www.arves.org - EG 2020-2021

Studies awarded for the EG magazaine tournament 2020-2021.

[Event "EG 1/2020"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Kiryakov=P"] [Black "1st Prize"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1R6/7p/1pP5/8/8/6k1/5r2/1K5n w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2020"] 
 1. c7 Rf1+ 2. Kb2 Rf2+ 3. Kb3 Rf3+ 4. Kb4 Rf4+ 5. Kb5 Rf5+ 6. Kxb6 Rf6+ 7. Kb5 $1 {With this move begins a 17 moves long systematic movement aimed at isolating Nh1 from the Black king.} (7. Kc5 $2 Rf1 $1 8. Rb3+ Kg2 $1 9. Kd4 Rf4+ 10. Kc3 Rf3+ 11. Kb2 Rf2+ 12. Ka3 Rf8 13. Rb2+ Nf2 $1 14. Rb8 Rf3+ 15. Kb4 Nd3+ {=}) 7... Rf5+ 8. Kb4 ({Or} 8. Kc4 Rf4+ 9. Kb3 {minor dual}) 8... Rf4+ 9. Kb3 Rf3+ 10. Ka2 $1 Rf2+ 11. Rb2 {Systematic movement, step 1.} Rf8 12. Rb3+ Kg4 (12... Kg2 13. Rb8 Rf2+ 14. Rb2 {+-}) 13. Rb8 Rf2+ 14. Kb3 Rf3+ 15. Kb4 Rf4+ 16. Ka3 $1 Rf3+ 17. Rb3 {Step#2} Rf8 18. Rb4+ Kg5 19. Rb8 Rf3+ 20. Kb4 Rf4+ 21. Kb5 Rf5+ 22. Ka4 $1 Rf4+ 23. Rb4 {Step #3!} Rf8 24. Rb5+ Kh6 (24... Kg6 25. Rb8 Rf4+ 26. Kb3 {White King goes e3 to trap the Nh1} ({or} 26. Kb5 Rf5+ 27. Kb4 Rf4+ 28. Kc3 {Some minor duals are possible on a way to xe3}) 26... Rf3+ 27. Kc2 Rf2+ 28. Kd3 Rf3+ 29. Kd4 Rf4+ 30. Ke3 $1 (30. Kd5 $2 Rf5+ 31. Kd6 Rf6+ 32. Ke7 $2 Rf7+ $1 {= King g6 controls xf7 - compare with main line 24...Kh6}) 30... Rc4 31. c8=Q Rxc8 32. Rxc8 Kg5 (32... Ng3 33. Rg8+ {+-}) 33. Kf3 $1 {+-}) 25. Rb8 Rf4+ 26. Kb3 Rf3+ 27. Kc2 Rf2+ 28. Kd3 Rf3+ 29. Kd4 Rf4+ 30. Kd5 $1 (30. Ke3 $2 Rc4 31. c8=Q Rxc8 32. Rxc8 Ng3 $1 {= No Rg8+ unlike in the 24...Kg6 line}) 30... Rf5+ 31. Kd6 Rf6+ 32. Ke7 $1 ({Try} 32. Ke5 $2 Rc6 33. Rb6 Rxb6 34. c8=Q Ng3 $1 (34... Rg6 35. Qf8+ {+-}) 35. Qh3+ (35. Qf8+ Kh5 36. Qf3+ Kh4 $1 {=}) 35... Kg7 36. Qxg3+ Rg6 37. Qc3 h6 $3 {= Black reaches a well known fortress ( Guretzky-Kornitz, 1864) White cannot break black's rook g-file defence. There is no fortress with pawn h7, for example} ( 37... Kg8 38. Kf5 Kf7 39. Qc7+ Kg8 40. Qd7 Rh6 41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Qe7+ Kg8 43. Kg5 Rg6+ 44. Kh5 $1 {+- Decisive King transfer to the \"h\"-file} Kh8 45. Qf8+ Rg8 46. Qf6+ Rg7 47. Kh6 {+-}) 38. Kf5+ Kh7 39. Qd4 Rg7 40. Kf6 Kh8 41. Qe4 Rg5 {=}) 32... Rc6 33. Rb6 Rxb6 34. c8=Q Ng3 35. Qh3+ Kg7 (35... Nh5 36. Qe3+ $1 { +-}) 36. Qxg3+ {+- There is no fortress with the White king on e7. For example} Rg6 37. Qe5+ Kh6 38. Qf4+ Kh5 39. Qh2+ {+-} 1-0

[Event "EG 1/2021"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Sprenger=Jan"] [Black "2nd Prize"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/6p1/8/5PpP/8/3k2P1/1K6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2021"] 
 {Strategic miniature with logical content and systematic king movements up and down the board. The question is how White must break the opposition 1. g3 Kd1. White needs to play Ka3 at the right moment, when Black cannot reply Kc3 due to the f4-f5 breakthrough: h8Q occurs with check!. But first, the king needs to go all the way up to b6!} 1. g3 {Forced since Black threatened g4-g3.} Kd1 $1 {Black can rush to the kingside, too. After Kf2 or Kf3, White plays h4-h5 g6xh5 f4-f5, promoting the f-pawn with check. Black then draws against the queen [1] pushing both the g- and the h-pawn if the white king is on the seventh rank, the b-file or on c6; [2] with the doubled g-pawn after hxg3 with wKd6. With wKd5, like in the solution, White is winning.} ({e.g.,} 1... Ke2 2. Kc2 Kf3 3. h5 gxh5 4. f5 $18) 2. Kb2 Kd2 3. Kb3 ({thematic try: White would like to play} 3. Ka3 $2 {luring the black king to c3 so that f4-f5 works. However, Black draws with} Ke3 {( or Ke1/Ke2 )} (3... Kc3 $2 4. f5 $1 gxf5 5. h5 $18 {and White promotes with check}) (3... Kd3 $2 4. Kb3 {and Black must give up the opposition}) 4. Kb4 Kf3 5. h5 gxh5 6. f5 Kxg3 {( e.g. )} 7. f6 h4 8. f7 Kh2 9. f8=Q g3 $10) 3... Kd3 4. Kb4 Kd4 5. Kb5 Kd5 6. Kb6 $1 Kd6 $1 { Black keeps the opposition} (6... Ke4 {Black tries to exploit the remote position of the white king.} 7. Kc5 $1 ({logical try} 7. Kc7 $2 {( or Kc6 )} Kf3 8. h5 gxh5 9. f5 h4 {/Kxg3 transposes} 10. f6 Kxg3 $1 {Now the two pawns are strong enough for draw, e.g,} 11. f7 Kh2 12. f8=Q g3 13. Qf4 h3 14. Kd6 Kh1 15. Qxg3 h2 $10) 7... Kf3 8. h5 $1 gxh5 9. f5 h4 10. f6 Kxg3 11. f7 Kh2 12. f8=Q g3 13. Qf4 h3 14. Kd4 $1 $18 {and the king arrives in time.}) 7. Ka5 $3 { Now the black king can't attack the g-pawn directly, and so White can afford to move the king to the a-file.} ({logical try} 7. Kb7 $6 Kd5 $1 ({If Black continues to mirror White's movements, the h-pawn queens with check:} 7... Kd7 $2 8. Kb8 Kd8 9. Ka8 Kc8 10. f5 $1 gxf5 11. h5 $18) 8. Kc7 $2 (8. Kb6 $7 Kd6 { [%emt 0:00:06] leads back to the position after move}) 8... Ke4 $1 9. Kd6 $5 { The white king is now too close to draw with g- and h-pawn like in main B, but the second defense plan works:} Kf3 10. h5 gxh5 11. f5 h4 12. f6 hxg3 $1 13. f7 g2 14. f8=Q+ Kg3 $10 {The wKd6 blocks the check on the b8-h2 diagonal and so g2-g1Q cannot be prevented.}) 7... Kc5 (7... Kd5 8. Kb5 {and White has gained the opposition.}) 8. Ka4 Kc4 9. Ka3 {Now Black must either allow the f4-f5 breakthrough or give up the opposition:} Kd3 {main B} ({main A} 9... Kc3 10. f5 $1 {echo with the breakthrough in main B} ({thematic try} 10. h5 $2 gxh5 11. f5 h4 12. f6 hxg3 13. f7 g2 14. f8=Q g1=Q $10) 10... gxf5 11. h5 f4 12. h6 fxg3 13. h7 g2 14. h8=Q+ $18 {Check!}) 10. Kb3 $1 {We have reached again the position after 3. Kb3, but now it is BLACK to move.} Kd4 11. Kb4 (11. Kc2 $6 Ke4 12. Kc3 Ke3 13. Kc4 Ke4 14. Kc5 Ke3 {just loses time}) 11... Kd3 12. Kc5 Ke4 13. Kc4 $1 (13. Kd6 $2 {( or Kc6 )} Kf3 $1 $10 {see the logical try 7. Kb7. }) 13... Ke3 $5 {Luring the white king to the d5 square.} (13... Kf3 14. h5 gxh5 15. f5 $18 {loses straightforwardly, the white king is too close.}) 14. Kd5 Kf2 15. h5 $1 gxh5 16. f5 h4 17. f6 {The a8-h1 diagonal is now closed, and so Black tries} h3 $5 18. f7 h2 19. f8=Q+ Kg2 {Now, h1Q cannot be prevented, but White wins with} 20. Qa8 $1 {( changing the order of moves is possible )} h1=Q 21. Ke5+ Kg1 22. Qxh1+ Kxh1 23. Kf4 1-0

[Event "EG 2/2020"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Østmoe=G"] [Black "1st HM"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/Q2P4/8/2P5/5p1K/5R2/3q1p2/2r3k1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2020"] 
 1. c6 Rxc6 2. Rxf2 (2. Qxf2+ $2 Qxf2+ 3. Rxf2 Rd6 {draws.}) 2... Qe3 $1 3. Qxe3 Rh6+ $1 (3... fxe3 4. Rd2 $1 {This sideline sets the scene} Rh6+ (4... exd2 5. d8=Q) 5. Kg3 $1 Rh8 6. Rd1#) 4. Kg4 $1 (4. Kg5 $2 fxe3 {draws (Østmoe, Probleemblad 2019):} 5. Rg2+ $5 Kxg2 6. d8=Q Rh2 $1 7. Qd3 Kf2 8. Qd4 Kf1 $1 9. Qf6+ Kg1 10. Qd4 Kf1 11. Qf4+ Rf2 12. Qxe3 Rg2+ 13. Kf4 Rf2+ 14. Kg3 Rg2+ 15. Kh3 Rh2+ 16. Kxh2 {stalemate.}) 4... fxe3 {Now White must evacuate f2 to prevent Pe3 from landing there; a theme similiar to the Prokes theme, that Tallaksen has also been exploring thoroughly.} 5. Rf6 $3 {Unexpectedly the evacuation happens without check.} (5. Rd2 $2 Rh8 $1 {draws}) (5. d8=Q $2 exf2 {draws}) (5. Rg2+ $2 Kxg2 6. d8=Q e2 {draws now that the rook is on h6.} 7. Qd2 Kf1 8. Qf4+ Kg1 9. Qe3+ Kf1 10. Qf3+ Ke1 {is a draw.}) 5... Rxf6 (5... Rh8 6. Kf3 {wins.}) 6. d8=Q e2 7. Qd4+ {This is why Black's rook had to be forced to f6. Black's king cannot reach the f-file.} Rf2 (7... Kg2 8. Qe5 $1 {wins, for example} Rg6+ 9. Kf5 Kf2 10. Qf4+ Kg2 11. Qe3 Kf1 12. Qf3+ Ke1 13. Kxg6) 8. Qe4 Kf1 {Allowing mate in 1, but otherwise Black's pawn would soon be captured.} 9. Qh1# 1-0

[Event "EG 3/2021"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Avni=A Tarasiuk=V"] [Black "3rd HM"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6k1/6p1/R5p1/3P2P1/8/2b2P2/4pPK1/R2b4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2021"] 
 1. d6 (1. Re6 Bxa1 2. d6 Bc3 3. d7 Ba5 $11) 1... e1=Q (1... Bxa1 2. d7 e1=Q 3. d8=Q+ Kh7 4. Qd3 $1 $18) 2. d7 Qe7 (2... Ba5 3. R6xa5 $1 (3. R1xa5 $2 Bxf3+ 4. Kxf3 Qd1+ 5. Kg3 Qxd7 $11) 3... Bxf3+ (3... Kh7 4. d8=Q Bxf3+ 5. Kg3 $1 $18) 4. Kxf3 Qc3+ 5. Kg2 Qc6+ 6. f3 Qxd7 7. Ra8+ Kf7 (7... Kh7 8. Rh1+) 8. R1a7) 3. Ra8+ (3. Rxd1 Qxg5+ $11) 3... Kh7 (3... Kf7 4. d8=Q (4. d8=N+ $18)) 4. d8=Q Bxf3+ {playing for stalemate} 5. Kxf3 (5. Kg1 Qxd8 6. Rxd8 Bxa1 $11) 5... Qb7+ 6. Kg3 (6. Kf4 Be5+ 7. Ke3 Bd4+ 8. Qxd4 Qe4+ $11) 6... Be5+ 7. f4 Bxf4+ 8. Kh4 (8. Kxf4 Qe4+ $11) 8... Bxg5+ (8... Bg3+ $2 9. Kh3 $1 $18) 9. Kxg5 (9. Qxg5 Qh1+ $11) 9... Qxa8 $1 10. Qg8+ $3 (10. Qd4 $2 Qd8+ $1 11. Qxd8 { stalemate}) (10. Rxa8 $2 {stalemate}) (10. Qd1 Qg2+ $11) 10... Qxg8 (10... Kxg8 11. Rxa8+) 11. Rh1# 1-0

[Event "EG 3/2020"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Nielsen=S Minski=M"] [Black "sp. HM"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2nBK3/1B1p1Pk1/2NNb2p/7P/8/Q7/5qp1/4r3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2020"] 
 1. Nf5+ $1 Bxf5+ 2. Ne7 (2. Be7 Bb1 3. Qc3+ (3. Qb2+ Qxb2 $19) 3... Kh7) 2... Nd6+ $1 (2... Be6 3. Qc3+ Kh7 4. f8=N+ $1 (4. f8=Q $2 Nd6#) 4... Qxf8+ 5. Kxf8 Rf1+ 6. Bf3 $18) (2... Bg4 3. Qb2+ $1 Qxb2 4. f8=Q+ Kh7 5. Qg8#) (2... Bg6 3. Qc3+ Qf6 (3... Kh7 4. hxg6#) 4. Qxf6+ Kxf6 5. hxg6 Nd6+ 6. Kxd7 Kg7 7. Bxg2 $18 ) 3. Qxd6 Be6 (3... Bc2 4. Qd4+ $1 (4. Bd5) 4... Qxd4 5. f8=Q+) 4. Nf5+ $1 (4. Qd4+ $2 Qxd4 5. f8=Q+ Kh7 $11) 4... Bxf5+ 5. Be4 $1 {Preventing the future escape of Bf5 along the f5-b1 diagonal.} (5. Be7 $2 Bd3) 5... Rxe4+ 6. Be7 Be6 (6... Bh7 {(selfblock)} 7. Qg3+ $1 Qxg3 8. f8=Q#) 7. Bf6+ $1 (7. f8=Q+ $2 Qxf8+ 8. Bxf8+ Kg8 9. Qh2 Bf7+ 10. Kxd7 Kxf8 $11) 7... Qxf6 (7... Kxf6 8. f8=Q+) ( 7... Kh7 8. f8=Q Bf7+ 9. Kd8 (9. Kxf7 $4 $19 Qa2+ $1)) 8. Qf8+ Kh7 9. Qg8# 1-0

[Event "EG 2/2020"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Amatzia=A"] [Black "4th Comm."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Avni"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7k/4B3/1R3P2/7b/6p1/7p/5r2/K2n3B w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2020"] 
 1. Be4 {Threatens mate} (1. Rb8+ $2 Kh7 2. Be4+ Bg6 $19) 1... Ra2+ $1 (1... Kg8 2. Rb8+ Kf7 3. Bd5+ Kg6 4. Be4+ $11) (1... Bf7 2. Rb8+ Bg8 3. Bd5 $11) 2. Kxa2 Nc3+ 3. Kb2 $3 {All other king moves lose, because the king is too far from the action.} Nxe4 (3... Na4+ 4. Kc2 Nxb6 5. Kd3 $11) 4. f7 $1 {By sacrificing this important pawn, White creates the threat of Rh6+ and evacuates square f6 for his next move.} (4. Re6 Ng5 $1 5. Re5 (5. Re3 h2 6. Re1 Nf7) 5... Bf7 $1 6. Bd6 g3 7. Ra5 h2 8. Ra1 Ne4 9. Bf4 {threat Rh1} Kg8 $19) 4... Bxf7 5. Rf6 $1 Kg7 (5... Nxf6 6. Bxf6+ Kh7 7. Be5 Kg6 8. Kc3 Kf5 9. Kd4 {just in time}) (5... Bd5 6. Rf4 g3 (6... h2 7. Rxg4 h1=Q 8. Rh4+ $11) 7. Bd8 $1 Kg7 (7... g2 8. Bb6 Kg7 9. Bg1 Kg6 10. Kc2 Kg5 11. Rf8 Kg4 12. Kd3 Kg3 13. Ke3 $11) 8. Rg4+ Kf7 9. Bc7 g2 10. Bh2 $11 {for instance} Nd2 11. Rh4 Nf3 12. Rf4+ Kg6 13. Rxf3 $11) 6. Rf4 g3 7. Rg4+ (7. Rxe4 $2 h2 $19) 7... Bg6 8. Bd6 $3 {The entire white's army was offered during the solution} Nxd6 (8... h2 9. Be5+ Kf7 10. Rh4 $11) 9. Rxg3 {The pin along the g-file ensures that the h-pawn falls} 1/2-1/2

[Event "EG 2/2020"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Ulrichsen=J"] [Black "5th Comm."] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "N4k2/8/8/3P2p1/2p4p/8/6KP/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2020"] 
 1. Nc7 {The white knight sets out on a long journey. It gallops from a8 down to e2, up to g7, down to g1 and finally back to e2.} (1. Nb6 {?} c3 2. Nd7+ Ke7 3. Nc5 c2 ({(Black avoids} 3... Kd6 4. Ne4+ Kxd5 5. Nxc3+ Kd4 6. Ne2+ {which leads to the solution.)}) 4. Nd3 g4 5. Kf1 g3 6. h3 Kd7 7. Ke2 Kd6 {and White can make no progress.}) 1... c3 (1... Ke7 2. Nb5 g4 3. h3 g3 4. Kf3 Kf6 ({or}  4... Kd7 5. Ke2 Ke7 6. Na3 c3 7. Nc2 Kd6 8. Ne3 {wins.}) 5. Nd6 c3 6. Ne4+ Ke5 7. Nxc3 {wins.}) 2. Ne6+ Ke7 3. Nd4 Kd6 (3... Kf6 4. Kf3 Ke5 5. d6 Kxd6 6. Nb5+ Ke5 7. Nxc3 Kf5 8. h3 {wins.}) (3... g4 4. Nf5+ Kf6 5. Ne3 Ke5 6. Nxg4+ Kxd5 7. Ne3+ Ke4 8. Nc2 Kd3 9. Na3 {wins.}) 4. Nb5+ (4. Kf3 {?} Kxd5 5. Nc2 Ke5 {draws (EGTB).}) 4... Kxd5 5. Nxc3+ Kd4 (5... Ke5 6. Kf3 Kf5 7. h3) 6. Ne2+ {White must prevent Black from setting up a fortress with pawns on g4 and h4. Other knight moves than 6.Se3+ lead to a draw (EGTB); e.g.:} (6. Nb5+ $2 Ke3 $1 { (the only move)} 7. Nd6 ({or} 7. Nc7 g4 {draws.}) 7... Kf4 {draws.}) (6. Nd1 g4 {draws.}) 6... Ke3 7. Ng3 $1 Kf4 (7... hxg3 8. Kxg3 {loses immediately. White wins the black pawn on g5 and promotes his pawn.}) (7... g4 $2 {loses at once:} 8. Nf5+ Kf4 9. Nxh4) 8. Nh5+ $1 (8. Nf1 $2 g4) 8... Kg4 (8... Kf5 9. Kf3) 9. Ng7 $1 ({Not} 9. Nf6+ $2 Kf5 10. Nd5 g4 {with a fortress.}) 9... Kf4 10. Ne6+ Kf5 11. Nd4+ Ke4 ({or} 11... Ke5 12. Nf3+ Kf4) 12. Nf3 ({Not} 12. Ne2 $2 g4 { with a fortress.}) 12... Kf4 13. Kf2 (13. Nd2 $2 {or other knight moves draws after} g4) 13... Kg4 ({Or} 13... Kf5 14. Ke3 Kg4 15. Ng1 Kf5 16. Kf3 g4+ 17. Ke3 Ke5 18. Ne2 {wins.}) 14. Ng1 (14. Kg2 Kf4 15. Kf2 {is loss of time.}) 14... Kf4 15. Ne2+ {After nine moves the knight is back on e2.} ({Not} 15. Nh3+ $2 Kg4 16. Kg2 Kf5 17. Ng1 g4 {and Black draws. (But White can play 16.Sg1 which is loss of time.)}) 15... Kg4 16. Kg2 1-0

[Event "EG 2/2021"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Müeller=K"] [Black "7th Comm."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Karsten"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/6K1/8/5P2/4k1P1/7p/b6P/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2021"] 
 {This race contains a surprising number of retreats. The high point is without any doubt the second retreat of the defending king 5.Kg4!! far away from the promotion squares of the pawns.} 1. Kh6 $1 {The king starts with a surprising retreat.} (1. Kg6 $2 Kf3 2. g5 Bb1 $3 {Now a bishop retreat does the job.} 3. Kf6 Kf4 4. g6 Bxf5 5. g7 Bh7 $19) 1... Kf4 2. Kh5 Kf3 3. g5 Kg2 4. f6 Kxh2 5. Kg4 $3 {A really amazing king retreat to sidestep the mating attack.} (5. g6 $2 Kg3 6. f7 h2 7. f8=Q h1=Q+ 8. Kg5 Qh4+ 9. Kf5 Qf4#) 5... Be6+ (5... Bf7 6. Kf5 $11) 6. Kf4 Kg2 7. g6 h2 8. Ke5 $1 {This time the only move is an advance.} Bb3 (8... h1=Q 9. Kxe6 Qh6 10. f7 Qxg6+ 11. Ke7 $11) 9. f7 h1=Q 10. f8=Q Qa1+ 11. Ke4 $1 $11 {The final point fortunately again is a king retreat.} 1/2-1/2