www.arves.org - Schach 2024-2025

Studies published and awarded for the Schach 2024-2025 magazine tournament.

Judged by Volker Hergert.

[Event "Schach 2024 1st prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2024.11"] [Round ""] [White "Sprenger=Jan"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5K2/8/5b2/PPBpp3/8/8/2B3p1/4k3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2024"] 
 1. Be4 $1 {Preventing the threat d5-d4.} dxe4 2. b6 (2. a6 $2 e3 {/Bg5} 3. Bxe3 Bg5 4. Bg1 Kf1 5. a7 Kxg1 6. a8=Q Kh2 7. Qa2 Be3 $10) 2... e3 $1 (2... Bg5 3. b7 e3 4. b8=Q g1=Q 5. Qb1+ Kf2 6. Qxg1+ Kxg1 7. a6 $18) (2... Bh4 3. b7 Bf2 4. Bxf2+ Kxf2 5. b8=Q g1=Q 6. a6 e3 7. a7 e2 8. a8=Q e1=Q 9. Qb6+ Qe3 10. Qxe3+ Kxe3 11. Qa7+ $18) 3. Bxe3 Bg5 4. Bg1 (4. Bc5 e4 $10) 4... Bh6+ $1 ({After} 4... Kf1 $6 5. b7 Kxg1 6. b8=Q Kf2 7. Qb2+ Kf3 {White has several wins, e.g.} 8. Qa3+ Kf2 9. Qa2+ Kf3 10. Qd5+ Kf2 11. a6 g1=Q 12. a7 Bh6+ 13. Ke8 Qg6+ 14. Qf7+ $1) 5. Kf7 $1 ({logical try} 5. Ke8 $2 {/Ke7 with identical play} Kf1 6. b7 Kxg1 7. b8=Q Kf2 8. Qb2+ Kf3 9. Qb3+ Be3 $1 (9... Kf2 10. Qa2+ Kf3 11. a6 g1=Q 12. a7 Qg6+ 13. Qf7+ $1 {shows the white idea}) 10. a6 g1=Q 11. a7 Qg6+ $1 {check on the g-file}) 5... Kf1 6. b7 Kxg1 7. b8=Q Kf2 8. Qb2+ Kf3 9. Qb3+ $1 {The white plan is to pin the black bishop on e3 and to push the a-pawn, allowing for g1=Q.} ({thematic try} 9. Qc3+ $2 Be3 10. a6 Kf4 $1 (10... g1=Q $2 11. a7 $18) 11. Qc4+ Kg5 $1 $10) 9... Kf2 $1 ({main} 9... Be3 10. a6 $1 g1=Q 11. a7 {no check on the g-file, compare 4. Ke8?/Ke7?.} Qa1 12. Qd5+) 10. Qc2+ Kf3 11. Qd1+ Kg3 $5 {Black leaves the f-file open for the nascent queen on g1.} ({main} 11... Kf2 12. a6 Be3 {Now the bishop needs to be pinned in preparation of a6-a7:} 13. Qc2+ Kf3 14. Qb3 $1 {[switchback] transposes to 9... Be3.} g1=Q 15. a7 Qa1 16. Qd5+ {/Qb7+}) 12. a6 {queen checks are just loss of time} Be3 13. Qb3 $1 {[switchback]} g1=Q (13... Kf4 14. Qa4+ $1 e4 15. a7 $18) 14. a7 Qf2+ 15. Ke7 $1 {Otherwise the king will stand in the way of Qg8+ or block the back rank.} Qf3 16. Qg8+ {followed by a8=Q} 1-0

[Event "Schach 2025 2nd prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01"] [Round ""] [White "Pasman=M"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "CH"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "B6B/8/2N1P1k1/6r1/7n/2Rp4/5p2/6NK w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "26"] [EventDate "2024"] 
 1. Ne5+ $1 (1. Ne7+ Kh5 $1) (1. Rc1 d2) 1... Kf5 (1... Rxe5 $2 2. Bxe5 $16) (1... Kh5 2. Nef3 f1=Q 3. Nxg5 d2 4. e7 $11) 2. Be4+ (2. Rc1 d2) (2. Nef3 Nxf3 3. Rc5+ Kxe6 4. Rxg5 Nxg5) 2... Kxe4 3. Rc4+ (3. Ng4 Rxg4 {Re5+} ({Rc4+} 3... Kf5) {Kf4} 4. Nh3 Kf3 5. Nxf2 Kxf2) (3. Rc1 Rxg1+ 4. Rxg1 fxg1=Q+ 5. Kxg1 d2) 3... Kd5 4. Rc5+ $1 (4. Rc1 fxg1=Q+ 5. Rxg1 Rxg1+ 6. Kxg1 d2) (4. Ng4 fxg1=Q+ 5. Kxg1 Kxc4) (4. Rd4+ Kxe6 $1) 4... Kxe6 (4... Kxc5 5. Nxd3+ Kd6 6. Nxf2 $11) 5. Rc6+ Kd5 6. Rc5+ $1 Ke4 (6... Kxc5 7. Nxd3+ Kd5 8. Nxf2 $11) 7. Rc4+ Kf5 (7... Ke3 8. Rc1 fxg1=Q+ 9. Rxg1 $11 Rxg1+ 10. Kxg1 d2 11. Nc4+) 8. Rf4+ $1 (8. Rc1 fxg1=Q+ 9. Rxg1 Rxg1+ 10. Kxg1 d2) 8... Kxf4 9. Nxd3+ Kg3 (9... Ke3 10. Nxf2 $11) 10. Nxf2 (10. Ne2+ $2 Kf3) 10... Rh5 {double attack} (10... Kxf2 11. Nh3+) 11. Bd4 $1 ({Thematic (logical) try :} 11. Ne4+ Kf4 12. Ne2+ (12. Nf2 Rxh8 13. Ngh3+ Kg3 $19) 12... Kf3 $1 13. Bd4 Nf5+ $19 {and there is no stalemate, losing rook vs knight endgame, e.g.} 14. Kg1 Nxd4 15. Nxd4+ Kxe4 16. Ne2 Kf3 17. Nd4+ Ke3 $19) 11... Nf3+ (11... Nf5+ 12. Nfh3 Nxd4 13. Ne2+ $1 {the same}) 12. Nfh3 $1 Nxd4 13. Ne2+ $1 Nxe2 {Ideal stalemate with pinned knight on h3} (13... Kxh3 14. Nf4+ $1 {the knight ending is lost again because of poor black king position} Kg4+ 15. Nxh5) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Schach 2025 3rd Prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.12"] [Round ""] [White "Pasman=M & Avni=A"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "CH"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/6pk/B7/5PP1/r1n1b2K/2r5/q1nB2Q1/3R4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. g6+ Kg8 (1... Kh8 2. Qh2 $1 $18) 2. Bf4 $1 {opening the d-file while closing the 4th rank from future threats of Ra4} (2. Qg5 Rd3 3. Qe7 Rh3+ 4. Kg5 Rg3+ 5. Kh4 Rh3+ $11 6. Kxh3 $4 Qa3+) (2. Bxc3 $2 Nd6 $1) 2... Nd2 $1 {Umnov} (2... Rh3+ 3. Kg5 $1) (2... Nd4 3. Qxa2 Rxa2 4. Rxd4 $18) 3. Rxd2 (3. Qxd2 Rh3+ $1 4. Kxh3 (4. Kg5 $2 Rd4) 4... Qa3+ 5. Kh2 Nd4 $11) 3... Bd5 $1 (3... Nd4 $2 4. Qxe4 $18) 4. Rxd5 (4. Qg5 $2 Rxf4+) 4... Rxf4+ 5. Kh5 $1 (5. Kg5 Rg4+) 5... Rh3+ $1 6. Kg5 $1 (6. Qxh3 Qxd5) 6... Rg3+ $1 (6... Kf8 7. Rd8+) 7. Kxf4 $1 (7. Qxg3 Qxd5 $11) 7... Rg4+ $1 8. Kxg4 (8. Qxg4 Qxd5) 8... Ne3+ 9. Kh5 $1 Qxd5 (9... Nxg2 10. Rd8#) (9... Qxg2 10. Rd8#) 10. Bc4 $1 (10. Qxd5+ Nxd5 11. Bc4 Kh8 $1 12. Bxd5 {Stalemate}) 10... Qxc4 (10... Nxg2 11. Bxd5+ Kh8 12. Bxg2 $18 {No stalemate}) 11. Qa8+ {Themes: mate, stalemate, fork, diversion, repeated rook sacrifices, geometrical motives} 1-0

[Event "Schach 2025 Special prize"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.05"] [Round ""] [White "Staudte=R & Schlosser=M"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Läufer-Pendel"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "B7/8/3K4/5k2/2p5/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "35"] [EventDate "2025"] 
 1. Kc5 Ra1 (1... Rc1 2. Kd4 $1 c3 3. Be4+) (1... c3 2. Kd4 $1 c2 3. Be4+ $1 Kf4 4. Bxc2) 2. Bb7 $1 (2. Bg2 $2 c3 $1 3. Kd4 Ra2 $1 4. Be4+ Kf4 $1 {Der weiße König ist überlastet.}) 2... Ra7 3. Bh1 $1 (3. Bg2 $2 {usw. wie Verführung im 2. Zug}) 3... Rh7 (3... Rc7+ 4. Kd4 $1 c3 5. Be4+ $1 Kf4 6. Bc2 $1) (3... c3 4. Kd4 $1 c2 5. Be4+ $1 Kf4 6. Bxc2) 4. Ba8 $1 {Rückkehr} Rh4 (4... Rh8 5. Bb7 $1) (4... c3 5. Kd4 $1 c2 (5... Rc7 6. Be4+ Kf4 7. Bc2 $1 Rc8 8. Kd3 $1) 6. Be4+ $1 Kf4 7. Bxc2) 5. Kb4 Ke5 6. Kc3 Kd6 (6... Rf4 7. Bb7 $1 Kd6 8. Kb4 $1) 7. Kb4 Rh8 8. Bg2 $1 (8. Bb7 $2 Rb8 $1) 8... Rc8 {Deckungswechsel} 9. Kc3 Kc5 10. Bf1 Kb5 11. Be2 {positionelles Remis, der Läufer pendelt nun, z. B.} Rc5 12. Bf1 Rc6 13. Be2 Rc7 14. Bf1 Rc5 15. Be2 Rc6 16. Bf1 Rc7 17. Be2 Rc8 18. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frederik Svane gewidmet, Schach 2024 Comm"] [Site ""] [Date "2024.12"] [Round ""] [White "Neuenschwander=B"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1n4k1/6p1/p1p5/PpP2Np1/1P4P1/7K/7P/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "27"] [EventDate "2024"] 
 1. Nd6 $1 (1. Kg3 $2 Kf7 $1 2. Kf3 Nd7 3. Ke4 Kf6 $1 4. Nd6 g6) 1... g6 (1... Nd7 2. Nxb5 $3 {Das "Svane" Motiv.} cxb5 3. c6) ({Schwarz hat kein Gegenspiel nach} 1... Kf8 2. Ne4) 2. Kg2 $1 (2. Kg3 $2 Nd7 3. Nxb5 $2 {funktioniert hier nicht:} cxb5 4. c6 Nf6) ({Knapp unzureichend ist} 2. Ne4 $2 Nd7 3. Nxg5 Ne5 4. Kg3 Nd3 5. Kf3 Nxb4 6. Ke4 Na2 $1 7. Kd4 (7. Kd3 Nb4+ $1) 7... Nc1 $1 8. Kc3 Ne2+ 9. Kd2 (9. Kd3 Nc1+ $1) 9... Nd4) 2... Kg7 (2... Nd7 3. Nxb5) 3. Ne4 (3. Kf3 $2 Nd7 $1) 3... Nd7 4. Nxg5 Kf6 5. Nf3 (5. h4 $2 Ne5 6. Kg3 Nd3) 5... Ke6 6. h4 $1 Kd5 7. h5 gxh5 8. gxh5 Kc4 9. h6 Nf8 10. Ne5+ Kxb4 11. Nd7 $1 (11. Nxc6+ $2 Kxc5 12. Nb8 b4) (11. Kg3 $2 Nh7 $1 (11... Kxc5 $2 12. Nd7+) (11... Kxa5 12. Nxc6+ $2) 12. Kf4 Kxc5 13. Kf5 b4 14. Kg6 b3 (14... Nf8+ $2 15. Kg7 Ne6+ 16. Kf7 Ng5+ 17. Kg6 Ne6 18. Nd7+ Kd6 19. h7) 15. Kxh7 Kd4 $1) 11... Nh7 12. Nb8 $1 Kxc5 (12... Kxa5 13. Nxc6+) 13. Nxa6+ Kd6 14. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Schach 2025"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.12"] [Round ""] [White "Vorovich"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Hergert,Volker"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4K3/B1p4r/1P1p4/p5k1/p6p/3p3P/P7/4N3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2025"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.11.11"] 
 1. b7 $1 (1. bxc7 $2 Rxc7 2. Bb6 (2. Be3+ Kf5 3. Bd2 Ke4 $19) 2... Rc3 3. Be3+ Kf5 4. Kd7 Ra3 5. Bc1 Rxa2 6. Nxd3 Rc2 7. Bh6 a3 $19) (1. Nxd3 $2 cxb6 2. Bxb6 Kf5 3. Bxa5 Rg7 4. Be1 Rg2 5. Bxh4 Rxa2 6. Kd7 a3 7. Nb4 Rb2 8. Be1 d5 9. Bc3 d4 $1 $19) 1... c5 2. b8=Q Rh8+ 3. Kf7 $1 (3. Ke7 $2 Rxb8 4. Bxb8 c4 5. Bc7 d2 6. Nf3+ Kg6 $1 7. Nxd2 c3 8. Bxa5 c2 $19) 3... Rxb8 4. Bxb8 c4 5. Bc7 $1 (5. Bxd6 $2 Kf5 6. Nf3 c3 7. Be5 d2 $19) (5. Ba7 $2 Kf4 6. Ng2+ Kf3 7. Ne3 c3 8. Nd5 c2 9. Be3 Ke2 10. Bg5 d2 $19) 5... d2 $1 6. Nf3+ Kh5 $1 (6... Kf4 $2 7. Nxd2 c3 8. Bxd6+ Ke3 9. Nc4+ $18) 7. Nxd2 c3 8. Ne4 c2 9. Nf6+ {two main lines:} Kh6 (9... Kg5 {main} 10. Bxa5 c1=Q 11. Bd2+ Qxd2 12. Ne4+ Kf4 13. Nxd2 $11) 10. Bb6 c1=Q 11. Be3+ Qxe3 12. Ng4+ Kg5 13. Nxe3 $11 1/2-1/2