51st Osho Match Game 6

Black: Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Osho
51st Osho-sen, Game 6, March 11th and 12th 2002
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:01:00
3.P2g-2f     00:00:00  00:01:00
4.P4c-4d     00:00:00  00:02:00
5.P2f-2e     00:02:00  00:02:00
6.B2b-3c     00:02:00  00:03:00
7.S3i-4h     00:02:00  00:03:00
8.P9c-9d     00:02:00  00:04:00
9.P9g-9f     00:10:00  00:04:00
10.S3a-3b    00:10:00  00:15:00
11.P5g-5f    00:11:00  00:15:00
12.R8b-4b    00:11:00  00:21:00

Even though this is the first time Habu plays the Shikenbisha in this 
Osho match, this was not a big surprise. In the second game he played 
Hineribisha and in the 4th game Yokofudori, and both games ended in 
a convincing victory for Sato. Habu has no choice but to try something 
else.

13.K5i-6h    00:11:00  00:21:00
14.S7a-7b    00:11:00  00:27:00
15.K6h-7h    00:18:00  00:27:00
16.S3b-4c    00:18:00  00:31:00
17.G4i-5h    00:18:00  00:31:00
18.K5a-6b    00:18:00  00:43:00
19.B8h-7g    00:42:00  00:43:00
20.P7c-7d    00:42:00  01:02:00
21.P6g-6f    01:01:00  01:02:00
22.P4d-4e    01:01:00  01:20:00
23.S4h-5g    01:27:00  01:20:00
24.N8a-7c    01:27:00  01:29:00
25.B7g-8f!   01:47:00  01:29:00

Diagram 1

An important move, played with perfect timing. This makes it very hard 
for white to attack early and gives Sato the opportunity to get into 
the anaguma, which is one of his favorite strategies against the 
Furibisha. 

26.G4a-5b    01:47:00  01:48:00
27.G5h-6g    01:58:00  01:48:00
28.P8c-8d    01:58:00  01:51:00
29.K7h-8h    02:00:00  01:51:00
30.S7b-8c    02:00:00  01:56:00
31.L9i-9h    02:11:00  01:56:00
32.G6a-7b    02:11:00  02:10:00
33.K8h-9i    02:11:00  02:10:00
34.K6b-7a    02:11:00  02:11:00
35.S7i-8h    02:11:00  02:11:00
36.K7a-8b    02:11:00  02:11:00
37.P3g-3f    02:33:00  02:11:00
38.S4c-5d    02:33:00  02:56:00
39.P1g-1f    03:12:00  02:56:00
40.P1c-1d    03:12:00  02:58:00
41.G6i-7i    03:16:00  02:58:00
42.R4b-4a    03:16:00  03:00:00
43.N2i-3g    03:31:00  03:00:00
44.G5b-6b    03:31:00  03:12:00
45.R2h-4h!?  04:38:00  03:12:00

Diagram 2

Interesting play by Sato. This was the sealed move. Sato knows what 
Habu is going to play next and that reply makes 45.R4h a useless move. 
However, by sealing this move, Sato can think all night about how to 
really attack the white position. This kind of reasoning is only 
possible in two-day title matches. 

46.B3c-4d    04:38:00  03:38:00
47.R4h-2h    04:38:00  03:38:00

This is forced, to avoid B2f. Now we have the same position as at 
move 44, and some of the commentators in the press room were worried 
about sennichite here. However, Sato has no intention of giving up 
the advantage of playing black.

48.B4d-3c    04:38:00  03:49:00
49.G6g-6h    04:38:00  03:49:00
50.P6c-6d    04:38:00  03:51:00
51.B8fx6d!   04:53:00  03:51:00

Diagram 3

An exclamation mark for courage. This bishop is going to be in a lot 
of trouble and the faint at heart would certainly have played 51.G6h-7h 
here, completing the anaguma castle. Sato has decided to trust the 
strength of his anaguma castle and attack whenever possible. He 
wants to decide the match in this game.

52.P8d-8e    04:53:00  03:52:00
53.P2e-2d    04:54:00  03:52:00
54.P2cx2d    04:54:00  04:01:00

If 54.Bx2d, then after 55.N2e the black bishop has an escape route 
and black gets the advantage.

55.P4g-4f    04:55:00  04:01:00

Diagram 4

56.P4ex4f    04:55:00  05:10:00

The question here is what happens if white goes for the bishop 
with 56.G6b-6c. Surprisingly, both players had different opinions 
about what would happen next. Sato had planned 57.Bx7c+, but after 
58.G6cx7c Nx4e Sx4e Px4e P8f Px8f P*4f Sx4f B*3i R2g Bx6f+ S5e 
+Bx7f R7g it seems that black has good chances. Seeing this variation, 
Habu regretted 56.Px4f. After 56.G6b-6c, he had expected 57.Nx4e 
Sx4e B5e and after Bx5e Px5e Sx4f B*5b it seems that black's attack 
is stronger. 

57.B6dx4f    04:56:00  05:10:00
58.P8e-8f    04:56:00  05:10:00
59.P*4e      05:35:00  05:10:00
60.P*6e?     05:35:00  05:48:00

Diagram 5

Too subtle. Even at this level sometimes the most obvious moves are 
the best. Habu should have played 60.Px8g+ here. After 61.Sx8g P*6e 
G8h Px6f N7g and both Sx4e and K8a seem to be alright for white. The 
balance is now changing in Sato's favor. 

61.P8gx8f    05:45:00  05:48:00
62.P6ex6f    05:45:00  05:48:00
63.G7i-7h    05:45:00  05:48:00
64.P3d-3e    05:45:00  06:07:00
65.B4fx3e    05:57:00  06:07:00
66.N7c-6e    05:57:00  06:08:00
67.S5g-4f    06:04:00  06:08:00
68.P*3d      06:04:00  06:16:00
69.B3e-2f    06:06:00  06:16:00
70.N2a-1c    06:06:00  06:16:00
71.P*6d      06:20:00  06:16:00
72.P*8g      06:20:00  06:22:00
73.G7hx8g    06:20:00  06:22:00
74.P2d-2e    06:20:00  06:22:00
75.B2f-1g    06:31:00  06:22:00
76.B3c-2d    06:31:00  06:28:00
77.P3f-3e    06:35:00  06:28:00
78.P1d-1e    06:35:00  06:30:00
79.N3gx2e    06:52:00  06:30:00
80.P1ex1f    06:52:00  07:11:00
81.N2ex1c+   06:52:00  07:11:00
82.P1fx1g+?  06:52:00  07:11:00

Diagram 6

A big mistake. The only way to continue was 82.Bx1c 83.B2f 84.P*2e 
and after both 85.B1e Bx3e B3g B2f Bx2f Px2f and 85.B3g Px3e Rx2e 
P3f white still has some chances to win despite the black advantage.

83.R2hx2d    06:52:00  07:11:00
84.B*4g      06:52:00  07:11:00
85.R2d-2b+   06:59:00  07:11:00
86.B4gx5f+   06:59:00  07:12:00
87.P6d-6c+!  07:00:00  07:12:00

Diagram 7

Good move. This is a fine combination of three moves that give black 
complete control over the position.

88.G6bx6c    07:00:00  07:13:00
89.B*3g      07:00:00  07:13:00

This not only defends the silver on 4f, but the discovered check S5g 
is very strong, so white has to get the king out of the diagonal.

90.K8b-8a    07:00:00  07:18:00
91.P*5g      07:09:00  07:18:00

The icing on the cake. This forces the promoted bishop to a very 
bad square. "I suddenly felt like I was 10 moves behind" (Habu). 

92.+B5f-4g   07:09:00  07:18:00
93.P*6d      07:11:00  07:18:00
94.G6c-6b    07:11:00  07:19:00
95.+R2b-3b   07:14:00  07:19:00
96.R4a-7a    07:14:00  07:21:00
97.P9f-9e    07:23:00  07:21:00

This edge attack decides the game.

98.P9dx9e    07:23:00  07:28:00
99.P*9d      07:24:00  07:28:00
100.L1ax1c   07:24:00  07:29:00
101.N*8e     07:30:00  07:29:00
102.S8cx9d   07:30:00  07:29:00
103.S4f-5e   07:31:00  07:29:00

Diagram 8

Strong. The bishop is only a small sacrifice for an Osho title winning 
attack.

104.+B4gx3g  07:31:00  07:29:00
105.S5ex5d   07:31:00  07:29:00
106.P5cx5d   07:31:00  07:29:00
107.S*7c     07:31:00  07:29:00
108.S*6a     07:31:00  07:29:00
109.S7cx6b+  07:32:00  07:29:00
110.S6ax6b   07:32:00  07:29:00
111.G*7c     07:32:00  07:29:00
112.S*6a     07:32:00  07:32:00
113.P6d-6c+  07:32:00  07:32:00
114.S6bx6c   07:32:00  07:32:00
115.G7cx6c   07:32:00  07:32:00
116.S9dx8e   07:32:00  07:32:00
117.P*6b     07:34:00  07:32:00
118.G7bx6c   07:34:00  07:35:00
119.P6bx6a+  07:34:00  07:35:00
120.R7a-7b   07:34:00  07:35:00
121.+R3bx7b  07:37:00  07:35:00
122.K8ax7b   07:37:00  07:35:00
123.R*7a     07:37:00  07:35:00
124.K7b-8b   07:37:00  07:35:00
125.S*8d     07:37:00  07:35:00
Resigns      07:37:00  07:36:00

Final Diagram

Habu took 1 minute here to say goodbye to his Osho title. There is 
no defense against this simple hisshi. A fine game by Sato, winning 
his first Osho title in his third attempt (he lost 1-4 and 0-4 in 
his previous encounters with Habu). This game also ends the two title 
matches that Habu and Sato played simultaneously. Both players won 5 
games, but Sato will obviously feel the winner, as he managed to take 
one of Habu's titles. Congratulations to the new Osho!