www.arves.org - Nielsen 50 JT

Studies awarded for the 50th anniversary JT tournament for:

Slumstrup Nielsen, Steffen 1975

[Event "1.p Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Beat Neuenschwander"] [Black "Volker Hergert"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "N7/1p6/pP3p2/4p3/p2p4/3P4/8/1B2k2K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] 
 {A wonderful story, previously unknown in studies. A knight travels from one corner to another and then returns. According to the CQL scripts provided to me by Lewis Stiller, there is no prior example of such a return trip from corner to corner and back in HHDBVII. Not only that: in the tournament-winning study, the knight returns along the very same route—a long switchback! Of course, in a dream world, the journey would be completed in ten moves (a composing project for the 22nd century). Here, it takes twelve moves, involving only two captures (2. Nxa6 and 7. Nxa1) and two moves elsewhere (2. dxe4 and 3. Bxd3). It must be said that the idea of returning to the corner to preserve a pawn on g6/b6 (even via h6/a6) is known from numerous studies. The first example is by Berger (1923, Kagan's Neueste Schachnachrichten, HHDBVII #93474), and the most recent by Neuenschwander  (2025, Ceskoslovensky Sach, HHDBVII #290). The most significant anticipation is Yochanan Afek’s miniature (Hornecker MT 2024, HHDBVII #1031), in which a White knight travels from h8 to c4 and back, albeit using two different routes. Task studies are often ugly and forced in nature, but here we have a rare combination of ambitious ideas and pleasing play.} 1. Nc7 $1 (1. Kg2 $2 e4 $1 { (or 1. ..a3 2.Nc7 e4! etc)} 2. dxe4 a3 3. Nc7 d3 $1 4. Nd5 d2 5. Nc3 d1=Q 6. Nxd1 Kxd1 {and White must fight for the draw:} 7. Ba2 $1 Kc1 8. Bd5 Kb1 9. e5 $1 fxe5 10. Bxb7 a2 11. Be4+ Kc1 12. b7 a1=Q 13. b8=Q $11) (1. Nc7 f5 2. Ne6) 1... e4 $1 {Black defends actively by creating another passed pawn.} (1... Kd2 2. Kg2 $1 Kc1 3. Ba2 $18) 2. dxe4 (2. Nxa6 $4 e3 $19) (2. Ne6 $2 Kd2 $1 3. dxe4 Kc1 4. Bd3 (4. Ba2 d3 $11) 4... Kb2 $1 5. Nxd4 Kc3 6. Bxa6 Kxd4 7. Bxb7 Kc5 8. Bd5 Kxb6 $11) 2... a3 3. Nxa6 $1 (3. Nd5 $2 d3 $1 4. Nc3 d2 5. Bc2 d1=Q 6. Bxd1 Kd2 7. Nb1+ Kxd1 8. Nxa3 Kd2 $1 9. Nc4+ Kc3 $1 10. Nd6 Kb4 $1 11. Nxb7 Kb5 12. Nd6+ Kxb6 $11) 3... d3 $1 {Black's only chance is to continue playing actively. } 4. Bxd3 a2 5. Nb4 a1=Q 6. Nc2+ Kd2+ 7. Nxa1 {So, the knight has moved from the a8 corner to the a1 corner! But only half of the job is done...} Kxd3 8. Nc2 $1 (8. Nb3 $2 Kxe4 9. Nc5+ Kd5 10. Nxb7 Kc6 11. Na5+ Kxb6 $11) 8... Kxe4 ( 8... Kxc2 9. Kg2 Kd3 10. Kf3 Kd4 11. Kf4 Kc5 12. Kf5 $18) 9. Nb4 Kd4 10. Na6 $1 Kc4 11. Nc7 Kc5 12. Na8 $18 {Switchback to a8! The knight has moved back to a8 exactly on the same path it took to a1 in the first place!} 1-0

[Event "2.p Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/2K2P2/5k2/8/7P/Bp2n3/3b4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] 
 {This is an absolutely exquisite study with only eight pieces. The introduction is kept to a single move, and then we already reach the decisive moment, where the White king chooses the right square to avoid a future pin of a knight that is not yet on the board! The play is packed with beauty and meaning, and there is not the slightest hint of a difficult sideline. The only slight drawback is that 2. Kd6 is a more natural move than 2. Kd7. It is the move you would play in a blitz game. The study reminded me of the fine first prize from my 45 JT by Pervakov and Symbatyan (HHDBVII #7013), where a promoted knight also plays the main role. It could have been a first prize as well, but in the end I opted for task over beauty.} 1. f7 Nd4+ 2. Kd6 $3 { the right choice} ({logical try} 2. Kd7 $2 Ne6 $1 3. Bxe6+ Kg6 4. Ba2 b1=Q $1 5. f8=N+ $1 Kg7 $1 6. Ne6+ Kh6 $1 7. Bxb1 Bg4 $1 {position X with wKd7, pinning the wNe6} 8. hxg4 {model mirror stalemate}) 2... Ne6 $1 3. Bxe6+ Kg6 4. Ba2 (4. f8=Q $2 b1=Q 5. Qf7+ Kh6 6. Qf6+ Qg6 $11) 4... b1=Q $1 (4... Bb3 5. f8=Q Bxa2 6. Qe8+ $18) (4... Kg7 5. Ke7 $18) 5. f8=N+ $1 Kg7 (5... Kg5 6. Bxb1 Kh4 7. Bf5 $18) 6. Ne6+ Kh6 7. Bxb1 Bg4 $1 {position X with wKd6 - no pin, but win} 8. Nf4 $1 $18 (8. hxg4 $2 {model mirror stalemate}) 1-0

[Event "3.p Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Serhiy Didukh"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1p6/p7/kpn2pB1/2Pp1p2/3P1P2/P1B2P1q/n2QK3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] 
 {Here is a study in which the introduction  (though heavy) fits the storyline perfectly. Black plays inventively to force a stalemate or promotion, but White allows the promotion and subsequently traps the queen! I greatly enjoyed the flow of the play, even though the individual moves are neither deep nor difficult. The dual with 14. Be5 slightly dampens my enthusiasm.} 1. Bd8+ b6 2. Qd2+ b4 3. Bd1 Nab3 $1 4. axb3 Nxd3+ 5. Kf1 $1 (5. Qxd3 $2 Qxf2+ $1 6. Kxf2 {stalemate.}) (5. Ke2 $2 Qxf2+ 6. Kxd3 Qe2+ $1 7. Kxe2 d3+ 8. Kf2 {stalemate.}) 5... Qh1+ 6. Ke2 Nc1+ 7. Qxc1 d3+ 8. Kd2 Qe1+ 9. Kxe1 d2+ 10. Ke2 $1 dxc1=Q 11. Bf6 $1 Qb1 12. Kd2 Qa2+ 13. Bc2 Qa3 14. Kd1 ({or} 14. Be5) 14... Qa2 15. Kc1 Qa3+ 16. Kb1 {A long play for stalemate countered by a long domination. Finale is similar to Bor=A 1985 (Kg3/ Ka5).} 1-0

[Event "4.p Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/r7/2P5/1PNr4/pK6/5Nk1/1n6/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] 
 {A great display of fireforks, featuring a number of non-standard sacrifices. The composer manages to include a surprising number of quiet moves: 1...Ra5, 2. Nd2, 5. Nb4, 6. Nc4, and finally 10. Nd6, when two rooks cannot win against two knights. There are numerous studies in which two knights draw against two rooks (including more than 25 by Rinck!), as well as a very long domination by Pervakov (3rd prize, Central Federal District Championship 2021, HHDBVII #5524). The present position is certainly pleasing, though not fundamentally different from other examples. Therefore, the prize is mainly awarded for the fantastic, tension-building introduction. I had a very strong suspicion about the identity of the composer of this study (and it was later confirmed that the great tamer of knights and rooks was indeed the man in charge).} 1. b6 Ra5 $1 (1... Rf7 2. Nd2) (1... Rg7 2. Nd2 $1 a3 (2... Rxd2 3. Ne4+) 3. b7 Rd8 4. Kxa3 Rb8 5. Na6 Rbxb7 6. Ne4+ Kf4 7. cxb7 $11) 2. Nd2 $3 (2. Kxa5 Rxc5+) ({Thematic try :} 2. Ng5 Nd3+ $1 { sacrifice on sacrifice} (2... Rxg5 3. Ne4+ {fork} Kf4 4. Nxg5 $11) 3. Nxd3 Rdb5+ 4. Kc4 (4. Ka3 Rxb6) 4... Rxb6 $19) 2... Nd3+ $1 {sacrifice on sacrifice} (2... Rdxc5 3. Ne4+ {fork}) (2... Raxc5 3. Ne4+ {fork}) 3. Nxd3 Rdb5+ 4. Ka3 ( 4. Kc4 Rxb6) 4... Rxb6 5. Nb4 $1 (5. Nc4 {fork not works} Rb3+) 5... Rb8 (5... Ra7 6. c7 Rxc7 7. Nd5 $11 {fork} (7. Ne4+ Kf3 8. Nd5 {fork})) 6. Nc4 $1 Ra7 ( 6... Rc5 7. Na6 {fork}) (6... Raa8 7. c7 Rb7 8. Nd5 {threatening Ncb6=} Rb3+ 9. Ka2 Rf8 10. Nb2 Rb5 11. Ne7 $11) 7. c7 $1 (7. Nd5 Rb3+ 8. Ka2 Rh7 $1 9. c7 Rh2+ 10. Ka1 Rf3 11. Nce3 $11) 7... Rxc7 8. Na6 {fork} Rb3+ (8... Rxc4 9. Nxb8 Kf4 10. Nd7 Ke3 11. Nb6 $11) 9. Kxa4 Rc3 $1 10. Nd6 $3 {draw because black can't prevent new fork} R7c6 (10... Re7 11. Nf5+ {fork}) (10... Ra7 11. Ne4+ {fork}) 11. Ne4+ {fork} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5.p Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Pavel Arestov"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/4p1k1/5qp1/6NP/1Q1P1P2/5KPp/2n5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "14"] 
 {Amusingly, I have the final stalemate with the incarcerated knight in my own files, but I never managed to create a good study from it. At only a slight cost in economy (the pawn on e6 and a pawn on g5 instead of the Black king), the composer has created an excellent study with a good starting position  (only relevant pieces on the board) and with all pieces moving during the solution.} 1. h5+ $1 (1. Nxh2 $2 Nxb3 $19) 1... Kxh5 2. Nxh2 $1 (2. Qa4 $2 h1=N+ $1 3. Kg1 Ng3 4. Qe8+ Kh4 5. Qh8+ Nh5 $19) (2. Qb8 $2 Qc5+ 3. Ne3 Nxd3+ 4. Kg3 h1=Q 5. Qe8+ Kh6 6. Qh8+ Kg6 7. Qxh1 Qe5+ 8. Kh3 Nf2#) 2... Qc5+ $1 ( 2... Nxb3 3. g4+ $11 {fork,}) 3. d4 $1 (3. Kf1 $2 Nxb3 $19) 3... Qxd4+ 4. Qe3 Nd3+ 5. Ke2 Nf4+ 6. Kf1 $3 (6. Kf2 $2 Qb2+ 7. Kf1 Qxg2+ 8. Ke1 Qxh2 $19) 6... Qxe3 7. g4+ $1 Kg6 {stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "1. sp.p Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Mihai Neghină"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1p6/8/pP1B4/8/5pPP/PP3q2/RN1K3k w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "45"] 
 {A remarkable study with a long winning plan, involving many exciting structures in the bottom-left corner of the board. Following 8...Ke4, White has several routes to victory, but the general plan remains the same, and White is forced to progress through all the phases described by the composer. Yet another good story.} 1. Nc3 (1. Nd2 Qg1+ 2. Kc2 Qxa1 3. Bxb7 Qxa2 4. Bxf3+ Kh2 {draw}) (1. Na3 Qf1+ 2. Kc2 Qxa1 3. Bxf3+ Kh2 4. Bxb7 Qxa2 {draw}) (1. Kc1 a4 2. a3 Kh2 3. Nc3 Qe1+ 4. Kc2 Qxa1 5. Bxf3 Qe1 {draw}) (1. Bxf3+ Qxf3+ {winning for Black}) (1. Bxb7 Qxb2 {winning for  Black}) 1... Qf1+ {or Qg1+} 2. Kc2 (2. Kd2 Qxa1 3. Bxf3+ Kh2 4. Kc2 Qe1 {draw}) 2... Qxa1 3. Bxf3+ Kh2 4. Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:01] domination structure} Kxh3 5. b6 {zugzwang} a4 6. a3 {still zugzwang} Kxg3 (6... Kg2 7. g4 {winning for White}) 7. Ne2+ Kf3 8. Nc1+ {[%emt 0:00:02] domination structure} Ke4 9. Bh5 Kd4 10. Bf3 Kc5 11. Bxb7 Kxb6 12. Bd5 Kb5 13. Ba2 Kc6 14. Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:03] domination structure} Kc5 15. Na2 Kb5 16. Nc3+ Ka5 (16... Kc4 17. Nxa4) 17. Kc1 Kb6 18. Nxa4+ Kb5 19. Nc3+ Kc4 20. Kc2 Kd4 21. Na2 Kc4 22. Nc1 Kd5 23. Nb3 1-0

[Event "2.sp.p Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Yang Fan, Xyan Tang"] [Black "Shang Riye"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6b1/p2n1p1k/5PpP/1PP3P1/1P1K3P/6P1/6n1/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "139"] 
 {How is this for an ambitious story? A white king chases a black knight around the board, and after each tour, Black gains an extra tempo to bring the king closer. Thus White’s knight harassment seems in vain, but just when the Black king is ready to step in, White invokes the 50-move rule, forcing Black to reset the counter by capturing a White pawn. The result, after many additional events, is a draw. If there ever were a special prize, this would be it. The starting position is hideously unnatural, and it just so happens that the 50-move rule does not apply to studies (see the WFCC Codex, Article 17). Still, the official rule is overruled by the “Nielsen 50 JT rule,” which states that once you reach 50 years of age, you are allowed to bend the rules a little when you feel like it. By the way, the idea of beating the 50-move rule is not new. There exists a remarkable example by Noam Elkies (HHDBVII #37265). That study is marked as “Internet, 1991” in HHDBVII, suggesting that Noam Elkies is not only a pioneer in mathematics. The chase of the knight is similar to Gonzalez (1st prize, 4th FRME 2022, HHDBVII #3652).} 1. Ke4 $1 ({Logical try:} 1. b6 $2 axb6 2. c6 Nf8 3. c7 Ne6+ {fork}) ({Logical try:} 1. Kd5 $2 Ne3+ 2. Kd6 (2. Kc6 Ne5+ 3. Kb7 N5c4 4. Kxa7 Nd5 5. b6 Nxb4 6. b7 Nc6+ 7. Ka8 N4e5 8. b8=Q Nxb8 9. Kxb8 Nd7+) 2... Nb6 3. cxb6 axb6 4. Kc6 Nc4 {will finally fail.}) (1. Kd3 $2 Ne1+ 2. Kd2 Nf3+ 3. Ke3 Nfe5 4. Kd4 Ng4 {attacking wPf6 to stop Ke4} 5. Kd5 Ne3+ {will finally fail.}) 1... Nb6 (1... Kh8 2. b6 Nxb6 (2... axb6 $2 3. c6 Nf8 4. c7 { forkless}) 3. cxb6 {White draws because another bN is too far away.}) (1... Ne1 2. Kd5 (2. b6 $2 Nxb6 $1 {Black wins because another bN is close enough.}) 2... Nd3 3. Kd6 N7e5 4. Kd5 Nd7 5. Kd6) 2. cxb6 axb6 {Now White's propose is perpetual chasing the bPb6 and the bN to keep the bK from the battlefield.} 3. Kd3 $1 (3. Kd4 $2 Kh8 $1 4. Kd5 Ne3+ {will finally fail.}) (3. Kd5 $2 Ne3+ { will finally fail.}) (3. Kf3 $2 Ne1+ 4. Ke4 Nc2 5. Kd5 Ne3+ {will finally fail. }) 3... Ne1+ 4. Kd2 (4. Ke2 $2 Nc2 $1) 4... Nf3+ 5. Ke3 Nh2 {Ne5 is helpless because 6.Ke4 Nd7? loses.} 6. Ke4 {or Kd4} Nf1 7. Kd5 Ne3+ 8. Kc6 Nc4 9. Kd5 { This is the perpetual chase. But doesn't Black have plans against it?} Nb2 10. Kc6 Na4 11. Kd5 Kh8 {Tempo!} 12. Kc4 {White is threatening Kb3 so the bK has to stop again. This stop is temporary, because...} Nb2+ 13. Kc3 Nd1+ 14. Kd2 Nf2 15. Ke3 Ng4+ 16. Kf4 Nh2 17. Ke4 {or Ke5} Nf1 18. Kd5 Ne3+ {This is a cycle. We are back to the position after 7...Ne3+ except the bK has got closer to the battlefield.} 19. Kc6 Nc4 {And as long as the cycles continue, Black will win by moving the bK closer and closer.} 20. Kd5 Nb2 21. Kc6 {But doesn't White have plans against it?} Na4 22. Kd5 Bh7 {However, if so, why didn't he use the plan during the previous cycles?} 23. Kc4 Nb2+ 24. Kc3 Nd1+ 25. Kd2 Nf2 26. Ke3 Ng4+ 27. Kf4 Nh2 28. Ke4 {or Ke5} Nf1 29. Kd5 Ne3+ {2nd cycle} 30. Kc6 Nc4 31. Kd5 Nb2 32. Kc6 Na4 33. Kd5 Kg8 34. Kc4 Nb2+ 35. Kc3 Nd1+ 36. Kd2 Nf2 37. Ke3 Ng4+ 38. Kf4 Nh2 39. Ke4 {or Ke5} Nf1 40. Kd5 Ne3+ {3rd cycle} 41. Kc6 Nc4 42. Kd5 Nb2 {Here we go.} 43. Kd4 $1 ({Cyclic try I:} 43. Kc6 $2 Na4 44. Kd5 Kf8 45. Kc4 Ke8 $1 46. Kb3 Kd7 47. Kxa4 Ke6 48. Kb3 Kf5 49. Kc3 (49. Kc4 Ke4 $1) 49... Kg4 50. Kd4 Kxg3 51. Kd5 Kxh4 52. Kc6 Kxg5 53. Kxb6 {eg} Kxf6 54. Kc7 g5 55. b6 Be4 56. b7 Bxb7 57. Kxb7 g4) 43... Kf8 44. Kc3 Nd1+ 45. Kd2 Nf2 46. Ke3 Ng4+ 47. Kf3 $1 ({Cyclic try II:} 47. Kf4 $2 Nh2 48. Ke5 Ke8 $1 49. Kd6 (49. Kd5 Kd7 50. Ke5 Ng4+ 51. Kd5 Kc7 $1 {or Bg8!, a waiting move} 52. Ke4 Nxf6+ 53. gxf6 Kd6 {or 52...Nxh6 53.gxh6 Kd6}) 49... Ng4 50. Kc6 (50. Kc7 Ne5 $1 {Zugzwang.} 51. Kxb6 (51. Kd6 Nd3 52. Kc6 Nxb4+ 53. Kxb6 Kd7 54. Kc5 Nd3+) ( 51. Kb7 Nd3 52. Kxb6 Kd7) 51... Kd7 52. Kc5 Nd3+ 53. Kc4 Nb2+ 54. Kc5 Na4+ 55. Kd5 Nb6+) 50... Ne3 $1 {Zugzwang.} 51. Kxb6 (51. Kd6 Nc2 52. Kc6 Nxb4+) (51. Kb7 Nd5 52. Kc6 Nxb4+) 51... Kd7 52. Kc5 Nf5 53. b6 Nd6) 47... Ne5+ 48. Ke4 Nc4 49. Kd5 Ne3+ {4th cycle, ironically} 50. Kd6 $1 ({Cyclic try III:} 50. Kc6 $2 Ke8 $1 {See cyclic try II.}) (50. Kd4 $2 Nc2+ 51. Kc4 Na3+ 52. Kd5 Nxb5) 50... Ke8 51. Kc6 {Now cyclic 51...Nc4 52.Kd5 Nb2 will be a draw by the 50-move rule! And if there were only 1 move missing, Black could win by the waiting move 51...Kd8 or Bg8 to put White into zugzwang! This is for what White made all of his former efforts!} Nc2 {Threatening 52...Nxb4 to reset the 50-move counter at 49.5! This is Black's hope.} 52. Kxb6 $1 {And White resets the counter himself!} Kd7 53. Kc5 Ne3 (53... Ne1 54. Kc4 $1) 54. b6 Nf5 55. b7 Kc7 56. b8=Q+ Kxb8 57. Kc6 Kc8 58. b5 Nd4+ 59. Kd6 Nf5+ 60. Kc6 Nxg3 61. b6 Nf5 62. b7+ Kb8 63. Kd7 Nxh4 64. Ke7 {or Ke8} Nf3 65. Kxf7 Nxg5+ 66. Kg7 Kxb7 67. f7 Nxf7 68. Kxh7 g5 69. Kg6 Nxh6 70. Kxg5 {Happy Year of the Horse!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "1.hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Serhiy Didukh"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6k1/3P1n1p/2Q5/4p1rq/1R2p3/6Pp/7P/2B4K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "22"] 
 {This study grew on me. It features a realistic middlegame position and pointed play. The idea of retreating the queen along the pin diagonal (Pelle) is not new (see Costeff, special prize, Polasek & Vlasak 60 JT 2017, for a striking example, HHDBVII #11822). The passive king on h1 is unfortunate.} 1. g4 $1 (1. Qc2 $2 Qf3+ 2. Kg1 Rf5 3. d8=Q+ Nxd8 4. Qb3+ Qxb3 5. Rxb3 Ne6 $19) 1... Qxg4 2. d8=Q+ Nxd8 3. Qe8+ Kg7 4. Rb7+ $1 Nxb7 5. Qe7+ Kh8 ( 5... Kg6 6. Qe8+ Kf6 7. Bxg5+) 6. Qe8+ Rg8 7. Qxe5+ Qg7 8. Qa1 $1 (8. Bh6 $2 Qxe5 9. Bg7+ Kxg7 $19) 8... Rd8 (8... Qxa1 {stalemate.}) ({Try} 8... Rf8 9. Bb2 Rf1+ 10. Qxf1 Qxb2 11. Qf8# $1) 9. Bb2 Rd1+ 10. Qxd1 Qxb2 {Disadvantage of Queen on the d-file is that check Qd8+ is not available but there's also an Advantage -} 11. Qd4+ $1 Qxd4 {stalemate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2.hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "David Gurgenidze"] [Black "Martin Minski"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/5k2/pP4pK/R1P3PP/4bP2/p5pp/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] 
 { A funny perpetuum mobile with a successful introduction, in which White manages to incarcerate the knight for stalemate. The try 5. Rxa6? adds a great deal.} 1. b7 $1 (1. c6 $2 h2 $1 $19) (1. f5 $2 h2 $1 2. fxg6+ Bxg6 $1 3. b7 h1=Q 4. b8=Q Qxh5#) 1... Bxb7 2. c6 $1 (2. f5 $2 h2 $1 3. c6 h1=Q $19) 2... Bxc6 (2... h2 3. Rf5+ $1 $11) 3. f5 $1 g2 (3... h2 4. fxg6+ Kg8 5. Rc5 $1 (5. Rxa6 $2 Be4 $1 6. Rb6 Bxg6 $1 7. Kxg6 Kf8 $19) 5... h1=Q 6. Rxc6 Qh3 7. Re6 Qxe6 {stalemate}) 4. fxg6+ Kg8 5. Rc5 $1 ({logical try} 5. Rxa6 $2 g1=Q 6. Rxc6 Qg4 7. Re6 $1 Qa4 8. Rc6 $1 {position X without the bPa6} Qa8 $1 $19) (5. Rf5 $2 Bd7 $1 6. Rf6 g1=Q 7. g7 Qc5 $19) (5. g7 $2 Bb5 $1 $19) 5... g1=Q 6. Rxc6 Qg4 (6... Qf2 7. Rc8+ Qf8+ 8. Rxf8+ Kxf8 9. Kh7 $11) 7. Re6 $1 Qa4 (7... Qxe6 { stalemate}) 8. Rc6 $1 {position X with bPa6} Qg4 (8... Qxc6 {stalemate}) 9. Re6 $11 {positional draw} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3.hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Aaysh Wadhma"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5q1k/6p1/Pp3p1p/3p1P1P/Q1pP3K/8/6P1/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "35"] 
 {A difficult study for grandmasters and practical players, with deep and interesting ideas centered around the square f5. It would fit perfectly in a (Dvoretsky-style) book on studies and practical play. The play is a bit too static for my liking, however. Inspired by the game Elsness-Ostmoe, 2025.} 1. a7 Qa8 2. Qd7 { Position X} Kh7 3. Qc7 Qe8 $1 {Position Y} 4. Qg3 $1 {First backward queen move to g3.} (4. Qb8 $2 Qe4+ {or Qe1+} 5. Kh3 Qxf5+ $10) (4. Qf4) 4... Qc8 { Position Z} 5. Qb8 (5. Qg6+ $6 Kg8 $1 6. Qg3 {Loss of time.}) 5... Qxf5 6. Qg3 $1 {Switchback. Second backward queen move to g3.} (6. a8=Q $2 {Try} Qg5+ 7. Kh3 Qxh5+ 8. Kg3 Qg6+ $1 9. Kf2 Qc2+ 10. Kg1 Qd1+ 11. Kh2 Qh5+ 12. Kg3 Qg6+ 13. Kf4 Qe4+ 14. Kg3 Qg6+ $10) 6... Qc8 {Switchback. Position Z without the f5 pawn.} (6... Qe4+ 7. Qg4 $1 Qe1+ 8. Kh3 Qh1+ 9. Kg3 Qe1+ 10. Kh2 $18) 7. Qg4 $1 {Utilizing the newly opened h3-c8 diagonal.} Qa8 8. Qf5+ $1 {Gaining a tempo.} (8. Qd7 $2 c3 {or b5} 9. Qc7 Qe8 $10 {or f5}) 8... Kh8 9. Qd7 {Position X without the f5 pawn.} Kh7 10. Qc7 Qe8 $1 {Position Y without the f5 pawn.} 11. Qf4 $1 {Compare to the move 4. Qg3 with the White pawn on f5.} (11. Qg3 $6 Qc8 12. Qg4 $1 {Loss of time.}) 11... f5 $1 (11... c3 12. Qf5+ $1 {Utilizing the empty square left by the absence of the f5 pawn.} Kh8 13. Qxd5 c2 14. a8=Q $18) 12. Kg3 $1 {Capture refusal. White moves out of the Qe7+ fork.} (12. Qxf5+ $2 {Try} Kh8 13. Qxd5 Qe7+ $1 $10) (12. Qe5 $2 Qf8 $1 13. Qe6 Kh8 $1 {zz}) 12... Qd8 (12... Qf8 13. Kh2 $1 {Safely hiding the king. White also gets out of any Qa3+ forks.} c3 14. Qg3 $1 Qa3 15. Qg6+ Kh8 16. Qe8+ $18) (12... Qe1+ 13. Kh2 $1 $18) 13. Kh3 $1 {Once again refusing capture of the f5 pawn. This move vacates the g3 square for the White queen. This is only playable now that the Black queen no longer looks at the pawn on h5. White also moves out of any Qc7+ forks.} (13. Qxf5+ $2 Kh8 14. Kf3 c3 15. Qe5 Kh7 $10) (13. Kh2 $2 c3) 13... c3 14. Qg3 $1 {Third and final backward queen move to g3.} c2 (14... Qa8 15. Qg6+ Kh8 16. Qxb6 c2 17. Qb8+ Kh7 18. Qxa8 c1=Q 19. Qxd5 {or Qb8.} Qa3+ 20. Qf3 {(Other moves win as well)} Qxa7 21. Qxf5+ $18) 15. Qg6+ Kg8 16. Qc6 $1 { Utilizing the newly opened access to the sixth rank by Black's push of f6-f5.} c1=Q 17. Qxc1 Qa8 18. Qc7 $18 {/Qa1/Qa3. The study is characterized by the unique movements of the two queens and the curious functions played by both f-pawns: White first sacrifices their own and then refuses to capture Black's, instead utilizing the drawback of the f6-f5 push.} 1-0

[Event "4.hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Beat Neuenschwander"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5K2/8/3ppp1k/1P5P/2P1P3/8/8/2n5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "19"] 
 { The dual 4. b6 takes about 50 percent of the air out of this study. Without it (perhaps with a different introduction), it would have been a prizewinner.} 1. e5 $1 (1. b6 $2 Nb3 2. Ke7 (2. b7 Nc5) 2... Na5 $10) (1. Ke7 $2 Nb3 2. Kxd6 f5 $10) (1. c5 $2 dxc5 2. b6 (2. e5 f5 $1) 2... Nd3 3. b7 Ne5 4. Ke7 Nc6+ 5. Kd6 Nb8 6. Kc7 Na6+ 7. Kb6 Nb8 $10) 1... fxe5 (1... dxe5 {<2nd mainline>} 2. c5 e4 3. c6 (3. b6 $2 Nd3 $19) 3... e3 4. b6 $3 {theme: delayed queening!} (4. c7 $2 e2 5. c8=Q e1=Q 6. b6 Qb4+ $10) 4... e2 5. b7 e1=Q 6. b8=Q Qc3 7. Qe8 Qc5+ 8. Kg8 Qg5+ 9. Qg6+ {1-0}) 2. c5 $1 e4 (2... dxc5 3. b6 $18 Nb3 4. b7) 3. c6 (3. cxd6 $2 e3 4. d7 e2 5. d8=Q e1=Q $10) 3... e3 4. c7 (4. b6 {(minor dual) transposes to the main line}) 4... e2 5. b6 $3 {theme: very delayed queening!} (5. c8=Q $2 e1=Q 6. b6 Qf2+ $10) 5... e1=Q 6. b7 Qf2+ (6... Qf1+ 7. Ke7 $1 $18) 7. Ke8 $1 (7. Ke7 $2 Qh4+ 8. Kd7 Nd3 9. c8=Q Nc5+ 10. Kxd6 Qd4+) 7... Nd3 8. c8=Q (8. b8=Q $2 Ne5 9. c8=Q Qf7+ 10. Kd8 Qf8+ 11. Kc7 Qe7+ $17) 8... Ne5 (8... Nc5 9. b8=Q) 9. Qxe6+ Kxh5 10. b8=Q 1-0

[Event "5.hm Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Rainer Staudte"] [Black "Michael Schlosser"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/6Pk/1P1K1P1P/8/8/8/q7/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "24"] 
 {This is a strong minimalist study in which the introduction, unusually, enhances the overall quality by presenting the knight and then parting ways with it at the decisive moment. ways with it at the decisive junction.} 1. b7 {binds the queen to the promotion square} Qh2+ (1... Qb3 2. Kc7 $1 Qg3+ (2... Qf7+ 3. Kc8 $1 Qe6+ 4. Kc7 $1) (2... Qc3+ 3. Kd7 $1) 3. Kc8 $1 Qc3+ 4. Kd7 $1 {The king keeps the balance between two tasks: supporting to promote the b-pawn and supporting the move f7.}) (1... Qa7 2. f7 $1 $10) 2. Ke6 $1 {guards f7 and prevents Kg8} (2. Kd7 $2 {loses after} Kg8 $1 {Now the queen drives the enemy king to b8 and captures pawns.}) 2... Kxh6 (2... Qb8 $2 3. f7 $18) 3. g8=N+ $1 (3. g8=Q $2 Qa2+ $1 4. Ke7 (4. Kd7 Qxg8 $1) 4... Qxg8 5. f7 Qg5+ $1 {Black wins}) 3... Kh7 (3... Kg6 4. Ne7+ $1 {draws}) 4. f7 Kg7 5. Ne7 Qb2 (5... Qc7 6. Nf5+ $1 Kf8 7. Nd6 $1 Qe7+ 8. Kd5 Qd8 (8... Qc7 9. Ke6 $1) 9. Kc6 $1) (5... Qb8 6. Nf5+ $1 Kf8 {and the knight checks on g6}) 6. Nf5+ Kf8 7. Nd6 {creates a fortress} Qb1 { waiting} 8. Kd7 Qb6 {hopes for zugzwang} 9. Kc8 $1 (9. Ke6 $2 Qc7 $1 {wins}) 9... Qc6+ 10. Kd8 $1 {sacrifies the promoted piece, the best horse in the stable} Qxd6+ 11. Kc8 Qc6+ 12. Kd8 Qxb7 {The final stalemate is based on an idea of Jens Evald Enevoldsen https:// www.yacpdb.org/#381753} 1/2-1/2

[Event "1. sp.hm Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Eduard Eilazyan"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "B7/8/6PR/1P1n4/2p1K1n1/4p3/6k1/B2N1b2 b - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "36"] 
 {Can a study be both subtle and wild? This is essentially two excellent studies in one. The bishop study could have begun on move 7. The tactics in the first six moves are wonderfully confusing and non-standard, but they are not linked to the final part of the study. Essentially, three knights, a bishop, and a rook have been introduced to add spice to the introduction. Alternatively, the bishop endgame may have been added as a (far too long) afterplay to the tactical feast. So which is it? My harsh conclusion is that a study is rarely successful when shifting from wild to subtle play. The final three moves of the study are known from Margalitadze, 2. p., 15th Chervoni Girnik 1974 (HHDBVII #56263).} 1... e2 $1 {Threat of promoting the pawn to the queen.} (1... Nxh6 $2 2. Bxd5 e2 3. Ne3+ Kf2 4. Bc3 $19) 2. Ne3+ $1 {Knight sacrifice.} Ngxe3 3. Bc3 {Defense against Black's threat.} (3. g7 $2 {The premature threat of promoting the white pawn leads only to a draw:} e1=Q 4. g8=Q+ Kf2 5. Qf8+ Kg1 6. Rg6+ Bg2+ 7. Rxg2+ Nxg2+ 8. Kxd5 Qxa1 $11) 3... Nxc3+ {Check.} 4. Kxe3+ {Countercheck.} Nd5+ $1 {Knight sacrifice. Switchback, line-closing, countercheck. The goal of the sacrifice is to unblock the c4-pawn.} (4... Kg3 $2 5. Kd2 $1 {The c4-pawn is blocked!} (5. Rh3+ Kxh3 6. Kf2 Nd1+ 7. Ke1 Ne3 8. Be4 c3 $1 $19) 5... Nb1+ 6. Ke1 Na3 7. Be4 $18) 5. Bxd5+ { Countercheck.} Kg3 6. Rh3+ $1 {A distracting rook sacrifice.} (6. Kd2 $2 c3+ $1 7. Ke1 c2 $19 8. Kd2 e1=Q+ $19) 6... Kxh3 7. Kf2 $1 {White has finally stopped the black pawn.} c3 {(No check!)} 8. Bb3 $1 {The black pawns are held, and the threat of promoting the white pawn to a queen immediately arises. A change in the situation! An invariant of similar situations is the threat of promoting a pawn. The second phase of the struggle begins.} (8. Be4 $2 {is bad because of} e1=Q+ 9. Kxe1 Bxb5 10. Bd5 Bd3 11. g7 Bh7 $11) 8... c2 (8... e1=Q+ $2 9. Kxe1 Bxb5 10. g7 c2 11. Kd2 $18) 9. Bxc2 e1=Q+ 10. Kxe1 Bxb5 11. Kd2 $1 (11. Bb3 $2 Bd3 $1 12. g7 Bh7 $11) 11... Be8 12. g7 Bf7 13. Kc3 $1 (13. Ke3 $2 Kg4 $1 $11) 13... Bg8 (13... Kg4 14. Bb3) 14. Bb3 Bh7 15. Kd4 Kg4 16. Ke5 Kg5 17. Bf7 $1 ( 17. Bc2 $2 Bg8 18. Bf5 Bf7 $1 $11) 17... Bg8 {Bishop sacrifice.} 18. Ke6 $1 ( 18. Bxg8 $2 Kg6 $11) 18... Kh6 19. Kf6 $18 1-0

[Event "2. sp. hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Serhiy Didukh"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6N1/5pp1/8/5p2/3K4/7P/8/4k3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] 
 {This study was heading for a higher place but is unfortunately partly anticipated. The stalemate avoidance on the final move is known from Herbstmann, 1930 (HHDBVII #88079). Additionally, the mutual zugzwang with the kings on f4 and h4 is known from Zhukov, Facebook 2023 (HHDBVII #2157). Adding an echo position (with an extra pawn on the board in one of the lines) is certainly a substantial contribution. Overall, it is a beautiful study.} 1. Ke5 $1 ({Shouldering fails:} 1. Ke3 $2 g5 2. Nh6 Kf1 3. Kf3 Kg1 4. Nxf5 Kh2 5. Kg4 Kg2 $1 6. Ne3+ Kh2 7. Nf5 Kg2 8. Nd6 f6 9. Nf5 Kf2 $1 10. Nd4 Kg2 $11) 1... Kf2 2. Kf4 (2. Kxf5) 2... Kg2 3. h4 Kh3 ({main} 3... g6 4. Ne7 $1 (4. Nh6 $2 f6 $11 ) 4... Kh3 5. Nxf5 f6 6. Kf3 $18 {zugzwang.}) 4. h5 Kh4 5. Nf6 $1 {echo zz} gxf6 (5... Kh3 6. Ne8 $1 (6. Kg5 $2 f4 $1 7. Kxf4 Kh4 {zz wtm}) 6... Kh4 7. Nxg7 $18) 6. h6 Kh5 7. h7 Kg6 8. h8=R $1 $18 {Echo positions of mutual zugzwang.} 1-0

[Event "3. sp. hm Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Alexander Stavrietsky"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1p1Bp2p/1P2P2P/pP5P/p6P/P7/5kbK/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "27"] 
 {What a difficult job it is to judge a study tournament! This study shows a highly humorous, ambitious, and difficult concept, with the White king and bishop pushing their Black counterparts further and further back. Initially, I thought the study was incorrect, because White can deviate from the main line on a number of occasions and still win. The composer convinced me that these deviations were just detours, and that White has to return to the main track sooner or later.  For instance, in the later stages of the study, White may play Bg6–e8 followed by Bc6×b7, but then Black's king goes after White's b-pawns, resulting in a draw. So White needs to return to the main plan of pushing Black's king all the way to b2 before cashing in. While I am still not 100% certain of the correctness of the study, I need to give the composer the benefit of the doubt. I generally try to reward ambition and originality, but in this case the vast number of duals (White's king can go back to h2 for a break at almost any time during the solution!), and the messiness of the whole concept, kept me from awarding a prize. Even waste-of-time duals, which are generally considered acceptable, can be quite harmful to one's experience of a study.} 1. Bc6 Bf3 2. Kh3 Ke3 3. Kg3 Be4 4. Kg4 Kd4 5. Kf4 Bd5 6. Kf5 Kc5 7. Be8 Kd4 8. Bg6 Be4+ 9. Kf4 Bd3 10. Kf3 Kc3 11. Ke3 Bc2 12. Ke2 (12. Kf2 Kd2 13. Kg1 Ke3 14. Be4 (14. Kh1) (14. Kh2)) 12... Kb2 13. Kd2 Bb1 14. Bxb1 1-0

[Event "1.c Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Jan Sprenger"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1b6/8/2p5/1p1B2qp/n4R2/p7/2R1KB1k/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "33"] 
 {A good and ambitious study, featuring complicated and spectacular differences between the key and the tries and play over the entire board.. In the end, the whole thing was a little too heavy for my liking. Some lines, such as 3...Nc5 4. Bxc6, are very difficult.} 1. Bg1+ $1 (1. Rh4+ Qxh4 2. Bxh4 cxd5 $10) 1... Qxg1 (1... Kh3 2. Be6+ Kg2 3. Ke1+ Kh1 4. Rf1 Qxg1 5. Bd7 $1 Bg3+ 6. Ke2 $18) (1... Kxg1 2. Rf1+ {the fastest} Kh2 3. Kf3+ $18) 2. Kf3+ Kh1 3. Be4 $1 {Before taking on c6, White must first provoke Nc3 to close the c-file.} ({try} 3. Bxc6 $2 Qe1 $1 4. Rc1 $4 Qxc1 5. Kf2+ Qxc6 $1 $19) 3... Nc3 $1 (3... Qe1 4. Rc1 $1 Qxc1 (4... Qg1 5. Rh4+ Bh2 6. Ke2#) 5. Kf2+ Kh2 6. Rh4# {compare 3. Bxc6?}) (3... Qg5 4. Ke3+ $1 Kg1 5. Rc1+ Kh2 6. Rh1+ Kg3 7. Rg1+ $18) 4. Bxc6 Qe1 $1 {The only move: 4... Qg5 loses as above, 4...b4 on the spot and 4... Bxf4 is refuted tactically.} ( 4... b4 5. Rh4+ Bh2 6. Rhxh2+ $1 Qxh2 7. Ke3+ Kg1 8. Rc1+ Nd1+ 9. Rxd1#) (4... Bxf4 5. Kxf4+ $18) 5. Rc1 $1 Qg1 (5... Qxc1 6. Kf2+ {no Qxc6} Kh2 7. Rh4#) 6. Rh4+ Bh2 7. Rh3 $3 {Passes the move to Black.} ({logical try} 7. Rxh5 $2 b4 $1 {Mutual zugzwang with White to move. There are three White tries dependent on which piece he moves.} 8. Ra1 {try A} (8. Rh7 {[%eval 0,0] /Rh6, etc. --- try} a2 $1 9. Rg7 Bg3 10. Rh7+ Bh2 11. Ra1 Nb1 $1 12. Ke2+ Qg2+ 13. Bxg2+ Kxg2 14. Kd3 b3 $10 {Black threatens both Nd2 and Be5 and White has no Rb5 since the rook has left the 5th rank}) (8. Bb7 {/Ba8 --- try C} b3 $1 9. Rg5 Bg3 10. Rxc3 $5 {Rxg3 is analogous to try A} Qg2+ $1 11. Kg4 {and the bishop is not defended by the rook:} Qxb7 $19) 8... b3 $1 9. Rg5 Bg3 $1 (9... Qxa1 $4 10. Kf2+) 10. Rxg3 Qxa1 11. Kg4+ Kh2 12. Rg2+ Kh1 13. Ra2+ Kg1 14. Rxa1+ Kf2 15. Rxa3 b2 $10) (7. Ra1 $2 b4 $1 8. Rxh5 b3 {transposes into logical try A}) 7... b4 8. Rxh5 {Mutual zugzwang with Black to move.} a2 $5 (8... b3 9. Rg5 $1 Bg3 10. Rxc3 $1 {/Rh5+ loss of time} Qg2+ 11. Kg4 $18 {on c6 the bishop is defended by the rook, compare try C}) 9. Ra1 b3 (9... Nb1 10. Ke2+ Qg2+ 11. Bxg2+ Kxg2 12. Kd3 {/or first Rg5+ with loss of time} b3 13. Rb5 $1 {[%eval 0, 0] with the rook staying on h5 this is possible, compare try} Be5 14. Rxe5 $18) 10. Rg5 $1 Bg3 $1 11. Rxg3 {/Rh5+ loss of time} Qxa1 12. Kg4+ Kh2 13. Rg2+ Kh1 14. Rxa2+ {the a-pawn falls with check, compare try A with black pawn on a3} Kg1 15. Rxa1+ Kf2 {White cannot prevent b3-b2, but he has} 16. Rh1 $1 {/Rc1 with the same idea} b2 17. Rh2+ 1-0

[Event "2.c Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Oleg Pervakov"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5qk1/R7/4p3/1Q1PPn2/np6/8/B1K1p3/7N w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "32"] 
 {The study has a memorable final position in which QNN versus N + pawn is unable to win. The introduction, however, seems somewhat out of sync with the rest of the study.} 1. dxe6 $1 (1. Kd2 $2 Qh6+ $1 $19) (1. Qb7 $2 Nd4+ 2. Kd3 Qf3+ 3. Kxd4 Qc3+ $19) 1... b3+ $1 {Destroying the great battery} 2. Bxb3 Nd4+ 3. Kd3 Nxb3 $1 4. Rg7+ $1 Kh8 $1 (4... Qxg7 5. Qe8+ Kh7 6. Qh5+ $11) (4... Kxg7 5. Qb7+ Kh6 6. Kxe2) 5. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 6. Qb7+ $1 Kh6 7. Kxe2 Nc3+ 8. Ke1 (8. Ke3 $2 Qc5+ $19) 8... Qc5 $1 {Suddenly sacrifice knight b3 } (8... Qf4 9. Qf7 $1 $11) 9. Ng3 $1 (9. Nf2 $2 Qe3+ 10. Kf1 Nd2+ 11. Kg2 Qg5+ 12. Kh3 Qh5+ $1 13. Kg2 Nce4 $1 14. Nxe4 Qf3+ 15. Kg1 Qf1+ 16. Kh2 Qe2+ $19) ( 9. Qxb3 $2 Qe3+ 10. Kf1 Qh3+ $1 11. Ke1 Qxh1+ 12. Kd2 Ne4+ 13. Kc2 Qg2+ 14. Kc1 Qd2+ 15. Kb1 Nc3+ $19) 9... Qg1+ (9... Qe3+ 10. Kf1 Qxg3 (10... Nd2+ 11. Kg2 $11) 11. Qh1+ Kg6 12. Qg2 Qxg2+ 13. Kxg2 Nd4 14. e7 Kf7 15. e6+ $11) (9... Qxe5+ 10. Kf2 $11) 10. Nf1 Qg4 $1 11. Qh1+ Kg7 $1 12. Qb7+ $1 ({Too early} 12. Qg1 $2 Qxg1 $19) 12... Kh6 13. Qh1+ Kg6 (13... Kg5 14. Qh2 $1 Qd1+ 15. Kf2 Ne4+ 16. Kg1 Nbd2 17. Qg2+ Kh6 18. Qh3+ Kg7 19. e7 $11) 14. Qg1 $3 {In time} (14. Qh2 $2 Qd1+ 15. Kf2 Ne4+ 16. Kg1 Nbd2 17. Qg2+ Ng5 $1 18. e7 Ndf3+ 19. Kh1 Kf7 20. Qa2+ Kxe7 $19) 14... Qxg1 15. e7 Kf7 16. e6+ Ke8 {Model stalemate with pin knight is not original, but the main idea in logical 12.Qb7+!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3. c Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Poul Rewitz"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2k1b2B/2b2p2/2N4R/3B4/2pPP3/1p5K/p7/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "51"] 
 {After the lively and pleasing introduction (many pieces leave the board, but I am appeased by the nice sacrifices), both kings suddenly head for the corner. This could well be a tablebase find, but it is certainly amusing.} 1. Ne7+ (1. Be6+ $2 fxe6 2. d5 e5 $19 ({or} 2... Bxc6 $19)) (1. Na7+ $2 Kb8 2. Nc6+ Bxc6 $19) 1... Kd8 (1... Kb8 $2 2. Ra6 $18) 2. Nc6+ (2. Bf6 $2 a1=Q $19) 2... Bxc6 3. Bf6+ (3. Bxc6 $2 a1=Q 4. Bf6+ Kc8 5. Rh8+ Bd8 6. Rxd8+ Kc7 7. Rd7+ Kb6 $1 8. Rb7+ Ka6 $19) 3... Kc8 (3... Kd7 4. Bxc6+ $11) 4. Rh8+ (4. Be6+ $2 fxe6 $19) ( 4. Bxc6 $2 a1=Q ({or} 4... Bd8 5. Rh8 a1=Q) 5. Rh8+ Bd8 6. Rxd8+ Kc7 7. Rd7+ Kb6 $1 8. Rb7+ Ka6 $19) 4... Bd8 (4... Kd7 5. Bxc6+ $11) (4... Kb7 5. Bxc6+ $11 ) 5. Rxd8+ (5. Bxd8 $2 a1=Q 6. Bf6+ Kc7 7. Be5+ Kb6 8. Rb8+ Ka6 9. Bxc6 b2 $19) 5... Kc7 6. Rc8+ $1 (6. Bxc4 $2 a1=Q $19) (6. Bxc6 $2 a1=Q 7. Rd7+ Kb6 $1 8. Rb7+ Ka6 $19) 6... Kxc8 7. Be6+ fxe6 (7... Kc7 8. d5 fxe6 9. Kg3 $1 $11) (7... Kb7 8. d5 $11) 8. d5 Bxd5 (8... exd5 9. exd5 $11) (8... Kc7 9. Kg3 $1 Bxd5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Bb2 $1 $11) 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bb2 $1 (10. Kg3 $2 Kb7 $1 $19) (10. Kg2 $2 Kc7 $1 11. Kf2 (11. Bb2 Kb7 $1 $19) 11... Kc6 $1 12. Bb2 (12. Ke3 Kb5 $1 $19) (12. Ke2 Kc5 $1 $19) 12... Kb6 $1 $19) 10... Kb8 11. Kh2 $1 (11. Kg2 $2 Kb7 $1 $19) (11. Kg3 $2 Ka7 $1 12. Kg2 Kb7 $1 13. Kf3 (13. Kf2 Kb6 $1 $19) 13... Ka6 $1 14. Ke3 Ka5 $1 15. Ke2 Kb5 $1 $19) 11... Ka8 $1 12. Kh1 $3 (12. Kg3 $2 Ka7 $1 13. Kf2 (13. Kf3 Ka6 $1 $19) 13... Kb6 $1 $19) 12... Ka7 13. Kg1 $1 (13. Kg2 $2 Kb7 $1 $19) 13... Kb7 14. Kg2 $1 (14. Kf2 $2 Kb6 $1 $19) 14... Kc6 (14... Ka6 15. Kf1 $1 Kb6 16. Kf2 $1 Kc5 17. Ke3 $11) 15. Kf3 $1 (15. Kf2 $2 Kb6 $1 $19) (15. Kf1 $2 Kc5 $19) 15... Kb6 (15... Kc5 16. Ke3 Kb4 17. Kd2 $11) 16. Kf2 $1 (16. Ke2 $2 Kb5 $1 $19) (16. Ke3 $2 Ka5 $1 (16... Kc5 $2 17. Bc3 $1 Kb5 18. Kd2 $1 Ka4 19. Kc1 $1 Ka3 20. Bb2+ Kb4 21. Kd2 $11) 17. Kd2 Kb4 $19) 16... Ka6 17. Kf1 $1 Kb5 18. Ke2 $1 Ka5 (18... Kc5 19. Ke3 $11) 19. Ke1 $1 (19. Kd2 $2 Kb4 20. Bc3+ Ka3 21. Kc1 b2+ $1 22. Bxb2+ Kb3 23. Bd4 c3 $19) 19... Ka4 (19... Kb4 20. Kd2 Ka4 21. Kd1 $1 $11) 20. Kd1 $1 Kb4 21. Kd2 d4 22. Bxd4 Ka3 23. Kc1 b2+ 24. Bxb2+ Kb3 25. Ba1 $1 c3 26. Kd1 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "4.c Steffen Nielsen-50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Pavel Arestov"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1k4B1/1P1P4/2P2q2/2K5/P4r2/8/8/3n2Q1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] 
 {The starting position may not be entirely realistic, but at least the pawns are blocked, giving the situation a somewhat game-like feeling. I acknowledge the difficulty the composer must have faced in creating a meaningful introduction, but to me the study doesn't really begin until move 8. } 1. Qg7 $3 {sacrifice Queen} (1. Qxd1 $2 Qc3+ 2. Kd6 Rd4+ 3. Bd5 Qa3+ $1 { (Qg3)} 4. Ke5 Qe3+ $11) 1... Rf5+ $1 (1... Qxg7 2. d8=Q+ Ka7 3. Qa8#) (1... Qd8 2. Qe5+ $18) 2. Bd5 Rxd5+ $1 (2... Qd8 3. Qg3+ $18) 3. Kxd5 Nc3+ $1 (3... Ne3+ 4. Ke4 {(Kc5)} Qxc6+ 5. Kxe3 $18) 4. Kc5 $1 (4. Kc4 $2 Qxc6+ 5. Kd3 Qf3+ 6. Kc2 Qd1+ 7. Kxc3 Qa1+ $11) 4... Ne4+ $1 (4... Nxa4+ 5. Kb5 Nc3+ 6. Kb4 Qd6+ 7. Kxc3 Qxc6+ 8. Kd2 $18 {(Kd3)}) 5. Kb5 $1 (5. Kb6 $2 Qf2+ $11) (5. Kb4 $2 Qd6+ $11) 5... Nd6+ (5... Nc3+ 6. Kb4 Qd6+ 7. Kxc3 $18) 6. Kb4 $1 (6. Kc5 $2 Nxb7+ $1 7. cxb7 Qxg7 8. d8=Q+ Kxb7 $11) (6. Ka6 $2 Qf1+ 7. Ka5 Qe1+ $11) 6... Qf4+ (6... Qxg7 7. d8=Q+ Ka7 8. b8=Q+ $18) 7. Kc5 Nxb7+ $1 (7... Ne4+ 8. Kd5 Nf6+ 9. Ke6 Nxd7 10. cxd7 $18) 8. cxb7 Qc7+ 9. Kd4 $1 (9. Kd5 $2 {(Kb5)} Qxb7+ $11) 9... Kxb7 $1 (9... Qd8 10. Ke3 $18 {(a5)}) 10. d8=N+ $1 (10. d8=Q $2 Qxg7+ $11) (10. a5 $2 Qd6+ $11) 10... Ka6 $1 {Play for stalemate.} (10... Ka8 11. Qf6 $18) 11. Qf6+ $1 (11. Qxc7 $2 {stalemate.}) 11... Ka5 12. Nc6+ Kxa4 13. Kc4 $1 Qd6 $1 14. Qa1+ $1 (14. Qxd6 $2 {stalemate.}) 14... Qa3 15. Qd1+ Qb3+ 16. Qxb3# 1-0

[Event "6.c Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Rainer Staudte"] [Black "Michael Schlosser"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/3P4/3q4/6R1/2R5/k7/8/1K6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] 
 {This is a nice, minimalist study in the style of Rinck, showing the potential of the rare material—three rooks versus a queen. Black threatens mate. This significantly limits the playing options.} 1. d8=R $1 {Three isolated rooks require precise treatment till the end.} (1. d8=Q $2 Qd1+ $1 (1... Qxd8 $2 2. Rg3+ $1 Qd3+ 3. Rxd3#) 2. Qxd1 {stalemate}) 1... Qb6+ 2. Kc1 $1 { Coordinating the white pieces costs a rook} (2. Kc2 $2 Qb3+ $1 {position A:} 3. Kd2 Qxc4 4. Ra5+ Kb4 $1 {draws}) 2... Qe3+ (2... Qxd8 3. Rg3+ $1 Qd3 4. Rxd3+ Ka2 5. Ra4#) (2... Qb2+ {This attack, too, is just a flash in the pan. In the following the white pieces can contact each other step by step.} 3. Kd1 Qb3+ 4. Rc2 $1 Qf3+ 5. Re2 $1 {wins, because now the rooks consolidate their positions, e. g.} Qb3+ (5... Qf1+ 6. Kd2 Qf4+ 7. Re3+ $1 Ka4 8. Rge5 Qb4+ 9. Kc1 Qc4+ 10. Kb2 Qb3+ 11. Ka1 Qb6 12. Ra8+ Kb4 13. Ra4+ Kxa4 14. R5e4+ $1 Ka5 15. Ra3+ $1 Kb5 16. Rb3+) 6. Kd2 Qb2+ (6... Qb4+ 7. Kd3 Qb1+ 8. Ke3 Qb6+ 9. Rd4 $1 {etc.}) (6... Qa2+ 7. Ke3 Qe6+ 8. Kd3 Qb3+ 9. Ke4 Qe6+ 10. Re5 Qc4+ (10... Qg6+ 11. Ke3 Qb6+ (11... Qh6+ 12. Kd3 $1) 12. Rd4 Qh6+ 13. Kd3 Qa6+ 14. Kd2 Kb2 15. Ke1+ Kc3 16. Ra4 Qg6 (16... Qd6 17. R5e3+) 17. R5e3+) (10... Qc6+ 11. Kd3 Qa6+ (11... Qf3+ 12. R2e3) 12. Kd2 Kb2 13. Rdd5) 11. Kf3 Qc6+ (11... Qf7+ 12. Ke3 Qa7+ 13. Rd4 Kb3 14. Red2 Ka3 (14... Kc3 15. Kf2) 15. Kf2) 12. Rdd5 Qf6+ 13. Rf5 Qc6 14. Kf2 Qc4 (14... Qb6+ 15. Re3+ Ka2 16. Ra5+)) 7. Ke3 Qb6+ 8. Rd4 $1 Qe6+ 9. Kd3 Qb3+ (9... Qa6+ 10. Kd2 Qb7 11. Rg3+ Kb2 12. Ke1+ Ka1 13. Rd1+ Qb1 14. Ra3#) 10. Ke4 $1 Qe6+ (10... Qb7+ 11. Kf4 Qc7+ 12. Rge5 Qf7+ 13. Ke3 Qf1 (13... Qa7 14. Rf5 Qe7+ (14... Qc7 15. Rf3) (14... Qb6 15. Rf3) 15. Kf2) 14. Kd2) (10... Qb1+ 11. Rd3+ Kb4 (11... Ka4 12. Ra2+ Kb4 (12... Qxa2 13. Rd4+ Kb3 14. Rg3+ Kc2 15. Rg2+ Kb3 16. Rxa2) 13. Rb2+ Ka4 14. Ra5+ Kxa5 15. Rxb1) 12. Rb2+ Ka4 13. Ra5+ Kxa5 14. Rxb1) 11. Re5 Qc6+ 12. Kf4 Qf6+ 13. Kg3 Qg6+ 14. Kf2 Qf6+ 15. Ke1 {a quiet place}) 3. Rd2 $1 (3. Kc2 $2 Qb3+ {see position A}) 3... Qxg5 { captures the rook, but loses a tempo that is mortal} (3... Kb3 4. Rgc5 Qe1+ 5. Rd1 Qe3+ 6. Kb1 Qe2 7. Rc3+ Ka4 8. Rd4+ Qc4 9. Rdxc4#) 4. Kc2 Qb5 (4... Qg6+ { or Qf5+} 5. Rd3+ Ka2 6. Ra4#) (4... Qa5 5. Rc3+ Kb4 (5... Ka2 6. Kd1+ Ka1 7. Rc1#) 6. Rd4+ Kb5 7. Rd5+) 5. Rc3+ Ka4 (5... Ka2 6. Kc1+ (6. Kd1+ Ka1 7. Rc1+ Qb1 8. Rxb1+ Kxb1) 6... Qb2+ 7. Rxb2+ Ka1 8. Ra3#) 6. Rd4+ Ka5 7. Ra3+ Kb6 8. Rb3 {pins and wins} 1-0

[Event "8.c Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Rainer Staudte"] [Black "Michael Schlosser"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3R4/3N4/8/8/8/3k4/q7/2K5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "30"] 
 {The material of KRN versus KQ is excellently suited for spectacular drawing play. This is a crazy position with a long, miraculous draw for White, featuring many of the usual tricks with this material (forks, stalemate, etc.). Still, it feels more like a position than a composition. A storyline is missing. For other examples with this material, see HHDBVII #10871, Nielsen, .hm Kirillov-65 JT 2016, and HHDBVII #8476, Nielsen/Minski, 1st/2nd prize, Phenix 2019.} 1. Ne5+ $1 (1. Nc5+ $2 Kc4 $1 {The scattered white pieces cannot coordinate their forces.} 2. Ne4 (2. Nd7 Qh2 3. Rc8+ Kb4 4. Nc5 Qh3 5. Rc7 (5. Na6+ Ka5 6. Rc6 Qh1+) 5... Qc3+ 6. Kd1 (6. Kb1 Kb5 7. Rb7+ ( 7. Rc8 Qh3 8. Nb7 (8. Ne4 Qd3+) 8... Qh1+) 7... Kc6 $1 8. Rb2 (8. Rb8 Qe1+ 9. Ka2 Kxc5) 8... Qe1+ $1 9. Kc2 Kxc5)) (2. Rc8 Kd4 3. Rc7 (3. Kd1 Qc4 4. Ke1 (4. Kd2 Qc3+ 5. Ke2 (5. Kd1 Qh3 6. Rc7 Kd5 7. Na6 Qd3+) 5... Qh3 6. Rc7 Kd5 7. Na6 Qe6+) (4. Rc7 Kd5 5. Rd7+ Kc6 $1 6. Rd8 Qg4+) (4. Rd8+ Ke3 5. Re8+ (5. Rd3+ Kf4 $1 (5... Kf2 $2 6. Rc3 $1 $10) 6. Rd4+ Qxd4+)) (4. Rc6 Qf1+ 5. Kd2 Qg2+) 4... Qc3+ 5. Ke2 (5. Kd1 Qh3 6. Rc7 Kd5 7. Na6 Qd3+) (5. Kf2 Qh3 6. Rc7 Kd5 7. Na6 Qf5+ 8. Ke1 Qe6+) 5... Qh3 6. Rc7 Kd5 7. Na6 Qe6+) (3. Nd7 Qa1+ 4. Kd2 Qa5+ 5. Kd1 (5. Kc1 Qg5+ 6. Kb2 (6. Kd1 Qg4+) (6. Kc2 {or Kb1} Qf5+) 6... Qb5+ $1) 5... Qh5+ 6. Kd2 Qg5+ 7. Ke1 Qe7+) (3. Rc6 Qc4+ 4. Kd2 (4. Kd1 Qf1+ 5. Kd2 Qg2+) 4... Qc3+ 5. Ke2 (5. Kd1 Qf3+) 5... Qe3+ 6. Kf1 Qf3+) (3. Nb7 Qa3+ 4. Kc2 Qd3+ 5. Kc1 Qf1+ 6. Kb2 Qg2+)) (2. Ne6 Qa6 3. Nf4 Qh6 4. Rc8+ Kb5 5. Rb8+ Ka6 6. Rb4 (6. Ra8+ Kb7)) (2. Nb7 Qa3+ 3. Kd2 Qb2+) (2. Nd3 Kc3 {wins the knight}) 2... Qa3+ 3. Kb1 (3. Kc2 Qb3+ 4. Kc1 (4. Kd2 Qb2+ {forks a piece} 5. Ke3 (5. Kd1 { or Ke1} Qb1+) 5... Qb6+ $1) 4... Qe3+ 5. Nd2+ Kc3 $1 6. Rc8+ (6. Kd1 Qg1+ $1 7. Ke2 Qh2+ 8. Kf1 (8. Ke3 Qh6+ $1 9. Ke2 (9. Ke4 Qh4+) (9. Kf3 {or Kf2} Qf6+) 9... Qe6+ 10. Kd1 (10. Kf3 {or Kf2 or Kf1} Qf6+) 10... Qg4+) (8. Kf3 Qh5+ 9. Kf4 {or Ke4 or Kf2} (9. Ke3 {or Kg3 or Kg2} Qg5+) 9... Qh4+)) (6. Kb1 Qb6+) 6... Kd3 $1 7. Rd8+ Ke2 {opens attacking lines} 8. Rd5 (8. Kc2 Qc5+ $1 9. Kb3 { or Kb2 or Kb1} Qb6+) (8. Rd7 Qc5+ 9. Kb2 {or Kb1} Qb5+) 8... Qa3+ 9. Kb1 (9. Kc2 Qa2+ $1) 9... Qc3 $1 10. Ka2 Qc6 $1 {forks the rook} 11. Rd4 (11. Rd8 Qa6+ 12. Kb3 Qb6+) 11... Qc2+ $1 12. Ka3 Qc5+ $1) (3. Kd1 Qf3+ $1) (3. Kd2 Qa5+) 3... Qb3+ 4. Kc1 (4. Ka1 Qb6 5. Nd2+ (5. Rc8+ Kb4 $1 6. Nc3 (6. Nc5 Kb5 7. Ka2 Qf6 8. Ka3 Qf5) 6... Qd4 7. Kb1 Kb3 8. Kc1 Qf4+) 5... Kb4 $1 6. Rd5 Qe6 7. Rd4+ (7. Rh5 Qf6+ 8. Ka2 (8. Kb1 Qg6+) 8... Qf7+) 7... Kc3 $1 8. Rd6 Qe5 {playing for mate} 9. Ka2 (9. Kb1 Qf5+ 10. Ka2 (10. Ka1 Kc2 11. Nc4 Qf1+ 12. Rd1 Qxd1+ 13. Ka2 Qb1+ 14. Ka3 Qb3#) 10... Qc2+ 11. Ka3 Qb2+ 12. Ka4 Qb4#) 9... Qa5+ 10. Kb1 Qb4+ 11. Kc1 Qa3+ $1 12. Kd1 Qxd6 $1) 4... Qe3+ 5. Nd2+ Kc3 $1 {The rook is tied to the knight and becomes easy prey.} 6. Rc8+ (6. Kd1 Qg1+ $1) 6... Kd3 $1 7. Rd8+ (7. Rc2 Qg1+ 8. Kb2 Qd1) 7... Ke2 {opens attacking lines} 8. Rd5 (8. Kc2 Qc5+ $1 9. Kb3 Qb6+) (8. Rd7 Qc5+ 9. Kb2 Qb5+) 8... Qa3+ {forks the rook soon} 9. Kb1 (9. Kc2 Qa2+ $1) 9... Qc3 $1 10. Ka2 (10. Rd8 Qc7 11. Rd4 (11. Rd5 Qb7+) 11... Qb6+) (10. Rd7 Qc6 11. Rd4 {or Rd8} Qb6+) 10... Qc6 $1 11. Rd4 Qc2+ $1 12. Ka3 Qc5+ $1) (1. Nb6+ $2 Kc3 {playing for mate} 2. Nd5+ (2. Rc8+ Kb3 3. Kd1 (3. Nd5 {or Sd7} Qa1+ 4. Kd2 Qd4+) 3... Qg2 4. Rc1 (4. Rb8 Qf1+ 5. Kd2 Qf4+ ) 4... Qg1+ 5. Kd2 Qg5+ 6. Kd1 Qd8+ 7. Ke2 {or Ke1} Kb2 8. Rc6 $6 {better to give up the knight} Qe8+) 2... Kb3 3. Rb8+ (3. Kd1 Qh2 4. Rd7 (4. Ne3 Qh5+ 5. Kc1 Qc5+ $1 6. Kd2 Qa5+) 4... Qc2+ 5. Ke1 Qc8 6. Nb6 (6. Rd6 Qh3 7. Kd1 (7. Rb6+ Kc4) 7... Qd3+ 8. Ke1 Qg3+) (6. Re7 Qc1+ 7. Ke2 (7. Kf2 Qd2+) 7... Qc4+) 6... Qc3+ 7. Ke2 (7. Kd1 Qf3+ 8. Kc1 (8. Kd2 Qf2+) (8. Ke1 Qe3+) 8... Qc6+) 7... Qe5+ 8. Kd1 Qh5+ 9. Ke1 {or Kd2} (9. Kc1 Qc5+) 9... Qa5+) 3... Kc4 $1 4. Ra8 (4. Rd8 {The rook ties to the knight} Qe2 5. Rd7 (5. Kb1 Qd1+ 6. Kb2 (6. Ka2 Qc2+ 7. Ka1 (7. Ka3 Qb3#) 7... Qb3 8. Rd7 (8. Nc7 Qc3+ 9. Kb1 (9. Ka2 Qa5+) 9... Qe1+ 10. Kc2 Qa5 11. Ne6 (11. Rc8 {or Rd7} Qf5+) 11... Qf5+) (8. Nf4 Qc3+ 9. Kb1 (9. Ka2 Qa5+) 9... Qe1+ 10. Kc2 {or Kb2} Qf2+) 8... Kc5 9. Rd8 Qb5 10. Rf8 {or Rg8} Qa6+ {loses the knight}) 6... Qd2+ 7. Kb1 Qg5 8. Nb6+ Kb4 9. Nd5+ (9. Rd1 Qf5+ 10. Kc1 (10. Kb2 Qf2+ 11. Ka1 Qe2 12. Rb1+ (12. Rh1 {or Rg1,Rc1} Qa6+ 13. Kb2 Qxb6) 12... Ka3 $1 13. Nc4+ Qxc4 14. Rb3+ Kxb3 15. Kb1 Qf1#) 10... Kb3) 9... Kc5 10. Nc7 Qg1+ 11. Kc2 Qh2+ 12. Kd1 Qxc7)) (4. Nb6+ Kc3 5. Rc8+ Kb3 6. Kd1 (6. Na8 Qa3+ 7. Kd2 Qd6+ {forks the rook e. g. after} 8. Kc1 Qf4+) 6... Qg2 7. Rc1 Qg1+ 8. Kd2 Qg5+ 9. Kd1 Qd8+ 10. Ke2 Kb2 11. Rc6 Qe8+) (4. Nc7 Qa1+ 5. Kc2 Qe5 6. Na6 Qf5+ 7. Kd2 Qa5+ 8. Nb4 Qc7 9. Na6 Qd6+) (4. Ne3+ Kd3 $1 5. Re8 (5. Rb2 Qa1+ $1 {mates}) 5... Qa1#) 4... Qe2 (4... Qf2 5. Rd8) (4... Qb3 5. Rd8 Qg3 6. Kd2 Qg2+ 7. Ke1 Qg5 8. Rd7 Qe5+ 9. Kd2 (9. Kf2 Qf5+ 10. Ke3 Qg4 11. Nb6+ Kb5)) 5. Rd8 (5. Nf4 Qe3+ 6. Kb2 Qb3+) 5... Qe5 6. Rd7 (6. Kc2 Qh2+ 7. Kd1 Kb3 8. Rd7 Qc2+ 9. Ke1 Qc8 10. Nb6 Qc3+ 11. Ke2 Qe5+ 12. Kd1 (12. Kd3 Qb5+) ( 12. Kd2 Qa5+) 12... Qh5+ 13. Ke1 {or Kd2} (13. Kc1 Qc5+) 13... Qa5+) 6... Qg5+ 7. Kb2 (7. Kb1 Qf5+ 8. Kb2 Kc5 9. Rd8 Qg5 10. Ra8 Qg7+ 11. Kc2 Kxd5) 7... Qd2+ 8. Kb1 Kc5 9. Rc7+ Kd6 10. Rc8 Qe1+ 11. Rc1 Qe4+ $1) (1. Nf6+ $2 {Both pieces are offside. They cannot survive in the open area.} Ke2 2. Re8+ (2. Nd5 Qd2+ 3. Kb1 Qa5 4. Rd6 {The rook is tied to its knight.} (4. Re8+ Kd2 {hunting rook and knight} 5. Re5 Qb5+ 6. Ka2 {or Ka1} Kc1 {playing for mate} 7. Re1+ Kc2 $1 ( 7... Kd2 $2 {trapped in a fortress} 8. Rd1+ $1 Kc2 9. Ne3+ $1 Kc3 10. Nd5+ $1 Kc4 11. Ne3+ {draw}) 8. Ne3+ Kd2 9. Rb1 (9. Ng2 Qd5+) 9... Qa4+) 4... Kf3 5. Rf6+ (5. Kb2 Qb5+ $1 6. Ka2 Qc5 7. Rf6+ (7. Rd7 Qa5+ {forks the rook}) 7... Ke4 8. Nb6 (8. Rf4+ Ke5 9. Nb4 Qa5+) 8... Qc2+ {forks the rook}) 5... Ke4 6. Nb6 ( 6. Rf4+ Ke5 $1) 6... Qb5+ 7. Ka2 {otherwise the rook is forked soon} Ke5 8. Rg6 (8. Rh6 Qe2+ 9. Kb1 Qd1+ 10. Kb2 Qd2+) 8... Qd3 9. Rg5+ (9. Rc6 Qa6+) 9... Kf4 10. Rd5 Qa6+) 2... Kf3 3. Ne4 {[%csl Ga2]} (3. Re1 Qa5 4. Kd1 (4. Rd1 Ke2 $1 { forks a piece}) 4... Qd8+ 5. Kc2 {or Kc1} Kf2 6. Re6 Qc8+) 3... Qc4+ 4. Kd2 { otherwise the rook is forked} Qc6 5. Re7 (5. Re6 Qc8 6. Kd3 (6. Re5 Qd8+ 7. Ke1 (7. Kc3 {the c-line is taboo} Kf4 $1 8. Re6 Qc8+) 7... Kf4 8. Re6 (8. Ng5 Qd3 { dominates the 5th rank} 9. Nf7 (9. Rc5 Kg4 {wins}) 9... Qb1+ {forks the knight} 10. Kf2 Qa2+) 8... Kf5 {dominates the e-file} 9. Rd6 Qh4+ 10. Nf2 Qe7+ $1) (6. Ng5+ Kg4 $1 (6... Kf4 $2 7. Nh3+ $1 {and the rook comes home} Kg3) 7. Re5 Qc7 { The rook is tied to its knight.} 8. Rd5 Qc4 {dominates the 5th rank} 9. Ra5 (9. Re5 Qd4+) 9... Qb4+) 6... Kf4 $1 {switches off the fork} 7. Rf6+ (7. Rh6 Qd7+ $1 8. Rd6 Qb5+ 9. Kd4 Qe5+) (7. Rd6 Qh3+ 8. Kd4 Qe3+ $1) 7... Ke5 $1 8. Rh6 (8. Rg6 Qd7+ 9. Nd6 (9. Rd6 Qh3+) 9... Qh7 10. Nc4+ Kf4) (8. Rf3 Qd7+ 9. Ke3 Qd4+) (8. Ke3 Qc1+ 9. Kf3 (9. Kd3 Qb1+) 9... Qh1+) 8... Qd8+ $1 (8... Qd7+ $2 9. Nd6 $1 {zugzwang black} Qd8 10. Rg6 $1) 9. Nd6 (9. Rd6 Qf8 {wins the knight} 10. Ke3 Qf4+) (9. Ke3 Qd4+ $1) 9... Qd7 $1 {zugzwang white} 10. Ke3 (10. Kc2 Qa4+ 11. Kb2 Qd4+ 12. Kc2 Kd5 {switches off the fork} 13. Rg6 Qe3 14. Rf6 Qe7 15. Rh6 Qg5 16. Nf7 Qf5+) 10... Qe7 11. Kf3 (11. Rg6 Kd5+) (11. Nc4+ Kd5+ 12. Kd3 Qe4+) 11... Qf8+ 12. Kg4 Qg7+ $1 (12... Qf4+ $2 13. Kh5 $1) 13. Kf3 (13. Kh5 Kf4 $1) 13... Qg8 14. Ke2 Qg4+ 15. Ke1 (15. Kf1 Qf4+ 16. Ke2 Kd5 17. Rg6 Qh2+ 18. Ke3 Qc2 19. Rh6 (19. Rf6 Qc3+) 19... Qc1+) (15. Ke3 Qg5+ 16. Kf2 Kd5 17. Nf7 Qf4+) 15... Kd5 {Finally, switches off the fork.} 16. Nf7 (16. Rf6 Qh4+) 16... Qe4+ 17. Kd1 Qf3+) (5. Re5 Qc7 $1 6. Re6 (6. Ng5+ Kg4 $1 7. Rd5 Qc4 { dominates the 5th rank} 8. Ra5 (8. Re5 Qd4+) 8... Qb4+) 6... Kf4 {switches off the fork} 7. Kd3 (7. Nf6 Kf5 8. Ra6 Qc4 {dominates the 6th rank}) 7... Qd7+ 8. Rd6 Qb5+ 9. Kd4 Qe5+ 10. Kc4 Kxe4) (5. Ng5+ Kg4 $1 6. Ne4 Qd7+ 7. Kc1 {or Kc2 or Kc3} (7. Ke3 {or Ke2 or Ke3} Qxe8 $1 {Sf6+?}) 7... Kf4 {dominates the e-file } 8. Nf6 Qc6+) 5... Qa8 $1 6. Re6 (6. Ng5+ Kg4 $1 7. Nf7 (7. Re5 Qa1 8. Rb5 Qa4 {dominates the 5th rank}) 7... Qa5+ 8. Ke2 (8. Kd1 Qb4 9. Re3 Qb1+ 10. Kd2 Qa2+ ) 8... Qb4 9. Rd7 (9. Ra7 Qe4+ 10. Kf1 Qf3+ {forks the rook}) (9. Rc7 Qe4+ 10. Kd1 Qh1+ {forks the rook}) 9... Kh4 10. Ra7 (10. Ke3 Qe1+ $1 11. Kf3 {or Kf4} Qg3+ $1 {forks the rook}) (10. Nh6 Qe4+ {forks a piece}) (10. Kf2 Qb6+ { forks the rook}) 10... Qe4+ 11. Kf1 Qf3+ {forks the rook}) (6. Ke1 {or Kd1} Qa1+ $1 7. Kd2 Qb2+ 8. Kd1 Qb1+ 9. Kd2 Qb4+) 6... Qc8 7. Kd3 (7. Re5 Qd8+ (7... Kf4 $2 8. Nd6 $1 $10) 8. Ke1 Kf4 9. Ng5 (9. Re6 Kf5 10. Rd6 Qh4+)) 7... Kf4 $1 {switches off the fork} 8. Rf6+ (8. Rd6 Qh3+ 9. Kd4 Qe3+ 10. Kc4 Ke5) (8. Rh6 { or Rg6} Qd7+ $1 (8... Qd8+ $2 9. Rd6 $1 {and the rook comes home}) 9. Rd6 Qb5+ 10. Kd4 Qe5+) 8... Ke5 $1 9. Rh6 Qd8+ $1 (9... Qd7+ $2 10. Nd6 $1 {zugzwang black} Qd8 (10... Qg4 11. Nc4+ $1) 11. Rg6 $1 Qh4 12. Nc4+ $1 {and the knight comes home}) (9... Qf5 $2 10. Rh4 $1 {is a fortress}) 10. Nd6 Qd7 $1 {zugzwang white} 11. Ke3 Qe7 12. Kf3 (12. Rg6) 12... Qf8+ 13. Kg4 Qg7+ $1 14. Kf3 (14. Kh5 Kf4 {mates}) 14... Qg8 {waits} 15. Ke2 (15. Kf2 Kd5 16. Rf6 (16. Nf5 Qf7 $1 ) 16... Qh8 17. Rg6 Qh5 18. Nc8 Qf5+) (15. Ke3 Qg5+ 16. Kf2 Kd5 {switches off the fork}) 15... Kd5 {switches off the fork} 16. Rf6 (16. Kd3 {or Ke1} Qg5 17. Nf7 Qf5+) 16... Qg7 17. Ne8 Qe7+) 1... Ke3 {The separated black pieces offer a fantastic opportunity to save the game.} (1... Ke4 2. Nd3 $1 Qa1+ 3. Kc2 $1) ( 1... Ke2 2. Nd3 $1 Qa1+ (2... Qc4+ 3. Kb1 $1 {etc.}) (2... Qa5 {transposes to move 4 of main line}) 3. Kc2 Qa4+ 4. Kb1 $1 Qb5+ {position F} 5. Nb2 $1 { relieves the rook of its duty and builds a fortress} Qf5+ 6. Rd3) (1... Kc3 { enables the coordination of the white pieces, e. g.} 2. Rc8+ Kd4 3. Nf3+ $1 (3. Nc6+ $2 Ke3 4. Re8+ Kf2 5. Ne5 (5. Rf8+ Kg2 6. Rc8 Qe6 7. Rc7 Qe3+ 8. Kd1 (8. Kc2 Qc5+ 9. Kd3 (9. Kb3 Qb6+) 9... Qd6+)) 5... Qa3+ 6. Kb1 (6. Kd2 Qb4+ 7. Kc1 Kf1 {forks a piece soon} 8. Nd7 Qc3+ 9. Kd1 Qd3+) 6... Qb4+) 3... Ke3 {or Ke4 or Kd5} (3... Kd3 4. Ne1+ Ke2 5. Nc2) 4. Rc3+ $1 {another fortress: the rook is safe near its king, and guards the knight}) 2. Ng4+ $1 {Unbelievable, only this is the right way for the knight to approach to its king.} (2. Nd3 $2 { The most natural move loses immediately.} Qa5 3. Rd7 (3. Rd6 Qc7+ $1) 3... Qa1+ 4. Kc2 Qa4+) (2. Rd1 Ke2) 2... Kf3 (2... Ke2 3. Re8+ $1 Kf3 (3... Kd3) 4. Ne5+ $1 Kf4 (4... Kg3 {or Kf2} 5. Nd3 $1) 5. Nd3+ $1 {draw}) (2... Kf4 3. Nf2 $1 { The knight is guarded by a skewer.} Qa1+ 4. Kc2 $1 {positional draw} (4. Kd2 $2 {loses the rook} Qa5+ $1)) (2... Ke4 3. Rd2 Qa1+ 4. Kc2 Kf4 5. Nf2) 3. Ne5+ { switchback, aims at d3} Ke2 (3... Ke3 4. Ng4+ $1 {see mainline}) (3... Ke4 4. Nd3 $1 {see above}) (3... Kf4 4. Nd3+) 4. Nd3 {coming home} Qa5 {Although the rook is tied to the knight, there is a lifeline.} (4... Qc4+ 5. Kb1 $1 Qb5+ { see position F}) (4... Qa1+ 5. Kc2 Qa4+ 6. Kb1 $1 Qb5+ {see position F}) 5. Rd5 $1 {guards the rook by a fork for several moves} Qc3+ 6. Kb1 Qb3+ 7. Kc1 $1 (7. Ka1 $2 Ke3 $1 8. Re5+ (8. Rd8 Qb6 9. Rd5 (9. Rd7 Qa6+ 10. Kb1 Qb5+) 9... Qa6+ 10. Kb2 Qb7+) 8... Kd4 $1 (8... Kxd3 $2 9. Re3+ $1 Kxe3 {stalemate}) 9. Re4+ Kc3 {white will lose a piece} (9... Kxe4 $2 10. Nc5+) 10. Re3 (10. Rb4 Qd1+ 11. Ka2 Kxd3) (10. Re2 Qd1+) 10... Qa4+ 11. Kb1 Kd2 12. Rg3 Qe4 13. Kb2 (13. Rh3 Qg4 14. Nf2 Qg1+ {forks the knight}) 13... Qb7+ 14. Ka3 Qa8+ 15. Kb3 Qb8+ { forks the rook}) 7... Qb7 (7... Qxd5 $2 8. Nf4+) (7... Qc4+ 8. Kb1 $1 {no progress} (8. Kb2 $2 {loses} Ke3 $1 9. Rd6 Qc7 $1 10. Ne5 Ke4 11. Re6 Kd5 12. Re8 Qb6+ 13. Kc3 Qa5+ {forks the rook})) 8. Kc2 $1 {takes over the guard of the knight} (8. Nf4+ $2 Kf3 $1 9. Rd4 {Again the tied rook becomes easy prey.} Qb6 {or Qa7} 10. Rc4 Qb3 11. Rd4 Qc3+) 8... Ke3 {switches off the fork} 9. Re5+ Kd4 10. Re2 {finds the exit} Qc7+ (10... Qc6+ 11. Kd2 $1 Qc3+ 12. Kd1 { transposes to move 13 of main line}) 11. Kd2 $1 (11. Kd1 $2 Kxd3 $1) 11... Qa5+ 12. Kc2 Qc3+ $1 13. Kd1 {Now the knight is protected using skewer and pin.} Qb3+ (13... Kxd3 14. Re3+ Kxe3 {stalemate}) 14. Kc1 Kxd3 (14... Qc4+ 15. Rc2 $1 Qxd3 16. Rd2) (14... Qa3+ {avoids skewer and pin, but} 15. Nb2 $1 {builds a fortress} Qa1+ 16. Kc2) 15. Re3+ Kxe3 {stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "9. c Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Pavel Arestov"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "kn6/1R2B1pK/4B3/5P2/8/8/1p3p2/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] 
 {Technically this large-scale study is excellent, particularly the difference between 1. Bd5! and 1. Rc7? I miss, however, some surprise and excitement in the play.} 1. Bd5 $1 {battery Bd5+Rb7} (1. Rc7 $2 b1=Q $1 ({but not} 1... f1=Q $2 2. Bd5+ { see solution)}) 2. Bd5+ Nc6 3. Bxc6+ Kb8 4. Bd6 Qxf5+ 5. Kh8 Qh3+ $1 6. Kxg7 { pos. X with black pf2} Qc3+ 7. Kg8 Qc4+ 8. Rf7+ Kc8 9. Bd7+ Kd8 $11) 1... f1=Q 2. Rc7+ $1 (2. Rxb2+ $2 Ka7 3. Kxg7 Qf4 $11 {Qd3}) (2. Rd7+ $2 Nc6 3. Bxc6+ Kb8 4. Bd6+ Kc8 5. Rf7 Qxf5+ $1 6. Rxf5 b1=Q $11 {pin}) 2... Nc6 3. Bxc6+ Kb8 4. Bd6 $1 {battery Rc7+Bd6} Qxf5+ (4... b1=Q 5. Rxg7+ Kc8 6. Rg8#) 5. Kh8 $1 { in corner} (5. Kxg7 Qg5+ $11) 5... Qh3+ $1 (5... Qh5+ 6. Kg8 $18) (5... Qf8+ 6. Bxf8 b1=Q 7. Bd6 Qg6 8. Rb7+ Kc8 9. Rb8#) 6. Kxg7 {pos. X1 with black pb2} (6. Kg8 $4 Qe6+ 7. Kxg7 Qxd6 $19) 6... Qh7+ $1 {sacrifice black queen} (6... Qc3+ 7. Kg8 Qc4+ 8. Kf8 Qxc6 9. Rxc6+ Kb7 10. Rc7+ Kb6 11. Rc8 b1=Q 12. Rb8+ $18) ( 6... Qg4+ 7. Kf8 Qd1 8. Rb7+ Kc8 9. Rb8#) 7. Kxh7 b1=Q+ 8. Kh8 $1 {in corner} ( 8. Kg8 $2 Qg6+ $11) 8... Qb2+ 9. Rg7+ $1 {self-pin} (9. Kg8 $2 Qh8+ $1 10. Kxh8 {stalemate.}) 9... Kc8 10. Bf3 $1 (10. Bd7+ $2 Kb7 $11) (10. Bd5 $2 {Be4} Qf6 $1 11. Bb7+ Kd8 12. Bc7+ Ke8 $11) 10... Qf6 $1 (10... Qd4 11. Bg4+ {(Bb7)} Kd8 12. Be7+ $1 Ke8 13. Bh5+ Kd7 14. Bf6+ $18 {battery Rg7+Be7}) 11. Bg4+ $1 (11. Bb7+ $2 Kd8 12. Bc7+ Ke8 13. Bc6+ Qxc6 $11) 11... Kd8 12. Bc7+ Ke8 13. Kh7 $1 { unpin} (13. Bh5+ $2 Kf8 14. Bd6+ Qxd6 $11) 13... Qh4+ (13... Kf8 14. Rg8+ Kf7 15. Bh5+ Ke7 (15... Ke6 16. Rg6 $18) 16. Bd8+ $18) 14. Kg8 Qh3 $5 (14... Qh6 15. Bd7#) 15. Re7+ $1 (15. Bxh3 $2 {stalemate}) 15... Kxe7 16. Bxh3 {win} 1-0

[Event "10. c Steffen Nielsen 50 JT"] [Site ""] [Date ""] [Round ""] [White "Oleg Pervakov"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4q2b/8/n1pp4/R7/pP5k/K2P1B2/4rPp1/2RN3N w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] 
 { 10. Rg1! (the checkers theme) is a great point, but the starting position and introducton felt a little too wild for people my age. } 1. Rc4+ Bd4 $1 {Begining counterplay by open a2-g8 diagonal} (1... Kh3 2. Rg5 $1 Bd4 3. Rg3+ $18) 2. Rxd4+ (2. Ng3 $2 Re5 $1 3. Rxd4+ Kg5 4. Ne4+ Kh6 5. Bxg2 Rxa5 6. bxa5 d5 $11) 2... Kh3 3. Rg5 $1 (3. Bxg2+ $2 Kxg2 4. Rg5+ Kf1 5. Ng3+ Ke1 6. Nxe2 Qf7 7. Nc1 Kxd1 8. Rg1+ Kd2 $11) 3... Ra2+ $1 4. Kxa2 Qf7+ 5. Bd5 $1 {White's counter-attack takes the initiative} (5. Ka1 $2 Qxf3 $19) 5... cxd5 (5... Nxb4+ 6. Rxb4 cxd5 7. Rg3+ Kh2 8. Rh4+ Kg1 9. d4 $18) 6. Ne3 (6. Rg3+ $2 Kh2 7. Ne3 Nxb4+ $1 8. Kb2 Nxd3+ $1 $11) 6... Nxb4+ $1 {But Black counter-attacks again by sacrificing a knight} (6... gxh1=N 7. Rf5 $18) 7. Ka3 (7. Rxb4 $2 d4+ $1 $19) 7... Nc2+ $1 (7... gxh1=N 8. Rxb4 $18) 8. Nxc2 Qf3 $1 ( 8... gxh1=Q 9. Rg3+ Kh2 10. Rh4#) (8... gxh1=N 9. Ne3 Qxf2 10. Nf5 $1 Qe1 11. Rh4+ Qxh4 12. Nxh4 Kxh4 13. Rxd5 $18) 9. Ne1 $1 {White doesn't win the queen, but waits for the second one to appear!} (9. Rg3+ $2 Qxg3 10. Nxg3 (10. fxg3 g1=Q 11. Rxa4 Kg2 $11) 10... g1=Q 11. Nf5 Qc1+ 12. Kb4 Qb2+ 13. Ka5 Qc3+ 14. Kb6 Qc5+ 15. Kb7 a3 $11) 9... gxh1=Q 10. Rg1 $3 {The point} ({After} 10. Nxf3 $2 Qc1+ 11. Kb4 Qc5+ 12. Kxa4 Qb5+ 13. Kxb5 $11 {stalemate}) 10... Qxg1 (10... Qxf2 11. Rxh1+ Kg3 12. Rdh4 $18) 11. Rh4+ $1 Kxh4 12. Nxf3+ Kg4 13. Nxg1 { Checkers} 1-0

Appendix of referenced studies:

[Event "1.p 4th FRME 2022"] [Site "; FRME 2022"] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Gonzalez=L"] [Black " TT"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/7K/8/1p6/1pP5/1P6/8/6nk w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 {[%evp 0,39,89,0,51,192,183,177,174,176,176,154,179,186,189,189,189,189,189, 189,190,156,178,185,185,181,181,189,187,187,190,190,190,190,190,190,190,190, 190,190,191,117]} {(EG#25117); source: FRME 2022} 1. c5 $1 Nf3 2. c6 Ng5+ 3. Kg6 (3. Kg7 {<or>}) 3... Ne6 4. Kf6 Nc7 5. Ke7 $1 (5. Ke5 $2 Kg2 6. Kd6 Na8 $1 7. c7 Nb6 8. Kc6 Nc8) 5... Kg2 6. Kd8 $1 (6. Kd7 $2 Nd5 $1 7. Kd6 Nb6) 6... Ne6+ 7. Kd7 Nc5+ 8. Kd6 Na4 $1 9. Kc7 $1 (9. bxa4 $2 b3 10. c7 b2 11. c8=Q b1=Q ) 9... Nc5 $1 (9... Kf3 10. Kb8 $1 Nc5 11. c7 Na6+ 12. Kb7 Nxc7 13. Kxc7 Ke4 14. Kb6 Kd4 15. Kxb5 Kc3 16. Ka4) 10. Kb8 $1 Na6+ 11. Ka7 $1 Nc7 12. Kb7 Ne8 $1 13. Kc8 $1 (13. c7 $2 Nd6+ $1 14. Kc6 Nc8) 13... Kf3 14. Kd8 $1 (14. Kd7 $2 Nf6+ 15. Ke7 Nd5+ 16. Kd6 Ke4) 14... Nd6 15. Kd7 Nc4 $1 16. bxc4 $1 (16. c7 $2 Nb6+ 17. Kc6 Nc8) 16... b3 17. c7 b2 18. c8=Q b1=Q 19. Qc6+ (19. Qb7+ {<or>}) 19... Ke2 $1 20. Qxb5 $1 (20. cxb5 $2 Qd3+) 1-0

[Event "1/2.p Phenix 2019"] [Site "; Phenix#8610 no.301-302 11-1"] [Date "2019"] [Round ""] [White "Slumstrup_Nielsen=S and Minski=M"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "stjef"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2qN3K/8/2P5/8/R1P1k3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "46"] [EventDate "2019"] 
 {(EG#24213); source: Phenix#8610 no.301-302 11-12/2019} 1. c5+ Ke3 (1... Kd5 2. c7 Qxc7 3. Rd4+) (1... Ke5 2. c7 Kf6) 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) 5. Ra2+ Kc3 6. Ra3+ Kc4 7. Ra4+ Kc3 (7... Kxc5 8. c7 $1 Qxc7 9. Ne6+) 8. Ra3+ Kd2 (8... Kd4 9. c7) (8... Kc4 9. Ra4+ Kxc5 10. c7 $1) 9. Ra2+ Ke3 10. Ra3+ Ke4 11. Ra4+ Ke5 (11... Kd5 12. c7 Qxc7 13. Rd4+) 12. c7 Qxc7 13. Rd4 $1 Qxc5 (13... Kxd4 14. Ne6+ Kd5 15. Nxc7+) (13... Kf6 14. Rd6+) 14. Rd6 $1 Qc8 (14... Qxd6 15. Nf7+ Ke6 16. Nxd6) (14... Kxd6 15. Nb7+ Kc6 16. Nxc5) (14... Kf5 15. Nf7) (14... Qf2 15. Re6+) 15. Re6+ Kf5 (15... Kd5 16. Re8) 16. Re8 Qd7 17. Rf8+ (17. Rg8 $2 Qd4+ $1 (17... Qe7 $2 18. Nf7 $1 Qxf7 19. Rg5+) 18. Kh7 Qf6) 17... Kg6 18. Rg8+ Kf6 ( 18... Kh6 19. Nf7+ Qxf7 20. Rg6+) 19. Rf8+ Kg6 20. Rg8+ Kh5 (20... Kh6 21. Nf7+ Qxf7 22. Rg6+ Kxg6) 21. Nf7 $1 (21. Rf8 $2 Qe7 22. Rg8 (22. Kg8 Kg6 23. Nf7 Qe6 ) 22... Qf6+ 23. Kh7 (23. Rg7 Qxd8+) 23... Qh6#) 21... Qxf7 22. Rg5+ Kh4 23. Rg4+ Kxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "3.pl Centr. Fed. District Ch. 2021"] [Site "; Centr. Fed. District Ch. 20"] [Date "2021"] [Round "2"] [White "Pervakov=O"] [Black "(=3712.00c5b8) TT"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1k2N1R1/3q4/5B2/2K5/8/3rr3/8/4N3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2021"] 
 {(EG#25793); source: Centr. Fed. District Ch. 2021} 1. Nd6+ Kc7 $1 (1... Ka7 2. Nxd3 Qc7+ 3. Kb5 Qb6+ (3... Qxd6 4. Rg7+ Kb8 5. Rg8+ Kc7 6. Rg7+) 4. Kc4 Qc6+ 5. Nc5 Qxd6 6. Bd4) 2. Bd8+ Qxd8 3. Rxd8 Rc3+ 4. Kd5 $1 (4. Kd4 $2 Kxd8 5. Ne4 Ra3 6. Nc2 Rad3+ 7. Kc4 Rh3 8. Nf2 Rc3+ 9. Kb4 Rb3+ 10. Ka4 Rhf3 11. Nd4 Ra3+ 12. Kb4 Rfe3 (12... Rfc3 13. Ne4 Rd3 14. Nf2 Re3) 13. Nc2 Reb3+ 14. Kc4 Rc3+) 4... Kxd8 5. Kd4 $1 Rh3 (5... Rb3 6. Nb7+ Ke8 7. Nc5 Ra3 8. Nc2) (5... Ra3 6. Nc4) (5... Kd7 6. Ne4 Ra3 7. Nc2) 6. Nf7+ $1 Ke7 (6... Ke8 7. Ng5 Rhe3 8. Ne4 Ra3 9. Nd6+ $1 (9. Nc2 $2 Rad3+ 10. Kc4 Rh3 11. Nf2 Rc3+ 12. Kb4 Rb3+ 13. Ka4 Rhf3 14. Nd4 Ra3+ 15. Kb4 Rfe3 16. Nc2 Reb3+ 17. Kc4 Rc3+) 9... Kd7 10. Nc4) ( 6... Kc8 7. Ng5 Rhe3 8. Ne4 Ra3 9. Nd6+ $1 (9. Nc2 $2 Rad3+ 10. Kc4 Rh3 11. Nf2 Rc3+ 12. Kb4 Rb3+ 13. Ka4 Rhf3 14. Nd4 Ra3+ 15. Kb4 Rfe3 16. Nc2 Reb3+ 17. Kc4 Rc3+) 9... Kd7 10. Nc4) (6... Kd7 7. Ng5 Rhe3 8. Ne4) 7. Ng5 Rhe3 8. Ne4 Ra3 9. Nc2 Rad3+ 10. Kc4 Rh3 11. Nf2 Rc3+ 12. Kb4 $1 (12. Kd4 $2 Rhg3 13. Ne4 Rgd3+) 12... Rb3+ 13. Ka4 Rhg3 (13... Rhf3 14. Nd4) 14. Ne4 Rh3 15. Nf2 Rhc3 16. Ne4 Rh3 17. Nf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "no ty"] [Site "; Internet 1991"] [Date "1991"] [Round ""] [White "Elkies=N"] [Black "(=3002.54h5a5)"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1p6/1p6/kPp2P1K/2P5/N1Pp4/q2P4/1N6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "1991"] 
 {(EG#10454); source: Internet 1991} 1. f6 $1 Qb3 2. f7 $1 (2. Kh6 $2 Qd1 3. f7 Qf3 4. Kg7 Qg4+ 5. Kh8 Qf5 6. Kg7 Qg5+ 7. Kh7 Qf6 8. Kg8 Qg6+ 9. Kf8 Ka4 10. Ke7 Qg7 11. Ke8 Qe5+ 12. Kd7 Qf6 13. Ke8 Qe6+ 14. Kf8 Kb3 15. Kg7 Qe7 16. Kg8 Qg5+ 17. Kh8 Qf6+ 18. Kg8 Qg6+ 19. Kf8 Kb2 20. Ke7 Qg7 21. Ke8 Qe5+ 22. Kd8 Qf6+ 23. Ke8 Qe6+ 24. Kf8 Kc1 25. Kg7 Qe7 26. Kg8 Qg5+ 27. Kh8 Qf6+ 28. Kg8 Qg6+ 29. Kf8 Kd1 30. Ke7 Qg7 31. Ke8 Qe5+ 32. Kd7 Qf6 33. Ke8 Qe6+ 34. Kf8 Ke2 35. Kg7 Qe7 36. Kg8 Qg5+ 37. Kh8 Qf6+ 38. Kg8 Qg6+ 39. Kf8 Kf3 40. Ke7 Qg7 41. Ke8 Qe5+ 42. Kd7 Qf6 43. Ke8 Qe6+ 44. Kf8 Kf4 45. Kg7 Qe7 46. Kg8 Qg5+ 47. Kh7 Qf6 48. Kg8 Qg6+ 49. Kf8 Ke5 50. Ke7 Qg7 51. Ke8 Ke6 52. Kd8 Qxf7) 2... Qd1+ 3. Kh6 $1 Qf3 4. Kg7 Qg4+ 5. Kh8 Qf5 6. Kg7 Qg5+ 7. Kh7 Qf6 8. Kg8 Qg6+ 9. Kf8 (9. Kh8 $2 Qxf7 10. Nc2 dxc2) 9... Ka4 $1 10. Ke7 $1 Qg7 11. Ke8 Qe5+ 12. Kd7 Qf6 13. Ke8 Qe6+ 14. Kf8 Kb3 15. Kg7 Qe7 16. Kg8 Qg5+ 17. Kh8 Qf6+ 18. Kg8 Qg6+ 19. Kf8 Kb2 20. Ke7 Qg7 21. Ke8 Qe5+ 22. Kd8 Qf6+ 23. Ke8 Qe6+ 24. Kf8 Kc1 25. Kg7 Qe7 26. Kg8 Qg5+ 27. Kh8 Qh6+ 28. Kg8 Qg6+ 29. Kf8 Kd1 30. Ke7 Qg7 31. Ke8 Qe5+ 32. Kd7 Qf6 33. Ke8 Qe6+ 34. Kf8 Ke2 35. Kg7 Qe7 36. Kg8 Qg5+ 37. Kh8 Qf6+ 38. Kg8 Qg6+ 39. Kf8 Kf3 40. Ke7 Qg7 41. Ke8 Qe5+ 42. Kd7 Qf6 43. Ke8 Qe6+ 44. Kf8 Kf4 45. Kg7 Qe7 (45... Qd7 46. Kf6 $1) 46. Kg8 Qg5+ 47. Kh7 Qf6 48. Kg8 Qg6+ 49. Kf8 Ke5 50. Ke7 $1 Qg7 (50... Qe6+ 51. Kf8 Kf6 52. Kg8) 51. Ke8 Ke6 52. Kd8 $1 1/2-1/2