www.arves.org - Polish Chess Fed 2025

Studies awarded for the Polish Chess Federation 2025 tournament.

Judged by Jan Rusinek.

[Event "1st-2nd prize Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Martin Minski & Arpad Rusz"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2Q5/8/8/8/4r3/7K/5P2/br5k w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "17"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {An original and elegant study featuring several ideas (logical plays, a demonstration of the concept that a pawn can be stronger than a queen) executed to perfection. Apart from its artistic merits, the study has great educational value. Firstly, it spectacularly demonstrates that in chess, the activity of the pieces is more important than the material situation. Materially, Black has the advantage, but this is more than compensated for by the extraordinary activity of White queen and the poor position of Black king. Secondly, it shows that this principle (like any other!) cannot be adhered to dogmatically. The position of Black bishop in the corner turns out to be better than a much more active position in the centre of the board! A great advantage of the study is the absence of tedious side lines. Everything is clear and straightforward!} 1. Qg8 {$1 Logical try:} (1. Qc2 $2 1. .. Rbe1 2. Qb3 {The main plan begins} Kg1 3. Qf3 Kf1 4. Qg2+ Ke2 5. Qxe4+ Kxf2 {$11 It turns out that the bishop on a1 is safe. Therefore, with an initial precise manoeuvre, White forces this bishop to move to the central square e5 which is theoretically better for it (as chess textbooks teach) where it is also protected by a rook, and only then do they carry out their main plan.}) ({In turn the try} 1. Qc6 {$2 defeated by} Rb3+ {complements the educational value of this study} {After a careless} (1. .. Re1? 2. Qg6 R4e3+ 3. fxe3 Rxe3+ 4. Kg4 {$18 confirms (in contrast to the solution) the principle that a bishop in the corner is weak! If the bishop were positioned more centrally (e.g. on e5, d4 or c3), it would be a draw.})) 1. .. Rg1 2. Qb8 $1 {It seems that, now that the g1 square has been blocked, we can play already} (2. Qb3 {$2 but there is a new defence} 2. .. Reg4 $1) ({It is a draw after} 2. Qd5 $2 Re1 3. Qg5 (3. Qg8 R4e3+ {=}) 3. .. Rg1 4. Qd5 Re1 {positional draw}) 2. .. Be5 3. Qb7 $1 {Once more logical try} (3. Qb3 $2 3. .. Reg4 $10) (3. Qa8 $2 Rg4 {$1 and White has to fight for the draw.}) 3. .. Re1 4. Qb3 {$1 now the main plan is realized} Kg1 {(A) In this variation, Black defends in the same way as in the try 1.Qc2?} {main} (4. .. Bc3 {$1 (B) In the second variation, Black tries to defend with a stalemate.} 5. Qxc3 R1e3+ $1 6. Qxe3 $1 {Thematic try:} (6. fxe3 $2 Rxe3+ 7. Qxe3 {Stalemate}) 6. .. Rxe3+ 7. fxe3 {No stalemate. The pawn is better than the queen!}) 5. Qf3 Kf1 6. Qg2+ Ke2 7. Qxe4+ Kxf2 {Paradoxically, the bishop is on a worse square now than it was at the end of the logical try 1.Qc2?} 8. Qf5+ Kg1 {The king couldn't step on the e-file.} 9. Qf3 $18 1-0

[Event "1st-2nd prize Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1B2kr2/P2N4/8/8/3p4/5p1R/4p3/K7 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "31"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 1. Nf6+ {An attempt to take the rook from the eighth rank} Kf7 (1. .. Rxf6 2. Bg3 Ra6+ 3. Kb2 Rxa7 4. Rh8+) (1. .. Ke7 2. Nd5+ $1 Ke6 3. Rh6+! Kf5 4. Bg3 d3 5. Rf6+ $1) 2. Bg3 Kxf6 3. Bf2 Ke6 (3. .. Kg6 4. Rg3+ Kh6 5. Rxf3 $1 Rxf3 6. a8=Q Rxf2 7. Qh1+ Kg5 8. Qg1+) (3. .. Ke5 4. Kb1! {as in the main play}) 4. Rh6+ {$1 White wants to advance the king towards Black pawns, and if White decides to do so at this point, Black will find a suitable defence depending on which route White chooses.} {First main plan:} (4. Kb1? 4. .. d3! {but not} (4. .. e1=Q+ $2 5. Bxe1 f2 {and, after the bishop is captured on f2, Black rook moves without giving check.}) 5. Kc1 e1=Q+ 6. Bxe1 d2+ 7. Bxd2 f2 8. Rh1 f1=Q+ 9. Rxf1 Rxf1+ {position A1: black king is on e6 and after} 10. Be1 {is a draw}) ({Second main plan} 4. Kb2 $2 e1=Q {$1 but not} (4. .. d3 $2 5. Kc3 {$1 $10}) 5. Bxe1 f2 $1 6. Bxf2 Rxf2+ {check! draw}) {Dual avoidance realized by Black! That is why White forces the opponent to weaken their king position.} 4. .. Ke5 {(A)} {main} (4. .. Kd7 {(B) Now 6.Kb1? and 6.Kb2? are bad moves, but the black king has lost control of the f6-square and the rook can be forced to leave the f-file.} 5. Rf6 $1 Rc8 6. Kb2 $1 {Thematic try:} (6. Kb1 $2 d3 7. Rxf3 Kc6 $1 8. Rxd3 Ra8 9. Ra3 Kb7 {Position B1 white king is an b1 and interferences his rook} 10. Ra1 e1=Q+ 11. Bxe1 {[11.Rxe1??]} Rxa7 $10) 6. .. d3 7. Rxf3 Kc6 8. Rxd3 Ra8 9. Ra3 {Posiible is also 9.Rc3+ Kb7 10.Rb3+ Kc6 11.Ra3 - loss of time} Kb7 10. Ra1 {Position B2 - white king is on b2 and 1st rank is open} e1=Q 11. Rxe1 $18) 5. Kb1 {$1 The king has moved to a square where it will be effectively checked by the bishop, and the first main plan is played out. We already know that 5.Kb2? (thematic try) achieves nothing.} d3 6. Kc1 e1=Q+ 7. Bxe1 d2+ 8. Bxd2 f2 9. Rh1 f1=Q+ 10. Rxf1 Rxf1+ {Position A2: black king is on e5} 11. Be1 Rf8 12. Bg3+ {check!} Kd4 13. Bb8 {After a long journey Bb8-g3-f2-e1-d2-e1-g3 the white bishop has returned to its starting square!} Kc3 14. Kd1 Rf1+ 15. Ke2 Ra1 16. Be5+ {The hero of this study - the white bishop - delivers the final blow.} 1-0

[Event "3rd prize Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2N4q/2P3bn/Q5p1/3r3p/5k2/8/7P/2K5 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "18"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {A paradoxical and brilliant idea: a position in which the queen is weaker than a pawn, executed in a highly ingenious manner} 1. Qf1+ (1. Qc4+ $2 Rd4 2. Qf1+ Kg5 $19) 1. .. Kg5 2. Ne7 $1 (2. Qg2+ $2 Kh6 $1 3. Qxd5 Bb2+ 4. Kb1 Qc3 $19) 2. .. Rc5+ 3. Kb1 $1 Rxc7 (3. .. Be5 4. Qg1+ Kf6 5. Qxc5 $11) (3. .. Bd4 4. h4+ $1 Kh6 5. Qf4+ Ng5 6. c8=Q $1 Rxc8 7. Qxg5+ Kg7 8. Qxg6+ Kf8 9. Nxc8 $11) 4. h4+ $1 Kh6 5. Qf4+ (5. Ng8+ $2 Qxg8 6. Qf4+ Ng5 $1 7. Qxg5+ Kh7 8. Qxg6+ Kh8 {$1 $19 no stalemate}) 5. .. g5 (5. .. Ng5 $4 6. Qxg5+ Kh7 7. Qxg6#) 6. Ng8+ $1 Qxg8 (6. .. Kg6 7. Qe4+ Kf7 8. Qd5+ Ke8 9. Qa8+ Kf7 10. Qd5+ $11) 7. Qxg5+ {logical try} (7. hxg5+ $2 Nxg5 $1 (7. .. Kg6 $2 8. Qe4+ $1 Kf7 9. Qd5+ $11) 8. Qxg5+ {position X with wQg5} (8. Qf6+ Kh7 $1) 8. .. Kh7 $1 9. Qg6+ (9. Qh6+ Bxh6 $19) 9. .. Kh8 {$1 $19 no stalemate, because after any move, Black will lose control of one of the squares surrounding the white king.}) 7. .. Nxg5 8. hxg5+ {position X with wPg5} Kh7 9. g6+ Kh8 {model mirror stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "special prize Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Serhiy Didukh"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "k7/p1pb1p1N/K7/P1p5/1p2r3/5NP1/2P2p2/7Q w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "16"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {A very successful development to G. Grzeban study. *New Statesman*, 1973 . Some interesting new elements emerge: a logical try with the Roman idea, successfully executed by Black (thereby realising its full potential), with a preparatory plan involving the sacrifice of a pawn (to set up a future stalemate) and two sacrifices each of a knight and a queen (the second in the 1...Re6 variation). It is worth noting that adding just these two knights, which are sacrificed, was sufficient to achieve so much additional depth.} 1. Nf8 {$1 An interesting try with a precise Black's play.} (1. Ne5 $2 f1=Q+ 2. Qxf1 Rxe5 3. Qxf7 (3. Nf8 Re6+ $1 4. Nxe6 c6 $19) 3. .. Re6+ 4. Qxe6 Bxe6 5. Kb5 Bf5 6. Ng5 Bxc2 7. Ne6 c6+ $1 8. Kc4 b3 9. Kc3 c4 $19) 1. .. Ba4 $1 (1. .. Re6+ 2. Nxe6 f1=Q+ 3. Qxf1 c6 4. Nc7+ Kb8 5. Qb5+ $1 cxb5 6. Nd5 $11) 2. c4 {$3 Logical try} (2. Nd4 $2 f1=Q+ 3. Qxf1 Rxd4 4. Nd7 Bxd7 5. Qh1+ Re4 {$1 (effective Roman decoy)} 6. Qxe4+ c6 {$19 An astonishing position (discovered by G. Grzeban): with the queen for bishop, White cannot defend against mate. The pawn on c2 gets in the way!}) 2. .. bxc3 3. Nd4 $1 f1=Q+ 4. Qxf1 Rxd4 5. Nd7 $1 Bxd7 6. Qh1+ Re4 {$1 By sacrificing the c-pawn, the Roman decoy no longer wins, but only saves the position from defeat:} 7. Qxe4+ c6 {The c2 pawn is no longer there, which allows White to defend with stalemate.} 8. Qg4 $1 Bxg4 {Stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "special prize Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Bogusz Piliczewski"] [Black "win"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/3B1R2/3B4/q3p3/7P/4K1k1/8 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "21"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 1. Ke3 Qa7+ (1. .. Kxh3 2. Rh6+ Kg4 3. Be6+ Kg5 4. Bf4# {Mate no 1 (model in the middle of the board) similar as mate 5}) 2. Kxe4 Qh7+ (2. .. Kxh3 3. Kf3! Qh7 (3. .. Qg7 4. Be6+ Kh4 5. Rf4+ Kh5 6. Bf7+ Kh6 7. Rh4+ {Wins.}) 4. Be6+ Kh4 5. Rf5! {etc. as after 4...Qa7+ (A)}) 3. Kd4+! (3. Ke3+? {Thematic try.} 3. .. Kxh3! {zz. with WTM} 4. Bf7 (4. Be6+ 4. .. Kg2 5. Rf2+ Kg1 {Draw.}) (4. Bf4 4. .. Qe7+! 5. Be6+ Kg2 6. Rg6+ Kf1! {Draw.}) (4. Be5 Qa7+ 5. Kf3 Qa3+ {Draw.}) 4. .. Kg2! 5. Rg6+ Kh3! 6. Rf6 Kg2 7. Rf2+ Kg1 {Draw.}) ({So you need to lose the move. There are two ways to try to do this. It is a mistake to:} 3. Kf4+? {(the second thematic try), but it interferences rook and bishop!} Kg1! (3. .. Kxh3? 4. Ke3! {And wins as in the solution.}) 4. Be6 (4. Bc5+ Kh2! 5. Bd6 Kg1 {Positional draw.}) 4. .. Qh4+ 5. Ke5 Qg3+ 6. Rf4 Qc3+ 7. Kd5 Qb3+ 8. Rc4 Qf3+ 9. Re4 Qd3+ 10. Rd4 Qb3+ 11. Ke5 Qe3+ {Perpetual check.}) 3. .. Kxh3 (3. .. Kg1 4. Rf3 {Wins.}) 4. Ke3! {zz. with BTM. Every move Black makes weakens his position.} Qa7+ {(A) (allows the white king to improve his position)} (4. .. Kh4 {(B) (moves the king away from square g2)} 5. Bf7! Qg7 {(B1)} (5. .. Kg5 {(B2)} 6. Be7! Kg4 7. Rg6+ Kf5 8. Rg5# {Mate no 3 [in thr moddle of the board]}) 6. Rf4+ Kg5 7. Be7+ Kh6 8. Rh4# {Mate no 4 [with selfblock]}) (4. .. Qc2 {(C) (removes the guarding h6 square)} 5. Rh6+ Kg4 6. Be6+ Kg5 7. Bf4# {Mate no 5 [model in the middle of the board]}) (4. .. Kg4 {(D) (moves the king away from square g2)} 5. Bf4! Qa7+ 6. Ke2! Qe7+ 7. Be6+ Kh5 8. Rh6# {Mate no 6 [model]}) (4. .. Qg7 {(E) (removes control from the far field h2!)} 5. Be6+ Kg2 (5. .. Kh4 6. Rf4+ Kh5 7. Bf7+ Kh6 8. Rh4+ Kg5 9. Be7+ Kf5 10. Rf4+ Ke5 11. Re4+ Kf5 12. Be6+ Kg6 13. Rg4+ {Wins.}) 6. Rf2+ Kh1 7. Bd5+ Kg1 8. Bh2# {Mate no 7.}) 5. Kf3 Qh7 6. Be6+ Kh4 7. Rf5! Qb7+ (7. .. Qg7 8. Rf4+ Kh5 9. Bf7+ Kh6 10. Rh4+ {Wins.}) 8. Bd5 Qh7 (8. .. Qg7 9. Rf4+ Kh5 10. Bf7+ Kh6 11. Rh4+ {Wins.}) 9. Bg3+ Kh3 10. Be6 Qb7+ 11. Rd5# {Mate no 2. Seven (!) (including six different ones) mates!} 1-0

[Event "1st HM Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Daniele Gatti"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "K7/8/2P5/1p2k3/6R1/8/7q/8 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "23"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {In this highly economical position, we see a subtle struggle involving a surprisingly rich strategy: the opening and closing of the h2–b8 diagonal, and the pinning and unpinning of the c7 pawn. These themes are harmoniously interwoven with elegant logical tries.} 1. c7 Qh8+ 2. Kb7 Kf5 {$1 It opens up the h2-b8 diagonal and attacks the rook.} (2. .. Qh1+ 3. Kb8) 3. Rg3 {$1 (foreplan)} (3. Rg1 {$2 First logical try (main plan).} Qh7 $1 4. Kb8 Qh2 5. Rc1 {A draw, because the key diagonal is open and Pc7 is pinned} Qd6) 3. .. Kf4 {It attacks the rook, but obscures the diagonal and the main plan works.} (3. .. Qh7 4. Kb8) 4. Rg1 $1 Qh7 5. Kb8 Qh2 6. Rc1 $1 Kg4 {Black managed to open up the diagonal, but White improved the position of their rook.} 7. Kb7 Qh7 8. Kb6 Qh6+ 9. Rc6 {(this is the advantage of placing the rook on line c)} Qe3+ 10. Kb7 {A minor dual 10.Ka6 Qa3+ 11.Kb7} Qe7 11. Ka8 {$1 Next logical try:} (11. Kb8 $2 Qe5 12. Ka8 Qa1+ 13. Kb7 Qg7 14. Kb6 Qd4+ 15. Ka6 Qa1+ 16. Kb7 Qg7) 11. .. Qa3+ {and only now} 12. Kb8 1-0

[Event "2nd HM Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3n4/1B6/2P5/4P2K/8/7P/2r3k1/2N5 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "13"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {A sharp game with a brilliant point: 5.Bd5!! Studies such as this one, with a single brilliant idea in a elegant position, although they do not usually win the top prizes, will be better remembered than the prize-winning ones and will do the most to popularise chess composition!} 1. e6 $1 (1. Nb3 $2 Rxc6 $1 2. Bxc6+ Nxc6 3. e6 Kxh3 4. Kg5 Ne7 $11) 1. .. Nxe6 (1. .. Nxc6 2. e7 $18) 2. c7+ Kg3 $1 (2. .. Kxh3 3. c8=Q $18) 3. Ne2+ $1 (3. c8=Q $2 Nf4+ $1 4. Kh6 Rxc8 $11) 3. .. Kxh3 (3. .. Rxe2 4. c8=Q $18) 4. c8=Q Rc5+ {$1 play for stalemate} (4. .. Rxc8 5. Bxc8 {$18 pin and win}) 5. Bd5 {$3 the point. The simultaneous sacrifice of the knight and the queen!} {try} (5. Kg6 {$2 /Kh6?} 5. .. Rxc8 6. Bxc8 Kh4 $1 7. Bxe6 {ideal stalemate}) (5. Qxc5 $2 Nxc5 $11) 5. .. Rxc8 6. Bxe6+ {skewer} Kh2 7. Bxc8 $18 1-0

[Event "3rd HM Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Bogusz Piliczewski"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/8/1b4n1/2N1B3/6k1/8/5nK1 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "22"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 1. Bd5! {Thematic try:} (1. Bg2? 1. .. Nh2 (1. .. Bxc4? 2. Bxf1 Nf3+ 3. Kh1 Bxf1 {Stalemate}) 2. Nd2 Bd3! {zz-1 with WTM. Loses.} 3. Be4 (3. Ne4+  3. .. Bxe4 (3. .. Nxe4? 4. Bxe4 Bxe4 {Stalemate}) 4. Bxe4 Nh3+ 5. Kh1 Ng4  6. Bg2 Ngf2#) (3. Kh1 Ng4! 4. Kg1 Ne3! 5. Nf1+ Bxf1! 6. Bxf1 Nf3+ 7. Kh1 Ng4 8. Be2 Nf2#) 3. .. Nh3+ (3. .. Bxe4? 4. Nxe4+ Nxe4 ) 4. Kh1 Ng4 5. Bxd3 Ngf2#)  (1. Nd6? Nh3+ 2. Kh1 Nd2 3. Nf5+ (3. Nxb5 Nxe4 4. Nd4 Nef2#) 3. .. Kf2 4. Ba8  Bd7 5. Nd4 Nf4 6. Bc6 Bg4 7. Bb7 Nf1 8. Ba6 Nh5 9. Bxf1 Ng3+ 10. Kh2 Nxf1+  11. Kh1 Bh3 12. Nf5 Bg2#) 1. .. Nh2 2. Nd2! {You need to attack the e4-square.}  (2. Ne5? Nh3+ 3. Kh1 Ba6 4. Bc6 Nf1 5. Nd7 Nd2 6. Nc5 Bc4 7. Bb7 Nf2+ 8. Kg1  Nf3+ 9. Bxf3 Nh3+ 10. Kh1 Kxf3 {Loses.}) 2. .. Nh3+ (2. .. Bd3 3. Bg2! {zz-1  with BTM. Draw.} Ng4 4. Nf1+ {or} (4. Bf1 Nh3+ 5. Bxh3 Kxh3 6. Nf1 {Draw.})  4. .. Bxf1 5. Kxf1 {Draw. That is why Black changed their plan}) 3. Kh1 Bd3  4. Be6! (4. Ne4+? 4. .. Bxe4+ 5. Bxe4 Ng4 6. Bg2 Ngf2#) (4. Bg2? Ng4 5. Bxh3  Nf2+ 6. Kg1 Nxh3+ 7. Kh1 Kf2 8. Kh2 Ng5 9. Kh1 Bf5 10. Kh2 Be6 11. Kh1 Ba2!  12. Kh2 Ke2 {Loses.}) 4. .. Ng5 (4. .. Nf2+ 5. Kg1 Ne4 6. Nxe4+ Bxe4 7. Bd5!  Bxd5 {Stalemate}) (4. .. Nf4 5. Bc8 Ne2 6. Be6! Nc3 7. Bc4 Bxc4 8. Nxc4 {Draw.})  5. Bc4! (5. Bd5? Ng4! 6. Bg2 Nf2+ 7. Kg1 Ngh3+ 8. Bxh3 Nxh3+ 9. Kh1 Kf2 {Loses.}) 5. .. Bf5! 6. Nf1+! (6. Ba6? 6. .. Nh3! 7. Be2 (7. Bf1 7. .. Nxf1 8. Nxf1+ Kf3 9. Kh2 (9. Ng3 Nf2+ 10. Kh2 Bd7 11. Nh1 (11. Nh5 Ne4 {Loses.}) 11. .. Nh3 12. Ng3 Nf4 13. Nf1 Bb5 14. Nd2+ Ke3 15. Nb3 Nd3 {Loses.}) 9. .. Ng5! 10. Kg1 Bh3! 11. Nd2+ Ke2 12. Nc4 Nf3+ 13. Kh1 Ke1 14. Ne3 Kf2 15. Ng4+ Kg3 16. Ne3 Nd4 17. Kg1 Ne2+ 18. Kh1 Bc8 19. Nf5+ Kh3 20. Nd6 Bg4 21. Ne4 Bf3#) (7. Bb7 Ng4! 8. Nf1+ Kf2 {Loses.}) 7. .. Bc2 8. Bh5 Bd3 9. Be2 Bf5 10. Bf1 Nxf1 11. Nxf1+ Kf3 {Loses.}) (6. Bd5? 6. .. Ng4! 7. Bg2 (7. Nf1+ 7. .. Kf2! 8. Nd2 Ne3 9. Bc6 Bc2 10. Bb5 Ne4 11. Nxe4+ Bxe4+ 12. Kh2 Bg2 13. Bd7 Nf1#) (7. Kg1 7. .. Nh3+ 8. Kf1 Ne3+ {Loses.}) (7. Bc4 Nh3 8. Nf1+ Kf2 {Loses.}) 7. .. Bd3 8. Kg1 Ne3 {Loses.}) (6. Kg1? Nh3+! 7. Kh1 Ng4 8. Nf1+ Kf2 9. Nd2 Nf4 {Loses.}) 6. .. Nxf1 7. Bxf1 {The position has simplified - there are only five pieces left on the board, but the rest of the game must still be played with precision.} Be4+ 8. Kg1 Nf3+ (8. .. Bf3 9. Bg2 Bxg2 {Stalemate}) 9. Kh1 Nd4+ (9. .. Ne1+ 10. Kg1 Bc6 (10. .. Bb7 11. Bb5! {with further play similar as after 10...Bc6}) 11. Ba6! (11. Bg2? {Dual avoidance.} 11. .. Nxg2! {Loses.}) (11. Bc4? 11. .. Nf3+ 12. Kf1 Nd2+ {Loses.}) (11. Be2? {(thematic try)} Bg2! {zz-2 with WTM. Loses.} 12. Bd1 Nd3! 13. Bh5 (13. Bg4 Nf4! 14. Bf5 Ne2#) 13. .. Nf4! 14. Bg4 Kxg4 {Loses.}) 11. .. Bg2 12. Be2! {zz-2 with BTM.} Nc2 13. Bf1 {Draw.}) 10. Kg1 Bc6 11. Bg2! (11. Ba6? {Dual avoidance. Loses.} Bg2! 12. Be2 Nxe2#) 11. .. Bxg2 {Certain side variations are rather lengthy and tedious. They are based on the N-BN positions. Generally speaking, this position is a draw. However, if the weaker side king is closed in a corner of the board, the stronger side wins by gradually improving the position of its pieces threatening to capture a knight or deliver checkmate. It is difficult to work this out and understand it for yourself at the chessboard without the aid of a computer; therefore, this should be regarded as a certain shortcoming of the study. The position of the second mutual zugzwang is known from a game featured in J. Merkin study, 1934: yacpdb.org/#408778, but this is only a small excerpt from this study.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "comm. Polish Chess Federation"] [Site ""] [Date "2025"] [Round ""] [White "Stanislav Nosek & Jaroslav Polasek"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2k5/Kn1pPqP1/5P2/4P1B1/7p/4p3/8/3B4 w - - 0 1"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "4"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "human"] 
 {The idea of sacrificing a pawn to open up a line for a future queen gain has been implemented on numerous occasions in far more economical ways. For example, Edward Pallasz has demonstrated this several times in his pawn studies; what's more, he has included the additional element of choosing the right moment for this opening! Here we have an additional second variation, also involving the opening.} 1. e6 (1. Bb3 1. .. Qxb3 2. e8=Q+ Nd8 3. Qxd8+ Kxd8 4. g8=Q+ Qxg8 5. f7+ Qxg5 6. f8=Q+ Kc7) (1. e8=Q+ 1. .. Qxe8 2. Bb3 Qxe5 3. g8=Q+ Nd8 4. Qxd8+ Kxd8 5. f7+ Kc7 6. Bd8+ Kxd8 7. f8=Q+ Qe8) (1. Be2 h3 2. Ba6 (2. e6 Qxe6 3. Bc4 d5 4. f7 Qxf7 5. Bxd5 Qxg7) 2. .. h2 3. Bxb7+ Kc7 4. Bxe3 Qa2+ 5. Ba6 Qe6) 1. .. Qxe6 2. Bb3 Qxb3 {main} (2. .. d5 3. f7 Qxf7 4. Bxd5 Qxg7 5. Be6+ Kc7 6. e8=N+ (6. Bf4+ Nd6 7. e8=N+ Kc6+ 8. Nxg7 e2 9. Bd2 Nb5+ 10. Ka6 Nd4 11. Bg4 h3 12. Bxh3 Nc2)) 3. e8=Q+ Nd8 4. Qxd8+ Kxd8 5. g8=Q+ Qxg8 6. f7+ Qxg5 7. f8=Q+ Kc7 8. Qb8+ Kc6 9. Qb6+ 1-0