55th Meijin Match, Game 1

  Sente: Challenger Koji Tanigawa
   Gote: Meijin Yoshiharu Habu
  Event: 55th Meijin Match, Game 1
   Date: 1997 April 10th & 11th
   Site: Osaka
Opening: Yagura

[Notes based on Shukan Shogi, 97-April-16 and Shogi Sekai, 97-June.]

1. P7f P3d 2. P2f P4d 3. S4h

3. P2e is more usual here. Then after 3... B3c, gote is more or less limited to playing a furibisha. The text allows more options.

3... S4b

Habu prefers to steer towards the Yagura.

4. P5f P5d 5. G45h S6b 6. S6h G65b 7. P3f G4c 8. G7h G3b 9. K6i K4a 10. P4f

As long as gote has not yet pushed 8... P8d, Tanigawa refrains from closing the long diagonal with S7g.

10... P8d 11. P2e S3c 12. S4g P8e 13. S7g B3a 14. N3g P7d 15. P9f

An important move, covering 9e.

15... N7c

If here 15... S7c, 16. S6f would be expected. Then if 16... P8f 17. P8f B8f 18. P8g, the importance of P9f in preventing B9e, is apparent.

16. P6f

The sealed move. 16. S6f was again possible, but Tanigawa apparently didn't like having to retreat after 16... P6d 17. P5e P6e 18. S5g.

16... P6d 17. G56g S6c 18. B7i B4b 19. B6h K3a 20. K7i K2b

The players have reached a very orthodox kind of Yagura. Other than kings and one pair of edge pawns, the position is entirely symmetrical.

21. P4e

Opening the middlegame. 21. K8h allows gote to do the same with 21... P6e.

21... P4e 22. N4e S4d 23. S4f P6e 24. P6e N6e 25. S6f P8f 26. P8f

After 26. P8f This exact position arose in an exhibition game between rookie Habu and then Meijin Tanigawa in 1988, with "colors" reversed. That game continued 26... P8e 27. P8e P8f 28. P2d B2d 29. P3e R8e 30. P8h S6d and ended in a victory for Tanigawa.

26... B8f?!

Habu varies, but soon finds himself under severe attack.

27. B8f R8f 28. P2d P2d 29. P2c

Ouch. Events have turned out visibly in Tanigawa's favor. See the note after move 20. Sente's king position is now obviously better than gote's (R8f is not check, while P2c is). The position of the edge pawns also means sente can drop N1e, while gote's N9e is impossible.

29... G2c

Forced. 29... K2c 30. P2e P2e 31. P2d K2d 32. B4a is out.

30. S6e P6f 31. G67g?!

31. G66h S4e 32. P8g R8e 33. N7g and gote is at a loss for a continuation.

31... R8e 32. N1e?!

This is the shot commentators thought should win. However, the real evaluation is now quite unclear. Sente had a better way to attack: 32. P2e P2e 33. R2e P2d 34. S5d! threatening 35. S4c with a mating net, as well as 35. N3c+, winning the rook on 8e.

32... S4e 33. B4a B3b!

Habu can't afford 33... N3b, as he needs the knight for his counterattack.

34. B6c+

Here 34. N2c+ K2c 35. B6c+ N6g 36. G76g P6g+ 37. N1e appears to be winning: e.g. 37... K1d 38. G6g R6e 39. S2c or 37... K3c 38. G2c B2c 39. N2c+ K2c 40. +B4a N3b 41. G6g.

34... N6g

Habu has suddenly developed dangerous counterchances.

35. Gg6g P6g+ 36. G6g R6e 37. S4a?

After 37. S4a? Threatens mate. Or does it? Both players thought it did. Instead 37. N2c+ followed by N1e should still win.

37... R6c?

Habu misses a winning opportunity. 37... R6g 38. S3b+ K3b 39. B4a K3a 40. N2c= looks like mate, but it's not: 40... K2b 41. G3b K1b 42. N1a+ K1a 43. G2b K2b 44. R2d K3a defends. 39. N2c+ doesn't work either: 39... K2c 40. N1e K3c 41. B2b K3b and again there's no mate.

38. S3b+ K3b 39. N2c+ K4a 40. P6d R6d 41. P6e R6e 42. P6f R8e 43. B6c S5b

43... B5b fails to 44. B7b+ P6h 45. G6h

44. B7d+

Accurately calculated.

44... R8g+

44... G6i doesn't quite work after 45. K7h B8g 46. K8h!

45. G7g S8h

Again 45... G6i is insufficient: 46. K6i +R8i 47. G7i B4g 48. G5h.

46. R8h G6i 47. K6i +R8h 48. S3b K5a 49. +B5b K5b 50. S4c=

The final position. Gote is mated in all variations: 50... K4c 51. N5e P5e 52. G4d K4d 53. S5e, 50... K6a 51. S5b= K5b 52. G5c K5c 53. N6e, or 50... K6b 51. N7d K6c 52. G7c K7c 53. S6b. 1-0 With a bit of luck, Tanigawa wins a difficult opening game.

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