Merry Christmas!
My Christmas Puzzle for year 2025:
White wins
Watch this study on a dynamic board.
1.a5! bxa5 2.c5! dxc5 3.e5! fxe5 4.g5! hxg5 5.h6 +-
You can also check the Christmas Puzzles from previous years here.
This is my version of the famous Lasker-Reichhelm position:
Draw
In this endgame, opposition fails completely: 1. Kb2? Kc8! 2. Kc2 Kd8! 3. Kd2 Kc7! 3... Ke8? 4. Kd1? Ke7 5. Kd2 Ke6 6. Kd1 Ke5 7. Kd2 = 4. Kc1 Kd7 5. Kb1!? 5. Kd1 quickly loses after 5... Kc6 6. Kc2 Kd6 -+ 5... Ke6 5... Kc6? 6. Kb2 = 6. Kc1 Kf5 7. Kd2 Kg4! 8. Ke2 Kf4 9. Kf2 Ke5 and the queen-side cannot be protected anymore.
1. Ka2! Instead of opposition, the best strategy is to use "anti-opposition". 1... Kb7 2. Ka1!! 2. Ka3? Kc7 3. Kb3 Kd7 4. Kc2 Kd6 -+ 2... Kb6 3. Ka2 Kc5 4. Kb3 Kc6 5. Kb2 Kc7 6. Kb1! Kd6 7. Kc2 Kd7 8. Kc1! Ke6 9. Kd1(2) Kf5 10. Ke1! 10. Ke2? Kf4! 11. Kf2 Ke5 -+ 10... Kg5 11. Kf1! Kg4 12. Kf2 Kf4 13. Ke2 Kf5 14. Ke1 Kf6 15. Ke2 Kf7 16. Ke1! Kg7 17. Kf1! Kg8 18. Kf2 Kf8 19. Ke2! = Don't be tempted to step forward! 19. Kf3? Ke7 20. Kg4 Kd6 21. Kxh3 Kc5 22. Kxh4 Kb4 23. Kg5 Kc3! (23... Kxa4 $2 24. h4 Kb3 25. h5 a4 26. h6 a3 27. h7 a2 28. h8=Q a1=Q 29. Qb8+ Kc2 30. Qh2+ Kc3 31. Qc7+ Kb3 32. Qb8+! =) 24. h4 Kxd3 -+
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A study composed after the game Shankland vs Firouzja (FIDE Grand Swiss 2025):
Draw
The play is governed by the theory of corresponding squares:
White has to fight against three black attack plans:
1) Penetration of the king through e5
2) The sacrifice d5-d4! followed by Kd5 and Kxd4
3) The sacrifice b6-b5! followed by bxa5 bxa4
1. Ka1!! 1. Kb3? Kc7! 2. Kb2 Kc6 3. Kb3 (3. Kb1 d4! 4. cxd4 Kd5 -+) 3... Kd7! 4. Kb2 Ke6 5. Kc2 Kd6! 6. Kd3 b5! -+ 1... Kc7 2. Kb1! Kc6 3. Kb2! Kd7 4. Kc1! Kd6 5. Kc2! Ke5 6. Kd3 Kf4 Now we have reached a position from the game.
7. Ke2! The continuation from the game was: 7. bxa5? bxa5 8. Kd4 Kf3 9. Kd3 Kg2 10. Kd4, and white resigned. 7. Kd4? Kf3 8. Kd3 Kg2 9. Ke2 Kxh2 10. Kf2 Kh1! (10... h4? 11. b5 =) 11. bxa5 (11. b5 Kh2 -+) 11... bxa5 12. Kg3 Kg1! -+; 7... Ke4 8. b5! d4 8... Kf4 9. Kf2 h4 10. Ke2 Ke4 11. Kd2 Kf3 12. Kd3 Kg2 13. Ke3 Kxh2 14. Kf2 = 9. cxd4 Kxd4 10. Kf3 Kc4 11. Ke4! Kb4 12. Kd5 Kxa4 13. Kc6 Kb4 14. Kxb6 a4 15. Kc6 a3 16. b6 a2 17. b7 a1=Q 18. b8=Q+ =
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In the first version of the study the bK stood on c7:
Draw
1. Kb1!! etc.
See the endgame Shankland vs Firouzja analized on Youtube:
GM Daniel King's Youtube channel
"chessroo" Youtube channel
My Christmas Puzzle for year 2024:
White wins
1. Rh4! 1. Rh1+? skewer Kc2 2. Rxa1 Kb2 3. Rh1 Kxa3 4. Rb1 Ka2 5. Rb8 a3 6. Kf3 Ka1 7. Ke3 a2 8. Kd3 stalemate 1... Kc2 2. Rxa4 Kb3 3. Ra8! Nc2 4. a4 Nb4! Now it is time to approach with the white king. 4... Kb4 5. a5 Kb5 6. a6 Kb6 7. a7 Kb7 8. Rc8! +-
5. Kh4!!
There is only one exit from the corner area for the white king! 5. Kg4? Nc6 6. Ra6 Ne5+ 7. Kf5 Nc4 =; 5. Kf4? Nc6! 6. Ra6 Nb4 7. Ra5 Nc6 8. Rc5 Nb4 9. a5 Nd3+ 10. Ke3 Nxc5 =; 5. a5? Ka4 6. a6 Ka5 7. a7 Nc6 =; 5. Kg2?! Nc6 6. Ra6 Nb4 7. Ra5 Na2 8. Ra8 Nb4 9. Kf1 Nc6 10. Ra6 Nb4 11. Ra5 Na2 12. Ra8 Nb4 13. Ke1? (13. Ke2? Nc6 14. Ra6 Nb4 15. Ra5 Na2 16. Ra8 Nc3+ =) 13... Nc6 14. Ra6 Nb4 15. Ra5 Nc6! 16. Rc5 Nb4 17. a5 Nd3+ = 5... Nc6 6. Ra6 Nb4 7. Ra5 Na2! 7... Nc2 8. Rc5 (8. Ra8? Kb4 9. a5 Kb5 10. a6 Kb6 11. a7 Na3! 12. Rb8+ Kxa7 13. Rb4 Nc2 =) 8... Nb4 9. a5 +- 8. Ra8! Kb4 8... Nb4 9. Kg5 Nc6 10. Ra6 Nb4 11. Ra5 Nc6 12. Rc5 Nd4 13. Rd5 (13. a5? Ne6+ 14. Kf6 Nxc5 =) 13... Kc4 14. Rd6 Nb3 15. Rb6 Nc5 16. a5 +- 9. a5 Kb5 10. a6 Kb6 11. Rc8! Ka7 11... Kxa6 12. Ra8+ +- skewer 12. Rc4! Kxa6 13. Ra4+ +-
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White wins
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1. Bd5! The bishop is aiming at the black pawn! 1. h6? Bc2+! 2. Kxc2 stalemate 1. Ka3? Bxe4! 2. Bxe4 stalemate 1... Bxe4! 2. h6!!
mutual zugzwang
2... Bxd5+ 3. Kc2 Be4+ 4. Kc1 Bd3 5. c4! Bh7 5... Bxc4 6. h7 +- 6. c5 Be4 7. c6! +-
I have composed this study after watching the last game of the World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju. The position which inspired me was the following:
Black to move
The move 56... Bd5! was catching the bishop, and after the exchanges Gukesh had a won pawn endgame on the board. The game ended suddenly by 57. Bxd5 Kxd5 58. Ke3 Ke5 0-1 although the move 58.Ke1!? could set a last trap to black.
After a posible trap 58.Ke1!?
Now advancing the king to the 4th rank is a mistake: 58... Kd4? 59. Kd2! Ke4 60. Ke2, and the opposition saves White. After 58. Ke1!?, only 58...Ke5! would have won because there would be a mutual zugwang on the board. The white king must go further from the pawns 59.Kd1, so black can push the f-pawn 59... f4 60. Ke2 f3+ 61. Ke3 f2! 62. Kxf2 Kd4! -+ (From f2, the white king doesn't have the saving opposition move Kd2 as in the try 58... Kd4?)
Draw
1. Kf3 Ka7 2. Kg2 Kb6
3. Kh1!! Mutual zugwang! As we will see, from now on, the white king's moves are guided by the theory of corresponding squares. For all available squares for the bishop on the c8-h3 diagonal (e6, f5, g4, and h3) , there is a corresponding square in the lower right corner of the board. (3. Kh2? Bf5! zz 4. Kg2 The king was lured into the big diagonal. 4... Kb5! 5. a7 Be4+ Check on the big diagonal. 6. Kh3 Kxb4 -+; 3. Kg1? Bh3! zz 4. Kh1 d6! zz 5. Kg1 Bf5! zz 6. Kh2 Bc8! zz 7. Kg2 The king should stay close to the h-pawn and be ready to attack it if the bishop captures the white pawn. But stepping onto the big diagonal could be dangerous... 7... Kb5! 8. a7 Bb7+ Again, the check on the big diagonal wins. 9. Kh3 Kxb4 -+)
3... Bh3 4. Kg1!! Bg4 5. Kg2! zz 5. Kh1? Kb5 6. a7 Bf3+ 7. Kh2 Kxb4 -+ 5... Bf5 6. Kh2! zz Be6 7. Kh1 The king is back to h1 after "drawing" a square shape (by moving clockwise). 7... d6! Moving this pawn seems to be a very good idea as we can increase the number of squares available for the bishop on the diagonal from 4 to 6 squares. There is no way the white king can cope with that!
8. Kg2! zz Because the bishop is not ready to give a check on the big diagonal, this square is still safe. 8. Kg1? Bf5! zz 9. Kh2 Bc8! -+ zz 8... Bf5 9. Kg1! zz Bh3 10. Kh1! zz Bc8 11. Kh2! zz Be6 11... Bxa6 12. Kh3 = 12. Kg2 The king is back to g2 after "drawing" a square shape (by moving anticlockwise). So far the white king managed to counter all bishop positions but we didn't use two of them yet: one new (d7) and one old (g4).} 12... Bd7!? After this waiting move, all king moves should lose... The salvation comes from the knight. When black moved the pawn to d6, that had a surprising side effect: the pawn became more vulnerable to knight attacks! Although the knight needs 3 moves to attack it, we will see that it can gain the necessary tempos.
13. Nd5+! One. 13. Kh2? Bc8! zz -+; 13. Kg1? Bf5! zz -+; 13. Kh1? Bh3! zz -+ 13... Kxa6 14. Nf6! Two! 14... Bc8 15. Ne8! Here we are! 15... d5 16. Nc7+ = So the d7 square was actually forbidden for the bishop. From f6, the knight attacks the g4 square too, so a similar gain of tempo would have been possible if the bishop had moved there. That means we were again left with only 4 available squares for the bishop on that diagonal (c8, e6, f5, and h3), and the previous play was again fully guided by (a completely different set of) corresponding squares between the Bishop and the King!
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Draw
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1. d4 1. Kf2? Kxd2 2. Kg3 Bf5 -+ 1... Kd3 2. d5 Ke3 3. d6! exd6 3... e6 4. Bc6! e5 5. Bxd7! (5. fxe5? dxc6 -+) 5... Bxd7 6. fxe5 =
4. Ba8!! zz
Tries:
a) 4. Kf1? Be6! (4... Kxf4? 5. Kf2 =) 5. Ke1 d5 -+ Due to the excellent position of the black king, black quicly wins by getting the pawn to d2.
b) 4. Bd5? Kxf4! 5. Kf2 Ke5 6. Bb7 Kd4 -+
c) 4. Bb7? Be6! zz. The key mutual zugzwang position. 5. Kg2 (5. Kf1 Bc4+! -+) 5... d5 6. f5 Bxf5 7. Bxd5 Be4+ -+
d) 4. Bh1? Bh3! zz 5. Ba8!? Kxf4! 6. Kf2 Ke5 7. Ke3 Now the pawns can be stopped forever by the white king by simply moving to d2, so it is quite paradoxical that white will eventually lose this game. d5 8. Bb7 Bf1! Oops! The white bishop cannot leave the corner area anymore, and it will be caught there! 9. Bc8 Bb5 10. Bb7 Bc4 11. Bc8 Kd6 12. Bb7 Kc7 13. Ba8 Kb8 -+
4... Bh3! 4... Kxf4 5. Kf2 Ke5 6. Ke3 d5 7. Bb7 and draws because, unlike in the 4. Bh1? try, the black bishop cannot switch to the a6-f1 diagonal. 5. Bh1!! zz The only square available on the long diagonal. 5... Be6 5... Bg4 6. Ba8 positional draw. 6. Bb7! zz Bf5 6... d5 7. f5! Bxf5 8. Bxd5 = 7. Bg2! zz Bg4 8. Ba8! positional draw. The bishops are moving on 4 pairs of corresponding squares.
My Christmas Puzzle for year 2023 is a twin study:
White wins
Watch this study on a dynamic board.
1. Kc8 Thematic try: 1. Kc6? Kxb8 2. Kb6 Ka8 3. a7 stalemate. There is no room for the black king next to the a-file. 1... Kb6 2. Kd7(8) Ka7 3. Kc7 We have reached the same position as the initial one but with BTM. 3... Ka8 4. Nd7 Ka7 5. Nc5 +-
The study has a twin by shifting the whole position by 5 files to the right:
White wins
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1. Kh6! Thematic try: 1. Kh8? Kg6! zz = There is no room for the white king next to the h-file. 1... Kxg8 2. Kg6 zz Kf8 3. f7 zz Ke7 4. Kg7 zz +-
White wins
1. Qh5+! The black king cannot be let to move to the 6th rank. Thematic try: 1. Qe6? Qf8+ 2. Kb7 Qg7+ 3. Kb8 Qg3+ 4. Kc8 Qc3+ 5. Kb7 Qg7+ perpetual check 1... Kg7 2. Qg5+ Kf7 2... Kh7 3. Qf6 +- 3. Qf5+ 3. Qd8? Kg6! 4. Qb8 Qe4+ = 3... Kg7 3... Ke7 4. Qc8 Kf6 5. Qb7 Qf8+ 6. Qb8 +- because there is no Qf3+ 4. Qe6! Back to the main plan. The threat is Qc6 followed by Qb7+. 4... Qb5 4... Qf8+ 5. Kb7 = Unlike in the thematic try, now there is no Qg7+. 5. Qd6 Kf7 5... Kh7 6. Qf6! zugzwang (6. Qb8? Qc5! 7. Qb1+ Kh6 8. Kb7 Qe7+ 9. Ka6 Qa3+ perpetual check) 6... Qb4 7. Qc6 +- 6. Qb8 Qc4! 7. Qb7+ Kg8!
Position A
This is the ideal position for the black pieces. This position was reached (with reversed colours) by Averbach in the analysis of the game Schlechter - Pillsbury (Vienna, 1898). He couldn't prove the win, but later a winning method was discovered by Stalyoraitis (1980). I could prove that the method is unique in the sense that reaching Position B is essential to win.* The game Veselovsky - Bebchuk (USSR, 1977) also could have been decided by this, but it has ended in a draw. A flawed analysis of that game appeared in Benko's Laboratory (Chess Life, April, 1982). being my starting point to create this study. 8. Qd7! The shortest way to win. The other moves are time-waisting duals which all lead to the same key position. 8... Qe4+! 9. Kb8! Qf4+ 10. Kc8 Qc4+ 11. Kd8 Qh4+ 12. Qe7 Qd4+ 13. Kc8 Qc4+ 14. Kb8 Qb5+ The black queen cannot stay any longer on the 4th rank. 15. Qb7 Qe5+ 16. Ka8! Qc5
Position B
Unfortunately for black, the ideal position of its pieces couldn't be reached anymore. The black queen is on c5 instead of c4, and that allows the following check: 17. Qb3+! 17. Qd7?! Qf8+ The position is still a win but white has to work hard to reach again the key position (B). A similar check will not be available at the end of the main line because the black king will be on f8. 17... Kf8 The best chance is to stay on the 8th rank because there is no time to run with the king to the lower half of the board. 17... Kh8 18. Qh3+ (18. Qb7? Qc3! = mutual zugzwang) 18... Kg8 19. Qe6+ Kh8 20. Qe8+ Kg7 21. Qd7+ Kh8 22. Qd8+ Kh7 23. Kb7 +- 18. Kb7 Qe7+ 19. Ka6 Qd6+ 20. Qb6 Qd3+ 21. Kb7 Qd7+ 22. Ka8! Qd5+ 23. Kb8 Qe5+ 24. Kb7 Qe4+ 25. Qc6 Qe7+ 26. Kb8 26. Ka8?! Qd8+ 26... Qb4+ 27. Ka8! and black quickly loses because there is no check on the 8th rank. For example: 27... Qf4 27... Qb3 28. Qc8+ Kf7 29. Qb7+ +- 28. Qc8+ Kg7 29. Qb7+ Kh6 30. Qc6+ Kh5 With the black king on the 4th rank, the position would be draw. 31. Kb7 Qb4+ 32. Ka6 Qa3+ 33. Kb6 Qb3+ 33... Qe3+ 34. Qc5+ +- 34. Qb5+ and wins.
*Proving that Position B is essential for the winning process was done using the Haworth Method. In the normal QP v Q tablebase both positions are wins. By regenerating the tablebase from scratch with a 'seed' (Position B set a priori to DRAW), one can see if that causes a change of the evaluation for Position A as well (to DRAW) proving that the two positions depend on each other.
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You can analyze the study with the help of the Syzygy tablebases here.
Update
The following study also features Stalyoraitis' position.
White wins
1. Qe8+ Kg7 2. Qd7+ Kg6 3. Qd3+ Kg7 4. Qg3+ Kf8 5. Qb8+ Kg7 6. Qc7+ Kg6 7. Qc4 Qf3+ 8. Kh2 Qe3 9. Qf1 Qe5+ 10. Kh1 Qh8+ 11. Kg2 Qa8+ 12. Kg1 Qa7+
13. Kh1! Qd7 14. Qf2 Kh5 15. Qe2+ Kg6 16. Qe4+ Kh5 17. Qc4 Qa7 18. Qe2+ Kg5 19. Kg2 Qd4
Cyclic zugzwang
20. Qf2 Qe4+ 21. Qf3 Qd4 22. Qe2! We are back to the same position but with BTM. 22...Kg6 23. Qb5 Qe3 24. Kf1 Qe4 25. Kf2 Qd4+ 26. Kf3 Kh6 27. Qc6+ Kg7 28. Qc7+ Kg6 29. Qg3+ Kf5 30. Qh3+ Kg5 31. Qe6 Qd1+ 32. Qe2 Qd5+ 33. Kf2 Qf5+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qg6 36. Qc4 Qf6 37. Qd3 Kh6 38. Qb5 Qg7+ 39. Kf2 Qa7+ 40. Ke2 Qd4 41. Kf3 Qf6+ 42. Ke4 Qe6+ 43. Kd4 Qd6+ 44. Kc4 Kg6 45. Kb3 Kg7 46. Ka4 Kh8 47. Qb2+ Kg8 48. Ka5 Qc5+ 49. Qb5 Qc7+ 50. Qb6 Qe5+ 51. Kb4 Qb2+ 52. Kc5 Qf2+ 53. Kc6 Qf3+ 54. Kc7 Qf7+ 55. Kb8 Qe8+ 56. Kb7 Qf7+ 57. Qc7 Qb3+ 58. Ka7 Qe3+ 59. Qb6 Qc3 60. Kb7 Qf3+ 61. Qc6 Qf7+ 62. Kb8 Qf4+ 63. Qc7 Qb4+ 64. Qb7 Qf4+ 65. Ka8 Qc4 66. a7 Kh8 67. Qb2+ Kg8 68. Qb6 Qe4+ 69. Qb7 Qc4
Stalyoraitis' position
70. Qd7 Qe4+ 71. Kb8 Qf4+ 72. Kc8 Qc4+ 73. Kd8 Qh4+ 74. Qe7 Qd4+ 75. Kc8 Qc4+ 76. Kb8 Qb5+ 77. Qb7 Qe5+ 78. Ka8 Qc5 79. Qb3+ Kf8 80. Kb7 Qe7+ 81. Ka6 Qd6+ 82. Qb6 Qd3+ 83. Kb7 Qd7+ 84. Ka8 Qd5+ 85. Kb8 Qe5+ 86. Kb7 Qe4+ 87. Qc6 Qe7+ 88. Kb8 Qe5+ 89. Ka8 +-
If the above study is correct, then following study published in the SEE Manual becomes even cooler:
White wins
The starting position is a cyclic zugzwang. In order to win, white has to reach the same position but with black to move. There is a 4-move-long cycle to pass the move which is the only way to win! 1. Qg2+ Kf6 2. Qb2+ Kf5 3. Qb1+ Kg5 4. Qf1! Black is to move! 4... Qe8+ 5. Kf2 Qf8+ 6. Kg2 Qa8+ 7. Kg1 Qa7+ We have seen this position in Krug's study! 8. Kh1! The solution given in the SEE Manual stops here. 8... Qd7 9. Qf2 Kh5 10. Qe2+ Kg6 11. Qe4+ Kh5 12. Qc4 Qa7 13. Qe2+ Kg5 14. Kg2 Qd4
Cyclic zugzwang
In order to win, white again has to reach the same position but with black to move. There is a 3-move-long cycle to pass the move. 15. Qf2 Qe4+ 16. Qf3 Qd4 17. Qe2! Black is in zugzwang! Etc.
Draw
Despite being blocked, the pawn is extremely dangerous. Black has a simple winning plan: bring the queen to c1 after finding a safe square for the black king (e.g. b8). This forces white to take immediate action by trying to give a perpetual check.
1. Qf5+ 1. Qd3+? Ke8 2. Qb5+ Kf8 3. Qb4+ Kg8 4. Qc4+ Kg7 5. Qc7+ Kh6 6. Qb6+ Qg6! 7. Qxb2 Qg7+ -+ 1... Kc6 2. Qe6+ Kc5 3. Qd6+ Kc4 4. Qd4+ Kb3 5. Qd3+ Ka2 6. Qc4+ Kb1! The black pawn is blocked again. The white queen is in an optimal position, so let's move the king! 6... Ka1 7. Qa4+ Kb1 8. Qd1+ Ka2 9. Qa4+ perpetual check
7. Kf6! One more check would be a mistake. 7. Qd3+? Kc1 8. Qc4+ Kd1 9. Qd3+ Qd2 10. Qb1+ Ke2 11. Qe4+ Qe3-+ White loses due to the unfortunate position of its king. 7... Qf2+ 7... Qc2 8. Qf1+ Ka2 9. Qa6+ Kb1 10. Qf1+ perpetual check 8. Kg7! Qa7+ In order to try to free its king, the black queen has to take control of the a-file. 9. Kh8!!
That is the only safe square! 9. Kg6? Ka1 10. Qc3 Qa6+ The 6th rank is bad for the white king because of this check. 11. Kg7 Ka2 -+; 9. Kg8? Qa2 -+; 9. Kf8? Ka1 10. Qc3 Qa6 11. Qd4 Ka2 12. Qd5+ Ka3 13. Qc5+ Kb3 14. Qd5+ Qc4 15. Qb7+ Qb4+-+ This variation would be draw by wk on h8. 9... Ka1 10. Qc3 Ka2 11. Qc4+ Ka1 12. Qc3 Qa6 13. Qd4/e5 Ka2 14. Qd5+ Ka1 15. Qd4 =
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(You can analyze the study with the help of the Syzygy tablebases here.)
This study was inspired by the game Janowski-Marshall (Monte Carlo, 1901). After some hesitation, Janowski has found the right strategy and headed with the king to h8.
Draw
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You can analyze the study with the help of the Syzygy tablebases here.
1. Kc2! 1. Bh3? Ng8! -+ 1... Kb4 1... Ng4 2. Kc3 c5 3. Bg2 d4+ (3... Ne3 4. Bxd5! Nxd5 5. Kc4 =) 4. Kc4! Ne3+ 5. Kxc5 Nxg2 6. Kxd4 = 2. a3+! Kc5 2... Kxa3 3. Kc3 Nf5 4. Bh3 Ne7 5. Bd7! c6 6. Kd4 Kb4 7. Bxc6! Nxc6+ 8. Kxd5 = 3. Kb3! White is preparing to advance the a-pawn. 3. Kc3? Nf5 4. a4 Ng3! 5. Bd3 Ne4+ Avoiding this check is the reason why white should choose 3. Kb3 instead of 3. Kc3. 4. Kb3 Kb6! 5. Kb4 c5+ -+ Black gets a winning position after managing to achieve both of its strategic goals (stopping the white pawn and pushing the c-pawn to c5). 3... Nf5 4. a4 Nd4+ Here the check comes even one move earlier than in the previous try, but the knight is in an awkward position on d4. 4... Ng3 5. Bd3 Ne4 There is no check, therefore the white pawn can advance. 6. a5 = 5. Kc3 Nc6 Black stops the white pawn but simultaneously blocks its own c-pawn by two pieces... 6. Be2! 6. Bd3? d4+ 7. Kb3 Na5+ -+ 6... Na5 6... d4+ 7. Kc(d)2! (7. Kd3? Nb4+ 8. Ke4 Nd5 -+) 7... Kb4 8. Kd3 =
7. Bh5!!7. Bb5? d4+ (7... c6? 8. Be2! zz d4+ 9. Kd3 Nc4 10. Ke4 =) 8. Kd3 c6 9. Ba6 Kd5 -+
mutual zugzwang7... Nc4 7... Kd6 8. Kb4 =; 7... d4+ 8. Kd3 Nc6 9. Ke4 = 8. Be8! It is important for white to defend its pawn. 8. Be2? d4+ 9. Kd3 Nb2+ -+
mutual zugzwang8... Ne5! Black lets the a-pawn run, planning to block it later. The knight has a dominating position in the center of the board leaving only a few safe squares for the bishop. 8... d4+ 9. Kd3 Nb2+ A fork but fortunately, the white pawn is defended. (9... Ne5+ With the bishop on d7 instead of e8, white would now lose. 10. Ke4 =) 10. Kc2 Nc4 11. Kd3 c6 12. Kc2! (12. Ke4? Nd6+ -+) 12... Ne5 13. Kb3 Nc4 14. Kc2 Na5 15. Kd3 Nc4 16. Kc2 positional draw; 8... c6 9. Kb3! zz Kd4!? (9... Kb6 10. Bf7 =; 9... Kd6 10. Kb4 c5+ 11. Kb5 =) 10. a5! = (10. Bxc6? Na5+ -+); 8... Nd6 9. Bg6! (9. Bh5? c6! 10. Bg6 Nc4 11. Bf7 d4+ -+) 9... c6 10. Bh7! Nc4 11. Bg8! d4+ 12. Kc2! Kb4 13. Kd3 = 9. Bb5! 9. a5? Nc6 10. a6 (10. Bxc6 Kxc6 11. Kd4 Kd6 12. a6 c5+ -+) 10... Na7 11. Bd7 (11. Bh5 Nb5+ -+) 11... c6 -+; 9. Bh5? d4+ 10. Kb3 Nc4 11. Be2 Na5+ -+
mutual zugzwang9... Nc6 9... d4+ 10. Kb3 The bishop is ideally placed attacking both c4 and c6. 10... Nc6 11. Bxc6 Kxc6 12. Kc4 = 10. Be2! Thematic try: 10. Bf1? Na5 11. Be2 c6! zz 12. Bh5 Nc4 13. Be8 Ne5! zz. Now the bishop cannot continue the merry-go-round anymore and has to return. Unlike in the main line, here it is not possible to attack the c4 square by Bb5 because of the line-interfering c6 pawn. 14. Bh5 d4+ 15. Kb3 Nc4 16. Be2 Na5+ 17. Ka3 Kb6 18. Kb4 c5+ -+
mutual zugzwang10... Na5 11. Bh5! positional draw on 4 pairs of knight/bishop corresponding squares
Both the knight and the bishop moves along diamond-shape paths on the board:
There was even a third Rundlauf in the first version of the study!
Draw
1. Kb2! Kc5 2. Kc3 d5 3. Bf7! Nd6 4. Bg6! with two variations:
a) 4... Nc4 5. Be8! zz Ne5 6. Bb5! zz Nc6 7. Be2! zz Na5 8. Bh5!! zz Nc4 9. Be8 positional draw
b) 4... c6 5. Bh7! Thematic try: 5. Bh5? Nc4 6. Be2 d4+ 7. Kc2 Kb4 8. Kd3 c5 -+ 5... Nc4 6. Bg8! Rundlauf
6... d4+ 7. Kc2! Kb4 8. Kd3 c5 9. Bxc4 =
White wins
Watch this study on a dynamic board.
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 zugzwanga) 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 +-
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.
