75th Kisei Match Game 2


[Black "Sato Yasumitsu, Kisei"]

[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]

[Event "75th Kisei-sen, Game 2"]

[Date "June 29th 2004"]

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

2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:01:00

3.P2g-2f     00:01:00  00:01:00

4.P4c-4d     00:01:00  00:01:00

5.P2f-2e     00:02:00  00:01:00

6.B2b-3c     00:02:00  00:01:00

7.S3i-4h     00:02:00  00:01:00

8.S3a-4b     00:02:00  00:01:00

9.P5g-5f     00:03:00  00:01:00

10.P5c-5d    00:03:00  00:03:00

11.K5i-6h    00:03:00  00:03:00

12.R8b-5b    00:03:00  00:05:00



The standard Nakabisha opening. Unlike the Gokigen-Nakabisha, which is 

quite popular among the top players, the standard Nakabisha opening is 

not often seen these days. Because of the bad winning percentage of the 

Nakabisha side, it was even considered unplayable for a while. However, 

Kubo 8-dan and Yagura 5-dan refused to give up on this opening and have 

been studying new attacking strategies for the Nakabisha side. The fact 

that Moriuchi is playing this opening now in this important game could be 

the start of a revival.



13.K6h-7h    00:03:00  00:05:00

14.K5a-6b    00:03:00  00:05:00

15.S4h-5g    00:10:00  00:05:00

16.K6b-7b    00:10:00  00:05:00

17.B8h-7g    00:10:00  00:05:00

18.S4b-5c    00:10:00  00:05:00

19.K7h-8h    00:11:00  00:05:00

20.S5c-6d    00:11:00  00:05:00

21.S5g-6f    00:11:00  00:05:00

22.K7b-8b    00:11:00  00:07:00

23.L9i-9h    00:44:00  00:07:00

24.P4d-4e    00:44:00  00:09:00

25.K8h-9i    00:44:00  00:09:00

26.R5b-4b    00:44:00  00:09:00

27.R2h-4h    00:45:00  00:09:00

28.L9a-9b    00:45:00  00:16:00

29.S7i-8h    00:45:00  00:16:00

30.K8b-9a    00:45:00  00:16:00

31.G4i-5i    00:45:00  00:16:00

32.S7a-8b    00:45:00  00:16:00

33.B7g-6h    00:48:00  00:16:00

34.G4a-5a    00:48:00  00:46:00

35.R4h-2h    00:57:00  00:46:00

36.R4b-5b    00:57:00  01:13:00

37.P2e-2d    01:33:00  01:13:00

38.P2cx2d    01:33:00  01:14:00

39.P3g-3f    01:33:00  01:14:00

40.R5b-2b    01:33:00  02:01:00

41.N2i-3g?!  01:36:00  02:01:00



Diagram 1



Both players have chosen the solid anaguma castle. When both sides have 

an anaguma, the development of a single piece can make all the difference. 

Sato is aiming for the development of this knight, which is something that 

white can not do for a while. If black can succeed in using this knight 

without compromising the anaguma, he will get the advantage. Still, the 

timing of this is crucial and it seems that Sato underestimated the next move.



42.P2d-2e!?  01:36:00  02:07:00



Sacrificing a pawn for active counter play.



43.R2hx2e    01:43:00  02:07:00

44.R2bx2e    01:43:00  02:10:00

45.N3gx2e    01:43:00  02:10:00

46.B3c-1e    01:43:00  02:10:00

47.R*2c      01:44:00  02:10:00

48.R*2i      01:44:00  02:14:00

49.R2cx2a+?  02:14:00  02:14:00



Diagram 2



Better was 49.P*2f Bx2f Rx2a+ P4f N3c+ P4g+ +N4b G5a-6b B8f G7a G5i-6h 

which seems to be good for black. Sato admitted after the game that this 

was the only way to play here.



50.P4e-4f    02:14:00  02:14:00

51.B6hx4f    02:21:00  02:14:00

52.B1ex5i+   02:21:00  02:19:00

53.G6ix5i    02:21:00  02:19:00

54.R2ix5i+   02:21:00  02:19:00

55.B*1e      02:21:00  02:19:00

56.+R5i-6i   02:21:00  02:20:00

57.B1ex5a+   02:21:00  02:20:00

58.G*7h      02:21:00  02:24:00

59.G*7i      02:21:00  02:24:00

60.G7hx8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

61.G7ix8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

62.G*7h      02:21:00  02:24:00



It is unclear where the players made a miscalculation, but now the game 

ends in sennichite. There is no way either side can escape the repetitive 

sequence of moves.



63.G*7i      02:21:00  02:24:00

64.G7hx8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

65.G7ix8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

66.G*7h      02:21:00  02:24:00

67.G*7i      02:21:00  02:24:00

68.G7hx8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

69.G7ix8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

70.G*7h      02:21:00  02:24:00

71.G*7i      02:21:00  02:24:00

72.G7hx8i    02:21:00  02:24:00

Sennichite   02:21:00  02:24:00



Final Diagram



A 30 minute break and a replay with reversed colors. There is almost no 

difference in time, so Moriuchi will not be too unhappy about this development. 

He can try to equalize the match with the black pieces.