61st Meijin Match Game 4
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[Event "61st Meijin-sen, Game 4"]
[Date "May 19th and 20th 2003"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:03:00
3.P1g-1f 00:03:00 00:03:00
The early pawn push on the edge is a move often used by Furibisha
players these days. It limits the options of the opponent. If white
does not answer with P1d, then black can extend with P1e and if white
does answer with P1d, then black has the option of abandoning the
Furibisha and play a bogin attack instead, which is much more powerful
with the white pawn on 1d.
4.P3c-3d 00:03:00 00:11:00
5.P6g-6f 00:05:00 00:11:00
6.P8d-8e 00:05:00 00:12:00
7.B8h-7g 00:07:00 00:12:00
8.P1c-1d 00:07:00 00:12:00
White has made sure that black does not have a bogin attack anymore,
because the bishop is now on 7g. However, black does have the option
now of playing any Furibisha opening. Especially Mukaibisha with 9.R8h
is now a very strong option.
9.R2h-6h 00:15:00 00:12:00
Habu opts for the Shikenbisha, which is of course also good. Habu does
not play this opening with black that much, but his convincing victory
with this opening in game 3 must have given him the confidence to play
it again. If he can win with white, he should be able to win with
black, right?
10.S7a-6b 00:15:00 00:14:00
11.S3i-3h 00:22:00 00:14:00
12.K5a-4b 00:22:00 00:14:00
13.S7i-7h 00:30:00 00:14:00
14.K4b-3b 00:30:00 00:14:00
15.S7h-6g 00:32:00 00:14:00
16.P5c-5d 00:32:00 00:26:00
17.G6i-5h 00:47:00 00:26:00
18.S6b-5c 00:47:00 01:04:00
19.P4g-4f 01:15:00 01:04:00
20.P7c-7d 01:15:00 01:06:00
21.K5i-4h 01:17:00 01:06:00
22.G6a-5b 01:17:00 01:08:00
23.K4h-3i 01:42:00 01:08:00
24.S5c-6d 01:42:00 01:16:00
25.K3i-2h 02:36:00 01:16:00
26.P7d-7e 02:36:00 01:20:00
The Quick Attack is a very powerful strategy for white as the data of
professional games show. This position appeared in 19 games so far and
the Ibisha side won no less than 16 of them. Moreover, the only
Furibisha player winning against this attack is Kubo, who won all
three games in which he had to defend against this attack. All other
Furibisha players lost.
27.R6h-7h 02:39:00 01:20:00
28.G5b-4b 02:39:00 01:47:00
This castle is less conventional than the Lozenge, but very strong.
The Ibisha side won all three games in which this castle was played.
29.P9g-9f!? 03:57:00 01:47:00
A new move. This is a very subtle waiting move. It leaves no weaknesses
and Habu wants to play L9g next, which would make it more difficult for
white to pick up the lance after the position is opened up.
30.P7ex7f 03:57:00 03:16:00
The end of the first day and the move that most people expected.
31.S6gx7f 03:59:00 03:16:00
32.R8b-7b 03:59:00 03:17:00
33.B7g-8h 04:01:00 03:17:00
34.B2b-3c 04:01:00 04:07:00
Here white has a number of alternatives like 34.P*7g and 34.S6e. Habu
intended to play 34.P*7g Rx7g Bx6f S6g Bx7g+ Bx7g S2b B*8c or 34.S6e
Px6e Bx8h+ Rx8h Rx7f S*7g R7d P*7f which both lead to unclear positions.
35.G5h-6h 05:06:00 04:07:00
36.P9c-9d 05:06:00 05:01:00
37.S7fx8e 05:54:00 05:01:00
Positive play.
38.R7b-8b 05:54:00 06:30:00
Moriuchi sees that 38.Rx7h+ Gx7h R*7e N7g P*7f R*8b is good for black.
39.P8g-8f 06:56:00 06:30:00
40.N8a-7c 06:56:00 06:39:00
41.S8e-7f 06:56:00 06:39:00
42.R8bx8f 06:56:00 06:45:00
43.G6h-7g 06:56:00 06:45:00
44.R8fx7f 06:56:00 07:13:00
45.G7gx7f 06:56:00 07:13:00
46.S*8g 06:56:00 07:13:00
47.G7f-7g 06:59:00 07:13:00
48.S8gx7h+ 06:59:00 07:17:00
49.G7gx7h 06:59:00 07:17:00
50.P*8g 06:59:00 07:17:00
51.G7hx8g 07:00:00 07:17:00
52.R*6i 07:00:00 07:29:00
53.S*7h 07:06:00 07:29:00
54.R6i-6h+ 07:06:00 07:38:00
55.R*5h! 07:06:00 07:38:00
The reflex move is 55.P*7i, but this removes the option of P*7d. 55.R*5h
is much better and the general feeling was that black was ahead here.
However, things are far from easy.
56.+R6hx5h 07:06:00 07:49:00
57.G4ix5h 07:06:00 07:49:00
58.S6d-7e 07:06:00 07:49:00
59.R*7d! 07:21:00 07:49:00
A mistake would be 59.R*7a P*8f G7g Sx6f Gx6f P*7g Bx7g R*7i G6h P8g+
Sx8g N8e and white has a strong attack. The point of 59.R*7d is that in
this variation black can defend against R*7i by B8h.
60.S7e-6d 07:21:00 07:54:00
61.R7d-8d 07:42:00 07:54:00
62.S6d-7e 07:42:00 07:55:00
63.R8d-7d 07:53:00 07:55:00
This leads to sennichite, which was a big surprise to the professionals
in the press room. The general opinion was that 63.R8c+ would be good
for black. Only after careful analysis the following variation was
found: 64.Bx6f +Rx7c Bx8h+ Gx8h B*5e +R8c R*8f +Rx8f Sx8f P*7g P*8g
which is good for white.
64.S7e-6d 07:53:00 07:55:00
65.R7d-8d 07:53:00 07:55:00
66.S6d-7e 07:53:00 07:55:00
67.R8d-7d 07:53:00 07:55:00
68.S7e-6d 07:53:00 07:56:00
69.R7d-8d 07:53:00 07:56:00
70.S6d-7e 07:53:00 07:56:00
71.R8d-7d 07:53:00 07:56:00
Sennichite 07:53:00 07:56:00
Habu did not like his castle and decided to settle for a replay with
reversed colors. The game ended at 7:59 in the evening and after one
hour of rest, the replay starts.