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The Problemist, 2010-2011 Study Award

As previously reported in this column, the 2010-2011 studies tournament of The Problemist was declared by the judge, Sergey Didukh, to be very strong. It is now time to present the first prize, showing a perfect rendering of two lengthy and echoed thematic tries, which, as the judge stated, is a very difficult task to achieve.

V Vlasenko

1st Prize, The Problemist, 2010-2011

White to play and draw

1.Nfd4 Not 1.Rb1+? Bd1 2.Ne3 Nf5+ 3.Nxf5 g1=Q. 1....Nf5+ If Black gives up the bishop to push his f-pawn, then White's active knights can mop everything up to draw: 1...f2 2. Rxe2+ Kf1 (or 2...Kd1 3.Rxf2 g1=Q 4.Rd2+ Kxd2 5.Nf3+) 3.Rxf2+ Kxf2 4.Nf4. 2.Kf8! White has only this precise king move that draws. The reason for going to the f-file is to support a later rook move, while the reason for choosing f8 is illustrated by these two related thematic tries, which both end in very similar positions as the main line, but with the difference that Black has a winning check available. a) 2.Kf6? Nxd4 3.Nxd4 f2 4.Rxe2+ Kf1 5.Re5 g1=Q 6.Nf3 Kg2 7.Nxg1 f1=Q+ 8.Rf5 Qa6+ (or 8...Qa1+). b) 2.Kf7? Nxd4 3.Nxd4 f2 4.Rxe2+ Kf1 5.Re6 g1=Q 6.Nf3 Kg2 7.Nxg1 f1=Q+ 8.Rf6 Qc4+ when again Black wins the knight and the game. 2...Nxd4 3.Nxd4 f2 4.Rxe2+ Kf1 Another key line runs 4...Kd1 5.Rxf2 g1=Q 6.Rd2+ Kxd2 (or 6.Kc1 7.Ne2+ while White even wins in the event of 6...Ke1? 7.Nf3+ Kf1 8.Nxg1) 7.Nf3+. 5 Re7 g1=Q Moving the king leads to perpetual check: 5...Kg1 6.Nf3+ Kf1 7.Nd2+ Kg1 8.Nf3+. 6.Nf3! Impressively the promotion is met by a quiet knight move. 6...Kg2 Queen moves lead the pin of the queen: for example, 6...Qg2 7.Nd2+ Kg1 8.Rg7, or 6...Qh1 7.Nd2+ Kg1 8.Rg7+ Kh2 9 Rh7+. 7.Nxg1 f1=Q+ 8.Rf7! Another promotion, this time met by a quiet rook move. With the white king on f8, Black has no checks, so can't avoid the draw.

Our study for solving gained an award in a recent Russian tournament, and also shows a fight against passed pawns.

A Stavrietsky

HM., Moscow Ty., 2011

White to play and draw

Show solution

1.Re4+ If 1.Rb4? Black ties up the white rook and then wins by pushing his other passed pawn. 1...Bd4+ 2.Kh7 f5 3.Kg6 f4. 1...Kf8 1...Kd7 2.Rb4 Bc5 (White even wins after 2...Bd4+? 3. Rxd4+ Ke6 4.Rb4) 3.Rxb2 Bd4+ 4.Kg8 Bxb2 5.Kxf7 is an easier draw. 2.Rb4 Now that the black king is on f8 this draws as White can sacrifice his pawn, which clears the fourth rank, and so allows the capture of Black's f-pawn with check, thereby giving the tempo necessary to guard the first rank. 2...Bd4+ 3.Kh7 f5 4.Kg6 or 4.Kh6 which leads to the same thing. 4...f4 5.c3 Bxc3 The pawns are also halted after 5...f3 6.Rxb2 f2 7.Rxf2+. 6.Rxf4+ Ke8 7.Rf1 The rook makes it back in time.