Okazaki - Tanigawa, 18th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament, Game 1
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Black: Okazaki Hiroshi, 5-dan
White: Tanigawa Koji, Kisei
18th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament, Game 1, 5 April 2000
Notes by Reijer Grimbergen
1. P7g-7f
2. P3c-3d
3. P2g-2f
4. P8c-8d
5. P6g-6f?!
This is Okazaki's first appearance in a tournament final and the pressure
to win is completely on his vastly more experienced opponent. How would
Okazaki try to make up for this difference? It seems like he decided to
try and confuse Tanigawa in the opening. 5.P6f is an unusual move and only
regularly played by Tanaka Torahiko. It is not a bad move, but it is a little
defensive and to me this is an indication that Okazaki entered this game with
the wrong mind set.
6. P8d-8e
7. B8h-7g
8. S3a-4b
9. G4i-5h
10. S7a-6b
11. G5h-6g
12. G4a-3b
13. S3i-4h
14. K5a-4a
15. P5g-5f
16. P5c-5d
17. S7i-8h
18. S6b-5c
19. S4h-5g
20. P5d-5e?!
A positive move that is typical of Tanigawa's style of play. However, it
was probably better to wait a little longer, since this gives black a chance
to untangle the knot of pieces on the king side a little.
21. P5fx5e
22. B2bx5e
23. P6f-6e!
This is the problem. The exchange of the bishop is better for black than it
is for white, since black's bishop was badly positioned up to now.
24. B5e-3c
No choice. 24.Bx7g+ Sx7g only helps black.
25. K5i-6h
Not bad, but immediately 25.Bx3c+ Sx3c S7g can also be considered.
26. K4a-3a
27. K6h-7h?
This is not good. Here black should have exchanged the bishops: 27.Bx3c+ Sx3c
S7g and it is hard to say who is better. Furthermore, if black avoids the
exchange of the bishops, then 27.K7i followed by 28.G7h is the right way
to move into the Yagura castle, as it defends the upper area of the king
better.
28. P4c-4d
29. P3g-3f
30. S4b-4c
31. P2f-2e
32. P6c-6d
33. P6ex6d
34. S5cx6d
35. B7g-5i
36. G6a-5b
37. S8h-7g
38. G5b-6c
39. B5i-3g
40. G6c-5d
41. P1g-1f
42. P1c-1d
43. G6i-6h?
Okazaki did not want to put the king into the bishop's diagonal, but he
should have been brave here. After 43.K8h P*5e G7h G4e R6h B4b B2h black
still has good chances because black's castle is much stronger. Tanigawa
actually thought that he had messed things up because of this. After
43.G6h it is actually white that has the better castle.
44. K3a-2b
45. P9g-9f?
Another mistake in the assessment of the position. This turns out to be
a pointless waiting move.
46. P*5e
47. P4g-4f
48. P7c-7d
49. P*6f?
Already the fatal mistake. Okazaki should have played 49.P*6e here. After
both 50.Sx6e P*6f S5f Sx5f Px5f P4e P6d S*6c and 50.S5c S7g-6f N7c P7e
Nx6e S7f S6d Px7d P*7g Nx7g Nx7g+ G6gx7g black still has good chances.
49.P*6f is typical of Okazaki's passive play in this game.
50. P7d-7e
51. B3g-2f
52. P7ex7f
53. S7gx7f
54. P*7e
55. S7f-6e
56. S6dx6e
57. P6fx6e
58. S*7f
59. G6gx7f
60. P7ex7f
61. S5g-6f
62. P8e-8f
63. P8gx8f
64. B3c-4b
65. P*7e
66. G*5f?
Tanigawa uncharacteristically misses the shortest route to victory here. Best
was 66.P*6d Px6d Gx6d P4e Gx7e Sx7e (Sx5e P7g+! also wins for white) Bx7e
Px4d P*6g! and white wins quickly.
67.S*6g
68. N8a-7c
69. P4f-4e
70. G5dx4e
71. S*7d
This is the move that made Tanigawa actually fear that the tables were turned
because of 66.G*5f. However, in the press room no defence for Okazaki was
discovered, so things might not have been that bad.
72. G5fx6f
73. S6gx6f
74. G4e-5f
75. G*6g
76. P*8h
77. S7dx7c+
77.Kx8h Rx8f P*8g S*7i is also winning for white.
78. R8bx8f
79. P*8g
80. G5fx6g
81. G6hx6g
82. G*7i!
Nice move that makes clear that white is still winning.
83. K7hx8h
If 83.Kx7i then Rx8g+ G*7h Px8i+ K6i P*6h and then Kx6h or Rx6h is followed
by N*5f, while G6gx6h is followed by +R4g.
84. G7ix8i
85. K8h-9g
86. R8f-8a
87. P8g-8f
88. N*5d
89. K9g-8g
90. N5dx6f
91. G6gx6f
92. G8i-8h
93. R2hx8h
94. S*7g
Resigns 0/147 0/164
Time: 02:27:00 02:44:00
The threats Sx8h+, Sx6f+ and Rx8f are too much, so Okazaki resigned. This
game had quite a number of mistakes, but in the end was decided by Okazaki's
passive play. If he wants to have a shot at beating Tanigawa, he will have
to play more positively in the rest of the match. It will be encouraging for
him to know that he was given several chances to make a good fight of it
in this first game.
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