43rd Oi Match Game 5 (Replay)

Black: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Oi
43rd Oi-sen, Replay Game 5, August 28th and 29th 2002
1.P7g-7f     04:32:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     04:32:00  03:35:00

The first game ended in sennichite after 55 moves at 9:33 in the
morning of the second day. The replay was started after a 30 minute 
break. Since a sennichite replay is played with reversed colours, 
Tanigawa now plays with the black pieces. This is in general a 
small advantage, but the time used for the first game was considerably 
in Habu's favour. He has almost an hour more than Tanigawa to play 
this game.

3.P2g-2f     04:32:00  03:35:00
4.P4c-4d     04:32:00  03:35:00
5.P2f-2e     04:32:00  03:35:00
6.B2b-3c     04:32:00  03:35:00
7.S3i-4h     04:32:00  03:35:00
8.P9c-9d     04:32:00  03:35:00
9.K5i-6h     04:33:00  03:35:00
10.R8b-4b    04:33:00  03:48:00
11.K6h-7h    04:33:00  03:48:00
12.P9d-9e    04:33:00  03:48:00
13.P5g-5f    04:33:00  03:48:00
14.K5a-6b    04:33:00  03:48:00
15.S4h-5g    04:35:00  03:48:00
16.S3a-3b    04:35:00  03:50:00
17.G4i-5h    04:38:00  03:50:00
18.K6b-7b    04:38:00  03:52:00
19.B8h-7g    04:39:00  03:52:00
20.G4a-5b    04:39:00  03:54:00
21.K7h-8h    04:39:00  03:54:00
22.K7b-8b    04:39:00  03:54:00
23.L9i-9h    04:48:00  03:54:00
24.P4d-4e    04:48:00  03:57:00
25.P6g-6f    04:50:00  03:57:00
26.S3b-4c    04:50:00  03:59:00
27.G5h-6g    04:55:00  03:59:00
28.L9a-9b    04:55:00  04:00:00
29.K8h-9i    04:55:00  04:00:00
30.K8b-9a    04:55:00  04:01:00
31.S7i-8h    04:56:00  04:01:00
32.S7a-8b    04:56:00  04:01:00
33.P6f-6e    05:01:00  04:01:00
34.S4c-4d    05:01:00  04:08:00
35.P3g-3f    05:02:00  04:08:00
36.G5b-6b    05:02:00  04:30:00
37.G6i-7h    05:04:00  04:30:00
38.G6a-7a    05:04:00  04:37:00
39.S5g-6h    05:05:00  04:37:00
40.G6b-7b    05:05:00  04:37:00
41.S6h-7i    05:05:00  04:37:00
42.R4b-4c    05:05:00  04:37:00
43.B7g-6h    05:24:00  04:37:00
44.B3c-5a    05:24:00  04:43:00
45.P2e-2d    05:25:00  04:43:00
46.P2cx2d    05:25:00  04:44:00
47.B6hx2d    05:25:00  04:44:00
48.R4c-2c    05:25:00  04:44:00
49.P*2e      05:25:00  04:44:00
50.N2a-3c    05:25:00  04:44:00
51.B2d-6h    05:26:00  04:44:00
52.N3cx2e    05:26:00  04:44:00
53.B6h-7g    05:29:00  04:44:00
54.B5a-3c    05:29:00  04:47:00
55.P8g-8f    05:29:00  04:47:00
56.P5c-5d    05:29:00  04:49:00
57.S8h-8g    05:30:00  04:49:00
58.B3c-2b    05:30:00  04:59:00
59.S7i-8h    05:32:00  04:59:00
60.P*2d      05:32:00  04:59:00

Diagram 1

It is not very likely that the players will try to find something new 
behind the board in a game with strict time limits. The position here 
(after the 60th move!) is known from the A Junisen game between Habu 
and Sato which was played on July 16th. Both players will have studied 
this game.

61.P9g-9f!   05:36:00  04:59:00

Habu played 61.P8e against Sato and even though he won that game after 
62.R4c P9f Px9f Sx9f, he wasn't very happy with this move. Tanigawa 
decides to immediately attack the edge. 

62.P9ex9f    05:36:00  05:18:00
63.S8gx9f    05:36:00  05:18:00
64.P3d-3e    05:36:00  05:18:00

A mistake would be 64.Lx9f, since after 65.Lx9f P*9c L*9h S*9b P*2f 
black has a strong attack. When he gets a knight in hand, the attack 
B6f followed by N*8e looks unstoppable.

65.R2h-3h    06:22:00  05:18:00
66.S4d-5c    06:22:00  05:23:00
67.P*9d!     06:23:00  05:23:00

Diagram 2

Good move that can be easily overlooked as it leaves black without 
pawns. Black wants to make an attacking base on 9d and this is the 
right time to do it, as white can't play 68.Lx9d because of 69.Px3e 
followed by P*9e. From now on Habu will have to worry constantly about 
the pressure on the edge.

68.B2bx7g+   06:23:00  05:56:00
69.G6gx7g    06:23:00  05:56:00
70.P4e-4f    06:23:00  05:56:00
71.P4gx4f    06:23:00  05:56:00
72.R2c-4c    06:23:00  05:56:00
73.S9f-8e    06:35:00  05:56:00
74.B*4g?     06:35:00  06:24:00

Diagram 3

Looks like a natural move, but this is actually a mistake. Better was 
74.B*5g. This looks rather powerless, but defends the important 
square 6f, so black can't drop a bishop there. After the game, Tanigawa 
said that it was the kind of move that the late Oyama would play.

75.R3h-3i    06:37:00  06:24:00
76.B4gx5f+   06:37:00  06:26:00
77.P*2f      06:41:00  06:26:00

And suddenly white finds himself without good moves.

78.+B5f-5g   06:41:00  06:44:00

Making a tokin with 78.P*4g looks like a good idea, but is met by 
79.B*7e. Then 80.+Bx6e Px2e S6d R6i is good for black.

79.R3i-5i    06:44:00  06:44:00
80.+B5g-4h   06:44:00  06:45:00
81.R5i-7i    06:44:00  06:45:00
82.P8c-8d    06:44:00  06:47:00
83.S8e-9f    06:44:00  06:47:00
84.L9bx9d    06:44:00  06:50:00
85.P2fx2e    06:45:00  06:50:00
86.L9dx9f    06:45:00  06:50:00
87.L9hx9f    06:46:00  06:50:00
88.P*9e      06:46:00  06:50:00
89.L*9d      06:47:00  06:50:00
90.N8a-9c    06:47:00  06:50:00
91.L9fx9e    06:47:00  06:50:00
92.P*9b      06:47:00  06:50:00
93.B*2b      06:55:00  06:50:00
94.R4c-4a    06:55:00  06:54:00
95.N*4e?!    07:02:00  06:54:00

Diagram 4

Turns out to be improving black's position, but might not have been 
good. Tanigawa said that he also seriously considered 95.N*2c to get 
a lance in hand to drop on 9h, but in the post-mortem analysis the 
players were unable to reach any conclusion about the strength of 
this move.

96.S5c-4d?   07:02:00  07:21:00

The losing move. White's only chance was to try and weather the storm 
with 96.S6b 97.P*5c 98.S5a. Then after 99.N3c= Rx4f Bx1a+ +B5g the 
knight is blocking the bishop diagonal, which is good for white.

97.P*5c      07:03:00  07:21:00
98.S4dx4e    07:03:00  07:25:00
99.P5c-5b+   07:09:00  07:25:00
100.R4a-4c   07:09:00  07:25:00

Gives up the important lance on 1a, but even after 100.R2a black gets 
a strong attack: 101.B4d+ S5f +Bx5d R2b +P5c.

101.P4fx4e   07:10:00  07:25:00
102.R4cx4e   07:10:00  07:25:00
103.B2bx1a+  07:10:00  07:25:00
104.N*8c     07:10:00  07:25:00
105.L*9h     07:12:00  07:25:00
106.N8cx9e   07:12:00  07:26:00
107.L9hx9e   07:12:00  07:26:00
108.+B4h-5g  07:12:00  07:34:00
109.R7i-5i   07:19:00  07:34:00
110.S*5h     07:19:00  07:34:00

Diagram 5

111.R5ix5h!  07:22:00  07:34:00

Typical aggressive Tanigawa style. Most professionals would have been 
content with having forced the silver drop and move the rook back with 
111.R7i. However, Tanigawa has seen a way to go directly towards the 
king of the opponent. 

112.+B5gx5h  07:22:00  07:34:00
113.N*9f     07:22:00  07:34:00

"Drop where your opponent wants to drop". This knight defends against 
R*9f and also threatens to take on 8d.

114.R4ex6e   07:22:00  07:36:00
115.S*7e     07:23:00  07:36:00
116.L*8c     07:23:00  07:36:00
117.S7ex8d!  07:26:00  07:36:00

Diagram 6

The deciding move. White has tried to keep his position together 
with 114.Rx6e followed by 116.L*8c, but after 117.Sx8d there is no 
more defence. Again, most professionals would prefer 117.Nx8d Lx8d 
Sx8d to avoid Rx9e. Tanigawa has seen an attack that is much faster.

118.L8cx8d   07:26:00  07:36:00
119.N9fx8d   07:26:00  07:36:00
120.R6ex9e   07:26:00  07:40:00
121.L*9g     07:27:00  07:40:00

The point. The rook capture on 9e only invites another lance to be 
dropped on the edge.

122.S*9f     07:27:00  07:45:00
123.L9dx9c+  07:30:00  07:45:00
124.S8bx9c   07:30:00  07:45:00
125.N8dx7b+  07:30:00  07:45:00
126.G7ax7b   07:30:00  07:45:00
127.L9gx9f   07:30:00  07:45:00

The only slight slip of the game by Tanigawa. 127.S*6a was an easier win.

128.R9ex9f   07:30:00  07:45:00
129.P*9g     07:30:00  07:45:00
130.R9fx8f   07:30:00  07:45:00

A full rook sacrifice! Habu still tries everything to put Tanigawa off, 
but it is too late.

131.G7gx8f   07:32:00  07:45:00
132.L*8a     07:32:00  07:45:00
133.S*6a     07:40:00  07:45:00
134.N*7d     07:40:00  07:49:00
135.G8f-8g   07:41:00  07:49:00
Resigns      07:41:00  07:49:00

Final Diagram

136.Lx8g+ is impossible because 137.G*8a leads to mate and white has 
no defence. Another good win by Tanigawa ends the Oi match in his favour 
with an unexpected 4-1 score. It has been ten years since Tanigawa 
took the Oi title for the last time and it also ends a two-year title 
drought for him. On the other hand, Habu's Oi title streak ends at 
nine titles in a row and it also means that he drops back to holding 
"only" three major titles for the first time in eight years. Not much 
time for reflection as he has soon has two more titles to defend: the 
Oza and the Ryu-O.