[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sergiy Didukh"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "1st Prize"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/2p5/2n3n1/2pk1pK1/QR6 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]


{ Judge Árpád Rusz: 

48 studies were published in Variantim during the year 2022. Exactly
one-third of them (16) got into my award. While this was pure coincidence, I like this percentage.

This preliminary award will become final following the confirmation period
on the 15th of August, 2023. } 1.Qb2 $1 ( 1.Rc1 $2 f1=Q+ 2.Rxf1 Nxf1 3.Qxf1
Ne2 ( { or } 3...Nd1 ) 4.Kf3 c1=Q 5.Qxe2+ { (not a mate) } 5...Kc3 $1 $19 )
1...Kd3 $1 { Black has to win a tempo first in order to lose it. } ( 
1...f1=Q+ 2.Rxf1 Nxf1 3.Kxf1 { zz } 3...Kd1 4.Qb4 c1=Q 5.Qxc4 Kd2+ 6.Kg2 $11
) 2.Rf1 $3 ( { Logical try } 2.Rc1 $2 f1=Q+ 3.Rxf1 Nxf1 4.Kxf1 Kd2 $1
{ Switching back to d2 the king loses two tempi: one minus two - and White
is in zz. } 5.Kg2 Kd1 6.Qb4 Nd5 $1 7.Qa4 Nb6 $1 $19 ) 2...Nxf1 3.Kxf1 Kd2
{ Black is sticking to the plan, but paradoxically, white is not in a
zugzwang anymore! With the harmful pawn on f2, WTM draws! } 4.Kg2 $1 Kd1 ( 
4...Ne2 5.Kxf2 c3 6.Qa2 Nc1 7.Qe6 $1 Nd3+ 8.Kf3 Ne1+ ( 8...c1=Q 9.Qe2# )
9.Kf2 Nd3+ 10.Kf3 { positional draw. } ) 5.Qb4 Nd5 $1 6.Qa4 Nb6 $1 7.Qe8 $1
c1=Q 8.Qh5+ Ke1 9.Qe5+ Kd2 10.Qg5+ Kc2 11.Qg6+ Kc3 12.Qf6+ Kb3 ( 12...Kd3
13.Qg6+ $11 ) 13.Qxb6+ Ka2 14.Qa6+ Kb1 15.Qb5+ Qb2
{ Not a counter-check because of Pf2! } 16.Qxc4 $11
{ Judge: A paradoxical study around a harmful black pawn. White manages to
keep that pawn on the board by blocking its promotion square by a
surprising sacrifice (2. Rf1!!). Its harmful effect will be visible only on move 15. }
1/2-1/2

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vladislav Tarasiuk"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "2nd Prize"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "b7/2p1pp2/5P2/4P3/1K6/8/1P1n3P/3k4 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.e6 ( 1.fxe7 $2 Bc6 $19 ) 1...c5+ $1 ( 1...Bd5 2.fxe7 Bc6 3.exf7 $18 ) ( 
1...fxe6 2.f7 $18 ) 2.Kb5 $1 ( 2.Kxc5 $2 Ne4+ 3.Kd4 Nxf6 $19 ) 2...Bd5 3.fxe7
Ne4 4.e8=Q Nd6+ 5.Kxc5 Nxe8 6.Kxd5 fxe6+ 7.Ke5 $3 ( { Try: } 7.Kxe6 $2 Ke2 $1
8.Ke7 Ng7 $1 ( { Black thematic try: } 8...Nc7 $2 9.h4 $1 Kd3 10.h5 Nd5+
11.Kf7 $1 Nf4 12.h6 $18 ) 9.b4 Kf3 10.b5 Nf5+ 11.Kd7 Nd4 12.b6 Nb3 13.Kd6 Na5
$11 ) 7...Ke2 $1 8.h4 $1 ( { White thematic try: } 8.b4 $2 Kf3 $1 9.b5 Nc7
10.b6 Na6 $11 ) 8...Kf3 9.h5 ( 9.b4 $2 Kg4 $11 ) 9...Ng7 10.h6
{ Judge: Original synthesis of two positions with asymmetry: in the
solution (for White 8.h4! - 8.b4?) and try (for Black 8...Ng7! - 8...Nc7?).
The capture avoidances of the black pawns by the white king (2.Kb5!, 7.Ke5!!) add an extra spice to this study. }
1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Amatzia Avni & Martin Minski"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "3rd Prize"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "4R1nb/8/2q2P2/B6p/7k/3PK2p/7P/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.f7 ( 1.Re4+ $2 Kg5 $19 ) 1...Bd4+ $1 ( 1...Qh6+ { /Qc5+ } 2.Ke2 $11 )
2.Kxd4 Qd7+ ( 2...Qf6+ 3.Ke3 $1 ( 3.Ke4 $2 Qxf7 4.Bd8+ Kg4 $19 ) 3...Qxf7
4.Bd8+ { see main line } ) 3.Ke3 $1 { switchback } 3...Qa7+ $1 4.Bb6 $3 ( 
{ logical try: } 4.d4 $2 Qxf7 5.Bd8+ Nf6 6.Kf4 Qg6 7.Rg8
{ position X with wP on d4 } 7...Qe4# $1 ) 4...Qxf7 ( 4...Qxb6+ 5.Ke2 Qb2+
6.Ke3 Qc1+ 7.Ke2 Qc2+ 8.Ke3 Qc5+ 9.Ke2 Nf6 10.f8=Q $11 ) 5.Bd8+ Nf6 ( 
5...Kg4 $4 6.Re4+ Kf5 7.Rf4+ Kg6 8.Rxf7 Kxf7 9.Bg5 Kg6 10.Kf4 ) 6.Kf4 $1 Qg6
{ /Qg7 } ( 6...Qxe8 $4 7.Bxf6# ) 7.Rg8 $1 { position X with wP on d3 } ( 
7.Re4 $2 Qg5+ 8.Kf3+ Nxe4 9.Bxg5+ Nxg5+ $19 ) 7...Qf7 $1 8.Re8 $1 ( 8.Kf5 $2
Qd5+ 9.Kf4 ( 9.Kxf6 Qxg8 $19 ) 9...Qe6 $1 $19 { with zugzwang for White } )
8...Qg6 9.Rg8 $1
{ positional draw. Judge: A study featuring an original positional draw
with a pinned piece and an eternal sacrifice of the rook on e8 and g8. This
classical content is seriously improved by a little touch of logic (4.d4?, 4.Bd6!!). }
1/2-1/2

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Branislav Djura�evic"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "4th Prize"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "b2k4/1q5Q/3p4/3p4/p6p/2p5/2R5/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Qh8+ $1
{ The queen sets off on a long journey of about 20 moves to eliminate the
black pawns on the a-, c-, and h-file, but in a precise sequence to
establish a hidden winning position at a later time. Black is much stronger in terms of material, but the advantage of the white is in the starting
move and in the better position of its rook compared to the passive bishop. Moreover, the black king is also passive and is unable to keep its hiding place on the d-file, that is, it is unable to cross the c- or e-file because of the rook action, except on special occasions which will be
seen during the course of this study. } ( 1.Qg8+ $2 Kc7 $1
{ The first exception that would enable the black king to still escape its
hiding place on d7 and d8. } 2.Rxc3+ Kb6 3.Rc8 ( 3.Qd8+ Ka6 $11 ) 3...Ka7 $11
) ( 1.Qxh4+ $2 Qe7 $1 $11 ) 1...Kd7 $1 ( 1...Kc7 $2 2.Rxc3+ ( 2.Qxc3+ $18
{ also win } ) 2...Kb6 3.Rc8 Ka7 4.Qd4+ $1 Ka6 5.Qxa4+ Kb6 6.Rxa8 $18 ) ( 
1...Ke7 $2 2.Re2+ $1 $18 ) 2.Qg7+ $1 ( 2.Qxc3 $2 Qb1+ 3.Kh2 Qh1+ $1 4.Kxh1
d4+ $11 ) 2...Kd8 3.Qxc3 $1
{ The first pawn that prevents the final blow is being eliminated. } 3...d4
$1 { The counter-play of the black. } ( 3...a3 4.Qf6+ Kd7 5.Qf5+ Kd8 6.Rg2
$1 $18 ) ( 3...h3 4.Qa5+ Kd7 5.Qxa4+ Kd8 6.Qh4+
{ Now the fourth rank is open. } 6...Kd7 7.Qxh3+ Kd8 8.Qh8+ Kd7 9.Rg2 $1 $18
( 9.Qh7+ $2 { waste of time } 9...Kd8 10.Ra2 $2
{ Blunder! Compare this position with decesive one in the main variation
after 20.Ra2!! The only difference is in the position of d5 (d4) pawn. }
10...Qb6+ $1 11.Kh2 Bc6 $1 $11 ) ) ( 3...Qb1+ 4.Kh2 $1 Qh1+ 5.Kxh1 d4+ 6.Qc6
$1 Bxc6+ 7.Rxc6 $18 ) 4.Qa5+ $1 Kd7 5.Qf5+ $1
{ White now uses the open fifth rank. What is wrong with natural 5.Qxa4? } ( 
5.Qxa4+ $2 Ke7 $3
{ Unbelievable move! The second exception where the king boldly steps out
of its comfort zone into an open battlefield! } ( 5...Kd8 $2 6.Qa5+ $18 )
6.Re2+ Kf6 $1 7.Qxd4+ Kg5 $1 8.Qe3+ Kg4 9.Qe6+ Kg5 $1 10.Qg8+ Kh5 $1 $11
{ The king is safe again, switching the d8 square with h5. There is no more
checkmate with the rook along the h file. } ) 5...Kd8 6.Qg5+ Kd7 ( 6...Qe7 $2
7.Rc8+ $18 ) 7.Qg4+ Kd8 8.Qxh4+ Kd7 9.Qg4+ Kd8 10.Qg5+ Kd7 11.Qf5+ Kd8
12.Qa5+ Kd7 13.Qxa4+
{ First the h pawn had to fall, and only then the a pawn. } 13...Kd8 $1 ( 
13...Ke7 $2
{ Now this excursion to an open field is not good because there is no final
shelter. } 14.Re2+ $1 Kf6 15.Qxd4+ $1 Kg5 16.Qe3+ $1 Kg4 17.Qe6+ $1 Kg5
18.Qg8+ $1 Kh5 ( 18...Kf5 19.Rf2+ $1 $18 ) 19.Rh2# ) 14.Qa5+ Kd7 15.Qf5+ Kd8
{ Critical position. How to improve it? It is not easy to see the winning
maneuver. Here I mention one anecdote which is written in the book "Mikhail
Botvinnik: The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion" by Andy Soltis, McFarland, 2014, page 214. Namely, during the match Botvinnik-Tal, following
a Tal's commentary that he couldn't calculate all the variations of some sacrifice, Botvinnik responded: "At first I thought that this position was better for White, but later I found the correct plan: I had to exchange rooks and keep the queens on the board". Tal thought this was "rather
abstract". But after looking more closely at the position, he came to the conclusion that Botvinnik was absolutely correct. Similarly, here white wins by bringing the queen to h7 (!) with a check. It is unfortunate that this can be done in three possible ways, however, the number of moves is the same, so-called dual minor. New example for supplementation of the article: "A minor dual is not a big deal", by Harold van der Heijden published in EG170, 2007: . http://www.arves.org/arves/index. php/en/ endgamestudies/theory/ a-minor-dual-is-not-a-big-deal }
16.Qf8+ ( 16.Qf6+ ) ( 16.Qg5+ ) 16...Kd7 17.Qf7+ { or 17.Qg7+ } 17...Kd8
18.Qg8+ Kd7 19.Qh7+ $1
{ Proper square for the queen, at the same time controlling the b1 and h1
squares to prevent the black queen from getting activated. And that is
exactly the starting square, so the queen makes a long switchback! } 19...Kd8
20.Ra2 $3
{ After 20 moves we have come to the position from the study L.Kubbel,
1925, https:// www. yacpdb.org/#284150 which is only 2 moves long. In the
present study the queen is passively sacrificed, while in the Kubbel's study it is an active sacrifice. The author knew about the Kubbel's study,
but he believes that the complete complex play significantly surpasses its predecessor and that the present study deserves the right to an independent existence. }
20...Qxh7 ( 20...Kc8 21.Qg8+ Kc7 22.Qxa8 $1 ( 22.Rxa8 Qb1+ $1 $11
{ Perpetual check } ) 22...Qb1+ 23.Kf2 Qf5+ 24.Qf3 $18 ) ( 20...Qe4 21.Rxa8+
$1 ( 21.Qg8+ $2 Kd7 22.Qxa8 ( 22.Rxa8 Qe1+ $11 { Perpetual check } )
22...Qe3+ $1 $11 { Perpetual check } ) 21...Qxa8 22.Qg8+ $18 ) 21.Rxa8+ Ke7
22.Ra7+
{ This study shows that both aspects matter: a very precise calculation
(4.Qxa4? Ke7!!=) and an opposite positional way of thinking where one
anticipates intuitively, a lot of moves in advance, the best square for some piece 19. Qh7!+-. Both Tal and Botvinnik styles, now that we have
already mentioned the two chess legends. Judge: A long and surprisingly precise maneuver by the white queen to prepare a classical point by Kubbel. }
1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Gromov, Oleg Pervakov"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Special Prize"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "6rk/P6q/8/4R3/2R4p/1p2p2Q/Pr6/1b2K3 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.a8=Q $1 ( 1.a8=R $2 Re2+ $1 $19 ) 1...Rxa8 ( 1...Re2+ 2.Kxe2 Qd3+ 3.Kf3 e2+
4.Kf2 Qxh3 5.Rh5+ Bh7 6.Rxh7+ Kxh7 7.Qe4+ Kh8 8.Qd4+ $1 Rg7 9.Qd8+ Kh7
10.Rxh4+ $18 ) 2.Qf3 $1 Rbxa2 $1 ( 2...Re2+ 3.Qxe2 bxa2 4.Qb2 $1 Qg7 5.Rxh4+
Bh7 6.Rxh7+ Kxh7 7.Rh5+ Kg8 8.Qb3+ Qf7 9.Rg5+ Kf8 10.Qb4+ $18 ) 3.Qf6+ Qg7
4.Rxh4+ $1 ( { Logical try } 4.Rh5+ $2 Bh7 5.Rxh7+ Kxh7 6.Rxh4+ Kg8 7.Qe6+
Qf7 8.Rg4+ Kf8 9.Qd6+ Qe7 10.Rf4+ Ke8 11.Qc6+ Qd7 12.Re4+ Kd8 13.Qb6+ Qc7
14.Qf6+ Kc8 15.Qe6+ Kb7 $1 16.Qxb3+ Kc6 $1 17.Rc4+ Kd7 $1 18.Qb5+ Kc8 $1
19.Qe8+ ( 19.Qf5+ Kb8 $1 20.Qf8+ Kb7 $11 ) 19...Kb7 20.Rb4+ Ka7 $1 21.Qxe3+
Ka6 22.Qd3+ Ka7 23.Qe3+ Ka6 24.Qe6+ Ka5 $11 ) 4...Bh7 5.Rxh7+ Kxh7 6.Rh5+ Kg8
7.Qe6+ Qf7 8.Rg5+ Kf8 9.Qd6+ Qe7 10.Rf5+ Ke8 11.Qc6+ Qd7 12.Re5+ Kd8 13.Qb6+
Qc7 14.Qf6+ $1 ( 14.Rd5+ $2 Kc8 $11 ) 14...Kc8 15.Qe6+ $1 Qd7 $1 ( 15...Kb7
16.Qxb3+ Kc8 ( 16...Kc6 17.Qb5+ Kd6 18.Qd5# ) ( 16...Qb6 17.Re7+ Ka6 18.Qc4+
Qb5 19.Re6+ $18 ) 17.Qe6+ Kb8 18.Rb5+ Qb7 19.Qg8+ $1 Ka7 20.Qxa2+ $18 )
16.Rc5+ Kd8 17.Qf6+ Qe7 18.Rd5+ Ke8 19.Qg6+ Qf7 20.Re5+ Kf8 21.Qh6+ Qg7
22.Rf5+ Kg8 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Rh5+ Qh7 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Rg5+
{ Judge: Clearly, the best study of the tourney. Unfortunately, the same
systematical roundtrip movement is already 50 years old: it is featured in
a cooked study by Dolgov (1973). The authors not only corrected the old study, but also eliminated the imperfections of the motion from the original
intention, and added some logic to the play, so awarding it a special prize seems justifiable. }
1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Carsten Hansen,Steffen Nielsen"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "1st Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "8/1R6/6P1/4p2p/5Pk1/6r1/4P1nK/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.g7 Kh4 2.f5 Ne3 3.Rb4+ e4 $1 ( 3...Rg4 4.g8=Q $18 ) 4.Rxe4+ Rg4 5.Rxe3 ( 
5.Rxg4+ Nxg4+ 6.Kg2 Nf6 $11 ) ( 5.g8=Q $2 Nf1+ 6.Kh1 Ng3+ 7.Kh2 Nf1+
{ perpetual check } ) 5...Rxg7 6.Rh3+ Kg5 7.Rg3+ Kh4 $1 8.f6 $1 ( 8.Rxg7 $4
{ stalemate } ) ( 8.Rg6 $2 Re7 $1 9.Rg2 Rf7 $1 10.e4 Rxf5 $1 ( 10...Re7 $11 )
11.exf5 { stalemate } ) 8...Rf7 ( 8...Rxg3 9.f7 Rg8 $5 10.fxg8=B $1 $18 ( 
10.fxg8=N ) ) 9.Rg6 Rg7 $1 10.e4 $3 Rxg6 11.e5 Rh6 12.f7 Rh8 13.e6 Kg5 14.e7
{ The study was inspired by Andreikin-Matlakov, Russian Superfinal, Ufa
2021. Judge: A study with mutually hanging rooks inspired by a game. It is
good to know that two connected passed pawns still win against a rook when they reach higher ranks. }
1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michal Hlinka & Lubo� Kekely"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "2nd Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "7K/4r3/6P1/1R6/4kPr1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.f5 Rg5 2.g7 { with two variations: a) } 2...Rexg7 ( { b) } 2...Rgxg7 3.f6
Rh7+ 4.Kg8 Ra7 5.Ra5 Rab7 6.Rb5 Rbc7 7.Rc5 Ra7 ( 7...Rcd7 8.Rg5 $11 ) 8.Ra5
{ positional draw } ) 3.f6 Rg8+ 4.Kh7 Rg1 5.Rb1 R1g2 6.Rb2 R2g3 7.Rb3 R3g5
8.Rb5 Rg1 9.Rb1
{ positional draw. Judge: A nice synthesis of two echo positional draws
with systematic movement of the rooks. } 1/2-1/2

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jaroslav Polášek,Emil Vlasák"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "3rd Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "3Q4/2PPP3/8/3k4/8/8/7p/2K5 b - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1...h1=Q+ 2.Kb2 $1 ( 2.Kc2 $2 Qe4+ $11 ) 2...Qh2+ 3.Kb3 $1 ( 3.Ka3 $2 Qd6+
$11 ) 3...Qg3+ 4.Ka4 $1 Qf4+ 5.Ka5 $1 ( 5.Kb5 $2 Qc4+ $11 ) 5...Qd2+ 6.Ka6 $1
( 6.Kb6 $2 Qb4+ $11 ) 6...Qa2+ 7.Kb7 $1 Qb3+ 8.Kc8 Kc6 9.Qg8 $3 ( 9.Qf8 $2
Qb7+ 10.Kd8 Qxc7+ 11.Ke8 Qxd7+ $11 ) ( 9.Qh8 $2 Qb7+ 10.Kd8 Qxc7+ 11.Ke8
Qxd7+ 12.Kf8 Qf5+ $11 ) 9...Qb7+ ( 9...Qxg8+ 10.e8=Q $18 ) 10.Kd8 Qxc7+
11.Ke8 Qxd7+ 12.Kf8 Qf5+ 13.Qf7 Qc5 14.Kg7 ( { or } 14.Kg8 ) 14...Qg5+
15.Qg6+
{ Judge: White's ninth move is stunning even if the motivation for it is
not very deep. } 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jan Rusinek"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "4th Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "7n/7k/6r1/3N4/3B4/5B1K/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Nf6+ { The first improvement of position of white knight. } ( 1.Be4 $2 Nf7
2.Kh4 Ng5 3.Nf6+ Kg7 4.Nd7+ Kh7 5.Nf8+ Kg8 6.Bxg6 Nf3+ $11 ) 1...Kh6 2.Ng4+
Kh7 3.Be4 Kg8 4.Bd5+ Nf7 5.Nf6+ $3 ( { Thematic try: The immediate } 5.Ne5 $2
{ fails because } 5...Rf6 6.Kg4 Rf1 7.Bc4 Rf6 { mutual zugzwang with WTM }
8.Kg3 { trying to lose a move } 8...Rf5 9.Be6 Rf6 10.Bb3 Rf5 11.Kg4 ( 11.Bc4
Kf8 $1 $11 ) 11...Rf1 12.Bc4 Rf6 $10
{ zz. White must lose a move avoiding analogous losing move by black. } ) ( 
{ White king must help in it but the immediate } 5.Kh4 $2 { fails after }
5...Kf8 $1 $10 ) 5...Kg7 ( 5...Kf8 6.Bc5+ Kg7 7.Ne8+ Kg8 8.Nd6 $18 ) 6.Nd7+
{ Now f8 will be guarded. } 6...Kg8 7.Kh4 $1 Ra6 8.Ne5 Rf6 9.Kh5 $3
{ The right moment and the right way for a losing move! } ( 9.Kg4 $2 Rf1
10.Bc4 Rf6 $11 { zz } ) 9...Rf4 10.Bc3 $1 ( 10.Bb2 $2 Rf2 $10 ) ( 10.Ba1 $2
Rf1 $10 ) 10...Rf6
{ Black couldnot lose a move because he must guard g6 from the wK! } 11.Bc4
( 11.Bb3 $2 Rh6+ 12.Kg4 Rf6 13.Bc4 ( 13.Bd4 Rf1 $1 14.Bc4 Rf6 $11 { zz } )
13...Rf2 $1 14.Bd4 Rf6 $11 { zz } ) 11...Rh6+ 12.Kg4 Rf6 13.Bd4
{ mutual zugzwang with BTM } 13...Kf8 14.Nd7+
{ Judge: A complex fight around a mutual zugwang position with a rarely
used material imbalance. The bishop pair proves to be much stronger than
the rook. } 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Luboš Kekely, Sergey Osintsev"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "5th Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "8/6B1/1k6/8/4rR1N/2K5/N4pp1/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Rf6+ $1 ( 1.Bd4+ $2 Rxd4 $1 2.Rf6+ Rd6 $3 { echo } 3.Rxd6+ $11 ) 1...Re6 $3
{ echo position B } ( 1...Kc7 2.Nxg2 $18 ( 2.Rf7+ $2 Re7 $3
{ echo chameleon position B1 } 3.Rxe7+ Kd8 $1 4.Nxg2 f1=Q $11 ) ) ( 1...Kb5
2.Nxg2 $18 ( 2.Rf5+ $2 Re5 $3 { echo chameleon position B2 } 3.Rxe5+ Ka4
4.Nxg2 f1=Q $11 ) ) 2.Rxe6+ Ka5 ( 2...Kb5 3.Nxg2 f1=Q 4.Ne3 $1 Qa1+ 5.Kb3 $1
{ change of false try and main (position D) } ( 5.Kd3 $2 { (position C1) } )
5...Qxg7 6.Nc3+ Kc5 ( 6...Ka5 7.Nc4# ) 7.Na4+ Kb5 ( 7...Kd4 8.Nf5+ $18 )
8.Rb6+ Ka5 9.Nc4# ) ( 2...Kc7 3.Nxg2 f1=Q 4.Be5+ $1 Kc8 5.Nf4 $1 Qa1+ 6.Kb3
$18 ) ( 2...Kb7 3.Nxg2 f1=Q 4.Re7+ $1 Kc8 5.Ne3 $1 Qa1+ 6.Kb3 $18 ) 3.Nxg2 ( 
3.Re5+ $2 Ka4 $1 4.Nxg2 f1=Q 5.Ne1 Qf7 $1 6.Rg5 Qb3+ $1 $11 ( 6...Qxa2 $2
7.Nd3 $1 Qa3+ 8.Kc2 $1 Qb2+ $6 9.Nxb2+ $18 ( 9.Bxb2 $4 $11 { stalemate } ) ( 
9.Kxb2 $4 $11 { stalemate } ) ) ( 6...Qc7+ $2 7.Kb2 $1 Qb6+ 8.Ka1 Qb2+ $6
9.Bxb2 $18 ( 9.Kxb2 $4 $11 { stalemate } ) ) ) 3...f1=Q 4.Ne3 $1 ( 4.Re5+ $2
Ka4 $1 5.Re4+ Ka5 $1 $11 { positional draw } ( 5...Kb5 $2 6.Rb4+ $1 Ka6 7.Ne3
$1 Qa1+ 8.Rb2 $18 ) ( 5...Ka3 $2 6.Ne1 $1 Qh3+ 7.Nd3 $1 Qg2 8.Bf8+ $1 Kxa2
9.Nb4+ Ka3 10.Nc2+ Ka2 11.Ra4+ Kb1 12.Ra1# ) ) 4...Qa1+ 5.Kd3 $1
{ change of false try and main (position C) } ( { Thematic try: } 5.Kb3 $2
{ (position D1) } 5...Qxg7 6.Nc4+ Kb5 7.Nc3+ Kc5 8.Na4+ Kd4 ( 8...Kb5 $2
9.Rb6# { echo mate position A1 } ) 9.Rd6+ Ke4 $11 ) 5...Qxg7 ( 5...Qb1+ 6.Kd4
$1 ( 6.Nc2 $2 Qf1+ 7.Kc3 Qf7 $1 8.Re5+ Kb6 $1 9.Rg5 Qxa2 $11 ) 6...Qb2+ ( 
6...Qxa2 7.Nc4+ Kb5 8.Rb6+ Ka4 9.Ra6+ $18 ) 7.Nc3 Qb4+ 8.Kd3 $1 ( 8.Nc4+ $2
Qxc4+ 9.Kxc4 $11 { stalemate } ) ) 6.Nc4+ Kb5 ( 6...Ka4 7.Nc3+ ( 7.Ra6+ $2
Kb5 8.Ra5+ Kc6 9.Nb4+ Kb7 $1 10.Nd6+ Kb6 11.Rb5+ Ka7 12.Nc8+ Ka8 13.Ra5+ Kb8
14.Nc6+ Kc7 15.Ra7+ Kxc8 16.Rxg7 { stalemate } ) 7...Kb3 8.Rb6# ) 7.Nc3+ Kc5
8.Ne4+ Kd5 ( 8...Kb5 9.Rb6+ Ka4 10.Nc5# ( 10.Nc3+ $2 Qxc3+ 11.Kxc3 $11
{ stalemate } ) ) 9.Rd6#
{ echo mate position A Judge: Sincerely, in this study I was impressed only
by the play after the fifth move with the two echo mate positions. I hope
others will also like those rook sacrifices from the foreplay. } 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jan Timman"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "6th Honourable Mention"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "R7/Pp2qp2/5p1n/1PpR4/5Pn1/3P4/B1N2p1p/5Kbk w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Re8 $1 Qxe8 2.Re5 c4 { Foresight; preparing to play for stalemate } ( 
2...fxe5 3.Bd5+ e4 4.Bxe4+ Qxe4 5.dxe4 $18 ) 3.Bxc4 ( 3.Rxe8 $2 Nf5 $19 )
3...fxe5 4.Bd5+ e4 5.Bxe4+ Qxe4 6.dxe4 Nf5 7.exf5 f6 8.a8=R $1 { Phoenix } ( 
8.a8=Q $2 Ne3+ 9.Nxe3 { stalemate } ) 8...b6 9.Ra5 $1 { mutual zugzwang }
9...Nh6 10.Ne3 { mutual zugzwang } 10...Nf7 $1 11.Ra1 Nd6 12.Ke2 Ne4 13.Rd1
{ To control the d-file. } 13...Ng3+ ( 13...Nc3+ 14.Kf3 Nxd1 15.Nf1 $1 Nc3
16.Ng3# ) 14.Kf3 Nf1 $1 15.Nc4 $1 Ng3 16.Nd2 $1 Nf1 17.Ne4 $1 Nd2+ 18.Nxd2
f1=Q+ 19.Nxf1
{ Judge: After a cute stalemate avoidance with the help of a rook
promotion, follows a long struggle featuring some mutual zugzwangs. The
black knight is eventually defeated but the fight is not really memorable. }
1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pavel Arestov, Steffen Nielsen"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "1st Commendation"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "4K3/1r4pP/6k1/P3B3/7P/1p6/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.h8=Q b2 $1 2.h5+ $1 Kg5 $1 3.Bxb2 Rb8+ 4.Kf7 Rxh8 5.h6 $3 Rc8 $1 ( 
5...gxh6 6.Bxh8 $18 ) ( 5...Rxh6 6.Bc1+ Kf5 7.Bxh6 $18 ) 6.h7 $1 ( { Try: }
6.hxg7 $2 Rc7+ 7.Ke6 Rc8 8.Kf7 Rc7+ 9.Kg8 $1 Rc4 $3 ( 9...Kg6 $2 10.Kh8 $18 )
10.a6 Kg6 11.Ba3 $1 Ra4 $1 12.Kh8 Rh4+ $1 13.Kg8 Ra4 $1 14.Kf8 Rf4+ $1 15.Kg8
Ra4 $1 { positional draw } ) 6...Kh6 ( 6...Rc7+ 7.Ke6 Rc8 8.Bxg7 $18 )
7.h8=Q+ $1 Rxh8 8.Bxg7+ Kh7 9.Bxh8
{ Judge: Such sacrifice on a square defended three times will always make a
good impression even if the motives involved are quite basic. } 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jan Sprenger"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "2nd Commendation"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "3N3k/1P1n4/6K1/P7/2b2r2/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

{ Themes: stalemate counterplay and stalemate avoidance with mutual [passive]
rook sacrifices, mutual zugzwang with logical structure, bishop/knight
underpromotion } 1. Rd1 ( 1. a6 $2 Rf6+ 2. Kg5 Rxa6 $10 )1... Nb8 2. Ne6 $1
Bxe6 ( 2... Rg4+ 3. Ng5 $18 )3. Rd8+ Bg8 4. Rxb8 Rf8 $1 { stalemate
counterplay}  5. a6 $3 { White counters with a passive rook sacrifice.}  ( {
thematic try } 5. Rc8 $2 Rxc8 6. bxc8=B $5 { [knight promotion is a simple
draw]}  6... Be6 $1 7. Ba6 Bc4 $1 8. Bb7 Kg8 $10 )( { thematic try } 5. Kh6 $2
Re8 $3 { /or Rd8 with transposition}  6. a6 Rxb8 { Now White is in zugzwang: he
must either play 7. a7 with draw or expose his king to checks.}  7. Kg6 ( { or
} 7. a7 Rxb7 8. a8=Q Rh7+ $10 )7... Bd5 { /Bh7+}  8. a7 Rg8+ $1 $19 )( 5. Ra8
$2 Rxa8 $1 6. bxa8=Q { /bxa8R stalemate}  )5... Rxb8 6. Kh6 { Mutual zugzwang
[compare try 5. Kh6?]: Black must either lift the pressure on b7 or abandon the
stalemate defense.}  6... Rf8 ( 6... Bd5 7. a7 Rxb7 8. a8=Q+ $1 )7. a7 Ra8 $5
8. bxa8=N $1 { with a well-known technical win [e.g., Nunn, 2005,
+0340.21a6a8].}  ( 8. bxa8=Q $2 { stalemate} )( 8. bxa8=B $2 Bd5 $1 9. Bxd5 {
stalemate}  )( 8. bxa8=R $2 { stalemate} ) 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michael Pasman"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "3rd Commendation"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "8/8/2B1k3/3r4/R2P4/8/K3p3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Ra8 $1 Rd7 $1 2.Ra5 $1 ( 2.Bxd7+ $2 Kxd7 3.Ra7+ Kd6 4.Ra6+ Kd5 5.Ra5+ Kxd4
6.Ra4+ Kd3 7.Ra3+ Kd2 $19 ) 2...Rxd4 3.Ra8 $1 { Switchback } 3...Rd7 $1
{ Switchback } 4.Ra4 $1 { Switchback } 4...Ra7 $1 ( { After } 4...Rd5
{ , we have returned to the initial position except the d4-pawn is not on
the board anymore. } 5.Re4+ $1 ( 5.Ra8 $2 Re5 $19 ) 5...Re5 6.Rxe2 $1 $11 )
5.Rxa7 e1=Q
{ White pieces are not coordinated, has he a time to coordinate them ? }
6.Ra4 $1
{ Once more switchback, this time with black queen on the board! Now the
rook is defended by bishop, but bishop still far away. } 6...Qf2+ $1 7.Ka1 $1
( 7.Kb3 $2 Qb6+ $19 ) 7...Qb6 8.Be4 $1 Qb3 $1
{ Again keeping white pieces uncoordinated. } 9.Ra8 $1
{ Once more switchback } 9...Ke7 $1 10.Bc2 $1 ( 
{ Rook must stay on 8-th rank: } 10.Ra7+ $2 Kf6 11.Bc2 Qxc2 12.Rf7+ Kg5
13.Rg7+ Kh6 $19 ) ( 10.Bb1 $2 Qc3+ 11.Ka2 Qc4+ 12.Ka1 Qd4+ 13.Ka2 Qd5+ $19 )
10...Qxc2 11.Re8+ $1
{ and the final with model stalemate is like in Pogosiantz, 1976 Judge: A
curious switchback play by the rooks followed by a completely unrelated
ending with R+B against Q. } 1/2-1/2

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yehuda Hoch"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "4th Commendation"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "8/1NP2K2/p1k2p2/6BP/6b1/8/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.c8=Q+ Bxc8 2.Nd8+ Kd7 3.Bxf6 a1=Q 4.Bxa1 Kxd8 5.Bf6+ Kc7 6.Be5+ Kd8 7.Bc7+
$3 ( 7.Kf6 $2 Bb7 $11 ) 7...Kxc7 8.Kf6 Bb7 9.Ke5
{ Judge: The bishop maneuver starting from move five is pretty surprising.
The study features the theme of the 7th WCCT. } 1-0

[Event "Afek-70"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yehuda Hoch, Itay Richardson"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "5th Commendation (after Bron) "]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[FEN "6k1/N7/P2N2pK/6P1/Br6/4P3/5p2/2b5 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]

1.Bb5 $1 Rxb5 2.Nc6 $1 Rxg5 $1 ( 2...f1=Q 3.Ne7+ Kf8 4.Nxg6+ Kg8 5.Ne7+
{ perpetual check } ) 3.a7 Rh5+ 4.Kxg6 Rh6+ $1 5.Kxh6 Bxe3+ 6.Kg6 Bxa7 7.Ne7+
Kf8 8.Kh6 $3 { a) } ( { Thematic try: } 8.Kh7 $2 Kxe7 ( 8...f1=Q $4 9.Ng6# )
9.Nf5+ Ke6 10.Ng3 Bb8 11.Nf1 Kf5 $19 { White is a move too short } ) 8...Be3+
( { b) } 8...Kxe7 { will leed to a study by Bron as follows: } 9.Nf5+ Ke6
10.Ng3 Bb8 11.Nf1 Kf5 12.Kh5 Kf4 13.Kh4 Kf3 14.Kh3 Bf4 15.Ng3 $1 Bd6 ( 
15...Bxg3 { model stalemate } ) 16.Nf1 Ke2 17.Kg2 Bf4 18.Kh1 Kf3 ( 18...Kxf1
{ stalemate } ) 19.Ng3 Bxg3 { model stalemate } ( 19...Kxg3
{ model stalemate } ) ) ( { c) } 8...f1=Q 9.Ng6+ Kg8 10.Ne7+ Kh8 11.Ng6+ Kg8
12.Ne7+ { perpetual check } ) 9.Kh7
{ this time, the bishop is on e3 (in compared to the thematic try where it
was on a7), so the position is a draw } 9...Kxe7 10.Nf5+ Ke6 11.Nxe3 $10
{ Judge: On move 8, white has to make a big decision: where to move the
king in order to make a threat. Eventually, it becames clear that the
threat of an instant checkmate is less effective than the threat of a perpetual check. }
1/2-1/2

