56th Osho Match Game 1 (Replay)

[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"]
[White "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"]
[Event "56th Osho-sen, Replay Game 1"]
[Date "January 12th 2007"]
1.P7g-7f     05:44:00  00:00:00

After a one hour recess, the game is replayed with reversed 
colors. The rules for the Osho match state that each player 
is given at least two hours for the replay. Sato had used 6 
hours and 5 minutes of the allotted 8 hours for the first game, 
so he is given 2 hours. Habu had used 5 hours and 49 minutes, so 
he is given 2 hours and 11 minutes plus the 5 minutes extra Sato 
received in order to have a minimum of 2 hours.

2.P3c-3d     05:44:00  06:00:00
3.P2g-2f     05:44:00  06:00:00
4.P5c-5d     05:44:00  06:00:00
5.P2f-2e     05:46:00  06:00:00
6.R8b-5b     05:46:00  06:00:00

Having white in the replay with shorter time is usually a disadvantage, 
but Sato's style is to open up the game quickly, whether he is black 
or white, so for him it probably doesn't make much difference.

7.B8hx2b+    05:48:00  06:00:00
8.S3ax2b     05:48:00  06:00:00
9.P9g-9f     05:48:00  06:00:00
10.P9c-9d    05:48:00  06:00:00
11.S7i-7h    05:48:00  06:00:00
12.S7a-7b!?! 05:48:00  06:00:00

This looks too risky to be playable. The square 8b is a gaping hole 
for a bishop drop...

13.K5i-6h    05:58:00  06:00:00
14.P5d-5e    05:58:00  06:03:00
15.S3i-4h    05:59:00  06:03:00
16.S2b-3c    05:59:00  06:03:00
17.P6g-6f    06:03:00  06:03:00
18.P5e-5f    06:03:00  06:05:00
19.P5gx5f    06:07:00  06:05:00
20.R5bx5f    06:07:00  06:05:00
21.S7h-6g    06:07:00  06:05:00
22.R5f-5b    06:07:00  06:05:00
23.K6h-7h    06:07:00  06:05:00
24.K5a-6b    06:07:00  06:12:00
25.B*8b      06:10:00  06:12:00

Habu decides to call Sato's bluff. After all, a free bishop promotion 
this early in the game has to be good, or...

26.L9a-9c    06:10:00  06:16:00
27.G6i-6h    06:14:00  06:16:00

Diagram 1

28.R5b-5d!   06:14:00  06:42:00

A brilliant strategic novelty by Sato. He will use the black promoted 
bishop as a target to support his edge attack by switching the rook 
to the 9th file. If white can time the rook switch to the 9th file 
well, black has to defend the promoted bishop and white gets an extra 
move for his attack.

29.P8g-8f    06:42:00  06:42:00
30.G6a-7a    06:42:00  07:02:00
31.B8b-9a+   06:42:00  07:02:00
32.P9d-9e    06:42:00  07:03:00
33.P9fx9e    06:43:00  07:03:00
34.P*9f      06:43:00  07:03:00
35.L9ix9f    06:44:00  07:03:00
36.B*7d      06:44:00  07:03:00
37.K7h-8g    06:44:00  07:03:00

Diagram 2

38.R5d-5e!   06:44:00  07:04:00

Another great rook move. It is tempting to play 38.Bx9d here, but 
after 39.Kx9d Lx9e Kx9e L*9c K8e the black king can't be mated. After 
38.R5e white threatens to take with the rook on 9e instead of the lance, 
which is of course devastating. Even though Habu us fully aware of this, 
he has only pawns in hand which make it difficult to defend against 
this threat.

39.P9e-9d    06:46:00  07:04:00

Probably best, but now white can achieve his goal: a successful breakthrough 
on the edge.

40.B7dx9f    06:46:00  07:04:00
41.K8gx9f    06:46:00  07:04:00
42.L9cx9d    06:46:00  07:04:00
43.K9f-8g    06:46:00  07:04:00
44.L9d-9i+   06:46:00  07:04:00
45.P*9c      07:16:00  07:04:00
46.R5e-9e    07:16:00  07:05:00
47.P9c-9b+   07:16:00  07:05:00
48.R9e-9h+   07:16:00  07:05:00
49.K8g-7g    07:16:00  07:05:00
50.+L9ix8i   07:16:00  07:06:00
51.G6h-7h    07:16:00  07:06:00
52.P*9f      07:16:00  07:31:00
53.P*5d      07:31:00  07:31:00
54.S3c-4d    07:31:00  07:31:00
55.+P9b-8b   07:32:00  07:31:00
56.P9f-9g+   07:32:00  07:31:00
57.P*9i      07:43:00  07:31:00
58.+R9hx9i   07:43:00  07:31:00
59.+P8bx7a   07:44:00  07:31:00
60.K6bx7a    07:44:00  07:33:00
61.B*5c      07:55:00  07:33:00
62.L*6b      07:55:00  07:38:00

Diagram 3

The deciding move. The black pieces on the left are all crying.

63.B5c-7e+   07:58:00  07:38:00

This quickens the end, but the alternative 63.G*8b K6a Gx7b Kx7b S*8b also 
wins for white after Sx5c +Bx8a K6a Px5c+ +P8g! Gx8g (Kx8g +L8h Gx8h B*9f 
K7g +Rx8h Kx8h G*8g is mate) B*8h K6h B7i+ K5h +R9h N*7h G*6h K5g Gx6g K5f 
P*5e and now Kx5d is not mate, but then S*4d followed by Sx5c takes the 
black promoted pawn, after which black has no way to get to the white king. 
This is also losing, but probably gives black slightly more chances than 
in the game.

64.+L8i-8h   07:58:00  07:41:00

Sato still needs to be careful. Winning the bishop with 64.+P8g Gx8g +Rx9a 
looks good, but after P*9f the rook is shut out and the white attack is 
stopped.

65.S4h-5i    07:58:00  07:41:00
66.+L8hx7h   07:58:00  07:46:00
67.S6gx7h    07:58:00  07:46:00
68.+P9g-8h   07:58:00  07:46:00
Resigns      07:59:00  07:46:00

Final Diagram

Black seems to have nothing else than 69.G*8b K6a Px5c+, but this isn't even 
a mating threat, so white can just play +R9g L*8g N*5e and win easily in 
attack. A very good start for Sato, who is looking to erase the painful 
memories of last year's Osho match where he came back from 3-0 down, only 
to lose the deciding seventh game.