www.arves.org - ChessStar 2023

Studies awarded for the ChessStar 2023 tournament.

[Event "1st prize #3270 ChessStar"] [Site ""] [Date "2023"] [Round ""] [White "Steffen Nielsen"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/4Pp2/8/2b3P1/8/4r3/N3pBR1/k5K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Nc3 $1 e1=Q+ (1... Rxc3 2. e8=Q $18) (1... Rxe7 2. Nxe2 $18 (2. Kh2 $18)) 2. Bxe1 Rxc3+ (2... Rxe1+ 3. Kh2 Rxe7 4. Ra2#) 3. Rf2 $1 (3. Kh2 $2 Re3 4. Bc3+ Kb1 5. Bf6 Bxe7 (5... Bd6+ 6. Kh1 Bxe7 $11) 6. Bxe7 Rxe7 7. Kg3 Kc1 8. Kg4 Kd1 9. Rf2 {the rook gets to f2 too late:} Ke1 $11) (3. Bf2 $2 Bxe7 $11) 3... Re3 { Unpin} (3... Rg3+ 4. Kh2 Re3 5. Bc3+ Kb1 6. Bf6 Bxe7 7. Bxe7 Rxe7 8. Kg3 (8. Kh3) 8... Kc1 9. Kg4 (9. Kf4) (9. Kh4) 9... Kd1 10. Kf5 (10. Kh5 Ke1 11. Rf5 $18) 10... Ke1 11. Kf6) 4. Rf1 $3 (4. Bc3+ Kb1 5. Rb2+ Kc1 6. Bd2+ Kxb2 7. Bxe3 Bxe7 $11) 4... Ka2 (4... Rxe1+ 5. Kg2 Rxf1 6. e8=Q $18) (4... Bxe7 5. Bd2+ $18 (5. Bf2+ $18)) (4... Rxe7+ 5. Bf2+ Ka2 6. Bxc5 {transfers}) 5. Bf2 Rxe7 6. Bxc5 Re5 7. Rf2+ $1 (7. Ra1+ $2 Kb3 8. Ra3+ Kc4 9. Be3 Kb4 10. Rd3 Kc4 11. Rd4+ Kc3 12. Kf2 Rxg5 $11) 7... Kb1 (7... Kb3 8. Rf3+ Kc4 9. Be3 $18) 8. Rb2+ $1 {Main A } Ka1 ({Main B} 8... Kc1 9. Ba3 Ra5 (9... Kd1 10. Rg2) 10. Rb3+ Kc2 11. Rg3) ( 8... Kxb2 9. Bd4+ Kc2 10. Bxe5 $18) 9. Bd4 Rxg5+ 10. Rg2+ Kb1 11. Rxg5 $18 { MM: Attractive play and a lot of content with only 11 pieces and theimpressive maneuver Rf2-Rf1!! The motivation behind the self-pin 3.Rf2 is interesting. After 3...Rg3+ ... 7...Rxe7 Black has a decisive tempo more than after 3.Kh2? Re3 .. . 6...Rxe7. As they say when it comes to cars: Price and performance are in the bestratio!} 1-0

[Event "2nd prize #4462 ChessStar"] [Site ""] [Date "2023.12"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1k2Nb1R/4B3/K6n/2r1r3/8/7B/8/n7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Bd6+ $1 (1. Bxc5 Bxc5 2. Nd6+ Kc7 3. Nc4 (3. Nb5+ Kc6 4. Bg2+ Kd7 $11) 3... Rf5 4. Rxh6 (4. Bxf5 Nxf5 $11) 4... Rg5 $11) 1... Bxd6 2. Nc7+ $1 Ng8 ({ Secondary line :} 2... Bf8 3. Kb6 $3 Rb5+ $1 4. Nxb5 Re8 (4... Ng8 5. Rxg8 (5. Nc7 Bc5+ 6. Kc6 Rg5 7. Ne6 Rg3 8. Kxc5 Nc2 9. Kb6 Ne3 10. Nf4 Nc4+ 11. Kc5 Ne5 12. Nd5 Kb7 13. Be6 Rg6 14. Bxg8 Nd7+ 15. Kb5 Nf6 16. Bf7 Rg7) 5... Re8 6. Nd6 {main}) 5. Rh7 $1 Re7 6. Nc7 $3 Rxh7 (6... Ng4 7. Bxg4) (6... Nf5 7. Bxf5 Bg7 8. Na6+ Ka8 9. Rxg7 $1 Rxg7 10. Be4+ Rb7+ 11. Bxb7#) 7. Na6+ Ka8 8. Bg2+ Rb7+ 9. Bxb7# {model mate}) 3. Rxg8+ Bf8 4. Kb6 $3 Rb5+ $1 5. Nxb5 Re8 6. Nd6 $1 Rd8 7. Nb7 $1 Bc5+ $1 (7... Re8 8. Bd7) 8. Nxc5 Rxg8 9. Na6+ ({Thematic try :} 9. Bf5 $2 Ka8 $1 10. Be4+ Kb8 11. Bf5 Ka8 12. Na6 Rb8+ $1) 9... Ka8 10. Nc7+ (10. Bf5 $2 Rb8+) 10... Kb8 11. Bf5 $1 Nb3 (11... Rg7 12. Na6+ Ka8 13. Be4+ Rb7+ 14. Bxb7# {model mate}) 12. Na6+ Ka8 13. Be4# {Aristocrat(no pawns) study MM: White has a whole rook less and still plays to win. A tactical battle that remains exciting until the end. The only downside is the black knight on a1, which is hardly involved in the play.} 1-0

[Event "special prize #3296 ChessStar"] [Site ""] [Date "2023"] [Round ""] [White "Pavel Arestov and Peter Krug"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7K/8/7P/1N4P1/7n/7n/2k5/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Nd4+ $1 (1. h7 $2 Nxg5 $11) 1... Kd3 (1... Kd2 2. Ne6 $1 ({But not} 2. Nf3+ $2 Nxf3 3. g6 Nh4 4. g7 Ng6+ 5. Kg8 Ng5 6. h7 Nxh7 7. Kf7 $5 Ne5+ 8. Ke6 Ng5+ 9. Kf6 Ngf3 10. g8=Q Nd3 $1 11. Kf5 Nfe1 $1 12. Ke4 Nf2+ $11) 2... Nf5 3. h7 $18) 2. Nf3 $1 ({But not} 2. Ne6 $2 Ke4 3. Kg7 Kf5 4. h7 Ng6 5. Kh6 Nh8 $11) 2... Nxf3 3. g6 Nf4 4. g7 Ng6+ 5. Kg8 $1 (5. Kh7 $2 Ne7 $11) 5... Ng5 6. h7 Nxh7 (6... Ne7+ 7. Kf8 Ng6+ 8. Ke8 Nxh7 9. Kf7 {main line}) 7. Kf7 $3 {Puante.} (7. Kxh7 $2 Ne7 $11) 7... Ne5+ 8. Ke6 $1 (8. Ke7 $2 Nc6+ 9. Kd6 Nf6 $11) 8... Ng5+ 9. Kf6 $1 (9. Kxe5 $2 Nf7+ 10. Kf6 Nh6 $11) 9... Nef3 (9... Ngf3 10. g8=Q $18) 10. g8=Q Ne4+ 11. Kf5 Nd4+ 12. Ke5 $1 (12. Kf4 $2 Ne2+ $11) 12... Nf3+ 13. Kf4 {win Miniature, change 2.Ne6 and 2.Nf3 MM: The ending is checkmate in 57 moves, which no one can understand, but 7.Kf7!! is really incredible! The introduction is also good. A miniature to remember. } 1-0

[Event "1st hm #3421 ChessStar = #3337"] [Site ""] [Date "2023.06"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman and Pavel Arestov"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3k4/8/3Pr2N/6P1/7K/8/2R1b3/7n w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. g6 $1 (1. Nf7+ Ke8 2. g6 Re4+ $1 3. Kg5 Rg4+ 4. Kf6 (4. Kh6 Rxg6+ $11) 4... Rxg6+ 5. Kxg6 Bd3+ $11) 1... Kd7 (1... Rxg6 2. Nf7+ Ke8 3. d7+ Kxd7 4. Ne5+) ( 1... Re4+ 2. Kg5 $1) 2. Nf7 $1 Re4+ $1 3. Kh3 $1 (3. Kg5 Rg4+ 4. Kf6 Rxg6+ 5. Kxg6 Bd3+ $11) 3... Bg4+ 4. Kh2 $1 ({Logical try :} 4. Kg2 Ke8 $1 5. d7+ Kxd7 6. g7 Re8 7. Ne5+ {Position Y2, and white king is badly located on g-file, e.g. } Kd6 8. Nxg4 Rg8 $1 $11) 4... Ke8 (4... Bf5 5. Rc5 $1 Be6 (5... Bxg6 6. Rc7+) 6. Rc7+ Ke8 7. Re7+ Kf8 8. g7+ Kxg7 9. Ng5+) 5. d7+ (5. Ng5 Re5 $1 6. Nh7 Kd8 7. Nf6 Ng3 $1 8. Kxg3 (8. Nxg4 Rg5) 8... Rg5 9. Nxg4 Rxg6 10. Rd2 Kd7 $11) 5... Kxd7 6. g7 Re8 7. Ne5+ {Position Y1} Kd8 (7... Kd6 8. Nxg4 $18) 8. Rd2+ (8. Nxg4 Rg8) (8. Nc6+ Kd7) 8... Kc8 $1 (8... Ke7 9. Nxg4 Rg8 10. Nh6 $1 Rxg7 11. Nf5+) (8... Kc7 9. Nxg4 Rg8 10. Nf6 $1 Rxg7 11. Ne8+) 9. Ng6 $1 (9. Nxg4 Rg8 $11) 9... Be6 10. Re2 $1 Nf2 $1 11. Rxe6 $1 Ng4+ (11... Rg8 12. Re7 (12. Ne7+ Kd7 13. Nxg8 Kxe6 14. Nh6 Ng4+ $1 15. Nxg4 Kf7 $11) 12... Ng4+ 13. Kg1 $1 { as main}) 12. Kg1 $1 ({Logical try :} 12. Kh1 Rg8 13. Re7 Nh6 14. Rf7 Kd8 15. Ra7 Re8 {Position X1} 16. Kg2 Re6 $1) 12... Rg8 13. Re7 Nh6 (13... Nf6 14. Rf7 $1 Kd8 15. Ne5 Ne8 16. Nc6+ Kc8 17. Ne7+ $18) 14. Rf7 $1 Re8 (14... Kd8 15. Ra7 Re8 {Position X2} 16. Kf2 $1) (14... Nxf7 15. Ne7+ Kd7 16. Nxg8 $18) 15. Rf6 $1 Kb7 16. Nf4 Re7 (16... Re1+ 17. Kg2) 17. Nh5 $1 {MM: Solid study with tactical and logical elements. The big idea and a pointed ending are missing.} 1-0

[Event "2nd hm #3419 ChessStar"] [Site ""] [Date "2023"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/3rP1P1/7B/1P4pr/2N1pk2/5P2/p3K3/3R4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Rh1 $1 (1. Ra1 $2 exf3+ 2. Kf2 Rh2+ 3. Kg1 Kg3 4. g8=Q f2+ 5. Kf1 Rh1+ 6. Ke2 Re1+ $1 $19) (1. Rc1 $2 exf3+ 2. Kf2 Rh2+ 3. Kg1 Kg3 4. g8=Q f2+ 5. Kf1 Rh1+ 6. Ke2 Re1+ $1 $19) 1... Rxh1 (1... exf3+ 2. Kf2 Rxe7 3. Rh4+ $3 Rxh4 4. Bxg5+ Kxg5 5. g8=Q+ $11) 2. Bxg5+ $1 Kg3 3. Bh4+ $1 (3. g8=Q exf3+ 4. Ke3 Re1#) 3... Kxh4 4. g8=Q (4. e8=Q Rh2+ 5. Ke3 Rd3+ 6. Kf4 Rxf3+ 7. Kxe4 Re2+ 8. Kxf3 Rxe8 $19) 4... Re1+ $1 5. Kf2 $1 (5. Kxe1 a1=Q+ 6. Kf2 e3+ $1 7. Kg2 Qa2+ $19) 5... Rf1+ 6. Ke2 $1 (6. Kg2 $2 Rg1+) 6... exf3+ 7. Ke3 $1 (7. Kxf1 a1=Q+ 8. Kf2 Qa2+ 9. Kxf3 Rd3+ 10. Kf4 Qf2+ $19) 7... a1=Q 8. Qh7+ Kg5 9. Qg8+ Kh6 (9... Kf5 10. Nd6+ {as main}) 10. Qe6+ Kg7 11. Qg8+ $1 Kh6 (11... Kf6 $4 12. Qf8+ Kg5 13. Qf4+) (11... Kxg8 12. e8=Q+ {Phoenix} Kh7 13. Qxd7+ {with perpetual check}) 12. Qe6+ Kg5 13. Qg8+ Kf5 14. Nd6+ $1 (14. Qf8+ Qf6 15. e8=Q Re1+ 16. Kf2 Rxe8) ( 14. Qh7+ Kf6 15. Qh4+ (15. e8=N+ Kg5) 15... Kf7 16. Qh7+ Ke8 $19) 14... Rxd6 15. Qc8+ $1 Kg5 (15... Re6+ 16. Qxe6+ $1 Kxe6 17. e8=Q+ $11 { Phoenix, with perpetual check}) 16. Qg8+ Kh6 (16... Rg6 17. Qxg6+ Kxg6 18. e8=Q+ {Phoenix} Kg5 19. Qg8+ Kh6 20. Qe6+ {with perpetual check}) 17. Qf8+ Qg7 18. Qxg7+ Kxg7 19. e8=N+ $1 {Phoenix} Kg6 20. Nxd6 f2 (20... Rd1) 21. Nb7 $1 ( 21. Ne4 Re1+) (21. b6 Rd1) (21. Nc4 Rc1) 21... Rb1 22. Kxf2 Rxb5 23. Nd6 { MM: Wild confrontation with mutual sacrifices and Phoenix knight along with 21. Nb7! I'm a bit missing the common thread and from a solver's point of view it's probably a bit too long (difficult). } 1/2-1/2