27th Kio Match Game 4
Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio
White: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger
27th Kio-sen, Game 4, March 8th 2002
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00
3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:01:00
4.G4a-3b 00:02:00 00:02:00
5.G6i-7h 00:02:00 00:02:00
6.P8d-8e 00:02:00 00:02:00
7.B8h-7g 00:02:00 00:02:00
8.P3c-3d 00:02:00 00:02:00
9.S7i-8h 00:02:00 00:02:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:02:00 00:02:00
11.S8hx7g 00:02:00 00:02:00
12.S3a-4b 00:02:00 00:02:00
13.S3i-3h 00:03:00 00:02:00
14.S7a-7b 00:03:00 00:02:00
15.P9g-9f 00:05:00 00:02:00
16.P9c-9d 00:05:00 00:02:00
17.P4g-4f 00:06:00 00:02:00
18.P6c-6d 00:06:00 00:02:00
19.S3h-4g 00:06:00 00:02:00
20.S7b-6c 00:06:00 00:02:00
21.K5i-6h 00:10:00 00:02:00
22.P1c-1d 00:10:00 00:02:00
23.P1g-1f 00:11:00 00:02:00
24.K5a-4a 00:11:00 00:02:00
25.G4i-5h 00:14:00 00:02:00
26.S6c-5d 00:14:00 00:06:00
27.P3g-3f 00:17:00 00:06:00
28.G6a-5b 00:17:00 00:07:00
29.N2i-3g 00:19:00 00:07:00
30.P4c-4d 00:19:00 00:07:00
31.S4g-5f 00:20:00 00:07:00
32.K4a-3a 00:20:00 00:09:00
33.K6h-7i 00:21:00 00:09:00
34.P7c-7d 00:21:00 00:24:00
35.P2f-2e 00:28:00 00:24:00
36.S4b-3c 00:28:00 00:24:00
37.P6g-6f 00:28:00 00:24:00
38.N8a-7c 00:28:00 00:24:00
A classic position: the Kakugawari Koshikakegin (Bishop Exchange
Reclining Silver). This opening was very popular about seven years
ago and has been played in hundreds of professional games. It has
been studied very deeply and the general conclusion seems to be that
black has the better chances. The vital question therefore was: what
did Sato prepare?
39.P4f-4e 00:37:00 00:24:00
40.P4dx4e 00:37:00 00:24:00
41.P3f-3e 00:37:00 00:24:00
42.S3c-4d 00:37:00 00:31:00
43.P1f-1e 00:42:00 00:31:00
44.P1dx1e 00:42:00 00:31:00
45.P7f-7e 00:42:00 00:31:00
46.P7dx7e 00:42:00 00:31:00
47.P2e-2d 00:42:00 00:31:00
48.P2cx2d 00:42:00 00:31:00
49.R2hx2d 00:42:00 00:31:00
50.P*2c 00:42:00 00:31:00
51.R2d-2i 00:42:00 00:31:00
52.G5b-6c 00:42:00 00:34:00
53.P*1b 00:51:00 00:34:00
54.L1ax1b 00:51:00 00:34:00
55.B*1a 00:51:00 00:34:00
A position that has been played numerous times. There are two ways to
continue from here: 56.Sx3e and 56.B*2b. The latter is considered the
better move.
56.S4dx3e 00:51:00 00:47:00
This move is judged inferior in opening books like "Habu's brain"
and "Kakugawarikoshikakegin kenkyu".
57.S5fx4e 01:04:00 00:47:00
58.B*2b!? 01:04:00 00:57:00
Here is Sato's new move. Here only 58.B*3h has been played. The
combination of the two moves Sx3e and B*2b is a new plan. This
position is quite dangerous for white and it is a sign of supreme
confidence in his homework that Sato dared to play this plan in such
an important game.
59.P*3c 02:22:00 00:57:00
60.G3bx3c 02:22:00 02:08:00
61.B1ax2b+ 02:26:00 02:08:00
62.K3ax2b 02:26:00 02:08:00
63.S4ex5d 02:26:00 02:08:00
A change of plan. Habu initially thought that 63.N2e would be good
for him. This is true after both 64.G3b Sx3d and 64.G4c B*4a, but
after 64.G2d Sx5d Px5d black has no good move.
64.P5cx5d 02:26:00 02:12:00
65.N3g-4e 02:41:00 02:12:00
66.G3c-3b 02:41:00 02:21:00
67.B*4a 02:51:00 02:21:00
This threatens both Bx6c+ and S*4c. The position is very close. Can
black continue his attack or is white able to stop it and win in the
counter attack.
68.B*7d 02:51:00 02:34:00
The only move.
69.R2i-2h! 02:58:00 02:34:00
Inviting the following move.
70.R8b-4b 02:58:00 03:10:00
This kills the black bishop and most of the commentators in the press
room thought that black's attack would die.
71.S*1a! 02:59:00 03:10:00
Habu continues to find moves to fuel his attack. He played this after
only one minute of thought, so this must have been according to plan.
72.K2b-3a? 02:59:00 03:21:00
A position as close as this can be decided by one mistake. In the
press room 72.Kx1a was thought as good for white after 73.Bx3b+
74.Rx3b 75.Rx2c+ 76.R2b, but things are not so easy for white
after 77.+Rx3d. For example 78.R2i+ P*3i or 78.B*2e by 79.+Rx3e
Bx5h+ G*3c! and now R2i+ K8h S*6i S*2b +Rx2b Gx2b Kx2b P*2c K1a
R*7i is winning for black and +Bx5g K8h +Bx3e P*2c is not completely
clear. Still, Sato should have tried this, as 72.K3a doesn't give
him a chance to win.
73.B4ax6c+ 03:04:00 03:21:00
74.B7dx6c 03:04:00 03:21:00
75.N4e-5c+ 03:04:00 03:21:00
76.R4b-4i+ 03:04:00 03:21:00
77.K7i-8h 03:04:00 03:21:00
78.P7e-7f 03:04:00 03:27:00
79.S7gx7f 03:09:00 03:27:00
80.B*5e 03:09:00 03:42:00
Attack and defense, but Habu has seen it all.
81.G5h-4h! 03:33:00 03:42:00
Now the white promoted rook doesn't work in defense anymore. White
can't afford to exchange rooks here, so...
82.+R4i-5i 03:33:00 03:57:00
83.R2hx2c+! 03:36:00 03:57:00
After the game Habu said he thought he had won here. This rook can
of course not be taken (Gx2c G*4b mate) and despite the fact that
this is not a mating threat, white has no way to continue his attack
here.
84.B5ex1a 03:36:00 03:59:00
85.G*4b 03:40:00 03:59:00
86.G3bx4b 03:40:00 03:59:00
87.+N5cx4b 03:40:00 03:59:00
88.K3ax4b 03:40:00 03:59:00
89.G*5c 03:40:00 03:59:00
90.K4b-5a 03:40:00 03:59:00
91.+R2cx2a 03:40:00 03:59:00
92.P*4a 03:40:00 03:59:00
93.N*4c 03:40:00 03:59:00
94.K5a-6a 03:40:00 03:59:00
95.G5cx6c 03:40:00 03:59:00
96.B1ax6f 03:40:00 03:59:00
97.P*7g 03:40:00 03:59:00
Resigns 03:40:00 03:59:00
Black has multiple mating threats (+Rx4a and B*8c) and white has no
mate. A fine attacking win by Habu to defend his Kio title. He has
now won this title for the 12th consecutive time, getting close to
Oyama's all-time record of 13 consecutive Meijin titles. In those
twelve Kio matches he lost only eight games and in the Kio he
currently has a winning streak with the black pieces of 24 games.