84th Kisei Match Game 3
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Kisei"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Challenger"]
[Event "84th Kisei-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "July 6th 2013"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
4.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:00:00
5.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:00:00
6.P8d-8e 00:01:00 00:00:00
7.B8h-7g 00:02:00 00:00:00
8.P3c-3d 00:02:00 00:00:00
9.S7i-8h 00:03:00 00:00:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:03:00 00:00:00
11.S8hx7g 00:03:00 00:00:00
12.S3a-4b 00:03:00 00:00:00
13.S3i-3h 00:04:00 00:00:00
14.S7a-7b 00:04:00 00:00:00
15.P9g-9f 00:04:00 00:00:00
16.P9c-9d 00:04:00 00:00:00
17.P4g-4f 00:05:00 00:00:00
18.P6c-6d 00:05:00 00:00:00
19.S3h-4g 00:06:00 00:00:00
20.S7b-6c 00:06:00 00:00:00
21.K5i-6h 00:06:00 00:00:00
22.S6c-5d 00:06:00 00:01:00
23.S4g-5f 00:06:00 00:01:00
24.P4c-4d 00:06:00 00:01:00
25.G4i-5h 00:06:00 00:01:00
26.G6a-5b 00:06:00 00:01:00
27.P3g-3f 00:06:00 00:01:00
28.K5a-4a 00:06:00 00:01:00
29.K6h-7i 00:06:00 00:01:00
30.K4a-3a 00:06:00 00:01:00
31.P1g-1f 00:06:00 00:01:00
32.P1c-1d 00:06:00 00:01:00
33.N2i-3g 00:06:00 00:01:00
34.P6d-6e 00:06:00 00:04:00
After two Yokofudori games, we now get a Kakugawari opening. White moves the pawn
early to 6e, which leads to a slow build-up.
35.P2f-2e 00:13:00 00:04:00
36.S4b-3c 00:13:00 00:04:00
37.G5h-4g 00:13:00 00:04:00
38.G5b-4c 00:13:00 00:04:00
39.K7i-8h 00:13:00 00:04:00
40.K3a-2b 00:13:00 00:04:00
41.R2h-6h 00:13:00 00:04:00
42.R8b-6b 00:13:00 00:04:00
43.R6h-4h 00:13:00 00:04:00
44.R6b-4b 00:13:00 00:05:00
45.R4h-2h 00:22:00 00:05:00
46.R4b-8b 00:22:00 00:05:00
47.G4g-4h 00:22:00 00:05:00
48.G4c-4b 00:22:00 00:05:00
49.R2h-2i 00:22:00 00:05:00
50.G4b-4c 00:22:00 00:05:00
51.R2i-6i 00:22:00 00:05:00
52.R8b-6b 00:22:00 00:05:00
53.R6i-5i 00:22:00 00:05:00
This movement of the rook has become joseki. It seems to be aimless, but it is using
the rule that in shogi it is not possible to pass. For example, if white moves the
rook to 8b without thinking here with 54.R8b, black moves the rook back to 2i with
55.R2i and white is stuck for moves. The natural 56.K3a invites 57.P4e Px4e Sx4e
Sx4e Nx4e S4d P*4f and black threatens B*6a followed by Bx4c+ and P2d next, which
is not easy to defend against.
54.R6b-9b 00:22:00 00:10:00
55.S5f-4g 00:23:00 00:10:00
56.G4c-4b 00:23:00 00:13:00
57.P5g-5f 00:24:00 00:13:00
58.B*6d 00:24:00 00:13:00
59.R5i-6i 00:24:00 00:13:00
60.R9b-6b 00:24:00 00:13:00
61.G4h-5h 00:25:00 00:13:00
62.P7c-7d 00:25:00 00:15:00
63.B*8c 00:28:00 00:15:00
This is also a standard move.
64.S5d-6c 00:28:00 00:16:00
65.P6g-6f 00:28:00 00:16:00
66.P8e-8f 00:28:00 00:22:00
We are still in known territory, as this position also appeared in the second game of
last year's Kisei match between Nakamura and Habu. In that game it followed 67.Px6e
Px8g+ Gx8g B7c P7e Px7e S8f P*6h followed by P3e and Habu managed to keep his attack
going and win.
67.S7gx8f 00:32:00 00:22:00
68.P6ex6f 00:32:00 00:24:00
69.R6ix6f 00:32:00 00:24:00
70.G4b-5b 00:32:00 00:40:00
Now we are in unknown territory. This game now becomes a mutual attack where it is
impossible to say who is better.
71.R6fx6d 00:54:00 00:40:00
72.S6cx6d 00:54:00 00:40:00
73.B*7a 00:54:00 00:40:00
74.R*3i 00:54:00 00:59:00
75.B7ax6b+ 01:26:00 00:59:00
76.G5bx6b 01:26:00 00:59:00
77.P2e-2d 01:26:00 00:59:00
78.S3cx2d 01:26:00 01:03:00
79.B8cx7d+ 01:29:00 01:03:00
80.R3ix3g+ 01:29:00 01:25:00
81.+B7dx6d 01:42:00 01:25:00
82.N*6f 01:42:00 01:25:00
83.+B6d-6e 01:45:00 01:25:00
84.N6fx7h+ 01:45:00 01:25:00
85.K8hx7h 01:45:00 01:25:00
86.+R3g-3i 01:45:00 01:25:00
White seems to be attacking strongly, having removed an important defending gold. The
general opinion in the press room was that white had the upper hand here, but Habu
has something up his sleeve.
87.N*5i 02:19:00 01:25:00
88.+R3ix1i 02:19:00 01:41:00
89.+B6ex3b 02:43:00 01:41:00
90.K2bx3b 02:43:00 01:41:00
91.P*2b! 02:43:00 01:41:00
A hidden move that Watanabe and all the professionals in the press room had overlooked.
92.K3bx2b 02:43:00 02:55:00
Clearly not what Watanabe wanted to play and played after 74 minutes of thought. Watanabe
had looked at moves like 92.+Rx5i Gx5i N*6f or 92.L*6d P*6f B*5g Gx5g +Rx5i G*6i +Rx5g
but it is not enough for white.
93.R*4b 02:45:00 02:55:00
94.G*3b 02:45:00 02:55:00
95.R4bx6b+ 02:45:00 02:55:00
And the opinion had changed to a black advantage, but the drama has just started.
96.P*6a! 02:45:00 02:55:00
97.+R6bx6a 02:57:00 02:55:00
98.P*6f! 02:57:00 03:00:00
And 99.+Rx6f fails to B*2f followed by Bx5i+. However, leaving this pawn on 6f is
dangerous.
99.P*2e! 03:18:00 03:00:00
Habu replies in kind. White cannot take this pawn because of 100.Sx2e P*2d.
100.S2d-3c 03:18:00 03:09:00
101.S*4a! 03:18:00 03:09:00
Now 102.G3a is answered by G*3b Gx3b (K2b Gx3c) Sx3b+ Kx3b +R5b followed by G*4c.
Objectively, Habu is winning here, but Watanabe fights back strongly.
102.B*4c 03:18:00 03:29:00
103.S4ax3b+ 03:22:00 03:29:00
104.B4cx3b 03:22:00 03:29:00
105.G*3a 03:23:00 03:29:00
106.B3b-4c 03:23:00 03:29:00
This bishop attacks the promoted rook and this pressure invites the mistake.
107.G*3b? 03:32:00 03:29:00
Watanabe has a good reply to this attack, which Habu overlooked. Correct was the
cool 107.+R4a after which 108.S*6g is scary, but after 109.K8h Bx7f G*7g! is a
strong defense. For example, B5d G*3b K1c Gx3c Nx3c G3b and black wins. Habu admitted
after the game that he had overlooked G*7g in this variation.
108.K2b-1c 03:32:00 03:29:00
109.G3bx3c 03:32:00 03:29:00
110.N2ax3c 03:32:00 03:29:00
111.G3a-3b 03:32:00 03:29:00
112.S*2b! 03:32:00 03:29:00
This defends against S*2b and because 113.Gx2b is not a mating threat, white can
simply take the rook with 114.Bx6a.
113.+R6a-2a 03:40:00 03:29:00
114.B4cx3b 03:40:00 03:30:00
115.+R2ax3b 03:40:00 03:30:00
116.G*3a 03:40:00 03:30:00
Suddenly, Watanabe has turned the tables and the post-mortem analysis ended here.
However, the difference is still marginal and there is still one difficult point
left.
117.+R3b-4c 03:40:00 03:30:00
118.L*5g 03:40:00 03:36:00
119.+R4cx3d 03:47:00 03:36:00
120.L5gx5h+ 03:47:00 03:36:00
121.S4gx5h 03:47:00 03:36:00
122.K1c-1b 03:47:00 03:36:00
123.S*2d 03:56:00 03:36:00
124.P2cx2d 03:56:00 03:38:00
125.L*1c 03:59:00 03:38:00
126.K1bx1c 03:59:00 03:45:00
127.+R3dx2d 03:59:00 03:45:00
128.K1c-1b 03:59:00 03:45:00
129.G*1c 03:59:00 03:45:00
130.K1b-2a 03:59:00 03:45:00
131.B*4c 03:59:00 03:45:00
132.P*3b 03:59:00 03:46:00
133.G1cx2b 03:59:00 03:46:00
134.G3ax2b 03:59:00 03:46:00
135.S*2c 03:59:00 03:46:00
And after 135.G*3a Sx2b+ Gx2b G*2c G*3a the game ends in sennichite. In the press
room there was already anticipation for another game, but Watanabe has seen it all.
136.G*7i! 03:59:00 03:47:00
137.K7h-8h 03:59:00 03:47:00
This leads to a long and difficult mate, but it is not immediately clear how white
can win after 137.K7g, after which there is no mate. Even though this was not cleared
up in the post-mortem analysis, Watanabe explained later that after 138.+Rx1g P*6g
S*6h K6f B*4h K6e L*6a K5e (Bx6a+ G*5d is mate) G*5d and black has to give up the
bishop: Bx5d+ Px5d Kx4d B2f+ G*3e Gx2c +Rx2c S*2b and white wins.
138.G7ix8i 03:59:00 03:47:00
139.K8h-9h 03:59:00 03:47:00
140.G8ix9i 03:59:00 03:48:00
141.K9hx9i 03:59:00 03:48:00
142.+R1ix5i 03:59:00 03:48:00
143.G*8i 03:59:00 03:48:00
144.L*9g 03:59:00 03:50:00
145.S8fx9g 03:59:00 03:50:00
146.B*7g 03:59:00 03:50:00
Resigns 03:59:00 03:50:00
Mate after 147.L*8h +Rx8i Kx8i G*7i Kx7i G*6h K8i G*7h K9i L*9h Kx9h S*8i K9i Bx8h+
etc., so Habu resigned here. A game he could have won, but Watanabe played the endgame
very well and is suddenly back in this match, having black in the next game.