49th Oza Match Game 2
Black: Kubo Toshiaki, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Oza
49th Oza-sen, Game 2, September 21st 2001
1.P1g-1f 00:01:00 00:00:00
The first time this move has been played in a title match. If
things develop normally (like in this game), it often only means
a change in the order of moves. Kubo said he had planned to play
this some time in advance. More than anything else, it seems to
be a little psychological stab. Habu was not impressed: "This is
not so unusual anymore nowadays".
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:01:00
3.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:01:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:01:00
5.P6g-6f 00:01:00 00:01:00
6.P1c-1d 00:01:00 00:01:00
7.S7i-7h 00:03:00 00:01:00
8.S7a-6b 00:03:00 00:03:00
9.R2h-6h 00:06:00 00:03:00
10.K5a-4b 00:06:00 00:04:00
11.S3i-3h 00:07:00 00:04:00
12.K4b-3b 00:07:00 00:06:00
13.S7h-6g 00:10:00 00:06:00
14.P5c-5d 00:10:00 00:11:00
15.G6i-5h 00:20:00 00:11:00
16.G6a-5b 00:20:00 00:16:00
17.K5i-4h 00:26:00 00:16:00
18.S6b-5c 00:26:00 00:30:00
19.P4g-4f 00:27:00 00:30:00
20.P8d-8e 00:27:00 00:44:00
21.B8h-7g 00:27:00 00:44:00
22.P7c-7d 00:27:00 00:44:00
23.K4h-3i 00:30:00 00:44:00
24.S5c-6d 00:30:00 00:44:00
25.S6g-7h 00:38:00 00:44:00
Considered the best way to defend against this attack. Habu has
something interesting up his sleeve, though.
26.P9c-9d 00:38:00 00:49:00
27.P9g-9f 00:39:00 00:49:00
28.S6d-5c!? 00:39:00 01:30:00
"What the hell is that?" was one of the comments heard in the press
room. Indeed, moving this silver back looks weak-hearted to say the
least. However, this is actually a high class technique that only
works in professional play. Normal is 28.N7c, but Habu said he
didn't like that move.
29.K3i-2h 01:05:00 01:30:00
Kubo spent 26 minutes on this move and he probably needed any
minute. The problem for black is that after 29.S6g, white just
plays 30.S6d after which black has nothing better than 31.S7h
again, leading to sennichite. Playing the game again with reversed
colors is good for Habu, who will play with the black pieces then.
Kubo finally decided upon 29.K2h, but with the king in the castle,
it is harder to start an attack on the head of the white king. The
game now becomes a slow strategical build-up in which Habu gets the
time to build a strong castle.
30.B2b-3c 01:05:00 01:31:00
31.P3g-3f 01:06:00 01:31:00
32.K3b-2b 01:06:00 01:32:00
33.N2i-3g 01:15:00 01:32:00
34.P4c-4d 01:15:00 01:32:00
35.P6f-6e 01:17:00 01:32:00
36.G5b-4c 01:17:00 01:55:00
37.G5h-4g 01:17:00 01:55:00
38.G4a-3b 01:17:00 02:11:00
39.P5g-5f 01:19:00 02:11:00
40.N8a-7c 01:19:00 02:12:00
41.S7h-6i 01:19:00 02:12:00
42.K2b-1b?! 01:19:00 02:19:00
Interesting move. It is hard to play the anaguma with the pawns on
7d and 1d, so Habu aims for another castle. However, with the edge
pawns advanced, the king now looks vulnerable to attack.
43.P9f-9e 01:54:00 02:19:00
Now or never. Kubo wants to get a lance and knight in hand to
attack the white king on the edge. If he waits for S2b, there is
no way for black to attack.
44.P9dx9e 01:54:00 02:19:00
45.L9ix9e 01:54:00 02:19:00
46.P*9d 01:54:00 02:21:00
47.L9ex9d 01:56:00 02:21:00
48.L9ax9d 01:56:00 02:23:00
49.P*9e 02:02:00 02:23:00
50.P8e-8f 02:02:00 02:28:00
51.P9ex9d? 02:13:00 02:28:00
Aggressive Kubo style move, but a mistake. He should have played
51.Bx8f. If then 52.L*8e P6d Px6d Bx6d or 52.Lx9e Bx9e Rx8g+ Bx7c+
+Rx8i P1e are both good for black.
52.P8fx8g+ 02:13:00 02:32:00
53.B7g-9e 02:16:00 02:32:00
54.B3c-5a! 02:16:00 02:33:00
Simple but good. With this bishop gone from 3c, a future knight on
2e will not be so threatening.
55.P*8d 02:34:00 02:33:00
56.L*9a! 02:34:00 02:56:00
This stops white's advance. With a four general castle and a
threatening promoted pawn, white has the advantage.
57.P9d-9c+ 02:52:00 02:56:00
58.L9ax9c 02:52:00 02:56:00
59.P8d-8c+ 02:52:00 02:56:00
60.R8bx8c 02:52:00 02:56:00
61.L*8d 02:52:00 02:56:00
62.N7c-8e 02:52:00 02:56:00
63.L8dx8c+ 02:55:00 02:56:00
64.B5ax9e 02:55:00 02:56:00
65.+L8cx9c 03:10:00 02:56:00
66.B9ex6h+ 03:10:00 03:03:00
67.S6ix6h 03:10:00 03:03:00
68.K1b-2b! 03:10:00 03:03:00
Habu sees that black has no good drops. The only weakness in
the white position was the king on 1b. With that weakness gone,
"there will never be any moves to play" (Kubo).
69.R*8b 03:27:00 03:03:00
70.R*6i 03:27:00 03:28:00
71.S6h-5g 03:44:00 03:28:00
72.B*6g 03:44:00 03:39:00
73.G4i-3i 03:56:00 03:39:00
74.B6gx7f+ 03:56:00 03:39:00
75.P3f-3e 04:21:00 03:39:00
Black desperately tries to create some attack. It is actually
quite hard to find the winning plan for white, but Habu is not
to be denied.
76.R6ix8i+ 04:21:00 04:00:00
77.P3ex3d 04:21:00 04:00:00
78.+B7f-5h 04:21:00 04:01:00
79.L*3f 04:41:00 04:01:00
80.P*3e 04:41:00 04:13:00
81.L3fx3e 04:41:00 04:13:00
82.S5c-4b! 04:41:00 04:13:00
A fine defensive move that decides the game.
83.B*3c 04:42:00 04:13:00
This is clearly not enough, but also after 83.P3c+ Nx3c P*3d
Gx3d Lx3d +Bx5g white wins (if Gx5g then N*3f followed by +Rx3i
is easy).
84.K2b-1b 04:42:00 04:18:00
85.G3i-2i 05:51:00 04:18:00
86.P*3f 05:51:00 04:24:00
87.S5g-4h 05:57:00 04:24:00
88.P3fx3g+ 05:57:00 04:24:00
89.S3hx3g 05:57:00 04:24:00
90.N*2e 05:57:00 04:27:00
91.S3g-3f 05:57:00 04:27:00
92.N*1g 05:57:00 04:32:00
93.G2i-3i 05:57:00 04:32:00
94.+B5hx4g 05:57:00 04:32:00
95.S3fx4g 05:57:00 04:32:00
96.G*2i 05:57:00 04:32:00
Resigns 05:08:00 04:32:00
Mate after 97.Gx2i +Rx2i and after 97.K1h Nx3c Px3c+ B*2h black
has no defense. Another fine performance by Habu, who outplayed
Kubo for the second game in a row. Kubo must feel really helpless
against a Habu who looks like a man on a mission. He needs only one
more win to get his 10th consecutive Oza title. There seems to be
no way for Kubo to win all three remaining games.