Study 136

Árpád Rusz
JPA 85 JT
2017
Special Honourable Mention

Draw

Black has twice as much material than white so it looks very natural to start with a queen promotion: 1. e8=Q? a2 2. Rf6+ Kg2+ 3. Kc2 3. Kc4 Ra4+! 4. Qxa4 Rh4+ -+ 3... a1=N+! Black chooses to promote the pawn to a knight! 3... Rc3+? 4. Kd2 Rd5+ 5. Ke2 Rc2+ 6. Ke3 Rc3+ 7. Ke2 =

Variation A:

4. Kb2 Rb3+ 5. Kc1 Rc5+ 6. Kd2 6. Kd1 Rb1+ 7. Ke2 Rc2+ 8. Kd3 Rd1+ 9. Ke3 Re1+ -+ 6... Rc2+ 7. Kd1 Rb1#

echo checkmate

Variation B:

4. Kd1 Rh1+ 5. Kd2 Ra2+ 6. Kd3 Rd1+ 7. Kc3 Rc2+ 8. Kb4 Rb1+ 9. Ka3 Rb3+ 10. Ka4 Ra2#

echo checkmate

Let's go back to the initial position of the study.

The actual solution starts with a surprising sacrifice: 1. Rh6!! a2! 1... Rxh6 2. e8=Q a2 3. Qf7+! (3. Qf8+? Kg2 4. Qg7+ (4. Qxh6 a1=Q -+) 4... Rg6 5. Qb2+ Kh3 6. Qc3+ Rg3 -+) 3... Kg2 4. Qb7+! Kg1 5. Qg7+ Rg6 6. Qd4+ = 2. Rxh3+ Kg2

3. Rh1!! 3. e8=Q? a1=Q 4. Qe4+ Kxh3 5. Qf3+ Kh4 6. Qf4+ Kh5 -+ 3... Kxh1 3... Re5 4. Ra1 Rxe7 5. Rxa2+ Kg3 6. Ra5 Rc7 7. Rd5! Kg4 8. Rd4+ Kg5 9. Rd5+ Kg6 10. Rd6+ Kg7 11. Rd5! Rc6 12. Kb4! Kg6 13. Kb5 Rc8 14. Rd6+ Kg5 15. Rd5+ Kg4 16. Rd4+ Kg3 17. Rd3+ (17. Rd5? Rh8 -+) 17... Kg4 18. Rd4+ Kg5 19. Rd5+ Kg6 20. Rd6+ perpetual check) 4. e8=Q Finally, the pawn promotes to a queen. 4... a1=Q 5. Qe4+ Kh2 6. Qh4+ Kg2 7. Qg4+ Kf2 8. Qf4+ Ke2 9. Qe4+ Kd2 9... Kf2 10. Qf4+ Kg2 11. Qg4+ Kh2 12. Qh4+ perpetual check 10. Qd4+! Qxd4 stalemate

Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!