5e 06:30:00 05:59:00
66.P9d-9e 06:30:00 05:59:00
67.P9fx9e 06:30:00 05:59:00
68.P7d-7e 06:30:00 05:59:00
69.P7fx7e 06:35:00 05:59:00
70.S*6d 06:35:00 05:59:00
71.B5e-3g 06:36:00 05:59:00
72.S6dx7e 06:36:00 05:59:00
73.S*7c 06:48:00 05:59:00
74.R7b-7a 06:48:00 06:26:00
75.S8fx8e 07:03:00 06:26:00
76.P8dx8e 07:03:00 06:26:00
77.P*7f 07:03:00 06:26:00
78.S7e-8f 07:03:00 06:30:00
79.P8gx8f 07:06:00 06:30:00
80.P8ex8f 07:06:00 06:30:00
81.P2e-2d? 07:09:00 06:30:00
An important mistake. This gives white an extra pawn in hand, which
turns the tables. If Kimura would have played either 81.S*7g directly
or 81.N*7i, he would have kept the advantage.
82.P2cx2d 07:09:00 06:38:00
83.S*7g 07:15:00 06:38:00
84.S*8g 07:15:00 07:04:00
85.G7hx8g 07:15:00 07:04:00
86.P8fx8g+ 07:15:00 07:04:00
87.K8hx8g 07:15:00 07:04:00
88.P*8f 07:15:00 07:04:00
89.S7gx8f 07:15:00 07:04:00
90.P*8e 07:15:00 07:04:00
91.S8f-7g 07:15:00 07:04:00
92.G*4g 07:15:00 07:06:00
93.B3g-5e 07:15:00 07:06:00
94.R7a-5a 07:15:00 07:06:00
95.P5g-5f 07:16:00 07:06:00
96.P*5d 07:16:00 07:06:00
The point. Without the pawn exchange on 2d, white would not have had
this pawn to drop on 5d.
97.S7c-6b= 07:26:00 07:06:00
98.P5dx5e 07:26:00 07:06:00
99.S6bx5a= 07:26:00 07:06:00
100.B4bx5a 07:26:00 07:06:00
White has won material and the position is now better for Watanabe.
Still, the difference is marginal and Kimura gets another chance.
101.R*7b 07:35:00 07:06:00
102.B5a-4b 07:35:00 07:09:00
103.S*4a 07:36:00 07:09:00
104.G3b-3a 07:36:00 07:23:00
105.P*2c 07:39:00 07:23:00
106.S2bx2c 07:39:00 07:23:00
107.S4a-5b= 07:40:00 07:23:00
108.S*8f 07:40:00 07:35:00
109.K8g-8h 07:41:00 07:35:00
110.G4c-5c 07:41:00 07:40:00
111.S7gx8f 07:42:00 07:40:00
112.P8ex8f 07:42:00 07:40:00
113.P*4c 07:42:00 07:40:00
114.B*6i? 07:42:00 07:44:00
Underestimates the reply. 114.B3c was correct.
115.N*7i! 07:43:00 07:44:00
This must have been an unpleasant surprise for Watanabe. He thought
black had to play 115.N*7h here, which is good for white after 116.S*8g.
116.P*7h 07:43:00 07:52:00
No choice. 116.S*8g K7g or 116.P8g+ Nx8g P*8f S*7h and black can hold
the position.
117.R2hx7h 07:53:00 07:52:00
118.B4b-3c! 07:53:00 07:56:00
Watanabe shows he is very cool under pressure. 118.Bx7h+ Kx7h Px5f looks
winning for white, but then Px4b+ P5g+ (mating threat) Gx5g! Gx5g +Px3a
and even though the black king looks very dangerous, there is no mate.
On the other hand, black is threatening mate after B*3c. The interesting
thing is that after the game it was clear that Kimura had read this
variation until the end, while Watanabe had paid almost no attention
to it. It is a feature of Watanabe's play that he avoids risky variations
as much as possible. This is something he has in common with a lot of
amateurs, but of course the difference is that he knows exactly the difference
between safe and over-cautious.
119.G6g-6h? 07:56:00 07:56:00
The final mistake. After the simple 119.R2h, white is in trouble. For example,
120.Lx9e Lx9e P*7h K7g Px7i+ Kx8f and it is not easy to stop the black king
from escaping up the board.
120.B6ix7h+ 07:56:00 07:56:00
121.G6hx7h 07:56:00 07:56:00
122.R*2h 07:56:00 07:56:00
123.K8h-7g 07:56:00 07:56:00
124.R2hx1h+ 07:56:00 07:56:00
125.P*8e 07:56:00 07:56:00
126.L*8a 07:56:00 07:57:00
127.S*7d 07:57:00 07:57:00
128.G4g-5g 07:57:00 07:57:00
129.B*7e 07:57:00 07:57:00
130.G5c-6d 07:57:00 07:59:00
This gold is a safeguard against any escape up the board by the black king.
131.B7ex8f 07:57:00 07:59:00
132.S*6i 07:57:00 07:59:00
133.G7h-8h 07:57:00 07:59:00
134.+R1h-6h 07:57:00 07:59:00
135.K7g-8g 07:57:00 07:59:00
136.+R6hx7i 07:57:00 07:59:00
137.G8h-9g 07:59:00 07:59:00
138.+R7i-7h 07:59:00 07:59:00
139.K8g-9f 07:59:00 07:59:00
140.+R7hx7f 07:59:00 07:59:00
141.S7d-8c= 07:59:00 07:59:00
142.N*7c 07:59:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00
This threatens mate: 144.Lx9e Kx9e +Rx8e, which can only be defended by a
move like 143.N7g, but then 144.G7e or Lx8c is winning easily for white.
Kimura said after the game that he was embarrassed by losing three in a
row and that pretty much sums it up. He has had chances to win the first
and the third game and in this third game he got exactly the position he
likes. If he can't beat Watanabe in these positions, it is hard to see how
he can win a game at all. He is an 0-3 hole and never before has anyone
been able to dig himself out of it. It seems highly unlikely that Kimura
will be the first, but maybe if he can get a win in the next game, he might
put a little bit of pressure on Watanabe.