Sente: Challenger Koji Tanigawa
Gote: Meijin Yoshiharu Habu
Event: 55th Meijin Match, Game 3
Date: 1997 May 7th & 8th
Site: Aichi
Opening: Kakugawari Bogin
[Notes based on Shukan Shogi, 97-May-14.]
1. P7f P8d 2. G7h G3b 3. S6h P3d 4. B7g P8e 5. S3h S7b 6. P2f B7g+ 7. S7g
As in the 2nd game, we again see Tanigawa's specialty, the Kakugawari Opening.
7... S4b 8. P1f P1d 9. P9f S3c 10. P4f S8c
Habu chooses the Bogin, varying decisively from Game 2. All 3 games of this match so far have featured gote playing for an early initiative (and eventually losing).
11. S4g S8d 12. P6f P9d 13. G5h
13. R6h could also be considered. Tanigawa plays flexibly, preserving the option of either K6h or K4h.
13... K4b
Habu invested 2 hours on this, the sealed move. The alternative, 13... P9e 14. P9e S9e 15. L9e L9e 16. P9g P9h 17. S8h S4d!? was unappealing due to 18. P3f S5e 19. B7g, hitting the lance on 9e and preparing P6e.
14. P3f G5b 15. N3g P7d 16. P2e P7e 17. K6h
Opting against 17. K4h, Tanigawa moves the king towards the battlefield. Strong defense.
17... P6d 18. S5f K3a
Already gote's game is not easy. Other possibilities are 18... P4d 19. P4e or 18... B5d 19. S6g.
19. N4e!
Usually in this type of position, the attack starts with P3e to prepare a future pawn drop at 3c. Perhaps Habu expected 19. P3e P4d 20. P4e P3e 21. P4d P3f, which gives gote counterchances.
19... S4d
19... S4b (threatening ...P4d) would be met by 20. P2d P2d 21. B5e B4d 22. R2d P2c 23. R3d.
20. P2d P2d 21. R2d P2c 22. R2i! B3h 23. R2e!
Better than the normal 23. R2f. The rook's horizontal influence limits gote's counterattack while supporting P3e.
23... P7f 24. S7f B4i+ 25. S4g +B3i.
The threat was 26. R2i. Sadly, the horse never moves again. Sente's advantage is now clear.
26. P1e P1e 27. P3e P8f
If 27... P3e, the attack continues 28. P1c L1c 29. P2d P2d 30. R2d P2c 31. R3d
28. P3d!
|
After 28. P3d! |
28... P3f
If here 28... S7e 29. S7e P8g+ 30. P8c +P7h 31. K7h R7b 32. P7c R7c 33. P7d R8c 34. P8d R8b 35. S3c, and the horse is still completely out of play. By interjecting 28... P3f 29 S3f, Habu hopes to later activate the horse by +B4i, attacking the undefended gold at 5h. However...
29. S3f S7e 30. P3c+!
Completely ignoring gote's last counterattempt. Ironically, the silver Habu has invited to 3f will now figure in the attack.
30... N3c 31. N3c+ S7f 32. +N3b K3b 33. P3c S3c
If instead 33... K3c 34. N7d! R7b [34... P8g+ 35 N8b+] 35. P3d K3b 36. S3e R7d 37. R2c+ K4a 38. B6c decides the issue.
34. R2c+! K2c 35. B4a
A possible contination is 35... P3b 36. N3e K3d 37. G4e K2d 38. P2e K1c 39. B3b+ S*6g 40. G76g S6g+ 41. K6g N7e 42. K5f. Habu thought for 1 minute and resigned. A beautiful game by Tanigawa.
1-0
[ 55th Meijin Match Games |
Meijin & Jun'i-sen Index |
Shogi Nexus Index ]