Study 155

Árpád Rusz
Garcia-70 JT
2018
Special Honourable Mention

White wins

1. Rd3+!! rook sacrifice 1... Ke5 1... Kxd3 2. Rd1+ Kc4 3. Rxd6 Kc5 4. a7! +- rook sacrifice 2. Rxd6 Kxd6 3. a7 Rxe6+ 3... Ra4 4. e7! Kxe7 5. Rg8! Rxa7 6. Rg7+ +-

4. Rg6!! rook sacrifice 4... Rxg6+ 5. Kxh7 +-

Thematic try: 1. Rd1+? Ke5 2. Rxd6 Kxd6 3. a7 Ra4! 3... Rxe6+?

4. Rf6!! rook sacrifice 4... Rxf6+ 5. Kg7! +- 4. e7 Kxe7 =

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Study 106a

Árpád Rusz
StrateGems
2016
3rd Prize
- version -

White wins

This version has a better key (1.c7) than the original study (1.bxc7). It also has a slightly nicer initial position. The drawback is that the second variation is gone. It is not an easy task to decide which version is the best...

1. c7 Bc5+! 1... Be5+ 2. Kxe5 Nc6+ 3. Kd6 Kb7 4. Be4 Rd1+ 5. Bd5 +- 2. Kxc5 Rc1+ 2... Ne6+ 3. Kb6 +- 3. Bc2! unguarded guard 3. Kb6? Rc6+ 4. Kb5 Rxc7 = 3... Rxc2+ 4. Kb6 Rb2+ 4... Nf7 5. Rh2! Rxh2 6. c8=Q# 5. Ka6 Rb8! self-fork 5... Ra2+ 6. Kb5 Rb2+ 7. Ka4 Rb8 8. Rh8 +-

6. Rg6!! 6. Rf6? Nc6! 7. cxb8=Q+ (7. Rxc6 Rb6+! 8. Kxb6 stalemate) 7... Nxb8+ 8. Kb6 Nd7+ = 6... Rc8 7. Rg8 Rxc7 8. Rxd8+ Rc8 9. Rxc8#

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Related study: Study 106

Study 106

Á. Rusz
StrateGems
2016
3rd Prize

White wins

1. bxc7 is followed by two variations:
a. 1...Rc2+ 2. Bc3! unguarded guard 2. Kb6? Rc6+ 3. Kb5 Rxc7 = 2... Rxc3+ 3. Kb6 Rb3+ 3... Nf7 4. Rh3! Rxc7 (4... Rxh3 5. c8=Q#) 5. Kxc7 +- 4. Ka6 Rb8! self-fork 4... Ra3+ 5. Kb5 Rb3+ 6. Ka4! (6. Kc4? Rb8 7. Rh8 Rc8 8. Rxd8 Kb7 =) 6... Rb8 7. Rh8 +-

5. Rg6!! mutual zugzwang 5. Rf6? Nc6! 6. Rxc6 (6. cxb8=Q+ Nxb8+ 7. Kb6 Nd7+ =) 6... Rb6+! 7. Kxb6 stalemate 5... Rc8 5... Nf7 6. cxb8=Q+ Kxb8 7. Rg8+ Kc7 8. Rg7 +- 6. Rg8 Rxc7 7. Rxd8+ Rc8 8. Rxc8#

b. 1... Ne6+ 2. Kc6! 2. Kb6? Rd6+ = 2... Rc2+ 2... Nxc7 3. Kxc7 Ka7 4. Bc3 Rd5 5. Rc6 Rb5 6. Bd4+ Ka8 7. Ra6# 3. Kb6 Nf8! 3... Nxc7 4. Rh8+ +-

4. Be5! 4. Rh8? Rb2+! 5. Ka6 (5. Bxb2 stalemate) 5... Ra2+ 6. Kb6 Rb2+! 7. Kc6 Rc2+ 8. Kb6 Rb2+ perpetual check/stalemate 4... Nd7+ 5. Ka6 Ra2+ 5... Nxe5 6. Rh8# 6. Kb5 Kb7 7. Rh8 Rc2

8. Rb8+! Nxb8 9. cxb8=Q#

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Related studies: Study 106a Study 106b

Study 89

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2015
1st Prize

White wins

1.Qf6+! Before we take the pawn, the queen must be relocated to block the g-file. 1.cxd4? g2+! fork with pawn sacrifice 2.Kxg2 Rg8+ 3.Kh1 Qg3= 1...Kg8 2.Qg6+ Kf8

Thematic try: 3.exd4? Rg8 4.dxc5! queen sacrifice 4...Rxg6? 5.fxg6+ Ke8 6.Rf8+! rook sacrifice 6...Kxf8 7.cxb6+ Kg8 8.bxc7 Rxc7

position A1 (WCCT-10)

9.h7+ Kg7 10.Bf8+! bishop sacrifice 10...Kh8 11.Bd6 Rg7 12.Be5 e3 13.Bxg7+! +- bishop sacrifice (13.Kg2? h1Q+ 14.Kxh1 g2+ 15.Kh2 g1Q+ 16.Kxg1 stalemate)

Another defence also fails: 4...g2+? 5.Qxg2 bxc5 6.Qf2 e3! 7.Qxe3 Qc6+ 8.Rf3 Qd6 9.Rf4 Rc7 (9...Qd5+ 10.Re4+-) 10.Qd4!+-; b) but there is one which works: 4...b5! 5.c6+ b4= (6.cxb4? g2+! 7.Kxg2 Qf7! 8.b5+ Ke8–+)

So let's go back to the main line:

Main line: 3.cxd4! Rg8 4.dxc5! queen sacrifice It doesn't make sense to escape with the queen: 4.Qf6+? Qf7 5.Qd8+ Qe8= 4...Rxg6 4...g2+ 5.Qxg2! (5.Kxg2? Qf7! 6.cxb6+ Re7! (6...Ke8? 7.bxa7 Rxg6+ 8.fxg6 Qxf1+! queen sacrifice 9.Kxf1 h1Q+ 10.Kf2 Qh4+ 11.Kg2 Qg5+ 12.Kf1 Qf6+ 13.Ke1 Qa1+

14.Bc1!! bishop sacrifice - unguarded guard 14...Qxc1+ (14...Qc3+ 15.Kd1+-) 15.Kf2 Qc6 16.a8Q+! Qxa8 17.h7 Ke7 18.g7+-) 7.Qxg8+ Kxg8!= (7...Qxg8+? 8.Kh1! Kf7 9.Bxe7 Qg4 10.Re1!+-) ) 5...Rxg2 (5...bxc5 6.Qxe4+-) 6.cxb6+ Kf7 7.bxc7 Rg1+ 8.Kxh2! (8.Rxg1? hxg1Q+ 9.Kxg1 Rxc7 10.Bb2 Kg8=) 8...Rxf1 9.c8Q+-; 4...b5 5.Kg2! b4 6.Bb2! (6.Qf6+? Qf7 7.Qd6+ Qe7 8.h7 Qxd6 9.hxg8Q+ Kxg8 10.cxd6 bxa3=) 6...Rxg6 7.fxg6+ Kg8 8.h7++-

two white batteries

5.fxg6+ 5.cxb6+? Ke8 6.bxc7 g2+ fork –+ 5...Ke8 6.Rf8+! With the help of this rook sacrifice white manages to fire both batteries. 6...Kxf8 7.cxb6+ fork 7...Kg8 7...Qe7 8.bxa7 Qxa3 9.a8Q++-

paradoxical capture

8.bxa7!! Thematic try: 8.bxc7? Rxc7

position B1 (WCCT-10)

9.Bb2 Rg7! rook sacrifice 10.h7+ (10.hxg7 g2+ 11.Kxg2 h1Q+ 12.Kxh1 stalemate; 10.Bxg7 g2+ 11.Kxg2 h1Q+ 12.Kxh1 stalemate) 10...Kh8

position B2 (WCCT-10)

11.Bd4 g2+ 12.Kxg2 h1Q+ 13.Kxh1 stalemate 8...Qxa7 9.Bb2 Qg7! queen sacrifice 10.h7+! 10.Bxg7? g2+ 11.Kxg2 h1Q+ 12.Kxh1 stalemate; 10.hxg7? g2+ 11.Kxg2 h1Q+ 12.Kxh1 stalemate 10...Kh8

position A2 (WCCT-10)

11.Bd4! 11.Bxg7+? Kxg7 12.Kg2 Kh8 13.a3 Kg7 14.Kh1 Kh8 positional draw 11...Qxd4 12.exd4 +-

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Related studies: Study 89a Study 89b Study 89c