www.arves.org - The Problemist 2023

Studies awarded for the British Problemist Society

The Problemist 2023.

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "1st Pr. E 1364 Steffen Nielsen, (Denmark)"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3Q4/7q/2pR3p/2P1Rp2/p7/3pK3/3r2rk/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 {The Problemist 2023: Study Tourney Preliminary Award by Árpád Rusz: During the year 2023, in The Problemist magazine, 37 original studies have been published by 31 authors (including 7 co-productions). The general level was not very high but the prizes went to some exceptional studies. I have awarded the following 12 studies:} 1. Qh4+ Kg1 2. Qe1+ Kh2 3. Rd4 $1 Rde2+ 4. Kf3 Re4 { A strong square for the rook but White can play around it. And even through it. } (4... Rxe1 5. Rh4+ Kg1 6. Rxe1#) 5. Qh4+ $1 Kg1 6. Rb4 $1 ({Logical try} 6. Rxa4 $2 Qa7 7. Qe1+ Kh2 8. Re6 Qg7 9. Qh4+ Kg1 10. Ra1+ $4 Qxa1) (6. Rc4 $2 { is naturally met by} d2) 6... Qb7 7. Qe1+ $1 (7. Rxb7 $4 {is refuted by} Rxh4) 7... Kh2 (7... Rxe1 8. Rxe1+ Kh2 9. Rh4#) 8. Re6 $1 h5 ({As} 8... Qg7 {allows} 9. Qh4+ Kg1 10. Rb1+ {mating.}) 9. Qh4+ { The last transfer on the e1-h4 diagonal.} ({Not} 9. Rg6 $2 Rxg6 10. Qf2+ Kh3 $1 11. Rxb7 Rgg4 12. Qf1+ Kh4 13. Qh1+ Kg5 14. Rg7+ Kf6 15. Qa1+ Ke6 {draw.}) 9... Kg1 10. Rg6 $1 Rxg6 (10... Rxh4 11. Rxg2+ Kf1 ({Or} 11... Kh1 12. Rxh4# ({or}  12. Rxb7)) 12. Rxh4 {mating.} ({or} 12. Rf2+ Ke1 13. Rxh4)) 11. Qf2+ Kh1 12. Rxb7 {Winning. Another typical masterpiece by its author with multiple major pieces hanging but all being taboo to be captured. The diagonal symmetry in the position enhances the artistic effect.} 1-0

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "2nd Pr. E 1377 Serhiy Didukh"] [Black "(Ukraine)"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/P6N/1k3B2/8/8/4b3/6K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "29"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Kf2 $1 { The bishop is forced to c4 and d5 where it can be attacked by the knight.} (1. a7 $2 Bf3 2. Nf7 Kb6 {is just a draw.}) 1... Bc4 2. a7 Bd5 3. Ng8 $1 Ka6 ({ After} 3... Kb6 4. Ne7 Bh1 5. Kg1 $3 Bf3 6. Bg4 $1 Be4 7. Nc8+ { one tempo is lost by the king in check -} Kc7 8. Kf2 { another by the misplaced bishop -} Bh1 9. Ke3 Kb7 10. Kd4 { and we are in the main line.}) 4. Ne7 Bh1 5. Kg1 $3 {The idea behind this waste of two moves is to make the other side waste three moves and thus gain a tempo for the king's walk to b6. Black has to delay his plan Kb7-a8 because his bishop gets decoyed to bad squares.} ({While} 5. Nc8 $2 Kb7 6. Ke3 Ka8 7. Kd4 Bb7 8. Kc5 (8. Be4 Bxe4 {is a known fortress.}) 8... Bxc8 {Draws.}) 5... Bf3 {(one)} 6. Bg4 $1 Be4 (6... Bb7 {blocks the entrance to the corner after} 7. Nc8) 7. Nc8 Bc6 {(two)} ({As} 7... Kb7 {is met by the fork} 8. Nd6+) 8. Bd7 $1 Bf3 9. Kf2 Bh1 {(three)} 10. Ke3 Kb7 11. Kd4 { Heading for a5 to support Bb5-Ba6+-Kb6 even at the price of the Knight.} Ka8 12. Kc5 Bb7 13. Kb6 Bxc8 {Or else the Knight will mate in no time.} 14. Bc6+ Bb7 15. Bxb7# {"The white king could hurry towards its pawn by moving to e3 but this is one tempo shorter. Instead, the right way to approach the pawn is via g1! This paradoxical retreat of the white king losing two tempi but later winning back three is a magnificent idea"} 1-0

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "3rd Pr. E 1393 Sarah Hornecker, Martin Minski"] [Black "& Jan Sprenger, (Germany)"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2k5/R7/2p4q/1pP1P3/1P5P/3P1r1p/3p2nQ/3R2K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. e6 $1 {threatens Qc7#} Nf4 (1... Qe3+ {loses to} 2. Kh1 Nf4 3. Qg1 {Wins.}) 2. Qxd2 Qxe6 (2... Rxd3 {allows} 3. e7 Qg6+ 4. Kh1 Qg2+ (4... Rxd2 5. Rxd2 Qe4+ 6. Kh2 Nd5 7. e8=Q+ Qxe8 8. Ra8+ {Wins.}) 5. Qxg2 hxg2+ 6. Kh2 g1=Q+ $5 7. Kxg1 Rxd1+ 8. Kf2 {Winning.}) 3. Re1 (3. Rda1 $2 h2+ $1 4. Kh1 Qd5 5. Ra8+ Kd7 { Is just a draw.}) 3... Ne2+ $1 4. Qxe2 (4. Rxe2 $4 {Is refuted by} Qg4+ 5. Kh1 Rf1+ 6. Kh2 Qg1+ 7. Kxh3 Rf3#) 4... Re3 $1 5. Ra8+ ({thematic try} 5. Re7 $2 Qg6+ {/Qg8+ with transposition} 6. Kh1 Rxe7 $1 7. Qxe7 {no check} Qg2#) (5. Qxe3 $4 {fails to} Qg4+ 6. Kf2 Qg2# {model mate with two active self-blocks}) 5... Kd7 (5... Kb7 6. Rea1 $1 Rxe2 7. R1a7#) 6. Re8 $3 {The Domino formation initially introduced by our current judge, the Romanian composer Arpad Rusz.} Qg6+ 7. Kh1 Rxe8 (7... Rxe2 {is met by} 8. R1xe2 {followed by R2e7+}) 8. Qxe8+ $1 {"The white king could hurry towards its pawn by moving to e3 but that is one tempo short. Instead, the right way to approach the pawn is via g1! This paradoxical retreat of the white king losing two tempi but later winning back three is a magnificent idea."} 1-0

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "1st HM E 1387 John Nunn, (England)"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/5kp1/4pPp1/1pp3K1/q5Pp/4R2P/8/1R6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "20"] [EventDate "2010"] 
 1. Rxe6 $3 (1. fxg7 $2 {Loses to} Qd4 2. g8=Q+ Kxg8 3. Rxe6 ({Or} 3. Rbe1 Kg7 4. Rxe6 Qd8+ {Wins.}) 3... Qd5+ 4. Kf6 Qd8+ 5. Kxg6 Qd3+ {Forking.}) 1... Kxe6 2. fxg7 ({The queen ending after} 2. Re1+ $2 Kf7 3. Re7+ Kf8 4. fxg7+ Kxe7 5. g8=Q Qe4 {Is hopeless for White.}) 2... Kf7 3. Kh6 Qa8 4. Rf1+ (4. Re1 $2 g5 { Destroys the stalemate.}) 4... Kg8 5. g5 { Setting up a stalemate and threatening Re1 followed by Re8+} Qe8 { Threatening ...Qe7} 6. Rf7 $1 { On the route to e6 while keeping the queen under control.} (6. Ra1 $2 { intending Ra6-e6 fails to} Qe4 $1 7. Ra7 ({Or} 7. Ra6 Qb7) 7... Qf3 $1 8. Kxg6 Qc6+ {followed by ...c4}) 6... b4 (6... Kxf7 7. g8=Q+ Ke7 8. Qd5 { With a rather easy draw.}) 7. Ra7 $1 {the only way to reach e6 is via a7 and a6 } ({While} 7. Rb7 $2 b3 $1 8. Rxb3 c4 $1 9. Rb6 Qe5 10. Rf6 Qe7 11. Rf8+ Qxf8 12. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 13. Kxg6 Kg8 {wins for Black}) (7. Rc7 $2 b3 { and Black is first.} 8. Rc6 $2 {loses to} Qd7 $1 {Wins.}) 7... b3 8. Ra6 b2 9. Re6 $1 {Same piece- same square!} Qd7 10. Re8+ $1 Qxe8 {Stalemate! " On move 7, the white rook starts a mysterious manoeuvre to visit e6, the square where the first rook was also sacrificed"} 1/2-1/2

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "2nd HME1388 Vladislav Tarasiuk, (Ukraine)"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7N/p7/pp1P3P/k7/p3p1p1/P7/PNPP3p/3K4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "20"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. c3 $3 ({Accurate choice! Try:} 1. Nc4+ $2 {The knight's entry to the main scene is too early. It will be needed there on move 7. Following} Kb5 2. c3 h1=Q+ 3. Kc2 Qxh6 4. Nf7 Qf6 {(f8)!} 5. Nce5 a5 $1 6. c4+ Ka6 7. d7 g3 8. d8=Q Qxd8 9. Nxd8 g2 {Wins.}) 1... h1=Q+ 2. Kc2 Qxh6 (2... e3 {Is met by} 3. Nc4+ Kb5 4. d7 Qe4+ (4... Qd5 5. Nf7 exd2 6. Kd1 $1 {Draws.}) 5. Kb2 Qd5 6. Nf7 Kxc4 7. Ne5+ $1 Qxe5 8. d8=Q {Is drawish.}) 3. Nf7 Qe6 4. Ne5 $1 b5 $1 5. d7 Qxd7 $1 (5... Qg8 6. Nd1 {Draws too.}) 6. Nxd7 g3 7. Nd3 $3 { The key to the final picture!} exd3+ 8. Kb2 $1 g2 9. Ne5 g1=Q 10. Nc4+ $1 bxc4 $1 {Stalemate! " When all seems lost, White finds a surprising resource to save the game: a stalemate after the sacrifice of the two knights.The author published a second version of the study in the magazine which I don't really like because of the extra material and the fact that the white king starts on the square where it is going to be stalemated. And yes, I know it is going to move before that and will do a Switchback."} 1/2-1/2

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "3rd HM E 1370 Yehuda Hoch, ( Israel)"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "N4kbK/2p2p2/4Pp2/8/p4r2/P7/7P/1R6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "35"] [EventDate "2023.01.21"] 
 {The Israeli composer proceeds his comeback with tactical play against a besieged Bishop (E 2370):} 1. Rb8+ ({Not} 1. e7+ $2 Kxe7 2. Nxc7 Rh4+ 3. Kxg8 Rg4+ 4. Kh7 Rh4+ 5. Kg7 Rg4+ 6. Kh6 Rh4+ {With perpetual check.}) 1... Ke7 2. Re8+ $3 Kxe8 ({Since following} 2... Kd6 3. e7 Rg4 4. h3 Rg3 5. h4 Rg4 6. h5 Rg5 7. h6 Rg6 8. Nxc7 $1 Kd7 9. Ra8 Kxe7 10. Nd5+ Kd6 11. Nf4 Rxh6+ 12. Kxg8 { White wins.}) 3. Nxc7+ Kf8 4. e7+ $1 Kxe7 5. Nd5+ Ke8 6. Nxf4 Kf8 7. h3 $1 { Festina lente! Patience pays:} (7. h4 $2 f5 8. h5 f6 9. Ng6+ Kf7 { is reciprocal Zugzwang with White on move and just a draw after} 10. Ne7 $5 Kxe7 11. Kxg8 f4 {With both sides promoting.}) 7... f5 8. h4 f6 9. Ng6+ Kf7 10. h5 {The same Zugzwang with Black to play!} f4 11. Nxf4 Kf8 12. Ng6+ Kf7 13. Ne7 $1 (13. Nh4 Kf8 14. Ng6+ {is just a waste of time.}) 13... f5 14. Ng6 $1 ({Not } 14. Nxg8 $2 f4 15. Kh7 Ke6 16. Nh6 Kf6 $1 {draws.}) 14... f4 15. Nxf4 (15. Ne5+ Kf8 16. Nd7+ Kf7 {is a loss of time.}) 15... Kf8 16. Ng6+ Kf7 17. Ne7 $1 Kxe7 18. Kxg8 {Finally winning.} 1-0

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "2nd ComE 1381 Alexey Gasparyan"] [Black "(Armenia)"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r7/1R1Pp1K1/2n1p3/4P3/5k2/5b2/8/B7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] 
 1. Rc7 $1 (1. Bc3 {/ Bb2? is premature owing to} Rd8 $1 2. Rc7 (2. Kf7 $2 { Loses to} Bh5+ 3. Kxe6 Ke4 4. Rb6 Bg4+ 5. Kf7 Bxd7 {Wins.}) 2... Nxe5 3. Rc8 Rxd7 4. Rf8+ Ke4 5. Bxe5 Kxe5 6. Rxf3 Rd1 {Winning.}) 1... Rd8 2. Kf7 $1 Bh5+ $5 3. Kg7 $1 Bf3 (3... Nxe5 {Allows} 4. Rc5 $1 ({The Rook ending after} 4. Bxe5+ $2 Kxe5 5. Rc5+ Kf4 6. Rxh5 Rxd7 {Is lost for White.}) 4... Nf3 5. Rxh5 Rxd7 6. Kf7 Ng5+ 7. Kg6 Nf3 8. Kf7 {Draws.}) 4. Kf7 $1 Kg5 $1 5. Bb2 $3 (5. Bc3 $2 Kf5 $1 {Is Mutual ZZ with White to play:} 6. Kg7 (6. Bb2 {/ Ba1? Loses to} Bh5+ 7. Kg7 Nb4 $1 {Winning.}) 6... Nxe5 7. Rc5 Bd5 {Wins.}) 5... Kf4 ({Or}  5... Bh5+ 6. Kg7 Bf3 ({Or} 6... Nb4 7. Bc3 $11) 7. Kf7 Kf5 8. Bc3 $1 { Positional draw.}) 6. Ba1 $3 ({Not} 6. Bc3 $2 Kf5 {Wins.}) 6... Kf5 $5 ({Or}  6... Ke3 $6 7. Bc3 Kd3 8. Ba5 $1 Bh5+ 9. Kxe6 Bg4+ 10. Kf7 Nxe5+ 11. Kxe7 { Draw.}) 7. Bc3 $1 {Mutual ZZ, this time with Black to play!} Bh5+ $5 8. Kg7 Nxe5 9. Rc5 {Draw. "The bishop moves into the corner in order to avoid a multi-piece mutual zugzwang. The play is unfortunately quite static."} 1/2-1/2

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "4th Comm. Beat, Neuenschwander"] [Black "(Switzerland)"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5q2/Qp6/1P1P1b2/5p1p/6pk/8/PB4P1/7K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "2023"] 
 1. Qb8 $1 {Other attempts to activate the poorly placed white queen fail:} (1. Qxb7 $2 Qxd6 2. Qc7 Qe6 $1 3. Qf4 (3. Bxf6+ Qxf6 4. b7 f4 $1 5. Qc5 ({Or} 5. Qc1 Qb6 {Draws.}) 5... Qa1+ 6. Qg1 Qb2 {Drawing.}) 3... Bxb2 4. Kh2 Qe2 5. b7 Be5 6. b8=Q Bxf4+ 7. Qxf4 Qxg2+ 8. Kxg2 {Stalemate!}) (1. Qa3 $2 Qd8 $1 ({ Neither} 1... Kg5 $2 2. d7 $1 Qxa3 3. Bxa3 Bd8 (3... Kf4 4. Bd6+) 4. Be7+ $1 Bxe7 5. a4 {Winning.}) ({Nor} 1... Bxb2 $2 2. g3+ $1 Kg5 3. Qxb2 Qxd6 4. Qg7+ Qg6 5. Qxg6+ Kxg6 6. a4 {Wins.})) 1... Qxb8 2. Bxf6+ Kg3 3. d7 Qf4 { The only way for counter-play.} 4. Bh4+ $1 Kxh4 5. d8=B+ $3 { The sacrificed Bishop is reborn with no delay! (Phenix!)} (5. d8=Q+ $2 Kg3 6. Qc7 Kh4 $1 7. Qxf4 {Is Stalemate!}) 5... Kg3 6. Bc7 h4 7. Kg1 $1 { "Bishop Phoenix to avoid a stalemate with a pinned pawn"} (7. a4 $2 Kf2 $1 8. Bxf4 g3 {Black is the one who wins.}) 1-0

[Event ""] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "1st Sp. Comm E1371 Alain, Villeneuve (France)"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "R7/2k5/8/2n2K2/P7/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "2015"] [SourceDate "1999.11.16"] 
 {Originals: Composers are invited to submit their better entries early as we are currently low of originals! Our present selection is pretty much combative with all entries but one displaying bitter battles for a win.The baby-study (E1371) is a subtle struggle to secure promotion:} 1. Kf6 $3 ({The subtle King moves along the entire solution are aimed at avoiding an undesired Knight check somewhere. Wrong are:} 1. Ke5 $2 Kb7 $8 2. Ra5 Kb6 3. Rb5+ Kc6 $8) (1. Ra5 $2 Kc6 $1 ({Not} 1... Kb6 $2 2. Rb5+ Kc6 3. Rb4 {Wins.}) 2. Ke5 Kb6 $1 { Draws.}) 1... Kc6 (1... Kb7 2. Ra5 $8 Kb6 (2... Ne4+ 3. Ke5 {Wins}) 3. Rb5+ $8 Kc6 4. Rb4 {That's why the e5 square was mined.} Nb7 5. Ke5 {Wins.}) 2. Kf7 $3 Kc7 3. Ke8 $3 Nb7 ({After either} 3... Kb7 4. Ra5 $8 Kc6 5. Ke7 $1) ({or} 3... Kc6 4. Rc8+ $1 Kb6 5. Rb8+ $8 Ka6 6. Rb4 $8 Nd3 7. Rb5 {White wins.}) 4. Ra6 $8 Nc5 5. Ra5 $8 Kd6 6. Ra7 $8 Kc6 7. Kd8 $8 Kb6 8. Ra8 $8 { The Rook is obliged to visit all 4 squares on the "a" file !} Kb7 9. Ra5 $8 Ne4 10. Kd7 $1 {/ Ke7} Nc3 11. Kd6 $8 Kb6 12. Ra8 $8 Kb7 13. Rh8 $1 {/ Rg8} ({ Wrong is} 13. Rf8 $2 Ne4+ $8 14. Ke5 Nc5 $8 15. Rf4 (15. Kd6 Ne4+ $8 16. Ke5 Nc5 {is loss of time}) 15... Nd3+ $8 {Draws.}) 13... Nxa4 ({Both} 13... Kb6 14. Rb8+ $8 Ka5 15. Ra8+ $8 Kb6 16. a5+ $8) (13... Ne4+ 14. Ke5 $1 Nc5 15. Rh4 $1 { Are losing too.}) 14. Rh4 $3 Nc3 ({Or} 14... Nb6 15. Rb4 $8 Ka7 16. Kc6 Nc8 17. Kc7 {Wins.}) 15. Kc5 $8 Ka6 ({After} 15... Ne2 16. Re4 Ng3 17. Rg4 Ne2 18. Kc4 {The Knight is lost.}) 16. Rc4 $8 {Wins eg} Ne2 17. Rc2 $1 Nf4 18. Kc6 $1 Ka5 19. Rd2 $1 {Trapping the Knight.Long fight in an endgame with just 5 pieces . White's first two moves, which avoid an invisible fork and a mutual zugzwang, are quite surprising.} 1-0

[Event "Study with win"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "2nd Sp. Comm.E1359 Peter Krug, (Austria)"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator ",Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1n6/8/8/8/8/1k6/5PPP/2K5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2022"] [TimeControl "300+20"] 
 1. Kd2 Kc4 2. Ke3 Kd5 3. Kf4 Ke6 4. Kg5 Kf7 {The kings have been rushed to the kingside as expected. Handling the pawns is a real challenge now.} 5. f4 $1 ({ The standard} 5. h4 $2 Kg7 6. f4 Nc6 7. g4 Nd4 {just draws.}) 5... Nc6 6. h3 $3 Kg7 7. g4 $3 {ZZ wlth Black to play.} Nb4 8. Kf5 Nc2 9. h4 ({Not} 9. Ke4 $2 Ne1 10. f5 Ng2 {draws.}) 9... Ne3+ 10. Kg5 Nd5 11. f5 Kf7 12. h5 Nb4 13. Kf4 $1 ({ After} 13. h6 $2 Nd3 $1 {it is ZZ with White to play and...draw.}) 13... Nd5+ 14. Kg3 Nf6 15. Kh4 Nd5 16. h6 Kg8 17. Kh5 {or} (17. g5 {first.}) 17... Kh7 18. g5 Nf4+ 19. Kg4 Nd5 20. Kf3 Nc3 21. Kf4 Nb5 ({A second line runs:} 21... Nd5+ 22. Ke4 Nb4 23. Ke5 Nc6+ 24. Kf6 (24. Ke6 {?} Nd4+) 24... Nd8 25. Ke7 Nc6+ 26. Kd7 Ne5+ 27. Ke8 {ZZ} Nf3 28. g6+ {!} Kxh6 29. f6 {!} Kxg6 30. f7 {wins.}) 22. Ke5 Nc3 23. Kd4 $1 Nb5+ 24. Kd5 Nc3+ 25. Ke5 $1 {ZZ} Nb5 26. f6 Kg6 27. Ke6 Nd4+ 28. Ke7 Nc6+ 29. Kf8 Ne5 30. Kg8 {Finally wins. "A very long fight of three pawns against a knight with some interesting moments from which I've  highlighted that from move 13."} 1-0