50th Oi Match Game 3
[Black "Fukaura Koichi, Oi"]
[White "Kimura Kazuki, Challenger"]
[Event "50th Oi-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "July 30th and 31st 2009"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.P2g-2f 00:04:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:03:00
5.G6i-7h 00:04:00 00:03:00
6.P8d-8e 00:04:00 00:07:00
7.B8h-7g 00:04:00 00:07:00
8.P3c-3d 00:04:00 00:08:00
9.S7i-8h 00:07:00 00:08:00
10.S3a-4b 00:07:00 00:09:00
11.B7gx2b+ 00:07:00 00:09:00
12.G3bx2b 00:07:00 00:09:00
13.S8h-7g 00:07:00 00:09:00
14.S7a-7b 00:07:00 00:10:00
15.S3i-3h 00:07:00 00:10:00
16.P6c-6d 00:07:00 00:11:00
17.P4g-4f 00:09:00 00:11:00
18.S7b-6c 00:09:00 00:12:00
19.S3h-4g 00:09:00 00:12:00
20.G2b-3b 00:09:00 00:13:00
21.K5i-6h 00:10:00 00:13:00
22.K5a-4a 00:10:00 00:14:00
23.P1g-1f 00:13:00 00:14:00
24.P1c-1d 00:13:00 00:14:00
25.G4i-5h 00:15:00 00:14:00
26.P9c-9d 00:15:00 00:15:00
27.P9g-9f 00:15:00 00:15:00
28.K4a-3a 00:15:00 00:17:00
29.P3g-3f 00:21:00 00:17:00
30.S6c-5d 00:21:00 00:20:00
31.S4g-5f 00:21:00 00:20:00
32.P4c-4d 00:21:00 00:21:00
33.P6g-6f 00:21:00 00:21:00
34.G6a-5b 00:21:00 00:23:00
35.K6h-7i 00:22:00 00:23:00
36.P7c-7d 00:22:00 00:27:00
37.N2i-3g 00:26:00 00:27:00
38.N8a-7c 00:26:00 00:29:00
39.K7i-8h 01:07:00 00:29:00
40.S4b-4c 01:07:00 00:56:00
This game started as a classic Kakugawari Reclining Silver opening, but now the game
starts to move away from the common variations. Moving the silver up to 4c is not a
new move. It was first played by Yonenaga in September 1991 in the Osho league against
Moriuchi (only 5-dan at the time). That game continued 41.R4h N3c G5h-6h P6e P1e Px1e
P4e and even though Yonenaga got a strong attack, Moriuchi managed to stop it and won
the game. After that, 40.S4b-4c has not been played very often, but it definitely has
some important advantages. To attack first with 40.P6e is considered too risky and the
attack at the head of the knight with 40.P3e is not very powerful because the knight
can still escape to 2e. Finally, moving into the castle with 40.K2b is answered by 41.P2e
and after 42.S3c we end up in the Kimura Joseki after 43.P4e, which is known to be bad
for white for more than 60 years. Of course, there is also a disadvantage to playing the
silver to 4c: it weakens the second file.
41.P2f-2e? 01:25:00 00:56:00
Fukaura immediately goes for the weakness, but this turns out to be a bad idea. He
probably should have followed Moriuchi's 41.R4h here.
42.P6d-6e 01:25:00 02:04:00
43.P6fx6e 01:25:00 02:04:00
44.P7d-7e 01:25:00 02:13:00
45.P6e-6d 01:48:00 02:13:00
46.P9d-9e 01:48:00 02:33:00
47.P9fx9e 01:48:00 02:33:00
48.P3d-3e 01:48:00 02:36:00
This is the point. Because black has moved the pawn up to 2e, the knight can no
longer escape and the attack on the head of the knight is very strong.
49.P2e-2d?! 02:57:00 02:36:00
Fukaura puts all his money on the attack on the second file, but this turns out
to be ineffective. The alternative is 49.Px3e Px7f Sx7f P8f Px8f Rx8f G8g R8a B*7b
B*6f P*7g R8b B6a+ which Kimura thought might be playable for black. However, Fukaura
didn't like it because the silver on 4c is in a very good position. For one thing,
it is defending the gold on 5b, so the bishop promotion is not threatening anything.
It seems white has many options to attack here, while the white king is still defended
well. Still, black would have had more chances than in the game.
50.P2cx2d 02:57:00 02:37:00
51.P*2c 02:57:00 02:37:00
This looks very strong, because the threat is to break through on the second file
after Rx2d followed by B*2b. Furthermore, white cannot take the pawn on 2c, because
52.Gx2c is answered by 53.P*2e Px2e Rx2e P*2d Rx3e and black picks up the pawn that
was supposed to attack the head of the knight. Also, P*3d is then answered by Rx7e
and black has good chances.
52.P8e-8f 02:57:00 03:47:00
53.P8gx8f 03:19:00 03:47:00
54.P3ex3f 03:19:00 03:50:00
Kimura ignores the black attack, judging that the white attack is more powerful.
55.R2hx2d 03:41:00 03:50:00
The sealed move. Unfortunately for Fukaura, the following moves are more or less
forced and lead straight to a big white advantage.
56.P3fx3g+ 03:41:00 03:54:00
57.B*2b 03:41:00 03:54:00
58.K3a-4b 03:41:00 03:58:00
59.B2bx1a+ 03:43:00 03:58:00
60.P7ex7f 03:43:00 04:05:00
61.S7gx7f 04:10:00 04:05:00
62.N*6f 04:10:00 04:16:00
63.L*3e 04:17:00 04:16:00
64.P*3d 04:17:00 05:24:00
65.L3ex3d 04:23:00 05:24:00
66.S4cx3d 04:23:00 05:31:00
67.R2dx3d 04:23:00 05:31:00
68.N6fx7h+ 04:23:00 05:44:00
69.K8hx7h 04:24:00 05:44:00
70.P*7g 04:24:00 05:45:00
71.N8ix7g 04:42:00 05:45:00
72.B*2e 04:42:00 05:49:00
73.P2c-2b+ 05:52:00 05:49:00
74.G3b-3c 05:52:00 06:05:00
75.R3dx3c+ 06:15:00 06:05:00
76.N2ax3c 06:15:00 06:06:00
77.+P2b-2c 06:15:00 06:06:00
78.P*3b 06:15:00 06:07:00
79.+P2cx3c 06:19:00 06:07:00
80.P3bx3c 06:19:00 06:07:00
81.G*2d? 06:50:00 06:07:00
This is the last chance that Fukaura had to put up some sort of fight. Attacking
the bishop on 2e and threatening +Bx3c at the same time looks good, but white has
a strong counter. The best move would have been 81.P*3d. For example 82.Px3d G*2d
G4c Gx2e R*2h P*3h is unclear. Kimura had planned to answer 81.P*3d with 82.Bx3d
which is followed by S*3a Kx3a +Bx3c G4c (strong defensive move because it opens
the rook rank). Then P*3b Rx2b N*2c Bx2c +Bx2c N*6f K6g Nx5h+ seems to be just enough
for white to win because there is no mate against the white king. However, this
variation is still very close and a single mistake might turn the tables. Fukaura
should have taken his chances in this variation, because in the game he now gets
completely overrun.
82.L*3b! 06:50:00 06:16:00
Although the proverb says to drop the lance as far back as possible, it is vital
to drop the lance on 3b and not on 3a in this position. The reason will become
clear soon.
83.G2dx2e 06:51:00 06:16:00
84.R8bx8f 06:51:00 06:19:00
85.S*8g 07:08:00 06:19:00
The only defense against the double threat of R*8h and Rx7f.
86.R8f-8a 07:08:00 06:21:00
This rook now attacks the bishop on 1a, which is the reason why white dropped the
lance on 3b instead of 3a.
87.P*3d 07:08:00 06:21:00
Black has no choice but to play a desperate attack. If the bishop moves, white easily
wins in the attack with P*8f.
88.R*2h 07:08:00 06:47:00
Only here Kimura felt that he was winning this game.
89.P3dx3c+ 07:19:00 06:47:00
90.L3bx3c 07:19:00 06:48:00
91.P*3d 07:31:00 06:48:00
92.R2hx5h+ 07:31:00 06:50:00
93.N*6h 07:31:00 06:50:00
94.R8ax1a 07:31:00 06:52:00
95.P3dx3c+ 07:31:00 06:52:00
96.K4b-5a 07:31:00 06:52:00
97.B*2d 07:39:00 06:52:00
98.B*6i 07:39:00 06:58:00
99.K7h-7i 07:40:00 06:58:00
100.P*8h 07:40:00 07:01:00
101.+P3c-4c 07:41:00 07:01:00
102.K5a-6a 07:41:00 07:02:00
103.+P4cx5b 07:43:00 07:02:00
104.K6ax5b 07:43:00 07:02:00
105.G*6c 07:45:00 07:02:00
106.K5b-4a 07:45:00 07:03:00
107.K7ix8h 07:45:00 07:03:00
108.+R5hx6h 07:45:00 07:03:00
109.P*7h 07:45:00 07:03:00
110.G*8f 07:45:00 07:03:00
Resigns 07:45:00 07:03:00
This threatens mate after N*9f Lx9f G*9g K8i P*8h etc. or Bx7h+ Sx7h G*9h etc. Of
course, black cannot take this gold, because after 111.Sx8f Bx7h+ leads to a simple
mate. Big win for Kimura, straight from the opening with the white pieces. He takes
a 3-0 lead, which is a big surprise considering that most people expected a close
match between players with a similar playing style. Before last year's Ryu-O match
everybody would consider this match to be over but Watanabe showed that it is possible
to come back from a 3-0 deficit. One thing that Fukaura has going for him is that the
next game is played in his hometown of Sasebo in Nagasaki. Still, it seems very likely
that Kimura will win his first major title by taking the Oi crown from Fukaura.