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48th Oza-sen, game 4
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26 October 2000
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Fujii misses the first chance
To play through the game in a Java viewer, click
here.
Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Oza
White: Fujii Takeshi, Challenger
48th Oza-sen, Game 4, October 4th 2000
Notes by Reijer Grimbergen
1.P7g-7f
2.P3c-3d
3.P2g-2f
4.P4c-4d
5.S3i-4h
6.S3a-3b
7.P5g-5f
8.R8b-4b
9.K5i-6h
10.S7a-7b
11.K6h-7h
12.S3b-4c
13.G4i-5h
14.P9c-9d
15.P9g-9f
An interesting change of strategy by Habu. In the first three games he faced the Fujii System head on, but this time he picks a more classic variation of the Shikenbisha. Did he find something new or is it just an attempt to break Fujii's rhythm?
16.K5a-6b
17.S7i-6h
18.K6b-7a
19.P3g-3f
20.K7a-8b
21.P2f-2e
22.B2b-3c
23.S6h-5g
24.P5c-5d
25.P4g-4f
26.G4a-5b
27.P4f-4e
This quick attack has been analysed extensively. The conclusion
seems to be that the Shikenbisha side has nothing to fear.
28.P6c-6d
29.N2i-3g
30.G5b-6c
31.P2e-2d
32.B3cx2d
33.P4ex4d
34.S4cx4d
35.R2hx2d
36.P2cx2d
37.P*4c
38.R4bx4c
39.B*3b
40.R4c-4b
41.B3bx2a+
42.R*4a
43.N*3c
44.R4a-5a
45.P9f-9e
So far this is all theory. The joseki books say 45.Px9e Lx9e Lx9e P*4c R4b-5b Bx4d and black has a winning position. The same position was played between Goda and Suzuki in the Ryu-O tournament on April 10th of this year. Suzuki tried 45.P5e, but in the end lost the game. Look what Fujii plays here:
46.P9dx9e!?
Never trust the joseki books! Fujii did not like giving up the edge after 46.P5e Px9d, and gives up a silver instead after the forced book line.
47.L9ix9e
48.L9ax9e
49.P*4c
50.R4b-5b
51.B8hx4d
52.P5d-5e
53.P5fx5e
54.L9e-9h+
Surprise, surprise, but this position is not at all a winning
position for black. Even though white is a full silver down, the
knight on 3c and the horse on 2a can not move so black has no good way to continue. Fujii again shows great judgement: the position is probably about even.
55.S5g-5f
With no direct attack, black just settles for improving his position.
56.G6c-5c
57.B4d-2f
58.P2d-2e
59.B2f-1e
60.G5c-6c
61.S4h-5g
62.+L9hx8i?!
After the game, Fujii said that he regretted this move as he
considered the promoted lance near the king worth at least a gold. He had to do something, as Habu was threatening to complete the improvement of his position with 63.S6f followed by the strong attack S*4a. Fujii said that he should have played 62.L*8d instead. Still, the professionals in the press room did not think Fujii's plan was bad. He is making the black king very vulnerable and then attacks through the centre to activate his rooks.
63.K7hx8i
64.L*9a
65.K8i-7h
66.P*5d
67.P5ex5d
68.P*5e
69.S5fx5e
70.N*6e
71.P*9c!
Weird move... It seems like black has no time for this, as the head of the king is very weak and white now gets a general in hand to attack that weak spot. This can only be called "Habu Magic" as it might just be good enough to turn the position in black's favour.
72.G6cx5d
73.P4c-4b+!
No way back.
74.R5ax2a
The best response. After 74.Gx5e 75.+Px5b 76.S*7g white would win, but if black plays 75.+Bx6e instead, the white attack is stopped.
75.+P4bx5b
76.G5dx5e
77.G6i-6h!
Well timed defence. Black defends 7g and makes an escape route for the king that is hard to close without a rook. Also, white has to do something, as both the rook on 2a and the gold on 6a are hanging. It seems that black now has the advantage, but actually things are still quite close.
78.P*5f
79.S5g-4h?
A mistake. After 79.+Px6a Rx6a S6f black seems to be winning. If he gets a knight in hand (for example by Sx6e next), the drop N*9d is very painful for white.
80.P*4g
81.N3cx2a+
82.G6ax5b
83.L*9b
84.P4gx4h+
85.L9bx9a+
86.N8ax9c?
Bad luck for Fujii. This looks like a great move, as black had a
mate after 86.+Px5h R*9b K7a +Lx8a etc., and after 86.Nx9c white is threatening mate himself with S*7g Gx7g Nx7g+ Kx7g N8e etc.
Unfortunately, black now gets the chance to slow down white's
attack, so 86.Nx9c is the losing move. After 86.P7d instead
(creating an escape for the king), the position is still
unclear.
87.R*9b
88.K8b-7a
89.R*4a
90.K7a-6b
91.R4ax4h+
Decisive. White needed this promoted pawn for his attack.
92.P*4g
93.P*5c
94.G5bx5c
95.+R4hx4g
96.S*7g
97.G6hx7g
98.N6ex7g+
99.K7hx7g
100.N9c-8e
101.K7g-7h
102.S*7g
103.K7h-6i
104.G*6h
105.G5hx6h
106.S7gx6h+
107.K6ix6h
108.G*5g
109.K6h-7h
110.G5gx4g
111.N*5d
112.G5cx5d
113.S*5a
Resigns. Time: 04:58:00 04:59:00
And mate after 114.K6c S*5b Kx5b B4b+ K6c S*5b. So, Habu survives
Fujii's first attempt at taking his Oza title, albeit with the
smallest possible margin. For the third time in a row Habu has
to be a decisive game in a title match. So far his results have
been good as he won in the Kisei-sen and the Oi-sen against
Tanigawa. Will Fujii do better?
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