57th Meijin Match Game 1
Black: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger
White: Sato Yasumitsu, Meijin
57th Meijin-sen, Game 1, April 8th and 9th 1999
1.P7g-7f 0/0 0/0
The furigoma showed four tokins, giving Tanigawa black. This might be an
advantage, since in last year's match six of the seven games ended in a
win for black.
2.P3c-3d 0/0 7/7
3.P2g-2f 4/4 0/7
4.P8c-8d 0/4 1/8
5.P2f-2e 1/5 0/8
6.P8d-8e 0/5 0/8
7.G6i-7h 0/5 0/8
8.G4a-3b 0/5 1/9
9.P2e-2d 2/7 0/9
10.P2cx2d 0/7 0/9
11.R2hx2d 0/7 0/9
12.P8e-8f 0/7 2/11
13.P8gx8f 0/7 0/11
14.R8bx8f 0/7 0/11
15.R2dx3d 3/10 0/11
16.N2a-3c 0/10 3/14
This is a very positional way of playing the Yokofudori. It did not have a
good reputation among professionals, since it is considered hard to get
compensation for the lost pawn. However, this might change with Meijin Sato
playing it. He played it twice before in official games and even though he
lost both games, he got satisfactory middle game positions in both cases.
The confidence in his own strength is shown by playing it again here, even
though he has a 100% losing record with this variation.
17.P1g-1f 47/57 0/14
18.K5a-6b 0/57 67/81
19.K5i-5h 32/89 0/81
20.K6b-7b 0/89 22/103
21.R3d-3f 64/153 0/103
22.S3a-4b 0/153 8/111
23.P1f-1e?! 7/160 0/111
Tanigawa of course has prepared this variation as well. The problem of the
white position is the development of the bishop. Usually the moves P1d-B1c
are played at some point. Tanigawa pushes the edge pawn early to avoid this
development. However, this costs two moves that can not be used for developing
the other pieces. This might be of more importance...
24.R8f-8d 0/160 38/149
25.G4i-3h 15/175 0/149
26.R8d-2d 0/175 6/155
27.P*2f 14/189 0/155
This is very positive thinking. Tanigawa wants to put pressure on the white
position by N1g-N2e.
28.P5c-5d 0/189 12/167
29.P7f-7e 11/200 0/167
30.P5d-5e! 0/200 63/230
Long thought, but the time is spent wisely. This is a great pawn sacrifice.
White is already a pawn behind, so another pawn does not make that much of
a difference. White needs to get compensation from piece development and that
is exactly what this pawn sacrifice is doing. Having the possibility of moving
the rook sideways and to develop the silver on 4b quickly is vital.
31.S3i-4h? 62/262 0/230
Despite the previous comment, Tanigawa should have taken the pawn. After
31.Bx5e R8d S8h S5c S4h S6d B6f S6e B7g P*5f white seems to be better. The
two moves spent on the first file have no significance and white has a good
looking attack. However, Sato did not feel too confident about this variation
and Tanigawa agreed after the game that he should have played this.
32.S4b-5c 0/262 17/247
33.N2i-1g 32/294 0/247
34.P*3e! 0/294 68/315
Great move by Sato. This makes the black attack much less frightening. After
35.Rx3e Rx2f P*2g R2d the move N2e is no longer possible. The move played is
best, but the black rook can not find a good square.
35.R3f-8f 8/302 0/315
36.S5c-6d 0/302 2/317
This silver is the first of two that will move up quickly towards the rook.
White now has the advantage. "My pieces are not working at all" (Tanigawa).
37.N1g-2e 22/324 0/317
38.S7a-8b 0/324 13/330
39.N2ex3c+ 29/353 0/330
The alternative is 39.P*8d, but after Nx2e Px2e Rx2e both P*2f R2d and
N*8c R2i+ G3i +Rx1i Nx9a+ Sx9a P8c+ K6b +Px7c Nx7c R8a+ N6e are better
for white.
40.B2bx3c 0/353 0/330
41.R8f-7f 0/353 0/330
42.S8b-8c 0/353 19/349
43.P3g-3f? 43/396 0/349
A desperate attempt that quickens the end. After 43.P*8e (not allowing S8d),
it would not have been that easy. Sato planned to play 44.P7d, but after
Px7d P*7e R8f Sx7d P8d the attacking base 8d is very big and it is hard
for white to make progress. For example, P*8e R4f N*3d R4e Nx2f G3i N3h+
Gx3h R2i+ G3i +Rx1i Rx3e gives both players chances. Analysis showed that
even after 43.P*8e white can still keep his advantage with 44.P*8d!. Then
after 45.P3f Rx2f P*2g R2e G3g Px8e P2f R2d Px3e R5d both players agreed
that white still has the better position.
44.R2dx2f 0/396 28/377
45.P*2g 0/396 0/377
46.R2fx3f 0/396 2/379
47.R7fx3f 12/408 0/379
48.P3ex3f 0/408 0/379
49.P*8d 2/410 0/379
50.S8cx8d 0/410 3/382
51.N*7f 1/411 0/382
52.S8dx7e 0/411 1/383
53.N7fx6d 0/411 0/383
54.S7ex6d 0/411 0/383
55.R*2a 5/416 0/383
56.N*4e 0/416 10/393
57.S*5d 7/423 0/393
There is no defence. For example S*4f is met simply with promotion on 3g and
another knight drop on 4e. Also, 57.R4a+ G4b is pointless.
58.P3f-3g+ 0/423 5/398
59.S4hx3g 8/431 0/398
60.N4ex3g+ 0/431 1/399
61.S5dx6c+ 1/432 0/399
62.K7bx6c 0/432 0/399
63.R2ax6a+ 0/432 0/399
64.P*6b 0/432 0/399
65.G3hx3g 0/432 0/399
66.N*4e 0/432 18/417
Resigns 3/435 0/417
Time: 07:15:00 06:57:00
Tanigawa takes three minutes to decide that there is nothing left to play
for. With 66 moves this is the second shortest Meijin game in history. The
shortest is a 63 move game between Tsukada and Kimura, played more than 50
years ago. How big will winning with white be in the rest of this match?