37th Kio Match Game 3
[Black "Goda Masataka, Challenger"]
[White "Kubo Toshiaki, Kio"]
[Event "37th Kio-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "March 4th 2012"]
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
There is actually a very subtle difference between playing P7f or P2f on the first
move. By playing P2f first, black makes sure that white cannot play the rather unusual
2.R3b opening. This should not make a big difference, but Kubo actually has a 7-1
score with playing 2.R3b.
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
4.P5c-5d 00:00:00 00:00:00
5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:00:00
6.R8b-5b 00:00:00 00:00:00
7.S3i-4h 00:00:00 00:00:00
8.P5d-5e 00:00:00 00:01:00
Of course, the Gokigen Nakabisha again.
9.K5i-6h 00:00:00 00:01:00
10.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:01:00
11.P3g-3f 00:00:00 00:01:00
12.K5a-6b 00:00:00 00:06:00
Recently, Kubo has been playing 12.S4b exclusively, usually followed by 13.S3g
S5c S4f S4d to stop the black quick attack. In the first game of the Kio match
he won with this, but his recent experiences in the Osho match and the A class
of the Junisen have not been that good. Maybe he thought it was time to try
something different.
13.S4h-3g 00:00:00 00:06:00
14.P4c-4d 00:00:00 00:06:00
This is called the "Sugai Strategy" after 4-dan Sugai, who tried this first. It
is quite a popular variation and after the game Goda said that despite the fact
that it was the first time it was ever played against him in an official game, he
was well prepared for it.
15.S7i-7h 00:38:00 00:06:00
There are only two games with this silver move, but it is considered to be the best
move to prove that the Sugai Strategy is flawed. Black goes straight for the pawn
on 5e.
16.K6b-7b 00:38:00 00:13:00
17.S7h-7g 00:38:00 00:13:00
18.S3a-3b 00:38:00 00:18:00
19.S7g-6f 00:47:00 00:18:00
20.P4d-4e 00:47:00 00:18:00
21.P4g-4f 01:13:00 00:18:00
22.P4ex4f 01:13:00 00:24:00
23.S3gx4f 01:50:00 00:24:00
24.P5e-5f 01:50:00 00:27:00
25.P5gx5f 01:53:00 00:27:00
Goda has been using quite a lot of time for the past few moves, but this was all
in preparation for the choice at this particular point. The alternative is 25.G4i-5h,
but after 26.Px5g+ Gx5g the black position is solid, but not very appealing.
26.R5bx5f 01:53:00 00:27:00
27.R2h-4h! 01:53:00 00:27:00
Goda had spent his time to decide that this move was playable. It looks dangerous,
so it needed quite some calculation and re-calculation to make sure that it was the
best move. The point is that black threatens to capture the white rook by blocking
the way back with P*5e next. If white stops this by moving the rook back with 28.R5a
then 29.S4f-5e is a strong move because this threatens both P*5e and P*4d to completely
lock white in. Therefore, white needs some strong action here.
28.B3cx6f 01:53:00 01:03:00
This is one of the dangerous looking variations. The other one is 28.P*4e Sx4e Bx6f
Bx6f (Px6f is answered by S*5g) Rx6f Px6f B*5e which threatens both Bx1i+ and Bx6f
(forking rook and the lance on 9i). This looks good for white, but black can actually
answer with R1h and white has no continuation. Both Goda and Kubo had seen this, so
Kubo played 28.Bx6f instead. However, this is also no satisfactory for white, so Kubo
said after the game that it is quite likely that the white position is probably already
suspect here.
29.P6gx6f 01:58:00 01:03:00
30.P*4e 01:58:00 01:03:00
31.S4f-5g 01:59:00 01:03:00
32.R5fx3f 01:59:00 01:03:00
33.R4h-2h! 02:01:00 01:03:00
Another good move by Goda. White threatened P*5f here, so in the press room moves
like K6g or K7h were analyzed but these can be answered by R2f and the position is
unclear. Instead, 33.R2h is much better. The critical variation is 34.P*5f S4h S*5g
Sx5g Px5g Kx5g S*3g R1h (Nx3g Rx3g+ is a fork on king and rook) S4f+ K6h R2f S*3h
and white has no continuation.
34.S*3g 02:01:00 01:27:00
Kubo must have played this with pain in his heart. Exchanging the silver he just
took for an inactive knight is clearly a desperate measure.
35.N2ix3g 02:11:00 01:27:00
36.R3fx3g+ 02:11:00 01:27:00
37.R2h-3h 02:11:00 01:27:00
38.+R3g-2g 02:11:00 01:31:00
39.S*3f 02:30:00 01:31:00
40.+R2g-2f 02:30:00 01:46:00
41.P6f-6e 02:35:00 01:46:00
42.P*5f 02:35:00 01:56:00
43.S5gx5f 02:36:00 01:56:00
44.N2a-3c 02:36:00 02:15:00
45.P*5d 02:37:00 02:15:00
46.P*5b 02:37:00 02:24:00
47.B8h-5e! 02:37:00 02:24:00
The winning move. This bishop was blocking the escape route of the king, defends
against the indirect fork N*3g (threatening both the gold on 4i and the silver
on 3f) and moves the bishop to absolute center of the board on 5e.
48.P3d-3e 02:37:00 02:35:00
Here the obvious move is 48.P4f, but black can just ignore this and start a winning
attack with P7e followed by P7d.
49.S3f-4g 02:37:00 02:35:00
50.P4e-4f 02:37:00 02:35:00
51.B5ex4f 02:39:00 02:35:00
52.P3e-3f 02:39:00 02:35:00
53.B*5e! 02:50:00 02:35:00
Kubo has been dancing around with his pawns a little, but this second bishop on
the long diagonal stops all the white wriggling. It takes Kubo a couple of moves
more to prepare himself for defeat, but the game is over here.
54.N*4b 02:50:00 02:44:00
55.S4gx3f 02:55:00 02:44:00
56.N4bx5d 02:55:00 02:45:00
57.B4f-3e 02:55:00 02:45:00
58.+R2f-2i 02:55:00 03:08:00
59.G4i-3i 02:55:00 03:08:00
60.+R2ix3h 02:55:00 03:20:00
61.G3ix3h 02:55:00 03:20:00
Resigns 02:55:00 03:20:00
White is completely dominated by the two bishops and instead of waiting to be killed,
Kubo opted to resign here. This game is a tie for second shortest Kio game in history.
Only the second game of the Kio match between Kubo and Sato in 2009 was shorter with
only 57 moves. After losing the first game of this match, Goda has completely turned
the tables with two quick wins. He now has chances to become a title holder again
after a ten year blank. Kubo will not be in a good place now, losing two very important
games in only a couple of days. Will he recover in time for Game four?