45th Oi Match Game 5


[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]

[White "Tanigawa Koji, Oi"]

[Event "45th Oi-sen, Game 5"]

[Date "September 7th and 8th 2004"]

1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00

2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:06:00

3.P2g-2f     00:05:00  00:06:00

4.G4a-3b     00:05:00  00:09:00

5.P2f-2e     00:11:00  00:09:00

6.B2bx8h+    00:11:00  00:15:00



For this vital game, Tanigawa decides to play the Kakugawari with 

tempo loss. The Furibisha openings he tried earlier have not been 

successful, so he is trying to change the flow of the match.



7.S7ix8h     00:12:00  00:15:00

8.S3a-2b     00:12:00  00:15:00

9.S3i-3h     00:27:00  00:15:00

10.S2b-3c    00:27:00  00:26:00

11.S8h-7g    00:48:00  00:26:00

12.S7a-6b    00:48:00  00:37:00

13.K5i-6h    01:06:00  00:37:00

14.P8c-8d    01:06:00  01:03:00

15.G6i-7h    01:17:00  01:03:00

16.P7c-7d    01:17:00  01:28:00

17.P3g-3f    02:07:00  01:28:00

18.P9c-9d    02:07:00  02:02:00

19.S3h-3g    02:37:00  02:02:00



A quick attack. A logical choice against the white strategy. In a 

slow build-up the loss of tempo does not make much difference and 

the counter attack N7c-N8e becomes a significant extra option for 

white. By attacking quickly, black hopes to cash in on his two-move 

advantage.



20.S6b-7c    02:37:00  02:14:00

21.S3g-4f    02:44:00  02:14:00

22.P8d-8e    02:44:00  02:26:00

23.K6h-7i    03:09:00  02:26:00

24.S7c-6d    03:09:00  02:38:00

25.P3f-3e    03:22:00  02:38:00

26.P3dx3e    03:22:00  03:12:00

27.S4fx3e    03:23:00  03:12:00

28.P7d-7e    03:23:00  03:12:00

29.P7fx7e    04:34:00  03:12:00



The sealed move.



30.S6dx7e    04:34:00  03:14:00

31.P2e-2d    04:35:00  03:14:00

32.P2cx2d    04:35:00  03:26:00

33.S3ex2d    04:43:00  03:26:00

34.B*6d      04:43:00  04:15:00



Diagram 1



35.B*3g      05:27:00  04:15:00



A change of plan. Habu intended to play 35.P*3g here, but he suddenly 

saw that white then has 36.Sx2d Rx2d P*2c R2f P*7f Sx7f P8f Px8f P*8h 

Gx8h Sx7f Rx7f Bx8f and white has the advantage. The threat is S*6h 

and if black defends with P*7g then Bx7g+! is a strong reply. Taking 

the bishop with the rook or knight fails to S*6h, while Gx7g fails 

to S*8h.



36.S3cx2d    05:27:00  04:50:00

37.R2hx2d    05:27:00  04:50:00

38.P*2c      05:27:00  04:50:00

39.B3gx6d    05:28:00  04:50:00

40.P6cx6d    05:28:00  05:48:00

41.R2d-2e    05:31:00  05:48:00



Diagram 2



42.P*7f      05:31:00  05:48:00



In the press room 42.P8f was analyzed, which seems to be good for 

white. For example, after 43.Rx7e (Px8f Sx8f just helps white developing 

the silver) Px8g+ P*8c Rx8c S*7b +Px7h Kx7h white has the brilliant 

S*5h! (Gx5h is mate after B*8g etc.). After the game, 42.P8f was analyzed 

extensively, but no conclusion could be reached.



43.S7g-8h    05:53:00  05:48:00

44.S*6e      05:53:00  05:49:00

45.B*4f      06:17:00  05:49:00

46.B*3f      06:17:00  06:25:00

47.R2ex6e    06:42:00  06:25:00

48.B3fx4g+   06:42:00  06:25:00

49.R6ex7e    06:47:00  06:25:00

50.+B4gx4f   06:47:00  06:25:00

51.R7ex7f    06:47:00  06:25:00



Black has two silvers for the bishop and according to the proverb this 

should be better for black. However, in this position the white position 

has good balance and the position is unclear.



52.+B4fx5g   06:47:00  06:29:00

53.S*6h      06:59:00  06:29:00

54.P*7e      06:59:00  06:54:00

55.S6hx5g    07:13:00  06:54:00

56.P7ex7f    07:13:00  06:54:00

57.B*5e      07:13:00  06:54:00



Diagram 3



58.B*4g?     07:13:00  07:08:00



A mistake that makes things difficult for white. After the game, Tanigawa 

said that he deeply regretted this move and wished that he had played 

58.B*2g instead. If black defends with 59.P*3h, then B3f+ P*5h R*2e is 

hard to defend against. Furthermore, 59.S*3h is met by Bx3h+ Gx3h R*4i 

S*6i S*5h G6h Sx6i+ Gx6i S*5h P*5i Sx6i+ Kx6i Rx2i+ G4h and Habu admitted 

that he did not have much confidence in the black position.



59.S*5h      07:13:00  07:08:00

60.B4gx2i+   07:13:00  07:09:00

61.P*5d!     07:13:00  07:09:00



The move that Tanigawa had overlooked. This creates a huge hole on 5c, 

which can be used for a devastating silver drop later. Although the 

position is objectively still rather difficult, Tanigawa might have 

been shocked that he overlooked this, inviting the decisive mistake.



62.P5cx5d    07:13:00  07:27:00

63.B5ex1a+   07:13:00  07:27:00



Diagram 4



64.N2a-3c?   07:13:00  07:31:00



This is the decisive mistake. The only chance was 64.+Bx1i 65.+Bx2a 

66.L*7g!. Then 67.Nx7g Px7g+ Sx7g P*7f Sx7f P*7g Gx7g P*7e or 67.L*5c 

K4b N*4e Lx7h+ Kx7h +B5e with a difficult position. In Tanigawa's defense, 

it should be added that L*7g is a very hard move to play for a professional. 

The wall silver on 8h is very bad and allowing this silver to move for 

nothing is not good attacking style. The best attack is through the center, 

but in this case Habu has put all his forces in this center, so the only 

quick way to break through is via the attacking base on 7g.



65.L*3f      07:15:00  07:31:00



Now the black attack gains a lot of speed and white never gets a chance to 

recover.



66.N3c-4e    07:15:00  07:44:00

67.L3fx3b+   07:16:00  07:44:00

68.R8bx3b    07:16:00  07:44:00

69.S*5c      07:24:00  07:44:00

70.G6a-6b    07:24:00  07:45:00

71.P*3c      07:29:00  07:45:00

72.R3b-5b    07:29:00  07:45:00

73.S5cx5b+   07:31:00  07:45:00

74.K5ax5b    07:31:00  07:45:00

75.P3c-3b+   07:31:00  07:45:00

76.L*5f      07:31:00  07:48:00

77.R*4b      07:37:00  07:48:00

78.K5b-6c    07:37:00  07:49:00

79.R4bx4c+   07:38:00  07:49:00

80.N*5c      07:38:00  07:49:00

81.S5gx5f    07:38:00  07:49:00

82.+B2ix5f   07:38:00  07:49:00

83.+B1a-4d   07:38:00  07:49:00

84.S*6e      07:38:00  07:49:00

85.L*7e      07:40:00  07:49:00

86.N4e-5g+   07:40:00  07:52:00

87.G*7b      07:43:00  07:52:00

Resigns      07:43:00  07:52:00



Final Diagram



No defense: 88.Gx7b +Rx5c or 88.S*5b Gx6b Kx6b +Bx5c etc. After 88.S*7d, black 

has no mate, but Gx6b is a quick finish. After losing two Oi matches in a row 

to Tanigawa, Habu finally succeeds. It is his 10th Oi title and he will be 

happy to have two crowns again after holding only the Oza for three months. 

Tanigawa will be disappointed, but not devastated, because after the first 

game this match was all Habu.