www.arves.org - Variantim 2021

Studies awarded for the Israeli Ring tournament 2021 reported in Variantim 86.

[Event "1st prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Jan Rusinek"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "6Q1/2p5/1R1Pnq2/1pnK4/k3P3/6N1/8/1B4b1 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
 { Judge Geir Sune Tallaksen Østmoe, Norway. A truly impressive study. The play is attractive from the start to the end, where Black builds up an attack which White has to meet by sacrifices. After ten moves, it looks like Black has succeeded as White’s king is caught in a mating net even though the material balance generally suggests a draw. However, White responds with a surprising queen sacrifice leading to a beautiful model stalemate with six pieces lined up on the same file. The only thing I can hold against this study is that the bishop on g1 is captured without making a single move. That is acceptable to me when the overall impression of the study is this good. } 1.Nf5 $1 ( 1.e5 Qf3+ 2.Ne4 Qb3+ 3.Kc6 Nd4+ 4.Kxc7 Qxg8 5.Nxc5+ Kb4 6.d7 Kxc5 7.d8=Q Qxd8+ 8.Kxd8 Kxb6 ) 1...c6+ $1 { Pawn sacrifice } 2.Kxc6 Nd8+ 3.Kd5 $1 ( 3.Kc7 Nce6+ 4.Kb8 Bxb6 ) 3...Nd7 $1 { Black's control of c4 forces white to sacrifice two pieces } 4.Bc2+ Ka5 5.Rxb5+ $1 { Rook sacrifice } 5...Kxb5 6.Ba4+ $1 { Bishop sacrifice } (  6.Bd3+ Kb4 ) 6...Kxa4 7.Qxg1 Qe5+ 8.Kc4 Qxe4+ 9.Qd4 $1 { Knight sacrifice } 9...Qc2+ ( 9...Qxf5 10.Qa1# ) 10.Kd5+ $1 Kb5 11.Qd3+ $3 { Queen sacrifice } 11...Qxd3+ 12.Nd4+ Ka4 { K-any - stalemate } 1/2-1/2

[Event "2nd prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Jan Sprenger"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "8/6N1/2P5/3r4/8/b4K2/1k6/N7 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
 { A remarkable miniature where both of White’s knights have to sacrifice themselves in order to help the pawn forward. The first move is already a surprise, as it is not obvious why Black’s king is better placed on a1 than on c2, until you discover the various lines where the king ends up forked. After 5.c7 White threatens two different knight sacrifices – 5.Nc5 and 5.Nd4 – and surprisingly, Black can not prevent both at the same time. I would like to add an additional point not mentioned by the composer: 5…Bb4 would prevent 5.Nd4 but not 5.Nc5!, in contrast to the main line 5…Be7 which prevents 5.Nc5 but not 5.Nd4!. } 1.Nc2 $3 { Forcing the Black king on a square where it is within the reach of the other knight. } ( { thematic try } 1.Ne6 $2 Kxa1 $1 ( 1...Rd6 $2 2.c7 Rc6 3.Nb3 $1 $10 ) 2.c7 Rd3+ 3.Ke4 Rc3 4.Kd5 Be7 $1 $19 { Preventing the Nowotny interference Sc5. The tactics from the solution don't work here and Black slowly moves his king up the a-file. } ( 4...Bb4 $2 5.Nc5 $3 Rxc5+ 6.Kd6 $10 ) ) ( { logical try } 1.Ke4 $2 Rc5 $1 ( 1...Rd6 $2 2.Nc2 $1 Kxc2 3.Nf5 $10 ) 2.Ne6 Rxc6 3.Nd4 { [no check] eg } 3...Rh6 $19 { RB/SS wins in general, EGTB confirms for this specific position } ) 1...Kxc2 2.Ke4 Rc5 $1 ( 2...Rd6 3.Nf5 $1 Rxc6 4.Nd4+ $10 ) ( 2...Rd8 3.c7 { /Se6 and Sd4+ } 3...Rc8 4.Ne8 $1 Rxe8+ 5.Kd5 $10 ) 3.Ne6 $1 Rc4+ (  { main } 3...Rc3 4.Kd5 Kb3 5.c7 Ka4 6.Nc5+ $3 Rxc5+ 7.Kd6 $10 { ( this Nowotny interference has been shown first by Gulyaev in 1926 ) } ) 4.Kd5 Kc3 ( 4...Kb3 5.c7 Be7 6.Nd4+ $1 $10 ) ( 4...Kd3 5.c7 Be7 $1 6.Nf4+ $1 Kc3 7.Ke6 { /Ke5 } 7...Rxc7 8.Nd5+ $10 ) 5.c7 { Threatens again Sc5 ( see 3. ...Rc3 ) . } 5...Be7 $1 6.Nd4 $3 { echo sacrifice } ( 6.Nc5 $4 Rxc5+ 7.Ke6 Rxc7 $19 ) (  { thematic try ( see 4. ...Kd3 ) } 6.Nf4 $2 Rxc7 7.Ke6 Kc4 { /Kd4 } 8.Nd5 Rc6+ 9.Kxe7 Kxd5 $19 ) 6...Rxc7 ( 6...Rxd4+ 7.Ke6 { /Kc6 } 7...Rc4 8.Kd7 $10 ) 7.Nb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "1st H.M."] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "mp"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "2q5/n4Q2/rp1P4/2kN3B/4P3/1Kp5/6n1/8 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
   
 { A tactical battle where White’s attack is met by strong counterplay from Black. In the end, White underpromotes and delivers a midboard mate with two active selfblocks. The play is impressive throughout the study, although the composer’s comment that it is a model mate is incorrect, as c6 is covered twice. } 1.Nc7 $1 { Threating mate on d5 and in addition covers a6 and b5 squares - see next moves why it is important. In 2 tries (d7/Nb4) appears hidden black's defensive trick ( Ra3 !!) } ( 1.Qf2+ Kxd6 2.Qg3+ Kc5 3.Qxc3+ Kd6 4.Qf6+ Kc5 5.Qe7+ Kd4 $11 ) ( { Thematic / Logical try : on immediate } 1.d7 Ra3+ $3 2.Kxa3 Qa6+ $1 { difference - a6 not under control } 3.Kb3 Qc4+ 4.Kc2 Ne1+ 5.Kc1 Nd3+ $11 ) ( { Thematic / logical try : } 1.Nb4 Ra3+ $3 2.Kxa3 Nb5+ $1 { The difference from main line is that b5 is not under control } 3.Kb3 Nd4+ $1 4.Kxc3 Kxd6+ ( 4...Nb5+ ) 5.Kxd4 Qc5+ 6.Kd3 Qe3+ $11 ) 1...Ne3 { defending from Qd5# } ( 1...Kxd6 2.Ne8+ ) ( 1...Ra3+ 2.Kxa3 Ne3 3.d7 Qxc7 4.Qe7+ $18 ) 2.d7 $1 Qxc7 3.Qe7+ ( 3.Qf8+ Kc6 4.d8=Q Qxd8 5.Qxd8 c2 $11 { see also comments to 4-th white move } ) 3...Kc6 4.Be8 $1 ( 4.d8=N+ Qxd8 5.Qxd8 c2 6.Be8+ ( { or } 6.Qb8 c1=N+ $1 7.Kc3 Na2+ 8.Kd4 Nc2+ ) 6...Kb7 7.Qe7+ Kb8 8.Qe5+ Ka8 9.Qc3 Ra5 $1 10.Qxe3 Rc5 $1 $11 ) 4...Ra3+ $3 { Although there is no check now with queen on a6 - allows returning black knight to the game with Nb5+ } ( 4...Kb7 5.d8=Q ) 5.Kxa3 ( 5.Qxa3 $2 Kb7 ) 5...Nb5+ 6.Kb3 $1 ( 6.Ka4 $2 Qa7+ $1 7.Kb3 Nd4+ $1 8.Kxc3 Nd1+ $1 9.Kd3 Qa6+ 10.Kxd4 Qa1+ 11.Kd3 Qc3+ 12.Ke2 Qe3+ 13.Kxd1 Qd3+ 14.Ke1 Qe3+ 15.Kf1 Qf3+ { with perpetual check } ) ( 6.Kb4 $4 Nc2+ 7.Kc4 Kb7+ $1 ) 6...Nd4+ 7.Kxc3 Nd5+ $1 ( 7...Kb7+ 8.Kxd4 ) 8.Kxd4 $1 ( 8.exd5+ $2 Kxd5+ $11 ) 8...Nxe7 9.d8=N+ $1 Kd6 10.e5# $1 { Model Mate with 2 selfblocks. } 1-0

[Event "3rd H.M."] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Itay Richardson"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "8/2pB1p2/8/4N3/4k2K/4n3/4P3/8 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
   
 { A natural-looking endgame position turns into a model mate with two active selfblocks in response to Black’s stalemate idea. The final position has been shown before in similar ways, but rarely with as attractive play as in this study. } 1.Ng4 ( 1.Nxf7 Nc2 2.Bg4 Ke3 3.Kg3 Nd4 4.Ne5 Nxe2+ $10 ) 1...f5 ( 1...Nxg4 2.Kxg4 Ke3 3.Bb5 $18 ) ( 1...Nc2 2.Kg3 $18 { Ke3 is now impossible } ) 2.Bc6+ ( 2.Nf2+ Kd4 3.Kg3 c5 4.Kf3 c4 5.Be6 Nc2 6.Bxf5 Ne1+ 7.Kf4 c3 8.Nd3 Ng2+ 9.Kg3 ( 9.Kf3 Nh4+ 10.Kf4 Nxf5 11.Kxf5 Ke3 12.Nc1 Kd2 $10 ) 9...Ne3 10.Be6 c2 11.Kf3 Nd1 12.Bf5 Kc3 13.Nc1 Kb2 14.Nd3+ Kc3 $10 ) ( 2.Nxe3 Kxe3 3.Bb5 c6 4.Ba6 ( 4.Bxc6 Kxe2 $10 ) 4...f4 5.Kg4 ( 5.Kg5 f3 $10 ) 5...Ke4 6.Bc4 Ke3 7.Ba6 Ke4 8.Bc4 Ke3 9.Bd3 f3 $10 ) 2...Kf4 ( 2...Nd5 3.Nf6+ $18 ) ( 2...Kd4 3.Nh6 Kc3 ( 3...Nc2 4.Nxf5+ $18 { blocking Ke3 } ) 4.Kg3 Kd2 5.Kf3 $18 { and the White pawn is well defended and White have a sufficient material advantage } ) 3.Nf2 ( 3.Nh6 Nc2 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Ba6 Ke3 $10 ) ( 3.Nf6 Nc2 4.Nd5+ Ke5 5.Nxc7 Nd4 6.Bf3 ( 6.Bb5 Kd6 $10 ) 6...Nxf3+ 7.exf3 Kf4 $10 ) ( 3.Nxe3 Kxe3 $10 { as was seen before } ) 3...Nc2 ( 3...Nc4 4.Nd1 { would lead to the same continuation } ) 4.Nd1 { blocking Ke3 } 4...Ne3 5.Nb2 ( 5.Nxe3 Kxe3 $10 { as was seen before } ) 5...Nc4 $1 ( 5...Nc2 6.Nc4 { blocking Ke3 } 6...Ne3 7.Na3 Nd1 8.Nc2 { blocking Ke3 } 8...Ne3 9.Nb4 Nc4 10.Nd5+ { blocking Ke3 } 10...Ke5 ( 10...Ke4 11.Nxc7+ Ke3 12.Bf3 $18 ) 11.Nxc7 Kd6 12.Bb5 Na3 13.Ne8+ Ke7 14.Bc6 $18 ) 6.e3+ $1 ( 6.Nxc4 { stalemate } ) 6...Nxe3 ( 6...Kxe3 7.Nxc4+ ) 7.Nd3# { model mate } 1-0

[Event "1st Comm."] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Arestov Pavel"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "1q6/4P3/7p/5k2/8/8/8/2R1K2R w K - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
   
 { A king hunt starting off with castling and ending in a model mate in one main line and an underpromotion in the other main line, all in a miniature study! None of these ideas are completely new, so the commendation is given for the idea of combining them into one study. } 1.O-O+ $1 ( 1.Rf1+ $2 Ke6 $11 ) 1...Kg6 ( 1...Ke6 2.e8=Q+ Qxe8 3.Rfe1+ $18 ) 2.Rc6+ { with 2 lines: MAIN A } ( 2.Rf8 $2 Qg3+ $11 ) 2...Kh5 ( { MAIN B } 2...Kg7 3.Rc7 $3 ( 3.Re1 $2 Qg3+ $11 ) 3...Qxc7 4.e8=N+ $1 ( 4.e8=Q $2 Qg3+ 5.Kh1 Qh3+ $11 ) 4...Kg6 5.Nxc7 $18 ) 3.Rf5+ $1 ( 3.Rc5+ $2 Kh4 $1 4.Rc4+ Kh5 $1 5.Rc5+ Kh4 { pos. draw } ) 3...Kg4 4.Rf2 $1 Qe5 ( 4...Qb1+ 5.Rf1 Qd3 $1 6.Rf4+ $3 Kg3 $1 7.Rg4+ $3 Kxg4 8.e8=Q Qg3+ 9.Kf1 Qf3+ 10.Ke1 $18 ) (  4...Qg3+ 5.Rg2 $18 ) 5.Rc4+ Kg3 6.Rcf4 $1 ( 6.Rg2+ $2 Kh3 $11 ) 6...Qe1+ (  6...Qxe7 7.R2f3# ) ( 6...Qa1+ 7.Rf1 Qa7+ 8.Kh1 { - main line } ) 7.Rf1 Qe3+ 8.Kh1 $1 ( 8.R4f2 $2 Qxe7 $11 ) ( 8.R1f2 $2 Qc1+ $1 9.Rf1 Qc5+ 10.R1f2 Qc2 (  10...Qc1+ ) ) 8...Qxe7 9.R1f3# 1-0

[Event "2nd Comm."] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "David Gurgenidze and Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "1B6/3q4/8/3r4/2Q5/4Nk1N/p3R2K/5r2 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
   
 { In a heavy position where both kings look exposed, White surprisingly has time to open with a silent move. Black responds by sacrificing all the pieces because of stalemate ideas, after which White responds with counter-sacrifices, keeping just enough material to deliver an ideal mate. The position after 8…Qxf1+ is anticipated by Gurgenidze (1995), so the commendation is given for the preceding play. } 1.Nf5 $1 ( 1.Nxf1 $2 Qxh3+ $1 2.Kxh3 Rh5+ 3.Qh4 Rxh4+ 4.Kxh4 a1=Q $11 ) (  1.Qf4+ $2 Kxe2 2.Nxf1 a1=Q 3.Qe3+ Kd1 4.Qb3+ Kc1 5.Bf4+ Rd2+ 6.Nxd2 Qxd2+ 7.Bxd2+ Kxd2 $11 ) ( 1.Nxd5 $4 Rh1+ $1 2.Kxh1 Qxh3+ $19 ) 1...Rh1+ $1 { play for stalemate } ( 1...Qxf5 2.Ng5+ $1 Qxg5 3.Qe4# ) 2.Kxh1 Rd1+ (  2...a1=Q+ 3.Kh2 Qh1+ $1 4.Kxh1 Rd1+ 5.Kh2 Rh1+ 6.Kxh1 $18 { see main line } ) 3.Kh2 Rh1+ $1 4.Kxh1 a1=Q+ 5.Kh2 ( 5.Ng1+ $2 Qxg1+ 6.Kxg1 Qg7+ $1 ( 6...Qd1+ $2 7.Re1 $1 Qxe1+ 8.Qf1+ Qxf1+ 9.Kxf1 $18 ) 7.Nxg7 { stalemate } ) ( 5.Re1 $2 Qxe1+ 6.Ng1+ Qxg1+ 7.Kxg1 Qxf5 8.Qf1+ Kg4 $11 ) 5...Qh1+ $1 6.Kxh1 Qd1+ 7.Re1 $1 ( 7.Kh2 $2 Qh1+ $1 8.Kxh1 { stalemate } ) 7...Qxe1+ 8.Qf1+ $3 { the point } ( 8.Ng1+ $2 Qxg1+ 9.Kxg1 { stalemate } ) ( 8.Kh2 $2 Qh1+ $1 9.Kxh1 { stalemate } ) 8...Qxf1+ 9.Ng1+ Kf2 ( 9...Ke4 10.Ng3+ $18 { fork } ) ( 9...Kg4 10.Ne3+ $18 { fork } ) 10.Bg3# { ideal mate with self-block on f1 } 1-0

[Event "3rd Comm."] [Site ""] [Date "2021"] [Round ""] [White "Amatzia Avni"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2021"] [FEN "5K2/5P2/P4P1k/7P/1N5n/8/3Pp3/6r1 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] 
 { In an apparently simple position, Black’s stalemate idea 3…Kh7 and 4…Kh8 is a surprise. In response, White reveals the highlight of the study, the geometrically pleasing queen sacrifice 5.Qh1! } 1.Nc2 ( 1.Nd3 $2 Kxh5 $11 ) 1...e1=Q ( { second line } 1...Kxh5 2.a7 Ra1 $1 ( 2...Ng6+ 3.Kg7 Ne5+ 4.Kh7 $18 ) 3.Kg8 $1 ( 3.Nxa1 e1=Q $11 ) 3...e1=Q ( 3...Ng6 4.Nxa1 e1=Q 5.a8=Q $18 ) 4.Nxe1 Ng6 5.Nd3 $1 ( 5.Ng2 $2 Kg5 $11 ) 5...Rxa7 { [#] } ( 5...Kg5 6.Ne5 $1 ) 6.Nf4+ $18 { deflecting a black knight } 6...Nxf4 7.f8=Q ) ( 1...Rc1 2.Kg8 Rg1+ 3.Kh8 $18 ) 2.Nxe1 Rxe1 3.a7 Kh7 $1 4.a8=Q Kh8 $1 { [#] } 5.Qh1 $3 { deflecting a black rook } ( 5.Qd5 $2 Ng6+ 6.hxg6 Re8+ 7.Kxe8 { stalemate } ) 5...Ng6+ ( 5...Rxh1 6.Ke8 ( 6.Ke7 $18 ) ) 6.hxg6+ { check! black has no time for ...Re8+ themes: echo-deflection, stalemate, mate. } 1-0