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.
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We have a symmetric initial position, so why shouldn't the key move also be symmetric? It seems so natural to push the passed pawn... 1. d7? Kd1!! Black keeps the symmetry. 1... Rc3? 2. Re8 Rd3+ 3. Kc6 =; 1... Re3? 2. Rc8 Rd3+ 3. Ke6 = 2. Rc8 2. Re8 Red2+ 3. Ke6 Rc6+ 4. Ke7 Rc7 -+ 2... Rcd2+ 3. Kc6 Re6+ 4. Kc7 Re7 -+
So the key should be a rook move. But where to place the rook?
Thematic try: 1. Rh8? Rc3 2. Rh4 Re8 3. Rd4+ Ke3 4. Rd1 Rd8
5. Ke6 The white king has to choose the longer flank... 5... Ke2 6. Rd4 Re3+ 7. Kf7 Rd7+ 8. Kf6 Now both black's king and one of its rooks are on the longer flank where there is more space to manoeuvre.
8... Re8 This is the quickest win. 9. Rd5 Re4 10. Kf5 Rh4! -+
The real key is a surprising move to the other corner:
1. Ra8!! After the rook was oddly placed in front of the passed pawn, now
white seems to break another principle: "In rook endgames, it is usually
better to choose the longer flank." 1... Re3
The other rook was "pinned": 1... Rc3 2. Ra2+ =
2. Ra4!
2. d7? Rd3+ 3. Ke6 Rc6+ 4. Ke7 Rc7 -+
2... Rc8
2... Rd3+ 3. Rd4 =
3. Rd4+ Kc3 4. Rd1! White has managed to transfer the rook behind its passed pawn! 4... Rd8
5. Kc6! The white king can choose the shorter flank! Compare with the similar position from the thematic try. 5... Kc2 6. Rd4! 6. Rd5? Rc8+ 7. Kb7 Rc4! 8. d7 Rb3+ 9. Ka6 Ra4+ -+ 6... Rc3+ 7. Kb7! 7. Kb6? Rb8+ -+ 7... Rd7+ 8. Kb6 Now both black's king and one of its rooks are on the shorter flank where there is less space to manoeuvre.
8... Rc8 9. Rd5 Rc4! Now the white rook cannot move. 10. Kb5 Now black doesn't have a move like 10... Rh4! from the thematic try! 10... Rc3 11. Kb6 Ra3! 12. Rd4! 12. Kc6? Rda7! 13. d7 R3a6+ 14. Kc5 Ra5+ 15. Kd4 Rxd5+ 16. Kxd5 Rxd7+ -+ 12... Kc3 13. Rd1 Kc4 14. Kc6 Rda7! An interesting counter-play. Both black rooks also choose the a-file just like the white on the first move. 15. Rc1+ Pushing the pawn would be fatal: 15. d7? R3a6# 15... Kb4 16. Rb1+ Ka5 16... Kc4 17. Rc1+ perpetual check
17. Rb5+ 17. d7? Rc3+ 18. Kd6 Rd3+ -+ 17... Ka6 18. Rb6+ Ka5 19. Rb5+ Ka4 (19... Ka6 20. Rb6+ perpetual check) 20. Rd5 = All black pieces end up misplaced on the a-file while the white ones are in dominant positions. Draw!
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Thematic try: 1. Nd3? Nf4! 2. Nc5+ 2. Nxf4+ Ke5 = 2... Kd6 3. Nd7 Ne6 4. e5+ Kd5 5. Kf7! Nc5 6. Ng4! Nxd7 7. e6 Nb6 8. Ne3+ 8. e7 Nc8 9. e8=Q Nd6+ = 8... Kc5 9. Ke7! Nc8+ 10. Kd7 Nb6+ 11. Kd8
In this position, black has a saving manoeuvre! 11... Nc8! 12. Nc4! 12. Kxc8 Kd6 = 12... Na7!! Black uses the extra file on the longer flank! 12... Kd5? 13. Kd7 +- 13. Na5 13. e7 Nc6+ = 13... Nc8! 14. Nc4 Na7 15. Ne5 Nc8! 16. Nc4 Na7 positional draw
1. Nf3! Nd4! 1... Ng3 2. e5 Nf5 3. Nd3 Nd6+ 4. Kf8 +- 2. Ng5+ 2. Nxd4+? Ke5 = 2... Kf6 3. Nf7 Ne6 4. e5+ Kf5 5. Kd7! 5. Ke7? Ng5 6. Nc4 Nf3 = 5... Ng5 6. Nc4! 6.Nxg5? Kxe5 = 6... Nxf7 7. e6 Nh6 By sacrificing its h2 knight white had managed to keep the black knight on the shorter flank. 7... Kf6 8. e7 +- 8. Ne3+! 8. e7? Ng8 9. e8=Q Nf6+ = 8... Kg5 9. Ke7! Ng8+ 9... Kf4 10. Kf8! +- 10. Kf7 10. Kf8? Kf6! = 10... Nh6+ 11. Kf8 +-
In the thematic try we saw a mirrored position (Position X') but now black doesn't have a saving manoeuvre which starts with a knight sacrifice. There is no extra file next to the h-file!
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In Heuacker's original setup one of the pawns was white: wKe6,Qe7,Ph2/bKe3,Pb2,c2,d2,e2,f2,g2
1. Qa4+! Kd3 1... Ke3 2. Ke5 d1=Q (2... e1=Q 3. Qe4#; 2... f1=Q 3. Qd4+ Kf3 4. Qf4#) 3. Qf4+ Kd3 4. Qd4#; 1... Kf3 2. Kf5 e1=Q (2... f1=Q 3. Qf4#; 2... g1=Q 3. Qe4+ Kg3 4. Qg4#) 3. Qg4+ Ke3 4. Qe4# 2. Kd5 c1=Q 2... d1=Q 3. Qd4#; 2... e1=Q 3. Qc4+ Ke3 4. Qe4# 3. Qe4+ Kc3 4. Qc4#
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Thematic try: 1. Nb3? Ne6+! Black thematic try: 1... Nc6+? 2. Kxd5 Nb8 3. Nc5 Kc2 4. Na6! Nd7 5. Ke6 Nb6 6. Nc7 Kb3
7. Na8!! The white knight leaves the d5 square empty for the king. 7... Na4 8. Kd5! +- 2. Ke5! 2. Kxd5 Nf8 3. Nd4 Kd2 4. Ne6 Nd7 5. Kc6 Ne5+ 6. Kd5 Nd7 positional draw 2... Nf8 3. Nc5 d4 or 3... Kc2 4. Kf6 d4 4. Kf6 Kc2 5. Kf7 d3 6. Nxd3 Nd7 7. Ke8 Nf6+! 7... Nb6? 8. Nc5 Kc3 9. Na4+! = 8. Ke7 Nd5+ 9. Ke6 Nb6 10. Nb4+ Kb3
11. Nd5 Unfortunately, the white knight blocks the d5 square. 11... Na4! 12. d7 12... Kd5 was not possible anymore. 12... Nc5+ =
Solution: 1. Nf3! Nc6+! The black knight tries to stay on the other flank compared to the white knight's position. 1... Ke2 2. Ne5 Ne6+ 3. Kxd5 Nf8 4. Ng6! +- 2. Kc5! 2. Kxd5? Nb8 3. Nd4 Kd2 4. Nc6 Nd7 5. Ke6 Nc5+ 6. Kd5 Nd7 positional draw 2... Nb8 3. Ne5 d4! 4. Kb6! There is no time to pick the pawn! 4... Ke2 5. Kb7! The black knight is caught but it will manage to escape. 5... d3 6. Nxd3 There was no time to pick the black knight. 6... Nd7 7. Kc8! This is the best square to avoid some nasty knight forks. 7. Kc6? Nf8! 8. Ne5 Kd2! (8... Ke3? 9. Kd5 = mutual zugzwang) 9. Ng6 Nxg6 10. d7 Ne5+ = 7... Nb6+! Before going to the longer flank, the black knight tries to chase the king to a less favourable square. 8. Kc7 Nd5+ 9. Kc6 Nf6 By pushing the white king to c6, black has managed to dismiss g4 as a square for a knight sacrifice. 10. Nf4+ Kf3
We have a situation similar to the initial position: the attacked knight has to decide again which way to go. 11. Nh5!! The white knight finds another square to sacrifice itself using the extra file. 11. Nd5? is bad because it blocks the d5 square: 11... Ng4! 12. d7 Ne5+ = 11... Ng4 12. Kd5! +- This move is the reason why the d5 square was left empty!
It is paradoxical that the knight is better placed on the edge of the board (h5) or even on a corner square (a8) than in the centre (d5)!
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1. Rb3+! 1. O-O? Rbg5+! 2. Bg4 Rxg4#; 1. Rh3+? Rxh3 2. Bxh3 (2. Rxb5 Rh1#) 2... Rxb1# 1... Rxb3 2. O-O! 2. Bxb3? Rxh1#; 2. Rxh5? Rb1# 2... Rbb5 2... Rg5+ 3. Kh2 Rb6 4. Rf5! Rxf5 5. Bxf5 Kf3 6. Bc8! Rh6+ 7. Kg1 Rg6+ 8. Kf1! Rc6 9. Bb7 = 3. Re1+ Kf3 4. Rf1+ Kg3 5. Ra1! 5. Rc1? Rhc5 6. Rd1 Rc3 -+; 5. Rd1? Rbg5! 6. Rd3+ Kf4+ 7. Kf2 Rh2+ 8. Kf1 Ra5! 9. Rd1 (9. Bb3 Ra3 -+) 9... Rh1+ 10. Ke2 Re5+ -+ 5... Ra5 6. Rb1! Rhb5 6... Rab5 7. Ra1 Ra5 8. Rb1 positional draw 7. Rd1! Rb2 7... Ra3 8. Bc4! = 8. Rd3+ Kf4 9. Rd1 Rg5+ 10. Kh1! 10. Kf1? Ke3 11. Re1+ Kf3 -+ 10... Rh5+ 11. Kg1 Rbh2 12. Bd5 = 12. Bb3? Rh1+ 13. Kg2 R5h2#
1. Qb5!! Thematic try: 1. Qh5? Rb1+ 2. Qd1 Rh1+ 3. Kf2! Rhxd1 (3... Rbxd1? 4. e8=Q+ Kd3 5. Qb5+ c4 6. Qxd5+ +-) 4. e8=Q+ Kd3 5. Qe5 Rd2+ 6. Kg3 Rg1+ 7. Kh3 Rh1+ perpetual check 1... Rh1+ 2. Qf1 Rb1+ 3. Kd2! Rbxf1 3... Rhxf1 4. e8=Q+ Kf3 5. Qh5+ g4 6. Qxf5+ +- 4. e8=Q+ Kf3 5. Qe5! Rf2+ 6. Kc3 Rc1+ 7. Kb3 Rb1+ 8. Ka3! +- 8. Ka4?? Ra2#
1. Ke3! 1. Kc3? Kc1 2. Re8 b1=Q 3. Bxb1 Kxb1 4. Rd8 Kc1! -+ (4... f1=Q? 5. Rd1+! Qxd1 echo stalemate) 1... Ke1 2. Rc8 f1=Q 3. Bxf1 Kxf1 3... b1=Q 4. Bd3 Qb2 (4... Qd1 5. Rc2 Qd2+ 6. Rxd2 stalemate) 5. Rc2 Qa3 6. Re2+ Kd1 7. Rd2+ Kc1 8. Rc2+ Kd1 9. Rd2+ perpetual check 4. Rd8 b1=Q 4... Ke1 5. Rh8! = 5. Rd1+? Qxd1 echo stalemate
1. Bd4! Thematic try: 1. Bf4? Re4! 2. Bh2 Kd3 3. Kd6 Rh4 4. Be5 Rh6 5. Bg7 Rg6 -+ 1... Re4 2. Bb2! 2. Ba1? Kf3! 3. Kf6 Ra4! 4. Be5 Ra6 -+ 2... Kf3 3. Kf6 Rb4 4. Ba3! 4. Be5? Rb6 5. Bc7 Rc6 -+ 4... Rb6 5. Ke5 Kg4 5... Rb3 6. Bd6 Re3+ 7. Kf6 = 6. Be7! 6. Bd6? Rxd6 7. Kxd6 Kf5 -+; 6. Bf8? Kg5 7. Be7+ Kg6 -+ 6... Ra6 7. Bd8! 7. Bf6? Kh5! 8. Bd8 Kg6 -+ 7... Kh5 8. Kf6 Rc6 9. Be7 Ra6 10. Bd8 Kg4 11. Ke5 positional draw
1. Kd6! Thematic try: 1. Kf6? Kf4 2. Kg6 Kg3 3. Kf5 h3 4. Ke4 h2 -+; 1. Kd5? b3 -+; 1. Kf5? h3 -+ 1... Kd4 1... Kf4 2. Kc6! (2. Kc5? Ke5 -+) 2... Ke5 3. Kd7 = 2. Kc6 Kc3 3. Kd5! b3 4. Ke4 b2 5. Ba2! =
1. Bc8! Thematic try: 1. Be8? Kxe8 2. Kc4 Kd8 3. Kb5 Kc8 4. Ka6 Kb8 =; 1. Ke4? stalemate 1... Kxc8 2. Ke4 Kd8 3. Kf5 Ke8 4. Kg6 Kf8 5. Kh7! +-
