38th Kio Match Game 2

[Black "Watanabe Akira, Challenger"]
[White "Goda Masataka, Kio"]
[Event "38th Kio-sen, Game 2"]
[Date "February 23rd 2013"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:00:00

Goda almost exclusively answers 1.P7f with P8d, so Watanabe 
was very surprised by 2.P3d. With all his opening preparation 
down the drain, he played on with a wry smile on his face.

3.P2g-2f     00:01:00  00:00:00
4.P8c-8d     00:01:00  00:00:00
5.P2f-2e     00:02:00  00:00:00
6.P8d-8e     00:02:00  00:00:00
7.G6i-7h     00:02:00  00:00:00
8.G4a-3b     00:02:00  00:00:00
9.P2e-2d     00:03:00  00:00:00
10.P2cx2d    00:03:00  00:00:00
11.R2hx2d    00:04:00  00:00:00
12.P8e-8f    00:04:00  00:00:00
13.P8gx8f    00:05:00  00:00:00
14.R8bx8f    00:05:00  00:00:00
15.R2dx3d    00:09:00  00:00:00
16.B2b-3c    00:09:00  00:00:00
17.K5i-5h    00:09:00  00:00:00
18.K5a-5b    00:09:00  00:11:00
19.P3g-3f    00:14:00  00:11:00
20.R8fx7f    00:14:00  01:03:00
21.B8h-7g    00:14:00  01:03:00
22.R7f-7d    00:14:00  01:07:00

Goda may have dealt the first psychological blow on the second 
move, but it doesn't lead to anything. Watanabe has played the 
opening very positively, and exchanging the rooks is an overplay 
that helps black. However, here it seems hard to avoid, so there 
seems to have been a general problem with Goda's opening strategy.

23.R3dx7d    00:22:00  01:07:00
24.P7cx7d    00:22:00  01:07:00
25.N2i-3g    00:22:00  01:07:00
26.B3cx7g+   00:22:00  02:03:00
27.N8ix7g    00:22:00  02:03:00
28.N2a-3c    00:22:00  02:03:00
29.B*4f!     00:47:00  02:03:00

Diagram 1

This move makes it clear that black has won the opening, because 
white has no proper response. The most natural move is 30.P*8b, but 
after P*8c G7b Px8b+ Sx8b P*8c S7c N8e S6d P*7c the black attack rolls 
on. Also, 30.B*7c is answered by simply Bx7c+ Nx7c and even though both 
positions are now identical, black can move first and attack the weak 
head of the knight with P7e.

30.B*6d      00:47:00  02:32:00

No choice, but this opens the diagonal to the king, which will be a 
problem until the end of the game.

31.B4fx6d    01:00:00  02:32:00
32.P6cx6d    01:00:00  02:32:00
33.P*2d      01:13:00  02:32:00
34.P*2b      01:13:00  02:36:00
35.P*7e      01:19:00  02:36:00
36.P*3e      01:19:00  03:16:00
37.P7ex7d    02:01:00  03:16:00
38.P3ex3f    02:01:00  03:17:00
39.P7d-7c+   02:01:00  03:17:00
40.N8ax7c    02:01:00  03:17:00
41.P*7d      02:03:00  03:17:00
42.P*7b      02:03:00  03:17:00
43.P7dx7c+   02:15:00  03:17:00
44.P7bx7c    02:15:00  03:17:00

Diagram 2

45.B*9f?     02:15:00  03:17:00

This helps white. Correct was the straightforward 45.N8e S6b R*8a 
which is good for black. The bishop drop on 9f looks good, but is 
based on an oversight that is quite a few moves down the road.

46.B*7d      02:15:00  03:17:00
47.N7g-8e    02:17:00  03:17:00
48.P3fx3g+   02:17:00  03:22:00
49.N8ex7c+   02:18:00  03:22:00
50.+P3gx4g   02:18:00  03:22:00

Diagram 3

51.K5h-5i    02:44:00  03:22:00

Watanabe originally thought that he could play 51.K6i here. Then 
after 52.Bx9f Px9f N4e looks dangerous, but Watanabe had calculated 
that he can take this knight after B*6c K4b Bx4e+. It was only here 
that he realized that after Bx4e+ white can play B*5h! and after Gx5h 
R*4i K6h (G5i Rx5i+ is simple mate) +Px5h and next Rx4e+ loses the 
promoted bishop on 4e and white wins. Therefore, 51.K5i was a change 
of plan that could not be helped because 51.K6h is answered by +Px5g 
Kx5g Bx9f Px9f B*8d and black loses the vital knight on 7c. Watanabe 
is lucky that he can still fight with the black king in such a dangerous 
position close to the white promoted pawn.

52.B7dx9f    02:44:00  03:22:00
53.P9gx9f    02:44:00  03:22:00

Diagram 4

54.K5b-4a?   02:44:00  03:23:00

This is only a single mistake made by Goda, but unfortunately for him 
a decisive one. This defends against the mating threat B*6c followed 
by R*4a but black can now remove the promoted pawn on 4g, giving him 
enough time to build a decisive attack. Here Goda should have played 
54.N4e. Then 55.B*6c K4b N*2e G5a Bx4e+ the important knight on 4e is 
taken, but white can continue the attack with N*3g. For example, N*3d 
K4a +Bx6c is answered with B*5b and Watanabe had to admit that it looked 
like he would lose. Also, after 54.N4e black can try 55.B*7d K4b P*3d 
N*5b N*3c but then Gx3c Px3c+ Kx3c and Bx4g can be answered by Nx5g+. 
This is not completely clear, but it seems like white had good chances 
in that position.

55.B*7d      02:47:00  03:23:00
56.N*5b      02:47:00  03:23:00
57.B7dx4g    02:47:00  03:23:00
58.N3c-4e    02:47:00  03:31:00
59.P*3d      02:50:00  03:31:00
60.B*4d      02:50:00  03:40:00
61.P*7b      02:58:00  03:40:00

This is the decisive move. The rest of the game is a lesson in how to 
break down the enemy defense.

62.P*7g      02:58:00  03:49:00
63.G7h-8h    02:59:00  03:49:00
64.S7ax7b    02:59:00  03:49:00
65.+N7cx7b   03:02:00  03:49:00
66.G6ax7b    03:02:00  03:49:00
67.R*6a      03:02:00  03:49:00
68.N*5a      03:02:00  03:49:00
69.P*7c      03:03:00  03:49:00
70.G7bx7c    03:03:00  03:49:00
71.S*6b      03:13:00  03:49:00
72.S3a-4b    03:13:00  03:49:00
73.S6bx7c+   03:13:00  03:49:00
74.N4ex5g+   03:13:00  03:49:00
75.B4g-7d    03:13:00  03:49:00
76.B4d-2f    03:13:00  03:52:00
77.N*4h      03:13:00  03:52:00
78.R*5d      03:13:00  03:52:00
79.B7dx5b+   03:14:00  03:52:00
80.K4ax5b    03:14:00  03:52:00
81.R6a-6b+   03:14:00  03:52:00
82.K5b-4a    03:14:00  03:52:00
83.N*3c      03:14:00  03:52:00
Resigns      03:14:00  03:52:00

Final Diagram

Simple mate after 84.Sx3c G*4b K3a +Rx5a or 84.Gx3c G*4b or 
84.K3a G*2a so Goda resigned here. Not a particularly good 
game for the Kio title holder, who must have hoped for a better 
result after a victory in the first game. We are even again and 
in a short match this means that the third game becomes of vital 
importance. Goda has black in that game and will want to make 
the most of his first move advantage.