Study 196

Árpád Rusz
ruszchessstudies.blogspot.com
2024
Dedicated to Gukesh Dommaraju & Ding Liren
White wins

1. Bd5! The bishop is aiming at the black pawn! 1. h6? Bc2+! 2. Kxc2 stalemate 1. Ka3? Bxe4! 2. Bxe4 stalemate 1... Bxe4! 2. h6!!

mutual zugzwang

2... Bxd5+ 3. Kc2 Be4+ 4. Kc1 Bd3 5. c4! Bh7 5... Bxc4 6. h7 +- 6. c5 Be4 7. c6! +-

I have composed this study after watching the last game of the World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju. The position which inspired me was the following:

Ding Liren - Gukesh Dommaraju
World Championships match (2024)
14th game
Black to move

The move 56... Bd5! was catching the bishop, and after the exchanges Gukesh had a won pawn endgame on the board. The game ended suddenly by 57. Bxd5 Kxd5 58. Ke3 Ke5 0-1 although the move 58.Ke1!? could set a last trap to black.

After a posible trap 58.Ke1!?

Now advancing the king to the 4th rank is a mistake: 58... Kd4? 59. Kd2! Ke4 60. Ke2, and the opposition saves White. After 58. Ke1!?, only 58...Ke5! would have won because there would be a mutual zugwang on the board. The white king must go further from the pawns 59.Kd1, so black can push the f-pawn 59... f4 60. Ke2 f3+ 61. Ke3 f2! 62. Kxf2 Kd4! -+ (From f2, the white king doesn't have the saving opposition move Kd2 as in the try 58... Kd4?)