www.arves.org - Phenix 2019

Studies awarded for the Phenix 2019 tournament.

[Event "1st - 2nd Prize Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2pp3p/K6P/3P4/1pPP1N2/8/1k6/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {An amazing interpretation of the Phoenix theme honours the title of this magazine. The sacrificed Knight is reborn to win the game by a hair. The alternative underpromotion to a Bishop is a strong try leading just to a positional draw as Black is well in time to build up a fortress.} 1. Nd3+ $1 ( 1. Kb5 $2 Kc3 2. Ne2+ Kd2 3. Ng3 b3 4. Kb4 b2 5. Ne4+ Kd3 6. Nc3 Kxd4 7. Kb3 Kd3 8. Nb1 Kd4 9. Na3 Kc5 10. Kxb2 c6 11. dxc6 Kxc6 12. Kc3 Kc5 13. Kd3 d5 14. Ke3 dxc4 15. Ke4 Kd6 16. Nxc4+ Ke7 17. Ne5 Kf8 $11) 1... Kc3 $1 2. Nxb4 $1 Kxb4 3. c5 (3. Kb7 Kxc4 4. Kxc7 Kxd5 $1 (4... Kxd4 5. d6) 5. Kxd7 {draws.}) 3... Kc4 4. c6 $1 Kxd5 $1 5. cxd7 Kc6 $1 6. d8=N+ $3 {Phoenix theme ! The sacrificed Knight is reborn.} (6. d8=B $6 {fails to} Kd5 $1 7. Kb7 ({Or} 7. Bf6 c5 $1 8. dxc5 Kxc5 9. Kb7 Kd5 10. Kc7 Ke6 {draws.}) 7... Kxd4 8. Kxc7 Ke5 9. Kd7 Kf5 $1 10. Ba5 (10. Ke8 Kg6 $11) 10... Kg6 $1 11. Bd2 Kf7 $1 $11 {And it's a theoretical fortress.}) (6. d8=Q $2 {Stalemate}) (6. d8=R $2 {Stalemate}) 6... Kd5 $1 7. Kb7 $1 ({Not} 7. Nf7 $2 Kxd4 8. Ng5 Ke5 9. Nxh7 Kf5 10. Ng5 ({Or} 10. Nf8 Kf6 $1 11. h7 Kg7 12. Kb5 c6+ 13. Kxc6 Kh8 $11) 10... Kg6 11. h7 Kg7 12. Kb5 c6+ 13. Kxc6 Kh8 {with another theoretical fortress.}) 7... Kxd4 8. Kxc7 Ke5 9. Kd7 $1 Kf6 10. Ke8 $1 Kg6 11. Nf7 Kf6 12. Kf8 $1 Kg6 13. Kg8 $18 1-0

[Event "1st - 2nd Prize Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Steffen Nielsen & Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2qN3K/8/2P5/8/R1P1k3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "46"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {In a seemingly hopless position White manages to coordinate his scattered pieces and demantle the lethal threats of the enemy queen. On the way to the saving stalemate a range of tactical devices are cleverly used, highlighted by the quiet sacrificial deflections13.Rd4!! and 14. Rd6!! One of the most poweful demonstrations I have seen of harmonious collaboration between a Rook and a Knight.} 1. c5+ Ke3 (1... Kd5 {or Ke5} 2. c7 $1 Qxc7 3. Rd4+ $1 $11) 2. Ra3+ Kd2 3. Ra2+ Kc1 4. Ra1+ Kd2 $1 (4... Kb2 5. Rd1 $1 Qh3+ 6. Kg7 Qg4+ 7. Kf7 Qxd1 8. Ke7 $1 $11) 5. Ra2+ Kc3 6. Ra3+ Kc4 7. Ra4+ Kc3 (7... Kxc5 8. c7 $1 Qxc7 (8... Qh3+) (8... Kb5) 9. Ne6+) 8. Ra3+ Kd2 (8... Kc4 9. Ra4+ Kxc5 10. c7 $1 $11) 9. Ra2+ Ke3 10. Ra3+ Ke4 11. Ra4+ Ke5 (11... Kd5 12. c7 Qxc7 13. Rd4+ $11) 12. c7 $1 Qxc7 13. Rd4 $1 Qxc5 14. Rd6 $3 Qc8 15. Re6+ Kf5 16. Re8 Qd7 17. Rf8+ Kg6 18. Rg8+ Kf6 19. Rf8+ Kg6 20. Rg8+ Kh5 (20... Kh6 21. Nf7+ $1 Qxf7 22. Rg6+ Kxg6 $11 (22... Qxg6 $11)) 21. Nf7 $1 (21. Rf8 $2 Qe7 22. Rg8 (22. Kg8 Kg6 23. Nf7 Qe6 24. Kh8) 22... Qf6+ 23. Kh7 (23. Rg7 Qxd8+) 23... Qh6#) 21... Qxf7 22. Rg5+ Kh4 23. Rg4+ Kxg4 {Stalemate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd Prize Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Vladislav Tarasiuk & A. Khandurin"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2R5/B4K2/8/8/3NPk2/6pp/5r2/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] 
 {The knight is sacrificed twice on h1first for a winning Rook ending and then for a surprising Zugzwang. The underpromotion of a black knight after ...Kg4 on the very same thematic square h1 adds a touch of humour to the main theme.}  1. Nf5 (1. Ne6+ $2 Kxe4+ 2. Bxf2 gxf2 3. Rc1 Kf3 4. Kf6 h2 $1 5. Kf5 f1=Q 6. Rxf1+ Kg2 $11) 1... h2 2. Nxg3 $1 (2. Bxf2 $2 h1=Q 3. Bxg3+ Kxe4 $11) 2... Rf3 3. Nh1 $1 (3. Bb8+ $2 Ke3+ $1 4. Ke6 Rxg3 5. Rh8 Rg8 $1 6. Rxh2 Kxe4 $1 $11) 3... Kxe4+ (3... Rf1 4. Rc4 $1 Rxh1 5. Bb8+ Ke3 6. Bxh2 $1 Rxh2 7. e5 $18) 4. Kg6 Ra3 $1 (4... Rf1 5. Ng3+ Kf3 6. Nxf1 $1 h1=Q 7. Rf8+ Kg2 {/Rg4} 8. Ne3+ Kg3 9. Bb8+ Kh3 {/Kh4} 10. Rh8#) 5. Bb8 Ra1 6. Ng3+ $1 (6. Nf2+ $2 Kf3 7. Rf8+ Kg2 $11) 6... Kf3 7. Rc3+ Kg2 (7... Kg4 $5 8. Ne4 h1=N $1 (8... h1=Q $2 9. Nf2+ Kh4 10. Bg3#) 9. Nf6+ Kh4 10. Rc2 Ra3 11. Rd2 Rb3 12. Bd6 Re3 13. Rg2 Rf3 14. Ne4 Rb3 ({or} 14... Rf1 15. Rd2 Kg4 16. Ng5 $18) 15. Kf5 Rf3+ 16. Bf4) 8. Rc2+ Kh3 9. Nh1 $3 (9. Rc3 Kg2 10. Rc2+ Kh3 11. Nh1 {would only be a waste of time}) ({ Try} 9. Ne4 $2 Ra6+ $1 (9... h1=Q $2 10. Ng5+ Kg4 11. Rc4+ Qe4+ 12. Rxe4#) 10. Kh5 Ra5+ $1 (10... h1=Q $4 11. Ng5#) 11. Ng5+ Rxg5+ 12. Kxg5 h1=Q $11) 9... Rxh1 10. Kh5 $1 {zugzwang} Rg1 11. Rxh2# 1-0

[Event "4th Prize Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Jarl Henning Ulrichsen"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5K2/1p3p2/1P4k1/8/6p1/5pP1/8/7N w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] 
 {A coast to coast journey of a knight is usually an attractive vision even if its very final stage here is not new.} 1. Ke7 (1. Nf2 {? draws; e.g.} f5 2. Ke7 Kg5 3. Ke6 f4 4. Ne4+ Kh5 5. Kf5 fxg3 6. Nxg3+ Kh4 7. Kf4 f2 8. Nf5+ Kh3 9. Ng3 Kh4 10. Nf1 Kh3) 1... f5 2. Ke6 (2. Kd6 {?} f4 3. gxf4 (3. Ke5 fxg3 4. Nxg3 f2 5. Kf4 Kf6 6. Kxg4 Ke5 7. Kf3 Kd5 8. Kxf2 Kc5 $11) 3... Kf5 4. Kc7 Kxf4 5. Kxb7 g3 6. Nxg3 Kxg3 $11) 2... Kg5 (2... f4 3. gxf4 Kh5 4. f5 Kh4 5. f6 g3 6. f7 g2 7. f8=Q gxh1=Q 8. Qh8+ {wins.}) 3. Ke5 f4 $1 4. gxf4+ Kh4 5. Ke4 g3 $1 6. Kxf3 g2 7. Kxg2 Kg4 8. Nf2+ (8. Ng3 {?} Kxf4 {draws as White loses his last pawn.}) 8... Kxf4 9. Nd3+ Ke4 10. Nb4 $1 Kd4 11. Na6 {!} Kd5 12. Nc7+ Kc6 13. Na8 { 1-0. The white knight gallops from the south-east corner (h1) to thenorth-west corner (a8).} 1-0

[Event "Special  Prize Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Janos Mikitovics"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/7p/7p/6P1/ppp1Nk2/8/PP1PP3/K7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "29"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {A highly original and very special pawn play with an amazing reciprocal zugzwang display highlighted by the stunning 11.d4+!! If I am the composer I would seriously consider starting the solution on the sixth move and give up this fairly known knight foreplay that has nothing much to do with the main dish.} 1. Nf6 $1 (1. Nf2 $2 hxg5 $11) (1. gxh6 $2 Kxe4 2. b3 cxb3 $1 (2... axb3 $2 3. axb3 c3 4. dxc3 bxc3 5. Kb1 $18) 3. axb3 a3 $11) 1... hxg5 $1 (1... Kf5 2. Nxh7 $1 (2. e4+ $2 Kxg5 3. Nxh7+ Kg6 $1 4. Nf8+ Kf7 $1 5. Nd7 Ke6 $1 6. Nb6 Ke5 $1 7. Nxc4+ Kxe4 $11) 2... h5 3. Nf6 $18 (3. e4+ $2 Kg6 $11) (3. Kb1 $2 h4 $11)) 2. Nxh7 g4 3. Nf6 g3 4. Nh5+ Kg4 5. Nxg3 Kxg3 6. Kb1 $1 (6. d4 $2 cxd3 $11 (6... Kf4 $2 7. d5 $1 Ke5 8. e4 $18)) 6... b3 $1 7. axb3 $1 (7. d4 $2 cxd3 8. exd3 Kf3 9. axb3 axb3 10. Kc1 Ke3 $11) ({thematic try} 7. Ka1 $2 Kf4 {/g4!} 8. Kb1 Ke5 {/Kf5!} 9. axb3 axb3 10. Kc1 Ke4 $1 $11 {ZZ} (10... Kd4 $2 11. Kd1 Ke4 12. Ke1 Ke5 13. d4+ $18 {main})) ({Thematic try} 7. a3 $2 Kf4 8. Kc1 Ke4 $1 9. Kd1 Kf4 {/d4} 10. e3+ Ke5 $1 (10... Ke4 $2 11. d4 $1 cxd3 12. Kd2 $18 {ZZ}) 11. d4+ cxd3 12. Kd2 Ke4 $11 {ZZ}) 7... axb3 $1 8. Kc1 $1 (8. e3 $6 Kg4 $1 ( 8... Kf3 $2 9. Kc1 Ke4 10. d4 $3 cxd3 11. Kd2 $18 {ZZ}) 9. Kc1 Kf5 $1 (9... Kf3 $2 10. Kd1 Ke4 11. d4 $1 cxd3 12. Kd2 $18 {ZZ}) 10. Kd1 Ke5 $1 (10... Ke4 $2 11. d4 $18) 11. d4+ cxd3 12. Kd2 Ke4 $11 {ZZ}) 8... Kf4 9. Kd1 Ke4 {/f5} 10. Ke1 Ke5 (10... Kf5 11. Kf1 $1 {ZZ} (11. Kf2 $2 Kf4 {ZZ} 12. Kf1 Kf5 {ZZ} 13. Kg2 Kg4 {ZZ} 14. Kg1 Kg5 {ZZ} 15. Kh2 Kh4 {ZZ} 16. Kh1 Kh5 {ZZ} 17. Kg1 Kg5 { pos. draw}) 11... Kg5 12. Kg1 {ZZ} Kg4 13. Kg2 $18 {ZZ}) (10... Kf4 11. Kf2 $1 $18) 11. d4+ $3 (11. Kf1 $2 Kf5 $11 {ZZ} (11... Kf4 $2 12. Kf2 $18 {ZZ})) (11. Kf2 $2 Kf4 $11 {ZZ}) (11. d3 $4 c3 12. Kd1 cxb2 $19) 11... Kxd4 12. Kd2 c3+ 13. bxc3+ Kc4 14. e4 $1 (14. e3 $2 b2 $11) 14... b2 15. Kc2 $18 1-0

[Event "1st Hon. Men Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black "1st Hon. Men"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2BN4/8/5P2/3r4/5k2/8/4P3/6K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {A fierce but precise struggle to secure promotion with quiet sacrifices of all white pieces but one.} 1. Nc6 $1 (1. Nb7 $2 Kg3 $1 2. Bh3 Kxh3 3. e4 Rd3 $1 (3... Rd7 {draws too}) 4. f7 (4. Nc5 Rg3+ 5. Kf2 Kg4 $1 6. e5 Rf3+ $1 7. Ke2 Rf5 $1 8. e6 Kg5 9. f7 Kg6 10. Nd7 Kg7 $1 $11) 4... Rf3 5. Nd6 Rxf7 $1 6. Nxf7 Kg4 7. e5 (7. Kf2 Kf4 8. Nd6 Ke5) 7... Kf5 $11) 1... Kg3 $1 2. Bh3 $1 Kxh3 3. e4 $1 Rd2 $1 (3... Rd7 4. e5 Kg3 5. Kf1 Kf3 6. Ke1 Ke4 7. e6 $18) 4. f7 $1 ({ Try :} 4. e5 $2 Kg3 $1 5. Kf1 Rf2+ $1 {+} 6. Ke1 $1 Rf5 $1 (6... Rf4 7. Ne7 $18 ) 7. Kd2 $1 Kf4 $1 8. Ne7 Kxe5 $1 $11) 4... Rg2+ 5. Kf1 Rg4 $1 6. Nd8 $1 Rf4+ $1 (6... Rxe4 7. Ne6 $1) 7. Ke2 $1 Rxe4+ (7... Kg4 8. Ke3 (8. Kd3) 8... Rf3+ 9. Kd4 Rf1 10. Kc5 $18) 8. Kf3 Re1 $1 9. Kf2 Re4 $1 10. Ne6 $1 Rxe6 11. f8=Q $18 1-0

[Event "3rd Hon. Men Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Pavel Arestov& Daniel Keith"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/7p/5B2/8/4p3/7P/2K5/5k2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "19"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {A clever Bishop manoeuvre is followed by a subtle King choice to result in a familiar victorious pawn ending.} 1. Bd4 $1 (1. Bg5 $2 Kf2 $1 2. h4 e3 3. Kd3 e2 4. Bd2 e1=Q 5. Bxe1+ Kxe1 6. Ke3 (6. h5 Kf2 7. Ke4 Kg3 8. Kf5 Kh4 $10) 6... Kd1 $1 (6... Kf1 $2 7. h5 Kg2 8. Kf4 $18) 7. h5 Kc2 $10) (1. Kd2 $2 Kf2 $1 2. h4 e3+ 3. Kd3 e2 4. Bc3 e1=Q 5. Bxe1+ Kxe1 $10) (1. Bc3 $2 e3 $1 (1... Kf2 $2 2. h4 Kg3 3. Be1+ $1 $18) 2. Kd3 e2 $11) 1... Kg2 2. h4 Kg3 3. Bf6 $1 (3. h5 $2 h6 $10) 3... Kf2 $1 (3... e3 4. Kd3 Kf3 5. Bc3 {(d4) +-}) 4. Bc3 $1 e3 (4... Kg3 5. Be1+ $1 Kf3 6. Kd2 e3+ 7. Kd3 $18) 5. Kd3 e2 6. Kd4 $3 (6. Ke4 $2 e1=Q+ 7. Bxe1+ Kxe1 8. h5 Kd2 $1 9. h6 Kc3 $1 10. Ke5 Kc4 11. Kf6 Kd5 12. Kg7 Ke6 13. Kxh7 Kf7 14. Kh8 Kf8 15. h7 $10) 6... e1=Q (6... Kg3 7. Be1+ $18) 7. Bxe1+ Kxe1 8. h5 $1 Kd2 (8... Ke2 9. h6 Kf3 10. Ke5 Kg4 11. Kf6 Kh5 12. Kg7 $18) 9. h6 $1 Kc2 10. Ke5 1-0

[Event "1st Commendation Phenix 2019"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Petr Kiryakov & Pavel Arestov"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Y. Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4K3/7N/3P4/R7/6q1/3p4/8/4k3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {A paradoxical retreat of the Knight to the middle of nowhere ends up in a surprising repetition.} 1. Ng5 $1 (1. Re5+ Kf1 $1 2. Nf6 Qf4 $1 3. Re6 Qf5 $1 { -+}) 1... d2 (1... Qe2+ 2. Kd8 $1 ({Try} 2. Kd7 d2 3. Re5 d1=Q 4. Rxe2+ Qxe2 $19 {d6-d7 no more possible}) 2... d2 3. Re5 $1 (3. Ra1+ Kf2 4. d7 Qe5 {-+}) 3... d1=Q 4. Rxe2+ Qxe2 (4... Kxe2 5. Nf7 $11 (5. Ke7 $11) (5. d7 $2 Qb3 $1 $19 )) 5. d7 Qc4 6. Nf3+ $11) 2. Ra1+ (2. Re5+ Kf1 $1 $19) 2... d1=Q (2... Ke2 3. d7 Qh5+ 4. Nf7 $11) (2... Kf2 3. d7 Qe2+ 4. Kf8 $1 $11) 3. Rxd1+ Kxd1 4. d7 Qe2+ 5. Kd8 $1 (5. Kf8 Qd2 6. Ke8 Qe3+ {-+}) 5... Qc4 6. Nf3 $1 (6. Ke7 Qc5+ 7. Ke8 Qe5+ $19) 6... Qc5 (6... Qe4 7. Kc7 $1 {=}) 7. Nh2 $1 (7. Nh4 Qf8+ 8. Kc7 Qf4+ 9. Kc8 Qc4+ {-+}) 7... Qc4 (7... Ke2 8. Ng4 Qd6 (8... Kf3 9. Ke8 $1 {=}) 9. Kc8 Qc6+ 10. Kd8 {=}) 8. Nf3 Qc5 9. Nh2 {Positional Draw} 1/2-1/2