Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
Lev Lepkyi 130
2018
1st Prize
Draw
White is on the defensive, his biggest worry being the pawn on e2. It is not yet time for active counterplay. 1. Qb5! 1. Qc4? loses because the c4 square is needed for the bishop. 1... Bh7 2. Qd3 Bxe4! 3. Qxe4 e1=Q+ 4. Qxe1+ Kxe1 -+ 1... Qe8! White is not given time for 2. Bc4 2. Qd3 Necessary retreat, the first of many. 2. Qxe8? e1=Q+ 3. Kc2 Qd2+ -+; 2. Bc4? Qxe4+ 3. Bd3 Kf2! 4. Bxe4 e1=Q+ 5. Ka2 Qxe4 6. Qxa4 Bxd5+ -+ 2... Qxe4! There is no rest for White. 2... Kf2 3. Qd4+ = 3. Qxe4 Bh7! The point. White must retreat, keeping an eye on the pawn.
4. Qd3! Kf2 Unpinning the pawn. White must take one further step into his cave. 4... Bxd3+?? 5. Nxd3 +-; 4... Kg1 5. Kc1 e1=Q+ 6. Qd1 = 5. Qc2! Ke3 Now the promotion cannot be stopped. Time to go on the offensive for White? 6. Ka1! Well, not exactly. 6... e1=Q+ 7. Bb1 Luckily for White c2 is still immune. 7... Qd2! 8. Qa2! Perhaps not the active counterplay White had been hoping for. But the only way to cover b2. 8. Qxd2+? cxd2 leaves no hope; 8. Qxh7? Qb2# 8... Qc1 fighting for the c2 square. 9. Nc2+! A check! White gets to give a check! Simultaneously burying Bb1 and Qa2 even further. 9... Kd2! When White now saves his knight, Black will play c3-c2 and have a win after the general exchange. And it is not like White has any counterplay, is it?
10. Nd4+ Time to break out! 10. Qa3? Bxc2 -+ 10... c2 11. Nb3+! Not too late to go wrong. 11. Qxc2+? Bxc2 12. Nb3+ Kd1! (12... axb3/Bxb3? stalemate) 13. Nxc1 Kxc1 14. Ba2 Kd2 15. Bc4 (15. Kb2 Kd3 zz 16. Ka3 Kc3 -+ zz) 15... Bd3 16. Ba2 Kc3 17. Bb3! Bc2! -+ (17... axb3/Kxb3? stalemate); 11. Nxc2? Bxc2 12. Qxc2+ Qxc2 13. Bxc2 Kxc2 -+ 11... axb3 12. Qa5+ Kd1 13. Qe1+! Kxe1 stalemate
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
Schach
2018
White wins
1. Nf8 White must keep the pawn on g6 to create threats. 1... Nd5 (1... Nb5 2. Rh7+ Kg8 3. Rh8+! Kxh8 4. Ne6 with a deadly double threat.; 1... Qd6 Now White has a long forcing win: 2. Rf7+ Kg8 3. g7 Qc6+ 4. Nd7 Qxd7+ 5. Kxd7 Kxf7 6. Rg4 Kg8 7. Kxd8 e5 8. Ke7 e4 9. Kf6 e3 10. Kg6 e2 11. Rf4/Rh4 and mate on the next move.) 2. Rh7+ Kg8 3. Rh8+! Kxh8 (3... Kg7 4. Ne6+ Kxg6 5. Rg8+ Kh7 6. Rg7+ Kh6 7. Rh4+ +-) 4. Kf7 Threat: 5. g7# 4... Qh5 5. Rh4! Counterpin 5... Nf6 The charged key position. White has to find the right plan. He wants to play Nf8-d7 at the correct time. Now is too early, as Black responds 6. Nd7 Qxh4 7. g7+ Kh7 8. Nxf6 Qxf6+. (5... Qxh4 6. g7#; 5... Nf4 6. Ne6 Ba5 7. Nxf4 Qxh4 8. g7+ Kh7 9. g8=Q+ Kh6 10. Qg6/Qg7#)
6. Rh1!! Threatening 7. Nd7 Qxh1 8. g7+ Kh7 9. Nxf6+ Kh6 10. g8=Q and mate. (After 6. Rh2?, threatening 7. Nd7 Qxh2 8. g7+ Kh7 9. Nxf6+ Kh6 10. Ng4+ winning, Black defends with a surprising manoeuvre: 6... Bc7 7. Rh1 Bf4 8. Nd7? Bh6! -+; 6. Rh3? No threat. Black defends by 6... Bc7/Bb6/Ba5)) 6... e6!! A subtle defense, opening the line b7-f7 (but closing b3-f7) (6... e5 7. Rh2 with a quicker white win.) 7. Rh3 White now threatens 8. Nd7 Qxh3 9. g7+ Kh7 10. Nxf6+ Kh6 11. g8=Q, as Black has no check on b3. (7. Nd7? Qxh1 8. g7+ Kh7 9. Nxf6+ Kh6 10. g8=Q Qb7+! was the point of Black's 6...e6!!) 7... e5 Opening the line b3-f7 (but closing c7-h2) 8. Rh2! 8. Nd7? Qxh3 9. g7+ Kh7 10. Nxf6+ Kh6 11. g8=Q Qb3+ -+ 8... e4 8... Ba5 9. Nd7 Qxh2 10. g7+ Kh7 11. Nxf6+ Kh6 12. Ng4+! +- (12. g8=Q?? Qa2+ -+) 9. Nd7 Bc7
10. Rh1! Now this is (again) the right square, as Black will not have Qb7+. (10. Rh3? Qxh3 11. g7+ Kh7 12. Nxf6+ Kh6 13. g8=Q Qb3+ -+; 10. Nxf6? Bxh2 11. Nxh5 Be5 =) 10... Qxh1 11. g7+ Kh7 12. Nxf6+ Kh6 13. g8=Q +- There is no defence against mate on g6 or g7.
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
Shakhmatnaya Kompositzia
2016
1st Prize
White wins
Initially, all action is on the 8th rank. 9 out of the first 10 half moves are made there. 1. Rh8+! White must free f7 for his king. 1. a8=Q+? leads to checkmate: 1... Bb8+ 2. Ke8 Rc8# 1... Kxh8 2. a8=Q+ Bb8+ 3. Ke8 Rc8+ 4. Kf7 Rf8+! 4... Qxa8 5. g7# 5. Kxf8 Qd8+ 6. Kf7 6. Re8?? Qf6# 6... Qg8+ 7. Kf6 Be5+! 7... Qf8+ 8. Kxe6 +- 8. Kxe5 Qxa8 The Merry-Go-Round comes to a standstill. Time for a breath. White's advanced pawn gives him chances. 9. g7+ Kg8 10. Kf6 White now has various plans, for instance 11. Rf7 followed by 12. Rf8+ winning. 10... Qf3+ 10... g3 11. Be4! Qd8 12. Bg6 g2 (12... Qxe7+ 13. Kxe7 g2 14. Kf6 g1=Q 15. Bf7+ Kh7 16. g8=Q+ Qxg8 17. Bxg8+ +-) 13. Bf7+ Kh7 14. g8=Q+ Qxg8 15. Bxg8+ Kxg8 16. Rg7+ +-; 10... Qc6 11. Be4! (11. Bb1? Qb5! 12. Be4 Qh5! =) 11... Qxe4 12. Re8+ +- 11. Kg6 Qc6 12. Bb1! 12. Be4 is not possible as Black takes with check. This was the point of 10...Qf3+. 12. Bd3? e5+ = White has no check on the a2-g8 diagonal.; 12. Kh6? Qh1+ = 12... g3 12... e5+ 13. Kg5 Qa6 14. Bf5 g3 15. Be6+ Qxe6 16. Rxe6 g2 17. Kf6 g1=Q 18. Re8+ +-
13. Rf7! Walking into the pin. 13... Qe8 13... e5+ 14. Rf6 +- 14. Kh6! And abandoning the rook. 14... g2 14... Qxf7 15. Bh7#; 14... Kxf7 15. Bg6+ +- 15. Rf6! A precise choice of squares, foreseeing the sacrifices on h7 and g8. 15... Qh5+! 15... g1=Q 16. Bh7# 16. Kxh5 g1=Q Finally everything becomes clear. Black is about to give that perpetual...
17. Bh7+! Kxh7 18. g8=Q+! Qxg8 19. Rh6+ Kg7 20. Rg6+ Kf7 21. Rxg8 Kxg8 22. Kg6 Kf8 23. Kf6 Ke8 24. Kxe6 +- 24. e4? e5! =
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
Chessstar
2018
1st Prize
Draw
At first some precision. White needs to find the right square for the queen, covering Bc1 as well as creating threats towards the black king. 1. Qa1! Now White is almost winning, but a non standard combination tips the scale in Black's favour. 1. Qc2? Qe1+ 2. Kf4 c6+! 3. Kf5+ Kh7 4. Rg7+ Kxg7 5. Qb2+ Kg8 6. Kg6 Qg3+ 7. Bg5 Be5 8. Qb7 Bc7 9. Qb2 Rd7! 10. exd7 Qd6+ 11. Kxh5 Qxd7 12. Qf6 Qf7+ 13. Qg6+ Qxg6+ 14. Kxg6 Bb6! -+ and Black keeps both his pawns.; 1. Qb2? Qe1+ 2. Kf4 Rf8+ 3. Ke5+ e3 4. Bxe3+ (4. Rxe3 Qa5+ 5. Kd4 Ba7+ -+) 4... Kh7 5. Qc2+ Kh8 6. Rh3 c6+ 7. Ke4 Rf4+ 8. Kd3 Qf1+ 9. Kd2 Qg2+ 10. Kd3 Qxh3 -+; 1. Qa3? c5 2. Kxe4+ Kh7 -+ 1... Qe1+ 2. Kf4 Rf8+ 3. Ke5+ e3! 3... Kh7 4. Rg7+! Kxg7 5. Bh6+ Kxh6 6. Qxe1 +- This variation shows why 1. Qa1! was better than 1. Qb2? 4. Bxe3+ 4. Rxe3? c6+ -+
4... Rf4!! 5. Qb2! 5. Qxe1? c6#; 5. Kxf4? Qxa1 6. e7 Qa4+ -+ and White gets no time for 7. Rg8.; 5. Qa8? Qa5+/Qa1+ 6. Kxf4 Qxa8 7. e7 Qa4+ -+ 5... Qc3+! 6. Kxf4 Qxb2 7. e7 Now, compared to 5. Kxf4?, Black has no winning check on a4. 7. Kf5+? Kh7 -+ 7... Qh8 8. Kf5+ Logical try: 8. Ke4+? Kh7 9. Rg7+! Kxg7! (9... Qxg7? 10. e8=Q Qg6+ 11. Qxg6+ Kxg6 12. Bf4! =) 10. Bd4+ Kf7 11. Bxh8 c6! and Black ends up with two extra pawns as White has not the possibility to play the king the g5. 8... Kh7
9. Rg7+! Kxg7 9... Qxg7 10. e8=Q = 10. Bd4+ Kf7 11. Bxh8 c5 12. Bf6 12. Kg5? Kxe7 13. Kxh5 Ke6 14. Kg4 Be5! -+ 12... Bd6 13. Ke4! Bxe7 In the end, White is saved by Black having the wrong bishop for the h1 square:
14. Bd4! cxd4 14... c4 15. Kd5 h4 16. Kxc4 h3 17. Bg1 (17. Be5? Ke6 18. Bh2 Bd6 -+) 17... Ke6 18. Kd3 = 15. Kxd4 h4 16. Ke3! 16. Ke4? h3 17. Kf3 Bh4 -+ 16... h3 17. Kf2 h2 18. Kg2 Bd6 19. Kh1 = positional draw - fortress
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
10th WCCT
2016
6th Place
Draw
1. Rd8+ 1. Rxd4? Qc8+ 2. Kb5 Qb7+ 3. Kc4 Qa6+ -+ 1... Bxd8
Thematic try: 2. Qg2+? Not all queen sacrifices has to be played... 2... Nd5 A position of mutal zugzwang. White must create a disadvantageous block.
mutual zugzwang (WTM)
3. a5 3. Qxg8 Nb4#; 3. e8=Q Qxe8 -+; 3. f6 Qe6#; 3. exd8=Q+ Qxd8 -+ 3... Kb8! 4. exd8=Q+ Qxd8 5. Qb2+ Kc7 6. Qxd4 Nb4+! 7. Qxb4 Qa8+ 8. Kb5 Qc6# POSITION A)
Solution: 2. Qh1+! Nd5 3. Qg2! But this queen sac is correct. We have the same zugzwang position with Black to move.
mutual zugzwang (BTM)
3... Kb8! 3... Qxg2 4. exd8=Q#; 3... Bxe7 4. Qxg8+ -+; 3... Nb3 4. Qxg8 +-; 3... Nc6 4. Qxg8 +- 4. exd8=Q+ 4. Qxg8? Nb4# 4... Qxd8 5. Qb2+ Kc7 6. Qxd4 Nb4+ 7. Qxb4 Qa8+ 8. Kb5 Qc6+ POSITION B
9. Ka5! +-
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen
Problemist of Ukraine
2017
White wins
At first, White wants to keep his material advantage. 1. c4 Creating three dangerous passed pawns, forcing Black's answer. 1... bxc3 e.p. 1... Bxd1 2. Rxd1 +- 2. b6 Using the fact that the rook needs to cover the bishop. After 2. Bxa4? Black draws by exchanging everything: 2... cxd2! = (2... Rxa4? 3. dxc3 +-) 2... Rh7! Black must go on the offensive. 3. b7! Too slow is 3. Bxa4? Rh1+ 4. Kf2 Rxe1 and a draw, as 5. Kxe1?? loses to 5... c2 -+; 3. d7? with the same idea is met by 3... Bxd7 = 3... cxd2! Threatening 4... Rh1+. After 3... Rxb7 White stabilizes like this: 4. Bxa4 cxd2 5. Rd1 Rb4 6. Be8! Rd4 7. d7 +- 4. Re7! 4. Re6+ Kxe6 5. Bg4+ Kd5 6. b8=Q Rf7+ 7. Kg2 Rg7 =; 4. b8=Q?? Rh1+ -+ 4... Bxd1 4... Rh1+ 5. Kf2 +-; 4... Rh8 5. Bxa4 +- 5. b8=Q Bb3! It appears that White's threats to the Black king is not so serious. 6. Qxb3 d1=Q+! 7. Qxd1 Rh1+ 8. Kg2! A key move, anticipating a Black knight promotion. After the natural 8. Kf2? Rxd1 9. Re4 (or 9. Re5 d2 with similar lines) 9... d2 10. Rd4 Ra1/b1/h1 11. d7 d1=N+! = 8... Rxd1
9. Re5!! This move secures that the black king is one move too late to support his pawn. 9. Re4? d2 (9... Ra1? 10. d7 Ra8 11. Re8 +-) 10. Rd4 Ke5! 11. d7 Kxd4 12. d8=Q+ Kc3! = In the resulting position, White's queen is unable to push the king off the pawn.; Another natural move 9. Re3? is met by 9... Rd2+! 10. Kg3 Re2! 11. Rxd3 Re8 =; 9. Re8? d2 10. d7 Rg1+! = 9... Kxe5 9... d2 10. Rd5 Rb1 11. d7 d1=Q 12. d8=Q+ +-; 9... Rb1 10. d7 Rb8 11. Re8 +-; 9... Rd2+ 10. Kf3/Kg3 Kxe5 11. d7 +- 10. d7 Ke4 10... d2 11. d8=Q +- The pawn will quickly drop. 11. d8=Q +-
Watch this study on a dynamic board! Click here!
No comments:
Post a Comment