20th Ryu-O Match Game 2
[Black "Watanabe Akira, Ryu-O"]
[White "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"]
[Event "20th Ryu-O sen, Game 2"]
[Date "October 31st and November 1st 2007"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:01:00
3.P2g-2f 00:04:00 00:01:00
4.P5c-5d 00:04:00 00:01:00
5.S3i-4h 00:32:00 00:01:00
This game starts with the Gokigen Nakabisha, just like the 2nd and 4th
of last year's Ryu-O match between Watanabe and Sato. There Watanabe played
5.P2e both times, plunging into a quick fight. This time he plays a little
less aggressive.
6.B2bx8h+ 00:32:00 00:08:00
7.S7ix8h 00:32:00 00:08:00
8.R8b-2b 00:32:00 00:08:00
9.K5i-6h 00:49:00 00:08:00
Again Watanabe decided to play it quietly instead of trying his luck in the
Sato special 9.B*7g R1b P2e S2b, a strange opening with which Sato has had
some success in the past.
10.S3a-4b 00:49:00 00:09:00
11.G6i-7h 01:04:00 00:09:00
12.P2c-2d 01:04:00 00:24:00
13.K6h-7i 01:11:00 00:24:00
14.K5a-6b 01:11:00 00:26:00
15.P8g-8f 01:11:00 00:26:00
16.K6b-7b 01:11:00 00:45:00
17.S8h-8g 01:13:00 00:45:00
18.K7b-8b 01:13:00 01:03:00
19.N8i-7g 01:28:00 01:03:00
20.L9a-9b 01:28:00 01:31:00
21.P9g-9f 01:31:00 01:31:00
22.K8b-9a 01:31:00 01:31:00
23.K7i-8h 01:33:00 01:31:00
24.S7a-8b 01:33:00 01:32:00
25.P5g-5f 01:54:00 01:32:00
26.N2a-3c 01:54:00 01:37:00
27.P3g-3f 01:56:00 01:37:00
28.G4a-5a 01:56:00 01:45:00
29.N2i-3g 01:56:00 01:45:00
30.G5a-6b 01:56:00 01:54:00
31.S4h-5g 02:14:00 01:54:00
32.G6a-7a 02:14:00 02:06:00
33.P6g-6f 02:27:00 02:06:00
34.S4b-5c 02:27:00 02:25:00
35.S5g-4f!? 03:25:00 02:25:00
An unusual move, especially from a player like Watanabe who is always most
concerned about the safety of the king. After the game Watanabe admitted that
he didn't like his position at all here. Being fond of the Anaguma himself,
he only realized the difference between the Silver Crown castle he is playing
and the Anaguma after actually playing it here. Even though he is black, he
saw no way to start anything significant. 35.S4f should be seen as a desperate
attempt to try something with black.
36.P7c-7d? 03:25:00 02:48:00
With the specialties reversed (Sato playing Anaguma and Watanabe playing Silver
Crown), combined with two players not in their top form, the opening is much
less accurate as one would expect at this level. Sato could have easily played
36.S4d here after which 37.B*3a R3b B7e+ P3e Px3e Sx3e Sx3e P*3f is good for white.
37.P8f-8e 03:35:00 02:48:00
38.P9c-9d? 03:35:00 02:56:00
Invites the edge attack, so Sato regretted this move as well. He felt that without
pushing the edge pawn the position might even have been winning.
39.P6f-6e 03:56:00 02:56:00
40.P1c-1d 03:56:00 03:12:00
41.G4i-5h 04:27:00 03:12:00
The sealed move. Watanabe thought that the position was a strategic loss, so he
decided that strengthening his castle and waiting for a chance was more important
than covering the holes for a bishop drop here.
42.B*3i 04:27:00 03:33:00
Here again the difference in shogi sense between the two players became apparent.
Sato wanted to drop this bishop and promote it, while Watanabe expected that Sato
would play something else, because the bishop in hand would be more important.
43.R2h-2i 05:14:00 03:33:00
Change of plan. Watanabe initially intended to play 43.R3h B6f+ G5h-6g +B4d P3e
Px3e Sx3e +Bx3e N2e here, but here realized that P*3f or P*3g Rx3g S*3f would be
a little too much. Many professionals crumble when they have to change their plans,
but one of the things that sets Watanabe apart from most other professionals is his
flexibility. Without any concern for breaking the flow of the game he switches easily
from plan A to plan B. Sato makes a promoted bishop next, but Watanabe can make sure
that he cannot do much with it.
44.B3i-6f+ 05:14:00 03:46:00
45.S4f-5g 05:14:00 03:46:00
46.+B6f-4d 05:14:00 03:46:00
47.G5h-6g 05:14:00 03:46:00
48.G6b-7b 05:14:00 04:38:00
49.P4g-4f 05:19:00 04:38:00
50.S5c-6b 05:19:00 04:40:00
51.N3g-4e 05:33:00 04:40:00
52.N3cx4e 05:33:00 04:51:00
53.P4fx4e 05:33:00 04:51:00
54.+B4d-5c 05:33:00 04:51:00
55.N*8f 05:58:00 04:51:00
56.S6b-7c 05:58:00 05:14:00
57.S5g-6f 05:59:00 05:14:00
58.P6c-6d 05:59:00 05:35:00
59.P6ex6d 06:02:00 05:35:00
60.+B5cx6d 06:02:00 05:35:00
61.P*6e 06:02:00 05:35:00
62.+B6d-6c 06:02:00 05:44:00
63.B*3c 06:13:00 05:44:00
Here 63.P5e seems a plausible alternative, but after 64.P8d Px8d P*8e Nx8e S8d white
can launch a strong attack on the head of the black king.
64.R2b-1b 06:13:00 05:52:00
65.B3c-5a+ 06:31:00 05:52:00
The point here is not only a bishop promotion, but also that this bishop is defending
the square 8d, so that the attack explained earlier is no longer possible.
66.P3d-3e 06:31:00 06:27:00
67.P3fx3e? 06:44:00 06:27:00
Watanabe has been playing very well after losing the opening battle, but this is a
mistake that gives Sato the advantage. Correct was 67.P2e Px3f Px2d R3b P2c+ R3e +B2d
and black has everything to play for.
68.R1b-3b 06:44:00 06:29:00
69.R2i-3i 06:44:00 06:29:00
70.+B6c-5c 06:44:00 06:31:00
71.P3e-3d 06:46:00 06:31:00
72.R3b-3a 06:46:00 06:31:00
73.+B5a-3c 06:48:00 06:31:00
It is important to understand that this move shows that black has done something wrong.
The idea was to promote a pawn on 3c, but instead black is forced to block this pawn,
making the promoted bishop a hostage piece in the process (white can take this bishop
any time he needs it with the rook). Still, here black has no choice because after
73.+Bx2d R2a the white rook comes into play.
74.P8c-8d 06:48:00 06:31:00
75.N8fx9d 07:10:00 06:31:00
Watanabe realizes he has made a mistake and tries a desperate attack.
76.L9bx9d?! 07:10:00 06:36:00
After the game Sato admitted that he was surprised at how black was able to continue
to attack with only a small number of pieces. On hindsight, he thought that 76.S8c
would have been better here.
77.+B3c-2b 07:10:00 06:36:00
78.R3a-6a 07:10:00 06:42:00
79.P3d-3c+ 07:11:00 06:42:00
80.N*8f? 07:11:00 06:49:00
Sato criticized this move as well, saying that 80.P*9b would have been better here.
81.+P3cx4c 07:15:00 06:49:00
Suddenly the tables have been turned and Watanabe is in the driving seat again.
82.N8fx7h+ 07:15:00 06:49:00
83.K8hx7h 07:15:00 06:49:00
84.+B5cx4c 07:15:00 06:49:00
85.P9f-9e 07:15:00 06:49:00
86.L9dx9e 07:15:00 06:51:00
87.L9ix9e 07:15:00 06:51:00
88.P*9d 07:15:00 06:51:00
89.P8ex8d 07:15:00 06:51:00
90.P*8c 07:15:00 07:07:00
91.P*9c 07:18:00 07:07:00
92.S8bx9c 07:18:00 07:07:00
93.N*8e 07:18:00 07:07:00
94.S7cx8d 07:18:00 07:28:00
95.N8ex9c+ 07:18:00 07:28:00
96.S8dx9c 07:18:00 07:32:00
97.P*9b 07:22:00 07:32:00
98.K9ax9b 07:22:00 07:34:00
99.N7g-8e 07:23:00 07:34:00
100.G7a-8b 07:23:00 07:34:00
101.N8ex9c+ 07:23:00 07:34:00
102.G8bx9c 07:23:00 07:34:00
103.S*8e 07:23:00 07:34:00
104.G*8d 07:23:00 07:34:00
105.S8ex8d 07:23:00 07:34:00
106.P8cx8d 07:23:00 07:36:00
107.L9ex9d 07:25:00 07:36:00
108.G9cx9d 07:25:00 07:36:00
109.P*9e 07:25:00 07:36:00
110.G9dx9e 07:25:00 07:36:00
111.L*9i 07:25:00 07:36:00
112.N*8c 07:25:00 07:36:00
113.+B2b-3b 07:26:00 07:36:00
114.+B4c-5c 07:26:00 07:37:00
115.R3i-3c+ 07:28:00 07:37:00
116.R6a-6c 07:28:00 07:40:00
117.+B3b-4a 07:40:00 07:40:00
118.S*5b 07:40:00 07:45:00
119.+R3c-2b 07:40:00 07:45:00
120.L*8e 07:40:00 07:52:00
121.P*8f 07:40:00 07:52:00
122.L8ex8f 07:40:00 07:52:00
123.S8gx8f 07:40:00 07:52:00
124.+B5cx8f 07:40:00 07:52:00
125.+B4ax5b? 07:41:00 07:52:00
Mistake number one. 125.S*7g is probably winning for black.
126.+B8f-5i 07:41:00 07:52:00
127.P*8g 07:47:00 07:52:00
128.R6c-7c?! 07:47:00 07:58:00
Looks like a good move, as it is hard for black to defend here, but at the party
after the game, one of the journalists suggested 128.N*8f Px8f P*6h!, a move that
was not even mentioned during the post-mortem analysis. The point is that after
Gx6h S*8g Kx8g (K6g Sx7f+) +Bx6h is difficult to defend. Sato suggested S*7g, but
then G9f! is a brilliant move. Lx9f is a check, but this is countered by N*9e,
which is also a check. Then Lx9e Nx9e K9g P*9f Kx9f +B7h is mate. Actually, after
P*6h black can still defend with G*7i and after P6i+ +Bx6c +Px7i Kx7i N*8g K7h S*6i
K8h G*7h Kx8g +Bx8f K9h white has only mate with a pawn drop, so it doesn't seem to
be enough for white. Despite this, Sato was a little upset that he wasn't able to
come up with a move like P*6h.
129.G*6i?? 07:54:00 07:58:00
A blunder that ends the game immediately.
130.N*8f 07:54:00 07:58:00
131.P8gx8f 07:54:00 07:58:00
132.S*8i 07:54:00 07:58:00
This is the move that Watanabe overlooked. For some reason he only had seen 132.S*8g
and after K7i S8h+ Kx8h +B6i S*7h N*9f Lx9f G*9g K7g white cannot take the pawn on 8f
and black wins.
133.K7h-7i 07:58:00 07:58:00
134.N*8g 07:58:00 07:58:00
135.K7ix8i 07:58:00 07:58:00
136.+B5ix6i 07:58:00 07:58:00
137.L9ix9e 07:58:00 07:58:00
138.N8cx9e 07:58:00 07:59:00
139.+B5bx7d 07:59:00 07:59:00
140.R7cx7d 07:59:00 07:59:00
141.+R2bx7b 07:59:00 07:59:00
142.R7dx7b 07:59:00 07:59:00
143.P*9c 07:59:00 07:59:00
144.N8ax9c 07:59:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00
No mate (144.G*9a Kx9a N*8c K8b) and no defence, so Watanabe resigned here. A game with
an unusual number of mistakes, but that also made it very interesting. Both players win
with the white pieces, and the match is down to a best-of-five with Watanabe's service
game coming up.