Study 108

Árpád Rusz
The Problemist
2016-17

Draw

1. Rc8+ 1. Rxa2? Bxa2 2. Rc8+ Kb2 -+ 1... Kb2 2. Bb4 Bc2+! 2... Kxa1?? 3. Bc3#; 2... Nxa1 3. Bxa5 Bc2+ 4. Ke1! Nb3 5. Bc3+ Kc1 6. Ra8 Bb1 (6... a1=Q 7. Bxa1 Nxa1 8. Rxa3 =) 7. Rxa3 Kc2 8. Rxb3! Kxb3 9. Kd2 (9. Ba1? Kc2 10. Ke2 Kc1 -+) 9... Bd3 10. Ba1 = 3. Rxc2+ Kxa1 4. Rc1+! 4. Bxa5? Nxa5 5. Kc1 Nb3+ 6. Kd1 Kb1 -+; 4. Bc3+? Kb1 -+ 4... Nxc1 4... Kb2?? 5. Bc3#

WCCT-6 Theme

5. Kc2!! Thematic try: 5. Kxc1? Rb5 6. Bc3+ Rb2 mutual zugzwang

WTM - virtual stalemate

7. Ba5 Rxf2 8. Bb4 Re2 9. Bc3+ Rb2 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate 10. Ba5 Rb3 -+ 5... Rb5 6. Bc3+ Rb2+ 7. Kxc1 stalemate

BTM - stalemate

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Study 90

Árpád Rusz
Magyar Sakkvilág
2015

White wins

1.Rd3+ 1.Qf5+? Kc7 2.Qxf4+ Qxf4 3.Rxf4 Rc8! 4.Rc4+ Kd7 5.Rxc8 Kxc8 6.Kb6 Kb8= 1...Kc8! 2.Rxd2 Be3+!

3.Rd4!! R sacrifice 3.Qb6? Bxb6+ 4.axb6 Ra8+! R sacrifice 5.Kxa8 stalemate 3...Bxd4+ 4.Qb6 Bxb6+ 5.axb6! mutual zugzwang

virtual stalemate

5...Kd7 5...Ra8+ 6.Kxa8+– 6.Kxb8 Kc6 7.Ka7 mutual zugzwang +-

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Study 87

Árpád Rusz
3rd UAPA Ty
2015
2nd Prize

White wins

1.Kb8 Nc7 1...Kd6 2.a8Q Nd7+ 3.Kc8! (3.Ka7? Nc7 4.Qh8 Nb5+ 5.Ka8 Nc7+ 6.Ka7 Nb5+ perpetual check(N)) 3...Nb6+ 4.Kd8 Nxa8 5.Kxe8!+- (5.Bxa8? Nc7 6.Bb7 Ba4 7.Kc8 Bc6 8.a7 Na8! 9.Kb8 Nb6=) 2.a8Q Kd8! 2...Kd6 3.Qa7 Nd7+ 4.Kc8 Nb5! 5.Qb8+! (5.Qa8? Nb6+ 6.Kd8 Nxa8 7.Bxa8 Nc7 8.Bb7 Ba4 9.Kc8 Bc6 10.a7 Na8! 11.Kb8 Nb6=) 5...Nxb8 6.Kxb8+-; 2...Nxa8 3.Bxa8 Ba4 4.a7! (4.Bxe4? Bc6 5.Bxc6+ Kxc6! 6.a7 Nd7+ 7.Kc8 Nb6+ 8.Kb8 Nd7+ perpetual check(N)) 4...Nc6+ 5.Bxc6+ Bxc6 6.b5!+- 3.Bc6! 3.Qa7?? Nd7# 3...Nxa8 4.Bxa8 Nd7+ 5.Kb7! wK<->wB 5.Ka7?? Kc7–+ 5...Ba4

6.b5!! 6.a7? Bb5 stalemate 6...Bxb5 7.a7! mutual zugzwang

virtual stalemate

7...Bc4 7...Ba4 8.Ka6 Kc7 9.Bxe4 (9.Bd5? Nb6 10.a8Q Nxa8 11.Bxa8 Bc6 12.Bxc6 Kxc6=) 9...Nb6 10.a8Q Nxa8 11.Bxa8 Bc6 (11...Kd6 12.Be4+- (12.Ka5? Bd7 13.Be4 Bf5=) ) 12.Bxc6 Kxc6 13.Ka5 Kc5 14.Ka4 Kc4 15.Ka3 Kc5 16.Kb3+- 8.Kc6 Bd5+! 9.Kxd5 Nb6+ 10.Ke6! 10.Kxe4? Nxa8= 10...Nxa8 11.Kf7 +-

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Related studies: Study 24

Study 80

Árpád Rusz
2nd UAPA Ty
2015
2nd Special Honourable Mention
- Section A1 -

Draw

1.Rg2! 1.Rxf5? Bf2! 2.Rfxf2 exf2 3.Rxf2 Ng3 (3...Kg1? 4.Rg2+ Kxf1 5.Rxh2=) 4.Bg2+ (4.Ba6 Ne4 (4...Kg1? 5.Rxh2 Kxh2 6.Bc8 Ne4 7.Bxg4 Nf2+ 8.Kxd2 Nxg4 9.Kd3 Ne5+ 10.Kd4=) 5.Bb7 Kg1 6.Rxh2 Nc3+! 7.bxc3 Kxh2 8.cxb4 (8.Kxd2 b2 9.Kc2 bxc3–+) 8...b2 9.Be4 g3–+) 4...Kg1 5.Rxd2 Nf1 6.Re2 Ne3+! 7.Rxe3 Kxg2–+ 1...Bf2 1...e2+ 2.Rxe2 (2.Kxe2? Nf4+ 3.Kxd2 Nxg2–+) 2...Kg1 3.Rxh2!=; 1...Bc7 2.Rxf5 Ng3 3.Rg5! Nxf1 4.R2xg4! (4.R5xg4? Be5–+) 4...Ng3 5.Rxg3 Bxg3 6.Rxg3 e2+ 7.Kxe2 d1Q+ 8.Kxd1 stalemate 2.Rxf5 Ng3 2...e2+ 3.Kxe2 Ng3+ 4.Kxf2!= (4.Kxd2? Nxf1+!–+) 3.Rfxf2! 3.Rgxf2? exf2 4.Rxf2 Nxf1! (4...Kg1? 5.Rg2+ Kxf1 6.Rxh2=) 5.Rxf1+ Kg2–+] 3...Nxf1 [3...exf2 4.Rxg3 stalemate 4.Re2 g3! virtual stalemate

5.Rxg3! Nxg3 6.Rxh2+! Kg1 6...Kxh2 stalemate 7.Rg2+! Kf1 8.Re2! 8.Rg1+? Kf2! (8...Kxg1? stalemate) 9.Rg2+ Kf3! 10.Re2 (10.Rh2 e2+! 11.Kxd2 Nf1+–+) 10...Nf5! (10...Nf1? 11.Rf2+! exf2 stalemate) 11.Rh2 Kg3 12.Rh1 Nd6 (12...Nh4? 13.Rf1 Ng2 14.Rf3+! Kg4 15.Rf8! (15.Rf7? Nf4 16.Rg7+ Kh5 17.Rg5+ Kh6! 18.Re5 Nd3 19.Rxe3 Nxb2+ 20.Kxd2 Nc4+–+) 15...Nf4 16.Rg8+ Kf3 (16...Kh5 17.Rh8+ Kg6 18.Rg8+ Kf6 19.Rf8+ Ke5 20.Rf5+! Ke4 21.Re5+! Kxe5 stalemate) 17.Rg3+! Ke4 18.Rxe3+! Kxe3 stalemate) 13.Ke2 Nc4–+; 8.Rxg3? e2+ 9.Kxd2 e1Q+–+ 8...Nf5 8...Nxe2 stalemate 9.Rh2 Nd6 9...Nh4 10.Rh1+! Kf2 11.Rf1+! Kxf1 stalemate 10.Rh1+ 10.Re2? Nc4 11.Rf2+ Kg1!–+ (11...exf2? stalemate) 10...Kf2 10...Kg2 11.Rh4 Kf3 12.Rh3+ Ke4 13.Rxe3+! Kxe3 stalemate 11.Rf1+! Kg3 11...Kxf1 stalemate; 11...Kg2 12.Rf4= 12.Rf3+! Kxf3 stalemate

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Study 35

Árpád Rusz
Оlimpiya Dunyasi
2008
- version -

White wins

1. Ne7! (1. Nd6? Nc6+ 2. Kc8 Nb6#) 1... Nxe7 (1... Na6+ 2. Kc8 Nb6+ 3. Kd8 +-) 2. c8=Q+ Nbc6+ 3. Qxc6+! (3. Kc7? Nd5+ 4. Kd7 Nf6+ 5. Kc7 Nd5+ perpetual check) 3... Kxc6 4. c3! (4. c4? Kb(d)6 5. c5+ Kc6 stalemate) 4... Kd6 5. c4 Nc6+ (5... Kc6 6. c5 +- mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate) 6. Kc8 Nxa7+ 7. Kd8 Nc6+ 8. Ke8 Kxe6 9. c5 mutual zugzwang 9...Nb8 (9... Kd5 10. b8=Q +-) 10. Kd8 Kd5 11. Kc8! (11. Kc7? Na6+ 12. Kb6 Nb8 13.Ka7 Nc6+ 14. Kb6 Nb8 15. Kc7 Na6+ positional draw) 11... Kxc5 12. Kxb8 +-

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Virtual 11

G.Afanasjev & E.Dvizov
Znamja Yunosti (Minsk)
1968

Draw

1.a3+ Kc4 2.Bf1 f3 3.Kc6 h6! 4.h3! [4.h4? h5 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate] 4...h5 5.h4 stalemate with pinned R

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Virtual 9

J.Balázs
Magyar Sakkélet
1983
Commendation

Draw

1.Nc3+ Ke1 2.Re2+ Kf1 3.Nd1! h5 [3...h6 4.Nc3 h5 5.Nd1 h4 6.Nc3 h3 7.Nd1 h2 8.Nc3 stalemate] 4.Nc3 h4 5.Nd1 h3 6.Nc3 h2 virtual stalemate 7.Nd1! Kxe2 stalemate with pinned N

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Virtual 10

I.Bender
Problem Online
2004
Commendation

White wins

1.b3! [1.b4? Kc7 2.b5 Kc8 3.c5 bxc5 4.b6 c4 stalemate] 1...Kc7 2.b4 Kc8 3.b5 Kc7 4.c5 bxc5 5.b6+ Kc8 6.c4 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate +-

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Virtual 6

F.Bondarenko & Al.P.Kuznetsov
EG
1974

Draw

1.Nf3+! [1.Ke2? Kxh4 2.Rh1 Kh3 3.f3 g3–+] 1...gxf3 2.0–0–0 Kg4 3.Rh1 Kh3 4.Kd1 Kg2 5.Ke1 Kxh1 6.Kf1 d6! 7.d3! [7.d4? d5 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate] 7...d5 8.d4 stalemate

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Virtual 7

O.Comay
Israel Ring Ty
1978
6th Commendation

Draw

Retroanalysis proves that black is to move! 1...a6 [1...a5 2.a4 stalemate] 2.a3! [2.a4? a5 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate] 2...a5 3.a4 stalemate

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Virtual 8

E.Pogosiants
Sovjetskaja Mordovija
1980

White wins

1.b6+ Kc8 2.a6 bxa6 3.b7+ Kc7 4.a3! [4.a4? a5 stalemate] 4...a5 5.a4 mutual zugzwang+-

virtual stalemate

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Virtual 5

G.Grzeban
Tidskrift för Schack
1958
1st/2nd Commendation

Draw

1.Bc3 Rxc3 2.Nxc3 a5 [2...a6 3.Nb1 a5 4.bxa5 b4 5.a6 b3 6.a7 stalemate] 3.Nb1 axb4 4.Nc3! b3 [4...bxc3 stalemate] 5.Nb1 b4 virtual stalemate 6.Nc3! b1Q stalemate with pinned N

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Virtual 4

A.Dijkerman
Tijdschrift v.d. KNSB
1953

Draw

1.Qxh1 Ng3+ 2.Kg5 Nxh1 3.Bf1+ Kg3 4.a4! stalemate with blocked N [4.a3? a4 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate]

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Virtual 3

H.Ginninger
Revista Romana de Sah
1930

Draw

1.c5+ Kd5 2.Kf4 e5+ 3.Kf5 e6+ 4.Kg4! [4.Kg5? e4 5.fxe4+ Ke5 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate 6.Kg4 Kf6 7.Kh5 e5–+ mutual zugzwang] 4...e4 5.fxe4+ Ke5 6.Kg5 stalemate

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Virtual 2

A.Galitzky
Shakhmatnoye Obozrenye
1902

Draw

1.Kc1! d5 [1...Bc2 2.Nxc2+ dxc2 (2...bxc2 3.b3 d5 stalemate) 3.d3! (3.d4? d5 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate) 3...d5 4.d4 stalemate] 2.Nc2+! dxc2 [2...Bxc2 stalemate; 2...bxc2 3.b3 d4 stalemate] 3.d4 stalemate [3.d3? d4 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate]

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Virtual 1

J.Kling & B.Horwitz
The Chess Player
1852

White wins

1.d3! mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate 1...Kd6 [1...Kf6 2.Kd5 e4 3.Kxe4 Ke6 4.Kxd4+-] 2.Kf5 Kd5 3.Kxg5 Ke6 [3...e4 4.fxe4+ Ke5 5.Kh4+-] 4.Kh4! [4.Kh5? e4!–+] 4...Kf6 5.Kh3! +-

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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 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 25

Árpád Rusz
Zoltán-65 JT
2007
Commendation

Draw

Thematic try: 1.Bc3? 1.Bb4? Rxa2 (1...bxa2? 2.Bc3 stalemate) 2.Bc3+ b2–+

The white pieces are pinning the black ones.

1...bxa2!! mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate (1...Kxa2? 2.Bb4 Ka1 3.Bc3 Ka2 4.Bb4 positional draw) 2.Be1 Rxb5 3.Bc3+ Rb2 mutual zugzwang - virtual stalemate 4.Be1 Rxb6 5.Bc3+ Rb2–+

Solution:1.a3!! 1...Ra2 2.Bc3+ b2 3.Rxc2! mutual zugzwang 3...Bxc2+ [3...Rxa3 stalemate]

The black pieces are pinning the white ones!

4.Kxc2 mutual zugzwang 4...Rxa3 5.Bxb2+ Ka2 6.Bxa3 Kxa3 7.Kc3 Ka4 8.Kc2! [8.Kd3? Kb4! mutual zugzwang] 8...Kb4 9.Kd3 mutual zugzwang 9...Kxb5 [9...Kb3 stalemate] 10.Kc3 Kc6! 11.Kb3! [11.Kb4? Kxb6 mutual zugzwang] 11...Kxb6 12.Kb4 mutual zugzwang 12...Kc6 13.Ka4! [13.Ka5? b5 mutual zugzwang] 13...b5+ 14.Ka5! mutual zugzwang =

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Related studies: Study 25a Study 25b

Study 24

Árpád Rusz
Neidze-70 JT
2007
- theme section -
Commendation

White wins

1.Kb8

A. 1...Nc7 2.a8N!! (Thematic try: 2.a8Q? Kd8! (2...Nxa8? 3.Bxa8+-) 3.Bc6 (3.Qa7?? Nd7#) 3...Nxa8 4.Bxa8 (4.Kxa8 Kc7=) 4...Nd7+ 5.Kb7! Ba4 6.b5! (6.a7 Bb5 stalemate) 6...Bxb5 7.a7 virtual stalemate 7...Bc4! 8.Kc6 Bd5+! 9.Kxd5 Nb6+ 10.Kc6 Nxa8 11.Kb7 Kd7!=) 2...Kd8 3.Nb6! (3.Nxc7? Nd7+ 4.Ka7 Kxc7=) 3...Nxa6+ 4.Bxa6+-

B. 1...Kd6 2.Kc8! (Thematic try: 2.a8Q? Nd7+ 3.Ka7 (3.Kc8 Nb6+ 4.Kd8 Nxa8 5.Bxa8 Nc7 6.Bb7 Ba4=) 3...Nc7 4.Qh8 Nb5+ 5.Ka8 Nc7+ 6.Ka7 Nb5+ perpetual check) 2...Nd7 3.Bc6! Nb6+ 4.Kb7+-

C. 1...Kd8! 2.Bc6! Nc7 3.Kb7! Bb3 4.Kb6 Bd5 [4...Nd7+ 5.Ka5 Ne5 6.a8Q+ Nxa8 7.Bxa8 Nc4+ 8.Kb5 Kc7 9.a7 Nd6+ 10.Ka6 Bc4+ 11.b5 Bxb5+ 12.Ka5+-] 5.Bb7! [5.Bxd5? Nxd5+ 6.Ka5 Nc7 7.b5 Nd7 8.b6 Nxb6=] 5...Nd7+ 6.Ka5 Nf6 7.b5 Na8 8.b6+-

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Related studies: Study 87 Study24a Study24b Study24c