Study 158

Árpád Rusz
Moscow Ty
2018
1st Prize

White wins

1. Kb1 1. g7?? Ra1# 1... Rb2+ 2. Ka1! The king moves to the first corner square. 2... Rxc2 3. g7 Rd2

4. Rh1!! This surprising sacrifice to the second corner is the only way to win. Besides attracting the black king to a worse square, the white rook has the idea of getting to the other side of the yet unborn queen! 4. g8=Q? Rxd1+ 5. Ka2 c2 =; 4. Rxd2+? cxd2 5. g8=Q d1=Q+ =; 4. Rc1? Rd8 =
Thematic try: 4. Rf1? This move also attracts the black king to a worse square, but as we will see, it has the negative effect of blocking the eight rank few moves later. 4... Rd8 (4... Kxf1? 5. g8=Q Rd1+ 6. Ka2 c2 7. Qc4+ +-) 5. Rf8 Rd1+ 6. Ka2 c2 7. g8=Q?? (7. Rc8 =) 7... c1=Q -+

In a QR/QR endgame, the winner is usually the one who gives the first check. Now 8. Qa8+ is impossible, black is going to win!

Let's return to the main line.
4... Rd8 4... Kxh1 5. g8=Q Rd1+ 6. Ka2 c2 7. Qh7+ +- 5. Rh8! This is the third move to a corner square! 5... Rd1+ 6. Ka2 c2 7. g8=Q c1=Q If we compare with the thematic try, here the white rook doesn't block the queen's path to the fourth corner (Loyd Clearance with a peri-anticritical manoeuvre). 7... Ra1+ 8. Kb3! (8. Kxa1? c1=Q+ =) 8... c1=Q 9. Qd5+ +-

8. Qa8+! White completes the task of visiting all corners of the board. 8... Kg3 9. Qb8+ Kg4 10. Qb4+ Qf4 11. Rh4+! +- The game ends with another rook sacrifice.