Kiou Title Match (2)

The 3rd game of Kiou Title Match was played today. Watanabe won against Habu and defended his title with 3-0.
http://live.shogi.or.jp/kiou/kifu/40/kiou201503080101.html

Bishop Exchange Strategy was adopted. I think Watanabe is really good at opening preparation. It seems like he always try to play something new his opponent probably doesn't know in detail. In this game, P-25 at #41 haven't been played these days because the attack from P-65 was thought as a strong line for gote. But, he deeply researched the variation around Diag.1. Other than P-75 Habu played, there were three actual examples in pro games. P-95, P*47 and B*63. In case of P*47, it will proceed with Rx, B*38, R-48, B-29+. Gote is expecting the +Bishop to work well.

Diag.1

About 10 moves later from Diag.1, advancing a gold into 46 at #63 (Diag.2) was a good plan for sente. Although the promoted bishop on 28 limited sente's attacking formation, it was possible to oppress gote's castle with next Gx35. In this case, the bishop's line has a big influence on the opponent's king.  I think sente had an advantage here already.

Diag.2

After Diag.2, sente had been better. But, there was a chance for gote in Diag.3. Commentator 9-Dan Fukaura suggested S*78 instead of +Bx56, which is a threatmate from +B-79. If taken with king, +Bx56 would be a fork. Thus, the sequence of G*31, K-52, +Rx32 is needed due to changing the +R's position, however, when G-42, there is no checkmate. After this, continuing with G*63, K-61, Kx78, Gx32, Gx, +Bx56, L*67, B*45 (Diag.4), it would go on to a difficult endgame. Therefore, back to Diag.3, P-63+ which 9-Dan Fujii suggested might be better than P*52. In reply to +Bx56, with G*52, Rx, +Px, Kx, +Rx32, G*42, L*64, sente would be in a winning postion.

Diag.3

Diag.4

Actually, in reply to P*52, Habu took a silver simply. And, Watanbe captured the king from G*31. L*82 at #103 was the technique which is not commonly seen. I guess Habu overlooked this in the little time he had left.

Kiou Title Match

The 2nd game of Kiou Title Match between title holder Akira Watanabe and challenger Yoshiharu Habu has been played today. Kiou is held as a 5-game match, each game being played within one day. Habu has 4 titles of 7 and Watanabe has 2 of 7. This match is certainly top level shogi.
You can watch the game on thin site.
http://live.shogi.or.jp/kiou/kifu/40/kiou201502210101.html

▲S-46 strategy which is the most popular in Yagura  was selected. Against ▲S-46, pushing a pawn immediately with △P-45 and forcing the silver to pull back to 37 is recently increasing. Although this sequence seems like turn loss for sente, 45 will become the point sente attacks afterwards, such as ▲P-46 after ▲R-48 and ▲P-46 right away. △P-45 was not thought to be a good move due to the attack from ▲P-46, but, has been reconsidered nowadays. Watanabe with white adopted it in his recent several games.

Diag.1

In Diag.1, Habu played ▲Sx45 aggressively in reply to △P*45 again, despite the risk of bishop promotion and a lance loss. After gaining a silver, sente has a chop drop with ▲S*41 to make the castle weaker. He expected that.

Diag.2

About 10 moves later from Diag.1, the position was Diag.2. If sente's turn, ▲G*44 would be an aimed move. △Sx ▲Px △Gx ▲S*53 or △Gx ▲Px △Sx ▲B*51 △R-43 ▲G*42 would be an successful example for sente.Sente's castle is still safe compared to gote's. Here, △B*24 was a good counterattack. The place where the rook run to is difficult. When 47 or 49, there is a chop drop with △S*58. Also, when 48, △S*69 becomes an effective attack with a bishop's path and a silver. Generally, △S*69 is a typical technique to break a Yagura castle. I think Watanabe had an advantage at Diag.2.

Diag.3

Now, the position is Diag.3. Gote is much better, but, need to pay attention to the fork with ▲+B-64 or ▲Rx42+ △Kx ▲+B-64 next.
Here, Watanabe discarded a knight with △N*55 to remove the threat and after ▲Px, dropped △G*57. This move was a threatmate with △Gx68 ▲Sx △G*88 ▲Kx △+Rx68. Habu resigned at △G*57. Even if sente protects with ▲N*48, gote would almost win with △Gx67 ▲Gx △B*58 ▲G-68 △Bx49+. Next △+Rx48 will be a severe move, which serves as both attack and defense.

Watanabe took a 2-0 lead. He is a win away from defending his title.

Side Pawn Picker, △B*45 strategy (2)

Two moves are available in basic diagram. (1) △S*87 and (2) △N-33.

Basic Diagram

(1) △S*87 is a fierce attack with a silver sacrifice, which is threatening to make room forcibly for dropping a rook. If taken with gold, △R*79 would be dropped. After this, it would proceed with ▲K-48 △Bx67+ ▲S*58 △+Bx ▲Kx △R-78+ ▲P*68 △+Rx87 ▲P*88 △+R-78 ▲B*45 (Diag.1) or ▲L*69 △Bx67+ ▲S*58 △+Bx89 ▲P*64 △Px ▲+Bx21 (Diag.2). Actually, I think each case is slightly better for sente, but, according to past data, in reply to △S*87, ▲+B-77 (Diag.3) is selected in most games. If △Sx78+, after ▲+Bx, there would be no place to drop something in sente's camp.

Diag.1

Diag.2

Diag.3

In Diag.3, gote is supposed to play △Sx76=. If taken with +bishop, △R*26 would become a +bishop-silver fork. Many players avoid it and select ▲+B-68 safely. In fact, against △R*26, I suppose sente has a little advantage with ▲P*27 △Rx76 ▲S*77 although it might be a long game from △R-75.
After ▲+B-68, continuing with △P*88 ▲R*75 △Px89+ ▲Rx45, sente is slightly better also in this case. This line is more common than ▲+Bx76.


(2) △N-33 blockades the +bishop's path and aims at several strong moves next, such as △S*87, △S*66 and △R*26. Here, ▲L*36 (Diag.4) is said to be the strongest candidate for sente, although ▲R*86 and ▲R*21 are also considered.

Diag.4

Against △S*87 in Diag.4, it's not good to take it in this position because +bishop can't pull back on 77. If taken with gold, continuing with △R*79 ▲K-48 △Bx67+ ▲S*58 △+Bx ▲Kx △Rx89+ (Diag.5), gote would be better. Sente's king is in more trouble than gote's.

Diag.5

Therefore, ▲G-79 against △S*87 should be played instead of ▲Gx. After △Bx67+, it will go for mutual attack with ▲Lx33+ △S-78+ ▲Gx △+Bx ▲+Lx32 △Sx (Diag.6).

Diag.6

It seems like sente's king is more dangerous than gote's as the place of opponent's +bishop is close to his king. Actually, in Diag.6, early eacape with ▲K-48 make the king safety. Even if checked by △R*68, ▲G*58 would protect tightly. After ▲K-48, it will proceed with △+Bx89 ▲P*62 (Diag.7) △Kx ▲P*64.

Diag.7

▲P*62 is the pawn technique to capture the king quickly. In case of △Sx, the attack with ▲+B-22 would be severe because the left side is blocked by his own pieces. Also, in case of △Gx, ▲+B-22 as when △Sx would be a severe move, which is threatening to drop the rook on the 1st rank. In case of △Kx, ▲P*64 will be an effective attack to hit the vital point of the king's head. In each case, sente has an advantage at Diag.7.

Oushou Title Match

The 2nd game of Oushou Title Match between title holder Watanabe and challenger Gouda started today. It's played as a 7-game match and each game have been played for two days. Today was the first day.

The position has proceeded in Bishop-exchanged Double Reclining Silver. Watanabe for gote selected △P-65 strategy (Diag.1). If anything, this strategy is intended to play defensively, including a draw game due to repetition (thousand-day moves). Then, in some cases, △B*64 is dropped in order to restrict the opponent's attacking formation.

Diag.1

About ten moves later from Diag.1, the position became Diag.2.

Diag.2

From here, it proceeded with ▲R-69 △R-62 ▲R-59 △R-92 (Diag.3)
At a glance, this rook's movement looks strange. But, there is a deep meaning behind ▲R-59 and △R-92.

Diag.3

To put it simply, in Diag.2, sente wants to open fire with ▲P-45 △Px ▲Nx. But, after △S-42, it's not easy to keep attacking. Conversely, gote can take the knight for free with △P*44 next. The attack from ▲P-45 wouldn't go well.
Here, if the gold's position is on 42 in Diag.2, not on 43, the same attack with ▲P-45 △Px ▲Nx would go well because when ▲Nx, the silver must go to 44. In this case, sente is not worried about being taken the knight by △P*44. After △S-44, supporting the knight with ▲P*46 (Diag.4), the position is satisfactory for sente. It's possible to exchange the pawn on the rook's file and manage to keep attacking, such as an edge attack.

Diag.4

Therefore, sente wants to give gote a turn at Diag.2. ▲R-59 was the move aiming at a turn loss purposely. If the rook goes back to 82 instead of △R-92, the aim achieves with ▲R-29. Gote must play something in Diag.2. For example, against △P-74, ▲B*64 △R-92 ▲P-45 △Px ▲Sx would be an effective attack. △R-92 means that when ▲R-29 again, the rook also go back to 82. The position is the same as Diag.2 with sente's turn. It's the repetition. Sente doesn't want to go for a draw game because of first mover advantage.
In Diag.3, although ▲S-47 △R-62 ▲P-56 △B*64 is the common line, challenger Gouda thought the other attack line from ▲P-45 after moving the rook to 48  Today's final position is Diag.5.

Diag.5

If gote takes the pawn, it would proceed with ▲Sx △Sx ▲Nx △S-44 ▲P*46. After this, sente is aiming to drop the bishop on 63. And, △R-82 is also considered in preparation for the attack from 8th file later. In this case, the line of ▲P-44 △Sx ▲R-28 △S-33 is common. Anyway, I think at least both players don't still go for the attack fiercely.

Side Pawn Picker, △B*45 strategy (1)

I heard from some beginners that when Side Pawn Picker, they are afraid of △B*45 strategy which has the risk of losing immediately, and this is why they hesitate to take a side pawn. After △B*45, it is certain that both players have to attack fiercely without castling. However, △B*45 strategy is rarely seen in pro games because of the high winning percentage for sente. I explain about the basics of this strategy.

Diag.1

Diag.1 is the position which sente just took a side pawn. Here, gote exchanges the bishop with △Bx88+ ▲Sx, and drop a pawn to 28. After ▲Sx, △B*45 is dropped (Diag.2). It's important to throw in △P*28 ▲Sx before △B*45, otherwise when △B*45, with ▲R-24 △P*23 ▲R-28, it won't go well (Diag.3). The rook prevents gote's rook from invading with △Bx67+ ▲Gx △Rx88+. Then, when ▲R-24, the attack quickly with △Bx67+ ▲Gx △Rx88+ is supposed to be better for sente with ▲Rx21+ (Diag.4).

Diag.2

Diag.3

Diag.4

In Diag.4,  sente's threat is king-promoted rook fork with ▲Rx31 △Gx ▲B*33. Thus, gote cannot play like △+Rx89 ▲P*69 △+Rx99 or simply △+Rx99. When ▲P*69, even if gote attacks with △N*55 ▲G-68 △S*67 instead, it won't be an effective attack with ▲G68-58 (Diag.5). There are few attacking pieces. On the other hand, ▲N*24 will be severe for gote later, and ▲B*33 △Gx ▲+Rx31 will also become an effective attack in some cases. In Diag.5, although it seems like sente is in danger, he has an advantage here.

Diag.5

Therefore, gote is supposed to play △B*45 after △P*28 ▲Sx. Then, in this case, when ▲R-24 △P*23, the rook must not pull back to somewhere. With △Bx67+ ▲Gx △Rx88+, gote will be better immediately because compared to Diag.4, sente's rook cannot promote. According to Joseki, against △P*23, ▲B*77 (Diag.6) is the best move.

Diag.6

If the rook on 86 runs to somewhere on 8th file, sente's rook also could run to 26. And, in the position, sente has a strategic advantage because gote doesn't have the attack from △Bx67+ and have already lost two pawns in early stage. For that reason, in Diag.6, it proceeds with △Rx88+ ▲Bx △Px24 ▲Bx11+ (Diag.7).

Diag.7

Diag.7 is the basic position in this strategy. Nowadays, in spite of  silver-lance exchange, it's said that sente is slightly better here. The promoted bishop on 11 has a big influence on the board.