(
;
GM[1]
VW[]
FF[1]
DT[December 18, 1973]
SZ[19]
PB[Kato Masao]
PW[Ohira Shuzo]
C[ 21st Annual Nihon Kiin Championship, Challenger Final
 Played on Dec. 18, 1973
 Ohira Shuzo 9 dan v. Kato Masao 8 dan ]
GN[n73c]
EV[21st Annual Nihon Kiin Championship, Challenger Final]
;
B[pd]
C[ Challenger Final
 
 W: Ohira \(O\)
 
 B: Kato \(K\)
 
 Played on Dec. 18, 1973 at the Nihon Kiin, Tokyo, Japan.
 
 199 moves. B wins by resignation. Commentary based on Kato's in KIDO ]
;
W[dc]
C[ While I was translating Sakata Eio's "Killer of Go", I naturally thought of
 "Killer Kato" and pondered the analogies to be drawn from his career and the
 themes explored in the book. Some of the conclusions I reached are to be
 found in the Summer 1994 issue of THE AMERICAN GO EXTRA, but because of
 space limitations I had to severely abbreviate the material presented. I
 would like to supplement that material here.   -- Bob Terry]
;
B[pp]
C[ In 1973, Kato was a 26 year old 8 dan, widely regarded as one of the most
 promising talents in the Kitani dojo. He had compiled impressive records in
 both the Oteai and the newspaper- sponsored tournaments, becoming the first
 4 dan to enter the Honinbo League \(in 1967; his record that year was 37 wins
 and 8 losses\). The next year he actually won the league and challenged for
 the title. And he had a unique ability to kill stones... ]
;
W[dq]
C[ In one memorable game against Takagawa Kaku 9 dan, the former Honinbo, Kato
 had killed a big group, winning in 93 moves. Even the cautious Rin Kaiho,
 Honinbo, who was characterized at the time as always suspiciously "tapping a
 solid stone bridge to make sure that it is sturdy enough, and then NOT
 crossing over on it," had lost a big group in the fifth game of the title
 match. ]
;
B[pj]
C[ During this period, Kato would often play, as with B1, 3 & 5 here, the
 "sanrensei", three star points in a row, when he held black, much as he
 became devoted to playing the Chinese style opening later in his career.
 However, this opening was very popular in the Kitani dojo, and his fellow
 students Ishida Yoshio, Honinbo, Takemiya Masaki 7 dan, as well as others
 played it with much success. ]
;
W[nc]
C[ Kato's opponent here was Ohira Shuzo 9 dan. In the late 1960's he had won
 four Nihon Kiin Championships in a row, so he had more than the usual
 interest in winning this game, which would decide the challenger to Sakata
 Eio, the Nihon Kiin Champion. \(Ohira had defeated Sakata in 1965 to take the
 title for the first time. Incidentally, only two other players ever held
 this title: Takagawa and Ishida.\) ]
;
B[de]
C[ Ohira's reputation was that of a powerful fighter. In fact, the comment was
 often made that if one were to list the five stongest fighters among the
 day's go players, "First is Ohira, second is Kato, third and fourth places
 are vacant, fifth is..." indicating that in terms of power, these two
 eclipsed all others. ]
(
;
W[ce]
C[ Kato said that he had considered what he would do if W attached at W "a".
 
 Up to W8, this game follows the usual course in the opening. These days, it
 seems that a quarter of all professional games feature the joseki that
 continues with B "b". ]
LB [cf]
;
B[dd]
C[ In the 1993 KIDO Yearbook, only three games featured the joseki that begins
 with B9. ]
;
W[cd]
;
B[ec]
;
W[cf]
C[ And only one of those games in the 1993 Yearbook continued with this move,
 which initiates the "Large Avalanche" joseki. \(Cho Chikun played the B side
 there, in a televised game with shortened time allowances.\) ]
;
B[df]
;
W[dg]
C[ In the 1970's this variation was played in countless games, and now it's
 almost forgotten. Joseki go in and out of fashion, and sometimes they become
 obsolete. What will be the fate of this one? ]
;
B[cc]
;
W[db]
;
B[bc]
;
W[cb]
;
B[cg]
;
W[ch]

(
;
B[bb]
C[ In this variation, one must be careful not to mistakenly descend to B "a"
 when W ataris with the marked stone. ]
LB [ch]
;
W[eb]
C[ Now a long sequence of moves follows. Perhaps it is the long, drawn out
 nature of this joseki that has brought it into disfavor. ]
;
B[bg]
;
W[bf]
;
B[bh]
;
W[bd]
;
B[ci]
;
W[eg]
;
B[fe]
;
W[fc]
;
B[ff]
;
W[ei]
;
B[cl]
;
W[gh]
;
B[ie]

(
;
W[ig]
C[ K: If W had played at W "a" instead of W36, B would get a great result.
 
 Therefore, W plays from above.
 
 In this shape, there is a vital point that B aims at. Where is it? ]
;
B[gb]
C[ K: B37 is a forcing move \(kikashi\) and now is the time that one wants to
 play it. ]
;
W[gc]
;
B[hc]

(
;
W[fb]
C[ W has been forced \(kikashi\) to play W40, but there is no choice about it. If
 W plays more aggressively at W "a"... ]
;
B[kd]
C[ K: B is happy to have forced W to play the submissive marked stone, but B41
 is an overplay. B should have blocked at B "a", playing thickly. ]
LB [fb]
;
W[oe]
C[ K: W forces once with W42, then... ]
;
B[qf]

(
;
W[hd]
C[ ...the hane outward with W44 is a severe move and I was in a fix. I had
 thought that W would play at W "a"... ]
;
B[he]
;
W[id]

(
;
B[jf]
C[ K: The diagonal move of B47 is a painful necessity. B would rather play at B
 "a", but... ]
;
W[jd]
C[ W48 is a natural move. ]
;
B[je]
;
W[kc]
;
B[lc]

(
;
W[ke]
C[ W52 is a good move. If W cuts from the other direction with W "a"... ]
;
B[ld]
;
W[le]

(
;
B[jc]
C[ K: B55 looks like an insignificant move, but if B immediately hanes at B
 "a"...
 
 K: Considering the variation following B "a", B55 avoids the squeeze, but...]
;
W[gd]
C[ ...when W connects at W56, the hole that remains at "a" is unpleasant for B.]
LB [ge]
;
B[me]
C[ When I played B57 and... ]
;
W[lf]
;
B[jg]
C[ ...B59, I was feeling that the position was a little difficult to play. ]
(
;
W[mf]
C[ Here O made a mistake. This is one of the critical points in the game. W
 turned at W60, but instead, W should have played at W "a"... ]
;
B[mb]

(
;
W[pe]
C[ K: Now W embarked on a mistaken course with W62. With W "a"... ]
;
B[qe]
;
W[qd]
C[ With W64, W initiates a sacrifice strategy, but... ]
;
B[qc]
;
W[rd]
;
B[pc]
C[ ...W seems to give up too much. ]
;
W[kb]
;
B[nb]
;
W[qg]
C[ Perhaps there was some miscalculation involved with the overplay of W70. ]
;
B[pf]
;
W[pg]
;
B[of]
;
W[og]
C[ W forces with the moves through W74, but... ]
;
B[ne]
C[ ...this entails a large sacrifice... ]
;
W[lh]
C[ ...before embarking on an attack, here with W76, which is difficult to do
 successfully. ]
;
B[ji]
;
W[lj]
;
B[hg]
C[ K: The attachment of B79 is the vital point. If B does not play here, the
 threat of a W play at W "a" restricts B's options. ]
LB [ge]
;
W[jk]
C[ W attacks vigorously with W80 &... ]
;
B[ij]
;
W[hl]
C[ ...W82, which is gratifying to the spirit, but W is also thin, so there is
 absolutely no fear of being captured. There is some feeling of desperation
 in W's attack, and this too is a result of giving up too much in the upper
 right corner. ]
;
B[fj]
C[ B83 is the vital point here. ]
;
W[dk]
C[ W84 is severe, so... ]
(
;
B[ck]
C[ ...instead of B85, B would like to counterattack with B "a". ]
;
W[di]
;
B[dh]
;
W[fi]
;
B[gk]
;
W[dl]
;
B[dm]
;
W[fl]
;
B[gl]
C[ K: B93 &... ]
;
W[gm]
;
B[hm]
C[ ...B95 are good moves. W has no choice but to... ]
;
W[fm]
C[ ...connect at W96, so... ]
;
B[il]
C[ ...B breaks through the net with B97. ]
;
W[hn]
;
B[im]
;
W[in]
;
B[km]
;
W[jn]
;
B[kl]
C[ Through B103, B gets out into the open, and I didn't think this was a bad
 result for B. ]
;
W[lo]

(
;
B[ep]
C[ However, B gets sidetracked with B105. B should have jumped to B "a". ]
;
W[dp]
;
B[en]
C[ B105 \(the marked stone\) & B107 aim at the cutting point of "a", but... ]
LB [ep]
;
W[ok]
C[ ...W seeks complications with the shoulder hit of W108. ]
;
B[pk]
C[ K: Instead of B109, playing at B "a" would probably have lead to a faster
 win. ]
LB [qm]
;
W[ol]
;
B[oj]
;
W[ih]
C[ W112 is the vital point of the eye shape of B's group. I had considered
 these stones to already be safe, but O was still targeting them. ]
;
B[hh]
;
W[mk]
;
B[mi]
;
W[li]
;
B[qm]
;
W[ik]
C[ K: When W goes after B's eye shape with W118... ]
(
;
B[kg]
C[ ...playing B119 at B "a" would have won faster. ]
;
W[ii]
;
B[hi]
;
W[jj]
;
B[lg]
;
W[mh]
;
B[hj]
;
W[nf]
;
B[hk]
;
W[rf]
;
B[od]
;
W[jh]
C[ With W30 &... ]
;
B[kh]
;
W[ki]
C[ ...W32, B's eye shape is taken away. ]
;
B[ml]
C[ In answer to B133... ]
;
W[mm]
C[ ...W attacks with W134, threatening the whole group again. But B has the
 option \(aji\) of cutting at B "a", and in the last resort, can engineer life
 independently, so there is no cause for worry.
 
 \[No supporting variation is given by K, but B "b" & "c" makes one eye, and B
 "d" is sente, giving B a leg up on a second eye.\] ]
LB [mg]
;
B[mg]
C[ K: B cuts with B135 &... ]
;
W[ng]
;
B[nh]
C[ ...B137, so that if a race to capture \(semeai\) develops, nursing the group
 through \(shinogi\) will be aided. ]
;
W[qi]
;
B[nm]
C[ Then B pokes his head out with B139 &... ]
;
W[nl]
;
B[mn]
C[ ...B141, and as expected, B has an easy time of it. ]
;
W[ll]
;
B[lm]
C[ To simplify matters, over the next 25 moves, W will precipitate an approach
 move ko... ]
;
W[ql]
;
B[pl]
;
W[om]
;
B[ml]
;
W[pm]
;
B[rj]
;
W[rl]
;
B[rm]
;
W[qo]
;
B[oh]
;
W[rn]
;
B[rk]
;
W[ri]
;
B[nj]
;
W[sm]
;
B[lk]
;
W[mj]
;
B[nk]
;
W[ni]
;
B[oi]
;
W[qj]
;
B[qk]
;
W[qn]
;
B[if]
;
W[sk]
C[ ...but B will get 2 moves in a row elsewhere which is fine. ]
;
B[ji]

(
;
W[sj]
C[ K: W can play at W "a" instead of connecting underneath with W170. ]
;
B[mp]
C[ When B jumps to B171, the game is decided. No matter how W plays, the game
 cannot be salvaged. ]
;
W[cn]
;
B[cm]
;
W[gq]
;
B[mi]
;
W[mo]
;
B[no]
;
W[ni]
;
B[gp]
;
W[fo]
;
B[eo]
;
W[ph]
;
B[mi]
;
W[kj]
;
B[kk]
;
W[ni]
;
B[fp]
;
W[pi]
C[ In the end, W wins the ko with W188, killing a large group of K's. However,
 in the process, W has been forced to ignore 2 B moves. The W marked stone
 \(W182\) filled a B liberty, while W failed to answer B's marked stone \(B179\).
 And B gets to make the next move at... ]
LB [ph]
;
B[ip]
C[ ...B189, which kills W's group extending from the left side. Killing this
 group is much bigger. ]
;
W[mq]
;
B[lp]
;
W[jp]
;
B[iq]
;
W[lq]
;
B[nq]
;
W[nr]
;
B[kp]
;
W[oq]
;
B[np]
C[ 199 moves. B wins by resignation.
 
 "Killer Kato" had once again demonstrated his prowess, and in so doing, had
 earned the right to challenge the great Sakata for the title. If Kato's
 nickname was "Killer", Sakata's was "Escape Artist" \("Shinogi"\), and
 throughout the go world, one and all looked forward with relish to a titanic
 clash of styles. ])

(
;
W[np]
C[   In answer to W1... ]
;
B[sj]
C[   ...B exchanges B2 for... ]
;
W[re]
C[   ...W3, and by playing... ]
;
B[on]
C[   ...B4 &... ]
;
W[po]
;
B[qm]
C[   ...throwing in at B6, W is in bad shape. If W "a", B "b" must be answered,
   giving B even more liberties. The ko is and easy one for B to play, but if
   W captures B6, B "a" takes away W's eye here. ]
LB [pn])
)

(
;
B[kk]
C[   B should have settled matters immediately with B1. ]
;
W[jj]
C[   With W2 through... ]
;
B[kj]
;
W[ii]
;
B[hj]
;
W[hi]
;
B[ki]
;
W[jh]
;
B[kh]
;
W[kg]
C[   ...the cut of W10, W captures 13 B stones, but... ]
;
B[ng]
C[   ...B hanes outward with B11, and... ]
;
W[gi]
C[   ...W has no alternative but to prevent the do-or-die ko by playing at W12.]
;
B[mg]
C[   B gets 2 moves in a row with B13 &... ]
;
W[lg]
;
B[ni]
C[   ...B15, and this exchange \(furi-kawari\) is better for B. ])
)

(
;
B[nj]
C[   When B jumps to B1, W will be hard pressed to reinforce the thinness of
   the position. ]
;
W[rj]
C[   Since it is difficult to come up with an adequate reply, veering off with
   W2 is the kind of thing to expect. ]
;
B[ng]
C[   But playing B3 &... ]
;
W[nh]
;
B[nf]
C[   ...connecting with B5 is sufficient. W's thinness is lamentable. If W now
   plays at W "a", poking with B "b" shows that all the initiative is on B's
   side, putting W on the spot.. ]
LB [ni])
)

(
;
B[ej]
C[   K: It is dangerous to play B1 in answer to W's marked stone. ]
LB [dk]
;
W[hh]
C[   If B does not answer W2, W will next play at W "a". ]
LB [jh]
;
B[ih]
C[   So B3 is forced. ]
;
W[hj]
C[   When W attaches at W4... ]
;
B[ik]
C[   ...B can push through with B5 &... ]
;
W[hk]
;
B[il]
C[   ...B7, but... ]
;
W[ck]
C[   ...W8 puts B in an extremely difficult position on the left side. ])
)

(
;
W[jh]
C[   ...a normal course of events would follow. ]
;
B[kh]
C[   B hanes outward with B2... ]
;
W[kg]
C[   ...and after W cuts with W3... ]
;
B[ih]
;
W[ji]
;
B[hg]
;
W[ii]
;
B[hh]
;
W[hi]
;
B[gg]
;
W[gi]
;
B[ge]
C[   ...up through B12, the B group lives. ]
;
W[lh]
C[   W ataris at W13 and the game will proceed from here. ])
)

(
;
W[lh]
C[   ...simply jumping to W1, which puts B on the spot. ]
;
B[ji]
C[   B2 cannot be omitted. ]
;
W[pe]
C[   Now the sequence with W3 and... ]
;
B[qe]
;
W[pc]
C[   ...the pincer-attachment of W5 is skillful technique. ]
(
;
B[od]
C[   If B tries to push through with B6...
   
   \(K: If B answers W's attachment by playing at B "a" instead of B6...\) ]
;
W[md]
C[   ...the cut of W7 shows good timing. ]
;
B[lb]
C[   B has no choice but to descend to B8. ]
;
W[nd]
C[   Going back to play W9 forces... ]
;
B[qd]
C[   ...B to play B10. ]
;
W[mf]
C[   After W defends at W11, a W move at W "a" threatens B's group, so W has
   the option of either taking profit with a move at W "b", or aiming to
   invade at W "b". W has many opportunities in this position. ]
LB [mb])

(
;
B[qd]
C[     ...connecting at B1 shows restraint, but... ]
;
W[od]
C[     ...W plays at W2, and B's group to the left will find it difficult to
     live. ]
;
B[mb]
C[     If B plays the diagonal move of B3... ]
;
W[jb]
C[     ...W curls around B's stone with W4. ])
)
)

(
;
B[me]
;
W[lf]
C[   ...W plays W2, and B cannot omit playing at... ]
;
B[jg]
C[   ...B3. ]
;
W[md]
C[   Now W cuts at W4 and... ]
;
B[jc]
;
W[lb]
C[   ...squeezes B with W6 and... ]
;
B[kb]
;
W[mc]
C[   ...W8. This is no good for B. ]
;
B[kc]
;
W[gd]
C[   After W10, W is left with the jump to W "a", and the life of B's group is
   uncertain. ]
LB [ib])
)

(
;
W[ld]
;
B[ke]
;
W[kb]
C[   ...and goes for territory with W3... ]
;
B[ji]
C[   ...B attacks on a large scale with B4 and W is no good. This board
   position is not one where W can be content to just take small profit,
   playing away from the action. ])
)

(
;
B[jd]
C[   ...even though fighting spirit would lead B to play B1... ]
;
W[jf]
C[   ...W attacks with W2 and... ]
;
B[je]
;
W[lf]
C[   ...W4, and B is not clearly alive. ])
)

(
;
W[gd]
C[   K: If W plays the empty triangle of W1... ]
;
B[hf]
C[   ...B defends at B2 and... ]
;
W[hd]
;
B[id]
;
W[ic]
;
B[jc]
C[   ...with an easy conscious abandons the forcing stones. This is no good for
   W. ])
)

(
;
W[hd]
C[   K: If W doesn't connect, but counterattacks with W1... ]
;
B[ca]
C[   ...the hane of B2 puts W on the spot.
   
   \[By denying W access to the point to the left of B2, B threatens to
   capture W's 5 stones below.\] ]
;
W[ac]
C[   W3 is the only move to attack, but... ]
;
B[gd]
C[   ...cutting at B4 gives W a miserable result. ]
;
W[id]
C[   If W5, then... ]
;
B[fb]
C[   ...B plays B6 and W has big problems. ])
)

(
;
W[ic]
;
B[ig]
C[   K: In this position W's marked stone is misplaced. It should attack the
   corner from the other direction. ]
LB [nc])
)

(
;
B[bg]
C[   If B immediately descends to B1... ]
;
W[bd]
C[   ...W2 captures the B stones in the corner, Leaving B with a miserable
   result. ]
;
B[bb]
C[   B3 is easily dealt with. ]
;
W[ba]
)
)

(
;
W[ee]
;
B[ef]
;
W[ed]
;
B[ff]
;
W[df]
;
B[dg]
;
W[cf]
;
B[cg]
;
W[be]
;
B[bf]
;
W[ce]
;
B[do]
C[   In that case K said that he would play for thickness. ])
)