Study 195

Árpád Rusz
Variantim
2023
Honourable Mention
Draw

1. Kf3 Ka7 2. Kg2 Kb6

3. Kh1!! Mutual zugwang! As we will see, from now on, the white king's moves are guided by the theory of corresponding squares. For all available squares for the bishop on the c8-h3 diagonal (e6, f5, g4, and h3) , there is a corresponding square in the lower right corner of the board. (3. Kh2? Bf5! zz 4. Kg2 The king was lured into the big diagonal. 4... Kb5! 5. a7 Be4+ Check on the big diagonal. 6. Kh3 Kxb4 -+; 3. Kg1? Bh3! zz 4. Kh1 d6! zz 5. Kg1 Bf5! zz 6. Kh2 Bc8! zz 7. Kg2 The king should stay close to the h-pawn and be ready to attack it if the bishop captures the white pawn. But stepping onto the big diagonal could be dangerous... 7... Kb5! 8. a7 Bb7+ Again, the check on the big diagonal wins. 9. Kh3 Kxb4 -+)

3... Bh3 4. Kg1!! Bg4 5. Kg2! zz 5. Kh1? Kb5 6. a7 Bf3+ 7. Kh2 Kxb4 -+ 5... Bf5 6. Kh2! zz Be6 7. Kh1 The king is back to h1 after "drawing" a square shape (by moving clockwise). 7... d6! Moving this pawn seems to be a very good idea as we can increase the number of squares available for the bishop on the diagonal from 4 to 6 squares. There is no way the white king can cope with that!

8. Kg2! zz Because the bishop is not ready to give a check on the big diagonal, this square is still safe. 8. Kg1? Bf5! zz 9. Kh2 Bc8! -+ zz 8... Bf5 9. Kg1! zz Bh3 10. Kh1! zz Bc8 11. Kh2! zz Be6 11... Bxa6 12. Kh3 = 12. Kg2 The king is back to g2 after "drawing" a square shape (by moving anticlockwise). So far the white king managed to counter all bishop positions but we didn't use two of them yet: one new (d7) and one old (g4).} 12... Bd7!? After this waiting move, all king moves should lose... The salvation comes from the knight. When black moved the pawn to d6, that had a surprising side effect: the pawn became more vulnerable to knight attacks! Although the knight needs 3 moves to attack it, we will see that it can gain the necessary tempos.

13. Nd5+! One. 13. Kh2? Bc8! zz -+; 13. Kg1? Bf5! zz -+; 13. Kh1? Bh3! zz -+ 13... Kxa6 14. Nf6! Two! 14... Bc8 15. Ne8! Here we are! 15... d5 16. Nc7+ = So the d7 square was actually forbidden for the bishop. From f6, the knight attacks the g4 square too, so a similar gain of tempo would have been possible if the bishop had moved there. That means we were again left with only 4 available squares for the bishop on that diagonal (c8, e6, f5, and h3), and the previous play was again fully guided by (a completely different set of) corresponding squares between the Bishop and the King!

Study 194

Árpád Rusz
FOR THE TRIUMPH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW Ty
2024
3rd Honourable Mention
Draw

1. d4 1. Kf2? Kxd2 2. Kg3 Bf5 -+ 1... Kd3 2. d5 Ke3 3. d6! exd6 3... e6 4. Bc6! e5 5. Bxd7! (5. fxe5? dxc6 -+) 5... Bxd7 6. fxe5 =

4. Ba8!! zz

Tries:
a) 4. Kf1? Be6! (4... Kxf4? 5. Kf2 =) 5. Ke1 d5 -+ Due to the excellent position of the black king, black quicly wins by getting the pawn to d2.
b) 4. Bd5? Kxf4! 5. Kf2 Ke5 6. Bb7 Kd4 -+
c) 4. Bb7? Be6! zz. The key mutual zugzwang position. 5. Kg2 (5. Kf1 Bc4+! -+) 5... d5 6. f5 Bxf5 7. Bxd5 Be4+ -+ d) 4. Bh1? Bh3! zz 5. Ba8!? Kxf4! 6. Kf2 Ke5 7. Ke3 Now the pawns can be stopped forever by the white king by simply moving to d2, so it is quite paradoxical that white will eventually lose this game. d5 8. Bb7 Bf1! Oops! The white bishop cannot leave the corner area anymore, and it will be caught there! 9. Bc8 Bb5 10. Bb7 Bc4 11. Bc8 Kd6 12. Bb7 Kc7 13. Ba8 Kb8 -+

4... Bh3! 4... Kxf4 5. Kf2 Ke5 6. Ke3 d5 7. Bb7 and draws because, unlike in the 4. Bh1? try, the black bishop cannot switch to the a6-f1 diagonal. 5. Bh1!! zz The only square available on the long diagonal. 5... Be6 5... Bg4 6. Ba8 positional draw. 6. Bb7! zz Bf5 6... d5 7. f5! Bxf5 8. Bxd5 = 7. Bg2! zz Bg4 8. Ba8! positional draw. The bishops are moving on 4 pairs of corresponding squares.

Study 193

My Christmas Puzzle for year 2023 is a twin study:

Árpád Rusz
2023
Twin A
White wins

1. Kc8 Thematic try: 1. Kc6? Kxb8 2. Kb6 Ka8 3. a7 stalemate. There is no room for the black king next to the a-file. 1... Kb6 2. Kd7(8) Ka7 3. Kc7 We have the same position as the initial one but with now Black to Move. 3... Ka8 4. Nd7 Ka7 5. Nc5 +-

The study has a twin by shifting the whole position by 5 files to the right:

Árpád Rusz
2023
Twin B
White wins

1. Kh6! Thematic try: 1. Kh8? Kg6! zz = There is no room for the white king next to the h-file. 1... Kxg8 2. Kg6 zz Kf8 3. f7 zz Ke7 4. Kg7 zz +-

EG 2020-21 Study Tourney - Preliminary Award

The preliminary award of an interesting tourney which I was judging was published in the latest issue of the EG magazine. You can also download the award from here.

Petr Kiryakov
EG
2020-21
1st Prize
White wins

1. c7 Rf1+ 2. Kb2 2. Kc2? Rf5 3. c8=Q Rc5+ = 2... Rf2+ 3. Kb3 Rf3+ 4. Kb4 Rf4+ 5. Kb5 Rf5+ 6. Kxb6 Rf6+ 7. Kb5! 7. Kc5? Rf1! 8. Kd4 (8. Rb3+ Kg2! 9. Kd4 Rf4+ 10. Kc3 Rf3+ 11. Kb2 Rf2+ 12. Ka3 Rf8 13. Rb2+ Nf2! 14. Rb8 Rf3+ 15. Kb4 Nd3+ =) 8... Rd1+ 9. Ke3 Rc1 10. c8=Q Rxc8 11. Rxc8 = 7... Rf5+ 8. Kb4 or 8. Kc4 Rf4+ 9. Kb3 minor dual 8... Rf4+ 9. Kb3 Rf3+

10. Ka2!!

Logical try: 10. Kc2?! Rf2+ 11. Kd3 Rf3+ 12. Kd4 Rf4+ 13. Kd5 Rf5+ 14. Kd6 Rf6+ 15. Ke7? Rc6 = 10... Rf2+ 11. Rb2 Systematical movement - 1st step 11... Rf8 12. Rb3+ Kg4 The second rank is forbidden: 12... Kg2 13. Rb8 Rf2+ 14. Rb2 +- 13. Rb8 Rf2+ 14. Kb3 Rf3+ 15. Kb4 Rf4+ 16. Ka3! Rf3+ 17. Rb3 2nd step 17... Rf8 18. Rb4+ Kg5 The third rank is forbidden: 18... Kg3 19. Rb8 Rf3+ 20. Rb3 +- 19. Rb8 Rf3+ 20. Kb4 Rf4+ 21. Kb5 Rf5+ 22. Ka4! Rf4+ 23. Rb4 3rd step 23... Rf8 24. Rb5+ Kh6! 24... Kg6 25. Rb8 Rf4+ 26. Kb3 (26. Kb5 is also possible) 26... Rf3+ 27. Kc2 Rf2+ 28. Kd3 Rf3+ 29. Kd4 Rf4+ Position A 30. Ke3! dual avoidance (30. Kd5?! Rf5+ 31. Kd6 Rf6+ 32. Ke7? Rf7+! = The f7 square is controlled by the black king; compare with main line 24...Kh6!) 30... Rc4 31. c8=Q Rxc8 32. Rxc8 Ng3 (32... Kg5 33. Kf3! +-) 33. Rg8+ This skewer is the reason why the black king avoids stepping into g6 in the main line. Returning to a previous rank was again not an option: 24... Kg4 25. Rb8 Rf4+ 26. Rb4 +- 25. Rb8 Rf4+ 26. Kb3 Rf3+

27. Kc2!

The main plan! See the logical try on move 10. 27... Rf2+ 28. Kd3 Rf3+ 29. Kd4 Rf4+ Position B 30. Kd5! dual avoidance 30. Ke3? Rc4 31. c8=Q Rxc8 32. Rxc8 Ng3! = and there is no Rg8+ skewer unlike in the 24...Kg6 line. 30... Rf5+ 31. Kd6 Rf6+ 32. Ke7! 32. Ke5? Rc6 33. Rb6! Rxb6 34. c8=Q Ng3! 35. Qh3+ Kg7! (35... Nh5? 36. Qe3+ +-) 36. Qxg3+ Rg6 Now we see that the white king would be much better placed on e7. 37. Qc3 h6!! There is no fortress with the pawn on h7. 38. Kf5+ Kh7 39. Qc7+ Rg7 = Black reaches a well-known fortress discovered by Guretzky-Kornitz (1864). White cannot break black's rook g-file defence. 32... Rc6 33. Rb6 Rxb6 34. c8=Q Ng3 35. Qh3+ Kg7 35... Nh5 36. Qe3+ +- 36. Qxg3+ and White wins. Due the proximity of the white king, black will have no time to setup a fortress. E.g. 36... Rg6 37. Qe5+ Kh6 38. Qf4+ Kg7 39. Qf8#

"In my eyes, this study was the clear winner of the tourney. After the classical K vs R systematical movement (moves 2 to 9) one would expect the natural 10. Kc2 to follow in order to get the king closer to the black rook, but that move is just a logical try! The amazing 10.Ka2!! and a complex systematical movement is needed to before returning back to the main plan with the move 27.Kc2! By then, the black king is attracted to the 6th rank which makes possible the pin with 33.Rb6!"

I also liked the following study:

Jan Sprenger
EG
2020-21
2nd Prize
White wins

The following presentation is by the author of the study.

Strategic miniature with logical content and systematic king movements up and down the board. The question is how White must break the opposition 1. g3 Kd1. White needs to play Ka3 at the right moment, when Black cannot reply Kc3 due to the f4-f5 breakthrough: h8Q occurs with check!. But first, the king needs to go all the way up to b6! 1. g3 Forced since Black threatened g4-g3. 1... Kd1! Black can rush to the kingside, too. After Kf2 or Kf3, White plays h4-h5 g6xh5 f4-f5, promoting the f-pawn with check. Black then draws against the queen [1] pushing both the g- and the h-pawn if the white king is on the seventh rank, the b-file or on c6; [2] with the doubled g-pawn after hxg3 with wKd6. With wKd5, like in the solution, White is winning. (e.g., 1... Ke2 2. Kc2 Kf3 3. h5 gxh5 4. f5 +-) 2. Kb2 Kd2 3. Kb3 Thematic try: White would like to play 3. Ka3? luring the black king to c3 so that f4-f5 works. However, Black draws with Ke3 (or Ke1/Ke2) (3... Kc3? 4. f5! gxf5 5. h5 +- and White promotes with check) (3... Kd3? 4. Kb3 and Black must give up the opposition) 4. Kb4 Kf3 5. h5 gxh5 6. f5 Kxg3 e.g. 7. f6 h4 8. f7 Kh2 9. f8=Q g3 = 3... Kd3 4. Kb4 Kd4 5. Kb5 Kd5 6. Kb6! Kd6! Black keeps the opposition (6... Ke4 Black tries to exploit the remote position of the white king. 7. Kc5! (Logical try: 7. Kc7? (or Kc6) Kf3 8. h5 gxh5 9. f5 h4/Kxg3 transposes 10. f6 Kxg3! Now the two pawns are strong enough for draw, e.g, 11. f7 Kh2 12. f8=Q g3 13. Qf4 h3 14. Kd6 Kh1 15. Qxg3 h2 =) 7... Kf3 8. h5! gxh5 9. f5 h4 10. f6 Kxg3 11. f7 Kh2 12. f8=Q g3 13. Qf4 h3 14. Kd4! +- and the king arrives in time.) 3... Kd3 4. Kb4 Kd4 5. Kb5 Kd5 6. Kb6! Kd6!

7. Ka5!!

Now the black king can't attack the g-pawn directly, and so White can afford to move the king to the a-file. Logical try: 7. Kb7?! Kd5! (If Black continues to mirror White's movements, the h-pawn queens with check: 7... Kd7? 8. Kb8 Kd8 9. Ka8 Kc8 10. f5! gxf5 11. h5 +-) 8. Kc7? (8. Kb6! Kd6 leads back to the position after move) 8... Ke4! 9. Kd6!? The white king is now too close to draw with g- and h-pawn like in main B, but the second defense plan works: 9... Kf3 10. h5 gxh5 11. f5 h4 12. f6 hxg3! 13. f7 g2 14. f8=Q+ Kg3 = The wKd6 blocks the check on the b8-h2 diagonal and so g2-g1Q cannot be prevented. 7... Kc5 (7... Kd5 8. Kb5 and White has gained the opposition.) 8. Ka4 Kc4 9. Ka3 Now Black must either allow the f4-f5 breakthrough or give up the opposition:

Main A:

9... Kc3 10. f5! echo with the breakthrough in main B (thematic try 10. h5? gxh5 11. f5 h4 12. f6 hxg3 13. f7 g2 14. f8=Q g1=Q =) 10... gxf5 11. h5 f4 12. h6 fxg3 13. h7 g2 14. h8=Q+ +- Check!

Main B:

9... Kd3 10. Kb3! We have reached again the position after 3. Kb3, but now it is BLACK to move. 10... Kd4 11. Kb4 11. Kc2?! Ke4 12. Kc3 Ke3 13. Kc4 Ke4 14. Kc5 Ke3 just loses time 11... Kd3 12. Kc5 Ke4 13. Kc4! (13. Kd6? (or Kc6) 13... Kf3! = see the logical try 7. Kb7.) 13... Ke3!? Luring the white king to the d5 square. (13... Kf3 14. h5 gxh5 15. f5 loses straightforwardly, the white king is too close.) 14. Kd5 Kf2 15. h5! gxh5 16. f5 h4 17. f6 The a8-h1 diagonal is now closed, and so Black tries 17... h3!? 18. f7 h2 19. f8=Q+ Kg2 Now, h1Q cannot be prevented, but White wins with 20. Qa8! Changing the order of moves is possible. 20... h1=Q 21. Ke5+ Kg1 22. Qxh1+ Kxh1 23. Kf4 +-

As a strange coincidence, the key moment of this study has some similarity to that from the previous work. I guess everybody would try the natural 7. Kb7 but that is just a well hidden try. Winning is another amazing move to the edge of the board: 7.Ka5!! The position after black's 3rd move is a 'cyclic zugzwang': white's only way of winning is by returning to the same position but with BTM. A prize winning pawn study is a rarity nowadays but I consider it completely justified.

Chess Artistry Adventure

Every year, the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation is organizing the Global Chess Festival. An interesting program during the festival is the Chess Artistry Adventure in memory of Pal Benko, a highly respected Hungarian-American grandmaster and composer, renowned for his awe-inspiring chess masterpieces.The Chess Artistry Adventure celebrates the artistic side of chess and honors the tireless efforts of composers who bring magic to the chessboard.

GM Judit Polgar writes: "Chess studies and composers have played a pivotal role in my personal growth and development, enhancing my understanding of the game and expanding my artistic vision. The joy and inspiration that endgame studies bring to top chess players are widely known. As a way of giving back to the composers' community, I acknowledge their invaluable contributions to chess through various platforms, including masterclasses, courses, live commentaries, and festivals. I invite you to create a study composition inspired by a tournament game that captivates over-the-board players."

Just like last year, I have participated with a study based on a theoretically important queen endgame. My entries (please, click on the links):

Rusz, 2022

Rusz, 2023

The artwork from the top of the page was specially created for the Chess Artistry Adventure, 2023 by Maria Yugina.

Study 192

Arpad Rusz
Chess Artistry Adventure
2023
White wins

1. Qh5+! The black king cannot be let to move to the 6th rank. Thematic try: 1. Qe6? Qf8+ 2. Kb7 Qg7+ 3. Kb8 Qg3+ 4. Kc8 Qc3+ 5. Kb7 Qg7+ perpetual check 1... Kg7 2. Qg5+ Kf7 2... Kh7 3. Qf6 +- 3. Qf5+ 3. Qd8? Kg6! 4. Qb8 Qe4+ = 3... Kg7 3... Ke7 4. Qc8 Kf6 5. Qb7 Qf8+ 6. Qb8 +- because there is no Qf3+ 4. Qe6! Back to the main plan. The threat is Qc6 followed by Qb7+. 4... Qb5 4... Qf8+ 5. Kb7 = Unlike in the thematic try, now there is no Qg7+. 5. Qd6 Kf7 5... Kh7 6. Qf6! zugzwang (6. Qb8? Qc5! 7. Qb1+ Kh6 8. Kb7 Qe7+ 9. Ka6 Qa3+ perpetual check) 6... Qb4 7. Qc6 +- 6. Qb8 Qc4! 7. Qb7+ Kg8!

Position A

This is the ideal position for the black pieces. This position was reached (with reversed colours) by Averbach in the analysis of the game Schlechter - Pillsbury (Vienna, 1898). He couldn't prove the win, but later a winning method was discovered by Stalyoraitis (1980). I could prove that the method is unique in the sense that reaching Position B is essential to win.* The game Veselovsky - Bebchuk (USSR, 1977) also could have been decided by this, but it has ended in a draw. A flawed analysis of that game appeared in Benko's Laboratory (Chess Life, April, 1982). being my starting point to create this study. 8. Qd7! The shortest way to win. The other moves are time-waisting duals which all lead to the same key position. 8... Qe4+! 9. Kb8! Qf4+ 10. Kc8 Qc4+ 11. Kd8 Qh4+ 12. Qe7 Qd4+ 13. Kc8 Qc4+ 14. Kb8 Qb5+ The black queen cannot stay any longer on the 4th rank. 15. Qb7 Qe5+ 16. Ka8! Qc5

Position B

Unfortunately for black, the ideal position of its pieces couldn't be reached anymore. The black queen is on c5 instead of c4, and that allows the following check: 17. Qb3+! 17. Qd7?! Qf8+ The position is still a win but white has to work hard to reach again the key position (B). A similar check will not be available at the end of the main line because the black king will be on f8. 17... Kf8 The best chance is to stay on the 8th rank because there is no time to run with the king to the lower half of the board. 17... Kh8 18. Qh3+ (18. Qb7? Qc3! = mutual zugzwang) 18... Kg8 19. Qe6+ Kh8 20. Qe8+ Kg7 21. Qd7+ Kh8 22. Qd8+ Kh7 23. Kb7 +- 18. Kb7 Qe7+ 19. Ka6 Qd6+ 20. Qb6 Qd3+ 21. Kb7 Qd7+ 22. Ka8! Qd5+ 23. Kb8 Qe5+ 24. Kb7 Qe4+ 25. Qc6 Qe7+ 26. Kb8 26. Ka8?! Qd8+ 26... Qb4+ 27. Ka8! and black quickly loses because there is no check on the 8th rank. For example: 27... Qf4 27... Qb3 28. Qc8+ Kf7 29. Qb7+ +- 28. Qc8+ Kg7 29. Qb7+ Kh6 30. Qc6+ Kh5 With the black king on the 4th rank, the position would be draw. 31. Kb7 Qb4+ 32. Ka6 Qa3+ 33. Kb6 Qb3+ 33... Qe3+ 34. Qc5+ +- 34. Qb5+ and wins.

*Proving that Position B is essential for the winning process was done using the Haworth Method. In the normal QP v Q tablebase both positions are wins. By regenerating the tablebase from scratch with a 'seed' (Position B set a priori to DRAW), one can see if that causes a change of the evaluation for Position A as well (to DRAW) proving that the two positions depend on each other.

Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!

You can analyze the study with the help of the Syzygy tablebases here.

Update

The following study also features Stalyoraitis' position.

Peter Krug
EBUR
2006
White wins

1. Qe8+ Kg7 2. Qd7+ Kg6 3. Qd3+ Kg7 4. Qg3+ Kf8 5. Qb8+ Kg7 6. Qc7+ Kg6 7. Qc4 Qf3+ 8. Kh2 Qe3 9. Qf1 Qe5+ 10. Kh1 Qh8+ 11. Kg2 Qa8+ 12. Kg1 Qa7+

13. Kh1! Qd7 14. Qf2 Kh5 15. Qe2+ Kg6 16. Qe4+ Kh5 17. Qc4 Qa7 18. Qe2+ Kg5 19. Kg2 Qd4

Cyclic zugzwang

20. Qf2 Qe4+ 21. Qf3 Qd4 22. Qe2! We are back to the same position but with BTM. 22...Kg6 23. Qb5 Qe3 24. Kf1 Qe4 25. Kf2 Qd4+ 26. Kf3 Kh6 27. Qc6+ Kg7 28. Qc7+ Kg6 29. Qg3+ Kf5 30. Qh3+ Kg5 31. Qe6 Qd1+ 32. Qe2 Qd5+ 33. Kf2 Qf5+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qg6 36. Qc4 Qf6 37. Qd3 Kh6 38. Qb5 Qg7+ 39. Kf2 Qa7+ 40. Ke2 Qd4 41. Kf3 Qf6+ 42. Ke4 Qe6+ 43. Kd4 Qd6+ 44. Kc4 Kg6 45. Kb3 Kg7 46. Ka4 Kh8 47. Qb2+ Kg8 48. Ka5 Qc5+ 49. Qb5 Qc7+ 50. Qb6 Qe5+ 51. Kb4 Qb2+ 52. Kc5 Qf2+ 53. Kc6 Qf3+ 54. Kc7 Qf7+ 55. Kb8 Qe8+ 56. Kb7 Qf7+ 57. Qc7 Qb3+ 58. Ka7 Qe3+ 59. Qb6 Qc3 60. Kb7 Qf3+ 61. Qc6 Qf7+ 62. Kb8 Qf4+ 63. Qc7 Qb4+ 64. Qb7 Qf4+ 65. Ka8 Qc4 66. a7 Kh8 67. Qb2+ Kg8 68. Qb6 Qe4+ 69. Qb7 Qc4

Stalyoraitis' position

70. Qd7 Qe4+ 71. Kb8 Qf4+ 72. Kc8 Qc4+ 73. Kd8 Qh4+ 74. Qe7 Qd4+ 75. Kc8 Qc4+ 76. Kb8 Qb5+ 77. Qb7 Qe5+ 78. Ka8 Qc5 79. Qb3+ Kf8 80. Kb7 Qe7+ 81. Ka6 Qd6+ 82. Qb6 Qd3+ 83. Kb7 Qd7+ 84. Ka8 Qd5+ 85. Kb8 Qe5+ 86. Kb7 Qe4+ 87. Qc6 Qe7+ 88. Kb8 Qe5+ 89. Ka8 +-

If the above study is correct, then following study published in the SEE Manual becomes even cooler:

Arpad Rusz
SEE Manual
2020
White wins

The starting position is a cyclic zugzwang. In order to win, white has to reach the same position but with black to move. There is a 4-move-long cycle to pass the move which is the only way to win! 1. Qg2+ Kf6 2. Qb2+ Kf5 3. Qb1+ Kg5 4. Qf1! Black is to move! 4... Qe8+ 5. Kf2 Qf8+ 6. Kg2 Qa8+ 7. Kg1 Qa7+ We have seen this position in Krug's study! 8. Kh1! The solution given in the SEE Manual stops here. 8... Qd7 9. Qf2 Kh5 10. Qe2+ Kg6 11. Qe4+ Kh5 12. Qc4 Qa7 13. Qe2+ Kg5 14. Kg2 Qd4

Cyclic zugzwang

In order to win, white again has to reach the same position but with black to move. There is a 3-move-long cycle to pass the move. 15. Qf2 Qe4+ 16. Qf3 Qd4 17. Qe2! Black is in zugzwang! Etc.

Study 191

Arpad Rusz
Chess Artistry Adventure
2022
Draw

Despite being blocked, the pawn is extremely dangerous. Black has a simple winning plan: bring the queen to c1 after finding a safe square for the black king (e.g. b8). This forces white to take immediate action by trying to give a perpetual check.

1. Qf5+ 1. Qd3+? Ke8 2. Qb5+ Kf8 3. Qb4+ Kg8 4. Qc4+ Kg7 5. Qc7+ Kh6 6. Qb6+ Qg6! 7. Qxb2 Qg7+ -+ 1... Kc6 2. Qe6+ Kc5 3. Qd6+ Kc4 4. Qd4+ Kb3 5. Qd3+ Ka2 6. Qc4+ Kb1! The black pawn is blocked again. The white queen is in an optimal position, so let's move the king! 6... Ka1 7. Qa4+ Kb1 8. Qd1+ Ka2 9. Qa4+ perpetual check

7. Kf6! One more check would be a mistake. 7. Qd3+? Kc1 8. Qc4+ Kd1 9. Qd3+ Qd2 10. Qb1+ Ke2 11. Qe4+ Qe3-+ White loses due to the unfortunate position of its king. 7... Qf2+ 7... Qc2 8. Qf1+ Ka2 9. Qa6+ Kb1 10. Qf1+ perpetual check 8. Kg7! Qa7+ In order to try to free its king, the black queen has to take control of the a-file. 9. Kh8!!

That is the only safe square! 9. Kg6? Ka1 10. Qc3 Qa6+ The 6th rank is bad for the white king because of this check. 11. Kg7 Ka2 -+; 9. Kg8? Qa2 -+; 9. Kf8? Ka1 10. Qc3 Qa6 11. Qd4 Ka2 12. Qd5+ Ka3 13. Qc5+ Kb3 14. Qd5+ Qc4 15. Qb7+ Qb4+-+ This variation would be draw by wk on h8. 9... Ka1 10. Qc3 Ka2 11. Qc4+ Ka1 12. Qc3 Qa6 13. Qd4/e5 Ka2 14. Qd5+ Ka1 15. Qd4 =

Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!

(You can analyze the study with the help of the Syzygy tablebases here.)

This study was inspired by the game Janowski-Marshall (Monte Carlo, 1901). After some hesitation, Janowski has found the right strategy and headed with the king to h8.

Study 190

Árpád Rusz
Chess Study Art
2023
- version -
Draw

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1. Kc2! 1. Bh3? Ng8! -+ 1... Kb4 1... Ng4 2. Kc3 c5 3. Bg2 d4+ (3... Ne3 4. Bxd5! Nxd5 5. Kc4 =) 4. Kc4! Ne3+ 5. Kxc5 Nxg2 6. Kxd4 = 2. a3+! Kc5 2... Kxa3 3. Kc3 Nf5 4. Bh3 Ne7 5. Bd7! c6 6. Kd4 Kb4 7. Bxc6! Nxc6+ 8. Kxd5 = 3. Kb3! White is preparing to advance the a-pawn. 3. Kc3? Nf5 4. a4 Ng3! 5. Bd3 Ne4+ Avoiding this check is the reason why white should choose 3. Kb3 instead of 3. Kc3. 4. Kb3 Kb6! 5. Kb4 c5+ -+ Black gets a winning position after managing to achieve both of its strategic goals (stopping the white pawn and pushing the c-pawn to c5). 3... Nf5 4. a4 Nd4+ Here the check comes even one move earlier than in the previous try, but the knight is in an awkward position on d4. 4... Ng3 5. Bd3 Ne4 There is no check, therefore the white pawn can advance. 6. a5 = 5. Kc3 Nc6 Black stops the white pawn but simultaneously blocks its own c-pawn by two pieces... 6. Be2! 6. Bd3? d4+ 7. Kb3 Na5+ -+ 6... Na5 6... d4+ 7. Kc(d)2! (7. Kd3? Nb4+ 8. Ke4 Nd5 -+) 7... Kb4 8. Kd3 =

7. Bh5!!

7. Bb5? d4+ (7... c6? 8. Be2! zz d4+ 9. Kd3 Nc4 10. Ke4 =) 8. Kd3 c6 9. Ba6 Kd5 -+

mutual zugzwang

7... Nc4 7... Kd6 8. Kb4 =; 7... d4+ 8. Kd3 Nc6 9. Ke4 = 8. Be8! It is important for white to defend its pawn. 8. Be2? d4+ 9. Kd3 Nb2+ -+

mutual zugzwang

8... Ne5! Black lets the a-pawn run, planning to block it later. The knight has a dominating position in the center of the board leaving only a few safe squares for the bishop. 8... d4+ 9. Kd3 Nb2+ A fork but fortunately, the white pawn is defended. (9... Ne5+ With the bishop on d7 instead of e8, white would now lose. 10. Ke4 =) 10. Kc2 Nc4 11. Kd3 c6 12. Kc2! (12. Ke4? Nd6+ -+) 12... Ne5 13. Kb3 Nc4 14. Kc2 Na5 15. Kd3 Nc4 16. Kc2 positional draw; 8... c6 9. Kb3! zz Kd4!? (9... Kb6 10. Bf7 =; 9... Kd6 10. Kb4 c5+ 11. Kb5 =) 10. a5! = (10. Bxc6? Na5+ -+); 8... Nd6 9. Bg6! (9. Bh5? c6! 10. Bg6 Nc4 11. Bf7 d4+ -+) 9... c6 10. Bh7! Nc4 11. Bg8! d4+ 12. Kc2! Kb4 13. Kd3 = 9. Bb5! 9. a5? Nc6 10. a6 (10. Bxc6 Kxc6 11. Kd4 Kd6 12. a6 c5+ -+) 10... Na7 11. Bd7 (11. Bh5 Nb5+ -+) 11... c6 -+; 9. Bh5? d4+ 10. Kb3 Nc4 11. Be2 Na5+ -+

mutual zugzwang

9... Nc6 9... d4+ 10. Kb3 The bishop is ideally placed attacking both c4 and c6. 10... Nc6 11. Bxc6 Kxc6 12. Kc4 = 10. Be2! Thematic try: 10. Bf1? Na5 11. Be2 c6! zz 12. Bh5 Nc4 13. Be8 Ne5! zz. Now the bishop cannot continue the merry-go-round anymore and has to return. Unlike in the main line, here it is not possible to attack the c4 square by Bb5 because of the line-interfering c6 pawn. 14. Bh5 d4+ 15. Kb3 Nc4 16. Be2 Na5+ 17. Ka3 Kb6 18. Kb4 c5+ -+

mutual zugzwang

10... Na5 11. Bh5! positional draw on 4 pairs of knight/bishop corresponding squares

Both the knight and the bishop moves along diamond-shape paths on the board:

There was even a third Rundlauf in the first version of the study!

Árpád Rusz
Chess Study Art
2023
Draw

1. Kb2! Kc5 2. Kc3 d5 3. Bf7! Nd6 4. Bg6! with two variations:

a) 4... Nc4 5. Be8! zz Ne5 6. Bb5! zz Nc6 7. Be2! zz Na5 8. Bh5!! zz Nc4 9. Be8 positional draw

b) 4... c6 5. Bh7! Thematic try: 5. Bh5? Nc4 6. Be2 d4+ 7. Kc2 Kb4 8. Kd3 c5 -+ 5... Nc4 6. Bg8! Rundlauf

6... d4+ 7. Kc2! Kb4 8. Kd3 c5 9. Bxc4 =

Study 189

Árpád Rusz
Nadareishvili MT
2020
Special Commendation
White wins

1. b7 d1=Q 1... Qxd4+ 2. Kxd4 d1=Q+ 3. Rd3 +- 2. Rh1+ Ke2 3. Rxd1 Qd8!

4. Kc6!! Thematic try: 4. Kd6? Kxd1 mutual zugzwang 5. b8=Q (5. f8=Q Qxf8+ 6. Kc7 Qf4+ 7. Kc8 Qc1+! =) 5... Qxb8+ 6. Ke7 Qb4+ 7. Ke8 Qe1+! =; 4. Rh1? Qc7+ = 4... Kxd1 5. Kd6! mutual zugzwang

mutual zugzwang

a) 5... Kc2 6. f8=Q! Qxf8+ 7. Kc7 Qf4+ 8. Kc8 +- There are no more checks because the c-file is blocked.

b) 5... Ke2 6. b8=Q! Qxb8+ 7. Ke7 Qb4+ 8. Ke8 +- There are no more checks because the e-file is blocked.

c) 5... Qb6+ 6. Ke7 Qb4+ 7. Ke8 Qe1+ 8. Kf8 Qb4+ 9. Kg8 +-

d) 5... Qf6+ 6. Kc7 Qf4+ 7. Kc8 Qc1+ 8. Kb8 Qf4+ 9. Ka8 +-

Study 188

Árpád Rusz
2021
Dedicated to Marc Bourzutschky
White wins

White has a disadvantage of two exchanges. In order to win, not only one but both rooks should be captured. The awkward position of the black king gives some hope to succeed. 1. Bf3+! Re4 2. Bxh4 Of course not 2. Bxe4+? Rxe4 -+ 2... Nxh4 2... Kb8 3. Bg3+! -+

3. Bh1!! mutual zugzwang 3. Bxe4+? Kb8 mutual zugzwang 3... Kb8 4. Bxe4 Mutual zugzwang & Domination!

4...Bc5 The only safe square on the a7-g1 diagonal. 5. Kb5 The white king gains an important tempo in the race toward the black knight. 5... Be7 6. Kc6 Kc8 7. Kd5 Kd7 8. Ke5 Bc5 9. Kf6 9. Kf4? Ke6 10. Kg4 Ke5 = 9... Be7+ 10. Kf7 Kd6 11. Nf2 Bd8 12. Nd3! and white wins.

The black king is restricted to a small portion of the board and will be gradually pushed back to the side of the board by the two white knights. 12... Bg5 13. Na3 Kd7 14. Nc4 Kd8 15. Nc5 Bc1 Stepping with the king further back leads to a quick checkmate: 15... Kc8 16. Ne6 Bc1 17. Ke8 Bh6 18. Nd6+ Kb8 19. Nb5 Kc8 20. Nc5 Be3 21. Na6 Bf4 22. Na7# 16. Kf6 After this move, the white bishop also gets some freedom to move. 16... Bh6 17. Ne6+ Kd7 18. Nb6+ Kd6 The black king is back again to d6 and the black knight seems safe as long as the black bishop controls g5. How to win this position?

19. Ba8! (or 19. Bh1!) 19... Bc1 20. Nc4+ Kd7 21. Bb7! Domination! 21... Bh6 22. Ne5+ Kd6 23. Nf7+ +-

This study is based on a position found in one of the 8-man mutual zugzwang lists released by Marc Bourzutschky. For finding that special position (see the solution after 3.Bh1!!), I have created a special version my software SEE (Syzygy Endgame Explorer) to support some searches up to 8 pieces.

Syzygy Endgame Explorer (SEE) version 0.3

The new version of SEE with many new features can be downloaded from here: SEE 0.3.exe

Check the manual too: SEE Manual.pdf

Puzzle 1

Árpád Rusz
Facebook
2021
Add two pawns so white should have exactly 4 winning, 4 drawing, and 4 losing moves.

Solution: Syzygy-tables