Study 180

Árpád Rusz & Pavel Arestov
Iriarte MT
2019
- section B1 -
1st/2nd Prize

White wins

1. d4! The start of the first systematic movement. (The "elevator" goes up.) 1. Kxa5? Kxd3 = The black rook will get behind the white pawn on the g-file because the white king cannot find shelter from horizontal checks. 1... Kd3 2. d5 2. Kxa5? Kxd4 3. Kb6 Rh6+ = 2... Kd4 2... Rh4+ 3. Kxa5 Rg4 4. Kb6 (4. d6? Rg6 5. Kb5 Kd4 =) 4... Kd4 5. d6 Kd5 6. Kc7 Ke6 7. Re8+ +- 3. d6 3. Kxa5? Kxd5 4. Kb5 Kd4! 5. Kb4 Kd5 6. Kb5 Kd4 = 3... Kd5 4. Kxa5 Kxd6 5. Kb6! Now the white king can hide from horizontal checks. 5... Kd5 6. Kc7

6... d6 The start of the second systematic movement. (The "elevator" goes down.) 6... Ke6 7. Re8+ +- 7. Kb6! 7. Kd7? Ke5 8. Re8+ Kf6 = The white pawn is pinned. 7... Kd4 The black king should always stay in the shadow of the d-pawn avoiding vertical checks. 8. Kc6 8. Kb5? Rh5+ 9. Kc6 Rg5 10. Kxd6 Rg6+ 11. Ke7 Ke5 12. Kf7 Rf6+ = 8... d5 9. Kb5! Kd3 10. Kc5 d4 11. Kb4! Kd2 12. Kc4 d3 13. Kb3! Kd1 14. Kc3 14. Kb2? d2! = mutual zugzwang (14... Rh2+? 15. Kc3 d2 16. Rd8 Rg2 17. Rxd2+! +-) 14... d2 15. Kb2! mutual zugzwang 15... Rh5 15... Ke2 16. Re8+ +- 16. Rb8! +- 16. Rd8? Rb5+ =

The first version of this study was a miniature: Study 173

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Study 169

Árpád Rusz
2019
RCS blog
dedicated to John Roycroft

Draw

1. Kb3! 1. Kb2? Rg1 2. Kxa2 Rxg4 -+ 1... Rg1 1... Rb1+ 2. Kxa2 Rb5 3. Rb7 = 2. Rxa2! Rg3+! 2... Rxg4 3. Ra6 Rxg5 4. Rxb6 Kf7 5. Kc4 (5. Kc3? Rd5 -+) 5... Rg3 6. Kd4 = (6. Kd5? Rg4 7. Ke5 Kg7 -+) 3. Kc4! 3. Kc2? Rg2+ -+ 3... Rxg4+ 4. Kd5! Rxg5+ 4... Ke7 5. Ra7+ = 5. Ke6! Ra5 6. Rh2!

6... Kd8 7. Kd6 7. Rh8+? Kc7 -+ 7... Rh5 8. Ra2! Ke8 9. Ke6 Ra5 10. Rh2 positional draw - perpetual threat of checkmate

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Study 128a

A. Stavrietsky
Babich-Olimpiev MT
2017
1st Prize

Draw

1. Nd5 1. Qxh6+? Rh7 -+ 1... Rc4+ 2. Kb1 2. Kb2? Rxe4 3. Nxe7 Rf2+ 4. Kb1 Bxh5 -+ 2... Rc1+! 3. Kb2 3. Kxc1? Qa3+ -+ 3... Rf2+ 4. Nxf2 Rb1+! 5. Kxb1 Qh7+ 6. g6! 6. Kb2? Bxh5 7. Bxe5+ Ng7 8. Ne7 hxg5 -+ 6... Bxg6+ 7. Bc2!! bxc2+ 8. Kc1 Bxh5 9. Bxe5+ Ng7 10. Ne7! Bg4! 11. h4 11. Bf4? Bh3! 12. Be5 h5 13. Bf4 h4 -+ 11... h5 12. Bf4 Ne8 13. Be5+ Ng7 14. Bf4 Bd7 15. Bd2! 15. Bg5? Ne8 -+ 15... Ne6 16. Bc3+ Ng7 17. Bd2 Ba4 18. Bf4! positional draw

Related study: Study 128

Study 128

Árpád Rusz
Internet (Didukh's Blog)
2017

Draw

1. Nd5+ Ng7 2. Ne7! h4 3. Bc3! Thematic try: 3. Be5? h5 4. Bf4 Be4 5.Nd7 Bb1! Bristol Theme 6. b7 Qc2# 3... h5 4. Bd2 Be4! 4... Nf5 5. Bc3+ Ng7 6. Bd2 Bb7 7. Kb2! Nf5 8. Bc3+ Ng7 9. Bd2 positional draw

5. Nd3!! 5. Bf4? Bb1! Bristol 6. b7 Qc2#; 5. Kb2? Bb1! Bristol 6. b7 Qc2+ 7. Ka1 Qa2# 5... Bc6! 6. Nf4! Unlike to the thematic try now the f4 square was empty! 6. Nc5? Ba4! 7. b7 Qc2# 6... Qe4 7. Nfg6+ Kh7 8. Nf8+ Kh8 9. Nfg6+ perpetual check

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An interesting feature of this study is that there are no captures in the solution not even in the variations. Compare to this related study: Study 128a

Study 76

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2013
Special Prize

Draw

1. e3! 1. exf3? Nxb3 2. Kxb3 exf3 3. Kc3 Ke7 4. Kd3 Kf6 5. Ke4 Kg7 6. Kxf3 Kxh8 -+; 1. Bd1? e3! -+ 1... Ke7! 1... Nxb3 2. Kxb3 Ke7 3. Kc3 Kf6 4. Kd4 Kg7 5. Kxe4 Kxh8 6. Kxf3 Bg6 7. e4 Kg7 8. Ke3 Kf6 9. f4 = 2. Bd1 Kf6

3. Kd4! 3. Kc3? Kg7 4. Kd4 (4. Kb2 Kxh8 5. Kxa1 Kg7 6. Kb2 Kf6 7. Kc3 Ke5 8. Bb3 Bf7 -+) 4... Kxh8 5. Kxe4 Bg6+ 6. Kxf3 Bc2 7. Bxc2 Nxc2 8. e4 Na3! 9. e5 Nc4 10. exd6 Nxd6 11. Kf4 Kg8! (11... Kg7? 12. Kg5 mutual zugzwang 12...Ne4+ 13. Kf5 Nc3 14. d6! cxd6 15. c7 Nd5 16. c8=N! =) 12. Kg5 Kg7 mutual zugzwang 13. Kxh5 (13. f3 Nc4! (13... Kf7? 14. Kxh5 Nc4 15. Kg5 Nb2 16. d6 Nxa4 17. d7 Nc5 18. d8=N+! Kf8 19. Nb7 Nb3 20. Nd6! =) 14. Kxh5 Kf6 15. Kg4 (15. f4 Nb6 -+) 15... Ne3+ -+) 13... Ne4 14. Kg4 Nf6+ 15. Kf5 Nxd5 16. Ke6 Nb6 -+ 3... Kf5! 4. Kc3! 4. Kc4? Ke5 mutual zugzwang 5. Kc3 Kxd5 -+ 4... Ke5! 4... Kf6? 5. Kb2 Ke5 (5... Kg7 6. Kxa1 Kxh8 7. Kb2 Kg7 8. Kc3 Kf6 9. Kd4 Bg6 10. Bc2 +-) 6. Kxa1 Kxd5 7. Bb3+ Kxc6 8. Bf7 Bxf7 9. Nxf7 d5 10. Nh6! d4 11. Nf5 dxe3 12. Nxe3 Kc5 13. Kb1! (13. Kb2? Kb4 mutual zugzwang 14. Nd5+ Kc4 15. Nf6 e3! 16. fxe3 f2 17. Ne4 f1=N! =) 13... Kb4 14. Kb2 mutual zugzwang Kxa4 (14... c6 15. Nf5! (15. Kc2? Kxa4 16. Nf5 Kb4 17. Ng7 e3 18. Nxh5 e2 19. Nf4 e1=N+! 20. Kc1 Ng2 21. Ng6 Ne3! =) 15... Kxa4 16. Kc3 Kb5 (16... c5 17. Ng3 +-) 17. Nd6+ +-) 15. Nd5 Kb5 16. Nc3+ Kc4 17. Nxe4 Kd3 18. Ng3 +- 5. Kc4! Kf6! 5... Kf5? 6. Kd4 mutual zugzwang 6...Kf6 7. Kxe4 +- 6. Kd4 Kf5 7. Kc3 Ke5 8. Kc4 Kf6 9. Kd4 positional draw

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Study 42

Árpád Rusz
Internet (Talkchess Forum)
2010

White wins

1. Kd2 c3+ 1... Ra8 2. Kc3 Ra3+ 3. Kxc4 Rg3 4. f6+ Kf7 5. Rf5 +- 2. Kc2 2.Kd3? Kf7! 3. Rg2 Kg7! 4. Rf2 Kf7 positional draw 2... Kf7 2... Rc5 3.f6+ Kf7 4. g6+! chameleon echo Kxg6 5. f7 +- 3. Rg2!! Thematic try: 3. Rf3? Rc5 4. g6+ Kf6 5. Rg3 Rc8 (5... Rc7) 6. Rxc3 Ra8 (6... Re8) 7. Rc5 Ra3 8. Kd2 Rb3 9. Ke2 Ra3 = 3... Kg7 3... Rc5 4. g6+ Kg7 5. f6+! chameleon echo Kxf6 6. g7 +- 4. Rg3! Rc5 5. f6+ Kg6 6. Rf3! the rook finally steps to that square 6...Rc8 7. Rxc3 Ra8 8. Rc5 Ra3 9. Kd2 Rh3 10. Ke2 Rb3 11. Re5! Ra3 12. Re7! Kxg5 12... Ra2+ 13. Ke3 Ra3+ 14. Kf4 Ra4+ 15. Re4 Ra1 16. Re5 Ra4+ 17. Ke3 Rg4 18. Rd5! Ra4 19. Rd8! +- 13. f7 Ra8 14. Re8 +-

The main idea of the study lays in the small but very important difference between 3.Rf3? and 3.Rg2!! followed by 4.Rg3. Only in the second case there is later a winning rook manoeuvre (Re5!-Re7!). The positional draw is nice and I like the echo pawn sacrifices (4.g6!, 5.f6!) too in the side variants.

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Study 39

Árpád Rusz
Mat Plus
2008
5th Commendation

Draw

1. Bf2+ 1. Bxd3? h2 -+ 1... Kh2! 1... Kf3 2. Bxd3 Ng3+ 3. Kg1 = 2.Bg1+! 2. Bxd3? Ng3+ 3. Bxg3+ Kxg3 4. Be4 h2 -+ 2... Kh1! 3. Bxd3 Be2+! 4. Bxe2! 4. Kxe2? Kxg1 5. Ke3 (5. Be4 Ng3+ -+) 5... Nf6 6. Be2 Nd5+ 7.Kf3 h2 -+ 4... Ng3+

5. Ke1!! 5. Kf2? Nxe2 mutual zugzwang 5... Nxe2 6.Kf2! mutual zugzwang 6. Bb6? Kg2 7. Bc7 Ng3 -+ 6... Nxg1 7. Kg3 mutual zugzwang 7...h2 8. Kf2 mutual zugzwang 6...Nf3 9. Kf1 Nd2+ 10. Kf2 = positional draw - blockade

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Study 38

Árpád Rusz
Internet (RCS blog)
2008

White wins

Thematic try:
1.Ng5? Kd6! 2.Ne4+ Kc6! mutual zugzwang 3.Nf6 Kc7 4.Ne4 Kc6 5.Nc3 Kc7 6.Nd1 Kc6 7.Ne3 Kc7 positional draw - blockade

Solution:
1.Nf6! mutual zugzwang 1...Kc6 1...Kd6 2.Kb6 Ke5 3.Kxb7!+- 2.Ne4 mutual zugzwang 2...Kd5 3.Nc5 Kc6 3...Kc4 4.Nxb7+- 4.Nd3 mutual zugzwang 4...Kd5 5.Kb6 Kc4 6.Kxb7 Kxd3 6...a5 7.bxa5 Kxd3 8.a6 b4 9.a7 b3 10.a8Q +- 7.Kxa6 Kc4 8.Ka5 mutual zugzwang +-

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Related studies: Study 38a Study 38b Study 38c

Study 34

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág - Korányi MT
2008
1st Prize

Draw

1. d7 Qxd7!! 1... Rxd7 2. Rxd7 Qxd7 3. h6 Qc7 4. Bxh7! Qc1+ (4... Qxh7 stalemate) 5. Bb1 Qxh6 6. Be4 Qc1+ 7. Bb1 Qc2! 8. Bxc2 bxc2 9. Ka2 c1=N+ 10.Kb1 Ne2 11. Kc2 Nf4 12. Kc3 Ne6 13. Kc2 mutual zugzwang Nd8 14. Kc3 Nc6 15. Kc2 positional draw - blockade 2. h6! 2. Rxd7? Rxd7 3. h6 Rc7 4. Be4 Rc1+ 5. Bb1 Rc2! 6. Bxc2 bxc2 7. Ka2 c1=N+ -+ 2... Re7 2... Qxd1 3. hxg7 Qg1 4. g8=Q Qxg8 5. Bxh7! Qxh7 stalemate 3. Re1!! Rf7 3... Rxe1 stalemate with pinned B 4. Rf1! Re7 5. Re1 positional draw - perpetual attack/stalemate

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Related studies: Study 34a Study 34b

Study 30

Árpád Rusz
Chess Life Magazine
2008

Draw

1.e7! [1.Kxh5? Nxf1 2.e7 Ng3+!–+; 1.Nd2? Ng4+! (1...g4? 2.e7! Kxe7 3.Kg5! f3 4.Kxh5 Kf6 5.Kh4 Kf5 6.Kg3=) 2.Kxh5 Kf5! 3.e7 Nf6+ 4.Kh6 g4 5.Kg7 Ne8+ 6.Kf7 Nc7–+; 1.Nh2? Ng4+–+] 1...Kxe7 [1...Ng4+ 2.Kxh5 Kf5 3.e8N!=] 2.Kxh5! [2.Kxg5? Nxf1 3.Kxf4 Kf6–+] 2...Kf6 [2...Nxf1 3.Kxg5 f3 4.Kf4 f2 (4...Nd2 5.Ke3=; 4...Nh2 5.Kg3=) 5.Kf3=] 3.Nh2 mutual zugzwang 3...Kf5 4.Ng4!

mutual zugzwang

4...Ke4 [4...Nxg4 stalemate; 4...Nd5 5.Nh6+ Kf6 6.Ng4+ Kf5 7.Nh6+ perpetual check] 5.Nf2+ Kf5 6.Ng4 positional draw

The saving stalemate from this study first occured in the game Grischuk-J.Polgár (Biel, 2007).

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Study 26a

A. Rusz
Mat Plus
2007
Honourable Mention

Draw

1.Rg2 1.Bxd3? g2+!–+ (1...exd3? 2.Rg2 d2 3.Rg1+ Kh2 4.Rg2+ Kh1 5.Rg1+ perpetual check(R)) 1...Ne1! 2.Bxe4! 2.Rg1+? Kh2 3.Bxe4 g2+–+ 2...Nxg2 2...Nf3 3.Rg1+ Kh2 4.Rg2+ Kh1 5.Rg1+ perpetual check(R)

3.Bf3!! 3.Bxg2+? Kh2 mutual zugzwang -+

virtual stalemate

3...Rh2 3...gxf3 stalemate; 3...Kh2 4.Bxg2 stalemate 4.Be4 Rh3 4...h3 5.Bf3 gxf3 stalemate 5.Bf3 positional draw - perpetual pinning

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Related study: Study 26

Study 27

Árpád Rusz
NONA
2007
4/5th Honourable Mention
- miniature section -

White wins

1.g7 Kf3! This move clears the 4th line for the rook. [1...Rxb6+ fails because the 4th line is blocked. 2.Kf7 Rb7+ 3.Kg6 Rb6+ 4.Kh7 Rb7 5.Kh8 (5.b5? Kf4! 6.b6 (6.Kh8 Rxb5 7.g8Q Rh5+ 8.Kg7 Rg5+=) 6...Kf5! 7.Kh8 Rxb6 8.g8Q Rh6+ 9.Kg7 Rg6+=) 5...Rxb4 6.g8Q+-] 2.b5!! [2.b7? Kxf2 3.Kd6 Rg8! 4.Ke6 (4.b5 Ke3 5.Kc7 Rxg7+ 6.Kb6 Rg8 7.Ka7 Kd4 8.b6 Kc5=) 4...Rb8! 5.Kd6 Rg8! positional draw] 2...Rxb6+ 3.Kf7 Rb7+ 4.Kg6 Rb6+ 5.Kh7 Rb7 6.b6! Now the black king is too far. [6.Kh8? Rxb5 7.g8Q Rh5+ 8.Kg7 Rg5+=] 6...Kf4 7.Kh8 Rxb6 8.g8Q Rh6+ 9.Kg7 +-

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Related study: Study 27a

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

Study 23

Árpád Rusz
Neidze-70 JT
2007
Special Commendation

White wins

1.Rh1! Rg2 [1...f2 2.Rxh2+-] 2.Rbd1! [2.Rbf1? f2 3.Kb1 Rg1 4.Rd1 Re1 5.Rf1 Re2 6.Ka1 Re1 7.Rh1 Rg1 8.Rf1 Rg2 positional draw] 2...Re2 3.Kb1! zugzwang [3.Rhf1? f2 4.Kb1 Re1 5.Rh1 Rg1 6.Rf1 Rg2 7.Ka1 Rg1 8.Rd1 Re1 9.Rf1 Re2 positional draw] 3...Rg2 4.Rhf1 f2 [4...Re2 5.Rxf3+-] 5.Rxd2 +-

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Related study: Study 23a

Study 16

Árpád Rusz
Die Schwalbe
2005-06
3rd Commendation

Draw

1.Ba2+ Rb3! [1...Nb3+ 2.Bxb3+ Rxb3 3.f7+ Kxf7 4.g8Q+ Kxg8 stalemate] 2.Bxb3+ [2.Bb1? Rb2! 3.Bd3 Nb3+ 4.Kb4 Nd2+!–+] 2...Nxb3+ 3.Kb5 Nd2 4.Kc6 Nxe4

5.Kc7!! mutual zugzwang [5.Kb7? Nc5+ 6.Kxa7 e4 7.Kb6 Nxa6 8.Kxa6 e3–+; 5.a5? Nc3 6.Kb7 Nb5 7.Kc6 e4–+; 5.Kd5? Nxf6+ 6.Kxe5 Kxg7–+] 5...Nc3 [5...Kf7 6.Kc6! mutual zugzwang 6...Kg8 7.Kc7! positional draw; 5...Nc5? 6.Kd6+-] 6.Kb7(8)6...Nxa4 7.Kxa7 Nc5 8.Kb6 Nxa6 9.Kb5! [9.Kc6? e4 10.Kd7 Nc7! 11.Ke7 Nd5+–+] 9...e4 10.Kc4 Nc5 11.Kd4 Kf7 12.Ke3 positional draw

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Study 11

Árpád Rusz
Die Schwalbe
2004

Draw

1.Rc6! b5+ 2.Ka5! [2.Ka3? dxc6 3.dxc6 Ra7! 4.c5 a5–+] 2...dxc6 3.dxc6 Rb6 [3...Ka7 4.c5! Rb6 5.Bd5 Rxc6 6.Bxc6 stalemate]

4.c5 Rxc6 5.Bd5 Kb7 6.Bxc6+! [6.Be4? Ba7 7.Bd5 (7.Bxc6+ Kxc6 8.Kxa6 Bxc5–+) 7...Bb6+ 8.cxb6 cxb6#]

6...Ka7!! virtual stalemate [6...Kxc6 7.Kxa6 mutual zugzwang 7...Kd5 8.Kb7 Kc4 9.Kxb8 Kxb4 10.c6=] 7.Bxb5! [7.Be4? c6 8.Bxc6 Bc7#] 7...axb5 8.Kxb5 Kb7 9.Ka5! [9.Ka4? Kc6! 10.Ka5 Ba7 11.Ka6 Bxc5–+; 9.Kc4? Ka6! 10.b5+ Ka5–+] 9...Ba7 10.Kb5 mutual zugzwang 10...Bb8 11.Ka5 positional draw

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Study 9

Árpád Rusz
Humour Ty (EBUR)
2004

Draw

1.a8Q! Bxa8 2.Ba7+ Rf2

3.Nh1!! [3.Bxf2+? Kg2 4.Nh1 Kxh1 5.Kf1 Bg2+ 6.Ke1 Positional draw? No! 6...Bf3! 7.Kf1 Bxe2+ 8.Kxe2 Kg2–+] 3...Bxh1 4.Bxf2+ Kg2

Stalemate? No, because white is to move! This position could be called a "virtual stalemate". 5.Bh4 Kg1 6.Bf2+ Kg2 7.Bh4 positional draw - perpetual virtual stalemate

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Study 6

Árpád Rusz
Internet Chess Clinic
2000-01
- after J.Csengeri -

Draw

1.Rd6+ [1.Rxf3? Nd4+-+] 1...Ke7 [1...Kc7 2.Rxd3 f2! (2...a3 3.Rxf3 (3.Rxb3? a2-+)3...a2 (3...Nd4+ 4.Kxb4=) 4.Rf7+ (4.Rf1? Nd2-+) 4...Kb8 5.Rf8+ Kb7 6.Rf7+=) 3.Rd1 Nd4+! 4.Kxa4! (4.Kxb4? Nc2+ 5.Kxa4 Ne1-+) 4...b3 5.Rc1+!!= (5.Rf1? b2 6.Ka3 b1Q! 7.Rxb1 Nc2+ 8.Ka4 Ne1-+) ] 2.Rxd3 a3! [2...f2 3.Rd1 Nd4+ 4.Kxa4 (4.Kxb4? Nc2+ 5.Kc3!? Ne1 6.Kd2 f1Q 7.Rxe1+ Qxe1+ 8.Kxe1 a3-+) 4...b3 5.Rf1 b2 6.Ka3 b1Q 7.Rxb1 Nc2+ 8.Ka4(a2) Ne1 9.Rb7+ Ke6 (9...Kf8 10.Rb8+ Kg7 11.Rb7+ Kg6 12.Rb6+ Kg5 13.Rb5+ Kg4 14.Rb4+ Kg3 15.Rb3+ Nf3 16.Rb1 Ne1 17.Re3+ positional draw ) 10.Rb6+ Ke5 11.Rb5+ Ke4 12.Rb4+ Ke3 13.Rb3+ Nd3 14.Rb1 Ne1 15.Rb3+ Kd2 16.Rb2+ Nc2 17.Rb1 Ne1 18.Rb2+ positional draw ] 3.Re3+!! Kd6 4.Rxf3 a2 5.Rf6+! Rundlauf 5...Ke7! 6.Ra6 Na5! 7.Ra7+!! [7.Rxa5? b3-+] 7...Kd6 8.Ra6+! Kc7 9.Ra7+! Kb8 10.Rxa5 b3 11.Kc6! b2 12.Rb5+ Ka7 13.Ra5+ Kb8 14.Rb5+ Kc8 15.Rh5! Kd8 16.Kd6 Ke8 17.Ke6 Kf8 18.Kf6 Kg8 19.Rg5+ Kh7 20.Rh5+ Kg8 21.Rg5+ Kf8 22.Rh5! positional draw

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Related study: Study 6a

Study 1

Árpád Rusz
Sakkélet, 1998-99
1st Commendation

White wins

This is my very first published composition!

1.c3! [1.h3? c3! 2.h4 c4 stalemate ] 1...h4! Starting a stalemate combination. 2.h3 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate 2...Rxg6! 3.Nxg6 Rxh7+!! 4.Kg8! [4.Kxh7? stalemate] 4...Rg7+ [4...Rh5 5.Nh8!+- (5.Kf8? Rf5+ 6.Kg7 Rg5 7.Kf6 Rf5+! 8.Kg7 Rg5 9.Kh6 Rh5+! 10.Kg7 Rg5 positional draw) ; 4...Rh6 5.e7+! Kxd7 6.Kf8+-] 5.Kf8!

Main A: 5...Re7 6.Nf4 (6.Nxe7? stalemate) 6...Rh7 7.Kg8! (7.Nh5? 7th WCCT 7...Rh8+ 8.Kf7 Rf8+! 9.Kxf8 stalemate) 7...Re7 (7...Rh6 8.Kg7 Rf6! 7th WCCT 9.e7+! (9.Kxf6? stalemate) 9...Kxe7 10.d8Q+ Kxd8 11.Kxf6+-) 8.Kh8!+- zugzwang

Main B: 5... Rg8+ 6.Kf7 Rg7+ [6...Rf8+ 7.Kg7 Rg8+ 8.Kh6!+- (8.Kh7? Rg7+ 9.Kh6 Rh7+ 10.Kg5 Rh5+ 11.Kf4! (11.Kf6 Rf5+ 12.Kg7 Rg5=) 11...Rh6! (11...Rf5+? 12.Ke4 Rf6 (12...Rf1 13.Ne5+-) 13.Nf4 Rh6 14.Kf5! mutual zugzwang 14...Rh8 15.Kg5! mutual zugzwang 15...Rf8 16.e7+ Kxe7 17.Ng6++-) 12.Kf5 Rh5+ 13.Kf6 Rf5+ 14.Kg7 Rg5=) ] 7.Kf6 Re7 [7...Rh7 8.e7+ Kxd7 9.Nf8++-] 8.Nf4! [8.Nxh4? Rxe6+! 9.Kxe6 stalemate; 8.Nxe7? stalemate; 8.Nf8? Rf7+! 9.exf7 stalemate] 8...Rh7 9.Kg6 [9.Kf5? Rh6! mutual zugzwang 10.Kg5 Rh8 mutual zugzwang (10...Rf6? 11.e7+! Kxe7 12.d8Q+ Kxd8 13.Kxf6+-) 11.Kf6 Rf8+ 12.Kg5 Rh8!= positional draw] 9...Re7 [9...Rh8 10.Kg7 +-] 10.Kh6! +-zugzwang