Study 192

Arpad Rusz
Chess Artistry Adventure
2023
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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Update

The following study also features Stalyoraitis' position.

Peter Krug
EBUR
2006
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:

Arpad Rusz
SEE Manual
2020
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.

Study 191

Arpad Rusz
Chess Artistry Adventure
2022
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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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.

Study 126

Árpád Rusz
Malyshko-105 MT
2017
- after Richard Becker -

White wins

A few days after composing and publishing this study, I have discovered a very serious anticipation in the HHdbV. In 2009 Richard Becker published the following draw study: Study 126a. Although it seems that he hasn't found the main line from my work, my study can be considered no more than a version of his. The judge of that 2009 tourney stated that he didn’t award studies that only contained technical play and “database works”. Probably this was the reason the whole community missed to notice the existence of that groundbreaking study.

Thematic try: 1. b4? f5 mutual zugzwang 2. b5 f4! 3. exf4 d4 mutual zugzwang 4. b6 d3 mutual zugzwang 5. b7 d2 mutual zugzwang 6. b8=Q d1=Q mutual zugzwang

mutual zugzwang

7. h5 7. Kc7+ Kf7! 8. Qb4 Qh5! = 7... Qxh5 8. Kd7+ Kh7! = 8... Kf7? 9. Qe8+ +-; 8... Kg7? 9. Qe5+ Qxe5 10. fxe5 +-

The real solution starts with an amazing waiting move:
1. b3!! mutual zugzwang. White is very polite: it voluntarily allows black to be the one who is promoting first! 1... f5 2. b4 mutual zugzwang

Bugs Bunny?

2... f4! 3. exf4 d4 4. b5 mutual zugzwang 4... d3 5. b6 mutual zugzwang 5... d2 6. b7 mutual zugzwang

mutual zugzwang (!!)

6... d1=Q 7. b8=Q mutual zugzwang 7... Qg4+ 7... Qh5 8. Kd7+ +-; 7... Qd3 8. h5 (8. Qe5? Qh3+ =) 8... Qf5+ 9. Kb7+ Kh7 10. Qe5 +- 8. Kc7+ Kh7 9. Qb1+ Kh6 9... Kg7 10. Qb2+ Kf7 11. Qb3+ Kg7 12. Qc3+ Kf7 13. Qc4+ Kg7 14. Qd4+ +- 10. Qb6+ Kh5 11. Qf6 Qxh4 12. Qxh4+ Kxh4 We are back to another pawn ending although this is much simpler than the initial position of the study. The black king seems to be much closer to the pawn but the chessboard's geometry can be deceiving.

13. Kd6 Kg4 14. Ke5 +-

Update: On move seven, there is a nice try with stalemates discovered by "Paparazzi": 7... Qd5 8. Qe5! +- Try: 8. Qc7? Qf5+! 9. Kb8! Qf6! 10. h5 Qf8+! 11. Qc8

11... Kh7! 12. f5 Qf7! 13. Qc7

13... Kh8! 14. Qc8+ Kh7! 14... Kg7? 15. Qe6! Qxh5 16. f6+ Kh6 17. Qe3+ Kg6 18. Qe8+ +- 15. Qc7 Kh8 16. Qxf7 stalemate

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Study 91

Árpád Rusz
Chessbase-25 JT
2011
9th Honourable Mention

White wins

1. b6! 1. bxc6? Qxc6 2. Qf5+ Kg3 3. Qg5+ Kf3 4. Qd5+ Qxd5 5. cxd5 Ke2! ( 5... Ke3? 6. d6 f3 7. d7 f2 8. d8=Q f1=Q 9. Qb6+! Ke2 10. Qe6+ Kd2 11. Qh6+ Ke2 12. Qh5+ Kd2 13. Qa5+ Ke2 14. Qe5+ Kd2 15. Qc3+ Ke3 16. Qc5+! Kd2 17. d4 +-; 5... Kg4? 6. d6 f3 7. d7 f2 8. d8=Q f1=Q 9. Qd7+! Kg5 10. Qd6! +-) 6. d6 f3 7. d7 f2 8. d8=Q f1=Q 9. Qe8+ Kd2 = 1... f3! 1... Qxd3+ 2. Qc3 +- 2. b7 Qxd3+ 2... f2 3. b8=Q Qxd3+ 4. Qc3 (4. Kb2? Qe2+ 5. Ka3 Qd3+ 6. Qb3 f1=Q 7. Qh5+ Kg2 =) 4... f1=Q 5. Qc8+! (5. Qbh8+? Kg2! 6. Qhg7+ Kh1! 7. Qh6+ Kg1 8. Qg5+ Kh1 9. Qh4+ Kg2! (9... Kg1? 10. Qg3+ Qxg3 11. Qxg3+ Kh1 12. Qh4+ +-) 10. Qg4+ Kh2! (10... Kh1? 11. Qxd3 Qxd3+ 12. Ka4 Qc2+ 13. Ka5 Qa2+ 14. Kb6 +-) 11. Qh4+ Kg2 positional draw) 5... Kh4 (5... Kh2? 6. Qc7+ Kh1 7. Qxc6+ +-) 6. Q8h8+ Kg5 7. Qhg7+ (7. Qhe5+? Qff5 8. Qxd3 Qxe5 = ) 7... Kh5 8. Qge5+ +- 3. Qc3 Qb1+! 4. Qb2 Qxb2+! 4... Qd3+ 5. Kb4 Qd6+ 6. Ka5 Qc5+ 7. Ka6 Qxc4+ 8. Kb6! Roman Theme (8. Ka7? Qc5+ 9. Ka8 Qa5+ =) 8... Qg8 9. Ka7 Qg1+ 10. Ka8 +- 5. Kxb2 f2 6. b8=Q f1=Q 7. Qc8+ 7. Qh8+? Kg4 8. Qg7+ Kh5 9. Qh7+ Kg5 10. Qg7+ Kh5 positional draw 7... Kh4! 8. Qxc6! Qd3! Now we see the reason why it was better for Black to exchange the Queens on b2 instead of c3.

9. Qb5! mutual zugzwang 9. Qd5? Qxd5 10. cxd5 Kg5 =; 9. c5? Kg5 10. Qd6 Qxd6 11. cxd6 Kf6 = 9... Kg4 10. Qc5! mutual zugzwang 10. Qb3? Qd2+ 11. Ka3 Qa5+ 12. Qa4 Qc3+ 13. Qb3 Qa5+ perpetual check 10... Kf4

11. Qe7!! Qxc4 11... Kf5 12. Qh7+ +- 12. Qh4+ +-

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Study 74

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2013

White wins

1. Qxe7! 1. dxe7? Qh5+ 2. Qh6 Qf7+ 3. Qg7 Qh5+ 4. Kg8 Qe8+ 5. Qf8 Qg6+ 6. Qg7 Qe8+ 7. Kh7 Qh5+ perpetual check - chameleon echo

chameleon echo

1... Qh5+! 1... Qf5+?! 2. Kg7 Kb5 3. d7 Qg4+ 4. Kh6 Qh3+ 5. Kg6 Qg4+ 6. Qg5+ +- 2. Kg7 Qf5!

cyclic zugzwang - WTM

Now white is in a strange kind of a zugzwang. It would be simpler to win with black to move. Starting from this position, white has a 14 moves long manoeuvre to transfer the move to black! 3. Kh6! 3. d7? Qg4+ 4. Kf8 Qf5+ 5. Ke8 Qh5+ 6. Qf7 Qe5+ 7. Kf8 Qc5+ 8. Kg8 Qg5+ 9. Kh7 Qh4+ 10. Kg7 Qg5+ 11. Qg6 Qe7+ 12. Qf7 Qg5+ perpetual check - chameleon echo

chameleon echo

3... Qh3+ 4. Kg6 minor dual: 4. Kg5 Qg3+ 5. Kf6 (5. Kf5) 5... Qf3+ 6. Ke5! 4... Qd3+ 5. Kf6 Qf3+ 6. Ke5! Qh5+ 7. Ke6 minor dual 7. Kd4 Qd1+ 8. Kc5 Qh5+ 9. Kc6 (9. Kb6) 9... Qb5+ 10. Kc7 7... Qh3+ 8. Kd5 Qd3+ 9. Kc6 Qb5+ 10. Kc7 Qa5+ 11. Kc8 Qa6+ 12. Kd8 Qa8+ 13. Kd7 Qb7+ 14. Ke8 Qc8+ 15. Kf7 Qf5+ 16. Kg7

cyclic zugzwang - BTM

16...Kb5 17. d7 Qg4+ 18. Kh6 Qh3+ 19. Kg6 Qg4+ 20. Qg5+ +-

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Study 68

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2012

White wins

1. Qh3+ 1. Qf3+? Kh2 = 1... Kg1 2. Qg4+ Kh2 2... Kf2 3. Qh4+ +- 3. Qg5!

First main line: 3...Qc1

4. Kb8! Thematic try: 4. Kb7? Kh3 mutual zugzwang 5. Kb6 Kh2 mutual zugzwang 6. Qh4+ Kg2 7. Qg4+ Kf2 8. f5

chameleon echo

8...Qe3+! (8... Qb2+? 9. Kc7! Qe5+ 10. Kd7 Qd5+ 11. Ke7 Qe5+ 12. Kf7 Qd5+ 13. Kg7 Qd7+ 14. Kh6 +-) 9. Kc6 Qe8+! =) 4... Kh3 5. Kb7 mutual zugzwang Kh2 (5... Qe3!? 6. Kc7 Qe8 7. f5! (7. Kd6? Qf8+ 8. Ke6 Qe8+ 9. Kf6 Qf8+ 10. Kg6 Qg8+ 11. Kf6 Qf8+ 12. Ke6 Qe8+ 13. Kd6 Qf8+! 14. Kd7 Qf7+ =) 7... Qf7+ 8. Kd6 Qf8+ 9. Ke6 Qe8+ 10. Qe7 +-) 6. Qh4+ Kg2 7. Qg4+ Kf2 8. f5 Qb2+ 9. Kc7 Qe5+ 10. Kd7 Qd5+ 11. Ke7 Qe5+ 12. Kf7 Qd5+ 13. Kg7 Qd7+ 14. Kh6 +-

Second main line: 3... Qd2

4. Kb7! Thematic try: 4. Kb8? Qd7 mutual zugzwang 5. f5 Kh3 mutual zugzwang 6. Qg6 Kh4 = mutual zugzwang 4... Qd7+ 5. Kb8 mutual zugzwang 5...Kh3 6. f5 +- mutual zugzwang

Third main line: 3... Kh3 4. f5 Qe5 5. Kb7 Qc5 6. Kb8! 6. Qg6?! Qc2 7. Qh5+? Kg3 8. Qg5+ Kf3 9. f6

chameleon echo

9...Qb3+! (9... Qe4+? 10. Kc7 Qe6 11. Qh5+ Ke4 12. f7 Qe7+ 13. Kc8 +-) 10. Kc7 (10. Kc6 Qe6+ 11. Kc5 Ke4 =) 10... Qf7+ 11. Kd6 Qf8+ 12. Ke6 Qe8+ = 6... Qe5+ 7. Kc8 Qe8+ 8. Kc7 Qf7+ 9. Kd6 Qf8+ 10. Ke6 Qe8+ 11. Qe7 +-

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Study 67

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2012

White wins

1. Ra7+! 1. Qc7+? Qf7 2. Qc3+ Kh7 = 1... Kf8 2. Ra8+! 2. Qc8+? Qe8 = 2... Kg7 3. Qc7+ Qf7 4. Qc3+ Kg6! The best move even if it allows the fork and loses the Rook! 4... Qf6 5. Rg8+! +- 5. Qc6+ Kh7! Black is preparing a stalemate trap. 5... Qf6 6. Rg8+ +- (6. Qxb5? Qc3+ 7. Kh2 Qd2+ 8. Kxh3 Qe3+ 9. Kg2 Qe4+ =) 6. Qxb5 Qg6+ 7. Kxh3 Qe6+ 7... Qh6+ 8. Kg4 +-

8. Kg2!! Paradoxically, this is the only winning move! White also allows the fork and loses the Rook! 8. Kg3? Qe3+ 9. Kg2 Qg5+! 10. Qxg5 stalemate 8... Qe4+ 9. Kf2! Qxa8 We have one of the rare positions in the QP/Q endgame which is a win with the a2 pawn (EGTB: M101) 10. a4 Qa7+ 11. Ke2! Qe7+ 12. Kd2! Kg7 There are no more useful checks: 12... Qd6+ 13. Qd3+ +- The bK is on the worst possible square. 13. a5 Kf8 14. a6 The wP quickly advances protected by the well placed wQ. 14...Qc7 The bQ is stopping the wK's access to the c-file and is threatening with checks on the black squares. 15. Kd1! Thematic try: 15. Kd3? Ke7 16. Qd5 Qc1! = 15... Ke7 15...Qd6+ 16. Ke2 Qd4 (16... Ke7 17. Qd3 Qh2+ 18. Kd1 Qg1+ 19. Kd2 +-) 17. Qc6 Kg7! 18. Kf3 (18. Qc7+?! Kh8! 19. a7? Qe4+ {and the wK cannot escape from checks!}) 18... Kf7 19. Qe4 Qc3+ 20. Kf4 Qc1+ 21. Kg3 Qg5+ 22. Qg4 Qc5 23. Qd7+ Kg6 24. Qd3+ Kh6 25. Kf3 The wQ is ideally placed on d3 (protects the wP and helps the wK to cross to the queenside). A long technical win follows... 16.Qd3! Thematic try: 16. Qd5? Qc3! 17. a7 Qa1+ 18. Ke2 Qxa7 = 16...Qc5 17. a7! Qxa7 18. Qh7+ +-

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