Girls Fight (2)

What is the difference between female's go and male's go? One of them is the violence of the game. Female's go usually involves more fight and more violence. If you are fighter on board or simply looking for an interesting game, looking at female tournaments is the answer.

Here I present you with 2 games from 2003. It was the title match of the 22nd Female Honinbo. The challenger was Yashiro Kumiko (5 dan) and the title holder was Kobayashi Izumi (5 dan). Yashiro won game, but Kobayashi Izumi showed her skill and won the next 3 games, defending her title. The interesting games came from game 2 and 3. Enjoy!


Kobayashi Izumi


Yashiro Kumiko

Game 2:
Kobayashi Izumi (black) vs. Yashiro Kumiko (white). Result: B+6.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[22nd Japanese Female Honinbo, title match #2]
DT[2003-10-16]PB[Kobayashi Izumi]BR[5p]PW[Yashiro Kumiko]WR[5p]KM[6.5]RE[B+6.5]
MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[qo];W[oq];B[op];W[nq];B[pp];W[kq];B[fq];W[eq];B[fp];W[dn]
;B[iq];W[jo];B[ho];W[jq];B[ir];W[qh];B[qj];W[pj];B[qk];W[nc];B[nd];W[od];B[oe];W[oc]
;B[pe];W[pc];B[qc];W[qb];B[md];W[mc];B[ld];W[lc];B[kd];W[oh];B[pi];W[rc];B[ph];W[pg]
;B[og];W[ng];B[of];W[oi];B[qi];W[jm];B[cl];W[er];B[hm];W[el];B[ci];W[cg];B[bn];W[bp]
;B[lj];W[mi];B[li];W[lh];B[kh];W[lg];B[kg];W[nk];B[ml];W[pk];B[mp];W[mq];B[mj];W[nj]
;B[mh];W[ql];B[rl];W[rm];B[pl];W[qm];B[pm];W[nl];B[mn];W[mk];B[kn];W[jn];B[kl];W[jl]
;B[kk];W[nh];B[ni];W[mm];B[km];W[mi];B[hk];W[lp];B[mo];W[mg];B[lr];W[ko];B[kr];W[jr]
;B[js];W[mr];B[or];W[lq];B[ks];W[hl];B[gl];W[il];B[gm];W[jj];B[ij];W[jk];B[ji];W[ii]
;B[hi];W[ih];B[hh];W[ig];B[jf];W[gk];B[fk];W[gj];B[hj];W[fj];B[ek];W[ej];B[dk];W[kj]
;B[ki];W[lk];B[ln];W[fh];B[gg];W[if];B[fg];W[je];B[ke];W[lf];B[kf];W[he];B[ne];W[dh]
;B[fe];W[fd];B[de];W[ed];B[dg];W[df];B[eg];W[ch];B[cf];W[ce];B[ef];W[bf];B[be];W[df]
;B[eh];W[di];B[cf];W[cd];B[ge];W[gd];B[bg];W[df];B[id];W[hd];B[cf];W[pr];B[qr];W[df]
;B[fi];W[gf];B[cf];W[on];B[af];W[np];B[pn];W[oo];B[qg];W[bd];B[ic];W[rk];B[rj];W[kc]
;B[jc];W[ie];B[jd];W[re];B[gb];W[fb];B[co];W[do];B[cp];W[cq];B[bo];W[bq];B[fr];W[sl]
;B[ro];W[hb];B[es];W[ds];B[fs];W[dr];B[ib];W[ga];B[qd];W[rd];B[rb];W[sb];B[kb];W[lb]
;B[la];W[ma];B[ka];W[ra];B[ia];W[qf];B[pf];W[rg];B[rh];W[ee];B[df];W[ff];B[om];W[nm]
;B[fn];W[cm];B[bm];W[dl];B[bk];W[cj];B[ck];W[bh];B[bj];W[ad];B[sg];W[rf];B[hc];W[gc]
;B[ip];W[jp];B[ap];W[aq];B[ao];W[ep];B[ha];W[gb];B[po];W[hg];B[ei];W[ae];B[bf];W[sf]
;B[sh];W[fo];B[go];W[en];B[ok];W[oj];B[ol];W[fm];B[gn];W[os];B[ps];W[ns];B[fl];W[em]
;B[cn];W[in];B[dm];W[eo];B[cm])

Game 3:
Kobayashi Izumi (white) vs. Yashiro Kumiko (black). Result: W+7.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[22nd Japanese Female Honinbo, title match #3]
DT[2003-10-29]PB[Yashiro Kumiko]BR[5p]PW[Kobayashi Izumi]WR[5p]KM[6.5]RE[W+7.5]
MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dp];B[fq];W[ip];B[cn];W[fp];B[gp];W[fo];B[dq];W[cq];B[eq];W[cp]
;B[go];W[dm];B[hq];W[cm];B[jr];W[qj];B[ql];W[qf];B[qh];W[of];B[nc];W[rd];B[pi];W[qc]
;B[kc];W[qn];B[op];W[pj];B[ni];W[pl];B[pm];W[qm];B[ol];W[pk];B[pn];W[rp];B[qo];W[ro]
;B[rl];W[rm];B[sn];W[rn];B[rq];W[rk];B[ml];W[jm];B[hm];W[jk];B[ji];W[lm];B[sp];W[sl]
;B[hj];W[ll];B[mk];W[nn];B[nm];W[np];B[pq];W[qr];B[qq];W[oh];B[oi];W[ri];B[lp];W[lo]
;B[ko];W[kp];B[jp];W[kq];B[jo];W[jq];B[lq];W[lr];B[ln];W[mo];B[io];W[mq];B[iq];W[kr]
;B[mm];W[fc];B[pc];W[pb];B[ob];W[mg];B[fm];W[ki];B[kh];W[li];B[jh];W[mi];B[mj];W[jj]
;B[pg];W[lf];B[qd];W[rb];B[re];W[qa];B[sd];W[rc];B[dn];W[bn];B[cd];W[ce];B[de];W[cc]
;B[bd];W[be];B[pf];W[jf];B[ed];W[dc];B[df];W[cg];B[hh];W[jd];B[ke];W[kf];B[je];W[ie]
;B[if];W[ig];B[hf];W[hg];B[he];W[id];B[kd];W[gh];B[hd];W[jg];B[gi];W[ih];B[ii];W[fh]
;B[fi];W[gf];B[eh];W[hc];B[ic];W[ge];B[jc];W[ei];B[ch];W[bg];B[em];W[bl];B[di];W[ej]
;B[dj];W[eg];B[dg];W[dh];B[bo];W[co];B[eh];W[ek];B[dk];W[dh];B[so];W[eh];B[sm];W[hb]
;B[bc];W[ee];B[nr];W[nq];B[or];W[ir];B[hr];W[js];B[en];W[gk];B[hk];W[oe];B[pe];W[gj]
;B[gl];W[il];B[hl];W[dr];B[er];W[cr];B[ib];W[gc];B[ep];W[md];B[oa];W[pa];B[og];W[nh]
;B[nf];W[ne];B[ng];W[mf];B[lk];W[kk];B[km];W[kl];B[kn];W[hi];B[cb];W[db];B[hh];W[mc]
;B[mb];W[hi];B[ab];W[ba];B[hh];W[sc];B[se];W[hi];B[ra];W[sa];B[hh];W[lc];B[lb];W[el]
;B[hi];W[oq];B[pr];W[oo];B[on];W[mr];B[po];W[pp];B[fj];W[fk];B[op];W[no];B[im];W[es]
;B[fs];W[ds];B[hs];W[do];B[eo];W[ia];B[ja];W[ha];B[is];W[jr];B[gd];W[fd];B[ph];W[mh]
;B[ms];W[ls];B[ns];W[od];B[jn];W[jl];B[oc];W[gg];B[pp])

Style Can Change

Have you ever felt that your playing style is changing in some ways? Perhaps you fight all along in the past, but now you're more territorial (well, it's the case for me.) or vice versa?

One pro player whose style change a lot is Kobayashi Izumi (6 dan). She used to play like her father, Kobayashi Koichi, in the past. But nowadays, her play looks alike to her husband's, Cho U.


Kobayashi Izumi

Here I present you 2 games of her. Enjoy.

This is a game from 21st Japanese Kisei, 1-dan group final. It was dated back in 1996. Kobayashi Izumi (white) won the game by 1.5 points.

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[21st Japanese Kisei, 1-dan group final]
DT[1996-02-28]PB[Kim Kwangsik]BR[1p]PW[Kobayashi Izum]WR[1p]KM[5.5]RE[W+1.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dp];B[pq];W[dc];B[oc];W[qn];B[qp];W[qk];B[de];W[ce];B[cf];W[cd];B[df];W[fc]
;B[dj];W[bh];B[ch];W[jq];B[qi];W[kd];B[cn];W[fp];B[mq];W[ok];B[cq];W[cp];B[bp];W[dq]
;B[br];W[cr];B[bq];W[ci];B[di];W[cg];B[dh];W[bf];B[dg];W[bg];B[oi];W[ge];B[mc];W[le]
;B[kb];W[ph];B[pi];W[pf];B[pl];W[pk];B[ho];W[hq];B[nf];W[nd];B[nh];W[ne];B[oe];W[od]
;B[pd];W[of];B[pe];W[nc];B[ob];W[nb];B[mf];W[rj];B[ri];W[ie];B[cj];W[oa];B[qb];W[si]
;B[sh];W[sj];B[rg];W[fm];B[pn];W[qm];B[pm];W[nl];B[ro];W[nn];B[mm];W[nm];B[kp];W[kq]
;B[lp];W[np];B[nq];W[op];B[ql];W[rl];B[qo];W[sm];B[sn];W[rm];B[mo];W[no];B[pp];W[ml]
;B[lm];W[kk];B[ll];W[lk];B[nj];W[mk];B[ik];W[il];B[ip];W[iq];B[jl];W[jk];B[hl];W[im]
;B[jm];W[ij];B[hk];W[hj];B[hm];W[kg];B[dr];W[er];B[cs];W[dm];B[cm];W[dl];B[cl];W[gi]
;B[pa];W[na];B[lr];W[kr];B[gg];W[hg];B[gh];W[hh];B[bi];W[lh];B[gf];W[hf];B[fe];W[fd]
;B[ed];W[ec];B[eo];W[ep];B[es];W[fr];B[ks];W[js];B[ls];W[co];B[bo];W[ff];B[fg];W[ee]
;B[ef];W[fe];B[fo];W[gk];B[gl];W[fk];B[fl];W[ek];B[em];W[jp];B[jo];W[fh];B[eg];W[hp]
;B[io];W[dk];B[fs];W[gs];B[ds];W[gq];B[dn];W[el];B[en];W[go];B[gn];W[ah];B[ai];W[lq]
;B[mr];W[fi];B[mh];W[li];B[lf];W[kf];B[mn];W[kl];B[km];W[ck];B[bk];W[mi];B[ni];W[oq]
;B[or];W[rn];B[so];W[dd];B[ej];W[lg];B[fj];W[mg];B[ng];W[gj];B[me];W[md];B[mj];W[lj]
;B[gp];W[oo];B[po];W[go];B[hs];W[gr];B[gp];W[bs];B[as];W[go];B[jr];W[ir];B[gp];W[nk]
;B[go])

This one from the latest Female Honinbo second round. She won by 5.5 points from Suzuki Ayumi.

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[29th Japanese Female Honinbo, round 2]
DT[2010-06-03]PB[Suzuki Ayumi]BR[5p]PW[Kobayashi Izumi]WR[6p]KM[6.5]RE[W+5.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[od];B[oc];W[nc];B[pc];W[qp];B[cp];W[cd];B[oq];W[ep];B[gp];W[dm];B[dp];W[eo]
;B[eq];W[fq];B[fp];W[fr];B[dr];W[hq];B[kq];W[hp];B[fn];W[do];B[bn];W[hn];B[fo];W[em]
;B[fm];W[bm];B[bo];W[fl];B[gl];W[fk];B[hm];W[in];B[im];W[kn];B[hj];W[mq];B[fi];W[di]
;B[oo];W[lp];B[qn];W[rn];B[rm];W[ro];B[om];W[qr];B[cg];W[eg];B[dk];W[ci];B[dd];W[cc]
;B[df];W[eb];B[bj];W[ck];B[bi];W[cj];B[ce];W[bf];B[be];W[bh];B[bg];W[ch];B[fc];W[ec]
;B[ed];W[fd];B[gc];W[ef];B[dc];W[db];B[bc];W[bb];B[bd];W[cb];B[ab];W[ag];B[ac];W[fe]
;B[de];W[hb];B[hc];W[ic];B[gb];W[id];B[ib];W[jb];B[ha];W[ja];B[jm];W[ia];B[ba];W[hb]
;B[ca];W[ga];B[fb];W[pl];B[ol];W[pj];B[ql];W[pk];B[pm];W[jn];B[ll];W[pg];B[nd];W[nb]
;B[oe];W[md];B[ne];W[ng];B[mc];W[lc];B[me];W[mj];B[ld];W[rk];B[oh];W[ph];B[rg];W[rh]
;B[nk];W[nj];B[lb];W[gj];B[gk];W[fj];B[hi];W[gi];B[ri];W[sh];B[oi];W[pi];B[og];W[of]
;B[nf];W[pf];B[nh];W[oj];B[rf];W[kj];B[nr];W[mr];B[lh];W[km];B[kl];W[jk];B[jl];W[kh]
;B[li];W[lj];B[pr];W[rq];B[ms];W[ls];B[ns];W[lq];B[hh];W[kg];B[lg];W[ik];B[hk];W[nn]
;B[ig];W[qk];B[jj];W[ml];B[mk];W[po];B[mn];W[no];B[on];W[op];B[np];W[pp];B[mo];W[nq]
;B[mp];W[ki];B[lo];W[kp];B[ko];W[jp];B[er];W[ij];B[fs];W[gr];B[qh];W[qi];B[qg];W[rj]
;B[kc];W[la];B[ma];W[gh];B[gg];W[hf];B[hg];W[hd];B[da];W[cn];B[am];W[al];B[an];W[bl]
;B[en];W[co];B[bq];W[rl];B[ji];W[ii];B[jh];W[kk];B[fg];W[fh];B[qm];W[kb];B[ka];W[lm]
;B[mm];W[la];B[mb];W[re];B[qe];W[qf];B[rd];W[sm];B[ke];W[kf];B[lf];W[je];B[if];W[gs]
;B[es];W[il];B[he];W[gd];B[ea];W[ie];B[gf];W[ge];B[lk];W[pe];B[pd];W[dg];B[cf];W[af]
;B[mi];W[jc];B[se];W[ni];B[mg];W[jo];B[sg];W[si];B[gn];W[dn];B[gq];W[hr];B[ae];W[ah]
;B[kd];W[ho];B[hf];W[ka])

Xie Yimin Won Daiwa Ladies Cup for the Second Time

Xie Yimin (Female Meijin, Female Honinbo) repeated her success last year by winning the 3rd Daiwa Ladies Cup.
Xie Yimin met the 1st Daiwa Ladies Cup's champion, Kobayashi Izumi (6 dan).



Kobayashi Izumi who played white in this game opened the game agressively. She didn't take the last empty corner, instead she directly approach black.
Xie played by the ame fighting spirit, by playing a pincer to response Kobayashi's ikken takagakari (one space high approach). Black's answer at move 11 is rather rare nowadays, but perhaps
Xie was afraid of the possible variation (11 B-O4, W-O2, B-R2, W-R3, B-P2, W-N2), as the ladder was favorable for white.


The game was commented by Shuto Shun and the move reader was Suzuki Ayumi

The game proceed difficultly and the battle spreaded all over the board. After 343 moves, Xie Yimin won the game by 3.5 points.
Xie Yimin won the cup for two concecutive years. She also met Kobayashi Izumi in the final last year.