Study of the Year 2014

Composer: Vladislav Tarasiuk (Ukraine)
The study appeared first in the magazine "Задачи и Этюды" ("Problems and Studies") for 2014, № 64, chart 5013.

White: Kb8,Sh6,Pc5,f2
Black: Ke4,Pb5,b7

Key: 1.Sf5!
Try 1.f4? Кd4(d5)! (1…b4? 2.f5 Ке5 3.Sg4+ ±) 2.f5 Кхс5 3.f6 Кd6 4.f7 Ке7 =.
Try 1.Nf7? Кd4(d5) 2.Кxb7 Кxс5 =.

1…b4.
1…Кxf5 2.Кxb7 b4 3.с6 b3 4.с7 b2 5.с8Q +-.
1…Кd5 2.Kxb7 +-. (2.Nе3+? Кс6! 3.Ка7 b4 =).

2.Sd6+ Кd4!
2…Кd5 3.Sxb7 b3 4.с6 Кxс6 5.Sа5+ =.

3.Sxb7 Кd5 4.f3!!
4.f4? b3 5.с6 Кxс6 6.Sа5+ Кd5! 7.Sxb3+ Ке4 =.
4.Sa5? Кхс5 5.Кс7 Кd5! 6.Кd7 Ке4 =.

4…Кс6 5.f4.
5.Кс8?! Кd5 6.Кb8 Кс6, the main line.

5…Кd5 6.f5 b3 7.с6!
7.f6? Ке6 8.с6 b2 =.

7…Кxс6 8.Sа5+ Кd5 9.Sxb3 Ке5 10.Sd4!, win.

(Some info about the selection committee: http://www.problemistasajedrez.com.ar/the-study-of-the-year-2014/)


STUDY OF THE YEAR 2014
http://www.arves.org/arves/index.php/endgamestudies/studyoftheyear/study-of-the-year-2014

Best Study for 1988

Today we will see the study, which was chosen as Best for the year 1988 by the Studies Subcommittee of the PCCC (Permanent Commission of Fide for Chess Composition), which has evolved in 2010 to WFCC (World Federation for Chess Composition).

[Study of the Year 1988] is a study by Maksimovskikh A. and Dolgov V., in which White has the opportunity to lead Black into a certain position, leaving en prise his pieces.

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Study of the year 1988.

	(Problem 491) Maksimovskikh A. & Dolgov V., 1st Prize, Kzlov MT Na Smenu!, 1987, White plays and wins. + (4 + 3)
[R1B5/K7/3r1P2/8/3k4/8/8/1b6]

Here follows the solution (with comments by Themis Argirakopoulos) ...

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(The game will be oriented to the promotion of the pawn or to the possible avoidance of the promotion. So we start with ...)
Key : 1.f7+! (and if 1...Rd8 then 2.Be6 and the the conversation is very short. That brings ...)
1...Rf6
2.Be6 (from where it keeps the pawn in the game and, threatening promotion, protects itself. The big problem of Black is the promotion - not the white bishop, thus he will try to push it away from defending the pawn, at any cost ...)
2...Bf5 (Without the danger to be tangled in aimless moves and transformations of the position, the White answers ...)
3.Rd8+ (If now 3...Kc5 4.Rd5+ and the superiority of white powers will simplify the situation, i.e. 4...Kc4 5.Rxf5+ Rxe6 6.f8=Q . If 3...Ke5 then 4.Bc4 Be4 5.f8=Q Rxf8 6.Rxf8 Kd4 7.Rf4 and White wins. Just a little better is the defense ...)
3...Kc3 (but white has got the squares (a2 or d5) to move his bishop, with the idea to promote the pawn to queen, exchange this queen with the black rook and, at the same time, to be able to capture with his rook the black bishop avoiding the [K+R vs K+B] ending, which is stalemate, with the exception of the black king being in the wrong corner. Let us continue with ...).
4.Bd5 Be4 (with the same pressing on the white bishop, aiming to the capture of the pawn. Then ...)
5.Rc8+ Kb2 (5...Kd4 is no better, since we can easily bring the same picture with the promotion f8=Q, i.e. 6.Bb3 Bd3 7.f8=Q . White continues with check ...)
6.Rb8+ (and if the king returns towards the center with 6...Kc3 then 7.Be6 Bf5 8.Ba2 and the chase with the bishops can not be continued, and we have the usual threats of the White. To the corner, then, with ...)
6...Ka1
7.Rb6 (What can Black capture now and not be disappointed? 7...Rxb6 8.f8=Q with easy win for the White, or 7...Rxf7 8.Bxf7 similarly, or 7...Rf5 8.Bb3 Rf3 9.Bc4 Rf5 10.Rd6 and brings forward the promotion threat. If he tries ...)
7...Rf1 (then follow the moves ...)
8.Bc4 Bd3
9.Rb1+ (and the position is ruined for Black. For example ...)
9...Kxb1
10.Bxd3+ +- (White wins)

Best Study for 1996

Today we will see the study which was chosen as the best for 1996. This presentation is prepared by the composer and solver Mr. Themis Argyrakopoulos.

[Study of the Year 1996] is a study by Oleg Pervakov.

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Study of the year 1996.

	(Problem 462) Oleg Pervakov, First Prize, JT Boris Gusev 1994-1996, White plays and wins. + (4 + 5)
[8/8/1b6/8/8/2B1R3/p1Psp3/4K2k]

The solution follows.

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With his Rook against Knight and Pawn, White will not have an easy win. Especially in this position, where Black threatens to push the pawn a2 and Queen it with the first opportunity. If White loses the Rook, his Bishop will not be able to hold a1 against the light black pieces. For example, if in the initial position was Black’s turn to play, we would have :
1... Bxe3 2.Kxe2 Sb1 3.Be5 Bd2 4.Kd3 Bc3 5.Bxc3 Sxc3 6.Kxc3 a1=Q+
So, White must keep his Rook in play and control the promotion to a1.

Let us examine various moves by the Rook:

• The placement of the Rook on g3 with the idea to hold the black King away and to threaten with the white King the Knight and the Pawn e2 loses immediately : 1.Rg3? Se4 2.Rh3+ Kg2 3.Ba1 Kxh3 4.Kxe2 Ba5 5.Kd3 Bc3
• If the Rook goes to d3, we will have very soon an endgame with Bishops moving on same-colored squares and a draw : 1.Rd3 Ba5 2.Bg7 Sb3+ 3.Kxe2 Sc1+
• Checking does not help : 1.Rh3+ Kg2 2.Rh6 Ba5 3. Ba1 Sb3+ 4.Kxe2 Sxa1

The idea to lift the Rook to a safe square, from which it will go to file a, seems interesting but has got hidden traps. The squares e4 and e5 are already under Black’s control :

• If 1.Re8?, then 1...Ba5 2.Bg7 a1=Q+ 3.Bxa1 Sb3+ 4.Kxe2 Sxa1 5.Ra8 Bc3 and the White cannot win the light pieces of Black.
• If 1.Re6?, then 1...Sf3+ 2.Kxe2 Sd4+ and easy draw for Black after exchange captures on d4

So it remains only 1.Re7! to which Black answers 1...Ba5 hoping either to drag the black-squared white Bishop away from the control of a1, or to close the file a for the Rook. Now White plays : 2.Bh8!
If White plays differently, Pa2 is promoted...
2.Ba1? Sb3+ 3.K~ Sxa1
2.Ba2? Sc4+ 3.K~ Sxa2
2.Bd4? / Be5? Sf3+ 3.K~ Sxd4 / Sxe5
2.Bf6? Se4+ 3.Kxe2 Sxf6
2.Bg7? Se4+ 3.Kxe2 Sc3+ 4.Bxc3 Bxc3 5.Rb7 a1=Q 6.Rxa1 Bxa1 = draw

(P462 after the 2nd white move)

The position starts to slip from the black control...
[If Black plays 2...Se4+ then 3.Kxe2 and Black is without any threats. 3... Sg5 4.Ra7 Bb4 5.Bd4]
...so, let us play our last card : 2...a1=Q+ 3.Bxa1 Sb3+ 4.Kxe2 Sxa1

(P462 after the 4th black move)

The balance of material is once more misleading. The light black pieces are badly positioned on file a, being target for the Rook: 5.Ra7! Bc3 6.Kf1! useful to remind us that chess is a game of threats. Especially those that promise mating pictures!

(P462 after the 6th white move)

The preparation for defense with Bh2 is not very helpful: 6...Be5 7.Ra5 Sxc2 8.Rxe5 Kh2 9.Re2+ Kh1 10.Re4 (of course not 10.Rxc2 stalemate!) and White wins.
The black King will try to avoid the approaching evil fate: 6...Kh2 7.Ra2!! Be5! 8.c3+! check and removal of Knight protection! 8...Kg3 9.Rxa1 (where 9...Bxc3 loses immediately after 10.Ra3).
A possible continuation is 9...Kf4 10.Rc1 Ke4 11.Ke2 and White wins with simple technique. (He will protect the Pawn with the King and using the Rook will open the road).

A small defect in this Study is the alternative continuation after the 5th black move.

(P462 after the 5th black move)

Here there is another continuation for White : 6.Kd3! Bf6 (6...Be5 7.Ra5 Bf6 8.Rf5) 7.Rf7 Be5 8.Rf5 Bb2 9.Rb5 Bf6 10.Rb1+ Kg2 11.c3 .

Best Study for 1995

We will see today a study, chosen as Best for year 1995. This presentation is a contribution of the composer and solver Themis Argyrakopoulos.

[Study of the Year 1995] is a study by Gregori Slepian.

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Study of the year 1995.

	(Problem 435) Gregori Slepian, First Prize, Szachista Polski #64, 1995, White plays and wins. + (4 + 5)
[8/3rP3/8/8/b1K5/1p6/5RBp/k7]

The solution follows...

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Black is ready to advance the pawn b3 and put unsolvable problems to his opponent. White starts with the obvious promotion and forces Black to search for the initiative.

1.e8=Q! Rc7+ double threat, to king and to queen

2.Bc6 Rxc6+ white bishop en prise (the first!) keeps his queen in the game and the rook checks again, giving a tempo to White

3.Kb4

	after the third White move

Black can not continue with 3...Rc4+ because after 4.Ka3 mate in three moves follows : 4...h1=Q 5.Qe5+ Rc3 6.Qxc3+ b2 7.Qxb2#, or : 4...b2 5.Qe5 Rc3+ 6.Qxc3 h1=Q 7.Qxb2#
Complications arise with the continuation : 3...b2
Of course, White will not answer 4.Qh8? annihilating the two black pawns because there follows : 4...Rb6+ 5.Ka3 Rb3+ 6.Kxa4 h1=Q 7.Qxh1+ b1=Q 8.Rf1 Rb4+ and it is a draw.
Another variation 4.Rf1+ b1=Q+ 5.Rxb1+ Kxb1 6.Qe4+ Kb2 7.Qe5+ Kc1 8.Kxa4! Now, if 8...h1=Q 9.Qa1+ and White wins, and also if 8...Ra6+ 9.Kb3! and when the checks of the black rook are ended, White wins.

3...Rb6+ as previously, White must answer to two threats

4.Ka3 h1=Q and decides to let en prise (the second!) his queen! If the bishop take the queen, a mate by the rook follows. Black promotes the pawn h2 and thus has superiority in pieces, controlling at the same time the threats on the first line

5.Qh8+ b2 and again the white queen is en prise (the third!) Of course, its capturing by the black queen is unthinkable, since the black king is doomed... So, a defense to checks is presented.

6.Qxh1+ Bd1! The pawn b2 can not be a strong defense by any promotion, since it would remain pinned to see the mate by the white rook on a2. Even if Black select ...underpromotion to Knight with check, a vain row of checks follows : 6...b1=S+ 7.Kxa4 Rb4+ 8.Ka5 Rb5+ 9.Ka6 Rb6+ 10.Ka7 Ra6+ 11.Kb8 Rb6+ 12.Kc7 Rb8 13.Qf3 Re8 14.Qf6+ Re5 15.Qxe5+ Sc3 16.Qxc3+ Kb1 17.Qb2#

	after the sixth Black move

Now White must take care not to capture the bishop and destroy his tries with a stalemate! 7.Qxd1+? b1=S+ 8.Ka4 Rb4+ 9.Ka5 Rb5+ 10.Kxb5

7.Rxb2 Rb3+

8.Ka4 and surely not 8.Rxb3? which leaves Black in stalemate.

8...Rd3+ (Black is equally lost after 8...Kxb2 9.Qxd1 Rc3 10.Kb4 / Qd2+ / Qe2+ Rc2 11.Qe1 / Qd4+ / Qe5 Ka2 as the chess machines demonstrate)

9.Rb3

	after the ninth White move

and White can reach victory :
9...Rxb3
10.Qxd1+ Rb1
11.Qd4+ Ka2
12.Qd5+ Rb3
13.Qxb3+ Ka1
14.Qd1+ Kb2
15.Kb4 Ka2
16.Kc3 Ka3
17.Qa1#

Best Study for 2008

We present today the study which was selected, in the World Chess Composition Congress of 2009 in Rio de Janeiro Brasil, as the best for the year 2008 by the Studies Subcommittee of the PCCC (Permanent Commission of Fide for Chess Composition).

[Study of the Year 2008] is a study by Velimir Kalandadze.

John Roycroft (from Great Britain) announcing the award, urges young players to see this study because it is very instructive.

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Study of the year 2008.

	(Problem 385) Velimir Kalandadze, First Special Prize, Nona JT, 2008, White plays and wins. + (4 + 3)
[8/1q1P3K/5k2/8/Q7/p7/P7/8]

The solution follows...

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Key : 1.Qf4+! Ke6(Ke7)
2. Qf7+ Kxf7 ( not 2...Kd8 3.Qe8+ Kc7 4.d8=Q#, neither 2...Kd6 3.d8=Q+ Kc6 4.Qxb7 +- )
3. d8=S+ Kf6+
4. Sxb7 Ke5
5. Kg6 ( the white King rushes to confine in column 1 the black, to inhibit the promotion of the black Pawn ) Kd4
6. Kf5 Kc3
7. Ke4 Kb2
8. Kd3 Kxa2
9. Kc2 Ka1 ( Will Black try the scheme “buried alive” with 10...a2 to draw? ...)
10. Sc5 Ka2 (... no, because there is 11.Sb3#)
11. Sd3 Ka1
12. Sc1 a2
13. Sb3#

Best Study for 2005

Today we will see the study which was selected as best for the year 2005 from the PCCC, (Permanent Commission of Fide for Chess Composition).

[Study of the Year 2005] is a composition by Yuri Bazlov (who received this distinction the next year also).

The study has got some difficulty.
If the pawns and the white Knight are captured, no black piece must be lost.
If the Knights are captured, there is theoretical draw (K+B+P vs K+P) in some places.

The position should be very interesting for the Over-The-Board players.

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Study of the year 2005.

	(Problem 380) Yuri Bazlov, 5th Prize, Tourney for John Nunn's 50th birthday, 2005, White plays and draws. = (3 + 4)
[8/1k3s1K/6S1/6b1/6p1/8/6P1/8]

The solution follows...

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Key : 1.Sh8!
(The alternative is [1.Kg7? Sd6 2.Se5 g3] but Black can secure his pawn on g3 and gradually improve the position of his pieces. Of course, he must avoid the exchange of knights, which leads to a positional draw provided White’s king can reach f1. Although the win is not easy, it can be accomplished in the end; for example, [3.Kg6 Bd8!] stopping the white king reaching e6, after which it is very hard for Black to displace the centralized white pieces).

1...Se5
(the only winning chance is to prevent White’s king moving immediately to g6. After [1...Sxh8 2.Kxh8 Kc6 3.Kg7 Kd5 4.Kg6 Be3] Black cannot move his bishop to f4 or h4 without losing his pawn, so he loses another tempo later when White attacks the g3-pawn with his king [5.Kf5 g3 6.Kg4 Bf2 7.Kf3 Kd4 8.Ke2!]. The king reaches f1, with a standard positional draw).

2.Sf7!
(Already one piece down, White offers a second one!)

2...Sxf7
3.Kg6! Ne5+!
(The best try is to sacrifice the bishop, as [3...Kc6 4.Kxf7 Kd5 5.Kg6] draws as in the note to Black’s first move).

4.Kf5!
(Declining the offer. [4.Kxg5?] loses after [4...Kc6! 5.Kf4 Kd6!] gaining the opposition [6.Ke4 (6.Kf5 Kd5 wins) Ke6 7.Kf4 Kf6 8.g3 Ke6 9.Kg5 Kd5 10.Kf5 Kd4 11.Kf4 Kd3!] and the g3-pawn falls).

4...Sf7
(Amazing but true; Black cannot win despite being two clear minor pieces up. [4...Sf3 5.Kxg4] and [4...Bf6 5.Kxf6 Sf3 6.Kf5 Sh2 7.Kf4] are both clear draws).

5.Kg6 Se5+
6.Kf5! Draw.

(Notes by John Nunn).

Best Study for 2006

As we have said, the Permanent Commission of Fide for Chess Composition (PCCC), each year selects a study and gives to it the title [Study of the Year xxxx]. We will see today the study which was selected as Best for 2006.

[Study of the Year 2006] is a study by Yuri Bazlov (Russian, born in 1947), who composes remarkable problems for many years now. He had received this distinction also for the previous year.

The position has several pieces and is aristocratic (that means there are no pawns). It is difficult for someone to suppose that such a position can appear in an actual chess game, but they have searched through the computer held databases and have found similar positions at a percentage one to a million.

So the solvers could lose interest on a study with 'improbable' position. But since the image of a centered mate being delivered by the last remaining piece – the Knight – is impressive, try to solve this study. All the pieces move to their final positions and only white pieces are captured.

There is no try, only the main solution. Admire what can a man create!

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Study of the year 2006.

	(Problem 379) Yuri Bazlov, First Prize, Composition Tourney in memory of the British C. M. Bent, 2006, White plays and wins. + (4 + 5)
[4S3/5r2/7K/3kb3/r1s5/3BQ3/8/8]

For the solution, start with
Key : 1.Be4+! Ke6

The solution follows...

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(not 1.Qe4+? Kc5 2.Bxc4 Bf4+ 3.Kg6 Rxc4 4.Qa8 Re7 and we cannot see a winning plan for white)

Key : 1.Be4+! Ke6

2.Qc5!
(not 2.Qb3? Rf4 3.Qxa4 Rxe4 and the white is not winning)

2...Bf4+
(not 2...Rfa7 3.Bd5+ Kf5 4.Qf8+ Kg4 5.Qf3+ Kh4 6.Be6 and the white will mate)

3.Kg6 Se5+
4.Kh5 Rxe4
(not 4...Rd7 5.Bd5+ Rxd5 6.Sc7+ Kd7 7.Sxd5 and white will win)
(not 4...Rfa7 5.Bd5+ Kd7 6.Sf6+ Kd8 7.Be6 R4a5 8.Qb6+ Ke7 9.Sg8+ Kf8 10.Qd8+ Kg7 11.Qf6+ Kh7 12.Se7 and white can win)

5.Qd6+ Kf5
6.Qf6+ Rxf6
7.Sg7# 1-0

Best Study for 2007

The International Committee for Chess Problems selects one study each year and gives it the title [Study of the Year xxxx]. It is generally supposed that the best study of the year takes the title. The reality is slightly different, (that is there may be excellent studies for some year, not winning this title), but in some years the selected study is really beautiful.

In Jurmala of Latvia in 2008 as [Best study of the Year 2007] was selected a prized study of the Czech problemist Mario Matous, and we present it here.

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Study of the year 2007.

	(Problem 366) Mario Matous, First Prize, Polasek and Vlasak 50 J Ty 2007, White plays and wins. + (4 + 4)
[8/q7/8/2pp4/5K2/8/2RS1B1k/8]

To solve this study, you may begin with
Key : 1.Sf3+! Kh1! (why not 1...Kh3? )
and you discover the continuation (which is consisted from two 'symmetrical' variations).

The solution is written below...

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Key : 1.Sf3! Kh1!
(not 1...Kh3? 2.Sg5+ Kg2 3.Bxc5+ and the black Queen is lost)

2.Bd4!! ( > 3. Rh2# )
(not 2.Bxc5? Qa4+ 3.Sd4 Qxd4+! 4.Bxd4 = stalemate )

2...Qf7+!
(not 2...Qb8+? 3.Be5 Qf8+ 4.Ke3 Qh6+ 5.Kf2 c4 6.Ra2 Qb6+ 7.Bd4 Qb1 8.Ra1 1-0)
(not 2...Qc7+? with possible continuations [3.Se5 Qb8 4.Rb2! Qf8+ 5.Kg3 Qg7+ 6.Sg4 Qc7+ 7.Be5 Qh7 8.Rd2 Qb1 9.Rd1+ Qxd1 10.Sf2+ 1-0] or [3.Se5 Qc8 4.Kg3 Qg8+ 5.Sg4 Qb8+ 6.Kh3 Qb3+ 7.Rc3 Qb1 8.Sf2+ Kg1 9.Se4+ cxd4 10.Rg3+ Kf1 11.Sd2+ 1-0])

3.Ke3!!
(not 3.Kg3? Qg6+ losing the Rook)

3...cxd4+
4.Kf2! Qf4
5.Rc6!!
(not 5.Rc8? Qe3+ 6.Kg3 Qh6 7.Kf2 Qe3+ 8.Kg3 Qh6 = draw by triple repetition
nor 5.Re2? Qe3+ = draw
nor 5.Ra2? Qc1 6.Kg3!? Qc7+ 7.Kf2 Qc1 = draw by triple repetition
which cannot be avoided by 6.Ra8 Qc2+ 7.Kg3 Qg6+ 8.Kf2 Qc2+ =)

Black is in zugzwang situation.

First variation, where the pawn moves and blocks the diagonal b1-h7.
5...d3
6.Rc8! Qh6
7.Rb8! (avoiding Qb6+) 1-0

Second variation, 'symmetrical' to the main diagonal a8-h1.
5...Qe3+
6.Kg3 d3
7.Ra6! Qc1
8.Ra7! (avoiding Qc7+) 1-0

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Sad info : mario matous 1947 - 2013