Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Webcamera-and-Board-live today - Kai Tomomi vs Yauchi Rieko, 1st game of Mynavi Joshi Open

Today is the day for the 1st game of 1st Mynavi Joshi Open 3-win match between Kai Tomomi (Joryu 2 dan) and Yauchi Rieko(Joryu Meijin) . You can watch and replay the game through the linked page below(Java-capable browser required);

Kai Tomomi vs Yauchi Rieko

As a result of Furigoma, Kai became Sente(black). The game started at 11:00am(Japan Time). The thinking time per player is 3 hours and 60 second byoyomi after consuming it, so I think it will end before evening in Japan today.

You can watch live pictures by the webcameras beside the players and many photos related to this game to be uploaded frequently through the following page.

Live pictures by the webcameras (Left = Yauchi)

1st Mynavi Joshi Open Broadcasting Blog

Sato defended Kio - 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

On March 29 Kio Sato won the fifth game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match against challenger Habu in 119 moves. Sato was Sente player as a result of Furigoma. The opening strategy of the game was Yagura. Sato built Anaguma won the game. He defended the title of Kio in 3-2.

The diagram below is the resignation one. The possible variations after that position would be as followings;

Lx4f G*3a Kx3a +B-2b K-4a +Bx3b(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the direction under the diagram)

Gx4c G*3a Kx3a +B-2b K-4a +Bx3b(mate)

S-4b G*3a Kx3a +B-2b K-4a +Bx3b(mate)

S-4b G*3a Sx3a Sx5b+ Lx5a G*5a K-4b +Rx5b(mate)

Gote had no defense and no effective attack since the promoted Bishop on 4f connected with the Lance on 7i.

Boardlive today - 5th game of 33rd Kio-sen between Kio Sato and Challenger Habu

Today is the day for the 5th game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match between Kio Sato Yasumitsu and Challenger Habu Yoshiharu(2 crowns). Sato became a Sente(black) player as a result of Furigoma. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end early this evening. You can replay and watch the game through the linked page below;

5th game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

Different from the former 4 games, the opening strategy of this game is Yagura s3g. At the 48th move, there were 4 games which had the same position in Kifu Database as linked below. All the games were won by Sente. I wonder why Habu chose this position. Does he have a new idea?

Kukuchi Yuta vs Horiguchi Kazushiza (August 9 2004)

Moriuchi Toshiyuki vs Kobayashi Hiroshi (July 30 2002)

Minami Yoshikazu vs Fujiwara Naoya (June 30 1999)

Senzaki Manabu vs Suzuki Teruhiko (January 29 1993)

The following is the link to the official blog of the 5th game. You may watch many photos of the game here.

33rd Kio-sen blog

Sato tied the score in 2-2 - 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

On March 19 Kio Sato won the fourth game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match against challenger Habu in 127 moves. Sato was Sente player. The opening strategy of the game was Habu's Gokigen Nakabisha(central Rook). Sato chose the opening to develop his right Silver to 3f. He controlled the position in the middlegame and kept the lead to the end.

The diagram below is the resignation one. The possible variations after that position would be as followings;

K-9f G-8f Kx9g R-9h(mate)

K-8d B-7e Kx9e G*8f K-9d G7f-8e(mate,replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagaram)

K-8d B-7e K-7d G*6e

K-7d G-7e(mate)

Kx9e G*8e K-9f G7f-8f Kx9g R-9h(mate)

Gote's King could not avoid forced mate in any case.

The score after the game is 2-2. The 5th(final) game will take place on March 28. Sente won last four games in this series. They say Furigoma may be important in the final game.

Boardlive today - 4th game of 33rd Kio-sen between Kio Sato and Challenger Habu

Today is the day for the 4th game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match between Kio Sato Yasumitsu and Challenger Habu Yoshiharu(2 crowns). Sato became a Sente(black) player. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end early this evening. You can replay and watch the game through the linked page below;

4th game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

Habu chose Gokigen Nakabisha. Sato avoided ultra quick attack opening.

Habu won the 3rd game - 33rd Kio-sen

Yesterday Habu won the third game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-wins match with Kio Sato in 71 moves. Habu was Sente player. The opening strategy of the game was Sato's Gokigen Nakabisha(central Rook). Habu's response was to choose ultra quick attack variation. The position at the 25th move of B*9f is the same as that of 2nd game of 57th Osho-sen between Habu and Kubo played on January 24 and 25. Sato's 26th move was K-5c instead of P-7d  but in vain  finally.   

The diagram below is the resignation one. The possible variations after that position would be as followings;

B*8e K-6d Bx6c S*7c Nx7c Nx7c+ K-9b G*8b(mate)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d Gx6e S*7a K-9b G*8b(mate,replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagaram)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d P-9d S*7c K-9b L*9c(!) Nx9c G*8b(mate)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d P-9d S*7c K-9b L*9c(!) Kx9c B-7a+ K-9b +B-8b(mate)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d P-9d S*7c Nx7c +Px7c K-9c B-7a+ K-8d +Px7d Bx7d G*7e K-7c G*6d(mate)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d P-9d S*7c Nx7c +Px7c Gx7c Nx7c+ K-9c B-7a+ K-8d G*7e K-9e G*8f(mate)

B*8e K-6d G*7d Kx5d P-9d S*7c Nx7c +Px7c Gx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c N*6e K-8b G*7c K-9c Gx8c Kx8c R*7c K-8d B-7e+ K-9e G*8f(mate)

Gote was hopeless in any case.

The score after the game is 2-1 led by Habu. The 4th game will take place on March 19.

Boardlive today - 3rd game of 33rd Kio-sen between Kio Sato and Challenger Habu

Today is the day for the 3rd game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match between Kio Sato Yasumitsu and Challenger Habu Yoshiharu(2 crowns). Habu became a Sente(black) player. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end early this evening. You can replay and watch the game through the linked page below;

3rd game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-win match

Sato chose Gokigen Nakabisha. Habu dropped his Bishop on 9f at the 25th move in the ultra quick attack of Gokigen Nakabisha following to the 2nd game of Osho-sen with Kubo(8 dan) of January 24 and 25. Sato made a different move of K-5c from P-7d which Kubo made in that game. It will be interesting to see what's happening due to this difference.

Kubo made a mistake at the final moment. Habu defended Osho title

Yesterday Habu won the fifth game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match with Challenger Kubo 8 dan in 112 moves. Kubo was Sente player. The opening strategy of the game was Kubo's Shikenbisha while Habu chose quick attack advancing his left Silver to 5c. At the 99th move, Habu's King was in Hisshi(brinkmate) and Habu had to checkmate Kubo's King to win. He started to make a check by pawn sacrifice with promotion of P-6i+ at the 100th move. He believed there was mate but the fact is that there was no mate. However, Kubo finally made a mistake at the 109th move of K-7e. If he played K-7f instead, then his King would not have been mated. Habu was surprised to know there was no mate in the most mortem after the game. That means he played as if he was sure he would win the game after the 100th move. I am curious how Kubo felt about Habu's groundless confident attitude of making moves in the endgame.

The diagram below is the resignation one. The possible variations after that position would be as followings;

K-8d Rx8e(mate)

K-7f R-6g+ K-7e +R-6e K-8d +Rx8e(mate)

Gote's King could not help being mated in any cases.

With this victory, Habu defended the Osho title at 4-1.

Boardlive today and tomorrow - 5th game of 57th Osho-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 5th game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match between Osho Habu and Kubo(8 dan). Kubo is Sente(black) player this game since Habu was so last game. You can watch and replay the game through the link below(Java capable browser is needed).

5th game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match

Here are the explanations about the four buttons above the board there.

1st button --- to be refreshed every 30 seconds
2nd button --- to be refreshed every 1 minute
3rd button --- to be refreshed every 3 minutes
4th button --- to be refreshed manually

The color of the buttons shows you which one you are choosing now(The example above is choosing the 1st button). I recommend you to choose the 4th button when you replay the game from the start to the current position and push the 2nd button to watch the live games in the endgame in Byoyomi.

The opening strategy of this game was Sente's Shikenbihsa(4th file Rook). Habu did not take Ibisha-Anaguma and chose boat castle and S4b-5c! Long time no see. I don't remember when Habu chose this opening against Shikenbisha last time.

Although the texts are written in Japanese, you can see many photos and videos frequently uploaded related to this match through the official blog linked below;

57th Osho-sen broadcasting blog

Sato tied the score at 1-1 - 2nd game of 33rd Kio-sen

The day before yesterday Sato won the second game of 33rd Kio-sen 3-wins match with Challenger Habu(2 crowns) in 133 moves. The score was tied at 1-1. Sato was Sente player. The opening strategy of the game was Gote's Gokigen Nakabisha(central Rook). Sato traded Bishops at the seventh move which is called Maruyama Vaccine since Maruyama (9 dan) used to beat Gokigen Nakabihsa with this bishop trade. They say Habu had winning position up to the 123th move. I think S*7f instead of S*8g at the 124th move would have been better since Gote's King was not in threatmate at that time.

The diagram below is the resignation one. The possible variations after that position would be as followings;

Px9e Kx9e P*9d Kx9d B*6a S*8c Bx8c Px8c+ K-8a B*9b Lx9b +Px9b Kx9b G*8b (mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagram)

Px9e Kx9e P*9d Kx9d K-8a P*9b Lx9b P*9c Lx9c Nx9c= K-7a G*7b(mate)

S*8g Gx8g Nx8g+ G*8b(mate)

S*8b S*9c Sx9c G*8c K-8a S-7b+(mate)

There would be more variations, but Gote was hopeless in any cases.