Study 170

Árpád Rusz
Shakhmatnaya Kompozicia
2019
1st/2nd Prize

Draw

1. Nxe6! Threatening with checkmate on c7. Thematic try: 1. Nf4+? g2 2. Bxg2+ Rxg2 3. N8xe6 (3. Nxg2 Nf7 4. Nxe6 Qc4+ 5. Nc7+ Qxc7+ 6. Kxc7 Nxh6 -+) 3... Nxe6 4. Nxe6 Qg4! -+ Black pins the knight. The g4 square was empty because the rook managed to move away. 1... Nxe6 2. Nf4+ g2 3. Nxe6! White again is threatening to give checkmate on c7. The knight cannot be pinned by Qg4. Letting the rook to move away from g4 is again a mistake: 3. Bxg2+? Rxg2 4. Nxe6 Qg4! -+ 3... Qc4+ 3... gxh1=Q?? 4. Nc7# 4. Nc7+ Qxc7+ 5. Kxc7 Rxg7+! 5... Bb8+ 6. Kd8! The white king leaves the c8 square empty. 6... gxh1=Q 7. Qa6+ Ba7 8. Qc8+ Bb8 9. Qa6+ perpetual check 6. Qxg7 Bb8+

7. Kc6!! Triangulation. White lets black to promote the pawn with check. Thematic try: 7. Kb6? gxh1=Q -+ mutual zugzwang 7... gxh1=Q+ 8. Kb6! Focal Theme. The black queen has to keep an eye on both b7 and a1.

mutual zugzwang

8... Qg1+! Moving the knight would be very bad: 8... Nf1?? 9. Qa1+ Ba7+ 10. Qxa7#; 8... Nf3?? 9. Qb7# 9. Qxg1 Ba7+ 10. Kc7 Bxg1 11. b6 = The knight is again in a wrong place blocking the h2 square for the bishop.

Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!