www.arves.org - Tehtavaniekka 2025

Studies awarded for Tehtavaniekka 2025 tournament,

judged by Vladislav Tarasiuk.

[Event "1st prize Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2R5/8/2K5/R2B4/2b5/pp4pk/1n4rb w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "22"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Bf2 $1 {Threatening mate} Bd4+ $1 2. Kxd4 (2. Bxd4 $2 Rc1+ $19) (2. Rxd4 $2 Rc1+ $19) 2... Rd1+ 3. Ke3 $1 (3. Ke5 $2 g1=Q $19) 3... Re1+ (3... g1=Q $4 4. Rh7+) (3... g1=N 4. Rh7+ $1 Nh3 5. Rxh3+ $1 Kxh3 6. Rh4+ Kg2 7. Rg4+ Kh3 8. Rh4+ {perpetual check}) 4. Kd3 $1 g1=Q (4... g1=N 5. Bxg1+ $1 {as main}) 5. Bxg1+ Kxg1 6. Rxa2 $1 Re2 $1 (6... Rd1+ 7. Kc2 $1 Rd2+ 8. Kxb1 Be4+ 9. Rc2 Rxc2 10. Rxb2 $11) (6... Be4+ 7. Kd4 $11) 7. Rc2 $1 ({Logical try:} 7. Kxe2 $2 Nc3+ 8. Rxc3 b1=Q 9. Ra1 Qxa1 10. Rc1+ Qxc1 {Position X1 no stalemate}) 7... Be4+ 8. Kxe2 Nc3+ $1 9. Rxc3 b1=Q 10. Ra1 $1 Qxa1 11. Rc1+ $1 Qxc1 {Position X2 stalemate. The idea in the best study of the competition is realised by the author in a disguised form. The final stalemate, known, for example, from the study by M. Matous, Timman JT, com, 2001, is created during the game when all the pieces reach their desired positions. The move 7.Rc2! in response to 6... Re2! is particularly memorable. It is remarkable and completely unexpected.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2nd prize Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Bogusz Piliczewski"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/5rP1/K5bb/2k5/8/8/R4p2/5R2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Ra5+ $1 (1. g8=Q $2 Bd3+ 2. Ka5 Ra7#) 1... Kc6 2. Rf5 $1 (2. Rg5 $2 Bd3+ $1 $19 (2... Bxg5 $2 3. g8=Q Bd3+ 4. Ka5 Ra7+ 5. Kb4 Be7+ 6. Kc3 Bxf1 7. Qe8+ $11) ) (2. g8=Q $2 Bd3+ 3. Rb5 Bxb5+ 4. Ka5 Bd2#) 2... Be3 $1 (2... Bxf5 3. g8=Q Bd3+ 4. Ka5 Bd2+ 5. Ka4 Rf4+ 6. Kb3 $1 (6. Ka3 $2 Bxf1 $19) 6... Bxf1 7. Qe6+ $1 $11) 3. Rf6+ $1 (3. Rxf7 $2 Bxf7 $19) (3. g8=Q $2 Ra7#) (3. Rc1+ $2 Bxc1 4. g8=Q Bxf5 $19) 3... Rxf6 4. Rxf2 $1 (4. g8=Q $2 Bd3+ $19) 4... Rf7 $1 (4... Bxf2 5. g8=Q Kc5+ 6. Kb7 $11) (4... Rxf2 5. g8=Q Bd3+ 6. Ka5 Bd2+ 7. Ka4 Bc2+ 8. Ka3 Bc1+ 9. Kb4 Bd2+ 10. Ka3 {positional draw}) (4... Bd3+ 5. Ka5 Rg6 6. Rf6+ $1 Rxf6 7. g8=Q $11) 5. Rf6+ $1 Rxf6 6. g8=Q Kc5+ $1 (6... Kc7+ 7. Kb5 $1 (7. Ka5 $2 Bd2+ 8. Kb5 Rf5+ 9. Ka4 Rf4+ 10. Kb5 Bd3+ $19) 7... Rf5+ 8. Ka6 $1 ( 8. Kb4 $2 Bd2+ 9. Ka3 Rf3+ 10. Kb2 Bc3+ 11. Ka3 Bg7+ $1 $19) 8... Rf6+ 9. Kb5 $1 {positional draw}) 7. Kb7 $1 (7. Ka5 $2 Bd2+ $19) (7. Ka7 $2 Bd4 8. Qb3 Kc6+ 9. Ka6 Kc7+ $19) 7... Be4+ {(B)} (7... Rb6+ {(A)} 8. Ka7 $1 Bd4 $1 9. Qc8+ $1 ( 9. Qf8+ $2 Kc4 $1 10. Qf1+ Bd3 11. Qc1+ Kd5 $1 $19) 9... Kd5 10. Qg4 $1 (10. Qg8+ $2 Ke4 11. Qa8+ Ke3 $19) 10... Rb3+ 11. Ka8 $1 (11. Ka6 $2 Bd3+ 12. Ka5 Ra3+ 13. Kb4 Bc5#) 11... Be4 12. Qxe4+ $1 Kxe4 {stalemate}) 8. Kc7 $1 (8. Kc8 $2 Bf4 $1 {zz with WTM} 9. Qg7 (9. Qg1+ Kc6 10. Qg8 Bf5+ 11. Kd8 Re6 $1 $19) ( 9. Qb3 Rf8+ 10. Kd7 Bf5+ 11. Ke7 Bd6#) (9. Kd8 Bg6 $1 {etc. as after 9.Kd8?}) ( 9. Kd7 Bd6 $1 {etc. as after 9.Kd7?}) 9... Bf5+ 10. Kb7 (10. Kd8 Rd6+ 11. Ke8 Bg6+ $19) 10... Rb6+ 11. Ka8 Be4+ 12. Ka7 Bb8#) (8. Kb8 $2 Rb6+ $1 9. Ka7 Rb5 10. Qg3 Rb3 11. Qc7+ Bc6 $19) 8... Bf4+ (8... Bd5 9. Qg4 $11) 9. Kc8 $1 {zz with BTM} (9. Kd7 $2 Bd6 $1 10. Qg5+ (10. Qg1+ Kb5 11. Kd8 Kc6 12. Qc1+ Bc5 $19 ) 10... Bf5+ 11. Ke8 Rf8#) (9. Kd8 $2 Bg6 $1 10. Ke7 (10. Qg7 Rd6+ 11. Ke7 Bg5+ 12. Kf8 Rd8#) 10... Bg5 $1 11. Kd7 Rf7+ 12. Ke6 Re7#) 9... Bd6 {(B1)} (9... Bg6 {(B2)} 10. Kb7 $1 Rf7+ 11. Kc8 $1 (11. Ka8 $2 Be4#) 11... Rf6 12. Kb7 $1 Rb6+ 13. Ka7 $1 $11) (9... Bf5+ 10. Kb7 $1 Rb6+ 11. Ka7 $1 $11 (11. Ka8 $2 Be4+ $19) ) (9... Be5 10. Qg1+ (10. Qg5 $2 Bf5+ 11. Kb7 Rf7+ {Wins.}) 10... Kc6 11. Qc1+ $11) 10. Qg5+ $1 (10. Qg1+ $2 Kc6 11. Qc1+ Bc5 $19) 10... Bf5+ 11. Kb7 $1 Rf7+ 12. Ka6 $1 {draw. A brilliant opening after effective sacrifices on one square (3.Rf6+! and 5.Rf6+!) leads to a final confrontation between Q-R+B+B, where subtle manoeuvring with the king secures victory for White.} (12. Ka8 $2 Kb5 $1 $19) 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd prize Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Michal Hlinka & Lubos Kekely"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4k3/5prB/7b/5R2/p6K/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2024"] 
 1. Re5+ Kf8 2. Bd3 (2. Bc2 $2 a3 3. Ra5 Rg2 $1 4. Bb3 Bc1 5. Rf5 (5. Ra7 Rf2 $19) 5... Rg7 $19 {for example} 6. Ra5 Rg6 7. Ra8+ Kg7 8. Ra7 Rf6 $19) 2... Bd2 (2... a3 3. Ra5 Bg5+ 4. Kh3 Bc1 5. Ra8+ {as main}) 3. Re4 Bg5+ $1 (3... a3 4. Ra4 Bg5+ 5. Kh3 {as main}) 4. Kh3 $1 (4. Kg4 $2 a3 $19 {for example} 5. Ra4 Be7+ 6. Kf3 Rg1 $19) (4. Kh5 $2 a3 $19 {for example} 5. Ra4 Bd8 $1 6. Rxa3 (6. Ra8 Rg5+ 7. Kh6 Ra5 $1 $19) 6... Rg5+ 7. Kh6 Rg3 8. Kh5 Kg7 $19) 4... a3 (4... Rh7+ 5. Kg3 a3 6. Ra4 $11) 5. Ra4 Bc1 6. Ra8+ Ke7 7. Ra7+ $1 Kf6 (7... Ke6 8. Bc4+ Kf6 9. Kh4 $1 Bg5+ 10. Kh3 Bc1 11. Kh4 $1 {positonal draw}) 8. Kh4 $1 (8. Bc4 $2 {for example} Kg6 9. Bd3+ Kh6 10. Ra6+ Kg5 11. Ra5+ Kf6 $19) (8. Bb1 $2 Rg8 9. Ba2 Rf8 $19) 8... Rg8 (8... Ke5 9. Bc4 Rh7+ 10. Kg3 $11) 9. Bc4 Rh8+ 10. Kg4 $1 (10. Kg3 $2 Rf8 11. Ba2 Kg6 $19 {for example} 12. Bb1+ Kg5 13. Ra5+ Kh6 14. Ra6+ f6 $19) 10... Rf8 $1 (10... Rg8+ {for example} 11. Kh5 Rg7 12. Bb3 $11 ) 11. Kh5 (11. Kh4 $2 Kg6 $19) 11... Rh8+ 12. Kg4 Rf8 13. Kh5 {positonal draw. Precise play by the white pieces neutralises White's material advantage. A nice study without captures and an original positional draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "sp. hm. Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Amatzia Avmi"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "k3N3/6PK/8/8/q7/4P1R1/r2P4/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Rg6 {In addition to the threat to promote, the text intends 2.Ra6+ Qxa6 3. Nc7+} ({not at once} 1. g8=Q $2 Qh4+ 2. Kg7 Qxg3+ $11) 1... Qa7 {defends against both threats} (1... Qh4+ 2. Rh6 Qe7 3. Kh8 Qxe8+ 4. g8=Q $18) (1... Qd7 2. Nf6 Qh3+ 3. Rh6 Qf5+ 4. Kh8 $18) 2. Kh8 (2. Kh6 $4 Rxd2 3. g8=Q Rh2+ 4. Kg5 Qxe3+ $17) (2. Rc6 $2 Qd7 $11) 2... Rxd2 3. Nc7+ $1 (3. g8=Q $4 Rh2+ $19) (3. Ra6 $2 Rh2+ 4. Kg8 Qxa6 5. Nc7+ Kb7 6. Nxa6 Kxa6 $11) 3... Qxc7 (3... Kb7 4. g8=Q Rh2+ 5. Kg7 Qa1+ (5... Kxc7 6. Qf7+ Kb8 7. Qxa7+ $18) 6. Kf7 (6. Kf8 $2 Rh8) 6... Kxc7 7. Rg7 $1 {battery} Rh6 8. Ke8+ Kc6 9. Qc4+ $18) 4. g8=Q+ Ka7 ( 4... Rd8 5. Qxd8+ Qxd8+ 6. Rg8 Qxg8+ 7. Kxg8 {liquidation N. 1 to a winning pawn endgame}) 5. Rg7 Rh2+ 6. Qh7 $1 (6. Rh7 $2 Kb6 $1 7. Qe6+ Kc5 8. Qf5+ Kc6 9. Qe4+ (9. Rxh2 Qxh2+ 10. Kg7 Qc7+ 11. Kf6 (11. Kg6 Qg3+ $11) 11... Qd8+ $11) 9... Kb5 $11) 6... Qxg7+ 7. Kxg7 Rxh7+ 8. Kxh7 {win. liquidation N. 2. The white pieces are in no hurry to promote the pawn to a queen (3.Nc7+!), and the game ends with an entertaining opposition between both kings.} 1-0

[Event "com. Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Jarl Henning Ulrichsen"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1pp4p/8/3K4/8/8/3N4/7k w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Ne4 Kg2 2. Nf6 h6 {Now the pawn in the h-file is under control and White can approach with his king.} 3. Ke4 b5 ({After} 3... c5 {there are many ways to draw, the simplest being} 4. Nd7 c4 5. Nb6 c3 6. Nd5 c2 7. Ne3+ $11) ({And}  3... Kf1 {can be met by} 4. Ne8 c6 5. Nd6 b5 6. Nf5 h5 7. Ng3+ Ke1 8. Nxh5 $11) 4. Kf4 $1 {The alternatives lose; e.g.} (4. Kd4 $2 Kf3 5. Kc5 c6 6. Kxc6 b4 7. Kd5 b3 8. Ne4 Ke3 $19) (4. Ke3 $2 c5 5. Ke2 c4 6. Nh5 b4 $19) (4. Nd5 $2 {(or 4.Nh5?)} c5 5. Nf4+ Kg3 6. Ne2+ Kf2 $19) 4... c5 (4... Kf2 5. Nd5 $11) 5. Ke3 { wKe3 / bKg2 is a position of reciprocal zugzwang. White to move loses, black to move only draws. By playing 4.Kf4! White has transfered the move to Black.} c4 6. Ke2 $1 Kg3 (6... c3 7. Nd5 c2 8. Ne3+ {draws.}) (6... b4 7. Nd5 b3 8. Ne3+ {draws.}) 7. Ne4+ Kg2 ({After} 7... Kf4 8. Nd6 {(or 8.Nc3) White wins one the pawns.}) 8. Nf6 $1 ({Not} 8. Nd6 $2 h5 9. Nxb5 h4 {and the black pawn will promote.}) 8... Kh3 9. Ne4 $1 ({It is premature to play} 9. Kf3 $2 c3 10. Nd5 c2 11. Nf4+ Kh2 {(h4)} 12. Nd3 b4 13. Nc1 Kg1 $19) 9... b4 ({White draws at once after} 9... Kg4 10. Nd6 $11) 10. Kf3 $1 {preventing the black king from leaving the h-file.} c3 11. Nc5 {draw. The black king is incarcerated, and the white knight takes care of the black pawns (author).} 1/2-1/2

[Event "sp. com. Tehtavaniekka"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Daniil Yakimovich"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "KR6/pp6/1k1PP3/p1nb4/P7/1q2N2p/1N4p1/6B1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Nbc4+ $1 {White sacrifices Knight to dismantle Black battery p+B} (1. d7 $2 Nxe6 2. Nxd5+ Kc6 3. Nf6 Qxb2 4. Rc8+ Kd6 5. Bh2+ Ke7 $10) (1. e7 $4 Ka6 $1 $19 ) 1... Bxc4 2. e7 {Without Black battery the White's main plan might work out.} h2 (2... Bf7 3. d7 Nxd7 4. Rxb7+ $18) 3. Rxb7+ $1 {Now White sacrifices his Rook to fire his own battery N+B} (3. Bxh2 $2 Qxe3 $10) 3... Nxb7 4. Nxc4+ Ka6 (4... Kc6 5. e8=Q+ $18) 5. e8=N $1 {Knight Phoenix} (5. e8=Q $4 Nd8 $1 $19) 5... Qxc4 6. Nc7+ Qxc7 7. dxc7 h1=B $1 {Bishop Phoenix} (7... hxg1=Q {Queen Phoenix} 8. c8=Q Kb6 (8... Qb1 9. Qc6+ Qb6 10. Qc4+ Qb5 11. Qxb5#) 9. Qxb7+ Kc5 10. Qxa7+ $18) 8. c8=R $1 $18 {Rook Phoenix and mate in two moves. Four phoenixes of four different pieces, including three underpomotions. 8.c8Q? stalemate (author). Reworking of the study by A. Sochnev, Schakend Nederland, 1988.} (8. c8=Q $2 $10 {stalemate}) 1-0