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)

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Study 145

Árpád Rusz
Problem Paradise
2017

White wins

1. Bxf3! Rxg5! 1... Rxf3 2. g6 Rf1+ 3. Ka2 Rf8 4. g7 Ra8+ 5. Kb3! echo 5... Kd3 6. Kb4 Rb8+ 7. Ka5 Kc4 8. Be5 Re8 9. Kb6! +- (9. Bd6? Rg8 10. Bf8 Rxg7! 11. Bxg7 Kxc5 =) 2. c6 Ke3

3. Bh1! Rg1+ 4. Kc2!! echo 4. Ka2? Rxh1 5. c7 Rc1 =; 4. Kb2? Rxh1 5. c7 Rh8 = 4... Rxa1 4... Rxh1 5. c7 chameleon echo 5... Rh8 6. Bxh8 +- 5. c7 chameleon echo 5... Ra8 6. Bxa8 +-

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Study 143

Árpád Rusz
Joiţa MT
2018

White wins

The a4 pawn prevents a simple win (1.Rf4 followed by 2.Ra4#). In order to win, white will try to reach the same position but without the a4 pawn. But how does the "disappearing pawn magic trick" work?

1. Bf3! Logical try: 1. Rf4? Rd6! -+; 1. f3? Rf1! = 1... Rd4 1... Bxf3 2. Rxf3

Saavedra's double attack (echo)

2... Rh1 3. Ra3#; 1... Rd6 2. Rxd6 Bf5+ 3. Rd3! +- 2. Kc3! 2. Bxg4? Rxg4 3. Rxh6 Rg8 4. Ra6 Ra8 = 2... Rxa4 3. Kb3 Bd7! 3... Rd4 4. Bxg4 Rxg4 5. Rc6 Kb1 6. Rxc7 +- 4. Bc6! Rd4 4... Bxc6 5. Rxc6

Saavedra's double attack (echo)

5... Rxa5 6. Rc1# 5. Kc3! 5. Bxd7? Rxd7 6. Rxh6 Rd8 = 5... Rd1 6. Kc2 Bg4 We are back to the initial position but the a4 pawn has disappeared! 6... Rd4 7. Bxd7 Rxd7 8. Rf4! +-

The a4 pawn has disappeared!

7. Rf4! Rd6 8. Ra4#

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Related study: Saavedra 1

Study 141

Árpád Rusz
Krug-50 JT
2017
Commendation

White wins

1. Nc5 h2 2. Ne4 Kf4 2... h1=Q 3. Ng3+ +- 3. Nf2 Kf3 4. Nh1 Kg2 5. Ke3 Kxh1 6. Kf2 c5 7. d3 a4 8. Bb2

a. 8... c4 9. dxc4 9. d4? c3! 10. Bxc3 a3 11. Ba1 a2 12. d5 stalemate 9... a3 10. Ba1! echo 10. Bxa3? stalemate

10... a2 11. Kg3 Kg1 12. Bd4+ Kh1 13. Kh3! 13. c5 a1=Q 14. Bxa1 Kg1 15. Bd4+ Kh1! -+ 13... a1=Q 14. Bxa1 Kg1 15. Bd4+ Kh1 16. Be5 Kg1 17. Bxh2+ +-

b. 8... a3 9. Bxa3 c4 10. d4! 10. dxc4? stalemate 10... c3 11. Bc1! echo

11... c2 12. Kg3 Kg1 13. Be3+ Kh1 14. Kh3! c1=Q 15. Bxc1 Kg1 16. Be3+ Kh1 17. Bf4 Kg1 18. Bxh2+ +-

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Study 136

Árpád Rusz
JPA 85 JT
2017
Special Honourable Mention

Draw

Black has twice as much material than white so it looks very natural to start with a queen promotion: 1. e8=Q? a2 2. Rf6+ Kg2+ 3. Kc2 3. Kc4 Ra4+! 4. Qxa4 Rh4+ -+ 3... a1=N+! Black chooses to promote the pawn to a knight! 3... Rc3+? 4. Kd2 Rd5+ 5. Ke2 Rc2+ 6. Ke3 Rc3+ 7. Ke2 =

Variation A:

4. Kb2 Rb3+ 5. Kc1 Rc5+ 6. Kd2 6. Kd1 Rb1+ 7. Ke2 Rc2+ 8. Kd3 Rd1+ 9. Ke3 Re1+ -+ 6... Rc2+ 7. Kd1 Rb1#

echo checkmate

Variation B:

4. Kd1 Rh1+ 5. Kd2 Ra2+ 6. Kd3 Rd1+ 7. Kc3 Rc2+ 8. Kb4 Rb1+ 9. Ka3 Rb3+ 10. Ka4 Ra2#

echo checkmate

Let's go back to the initial position of the study.

The actual solution starts with a surprising sacrifice: 1. Rh6!! a2! 1... Rxh6 2. e8=Q a2 3. Qf7+! (3. Qf8+? Kg2 4. Qg7+ (4. Qxh6 a1=Q -+) 4... Rg6 5. Qb2+ Kh3 6. Qc3+ Rg3 -+) 3... Kg2 4. Qb7+! Kg1 5. Qg7+ Rg6 6. Qd4+ = 2. Rxh3+ Kg2

3. Rh1!! 3. e8=Q? a1=Q 4. Qe4+ Kxh3 5. Qf3+ Kh4 6. Qf4+ Kh5 -+ 3... Kxh1 3... Re5 4. Ra1 Rxe7 5. Rxa2+ Kg3 6. Ra5 Rc7 7. Rd5! Kg4 8. Rd4+ Kg5 9. Rd5+ Kg6 10. Rd6+ Kg7 11. Rd5! Rc6 12. Kb4! Kg6 13. Kb5 Rc8 14. Rd6+ Kg5 15. Rd5+ Kg4 16. Rd4+ Kg3 17. Rd3+ (17. Rd5? Rh8 -+) 17... Kg4 18. Rd4+ Kg5 19. Rd5+ Kg6 20. Rd6+ perpetual check) 4. e8=Q Finally, the pawn promotes to a queen. 4... a1=Q 5. Qe4+ Kh2 6. Qh4+ Kg2 7. Qg4+ Kf2 8. Qf4+ Ke2 9. Qe4+ Kd2 9... Kf2 10. Qf4+ Kg2 11. Qg4+ Kh2 12. Qh4+ perpetual check 10. Qd4+! Qxd4 stalemate

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Asymmetry 7

P. Heuacker
Wiener Neueste Nachrichten
1927
- version by Rusz (2017) -

White wins

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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Study 123

Árpád Rusz
Malyshko-105 MT
2017
2nd Prize

White wins

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

Position X'

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

Position X

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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Asymmetry 4

L. Loewenton
Hungarian Chess Federation Ty
Commendation
- correction by Rusz (2017) -

Draw

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

Study 121

Árpád Rusz
Shakhmatnaya Kompozitsia
2017
2nd Honourable mention

White wins

1. Ng3 The knight takes the e4 square from the black king. 1... Nd6 1... Ke3 2. f5 Kf4 3. b4! Kxg3 4. b5 Kf4 5. b6 Nd6 6. f6 Ke5 7. b7! (7. f7? Nxf7+ =) 7... Nxb7 8. f7 +- 2. Kg7 2. f5? Ke5 3. Kg7 Nxf5+ 4. Nxf5 Kxf5 = 2... Ne4 Now the white knight has to leave. Fortunately, the black king still cannot attack efficiently the f-pawn because the e4 square is blocked. 2... Ke3 3. f5 Kf4 4. Kf6! Kxg3 5. Ke6 +-

3. Nh1!! The only way to win is by a Switchback move and a voluntary self-incarceration of the white knight! The knight had 5 other squares to go, let's see why were they wrong:
3. Nxe4? Kxe4 4. b4 Kxf4 5. b5 Ke5 6. b6 Kd6 7. b7 Kc7 =;
1st thematic try: 3. Nh5? Kc4 4. Kf7 Kb3 5. Ke6 Kxb2 6. Ke5 Position 1 6... Nf2! =;
2nd thematic try: 3. Nf1? Kc4 4. Kf7 Kb3 5. Ke6 Kxb2 6. Ke5 Position 2 6... Nc5! = (6... Nf2? 7. f5 Ng4+ 8. Ke6 Kc3 9. Ne3! +- echo sacrifice);

echo sacrifice

3. Nf5+? Kc4 4. Ne3+ Kd3 5. Nd1 Nd6 6. Kf6 Ke4 7. Kg5 Nf7+ 8. Kg4 Nh6+ 9. Kg3 Nf5+ 10. Kg4 Nh6+ 11. Kg5 Nf7+ perpetual check;
3. Ne2+? Ke3 4. f5 Kxe2 =
3... Kd5! 3... Kc4 4. Kf7! Kb3 5. Ke6 Kxb2 6. Ke5 Position 3 6... Nc5 7. Nf2! +-; 3... Ke3 4. f5 Kf4 5. f6 Nxf6 6. Kxf6 +- 4. f5 4. Kg6? Ke6 5. f5+ Ke5 mutual zugzwang 6. b4 Kd5 7. b5 Kd6! 8. Ng3! Nxg3 9. f6 Ne2 10. f7 Nf4+ 11. Kf5 Ne6 12. b6 Nf8 13. b7 Kc7 = 4... Kc4! Only now! Kf7 is not possible anymore. 4... Ke5 5. Kg6 +- mutual zugzwang 5. Kg6! 5. Kf7? Nd6+ 6. Ke6 Nxf5 7. Kxf5 Kb3 = 5... Kb3 6. Ng3! +- White white wins repeating the first move from the initial position.

echo sacrifice

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Study 116

Árpád Rusz
5th UAPA Ty
2017
Commendation

Draw

1. f3+! 1. Rb6? Qh3+ -+; 1. Rb4+? Kd3 2. Bf6 Qf5+ (2... Qd5+? 3. Ke8! Qe6+ 4. Be7 =) 3. Ke7 Qc5+ -+; 1. Kc6? Qd5+ -+ 1... Qxf3 2. Kc6! 2. Kd6? Qd1+ -+ 2... Kd3+! 3. Kb5 Qd5+ 4. Ka4! Kc4 5. Ka3 5. Ba5? Qd1 -+ 5... Qd1 6. Rb6! 6. Rb7? Qd6+ 7. Kb2 Qh2+ 8. Ka3 Kxc3 -+ 6... Qh1 6... Kxc3 7. Rc6+ Kd3 8. Rd6+ =; 6... Qc1+ 7. Ka2! (7. Bb2? Qe3+ -+) 7... Qc2+ 8. Bb2 = 7. Rb3 7. Bb2? Qa8+ 8. Ra6 Qxa6#; 7. Ba5? Qa1# 7... Qa8+ 7... Qd1 8. Rb6 positional draw 8. Kb2 Qg2+ 9. Ka3 Qc2

echo

10. Rb4+! 10. Rb6? Qxc3+ -+ 10... Kxc3 11. Rc4+! Kxc4 stalemate

echo stalemate

On move four, white had another square for the king.
Thematic try: 4. Kb4? Qc4+? 5. Ka3 Kc2

echo

6. Rb2+ Kxc3 7. Rc2+! Kxc2 stalemate

echo stalemate

The 4. Kb4? thematic try is refuted by 4... Qd6+! 5. Ka4 (5. Kb5 Kc2 -+) 5... Kc4 6. Ba5 Qd1 -+

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Study 107

Á. Rusz
Chess Informant-50 JT
2016
3rd Honourable Mention

White wins

1. Nc7+ 1. Rc8? R3a6+! 2. Kb5 Rxe6 3. Qf8 Re5+ 4. Kb4 Re4+ 5. Kc3 Re3+ 6. Kc2! Re2+ (6... Ra2+? 7. Kb1 +-) 7. Kd1 Re1+ 8. Kc2 Re2+ 9. Kd3 Re3+ 10. Kc2 Re2+ perpetual check 1... Bxc7+ 2. Kxc7 b5+ 3. Kc6! 3. Kc8? Rh3! (3... Rg3? 4. Rg4 +-) 4. Qb2 Ne3! 5. Qe5 (5. Rc7 Nd5! 6. Rb7! Rh8+! (6... Rxb7? 7. Qa2+ Ra7 8. Qxd5+ Rb7 9. Qxb7#) 7. Qxh8 Rxb7 8. Qa1+ Ra7 9. Qh1 Rc7+ 10. Kd8 Rc5 =) 5... Rb7 6. Rc6 Rh8+! 7. Qxh8 Rb8+ 8. Kc7 Nd5+! (8... Rxh8? 9. Ra6# echo) 9. Kd6 Rxh8 = 3... R7a6+ 3... bxc4 4. Qf8#; 3... R3a6+ 4. Kxb5 Rb7+ 5. Kxa6 Rxb4 6. Rxb4 +- 4. Kxb5 R3a5+ 5. Qxa5 Rxa5+

6. Kb6!! 6. Kxa5? Kb7 7. Kb5 (7. Re4 Kc6 8. Kb4 Kd5 =) 7... Ne3 8. Rf4 (8. Rd4 Kc7 9. Kc5 Nf5 =) 8... Nd5 9. Rf7+ Nc7+ 10. Kc5 Kc8 11. Kc6 Ne8 12. Ra7 Kd8 13. Rf7 Kc8 positional draw 6... Kb8 6... Ra1 7. Rc8# echo 7. Re4! Ra6+ 7... Kc8 8. Kxa5 +-; 7... Rh5 8. Re8# 8. Kxa6 Kc7 9. Kb5 Kd6 10. Kc4 +-

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Study 97

Á. Rusz
Facebook
2016
- after D. Hlebec -

Draw

1. Kxd4! 1. Rdxd4? Rxa4+ 2. Kb3 Rb1+! 3. Kc2 (3. Kxa4 a1=Q#) 3... Rb2+! 4. Kc3 (4. Kxb2 a1=Q+ -+) 4... Ra3+ 5. Kc4 Rb4# 1... a1=Q+ 1... Rxa4+? 2. Ke5 +- 2. Nc3 Bg7+ 3. Rde5! 3. Ree5? Ra4+ 4. Ke3 Re1+ 5. Kd2 (5. Kf2 g1=Q# echo) 5... Qc1# echo 3... Ra4+ 4. Bc4 Rd1+ 5. Nd3 g1=Q+ 6. Re3+ Kb6 7. Qc6+! Kxc6 stalemate

stalemate

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Study 59

Árpád Rusz
Internet (Endgame Tablebases Forum)
2011
- after E. Vlasak -

White wins

1. Nc4+ 1. Rd5+? Ke4! (1... Kxe6? 2. Rfxf5 +-) 2. Rfxf5 Rxe6 3. Nc4 Rxc5 4. Nxe3

4...Rxd5 5. Rxd5 Kxe3 = 1... Kxe6 1... Ke4 2. Nd6+ Ke5 3. Rxf5+ Kxe6 4. Rdd5 +- 2. Rd6+ Ke7 3. Rxf5 Rxg5 3... Rxc5 4. Rxc5 Rxd6 5. Nxe3 +- 4. Nxe3 Rxc5 5. Rdd5!

Grip Theme

5...Rc1+ 5... Rxd5 6. Nxd5+ Ke6 7. Rxg5 +-; 5... Rxf5 6. Nxf5+ Ke6 7. Rxc5 +-; 5... Rg1+ 6. Kf2 Rxd5 7. Nxd5+ Ke6 8. Rf6+ +- 6. Kd2 Rxf5 7. Nxf5+ Ke6 8. Rd6+ +-

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Study 56

Árpád Rusz
Internet (Talkchess Forum)
2011
- after S. Hornecker -

White wins

1. d5 Kf8 2. Kb3 Ke7 3. Kc4 Kf6 4. Kb5 Kxg6 5. Kxa5

First main line: 5...Kf5 6. Kb5! g5 7. a5 g4 8. a6 g3 9. a7 g2 10. a8=Q g1=Q 11. Qa3 Ke4! (11... Ke5 12. Kc6 +-) 12. Kc6 Qd4 13. Qa5! (13. Qxd6? Qa4+ =) 13... Kf5 (13... Ke5 14. Qe1+ +-) 14. Qb5! (14. Qb6? Qxb6+ 15. Kxb6 Ke4! 16. Kc6 Ke5 -+ mutual zugzwang) 14... Kf6 (14... Ke5 15. Qe2+ +-) 15. Qb6 Qxb6+ 16. Kxb6 Kf5 17. Kc7! (17. Kc6? Ke5 -+ mutual zugzwang) 17... Ke5 18. Kc6 +- mutual zugzwang

echo

Second main line: 5... Kf7 6. Kb5 g5 7. Kc4! (7. a5? g4 8. a6 g3 9. a7 g2 10. a8=Q g1=Q 11. Qa3 Qg4 12. Qxd6 Ke8 =) 7... Ke7 8. Kd4 (minor duals 8. Kd3, 8. a5) 8... Kd7 9. Ke4 (minor dual 9. a5) 9... Kc7 10. a5! (10. Kf5? Kb6 11. Kxg5 Kc5! =) 10... Kb7 11. Kf5 Ka6 12. Kxg5 Kxa5 13. Kf6! Kb5 14. Ke7! (14. Ke6? Kc5 -+ mutual zugzwang) 14... Kc5 15. Ke6 echo mutual zugzwang

echo

Study 26

Árpád Rusz
Mat Plus
2007
Honourable Mention
- version -

Draw

1.Qf2! [1.Qd4? Ne2! 2.Kxe2 Nf4+ 3.Kf1 Rg2–+] 1...Ne2! [1...Ne3+ 2.Qxe3 Rg2 3.Qxc3=] 2.Qxe2 g3 [2...Nf4 3.Qxg4=] 3.Qf3! [3.Qe4? f5 4.Bg6! fxe4 5.Bxe4 Rh3!! 6.Bf3! Kh2! 7.Bxg2 g4 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate] 3...g4 4.Qe4 f5 5.Bg6!

echo X-ray defence

5... f4! [5...fxe4 6.Bxe4 Rh3

7.Bf3!! Rh2 (7...gxf3 stalemate; 7...Kh2 8.Bxg2 stalemate) 8.Be4 Rh3 (8...h3 9.Bf3 gxf3 stalemate) 9.Bf3! positional draw] 6.Bh5! f3 7.Qxf3

echo X-ray defence

7... gxf3 8.Bxf3 Rh3 [8...h3 9.Be4 stalemate] 9.Be4! [9.Bxg2+? Kh2 mutual zugzwang]

virtual stalemate

9...Rh2 [9...Kh2 10.Bxg2 stalemate] 10.Bf3 positional draw

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Related studies: Study 26a Study 26b