[Event "1 prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1177 Martin Minski"]
[Black "(Germany)"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q4k2/1b1P2N1/5P2/1n2n3/1N6/1R4K1/2R2B2/3r4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Martin is back with a highly charged and tactical confrontation, rich in
mutual blows, that ends up in a surprising domination (E 1177):} 1. Ra2 $1 (1.
Ne6+ $2 Kf7 $1 (1... Kg8 $2 2. Ra2 Qb8 3. Ba7 $1 Nxa7 4. Na6 Qa8 5. Nac7 Qb8 6.
Na6 $11) 2. d8=Q Rxd8 3. Nxd8+ Qxd8 $19) 1... Qb8 2. Ba7 $1 (2. Na6 $2 Bxa6 $19
) 2... Nxa7 3. Na6 Qa8 4. Nc7 ({Not} 4. Ne6+ $2 Kf7 5. d8=Q Rxd8 6. Rxb7+ (6.
Nxd8+ Qxd8 7. Rxb7+ Kxf6 $19) 6... Rd7 $19) 4... Qb8 5. Na6 Rg1+ 6. Rg2 $3 (6.
Kh3 $2 Bg2+ $19) (6. Kh2 $2 Nf3+ $19) (6. Kf2 $2 Nd3+ $1 7. Kxg1 Qg3+ $19) 6...
Rxg2+ 7. Kh3 Rh2+ $1 {Launching a series of counter sacrifices in an effort to
rescue the blockaded queen.} 8. Kg3 $1 Rh3+ $1 (8... Qd6 9. d8=Q+ Qxd8 10. Ne6+
Kg8 11. Nxd8 Rg2+ 12. Kh3) (8... Nxd7+ 9. Nxb8 $11) 9. Kxh3 Bg2+ $1 10. Kxg2
Qa8+ 11. Kg1 $1 (11. Kh2 $2 Kf7 $1 12. Rb7 (12. Rb8 Qf3 $1) 12... Kg6 $19) (11.
Kf2 $2 Kf7 $1 12. Rb8 Qf3+ $1 $19) 11... Nxd7 12. Rb8+ $1 (12. Ne6+ $2 Kf7 $1
13. Rb8 Qd5 $1 14. Rf8+ Nxf8 $19) (12. Nc7 $2 Qc8 $1 $19) 12... Nxb8 13. Ne6+
Kg8 14. f7+ $1 (14. Nac7 $2 Qf3 $1 15. f7+ Qxf7 $19) 14... Kxf7 15. Nac7 {
The queen is dominationated along the entire long diagonal!} Qb7 ({
Other queen moves are no better:} 15... Qc6 16. Nd8+) (15... Qe4 16. Ng5+) (
15... Qf3 16. Ng5+) 16. Nd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2 prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E1206 Ladislav Salai  jr. "]
[Black "(Slovakia) "]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/4r3/6PQ/8/5K2/4pp2/8/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Originals: Variety and quality in our selection this time:  E1206 is a highly
original logical miniature:} 1. g7 $1 ({
The premature fails to an underpromotion:} 1. Kxf3 $2 e2 2. g7 e1=N+ $1 3. Kf2
Nd3+ 4. Kf1 Rxg7 5. Qd6 Rf7+ {which is good for just a draw.}) 1... Rxg7 (1...
Rf7+ 2. Kxe3 Rxg7 3. Kxf3 $18) 2. Kxf3 $3 ({
The thematic try deplays a 5 pieces chameleo echo play to the main line!} 2.
Kxe3 $2 Rf7 3. Kf2 Rf8 4. Qg6+ Kh8 5. Ke1 f2+ 6. Kf1 Rf7 $1 7. Qxf7 {Stalemate!
}) 2... Re7 3. Qg6+ (3. Ke2 $2 Kf7 $11) 3... Kf8 4. Ke2 Re8 5. Qf6+ Kg8 6. Kd1
$1 (6. Kf1 $2 Rf8 $11) ({Not} 6. Ke1 $2 e2 {
It's a reciprocal ZZ with white to play}) 6... e2+ 7. Ke1 {with the same
reciprocal ZZ position with now Black is on move and 7...Re7 8. Qxe7 is no
stalemate!} 1-0

[Event "3 prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1176 Jan Timman"]
[Black "(Netherlands)  "]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3nN1r1/6p1/1P5P/1p4P1/6k1/2B4p/N4P2/b5K1 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "27"]

{The Dutch legendary over the board grandmaster who celebrated last month his
special chess 64th anniversary, is arguably currently the world most prolific
study composer with some 70 new studies composed only last year. E1174 offers
also high quality displaying a breathtaking duel between a white bishop and a
black Rook :} 1. b7 $1 (1. Bxa1 $2 Rxe8 2. hxg7 Kxg5 3. Nb4 Kg6 $11) 1... Nxb7
2. Nf6+ $1 {To pave the way for a pair of connected passed pawns.} gxf6 3. h7
h2+ $1 4. Kh1 $1 (4. Kxh2 $2 {allows} Rh8 5. g6 Kf5 $19) 4... Rd8 5. g6 Kh3 6.
Bd4 $1 {Novotny!} Re8 7. Be5 $1 {And another one!} Rd8 8. Nc3 $3 Bxc3 9. Bd4 $1
Re8 10. Bxc3 {which explains white's eighth move} Rd8 11. Bd2 $1 (11. Be1 Re8
12. Bd2 Ra8 13. Ba5) 11... Ra8 12. Ba5 $1 Rc8 13. Bc7 $1 Re8 14. Bxh2 {wins} (
14. Be5 Rd8 15. Bxh2) 1-0

[Event "4 prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1190 Alain Villeneuve , (France)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/8/4KPP1/1p6/8/8/2p5/2R5 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "27"]

{Originals: We are glad to host one of our regular readers with an excellent
rook ending (E 1190).Both sides have a strong pair of connected passed pawns
just that white's ones are more advanced and directed also at the enemy king.
Follow the subtle solution with the author's annotations:} 1. Kd7 $1 (1. Ke7 $6
Rc7+ 2. Ke8 Rc8+ 3. Kd7 {is just a loss of time.}) 1... Rc4 $1 ({Better than} 
1... Rc3 2. Ra1 (2. Re1) 2... Rd3+ 3. Ke6 Re3+ 4. Kf5 Rf3+ 5. Ke5 Re3+ 6. Kd4
$18) (1... Rf8 2. Ke7 Rc8 3. Rxc2 $18) 2. Re1 $1 (2. Ra1 $2 Ra4 3. Ke7 Re4+ 4.
Kd6 Ra4 $11) 2... Rd4+ 3. Ke8 $3 (3. Ke7 $2 Rf4 $3 {is the key reciprocal ZZ
position: the white rook is in a focal position, because it must observe at
the same time e4 & c1)       } 4. g7 (4. Ra1 Re4+ 5. Kd6 Ra4 $11) 4... Rf3 {
(with the square f7 available for the BK, the attack to the 8th rank has no
more strength)} 5. Ra1 Re3+ $1 6. Kd6 Re8 (6... Kf7) 7. Rh1 Kf7) 3... Rf4 4.
Ke7 $1 {ZZ Now the black rook is in a focal position controlling both a4 and
f7 squares!} b4 (4... Rf3 5. Ra1 $1 Re3+ 6. Kd6 $18) (4... Re4+ 5. Rxe4 c1=Q 6.
f7+ $18) 5. Ra1 $1 Re4+ 6. Kd6 (6. Kd7) 6... Rd4+ {No more ...Ra4.} 7. Ke6 $1
Rd8 8. g7 $1 {Threatening Rh1.


} (8. Rh1 $2 Ra8 9. g7 Ra6+ $1 10. Ke5 Kf7
$1 11. Rh8 Ra5+ $1 12. Kd6 $1 Ra6+ $1 13. Ke5 Ra5+ $11 {Since after} 14. Ke4 (
14. Kf4 c1=Q+) 14... Rg5 15. Rf8+ Ke6 {Black wins!}) 8... Rc8 9. Rh1 Re8+ ({Or
} 9... Rc6+ 10. Ke5 $1 Rc5+ (10... Kf7 11. Rh8 $1 Re6+ 12. Kd5 $18)) 10. Kf5 $1
Kf7 11. Ra1 $1 {Switchback. The chessboard is just wide enough !} Rc8 12. Ra7+
$1 Kg8 13. Kg6 c1=Q 14. f7# 1-0

[Event "5 prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E1178 Vladislav Tarsajuk "]
[Black "(Ukraine)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/8/2P5/8/4P3/8/2KP4/6k1 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Originals: E 1178 proved a too hard nut to crack for the participants of Tata
Steel solving (see below). The pawn march should be conducted with utmost
precision.} 1. d4 Rc8 2. d5 Kf2 3. Kd2 $1 ({Not} 3. Kd3 $2 Kf3 $22 {
and white is zugzwanged i.e.} 4. Kd4 Kf4 5. e5 Kf5 6. e6 Kf6 $11) 3... Kf3 4.
Kd3 $22 Kf4 5. Kd4 Kg5 $1 6. Kc5 $1 {
Keeping a distant opposition and heading for the upper corner.} (6. Ke5 $2 Re8+
7. Kd6 Rxe4 $11) 6... Kf6 7. Kb6 $1 ({Following} 7. Kd6 $2 Rd8+ $11 {
white is forced to retreat and try again since} 8. Kc7 Ke7 9. Kb7 Kd6 10. c7
Rd7 11. Kb6 Rxc7 {is just a draw.}) 7... Rb8+ 8. Ka7 $1 (8. Kc7 $2 Re8 $1 $11)
8... Re8 9. c7 Ke5 10. Kb7 {The royal opposition tango is pretty impressive!}
1-0

[Event "After Axel Ornstein  spec.prize"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1195 Jan Timman , (Netherlands)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p7/1pp3b1/4p3/P3P1P1/2N1k2p/2B4K/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{The over the board Dutch legendary player was at one point second to just
Karpov. He is still a strong GM but  also a highly  prolific and successful
study composer. In addition to his own creative ideas he likes to improve on
the classics. No. 1195 is a daring interpretation of the amazing idea
displayed for the first time in A (see below).   } 1. Nd5+ $1 cxd5 (1... Kd2 2.
Ne7 Bf7 3. Bb1 b5 (3... Kc1 4. Bd3 $18) 4. g5 bxa4 5. g6 Be6 6. g7 Kc1 ({Or} 
6... a3 7. Nd5 $1 cxd5 8. Ba2 $1 $18 {and wins.}) 7. Ba2 $3 Bxa2 8. Nd5 $18) 2.
exd5 Be8 ({Since after} 2... Bxc2 3. g5 {
The bishop is helpless against the pair of passed pawns. But what now?}) 3. Bg6
$3 ({After the natural} 3. g5 $2 Kd4 $1 4. g6 Bxg6 5. Bxg6 Kxd5 {
Black easily exchanges the last pawn.}) 3... Bxa4 ({
Soon it will become apparent that the WB needs the a4 square vacant!} 3... Bd7
4. Bf5 $1 Be8 5. d6 $18) 4. Bc2 $1 Be8 ({White wins following} 4... Kd4 5. g5
Be8 6. Ba4 Kxd5 7. Bxe8 Ke6 8. Kxh3 $18) 5. Ba4 $3 {
That's it! the deflecting bishop is tanoo once again.} Bf7 6. d6 Be6 7. Bd7 $3
({Not} 7. g5 $2 Kf4 8. g6 Kg5 9. g7 Kf6 10. d7 Ke7 11. Bc6 {
when black is just in time!}) 7... Bxd7 (7... Bc4 {is useless too in view of}
8. g5 Kf4 9. Bxh3 Bb5 10. g6) 8. g5 $18 {
and finally wins. A breathtaking series of bishop deflections!} 1-0

[Event "1 hon.mention"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E1212 Amatzia Avni , (Israel)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3q2n1/1B6/7p/3N1P1k/p7/6P1/6KP/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "29"]

{The Israeli composer is back wiht yet another tense ad eventful adventure (E
1212):} 1. h4 {Threatening 2.Kh3} Qd7 (1... Kg4 2. Ne3+) 2. Bc6 $1 Qxc6 (2...
Qc8 3. Bxa4 $1 Qc1 4. Ne3 $1 Nf6 5. Bd1+ {and white even wins}) 3. Kh3 Qc4 4.
Ne3 Qe4 5. g4+ Qxg4+ 6. Nxg4 a3 {By tactical means white has achieved material
equilibrium, but now he must deal with the advanced a-pawn.} 7. Ne5 {(f2)} (7.
Ne3 $2 Ne7 8. f6 Ng6 9. Nc2 a2 10. f7 Nf8 11. Kg3 Kg6 12. Kf4 h5 13. Ke5 Kxf7
14. Kd4 Ng6 15. Kc3 Nxh4 $19) 7... Nf6 8. Nd3 $1 Nd5 9. Nc1 Nc3 (9... Nb4 $4
10. Ne2 $18) 10. Nd3 $1 {White forces the draw by playing on both wings,
combining defence against the advanced a-pawn with mating threats against the
black king.} Ne2 11. Nb4 Nf4+ 12. Kg3 Ne2+ 13. Kh3 (13. Kf3 $2 Nc3 14. Nc2 a2
15. Ke3 Kxh4 $19) 13... Nc3 14. Nd3 Nd5 15. Nc1 {Draw by repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2 hon.mention"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1187 Harold van der Heijden, ( The Netherlands)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K7/2R1P3/3P4/8/1r6/8/1k4pp/1B6 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

{a subtle battle of the heavy artillery is displayed in E 1187 by the man
behind the famous study database and the editor of "EG"- the only periodical
entirely dedicated to our art.} 1. e8=Q ({Try:} 1. Rc2+ $2 Kxb1 2. e8=Q h1=Q $1
3. Rxg2 $5 Qxg2+ {with check, so White cannot play 4.Qe1+}) 1... g1=Q 2. Rc2+
$1 Ka1 $1 3. Ra2+ $3 ({Try:} 3. Rxh2 $5 Qxh2 {and no check on e1.}) 3... Kxb1
4. Rxh2 $1 Qd1 $1 (4... Qxh2 5. Qe1+ Kc2 6. Qxb4 $18) 5. Qg6+ Ka1 6. Qg7+ Rd4 (
6... Kb1 7. Qh7+ Ka1 8. Rh1 $18) 7. Rh7 $3 {Now the main threat is 8.Qa7+ Ra4
9.Qxa4+ Qxa4+ 10.Ra7 wins. Black has two main defences:} ({1st Thematic try:} 
7. Rh6 $2 Qf3+ $1 ({But not:} 7... Qa4+ $2 8. Qa7 Qxa7+ 9. Kxa7 $18 {
as pawn d6 is covered by the rook.}) 8. Kb8 Qb3+ 9. Kc8 Qc3+ 10. Kd7 $5 (10.
Qc7 Rc4 $11) 10... Rxd6+ 11. Kxd6 Qxg7 $18 {
and the wQ is not covered by the rook.}) ({2nd Thematic try:} 7. Rh3 Qa4+ $1 ({
of course not:} 7... Qf3+ $2 8. Rxf3 $18) 8. Qa7 Qxa7+ 9. Kxa7 {
and no check, so} Rxd6 $11) 7... Qf3+ ({Main variation B:} 7... Qa4+ 8. Qa7
Qxa7+ 9. Rxa7+ $18 {with check}) 8. Kb8 Qb3+ 9. Kc7 (9. Kc8 $2 Qe6+ $11) 9...
Qc3+ {unpins the rook} 10. Kd7 {and wins since compared to the above second
thematic try the white queen is now protected.} 1-0

[Event "Dedicated to Y.Afek's 65th birthday "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1211 Alexander Zhukov , (Russia) "]
[Black "3 hon.mention"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5BN1/8/1P5K/1p3p2/8/3k4/8/r7 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "23"]

{The advanced white pawn  in E1211 is about to cost black his rook but the fun
only starts then!} 1. Nf6 $1 {All other attempts fail:} (1. b7 $2 Ra6+ (1...
Ra6+ 2. Kg5 Rb6 $11)) (1. Bc5 $2 Ra6 2. Nf6 (2. Kg5) 2... Rxb6 $1 $11) (1. Kg5
$2 Ra8 2. Bd6 Rxg8+ $11) 1... Ra6 ({Following} 1... Ra8 2. Bd6 Ra6 3. Nd7 $1
Rxb6 4. Nxb6 $18 {it's even easier to stop the pawns.}) 2. Nd7 $1 ({
The alternatives would prove futile:} 2. Bc5 $2 Rxb6 3. Bxb6 b4 $11) (2. Kg5 $2
b4 3. Nd7 Ra5 $1 4. b7 Rb5 5. b8=Q Rxb8 6. Nxb8 b3 $11) 2... Rxb6+ 3. Kg5 $3 ({
A shocking move!} 3. Nxb6 $2 f4 4. Nd5 f3 $11 {again leads nowhere however now
the rook is dominated while the white king takes part in the chase}) 3... Rg6+
$1 4. Kxg6 f4 5. Nc5+ $1 {That was not possible with knight on b6!} Ke2 6. Ne4
$1 f3 7. Bc5 $1 b4 8. Ng3+ $1 Ke1 9. Bxb4+ Kf2 10. Ne4+ Ke3 11. Kf5 $1 f2 12.
Bc5+ {The pawn have been finally successfully tamed.} 1-0

[Event "4 hon.mention"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1183 Andrzej Jasik , (Poland)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r4B1/6k1/P1P4R/b7/8/1p3P2/8/7K w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{The contribution of our Polish guest (E 1183) describes an unusual battle:
White is ready to give away his Bishop for the Black advanced pawn and to pin
his hopes on his own pair of dangerous pawns:} 1. Rh5 $1 b2 (1... Kxg8 2. a7
Ra8 3. Rxa5 $18) 2. Ba2 (2. Bh7 $2 Rh8 3. Rb5 Rxh7+ $11) 2... b1=Q+ (2... Bc7
3. Bb1 $1 Kf6 4. Rh7 $18) 3. Bxb1 Rxb1+ 4. Kg2 $1 {With 2 echoing variations:}
(4. Kh2 $2 Bc7+ $11) 4... Bb6 ({Or B)} 4... Rb2+ 5. Kf1 $1 (5. Kh3 $2 Bc7 $1
$11) 5... Bb6 6. Rc5 $3 ({But not} 6. Ra5 $2 Ba7 $1 7. Rd5 Kf6 $1 8. Rd7 Be3 9.
a7 Rf2+ 10. Ke1 Bxa7 $11) 6... Rb1+ 7. Ke2 $1 Bc7 8. Rd5 $1 Kf6 9. Rd7 $18) 5.
Ra5 $3 ({But not:} 5. Rc5 $2 Bxc5 6. c7 Rg1+ 7. Kh2 Rc1 $1 8. c8=Q Bd6+ $19)
5... Ba7 (5... Rc1 6. a7 Bxa7 7. Rxa7+ $18) 6. Rd5 $1 Rb2+ 7. Kh3 ({And the bat
tle against the passed pawns will soon cost black his Bishop leaving white
with two pawns ahead in a winning rook ending after for example:} 7. Kh3 $1 Kf6
8. Rd7 Be3 9. a7 Bxa7 10. Rxa7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dedicated to the Dutch open "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1217 Yochanan Afek , (Israel/ Netherland"]
[Black "5 hon.mention"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K7/3p4/kP1P4/n7/P1q5/2Q4B/Pr6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{E 1217 is yous truly's traditional contribution to the Dutch over the board
open championship: With a rook behind and a cornered king in constant danger
extra inventiveness is called for.} 1. Bf1 $1 (1. Qxc4+ $2 Nxc4 2. Bf1 Kxb6 3.
Bxc4 Rd2 $19) 1... Qxf1 2. Qc8+ Nb7 $1 ({Naturally not} 2... Kxb6 3. Qc7+ Ka6
4. Qa7#) 3. Qxb7+ Ka5 4. Qa7+ $1 {
Trading queens with a rook behind is paradoxically the key to salvation !} ({
The more natural option} 4. Qd5+ $2 {fails to} Kxa4 $1 5. b7 Qa6+ 6. Kb8 Rxb7+
$3 {The one and only!} 7. Qxb7 Qxd6+ 8. Ka7 Ka5 $1 {
followed by queen exchanges after which pawn is won for black.} {e.g.} 9. Qb1
Qa6+ 10. Kb8 Qb6+ $19) (4. Qc8 $2 Rb4 $1 $19) 4... Qa6 ({After} 4... Kb4 5. b7
Qf3 6. Qb6+ Ka3 7. Qc7 $11 {Black can make no progress.}) 5. Qxa6+ Kxa6 6. a5
$1 Rb5 $1 {Diagram # Time to call it a day?} 7. b7 $3 ({
Not quite! White gives away his last hope! Not} 7. a4 $2 Rxa5 8. b7 Kb6+ $19)
7... Rxb7 8. a4 $1 {Threatening...stalemate!} Ra7+ 9. Kb8 Rb7+ {What else?} 10.
Ka8 $1 {It's a fortress in which black, a rook ahead may choose between
repeating moves or stalemate!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "special hon.mention"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1215 David Gurgenidze, (Georgia) "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5b2/k7/2P5/K1P5/8/BPr5/8/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{The Georgian grandmaster is back with a pair of positional draws (E 1215):} 1.
c7 Bxc5 2. c8=N+ $1 Kb8 3. Nd6 Bxa3 4. Nb5 {With 2 thematic lines:} Rxb3 (4...
Rc5 5. Kb6 Bb4 6. Na7 {(threatening 7.Sc6+)} Ka8 7. Nb5 {
Threatening 8. Sc7+ followed by 9. Sa6+} Kb8 8. Na7 $1 {Positional Draw No.2})
5. Ka4 Rb4+ 6. Ka5 Rb3 7. Ka4 {Positional Draw No.1} 1/2-1/2

[Event "comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1174 Dusan Mijatovic"]
[Black "(Serbia) "]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4N3/3p4/8/1pP1K2k/1P6/6p1/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

{Originals:We wish all readers a happy and creative new year with the hope to
enjoy your contributions to this column as well. We are especially pleased to
open the new biennial tourney with a debut of arguably the youngest composer
ever in this column, at least in my period as its editor. Dusan is an 11 year
old gifted player from Novi Belgrade with an impressive record of achievements
in both chess and mathematics contests. His highly mature composing effort (E
1174) demonstrates a heroic struggle of a mighty knight to prevent promotion
with a remarkable wealth of different thematic forks and a seemingly original
reciprocal zugzwang:} 1. Ng7+ $1 (1. Nf6+ $4 Kh4 $1 $19 (1... Kg6 2. Nd5 $1 g2
3. Nf4+ {fork}) (1... Kh6 2. Ng4+ $18) (1... Kg5 2. Ne4+ $18 {fork})) 1... Kg5
$1 (1... Kh6 2. Nf5+ $18 {fork}) (1... Kg6 2. Nf5 g2 3. Nh4+ $18 {fork}) (1...
Kg4 2. Nf5 $1 g2 3. Ne3+ $18 {thematic fork}) 2. Nf5 g2 3. Nd4 Kg4 (3... g1=Q
4. Nf3+ $18 {fork}) (3... g1=N 4. Kd6 $18) 4. Ne2 Kf3 5. Ng1+ Kf2 (5... Ke3 6.
Nh3 $1 Kf3 7. Kf5 {as in the main variation}) 6. Nh3+ Kf3 $1 (6... Kg3 $2 7.
Nf4 $1 g1=Q (7... g1=N 8. Nd5 $18) 8. Ne2+ $18 {
thematic fork, echo shift one rank below}) 7. Kf5 $1 {
White needs to lose a tempo and use a triangulation method!} Ke3 (7... Kg3 $2
8. Nf4 $18) 8. Kf6 $1 Kf3 (8... Kd4 $2 9. Ke7 $18) 9. Ke5 $1 {
The same position as after black's sixth move but now it is black on move!} Ke3
(9... Kg3 $2 10. Nf4 $18) (9... Kg4 10. Ng1 Kg3 11. Ke4 $1 Kf2 12. Nh3+ $1 $18
(12. Nf3 $2 Ke2 $1 $11)) 10. Kd6 $1 Kf3 11. Kxd7 Kg3 12. Ng1 Kf2 13. c6 $1 Kxg1
14. c7 Kf2 15. c8=Q g1=Q 16. Qc5+ ({Also} 16. Qc2+) 16... Kg2 17. Qxg1+ $1 $18
{with an easily won pawn ending. Very well done Dusan!} (17. Qxb5 $2 Qd4+ $11 {
Dusan will be among participants of the Youth Chess Composing Challenge,
announced this month on the WFCC website. This new thematic competition for
juniors is organized in the frames of the Belgrade WCCC 2016, and the endgame
section will be judged by Ofer Comay.}) 1-0

[Event "comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1188 Peter Krug , (Austria) "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2N5/8/6p1/8/1K5p/p7/rk5r/1B4R1 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "25"]

{The Austrian composer is back with a logical study (E 1188) based on
reciprocal zugzwang:} 1. Nb6 Rg2 2. Re1 $1 ({Thematic try:} 2. Rh1 $2 Rg4+ 3.
Nc4+ Rxc4+ 4. Kxc4 Ra1 5. Rh2+ Kxb1 6. Kc3 g5 $1 {Zugzwang}) 2... Rg4+ (2...
Re2 3. Rd1 Rc2 4. Na4+ $18) 3. Nc4+ Rxc4+ 4. Kxc4 Ra1 5. Re2+ Kxb1 6. Kc3 g5 7.
Rh2 {ZZ black to play!} g4 8. Rxh4 g3 9. Re4 g2 10. Re1+ Ka2 11. Re2+ Kb1 12.
Rxg2 Ra2 13. Rg1# 1-0

[Event "Reconstruction of E 1179, comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E1189Michal Hlinka Lubo Kekel, (Slovakia)"]
[Black "& Pavel Arestov , (Russia) "]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3R4/8/1R1P4/3b1kr1/7K/4rP2/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

{E1189 is a significant improvement of the earlier Slovak co-production thanks
to the contribution of its Russian co-author.} 1. d7 Rh5+ $1 (1... a1=Q 2. Rf8+
Ke5 3. d8=Q {is in white's favour.}) 2. Kxh5 Bf7+ $1 (2... Bxf3+ 3. Kh4 a1=Q 4.
Rf8+ Ke5 5. Re8+ Kf4 6. Rf8+ $11) 3. Kh6 a1=Q 4. Rf8 $1 Re6+ $1 (4... Rd3 5.
Rxf7+ Ke5 6. Kh7 $1 Qa8 (6... Qa5 7. Rb8 Rd6 8. Re8+ $1 Kd4 9. d8=Q Rxd8 10.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 11. f4 $11) 7. Rb2 Ke6 8. Kg6 Rd6 9. Re2+ Kd5+ 10. Kg7 Kc6 11. Rc2+
Kb5 12. Rc8 Qd5 13. d8=Q Qd4+ 14. Qf6 Rxf6 15. Rxf6 Qd7+ 16. Rf7 Qxc8 17. f4
$11) 5. Rxe6 Qc1+ $1 (5... Qh1+ 6. Kg7 Kxe6 7. Rxf7 $1 $11) 6. f4 $1 ({Not} 6.
Kg7 $2 Kxe6 7. Rxf7 (7. d8=N+ Kd7 $1 8. Nxf7 Qb2+ 9. Kg8 Qg2+ 10. Kh7 Ke7 $19)
7... Qg5+ 8. Kf8 Qh6+ 9. Kg8 Qg6+ 10. Rg7 Qf6 11. Kh7 Ke5 12. Kg8 Qd8+ 13. Kh7
Qf8 14. Kg6 Qf6+ 15. Kh7 Kf4 $19) 6... Qxf4+ {Following a sacrificial
introduction the solution approaches a reciprocal zugzwang position.} 7. Kh7 $1
({thematic try:} 7. Kg7 $2 Kxe6 8. d8=N+ Kd6 $1 {zz} 9. Nxf7+ (9. Rxf7 Qg5+ $19
) 9... Ke7 $19) 7... Kxe6 8. d8=N+ $1 (8. d8=Q $2 Qf5+ 9. Kh8 Qh5+ 10. Kg7 Qg6+
11. Kh8 Qh6#) 8... Kd6 $1 9. Kg7 $1 {zz} Qf5 $1 10. Nxf7+ Ke7 11. Re8+ $1 Kxe8
12. Nd6+ {Draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1213 Martin Minski , Germany "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/1r1pp1P1/8/3k4/5PrP/8/3b1K1Q w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

{Our regular German guest has sacrificed numerous queens in his studies of
late. Here too a pair of them is given away to avoid mate and to allow
stalemate (E1213).} 1. Qh2 $1 Rxf3+ (1... Be2+ 2. Qxe2 Rb1+ 3. Kf2 Rbg1 $11) 2.
Kg1 Ke3 (2... Rb1 3. Qxd6+ $11) 3. g7 Rb1 {Creating a deadly battery} 4. g8=Q
Rg3+ $1 {sacrificial switchback to vacate a square.} (4... Rf1+ $1 {
reaches a similar conclusion following} 5. Kg2 $1 (5. Kxf1 $2 Bf3#) 5... Bf3+
6. Kg3 Rg1+ 7. Qxg1+ $1 (7. Kh4 $2 Rb4+ $19) 7... Rxg1+ 8. Kh4 Rxg8 {stalemate}
) 5. Qhxg3+ (5. Qgxg3+ $2 Bf3+ 6. Qe1+ Rxe1# {mate with self-block on h2}) 5...
Bf3+ {cross-check} 6. Qe1+ $1 {cross-check queen sacrifice} (6. Kh2 $2 Rh1# {
mate with self-block on g3}) 6... Rxe1+ 7. Kh2 Rh1+ ({Or} 7... Re2+ 8. Kg3 Rg2+
9. Kh4 Rxg8 {stalemate}) 8. Kg3 Rg1+ 9. Kh4 Rxg8 {stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1219 Steffen S. Nielsen "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7B/8/P1rPp1K1/2p5/b1P2k2/2P5/B4P2/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{The Dannish composer is back with yet another entertaining entry that ill
take you by surprise (E1219): The white pawns are comfortably stopped. thus
creativity is required.} 1. Bb3 $1 Bxb3 ({Following} 1... Rxd6 2. Bxa4 Rxa6 3.
Bb5 $18 Ra2 4. Bf6 Rxf2 5. Be7 {
the rook is helpless against the upcoming supported passed pawn.}) 2. Be5+ $1 (
{A stunning  neat double sacrificial deflection!} 2. a7 $2 Rc8) (2. d7 $2 e5+
3. Bf6 (3. Kf7 Bxc4+ ({Or} 3... Rc7)) 3... Bc2+ 4. Kh5 Bd1+ 5. Kg6 Bc2+ $11)
2... Kxe5 3. d7 Rd6 4. a7 Bc2+ 5. Kg5 Be4 {All is set by now for} 6. f4# $1 {
Model mate following 2 active self blocks.} 1-0

[Event "special comm."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E 1194 David Gurgenidze , (Georgia) "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator ",Yochanan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k1B5/r7/2P3K1/1P6/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Originals: With this issue's selection our binennial tourney has reached its
half way. Contributions for 2017 are now more than welcome!   We are delighted
to host again the Georgian super grandmaster with a charming super miniature
(E 1194):  } 1. b6 Ra5 $1 {Preparing in advance a tactical counter play} 2. c7
Rg5+ $1 (2... Rb5 {is met by} 3. Be6 $1) 3. Kf7 $1 Rg7+ {
The crazy rook is the only defensive resource.} 4. Ke8 Re7+ (4... Rg8+ 5. Kd7
Rxc8 6. Kc6 $1 $18 {is as unpleasant.}) 5. Kd8 Re8+ 6. Kd7 Rxc8 $1 ({
As following} 6... Re7+ 7. Kd6 $1 $18 {
even the crazy rook is of no effect anymore.}) 7. Kc6 $1 Rh8 8. b7+ Ka7 9. c8=Q
Rxc8+ 10. bxc8=R $1 1-0

