Calculation

White to move
White to play and draw

Show/Hide Solution

1.Nc4! Bxc4

1...Ka7 2.Nd6! h1=Q 3.Nc8+ Ka8 (3...Kb8? 4.a7++–) 4.Nb6+ Ka7 5.Nc8+=.

2.Ra1 Bd5 3.e4!

Luring the bishop away from the b3-square, so White’s king gains quicker access to Black’s c5-pawn.
A) 3.Ka3? Ka7!–+ (3...h1=Q? is too hasty and allows White to do what he wants to do: 4.Rxh1 Bxh1
5.Ka4 (5.c4 Ka7) 5...Bc6+ 6.Ka5 Ka7 7.e4=);
B) 3.c4? h1=Q 4.Rxh1 Bxh1 5.Kc3 Be4 6.Kb3 Ka7 7.Ka4 Kxa6–+.

3...Bxe4 4.Kb3

White wants to give up his rook for the h-pawn and win Black’s c-pawn with his king. When Black
tries to defend the c-pawn with his king, White’s rook pawn can be used to lure the king away.

4...Ka7

4...Bd5+ 5.Ka4 (5.c4 h1=Q 6.Rxh1 Bxh1 7.Ka4 Bc6+ 8.Ka5 Ka7= stalemate!) 5...Bc6+ 6.Kb3=.

501

5.Kc4 Kb6 6.a7
6.Rb1+ Bxb1.
6...h1=Q

7.a8=Q! Bxa8 8.Rb1+!! ½-½
A brilliant stalemating idea.

Game 151 – Level 3
Leonid Kubbel
Study, 1925

502

White to move
White to play and draw

Show/Hide Solution

1.Bf2+

1.h7? does not work, due to 1...c2+ 2.Kh4 Nf6 3.h8=Q c1=Q–+.

1.Bf2+ Kh1 2.h7

A) 2.Bd5+? (going in the right direction, but not paying attention to the move order. Implementing
the correct idea with the correct move order is more important than implementing the correct idea in
the manner it comes into our mind) 2...cxd5 3.h7 (3.Bc5? Ra8 4.h7 Nf6–+) 3...c2+ 4.Be3 Rxe3+
5.Kf2 Nh6! (5...Re6 6.h8=Q++–) 6.h8=Q Re2+ 7.Kxe2 c1=Q–+;
B) Neither does 2.Bc5 Rxa2 3.h7 Rh2 4.hxg8=Q Rg2+–+ work.

2...c2+ 3.Be3!

None of the alternatives work: 3.Bb3? Rxb3+ 4.Be3 Rxe3+ 5.Kf2 Rh3 6.hxg8=Q Rh2+, preventing
Qg2. 7.Kf3 c1=Q–+; 3.Kf4? c1=Q+–+; 3.Kh4? c1=Q 4.hxg8=Q Qf4+–+.

3...Rxe3+

3...Nh6 doesn’t give Black his win: 4.h8=Q Rxe3+ 5.Kf2=.

503

4.Kf2
4.Kh4? c1=Q 5.hxg8=Q Qe1+–+;
4.Kf4? c1=Q 5.h8=Q+ Rh3+–+.
4...Rh3
4...Rf3+ 5.Kxf3 c1=Q 6.hxg8=Q=.

5.Bd5+!!
This is the brilliant point, and also incredible timing. 5.hxg8=Q? Rh2+ 6.Kf3 c1=Q 7.Bd5 Qd1+!
(this is the important difference compared to the main line) 8.Ke3+ cxd5–+.
5...cxd5 6.hxg8=Q Rh2+ 7.Kf3 c1=Q 8.Qg2+! Rxg2 ½-½
Stalemate! Bringing the black pawn to d5 was very important for this stalemating idea.

Game 152 – Level 3
Leonid Kubbel
Study, 1926

504

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

1.e8=Q!

This is a relatively simple option.

A) 1.Bg2? does not work because of 1...Bxg2 (1...fxe3? 2.Bxc6+ Ka7 3.fxe3+–) 2.e8=Q fxe3 3.Qxe3
(3.Qb5 Ka7 4.Qxg5 Rc8+ 5.Kb2 exf2 6.Qxg2 Rc5, this is a fortress) 3...Rc8+ 4.Kb2 Rc5 5.f3 Bf1
(5...Bh3 6.f4) 6.f4 gxf4 7.Qf3+ Ka7 8.Qxf1 Kb7 with a fortress;
B) 1.Rc3! is another option that works, but perhaps slightly more complex: 1...Bxa4 (1...Bb7
2.Bb5+–; 1...Be8 2.Rc7 g4 3.Bd3+–) 2.Bg2+ Ka7 3.Rc7+ Ka6

505

analysis diagram
B1) 4.Bf1+? b5 5.Rd7 Re8 6.Bd3 g4! (6...Kb6? 7.Bg6 Rc8+ 8.Kd2 b4 9.e8=Q Rxe8 10.Bxe8 Bxd7
11.Bxd7; Black is unable to exchange the kingside pawns and so is lost) 7.Bg6 Rc8+ 8.Kd2 b4!
9.e8=Q Rxe8 10.Bxe8 Bxd7 11.Bxd7 g3=;
B2) 4.Bh3! Be8 5.Bc8+! (5.Rd7? Rb7!; 5.a4? b5! 6.Rd7 Kb6 7.Rd8 Kc7=) 5...Kb5 6.Kb2! (Black’s
king is cut off along the c-file and can come under a mating attack. If we look carefully, we can see
that Black’s pieces are not able to do much either) 6...f3 7.Kb3 Bf7+ 8.Kc3 Ka4 (8...Be8 9.Be6 Ka6
10.Kc4+–, threatening 11.Bc8+) 9.Kb2 Kb5 10.Bd7+ Ka6 11.a4!+–. An incredible dance in
achieving coordination and cornering Black’s king.
1.e8=Q! Rxe8
1...Bxe8 2.Bg2+ Ka7 3.Re7+ Ka6 4.Bf1+ b5 5.Rxe8!+–.

506

2.Bg2! Rc8
2...fxe3 3.Bxc6+ Kb8 4.Bxe8 exf2 5.Bb5; three pawns are no match for the piece here. White wins
since he has the correct bishop colour.
3.Re8! 1-0
A cute tactic! 3...Rxe8 4.Bxc6+ Kb8 5.Bxe8+–; 3...Bxg2+ 4.Rxc8+ Kb7 5.Rg8 Bc6 6.Rxg5 Bxa4
7.Rf5+–.

Game 153 – Level 3
Abram Gurvich
Study, 1927

507

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

Despite White having an extra queen, Black’s pawn on the g-file is very advanced. White has to find
a clever idea to win this position.
1.Ne4! Nd3
1...g1=Q+ 2.Nf2++–.
2.Qf2!!
2.Qxd3? g1=Q+=.
2...Nxf2 3.Ng3+! Kg1 4.Ng5!
A picturesque zugzwang! White mates on either h3 or f3, whatever Black does.
4...Nhg4
4...Nfg4 5.Nh3#.
5.Nf3#

508

Game 154 – Level 3
Tigran Gorgiev
Study, 1929

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

The whole position rests on the advanced passed pawn on the e-file and how White manages to make
use of it to his advantage:
1.Bg2+!
1.Nb6+? Kb8 2.a7+ Kxa7 3.Nc8+ Kb8=.
1.Bg2+! Kb8!
1...Ka7? 2.Nd6! Rxe7 3.Nc8++–.
2.a7+! Kxa7 3.Nd6! Bd1+!
An interesting defensive resource.
A) 3...Bb5 4.Nxb5+ Kb8 (4...Kb6 5.Nd6+–) 5.Nd4! Rxe1 6.Kd2+–; the rook has to step on a square
where it will be forked!;

509

B) 3...Rxe7 4.Nc8++–.

4.Kxd1!

4.Kc3 Ba4; 4.Kc1 Rxe1 5.Kd2 Rxe7.

4...Rxd6+ 5.Bd5!

The sacrifices of two minor pieces in a row to stop the rook from stopping the passed pawn is
aesthetic! 5.Nd3? Re6! 6.Nb4 Kb6 7.Bh3 Re5 8.Bd7 Rxe7 9.Nd5+ Kc5 10.Nxe7 Kd6!=.

5...Rxd5+ 6.Nd3! Rxd3+ 7.Ke2 1-0

Game 155 – Level 3
Tigran Gorgiev
Study, 1929

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

White is about to lose his extra piece, but it is his turn to move. How can White exploit this fact?
1.Bc6!

510

Trying to create a dangerous passed pawn on the rook file.
1.Bxf7? Kxf7 2.Nh4 Ke6 3.g6 Bxg6+ 4.Nxg6 c5=; the extra piece alone is not sufficient for White.
1.Bc6! bxc6
1...Bxf3 2.Bxb7+–.
2.a6
A) 2.Nd4?? Bg6+ 3.Kh6 Bxe4–+, Black opens the h1-a8 diagonal with an eventual ...c6-c5;
B) 2.Ne5?? dxe5 3.a6 Bg6+ 4.Kh8 Bxe4 5.a7 c5–+.
2...Bg6+
This is the main defensive idea.
A) 2...Bxf3 3.a7 Bxe4+ 4.g6!, gaining a crucial tempo. Black’s bishop cannot afford to leave the a8-
h1 diagonal: 4...c5 5.a8=Q+ Bxa8 6.g7+;
B) 2...c5? 3.Nh4+–.
3.Kh8! Bxe4

4.g6!!
But the two passed pawns prove too much for the bishop! The pawn advance clears the square for the
white knight. The white knight is going to do all the damage from now on.

511

4...fxg6 5.Ng5! Bd5 6.Ne6+ Ke7 7.Nc5!

A brilliant blocking sacrifice that was planned by White with striking manoeuvres.
7.Nxc7 Bh1–+, with ...c6-c5 coming next.

7...dxc5 8.a7 1-0

Game 156 – Level 3
Tigran Gorgiev
Study, 1934

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

White has two far advanced passed pawns, but they are under control as of now. It will all come down
to how well White combines his pieces to make good use of the pawns.

1.Nd5+ Kd7 2.c8=Q+! Rxc8 3.Bg4+ Kc6 4.Bxc8 Bb7

512

Until this point, the moves were more or less forced. But at this critical moment, White has to find a
difficult resource. Using the elimination technique can help in this regard.
5.Kd3!
This mysterious king move has a purpose. It blocks the pawns and does something more important,
which will become apparent later.
White can’t win with 5.Ne7+? Kc7+ 6.Bxb7 Kxb7 7.Nc8 c4 (if 7...Ka8 8.Kd5 c4 9.Kc6 c3 10.Kb6
c2 11.Ka6 c1=Q 12.Nb6#; White mates just in time) 8.Kd4 d5 9.Kc3 Ka8=. Black’s connected
pawns keep the king at bay.
5...Ba8 6.Kc4 Bb7 7.a8=Q! Bxa8 8.Ba6! Bb7
8...Kd7 9.Nb6+.
9.Bb5#
Without pawns, the mating pattern that White weaves with his bishop and knight is very pretty.

513

Show in Text Mode

Game 157 – Level 4
Richard Réti
Study, 1922

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

A brief look at the position shows that White’s advantage consists of the precarious position of
Black’s king on the edge of the board. This will be the central theme of the play, but there are
nuances based on move orders, defences based on stalemating themes and some potential zugzwangs.

1.g3

White threatens mate in two beginning with 2.Rh4+.
After the direct 1.Rxd3 g4 2.g3, 2...Rd8!= is a stalemate trick (2...Ra8! 3.Rd5 Ra5! is another way to
play for stalemate)!

514

1.g3 Rg8

Stopping 3.g4 check after 2.Rh4+ gxh4.

2.Rb4!

A completely counter-intuitive move. White is able to notice a very fine nuance: he needs the rook on
the b-file. He also needs to keep the d-pawn alive to get rid of stalemating ideas, at least for the time
being.
A) 2.a4? g4 3.Kxf6 (3.Rxd3 Ra8 4.Rd5 Ra6! (4...Ra5? 5.Ke6++–) 5.Rb5 (5.Rc5 Ra5=) 5...Rd6 6.a5
Rd5+=) 3...Rg6+ 4.Kf7 Rg5 5.Rxd3 Rf5+ 6.Kg7 (6.Ke6 Rf3, and it is now White who has to be
careful to stay in the game as Black wins the g-pawn: 7.Rd5+ Kg6 8.Ke5!, and White will hold, but
he still needs to show a lot of accuracy) 6...Ra5 7.Rd6 Ra7+ 8.Kf6 Ra6= is another stalemating idea;
B) 2.Rxd3? Ra8! and Black is in the driver’s seat!;
C) 2.Rg4? d2 3.Rd4 g4! 4.Rxd2 Rg5+ 5.Kxf6 Rf5+!=;
D) 2.Rd5? Ra8–+;
E) 2.Re4? g4 3.Re1 Rg5+ 4.Kxf6 Rg6+! 5.Kf7 d2! 6.Rb1! d1=Q 7.Rxd1 Rf6+ 8.Kg7 Rf5=.

2...g4! 3.Rb1!

3.Rd4? Ra8=; 3.a4? Rd8=.

3...Rg5+ 4.Kxf6 Rg6+ 5.Kf7 d2

6.a4!! d1=Q!

515

6...Rb6 7.Rxb6 d1=Q 8.Rb5++–.

7.Rxd1 Rf6+ 8.Kg7 Rf5!

A) 8...Rg6+ 9.Kh7+–. White escapes stalemate by hiding here;
B) 8...Kg5 9.Rd5+ Rf5 10.Rxf5+ Kxf5 11.Kxh6 leads to a winning pawn endgame.

9.Rb1!

It is clearly important for the rook to be on the b-file.
9.Rd6? Ra5 10.Rxh6+ (10.Rb6 Ra7+! 11.Kf6 Ra6! (11...Ra5? 12.Rb7!+–) 12.Re6 Rc6=) 10...Kg5
11.Rb6 Ra7+!, and Black escapes from White’s mating threats.

9...Kg5

9...Rg5+ 10.Kh7 Rf5 11.Rb5+–.

10.Rb6!!
An incredible idea based on zugzwang.
10.Rb5 h5 11.Rxf5+ Kxf5 12.a5 h4.
10...Re5
10...h5 11.Rg6#; 10...Kh5 11.Rb5+–.
11.Rb5 1-0

516

White has gained a crucial tempo. Either Black has to exchange on b5 and give up a tempo, or he has
to move back to f5 and once again lose a tempo. Either way, that single tempo gives White the win.

Game 158 – Level 4
Tigran Gorgiev
Study, 1934

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s c-pawn is not that dangerous because it’s well- blockaded and can be captured when the time
is right. The battle will clearly centre around Black trying to capture the h-pawn and White doing
something about it, to either stop it or win material after allowing it.

1.Nd3!

A) 1.Nh3? c2! 2.Bxc2 Bh2!= (2...Bc5? 3.Nf4 Bd6 4.Ng6 Kh5 5.Kf3 Bc7 6.Bf5 Bd6 7.Kg2 Bc7
8.Kh3+–) 3.Kf2 (3.Kf3 Kh5=; 3.Ng5 Bg3 4.Nf3 Kh5=) 3...Kh5 4.Ng5 Bc7 (4...Kxh4 5.Nf3+ Kh3
6.Bf5#) 5.Nf3 Kg4 (5...Bd8 6.Kg3 Bc7+ 7.Kh3 Bd8 8.Ba4 Bf6 9.Be8+ Kh6 10.Kg4; White
consolidates and wins) 6.Kg2 Bd8=. Black wins the h-pawn without conceding anything;
B) 1.Ne4 c2 2.Bxc2 Kh5 3.Ng5 Bb6 4.Nf3 Bd8.

1.Nd3! c2!

517

1...Kh5 2.Kf1+ and due to the presence of the Bd1, White is able to play this discovered check and
win the piece.
2.Bxc2 Kh5

Now we can see the point of 1...c2. White does not have the Kf1 discovered check anymore. White
has a big challenge now, how can he defend the lone rook pawn?
3.Ne1!
To begin with, White stops Black’s king from taking the pawn by means of a fork threat.
3.Ne5? Bb6 4.Ng6 Bd8, and Black wins the last pawn without White getting anywhere in return.
3...Bb6 4.Ng2!
The right way to defend the pawn; 4.Nf3? Bd8=.
4...Bd8!
If 4...Kg4 5.Be4 Bd8 6.Bf3+ Kg3 7.h5 White manages to hold on to his pawn and win.
It looks like the h-pawn is lost now, but White comes up with a brilliant concept:
5.Bd1!
White threatens to play Ke2-f2-g3, defending his pawn.
5...Bxh4! 6.Ke3+

518

By giving up the pawn, White has forced the black king to not move too far away from the bishop!

6...Kg5 7.Kf3!

A nice position of zugzwang. The bishop on h4 is dominated and falls!

7...Kh5 8.Kf4+ 1-0

White understood that he would lose the h-pawn at some point, and prepared himself excellently
using some tactical ideas based on domination to win Black’s bishop.

Game 159 – Level 4
Genrikh Kasparyan

Study, 1955

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White would ideally like to protect his d-pawn with his bishop and knight, since his
king is a bit far from the scene. Black will fight to win White’s remaining pawn, and in case he
achieves this, White needs some other non-standard idea!

1.Bf5!

519

A) 1.Ka5? Bc2 2.Bc4 Kd4! (2...d5? 3.Bb5 Kd4 4.Ne6+! (4.Nf5+ Kc3!=) 4...Ke3 5.Nc5+–) 3.Ne6+
Ke3! (3...Kc3? 4.Nf4+–) 4.d4 (White is threatening to play 5.d5, when it will be over for Black)
4...d5! 5.Bxd5 Bf5 6.Kb4 Bxe6 7.Kc5 Bg4. Black should draw this ending without much fuss. For
example, 8.Bc6 Kf4 9.d5 Ke5 10.d6 Ke6=;
B) 1.Bc4? d5 2.Ba2 Bb5+=.
1.Bf5! Kd4 2.Ne6+!
A) 2.Be4 Bc2;
B) The other approach by the knight with 2.Nh5? does not work as the following lines show:
B1) 2...Bc2? 3.Nf4 Ke5 4.Ne2 Bd1 (4...Kxf5 5.Nd4++–) 5.Nc3 Bc2 6.Nb5! Kf4 (6...Bd1 7.Bh7+–)
7.Na3!. The knight completes a brilliant dance. Finally, both the knight and bishop have come to the
queenside to support the d3-pawn. On the queenside, they can be protected by their king: 7...Bd1
8.Bh7+–;
B2) 2...Bd1 3.Nf4 Ke5 4.Ng2 Kxf5 5.Ne3+ Ke5 6.Nxd1 Kd4 7.Nf2 Ke3 8.Kb6 Kxf2 9.d4 Ke3
10.Kc6= (10.d5?? Ke4 11.Kc6 Ke5; Black would even win in this case).
2...Ke5
2...Ke3 3.Nc7! Bc2 4.Nd5+ Kd4 5.Nb4 and once the knight reaches the safe haven of b4, White
wins easily.
3.Bh3!
3.Bg4? Bb3! (3...Bd7? 4.d4+ Kf6 5.d5 Ke5 6.Kb6+–) 4.Nd8 Kd4 5.Bf5 Bc2 6.Nc6+ Kc3!=. The
bishop being on f5 is a problem, since the d3-pawn is pinned.
3...Bc2
A) 3...Bb3 4.d4+ Ke4 5.Bg2+! Ke3 (5...Kf5 6.d5 Ke5 7.Nc7+–) 6.d5 Kf2 7.Bh1+–;
B) 3...Bd7 4.d4+! (4.Nf4? Bxh3 5.Nxh3 Kd4 6.Nf2 Ke3 7.Kb6 Kxf2 8.d4 Ke3 9.d5 Kd4 10.Kc6
Ke5–+) 4...Kd5 5.Nf4++–.
4.d4+! Kd5 5.Kb5! Bh7 6.Kb4! Bg8 7.Kc3! Bxe6 8.Bg2#!

520

This is the pretty finish that White was aiming for: a checkmating pattern right in the centre of the
board!
The problem with giving diagrams at interesting moments in a game is that it can easily become a
clue to readers who want to solve the study without any help! Pardon me if that is the case here.

Game 160 – Level 4
David Gurgenidze

Study, 1975

White to move
521

White to play and draw

Show/Hide Solution

Black has a very advanced king position. Besides that, he has connected passed pawns that seem to be
impossible to contend with.

1.g6!

The other approach with 1.Rd2+! also works, but is a more complex variation: 1...Kc1 2.g6! Re6 3.e5
fxg6 4.f7 Rxe5 5.e4 Re6 6.f8=Q! (6.e5? Rxe5 7.e4 Re6–+) 6...Rf6+ 7.Qxf6 exf6 8.Rd6! and now:
A) 8...a5 9.Rc6+ Kb1 10.Rxf6 a3 11.e5 a2 12.Rxg6 Kc2 13.Rc6+ Kb2 14.e6 a1=Q 15.e7 Qh1
16.e8=Q Qxh2+=;
B) 8...a3 9.Rxa6 Kb2 10.Rxf6 a2 11.Ra6 b3 12.e5 Kc3 13.e6 b2 14.e7 b1=Q 15.e8=Q Qf5+ 16.Kg3
Qg5+=;
C) 8...b3 9.Rc6+! (9.Rxf6?? a3! 10.Rxa6 a2 11.e5 b2–+) 9...Kd2 10.Rxf6! a3 11.e5! b2 (11...a2
12.Rxa6=) 12.Rb6 Kc3 13.e6=.

1.g6! fxg6

1...Re6 2.e5 fxg6 3.f7 transposes.

2.f7 Re6 3.e5!

A) Again, 3.Rd2+! Kc1 4.f8=Q (4.Ke1 Rf6 5.Rd1+ Kc2 6.Rd2+ Kc3 7.Rd3+ Kb2) 4...Rf6+ 5.Qxf6
exf6 6.Rd6;
B) 3.f8=Q! Rf6+ 4.Qxf6+ exf6 5.Rd6 a3 6.Rxf6 a2 7.Rxa6 b3 8.e5 Kc3 9.e6 b2 10.e7 b1=Q 11.e8=Q
Qf5+=.

3...Rxe5 4.e4 Re6 5.e5!

White could also go for 5.f8=Q! Rf6+ 6.Qxf6+ exf6 7.Rd6 a3 8.Rxf6 a2 9.Rxa6 b3 10.e5 a1=Q
11.Rxa1 Kxa1 12.e6 b2 13.e7 b1=Q 14.e8=Q².

5...Rxe5 6.e4! Re6 7.e5 Rxe5

522

8.Rh1!!
This is the incredible concept for which White sacrificed all his pawns. He wants to shut his rook on
h1 and go for a stalemate!
8.f8=Q Rf5+ 9.Qxf5 gxf5–+; 8.Rd2+ Kc3.
8...a3 9.f8=Q Rf5+ 10.Kg1! a2 11.Qf6+!
11.Qh8+?? Rf6–+.
11...e5!? 12.Qxa6! ½-½
White will sacrifice the queen on the next move, ending in stalemate.
The main line has a unique and pretty stalemating idea. However, along the way White also had a
couple of other alternatives that could have ultimately maintained equality.

Game 161 – Level 4
Leonid Kubbel
Study, 1941

523

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s f-pawn is very advanced, and White’s minor pieces look too far away to do anything about it.
Moreover, White’s advanced pawn on e7 is firmly blocked by Black’s knight. How does White win
here?

1.Nc7!

When normal moves do not work, we should consider abnormal moves or desperados a little more
seriously to reach our objective. For many upcoming players, this is very difficult to do. When
normal things do not work, they also reject the abnormal attempts to reach the objective – for no
apparent reason, or for simplistic reasons; for example, a temporary loss in material, or a dangerous-
looking attack from the opponent, etc.

1...Nxc7

A) 1...f2?! 2.Nxe8 f1=Q 3.Nf6++–;
B) 1...Nxg7 2.Kxg7 f2 3.e8=Q f1=Q 4.cxd6+–.

2.cxd6 f2

2...Ne8?! 3.d7+–.

524

3.dxc7 f1=Q
Now White has a not so tough choice to make. In such situations, where we are faced with multiple
choices to consider, the first step is to realise that we have a choice. This may look too obvious for
experienced players, but upcoming players usually think one line at a time, and as a result their
analysis goes in a straight line without branches along the way. In such cases, they analyse the move
they have seen first and naively believe it is the only move in the position. This habit has to be broken
at the early stages of a player’s career.
4.c8=Q!
4.e8=Q? Qh1+ 5.Qh5 (5.Kg5 Qc1+ 6.Kh5 Qxc7=) 5...Qc1+ 6.Kxh7 Qxc7=; White loses his last
pawn without anything in return for it.
4...Qf4+
4...Qh1+ 5.Kg5 Qg2+ 6.Qg4++–.
5.Kxh7
5.Kh5?? could even lose! 5...Qf7+ 6.Kh4 (6.Kh6 Qg6#; 6.Kg5 Qxg7+ 7.Kh4 Qxe7+–+) 6...Qxe7+–
+.
5...Qh4+ 6.Kg6!
6.Kg8 Qxe7.
6...Qxe7

525

It appears that Black has equalised by removing White’s last pawn from the board. However, now
comes the real idea of the whole composition:
7.Bf8! Qa7
7...Qh4 8.Qc4+.
8.Bc5! 1-0
Watch how beautifully the white units are coordinating to trap the queen in an unexpected
domination!
In studies, each and every unit will have a concrete purpose to serve. Imagine the creativity involved
to visualise the final position, and then finding a creative way to reach it by creating the starting
position!
As a young player, I knew Timman only as a player from books, but subsequently I came to know
that he is also a famous composer. I like the following study very much.

Game 162 – Level 4
Jan Timman
Study, 1973

526

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

A complex position with a cute mating theme in one of the simple lines. In the other lines, White uses
tactical ideas with his own passed pawns and create domination in various lines.

1.Rxe5+!

A) 1.Bxe5? Bxd5+!–+;
B) 1.Bd4+? Kf4 2.Nf2 Be4–+;
C) 1.Bc1+?! Ke4 2.Nf2+ Kf5 3.Rxe5+! Kxe5 4.Nd3+ Kd6! (4...Ke4? 5.Bxg5 hxg5 6.h6+–) 5.Bf4+
Ke7! (5...Kd7? 6.Bxg5 hxg5 7.Ne5++–) 6.Bxg5+!? (6.d6+!? Ke6! 7.Bxg5 hxg5 8.d7 Ke7!
(8...Kxd7? 9.Ne5++–) 9.h6 Be4=) 6...hxg5 7.h6 (7.a5? Be4! (7...bxa5? 8.b6!; 8.Kc5 Be4 9.Ne1 a4
10.Kb4 Bxd5–+ or 10.b6 Kd7–+) 8.Ne1 bxa5 9.b6 Kd7–+) 7...Be4 8.Ne1 Kd6 9.Kd4 Bg6 and
Black survives the danger.

1.Rxe5+! Kf4

A) 1...Kd2 2.Bc3+ Kc2 3.Rxg5+–;
B) 1...Rxe5?! 2.Bc1+ Ke4 3.Ng3#, a nice mate in the centre!;
C) 1...Be4 and now:

527

C1) 2.Rxe4+? Kxe4 3.Nf2+ Kf3 4.Nd3 Ke4 5.Nf2+= (5.d6?? Rd5 6.Nf2+ Kf5–+);
C2) 2.Bc3 Rxe5;
C3) 2.Bd4+ Kf3 3.Rxe4 Kxe4 4.Nf2+ Kf5 5.Nd3 Ke4 6.Bxb6 Rxd5 7.Ne1 Rd1 8.Bf2 Ra1 9.Kb4
Kd5+–; White blockades Black’s passed pawns with his minor pieces and will slowly start to push
his queenside passed pawns;
C4) 2.Bc1+ Kf3 3.Rxg5! e1=Q (3...hxg5 4.Bd2+–) 4.Rg3+ Qxg3 (4...Ke2 5.Re3++–) 5.Nxg3 Kxg3
6.Bxh6 Kg4 7.Be3+–.
2.Nf2 Rxe5 3.Nd3+
3.Bxe5+? Kxe5 4.Nd3+ Kd6–+.
3...Ke4
3...Kf5 4.Bxe5+–.
4.Bxe5 e1=Q 5.Nxe1 Be2+ 6.Kb4!
A) 6.Nd3? Bxd3+ 7.Kc3 Kxe5 8.Kxd3 Kxd5 9.Ke3 Kc5 10.Ke4 Kb4 11.Kf5=;
B) 6.Kc3? Kxe5 7.a5!? bxa5 8.b6 Ba6 9.Nd3+ Kxd5=.
6...Kxe5 7.a5!
It looks like 7.Ng2? is also possible,

analysis diagram
528

but 7...Bd3! (7...Kd6? 8.Ne3 (8.a5? bxa5+ 9.Kxa5 Bxb5=) 8...Bxh5 9.a5! bxa5+ 10.Kxa5, White’s
knight clearly dominates the bishop. White wins like in a pawn endgame!) refutes this effectively:
8.Ne3 f5=.
7...bxa5+
7...Kxd5 8.a6+–.
8.Kc5! Bxb5
8...a4 9.b6 Ba6 10.Kc6+–.
9.Nf3+ Ke4

10.Ng5+! Ke5
10...Kf5 11.Kxb5 Kxg5 12.d6 Kf6 13.Kc6+–.
11.Nxf7+ Kf6 12.Kxb5 Kxf7 13.Kxa5! 1-0
A nice endgame based on the domination theme.

Game 163 – Level 4
Leonid Kubbel
Study, 1950

529

White to move
White to play and draw

Show/Hide Solution

White needs to stop the two black pawns on the verge of promotion. He cannot do that without
reaching the first rank, but he clearly has no time for this. What else can be done?
1.Rc3! e2 2.Rc7+ Kg8 3.Kg6! Kf8 4.Kf6!
4.Rf7+?? Ke8 5.Kg7 c1=Q–+.
4...Ke8 5.Ke6! Kd8
This looks like the end for White...
6.Rxc2!
White uses the particular configuration of the pawns and the position of Black’s queen to show that
there is not a single check for Black. Moreover, Black cannot save himself from perpetual check!
6...e1=Q 7.Rg2!!
Accuracy is still required. 7.Rh2? does not work because of 7...Qe4 8.Rh8+ (8.Kd6 Qb4+) 8...Kc7,
and there is no check on the 7th rank.

530

7...Qe4 8.Rg8+ Kc7 9.Rg7+ ½-½

Game 164 – Level 4
Eliyahu Zakon
Study, 1953

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

1.Ka1!
The first move is special already. White actually creates space on b1 for his queen! Basically, White
wants to capture the pawn on h7 and block Black’s check on g1 by interposing on b1.
1...Kh1 2.Qe4 Kh2 3.Qe5+ Kh1 4.Qd5 Kh2 5.Qd6+ Kh1 6.Qc6!
White employs a staircase manoeuvre to win Black’s h-pawn and then transpose into a won pawn
endgame.
6...Kh2
Once the pawn goes to h6, the queen has to block Black’s check on c1. Hence, the king is needed on
b1: 6...h6 7.Kb1! Kh2 8.Qd6+ Kh1 9.Qxh6 g1=Q+ 10.Qc1!+–.

531

7.Qc7+ Kh1 8.Qxh7 g1=Q+ 9.Qb1! 1-0

Winning Black’s h-pawn and interpolating a queen check to force the trade was the theme of this
study. Despite its apparent simplicity, it creates a fine artistic impression.

Game 165 – Level 4
Viktor Matdinov

Study, 2013

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

Three minor pieces against two rooks is a rare imbalance. White’s advanced passed pawn is the key
factor to his advantage. We also observe that Black’s rook on a7 is completely lacking coordination,
especially because of the placement of his queenside pawns. White will use various tactical ideas to
go with these positional factors in striving for victory by checkmate:

1.Bd5! Rd4!

1...b6+?! 2.Kd6 Rd4 3.Nc6 Rxd2 4.Nxa7+–.

2.e7+! Rxd5+ 3.Ke6 Re5+!

3...Ra8 4.Kxd5 Kf7 5.Kd6! (5.Bg5? Rg8 6.Bh4 Rh8=) 5...Re8 6.Bg5+–.

532

4.Kxe5 Kf7
4...Ra8 5.Nxb7 Kf7 6.Bg5+–.
5.Nc4!!
5.Bb4? b5 6.Nc6 Rd7! 7.Bd6

analysis diagram
7...b4! (giving his pawns to set up a stalemate; 7...a5? 8.Kd5! a4 (8...Ke8 9.Ke6 b4 10.Ne5 Rb7
11.Ng4+–) 9.Ne5+) 8.Bxb4 (8.Kd5 b3=) 8...a5! 9.Bd6 a4! 10.Kd5 Ke8 11.Ke6 a3 12.Nb4 a2!
13.Nxa2 Rxe7+ 14.Bxe7=.
5...Kxe7 6.Nb6!
Dominating the black rook.
6...Kd8 7.Ba5 Kc7 8.Kd5! Kb8 9.Kd6 Ra8 10.Nd7+ Kc8
10...Ka7 11.Bb6#.
11.Bc7 b5 12.Kc6 Ra7 13.Nb6#

Game 166 – Level 4
Filip Bondarenko

Study, 2016

533

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

White’s extra bishop is severely limited by his own pawns, especially those on the f-file. Initially, it
appears to be a race between White’s passed pawn on the queenside and Black’s on the kingside. But
after calculation, that approach does not seem to lead us to our goal. Perhaps we need to conceive of
something else...

1.Bh1!

White lets the h2-pawn live, not out of love but out of a self-preservation instinct! Note that the h2-
square is no longer available for Black’s king.
A) The direct approach with 1.c4? does not work, because of 1...h1=Q 2.Bxh1 Kh3 3.c5 Kh2 4.Kxb7
Kxh1 5.c6 h4 6.c7 h3 7.c8=Q h2 8.Qxf5 Kg2 9.Qxf4 (9.Qg4+ Kxf2 10.Qh3 Kg1=) 9...h1=Q
10.Qg3+ Kf1=;
B) 1.Kc5?? h1=Q 2.Bxh1 Kh3 3.Kd4 Kh2 4.Ke5 Kxh1 5.Kxf4 (5.Kxf5 Kg2 6.Kg5 Kxf3 7.Kxh5
Kxf2) 5...Kg2–+.

1.Bh1! Kh3

534

2.c3!!
An absolutely amazing concept! White is actually playing to, believe it or not, checkmate Black!
The seemingly more natural 2.c4? leads only to a draw after 2...h4 3.Ka7 b5 4.c5 b4 5.c6 b3 6.c7 b2
7.c8=Q b1=Q=, supporting the f5-pawn!
2...h4
2...Kh4 3.c4!. Now White has gained a very valuable tempo compared to the 2.c4 variation, and that
is just enough to ensure victory. For example, 3...Kh3 4.c5 h4 5.Ka7!+–.
3.Kb5! b6 4.Kc4! b5+ 5.Kd3 b4 6.Ke2 bxc3 7.Kf1 c2 8.Bg2#
Everything falls in place by a single tempo. A lone bishop checkmating the king, assisted by both our
and the opponent’s pawns is a spectacle!
Gurgenidze’s famous pet theme is a king walk and Afek’s theme is underpromotion.

Game 167 – Level 4
Yochanan Afek
Study, 1978

535

White to move
White to play and draw

Show/Hide Solution

1.e7!

The white king is stuck in the corner, and all Black has to do is give one check and it’s over.

1...Rbb8

A) 1...Rbxd7? 2.fxg8=Q Rxg8+ 3.Kxg8+–;

B) 1...Kxf7 (threatening to play 2...g6#) 2.exd8=N+! (the only way to stop 2...g6#) 2...Kf8!
(2...Kg6? – with the king on g6, Black cannot get to g6 with the pawn, can he? 3.Nxb7 Bf6
4.Kxg8+–) 3.Ne6+!, (anything to stop 3...g6#) 3...Bxe6 4.d8=Q+ Kf7 5.Qg8+ (if White does not
force things, Black has a material superiority and can simply advance the b-pawn. White will then not
only have to worry about the king, but also about the material imbalance) 5...Kf6 6.d7! (6.Qf8+? Rf7
7.Qd8+ Ke5 8.Qxg5+ Kxd6–+) 6...Rxd7 (6...Bxg8?! 7.d8=Q+ Ke5 8.Kxg8, and now Black does not
have such a large material superiority) 7.Qxg7+! Rxg7, and it ends in a stalemate!;
C) 1...Bxf7+ 2.exd8=Q Kh6! (2...b4? 3.Qe8+–) 3.Qxg5+ Kxg5 4.d8=Q+ Bf6 5.Qc8! (the double
attack forces Black’s next move) 5...g6+ (5...Kh6? 6.g5+! Kxg5 7.Qxb7+–) 6.Kh7 Bd5+ 7.d7„;
White is threatening 8.Qc1 check and gets sufficient counterplay, with the mate threats guarded
against and the d7-pawn alive and disrupting the coordination of Black’s pieces.

536

2.e8=B!!
2.e8=Q? Bxf7–+. White will be forced to move the queen, and there are no stalemate ideas anymore,
only checkmate.
2...Bh7!
The only way to keep chances to play for a win.
2...Bxf7 is stalemate already.
3.f8=R+!!
3.f8=Q+? Kh6 4.Qf6+ g6!. Here again, the white queen will be forced to move, and there are no
more stalemate ideas: 5.Qxc3 Rxe8+–+.
3...Kh6 4.Rf6+ g6 ½-½
Afek must have put in a lot of effort to compose such a beauty, with so many underpromotions
culminating in a stalemate.
Here is another fantastic study by the same composer.

Game 168 – Level 5
Yochanan Afek
Study, 1991

537

White to move

TASK 1: White to play and draw. Time to think: 15 to 20 minutes.

Show/Hide Solution

1.Nd1!

A) 1.h7? f1=Q 2.h8=Q Rxb2!. Black simply has too much extra material, and does not have to force
things to win: 3.Qh5+ Ke4 and Black will win this eventually;
B) 1.Kh8? f1=Q! 2.g8=Q Qf4! (this is not the only way, but it’s the most efficient) 3.Qf7+ Kg5
4.Qxf4+ Kxf4 5.Kg7 Bxc2–+;
C) 1.Nc4? (trying to block the a2-g8 diagonal for the bishop and possibly gaining a tempo to promote
the g-pawn) 1...Rxa4 and now:
C1) 2.Kh8. Now Black has to play accurately to win: 2...Ra8+ 3.g8=Q Rxg8+ 4.Kxg8 Ba2
(4...f1=Q? 5.Ne3+=) 5.Kg7 (the point, to prevent Black from promoting the pawn and taking the
knight with his new queen; 5.h7 will lose even more quickly: 5...f1=Q 6.h8=Q Qxc4+ 7.Kh7 Qh4+
8.Kg7 Qf6+ 9.Kh7 Qg6#) 5...Bxc4 6.h7 f1=Q (now Black’s pieces can combine well to deliver mate
to the cornered white king) 7.h8=Q Qg1+ 8.Kf8 Qc5+! 9.Kg7 Qe7+ 10.Kh6 Qg5+ 11.Kh7 Qg6#;
C2) Including the intermediate check before playing Kh8 does not help: 2.Ne3+ Kg6 3.Kh8 Ba2
4.c4 Bxc4 5.h7. It looks like the g-pawn cannot be prevented from promoting with check, but Black
has an unexpected key resource: 5...Bg8!, exploiting the cornered white king position to weave a
mating net around it: 6.Kxg8 (6.hxg8=Q Rh4+, and Black wins easily) 6...Ra8#.

538

D) 1.Kh7? is the most attractive option before White, other than the solution. It comes very close to
making a draw, but falls just short: 1...Rxb2! 2.g8=Q Rb7+ (driving the white king to the corner)
3.Kh8 f1=Q! 4.Qf8+ (4.Qd5+ Kg6 5.Qg8+ Kxh6 transposes)

analysis diagram
4...Kg6! (Black’s king will have to go forward with the threat of mate, before going backward later to
avoid checks; 4...Kg5? 5.Qxf1+–) 5.Qg8+ (5.Qe8+ Rf7 6.Qe4+ Qf5 7.Qg2+ Kxh6 8.Qh2+ Qh5)
5...Kxh6 6.Qe6+ Kg5 7.Qd5+ Qf5 8.Qxb7 Qf8+ 9.Kh7 Bxc2+ with mate on the next move.
1.Nd1! f1=Q!
A) 1...Rxc2 2.Kh8! Ba2 3.h7 is a draw;
B) 1...Kg6 is an interesting attempt to win, but White has a fantastic resource to save the game:
2.Nxf2 Rxa4 3.Kh8! Ba2 4.h7 Bg8!. Again Black has this resource, which we saw earlier in the
1.Nc4 variation.
B1) Queening by 5.hxg8=Q?? loses everything with check: 5...Rh4+ 6.Qh7+ Rxh7+ 7.Kg8 Rxg7+
8.Kf8 Rf7+–+;
B2) But here, White escapes with an ingenious underpromotion: 5.hxg8=N!? Rh4+ 6.Nh6 (the point;
Black cannot capture the g-pawn and the knight together) 6...Rxh6+ 7.Kg8=.
C) 1...Rxa4 2.Kh8! Ba2 3.h7 Rh4!? (3...Bg8? does not work here, as the black king is too far away:
4.hxg8=Q Rh4+ 5.Qh7++–) and now:
C1) 4.c4? Bxc4 5.Nxf2 Kg6 6.g8=Q+ Bxg8 7.Kxg8 Rxh7. This position without the c2-pawn is lost
for White. There are mating threats against the white king in the corner. More importantly, the white
knight is separated from the white king, and it will be lost soon against the combined power of rook

539

and king. For example: 8.Nd3 Ra7 9.Ne5+ Kf5 10.Nf7 Rd7–+;
C2) 4.Nxf2! Kg6 5.g8=Q+ Bxg8 6.Kxg8 Rxh7 7.Nd3! (because of the c2-pawn, White’s knight
cannot be trapped, even though it is separated from the king) 7...Ra7 8.Kf8 and the king will simply
walk around without worrying about the abandoned knight.
2.Ne3+ Kg6 3.Nxf1 Rxa4
3...Rxc2 4.Kh8=.
4.Kh8 Ba2
It looks like the white king is cornered, and Black’s pieces are combining well, but:
5.c4!
A) 5.g8=Q+ Bxg8–+;
B) The immediate 5.h7? loses in the most instructive way:

analysis diagram
5...Rh4! (5...Bg8? 6.hxg8=N! Rh4+ 7.Nh6 draws as we have seen before) 6.g8=Q+ Bxg8 7.Kxg8.
Despite the presence of the c2-pawn, White loses this position, as the knight is not in time to get into
the protection of the c2-pawn. More importantly, the absence of the g7-pawn means the black rook
can move to threaten mate and attack the knight at the same time: 7...Rxh7 8.Ng3 Re7! (dominating
the white knight) 9.Kf8 Re3 10.Nh1 Rh3 11.Nf2 Rf3+, eventually winning the knight.
5...Bxc4 6.h7 Bg8!

540

An interesting winning attempt.

7.hxg8=N!

7.hxg8=Q? Rh4+ 8.Qh7+ Rxh7+ 9.Kg8 Rxg7+ 10.Kh8 Re7–+.

7...Rh4+ 8.Nh6 Rxh6+ 9.Kg8 Rh3

9...Rh7 10.Ne3! Rxg7+ 11.Kf8 Rd7 12.Nc4=. Even 12.Ke8 is sufficient to make a draw here,
although it’s risky: 12...Rd4 13.Nc2! (this is a peculiar position, where the white knight is hopelessly
away from the king, but White still manages to salvage a draw; Black is unable to keep the knight
away from the king for long) 13...Rd5 14.Ke7=.

10.Nd2! ½-½

The knight will reach the safety of the king’s protection soon.
10.Kf8? Rf3+ 11.Ke7 Kxg7 12.Nd2 Re3+ 13.Kd6 Rd3+–+.

Game 169 – Level 5
Oleg Pervakov
Study, 1993

Show/Hide Solution White to move
White to play and win

541

White is down a rook, but has a few things in his favour. The black king is in a spot of bother, and the
pawn on g7 is far advanced.
1.Nf8
White looks to be winning already, as there is no easy way for Black to stop the g-pawn from
promoting. But looks can be deceiving.
1...Bb5!?
Black finds an interesting resource to keep fighting. The black rook becomes active. It hopes to create
trouble for the white king, and also to keep an eye on the g-pawn.
1...Bc6 2.Ra5+ Kb8 3.g8=Q (it is not over yet) 3...Rxd2+ 4.Kb3 Rh3+ 5.Kc4 Rc2+ 6.Kd4 Rd2+
7.Ke5. Now it is, as the king will soon escape from the series of checks, and White wins the game.
2.Rxb5 Rxd2+ 3.Kb3 Rh3+ 4.Kc4 Rh4+
The best practical defence for Black.
A) 4...Rg2 5.Ra5+ Kb8 6.Nd7+ Kc8 7.Nf6 Rh4+ 8.Kd3 Kb8 9.Re5, and it will be mate soon;
B) 4...Rg3 5.Re5 Rc2+ 6.Kd5 Rc8 7.Ne6! Kb8 8.Rg5+–.
5.Kc3 Rg2!

Black has managed to put up a good fight. He has the rook behind White’s passed pawn and has
created a few mating threats around White’s king too. White has to play accurately to find a win. As
of now, the white pieces are scattered all over the board and they need to coordinate well to have any
chance to win this position.

542

6.Re5!

This is the best square for the rook, as will be apparent soon.
A) 6.Rc5? Rg3+ 7.Kb2 Rh2+ 8.Kb1=; White cannot block the checks with his rook, when one of
Black’s rooks is safe on the g-file and the other rook is the one giving the check: 8.Rc2? Rxc2+
9.Kxc2 Rxg7 and the win for White is gone for sure;
B) 6.Rd5? Rg3+ 7.Rd3 (blocking with the rook makes sense now, as the g-pawn is safe after the rooks
are exchanged) 7...Rhh3! 8.Kc4! Rg4+ 9.Rd4 Rhh4! 10.Kc5 Rg5+ 11.Rd5 Rhh5!=. White’s king has
nowhere to escape from the harassing rooks.

6...Rg3+ 7.Kc2

7.Kd2 also leads to the same continuation as in the game.

7...Rh2+ 8.Kd1 Rg1+ 9.Re1

The general rule of thumb is that when Black gives check with the rook on the g-file, White can block
with his rook, as the g-pawn is not hanging after the rook exchange.

9...Rhh1!?

This resource for Black should be identified in the initial position by the solver.
9...Rhg2 10.Ne6! Kb8 11.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 12.Ke2! (12.Kd2? Kc8 13.Ke3 Kd7 14.Kf2 Rg4 15.Kf3
Rg1=) 12...Kc8 13.Kf2! (this is a very important gain of tempo) 13...Rg4 14.Kf3 Rg1 15.Kf4 Kd7
16.Ng5+–.

10.Kd2! Rg2+

10...Rh2+ 11.Kd3 (as was seen earlier, White cannot block the checks with his rook when Black’s
other rook is safe on the g-file; 11.Re2? Rxe2+ 12.Kxe2 Rxg7) 11...Rh3+ 12.Kc4 Rh4+ 13.Kb5. The
king will hide from the side checks on the a-file.

11.Re2 Rhh2! 12.Kd3 Rg3+

12...Rh3+ 13.Kc4 Rh4+ 14.Kb5+–.

13.Re3! Rhh3! 14.Kd4 Rg4+ 15.Re4 Rhh4 16.Kd5 Rg5+ 17.Re5 Rhh5 18.Kd6 Rh6+ 19.Re6! 1-0

Game 170 – Level 5
Emilian Dobrescu

Study, 1995

543

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

An interesting composition that contains a few hidden concepts, as will become clear once we begin
to solve the position.

1.Bb7!

White has to lure the black rook away from the 8th rank to gain a crucial tempo.
A) 1.Be4?? Kb6 2.f6 g6–+;
B) The direct approach to g8 with the bishop does not work, as Black is able to open the a1-h8
diagonal in time: 1.Bd5? e4!? 2.Be6 (2.Bxe4?? g5 3.fxg6 Rxc7–+) and Black can maintain the
balance in multiple ways. One example: 2...Kb6!? 3.Bxc8 g5 4.fxg6 Kxc7=.

1.Bb7! Rxc7 2.Bd5!

Threatening a pawn promotion and in case Black stops it with the rook, the bishop will block it with
Bg8.
2.Be4 Rc8–+.

2...Rc8!?

544

2...Bb4+!? is an interesting defensive attempt from Black:
A) 3.Kd1? Rc8!? (this is more entertaining than the alternative; 3...Rd7!? 4.h8=Q Rxd5+ 5.Ke2 Rd7
6.Qc8 Re7 is a nice fortress; Black should draw this comfortably) 4.Bg8 (it looks like Black has no
hope, as the h-pawn is going to promote on the next move) 4...Rd8+! 5.Kc1 (the only move; 5.Ke2??
Rd2+ 6.Kf3 Rh2–+) 5...Bd2+! (5...Rc8+?? 6.Kb1+–) 6.Kc2 Bh6 (Black has created a temporary cage
and caught the newly-born white queen in it) 7.h8=Q Kb4!. Now all the black pieces combine to
create a cage for the white king, and there is no escape from perpetual checks. For example: 8.f6
Rd2+ 9.Kc1 Rd6+ or 9.Kb1 Rd1+=;
B) 3.Kb1!. White has to be careful, as the alternative does not work in his favour, as we saw in A:
3...Rd7!? 4.h8=Q Rxd5. This is not a fortress, as White wins the g7-pawn and wins easily with
5.Qxg7.
3.Bg8
For practical purposes, White should win easily as the pawn promotion cannot be stopped, but Black
puts up a brave fight henceforth. While solving this position, this defensive resource should also be
found and refuted.
3...e4!? 4.h8=Q Be5+
A) 4...e3 5.Kd1+–;
B) 4...Bf6+ 5.Kd1 (5.Kd2 Bg5+ 6.Ke2 Bf4!=) 5...Bg5 does not work, as White’s queen comes out of
the cage: 6.Qxg7 Rc1+ 7.Ke2 Rc2+ 8.Kf1 Rc1+ 9.Kg2+–. White’s king too escapes the cage through
the kingside.

545

5.Kb1!
White has to do some magic with his king to win in this position.
5.Kd1? Bf4!, and White cannot prevent the perpetual check that follows.
5...Rb8+ 6.Kc2
6.Ka2? Ka4! 7.Bb3+ Rxb3 8.Qe8+ Rb5=; 6.Kc1 Rc8+ transposes to the main line.
6...Rc8+
6...Rb2+ 7.Kc1 Rh2 (7...e3 8.Bc4 e2 9.Qd8+ Kb4 10.Bxe2 Rxe2 11.Qd3=) 8.Bh7 Bf4+ 9.Kb1 and
the white queen will come out soon with decisive effect.
7.Kb3!
7.Kd2? Bf4+=; 7.Kd1? Bf4=.
7...Rc3+
7...e3 8.Qh1+–; 7...Rb8+ 8.Ka3! e3 9.Qh1+–.
8.Ka2 Rc2+ 9.Ka3!
Now Black is running out of checks, but he has other attempts to try to salvage something out of this
position.
9.Kb1? Rh2 10.Bh7 Rb2+ 11.Kc1 Rb8 12.Bg8 Rc8++–. We reach a similar position as after 6...Rc8.
9...Rh2
9...Rc3+ 10.Bb3+–; the point of going to a3 with the king on the previous move.
10.Bh7 Rh3+ 11.Ka2 Rh2+ 12.Kb3! Rb2+ 13.Ka3
13.Kc4 Rb8 14.Bg8+–.
13...Rb8 14.Bg8 1-0
The white queen will come out via h7, and the win is, as the elders say, ‘a matter of routine
technique’.

Game 171 – Level 5
Yochanan Afek
Study, 1982

546

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

1.e3+!

A) 1.Bh4? g1=N+!–+;
B) 1.e4+? Kg1 2.Kg3 Kh1!, and Black even wins!

1.e3+! Kg1 2.Bh4! h1=Q

2...Kh1?! 3.Be4! g1=Q 4.Kf4+ Qg2 5.Bg3! Kg1 6.Bxg2 Kxg2 7.Bxh2+–.

3.Bf2+ Kh2 4.Bg3+ Kg1 5.Kg4!

The white pieces have dominated the black queen. But is this enough to win the game?

5...Qh2 6.Be4! Qh1 7.Bd5

Whenever White moves his bishop away from the a6-f1 diagonal, Black keeps shuffling the king to
f1-g1. If the white bishop remains on the a6-f1 diagonal, Black’s queen will shuffle between the h2-
and h1-squares. White should find a creative way to win against this simple defensive idea from
Black.

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7...Kf1

7...Qh2? loses to 8.Bxh2+ Kxh2 9.Bxg2.

8.Bc4+ Kg1 9.Be2 Qh2 10.Bf3 Qh1 11.Be4!

Compare this with the position on the 5th move. The main difference is the position of the light-
squared bishop.

11...Kf1 12.Bd3+ Kg1

Comparing the position with the 5th move again, the main difference is that here it is White to play,
whereas it was Black to play on move 5.

Basically, White has gained a critical tempo with his clever manoeuvre.

13.Bc4!

13.e4 Qh2 14.e5 Kh1 15.Be4 Qg1.

13...Qh2 14.Bd5!

White abandons the a6-f1 diagonal when the black queen is on h2, which prevents him from playing
Kf1, his usual reaction earlier.

14...Qh1 15.e4! Qh2

15...Kf1 16.Bc4+ Kg1 17.e5 Qh2 18.Bd5+–.

16.e5

And White wins.

Game 172 – Level 5
Yochanan Afek
Study, 2007

548

White to move
White to play and win

Show/Hide Solution

In 2009, the Indian Junior team (below the age of 20) went to The Netherlands to play in a few
International Open tournaments. I was sent as the coach for the team consisting of the top 6 players
each from the Indian Juniors boys and girls championships. In one such tournament, WGM Padmini
Rout had finished her game early, and we were analysing her game in the mini-bar adjacent to the
playing hall. World-renowned composer IM Yochanan Afek was visiting the tournament, and he gave
this position to us for solving. We tried for a couple of hours but got nowhere close to solving it. He
mentioned that most grandmasters he had given this position to had not solved it either; some
consolation that was!

1.Re3!

The difference with placing the rook on the other files is not apparent now, but will become clear
soon:
A) 1.Rd3? b2 2.Rd8+ Kg7 3.Rb8 a3 4.f5 a2 5.f6+ Kf7 6.Rb7+ Kf8 7.Rb8+=;
B) 1.Rc3? b2 2.Rc8+ Kf7 3.Rc7+ Kf8=.

1.Re3! b2 2.Re8+! Kf7

2...Kg7 3.Re1! a3 4.f5! a2 5.f6+ Kf8 6.g6! b1=Q 7.g7+ Kf7 8.Re7+ Kxf6 9.g8=N+! Kg6 10.h5#.

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3.Re1! a3 4.f5!
4.Kf5? Kg7! 5.g6 Kh6! 6.Kf6 a2 7.Re8 Kh5 8.Rh8+ Kg4 9.g7 a1=Q 10.g8=Q+ Kh3.
4...a2 5.g6+! Kf8
White also wins after:
A) 5...Kf6 6.Re6+ Kg7 7.Kg5! b1=Q 8.f6+ Kf8 9.g7+ Kf7 10.Re7+ Kg8 11.Re8++–;
B) 5...Kg7 6.Kg5! b1=Q 7.f6+ Kf8 8.g7+ Kf7 9.Re7+ Kg8 10.Re8++–.
6.f6! b1=Q 7.g7+ Kf7 8.Re7+! Kxf6 9.g8=N+! Kg6 10.h5#
We are so lucky to have such creative minds enriching our beautiful game. I have used Afek’s studies
extensively with my students to improve their calculation skills.
Through this book, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful composers for
enriching our game and making it even more beautiful than it already is! Special thanks to Yochanan
Afek, who has a special place in my heart, for kindly agreeing to use his studies in this book.

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