Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Boardlive today and tomorrow - 3rd game of 57th Osho-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 3rd game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match between Osho Habu(Upper Photo) 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 window is needed).

3rd 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 is Sente's Shikenbisha. Habu did not adopt ai-Furibisha(double ranging Rook) and the position as of now is Fujii-system opening.

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

57th Osho-sen broadcasting blog

Yauchi took 1st game of 34th Joryu Meijini-sen

Yesterday Joryu Meijin Yauchi beat Saida(Joryu 4 dan) in the 1st game of 34th Joryu Meijin-sen 3-win match. The score is 1-0 led by Yauchi now. As a result of Furigoma, Saida became Sente(black) player. Saida adopted Gokigen Nakabisha and jumped her left kNight to 6e before completing her Mino gakoi(castle) actively. But Yauchi defended her attack perfectly and Saida's attack ran out.

The diagram above is the resignation one when Saida resigned the game at the 90th move. There is no mate for Gote(white)'s King and Sente has no defense. After the diagram, some of the possible variations are below;

Px5b+ +Rx4h(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+ K-2h S-3h K-1h +Sx3g(!) Bx6h G*1g(!) Nx1g G*2h(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ K-2h S-3h K-1h +Sx3g(!) Bx6h G*1g(!) Kx1g B*2h K-2f G*3e(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ K-2h S-3h K-1h +Sx3g(!) Bx6h G*1g(!) Kx1g B*2h
K-1h Bx1i+ Kx1i G*2h(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ K-2h S-3h K-1h +Sx3g(!) Bx6h G*1g(!) Kx1g B*2h
K-1h Bx1i+  K-1g  +B-2h  K-2f  G*3e(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e K-2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*3e(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e K-2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-1h Bx3g+ K-1g +r-2h(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e S*4g Bx4g+ Kx4g S*5h K-5f +Rx6g K-5e G*6e(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e S*4g Bx4g+ Kx4g S*5h K-3f G*3e(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e S*4g Bx4g+ Kx4g S*5h K-3h Sx4i= Kx4i G*5h K-3h Gx4h Kx2h Gx4g K-1g N*2e K-2f G*3e(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e S*4g Bx4g+ Nx4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h G*3h B*3i K-1h +Rx3h(mate)

B*5g  Sx4h+ Bx4h B*6e S*4g Bx4g+ Nx4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f S*2e(!) Kx2e P-2d K-3f G*2e(mate, replayable by pushing the arrow in the right direction under the diagram)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h G*3h B*3i K-1h +Rx3h(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*2e(!) Kx2e Bx4g+ S*3f Bx3f Kx3f S*3e K-2e P-2d(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*2e(!) Kx2e Bx4g+ S*3f Bx3f Px3f P-2d K-2f S*2e(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*2e(!) Kx2e Bx4g+ P-3f P-2d K-2f +Bx3f(!) Kx3f +Rx4f(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*2e(!) Kx2e Bx4g+ K-2f +B-2e(!!) Kx2e S-2d K-3f P-3e K-2f N*3d(mate)

B*5g Sx4h+  Bx4h B*6e N-4g G*2h Kx2h +Rx4h K-1g B*2h K-2f G*2e(!) Kx2e Bx4g+ K-2f +B-2e(!!) Kx2e S-2d K-2f +Rx4f B*3f S-3e K-2e P-2d K-3d G-3c(mate)

In any case, Sente's King will be mated.

The schedule of the rest games are as below;

2nd game - February 11 2008

3rd game - Fenruary 20 2008

The dates for 4th & 5th games are not fixed yet.

 

Today is the first game of 34th Joryu Meijini-sen

You can watch and replay the boardlive of the 1st game of the 34th Joryu-Meijini-sen 3-win match between Joryu Meijin Yauchi and Challenger Saida(Joryu 4 dan) now. It will end in a few hours.

Saida(Sente) vs Yauchi

Saida dared to start a strong attack with losing material balance. If you like Nakabisha(Central Rook), it must be an interesting game to replay.

 

Habu won two games in a row - 57th Osho-sen title match

Today Habu won second game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match with Challenger Kubo(8 dan) in 93 moves. Habu was Sente player. The game went to Gokigen Nakabisha Ultra Quick Attack opening. Up to the 24th move, it followed the precedents of Sato vs Watanabe played in the 4th game of 78th Kisei-sen and Itodani vs Toyama played on January 15 2008. However, Habu made a new move of B*9f at the 25th move instead of L*6f. And Kubo did not seem to find a good countermeasure against it in this game.

The diagram below is the resignation one. Gote's King would be mated in the following variations;

K-8c N*7e K-7b S*8c K-8a N*7c(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction below the board)

K-8c N*7e K-9b S*8c K-8a N*7c

K-8c N*7e K-7b S*8c K-6b N*7d(mate)

K-9e P-9f(mate)

In any case, Gote would not be able to avoid forced mate from the diagram.

Habu won 1st Game of 57th Osho-sen 4-win match

Yesterday On January 18 Habu won 1st game of 57th Osho-sen 4-win match with Challenger Kubo(8 dan) in 96 moves. As a result of Furigoma, Kubo became a Sente player. It's easily predicted that Kubo transferred his Rook to his left side in the opening, but Habu's choice was uncertain since he is an all-round player who can play every opening. He chose ai-Furibisha(both ranging Rooks) in this game.

Kubo's move in question from my point of view is 25th P-4f which was the sealed move of the 1st day. That did not allow him to take Gote's pawn advancement to P-2f at the 26th move since Sente would lose the pawn on 4f by Gote's Rook used in a crossing way. As a result, Gote built an strong attacking base at the head of Sente's King.

The diagram below is the resignation one. Sente's King would not be mated immediately. However, Sente's Gold on 2e would be killed by the edge pawn(You should look at the long diagonal line to 3d of the promoted Bishop on 8i) and then material balance would be damaged too significantly to recover for Sente. I guess that's why Kubo resigned the game at that time.

Boardlive today and tomorrow - 2nd game of 57th Osho-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 2nd game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match between Osho Habu and Kubo(8 dan). Habu is Sente(black) player this game since Kubo was so last game. You can watch and replay the game through the link below(Java capable window is needed).

2nd game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match

The opening strategy of this game is Gokigen Nakabisha. It goes to Ultara quick attack. variation. I worry a little the game will end within today.

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

57th Osho-sen broadcasting blog

Schedule of Osho-sen 4-win match after the first game

Here is the schedule of the title match between Osho Habu and Challenger Kubo.

2nd game - January 24 and 25
3rd game - February 6 and 7
4th game - February 19 and 20
5th game - February 27 and 28
6th game - March 13 and 14
7th game - March 24 and 25

The boardlive information will be posted in due course. If either player  takes 4-games, then the series will end and the rest games will be cancelled.

Boardlive today and tomorrow - 1st game of 57th Osho-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 1st game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match between Osho Habu and Kubo(8 dan). As a result of Furigoma, Kubo became Sente(black) player.  You can watch and replay the game through the link below(Java capable window is needed).

1st game of 57th Osho-sen 4-wins match

They competed 28 games up to today and the score is 21-7 led by Habu.  Habu won 6 games against Kubo in a row before this game. The  details of  strategy are 14  games for Shikenbisha(4th file  Rook),   7 for Ai-Furibisha(double ranging Rook), 5 for Nakabisha(Central Rook), and 2 for Sangenbisha(3rd file Rook).  This is Kubo's first title match for 2 days.

Although the texts are written in Japanese, you can see many photoes related to this match through the official blog linked below;

57th Osho-sen broadcasting blog

 

Result of 6th game of 20th Ryuo-sen

The 6th game of 20th Ryuo-sen seven-wins match between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Sato was held on December 12 & 13. The Sente player of this game is Watanabe. Watanabe won it in 135 moves. With this victory, he defended Ryuo-title by 4-2. He holds Ryuo-title for four terms in a row which nobody did it in the history of Ryuo-sen for 20 years.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram. After the diagram, Gote's King would be trapped as below;

Kx1a Nx1c+ S*2a L*1b Sx1b S*2b(mate)

Gote has no effective way to check Sente's King at the resignation.

Ryuo-sen boardlive today and tomorrow(December 12 & 13)

The sixth game of the 20th Ryuo-sen match between Akira Watanabe(Ryuo) and Yasumitsu Sato(2 crowns)  is now on boardlive. Before the game, Watanabe leads the score by 3-2. Sato cannot lose any more game to take Ryuo-title since this is 4-wins match. Sente player is Watanabe for this game. Today is the first day so it will end in the evening tomorrow(Japan time). You can watch it through this page. Click the following button in the page.

Then you can watch or replay the game. The browser which can allow Kifu for Java is required.

You can replay other games by clicking the button to begins with the image of Osho pieces in this page.

You can see the photos related to this game through my social bookmark page.