55th Osho Match Game 5
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"]
[White "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"]
[Event "55th Osho-sen, Game 5"]
[Date "February 22nd and 23rd 2006"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:11:00
First surprise. Sato has never played this before (he was on
the receiving end a number of times, though).
3.P5g-5f 00:14:00 00:11:00
4.P3c-3d 00:14:00 00:37:00
5.P5f-5e 00:15:00 00:37:00
6.S7a-6b 00:15:00 01:23:00
7.R2h-5h 00:22:00 01:23:00
8.S3a-4b 00:22:00 01:23:00
9.K5i-4h 00:25:00 01:23:00
10.P5c-5d!? 00:25:00 01:27:00
This shows how much uncovered territory there still is in the
opening, even at this early stage. Pushing the pawn on the 5th
file while the king is still on its original square requires a
lot of courage. It is hard to say if this is good or bad, but
it made Habu think a bit.
11.P5ex5d 02:24:00 01:27:00
Played after almost two hours of thought. Habu is unwilling to
let Sato dictate the pace in this game and chooses the sharpest
variation. It seems like his judgment is correct, as black gets
a small, but significant advantage.
12.B2bx8h+ 02:24:00 01:28:00
13.S7ix8h 02:24:00 01:28:00
14.B*4e 02:24:00 01:28:00
15.G6i-7h 02:24:00 01:28:00
16.B4ex2g+ 02:24:00 01:28:00
17.B*5c 02:24:00 01:28:00
18.G6a-5b 02:24:00 01:48:00
19.B5c-8f+ 02:28:00 01:48:00
20.P*5c 02:28:00 01:52:00
21.P5dx5c+ 02:29:00 01:52:00
22.S6bx5c 02:29:00 01:52:00
23.S8h-7g 02:33:00 01:52:00
24.P6c-6d 02:33:00 02:02:00
25.P7f-7e 02:56:00 02:02:00
26.K5a-4a 02:56:00 02:50:00
27.S7g-6f 03:04:00 02:50:00
28.N2a-3c 03:04:00 04:07:00
Both players have made a promoted bishop, but even though the
white one is closer to the enemy king, the black one is the more
active of the two.
29.+B8f-7f 04:12:00 04:07:00
Black has to be careful here. 29.P7d looks good, but is unclear
after 30.G6c Px7c+ Gx7c. Also unclear is 29.S5e K3a P*5d S4d.
30.K4a-3a 04:12:00 04:11:00
31.S6f-5e 04:32:00 04:11:00
32.G5b-6c 04:32:00 04:17:00
33.P*2h 04:58:00 04:17:00
34.+B2g-2f 04:58:00 04:31:00
35.+B7f-8e 05:02:00 04:31:00
36.P7c-7d 05:02:00 04:35:00
37.P7ex7d 05:03:00 04:35:00
38.R8b-7b 05:03:00 04:52:00
39.R5h-5f 05:06:00 04:52:00
40.+B2f-3e 05:06:00 04:52:00
41.R5f-7f 05:06:00 04:52:00
42.+B3e-4e 05:06:00 04:53:00
43.S5e-6f 05:17:00 04:53:00
44.P1c-1d 05:17:00 05:19:00
45.K4h-3h 05:22:00 05:19:00
46.S5c-4d 05:22:00 05:39:00
47.P2h-2g 05:55:00 05:39:00
48.+B4e-5d 05:55:00 05:42:00
49.R7f-7e 05:56:00 05:42:00
50.K3a-2b 05:56:00 05:46:00
51.K3h-2h 05:58:00 05:46:00
52.P*7c! 05:58:00 06:16:00
Black seemed to have gotten better out of the opening, but the
difference is small and Sato is very resourceful in developing
his pieces. Why 52.P*7c is a good move will become clear soon.
53.P7dx7c+ 06:03:00 06:16:00
54.N8ax7c 06:03:00 06:16:00
55.+B8e-7f 06:14:00 06:16:00
56.+B5d-5c 06:14:00 06:20:00
57.P*7d 06:15:00 06:20:00
58.N7c-6e 06:15:00 06:20:00
White has developed the inactive knight on 8a at almost no cost
(compared to the position at the 51st move, only the bishops have
moved). Sato still wasn't confident in his own position, but white
has set up a nice little attack and seems to control the pace of
the game from now on.
59.+B7f-8e 06:15:00 06:20:00
60.N3c-4e 06:15:00 06:33:00
61.G7h-6h 06:19:00 06:33:00
62.P*5f 06:19:00 06:34:00
63.P*5h 06:19:00 06:34:00
64.N6e-5g+ 06:19:00 06:35:00
65.P5hx5g 06:19:00 06:35:00
66.P6d-6e 06:19:00 06:35:00
67.R7ex6e 06:25:00 06:35:00
68.G6c-6d 06:25:00 06:35:00
69.N8i-7g 06:25:00 06:35:00
70.G6dx6e?! 06:25:00 06:56:00
Maybe a little too hasty. Commentator Nakata (8-dan) pointed out
that 70.Px5g+ Gx5g Nx5g+ Sx5g and only then Gx6e was better. For
example, Nx6e +B6c and now if P7c+ white can start the mutual
attack with +Bx8e or if S3h, then +Bx7d +Bx7d Rx7d and the white
rook enters the attack as well. By the way, it seemed that +B6c
was suggested by one of the amateur players in the audience at
the playing venue.
71.N7gx6e 06:25:00 06:56:00
72.+B5c-6d 06:25:00 06:56:00
73.P7d-7c+ 06:26:00 06:56:00
74.R7b-7a 06:26:00 06:56:00
75.P5gx5f 06:41:00 06:56:00
76.R*8i 06:41:00 06:56:00
77.G4i-3h 06:41:00 06:56:00
78.R8ix9i+ 06:41:00 06:57:00
79.P*7b 06:41:00 06:57:00
80.R7a-5a 06:41:00 07:00:00
81.+P7c-6c 06:45:00 07:00:00
82.+B6dx3g 06:45:00 07:06:00
Going in strong, but the way to victory is not straightforward.
83.N2ix3g 06:47:00 07:06:00
84.N4ex3g+ 06:47:00 07:07:00
85.G3hx3g 06:47:00 07:07:00
86.R5ax5f 06:47:00 07:07:00
87.G*6i 06:52:00 07:07:00
88.L*3e 06:52:00 07:10:00
89.P*3h 06:54:00 07:10:00
90.L3ex3g+ 06:54:00 07:40:00
91.P3hx3g 06:56:00 07:40:00
92.G*7h? 06:56:00 07:40:00
Habu was afraid of 92.G*4i. If then P*5g, white has a decisive
attack after N*3f.
93.+B8e-8f 07:09:00 07:40:00
94.G7hx6i 07:09:00 07:40:00
95.G6h-5g 07:09:00 07:40:00
96.G6i-6h 07:09:00 07:40:00
97.G5gx5f 07:32:00 07:40:00
98.N*3f 07:32:00 07:41:00
99.P3gx3f 07:33:00 07:41:00
100.G*3g 07:33:00 07:41:00
101.K2hx3g 07:33:00 07:41:00
102.+R9ix3i 07:33:00 07:41:00
The key point of the game...
103.L*3h? 07:34:00 07:41:00
Both players thought that white was winning here and Habu uncharacteristically
misses an opportunity for some endgame magic. Correct was 103.N*3h!. Both
players thought that white would then win after 104.G5h, but 105.B*2f
saves the black king then. For example 106.G4h K4f +Rx3h (or S*3g Bx3g
+Rx3h G5g!) Bx4d Px4d K5e and the king escapes up the board. In the
post-mortem analysis the attention then turned to 104.S*4h, but then
105.K4f +Rx3h (looking strong because of the double mating threat +R3g
and N*5d) G5e! +Rx3f Kx3f Sx5e B*2f and white cannot catch the black king.
This seemed to settle it and both players started to analyze the game from
the beginning. However, when they finally returned to the position after
103.N*3h, Sato had one final other suggestion: 104.S*2h K4f +Rx3h G5e +Rx3f
Kx3f Sx5e and because B*2f is now no longer attacking the silver as in the
previous variation, white can win then with N*3c. For a moment it looked
like there was a win for white after all, but then Habu suggested (after
Sx5e) B*3a!!. This is a very unlikely mate: Gx3a G*3c Sx3c +Bx3a Kx3a R*5a
(G*4a is also good) N*4a P*3b Kx3b R*6b etc. Habu looked seriously disappointed
that he had missed this opportunity.
104.S*4h 07:34:00 07:45:00
105.K3g-4f 07:36:00 07:45:00
106.+R3ix3h 07:36:00 07:45:00
107.B*2f 07:37:00 07:45:00
108.S4h-3g= 07:37:00 07:45:00
Resigns 07:37:00 07:45:00
Mate after 109.Bx3g L*4e Gx4e Sx4e Kx4e +Rx4g K5e G*5d Kx5d +R4d. It is ironic
that the tokin on 6c, which was chasing the white bishop, forcing the sacrifice
on 3g, is now blocking the final escape of the black king. A very interesting
game, and Sato is still alive, getting two consecutive wins after being 3-0 down.
More importantly, he has won this game with the white pieces, and now has an
opportunity to level the match with the black pieces, which would really put
a lot of pressure on Habu for the final game. Moreover, Habu now has lost five
games in a row and must feel a little uncomfortable. What seemed like a
blow-out is suddenly a very interesting match again.