23rd Ryu-O Match Game 4
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Ryu-O"]
[Event "23rd Ryu-O sen, Game 4"]
[Date "November 25th and 26th 2010"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:02:00
Watanabe gives Habu the option to pick his opening. It becomes the Kakugawari
opening, which is the first time in this match. However, between the second and
third game of this match, Habu and Watanabe played a game in the Osho league,
which also had a Kakugawari opening strategy.
3.G6i-7h 00:07:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:07:00 00:06:00
5.P2g-2f 00:11:00 00:06:00
6.P8d-8e 00:11:00 00:23:00
7.B8h-7g 00:13:00 00:23:00
8.P3c-3d 00:13:00 00:25:00
9.S7i-8h 00:14:00 00:25:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:14:00 00:27:00
11.S8hx7g 00:30:00 00:27:00
12.S3a-4b 00:30:00 00:28:00
13.S3i-3h 00:32:00 00:28:00
14.S7a-7b 00:32:00 00:33:00
15.P9g-9f 00:35:00 00:33:00
16.P9c-9d 00:35:00 00:35:00
17.P4g-4f 00:38:00 00:35:00
18.P6c-6d 00:38:00 00:37:00
19.S3h-4g 00:42:00 00:37:00
20.S7b-6c 00:42:00 00:38:00
21.K5i-6h 00:45:00 00:38:00
22.K5a-4a 00:45:00 00:50:00
23.P1g-1f 00:50:00 00:50:00
24.P1c-1d 00:50:00 00:51:00
25.S4g-5f 01:04:00 00:51:00
26.K4a-3a 01:04:00 00:56:00
27.K6h-7i 01:08:00 00:56:00
28.G6a-5b 01:08:00 01:14:00
29.G4i-5h 01:24:00 01:14:00
30.S6c-5d 01:24:00 01:14:00
31.P3g-3f 01:24:00 01:14:00
32.P4c-4d 01:24:00 01:21:00
33.P6g-6f 01:33:00 01:21:00
34.P7c-7d 01:33:00 01:22:00
35.N2i-3g 01:35:00 01:22:00
36.S4b-3c 01:35:00 01:38:00
37.R2h-4h 01:52:00 01:38:00
38.G5b-4b 01:52:00 01:39:00
In the aforementioned Osho league game, Watanabe played the orthodox Symmetrical
Reclining Silver, which is the most deeply analyzed opening in shogi. Habu played
the sharpest variation there, but Watanabe won the game with some good defense.
Interestingly, the Kakugawari opening is considered to be a tough opening mentally
to play with white, because it almost never happens that white can attack before the
black attack runs out of steam. This seems completely against Watanabe's playing
style, because he likes to have the initiative. Still, Watanabe often plays this
opening with white, and he has good results with it. In any case, despite winning
the Osho league game, Watanabe decides not to wait for Habu's opening preparation
and avoids the complete symmetrical position here.
39.K7i-8h 02:02:00 01:39:00
40.K3a-2b 02:02:00 01:40:00
41.P2f-2e 02:39:00 01:40:00
42.P6d-6e 02:39:00 01:46:00
43.B*6d 03:16:00 01:46:00
44.R8b-9b 03:16:00 01:47:00
45.P4f-4e 03:17:00 01:47:00
46.P4dx4e 03:17:00 01:48:00
Habu has also deviated from the most well-known variations to avoid Watanabe's
preparation and suddenly we are in a position that has only been played a few
times before. 46.Sx4e and 46.Nx4e has been played most often here, but Habu
decides to play a move that has been played only once before.
47.P3f-3e 03:18:00 01:48:00
It seems like 47.Sx4e is the most natural move here, but Habu thought this is
too simple. His motivation is an important lesson: try to pick moves that give
the opponent a wide range of options for which it is unclear which ones are good
or bad. If there is only one move, it is impossible to make a mistake.
48.P4e-4f! 03:18:00 03:00:00
Instead of making a mistake, Watanabe shows what a special player he is. Only a
very few professionals would consider this move, because this pawn can be taken
by either rook or bishop, so it seems pointless. However, Habu soon realized that
after 48.Rx4f Px3e Sx4e P*4d Sx4d Sx4d Rx4d Px6f the bishop on 6d is not effective
and it is hard for black to continue the attack.
49.B6dx4f 04:35:00 03:00:00
50.P*4d 04:35:00 03:17:00
The point of 48.P4f. By dropping this pawn back on 4d after black has blocked
the rook with the bishop, white suddenly has a little time and space to defend
against the black attack.
51.P3ex3d 04:37:00 03:17:00
52.S3cx3d 04:37:00 03:17:00
53.P*3e 04:37:00 03:17:00
54.S3d-4c 04:37:00 03:17:00
55.P*4e 04:37:00 03:17:00
56.P4dx4e 04:37:00 03:43:00
57.S5fx4e 04:37:00 03:43:00
58.P*4d 04:37:00 04:20:00
59.S4ex5d 04:52:00 04:20:00
60.P5cx5d 04:52:00 04:20:00
61.P*4e 04:55:00 04:20:00
The third time that Habu puts a pawn on 4e. Black has to break through on the 4th
file or his attack will run out of steam. Watanabe was a little surprised, because
he thought that after 62.Px4e, black would have no option but to try 63.Nx4e P*4d
S*5c which is a double edged sword. Black seems to have a strong attack, but white
gets a lot of pieces in hand and if the black attack runs out of steam, he will
lose quickly. However, Habu has something else up his sleeve.
62.P4dx4e 04:55:00 04:51:00
63.B4f-6d! 04:56:00 04:51:00
This allows black to attack without putting the knight in jeopardy on 4e.
64.S*5e 04:56:00 06:02:00
65.B6dx4b+ 06:01:00 06:02:00
66.G3bx4b 06:01:00 06:02:00
67.P2e-2d? 06:01:00 06:02:00
Habu regretted this move, pointing out after the game that he should have played
67.Nx4e immediately here. He did not play this, because he thought that 68.P*4g Rx4g
P8f would be a problem, but black doesn't have to take this pawn. After G*5c Px8g+
Kx8g black has the advantage.
68.P2cx2d 06:01:00 06:08:00
69.N3gx4e 06:05:00 06:08:00
70.P*4g 06:05:00 06:10:00
71.R4hx4g 06:12:00 06:10:00
72.P*4f 06:12:00 06:17:00
The difference. Because of the pawn sacrifice on 2d, white now has two pawns in hand
with which he can shut out the black rook. A small difference, but now it is white
who gets the upper hand in this game.
73.R4g-3g 06:24:00 06:17:00
74.S5e-4d 06:24:00 06:19:00
75.S*3d 06:42:00 06:19:00
76.S4cx3d 06:42:00 06:39:00
77.P3ex3d 06:42:00 06:39:00
78.P*3f 06:42:00 06:40:00
79.R3g-2g 06:49:00 06:40:00
80.S*3e 06:49:00 07:17:00
81.P3d-3c+ 06:52:00 07:17:00
Here Habu had counted on 81.P*2e B*4i Px2d, but he realized that after Bx2g+ S*3c
Nx3c G*2c K3a Px3c+ K4a the white king escapes and without major pieces, it cannot
be caught. However, after 81.P3c+ the white king also escapes to the center of the
board where it is very hard to mate.
82.G4bx3c 06:52:00 07:18:00
83.N4ex3c+ 06:52:00 07:18:00
84.K2bx3c 06:52:00 07:18:00
85.P*4e 06:53:00 07:18:00
86.S4dx4e 06:53:00 07:18:00
87.S*5c 06:53:00 07:18:00
88.K3c-3d 06:53:00 07:31:00
89.G*4d 06:55:00 07:31:00
90.S3ex4d 06:55:00 07:31:00
91.S5cx4d+ 06:55:00 07:31:00
92.K3dx4d 06:55:00 07:31:00
93.R2gx2d 06:55:00 07:31:00
94.G*3d 06:55:00 07:32:00
95.R2dx2a+ 06:55:00 07:32:00
96.S*6i 06:55:00 07:35:00
97.G5h-6h 07:11:00 07:35:00
98.S6ix7h+ 07:11:00 07:35:00
99.G6hx7h 07:11:00 07:35:00
100.P4f-4g+ 07:11:00 07:35:00
101.P*4f 07:15:00 07:35:00
102.+P4gx4f 07:15:00 07:35:00
103.S*6d 07:16:00 07:35:00
104.+P4fx5g 07:16:00 07:43:00
105.G*2e 07:25:00 07:43:00
106.B*4b? 07:25:00 07:45:00
Watanabe has played very well up until this point, but under a little bit of time
pressure, he makes a mistake. This is a tempting move, as the black attack is no
longer obvious and the bishop on 4b points indirectly into the black castle, making
it impossible for the silver on 6d to move. However, correct was 106.G*2b. A
defense-only move, but a very effective one. After 107.+R3a G3b +R4a P*4c the white
king is safe and the black king will soon fall.
107.S*5c 07:26:00 07:45:00
108.B4bx5c 07:26:00 07:45:00
109.G2ex3d 07:26:00 07:45:00
110.S4ex3d 07:26:00 07:45:00
111.S6dx5c= 07:26:00 07:45:00
112.K4dx5c 07:26:00 07:46:00
Now the king is pulled back into its own camp, which makes it easier to attack.
113.P*4e 07:26:00 07:46:00
114.S*6i? 07:26:00 07:54:00
Hard to see, but here Watanabe misses his last chance to make a fight of it. He
should have played 114.Sx4e here and answer 115.Px6e with 116.G*3d!. This provides
an escape for the white king and it is not easy for black to prevent the white king
from running away to the right side.
115.B*4d 07:30:00 07:54:00
116.K5c-6c 07:30:00 07:54:00
117.+R2a-6a 07:50:00 07:54:00
118.K6c-7c 07:50:00 07:57:00
Watanabe had counted on 118.G*6b here, but here he saw that 119.N*5e Px5e Bx6b+
Rx6b G*6d Kx6d +Rx6b G*6c G*5d Kx5d R*4d is mate. There is no alternative: 118.N*6b
fails to 119.Px6e and because the bishop on 4d works in defense there is no longer
mate. Watanabe uses three minutes of his remaining six, but 118.K7c is not the
answer. Black wins.
119.G7h-7i 07:50:00 07:57:00
120.S*7h 07:50:00 07:58:00
121.G*6d 07:52:00 07:58:00
122.K7c-8c 07:52:00 07:59:00
123.+R6a-6c 07:53:00 07:59:00
124.K8c-8b 07:53:00 07:59:00
125.G7ix6i 07:54:00 07:59:00
126.S7hx8g+ 07:54:00 07:59:00
127.K8hx8g 07:54:00 07:59:00
128.G*8f 07:54:00 07:59:00
129.S7gx8f 07:54:00 07:59:00
130.P8ex8f 07:54:00 07:59:00
131.K8gx8f 07:54:00 07:59:00
132.P*8e 07:54:00 07:59:00
133.K8fx8e 07:54:00 07:59:00
134.N*7c 07:54:00 07:59:00
135.G6dx7c 07:54:00 07:59:00
136.N8ax7c 07:54:00 07:59:00
137.+R6cx7c 07:54:00 07:59:00
138.K8bx7c 07:54:00 07:59:00
139.S*8d 07:54:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:54:00 07:59:00
Mate after 140.K6c (140.K6d S*7c etc.) G*5c K7b (K6d S*7c) G6b K8a N*7c K8b S*8c.
Another great fighting game that could have gone either way but has Habu as the
winner. We are level and the next game will be huge. Habu has the momentum, but
Watanabe has the black pieces.