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

Study 187

Happy New Year 2021!

Árpád Rusz
Internet (RCS blog)
2020
Draw

1. c8=Q f1=Q 2. Qc3+ Qd3 2... Rd3 3. Qxe5+ Kd2 4. Qb2+ Ke3 5. Qe5+ perpetual check

3. Qxe5+ Kf3 4. Qh5+ Kg2 5. Qg5+ Kf2 6. Qf6+ Kg1 7. Qg7+ Kh2 7... Rg2 8. Qa1+ Kf2 9. Qa2+ Kg3 10. Qg8+ Kh2 11. Qh8+ Kg1 12. Qa1+ perpetual check

8. Qh6+ Kg3 9. Qg5+ Kf2 10. Qf6+ Ke3 10... Kg1 11. Qg7+ perpetual check

11. Qe5+ Kf3 12. Qh5+ Ke4 13. Qh1+ Kd4 14. Qa1+ Kd5 15. Qa8+ Ke5 16. Qh8+ Ke4 17. Qh1+ perpetual check

Study 154

Árpád Rusz
Schach
2018-19
3rd Prize
- version -
White wins

1. Ba3! 1. Rxc3+? Kd5 = and both dangerous white pawns are pinned.

a) 1... Qxa3 2. Rxc3+! fork 2... Qxc3 3. Rc8+ Kd4 4. Rxc3 Rxf7+! 4... Kxc3 5. Ke8 +-

The correct move to win is 5. Ke6!! White is very polite, and lets Black to be the first to take the rook. 5... Kxc3 6. Kxf7 mutual zugzwang

mutual zugzwang

6... h2 7. d7 mutual zugzwang 7... h1=Q Black was let to be the first to promote the pawn. 8. d8=Q mutual zugzwang

8... Qb7+ Now we see the reason for white's eccentric play: the black queen has to leave its ideal square. 8... Qf3+ 9. Qf6+ +- 9. Ke6! Contrary to the thematic try, there is no check on e4. 9... Qh1 The black queen returns to h1 but something has changed: the white king is protecting the d5 square! 10. Qa5+! Kxd3 11. Qd5+ +- fork

Thematic try at move 5: 5. Kxf7? Kxc3 mutual zugzwang 6. d7 h2 mutual zugzwang 7. d8=Q h1=Q mutual zugzwang 8. d4 Qb7+ 9. Ke6 9. Qe7 Qd5+ 10. Qe6 Qb7+ 11. Qe7 Qd5+ perpetual check 9... Qe4+ = The e4-square was no longer controlled.

But what if black captures the pawn earlier and doesn't allow the triangulation?
b) 1... Rxf7+!? 2. Kxf7 2. Ke6? Rf6+! 3. Kxf6 Qxa3 = and the queen would capture on c3 with check. 2... Qxa3 3. Rxc3+! Qxc3 4. Rc8+ Kd4

5. d7!! 5. Rxc3? Kxc3 = mutual zugzwang 5... Qb3+ 6. Kf8 6. Kg7? Qb7 -+ 6... Qb4+ 7. Kg8 Qb3+ 8. Kh8! +-

Study 186

Árpád Rusz
Pat a mat
2019
Special Prize

White wins

1. g7! Bxg7 1... Ke6+ 2. Ka2 Kf7 3. Qh7 Bxg7 4. Qxh4 +- 2. Qb2+

a) 2... Kf5 3. Qxg7 Ne6 4. Qh7+ 4. Qf7+? Ke5 5. Qh5+ Nf5 =; 4. Qg3? Ng6 = 4... Kg4 4... Ng6 5. Qf7+! +- "North" (echo)

5. Qd7 Kf5 6. Qd3+ Kf6 6... Kg4 7. Qe2+ Kf5 8. Qh5+ +- 7. Qc3+ Kf7 7... Ke7 8. Qb4+ +- 8. Qh3 Ng6 9. Qf5+! +- "South" (echo)

b) 2... Ke6 3. Qxg7 Nf5 4. Qg8+ Kd7 4... Nf7 5. Qg6+! +- "East" (echo)

5. Qg4 Ke6 6. Qc4+ Kf6 6... Kd7 7. Qb5+ Ke6 8. Qe8+ +- 7. Qc3+ Kg6 8. Qc8 Nf7 9. Qe6+! +- "West" (echo)

Study 185

Árpád Rusz
Die Schwalbe
2020
3rd Honourable Mention

White wins

1. b5+! Rxb5 2. Rc6+! 2. Ra8+? Kb7 3. Kxb5 Kxa8 = 2... Rb6

3. Rg6!! mutual zugzwang 3... Ka7 3... hxg6 4. h7 Rb8 5. hxg6 +- 4. Rg7+ Rb7 5. Ka5 mutual zugzwang 5... Kb8 6. Ka6 Ka8! cyclic zugzwang - WTM. The only way to win is by reaching the same position but with black to move. (6... Rc7 7. Kb6 +-)

7. Rg5 or 7. Rg6 Rb8 8. Rf6! etc. but no 7. Rg1?! Rb1! 8. Rxb1? stalemate; 7. Rxb7? stalemate 7... Rb8 8. Rf5! 8. Re5? Rf8! = 8... Rb7 9. Rf8+ Rb8 10. Rf7 Rb7! 11. Rg7! +- cyclic zugzwang - BTM

Study 184

Árpád Rusz
Tehtäväniekka
2017-19
1st Prize

Draw

1. g7! Nc4+! 1... Nf3+ 2. Kc2 Rg1 3. a7 =; 1... Nb3+ 2. Ke2 Rg1 3. a7 = 2. Kxc4 2. Ke2? Rg1 3. a7 Nb6 -+ 2... Rc1+ 3. Kb5 Rc8 4. Kb6 Rb8+ 5. Ka7 Kc7 6. g8=Q Rxg8 stalemate

Thematic try:

1. a7? Ne4+! 2. Kxe4 2. Kc2 Ra1 3. g7 Nf6 -+ 2... Re1+ 3. Kf5 Re8 4. Kf6 Rf8+ 5. Kg7 Ke7 6. a8=Q Rxa8 -+ There is no stalemate because of the extra h-file.

Study 183

Árpád Rusz
Mikitovics-70 JT
2020
- draw section -
4th Place

Draw

1. Rh2! White has to hide its rook! The rook wouldn't be safe on g3: 1. Rg3? Kd4 2. Kd6 Ke4 3. Ke6 Kf4 -+ The rook is caught! 1... Kb4 2. Kb7! Thematic try: 2. Kb6? Kxa4 3. Ka6 The close opposition doesn't work. Kb4 4. Kb6 Kc4 5. Kc6 Kd4 6. Kd6 Ke4 7. Ke6 Kf3 (7... Kf4? 8. Kf7 Kg3 9. Rxg2+! Rxg2 10. Kxg7 =; 7... Re1? 8. Rxg2 Kf3+ 9. Kf7 =) 8. Kf7 Ra1 (b1, c1) 9. Rxg2 Ra7+! -+ 2... Kxa4

3. Ka8!! Distant opposition! The king must be also hidden. 3... Kb5 3... Ka3 4. Ka7 Ka2 5. Ka8! Only there! 5... Kb2 6. Kb8 Kc2 7. Kc8 Kd2 8. Kd8 Ke2 9. Ke8 Ke3 10. Ke7 Kd3 11. Kd7 Kc3 12. Kc7 Kb3 13. Kb7 Ka3 14. Ka7 Ka2 15. Ka8 positional draw 4. Kb7 Kb4 5. Kb8! Kc5 6. Kc7 Kc4 7. Kc8! Kd5 8. Kd7 Kd4 9. Kd8! Ke5 10. Ke7 Ke4 11. Ke8! Kf3

12. Kf8! White should avoid the f7 square. 12... Ra1 13. Rxg2! Kxg2 14. Kxg7 =

Study 182

Árpád Rusz
Mikitovics JT
2020
- win section -
7th Place

White wins

1. b8=Q 1. Rxb2? Nxc7 = 1... Nxc7! 2. Qxb2 Nd5+ 3. Ke4 Rd8 3... Rg5 4. Qc1+ +- 4. Rxf3! 4. Qg7? Rd7! 5. Qxd7 Nf6+ =

a) 4... Ra8! The black rook goes to the only square on the board which is safe. But - like in the classical Q vs R Philidor position - white can pass the move to black making the rook move again. 4... Bxf3+ 5. Kxf3 Rf8+ 6. Kg3 Rg8+ 7. Kh4! (7. Kh3? Nf4+ =) 7... Nf4 8. Qc1+ +-; 4... Rd7 5. Qc1+ Kh2 6. Qh6+ Kg1 7. Qg6 +-; 4... Re8+ 5. Kd4 Bxf3 6. Qb1+ Kg2 7. Qg6+ Kf2 8. Qxe8 +- pseudo-fortress; 4... Rf8 5. Qc1+ Kh2 6. Qh6+ +-

5. Qg7!! 5. Kxd5? Bxf3+ =; 5. Qc1+? Kh2 6. Qh6+ (6. Qd2 Ra2! 7. Qxd5 Rf2 =) 6... Kg1 7. Qc1+ (7. Qg7 Ra3 =) 7... Kh2 positional draw; 5. Qb3? Rf8 =; 5. Qc2? Nf6+ = 5... Ra2 (5... Bxf3+ 6. Kxf3 Ra3+ 7. Kf2 Ra2+ 8. Ke1! (8. Kf1? Ne3+ =) 8... Ne3 9. Qh6+ +-; 5... Ra3 6. Qh6+ Kg1 7. Qc1+ +-; 5... Ra4+ 6. Ke5 Bxf3 7. Qh7+ Kg2 8. Qc2+ Kg3 9. Qxa4 +- pseudo-fortress; 5... Ra6 6. Qh8+ Kg1 7. Qd4+ Kh1 8. Qd1+! +- (8. Qxd5? Rf6 =); 5... Rc8 6. Qa1+ Kh2 7. Qe5+ Kh1 8. Qh5+! +- (8. Qxd5? Rc3 =))

position A

6. Qh7+! Kg1 7. Kd4! 7. Ke5? Re2+ = 7... Rd2+ 7... Ra4+ 8. Ke5! Bxf3 9. Qb1+ Kg2 10. Qc2+ Kg3 11. Qxa4 +- pseudo-fortress; 7... Bxf3 8. Qb1+ +- 8. Rd3 Nf6!

9. Qa7! battery 9. Qh6? Rxd3+ 10. Kxd3 Ne4! = fortress 9... Rxd3+ 10. Kxd3+ Check! There is no time for Ne4. 10... Kh1 11. Qa1+ +-

b) 4... Rg8

position B

5. Qb1+! Kh2 6. Ke5! 6. Kd4? Rg4+ = 6... Rg5+ 6... Bxf3 7. Qh7+ +-; 6... Re8+ 7. Kd4! Bxf3 8. Qh7+ Kg2 9. Qg6+ Kf2 10. Qxe8 +- pseudo-fortress 7. Rf5 Nc3!

8. Qb8! battery 8. Qc1? Rxf5+ 9. Kxf5 Ne4! = fortress 8... Rxf5+ 9. Kxf5+ Check! There is no time for Ne4. 9... Kh1 10. Qh8+ +-

Study 181

Árpád Rusz
Mikitovics-70 JT
2020
- win section -
6th Place

White wins

1. Nd7+! Qxd7 2. Bc5+! Kxc5 3. Rc1+ Kb6 4. Rc6+! Qxc6 5. bxc6 Bxh5 6. c7 Is it over? Not yet! Black has a counterplay by setting a stalemate trap! 6... g6! During the introduction, White has lost a Knight, a Bishop, a Rook, and a Queen. We will see some kind of a Phoenix promotion now, right? No!

7. Kc8!! anti-Phoenix 7. c8=Q? echo stalemate 7... Kc6 8. Kd8 Kd6! An echo stalemate trap!

9. Ke8!! The Pawn is also sacrified! Does White really want to win this endgame? 9. c8=Q? echo stalemate; 9. Kc8?! Kc6 10. Kb8 Kb6 positional draw 9... Kxc7 10. Ke7 mutual zugzwang

Position A

10... Kc8! 10... Kc6 11. Kxe6 Kc7 12. Kxe5 Kd7 13. Kf6 +-

Thematic try: 11. Kxe6? Kd8 12. Kd6 (12. Kxe5 Ke7 13. Kd5 Kd7 14. e5 Ke7 15. e6 Ke8 16. Kd6 Kd8 17. e7+ Ke8 18. Ke6 stalemate) 12... Ke8 13. Kc6 Ke7 14. Kc7 Ke6! The e6 pawn is missing! 15. Kc6 Ke7 positional draw

The right move is 11. Kd6! Kd8 12. Kc6 Ke7 12... Kc8 13. Kb6 Kb8 14. Kxa6 +- 13. Kc7! The kings have interchanged their places! 13. Kb6? Kd6 14. Kxa5 Kc5 15. Kxa6 Kd4 =

Position B

13... Ke8 Unfortunately, the e6 square was not empty. 14. Kb6 Kd7 15. Kxa5! 15. Kxa6? Kc6 16. Kxa5 Kc5 17. Ka6 Kd4 = 15... Kc6 16. Kxa6 Kc5 17. a5 Kc6 17... Kd4 18. Kb5(6) Kxe4 19. a6 Kf3 20. a7 Kxg3 21. a8=Q Kh2 22. Qa2+ +- 18. Ka7 Kc7 19. a6 mutual zugzwang 19... Kc8 20. Kb6 +- 20. Ka8?! Kc7 21. a7? Kc8 stalemate

Study 7

This is a 2020 version of a study published in 2002. The initial position now looks much better having no hanging pieces. It is also more economical.

Árpád Rusz
Josten-65 JT
2002-03
- version (2020) -

Draw

1. Ke2 1. Ke1? h3 2. Rh5 g2 3. Kf2 e3+ 4. dxe3+ dxe3+ 5. Kg1 e2 -+ 1... h3 2. Rh5 g2 3. Ng5! h2! 4. Rxh2 g1=Q 5. Nh3+ Kg3 6. Nxg1 Kxh2

Thematic try:
7. Kf2? d3 mutual zugzwang 8. Nf3+ 8. Kf1 Kg3 -+ 8... exf3

9. Kf1 9. Kxf3 Kg1 -+ 9... Kg3 10. Kg1 f2+ 11. Kf1 Kh3! mutual zugzwang 11... Kh2? 12. Kxf2 mutual zugzwang 12... Kh3 13. Kf3 Kh2 14. Kf2 Kh1 15. Kf1 positional draw 12. Kxf2 Kh2 mutual zugzwang 13. Kf1 Kg3 14. Kg1 Kf3 15. Kf1 f4 -+ mutual zugzwang

The right move is:
7. Kf1!! d3 8. Kf2! mutual zugzwang 8. Nf3+? exf3 9. Kf2 Kh1 10. Kf1 f2! mutual zugzwang 11. Kxf2 Kh2 -+ mutual zugzwang 8... f4 9. Nf3+ exf3

10. Kf1 Kg3 11. Kg1 f2+ 12. Kf1 Kh3 13. Kxf2 Kh2 14. Kf1 Kg3 15. Kg1 mutual zugzwang 15... Kf3 16. Kf1 mutual zugzwang 16... Kg3 17. Kg1 f3 18. Kf1 f2 stalemate