Chess study 20 – Leonard Katsnelson study

in Chess Studies Chess Training on July 10, 2017 January 29, 2019

Chess study 20

Leonard Katsnelson study, 1968

This is another problem from the Dvoretsky’s book, Studies for practical players. The solution is amazingly beautiful

White to play and win

[Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2017.07.10"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Study 20"]  [Black "?"]  [Result "*"]  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "k6r/pn5p/1p3P1p/1K5P/1PP5/8/b6B/4R3 w - - 0 1"]  [PlyCount "29"]   1. f7 {[pgndiagram] The first move is obvious} Nd8 {Re8 was threatened}   (1...  Bb3 {For practical purposes, it is worth mentioning that this move was also  possible} 2. Re8+ Nd8 {And now the rook is taboo. However 1 .. Nd8 is more  accurate, because in the main line Black is not forced to play 2... Bb3} 3. c5  {And White wins}   (3. Rxh8 Kb7 {[pgndiagram] And White can't prevent a6 with  mate on the next move})) 2. Re8 Kb7 $1   (2... Bb3 3. c5 {Would transpose to  the variation arising after 1.. Bb3}) 3. Re7+ $1 {[pgndiagram] The only move  that wins} (3. Rxh8 Bb3 {And a6 next move})   (3. f8=Q Rxf8 4. Rxf8 Bb3 {And  once again White has to deal with a6 threat}) 3... Ka8 4. Ka6 $1 {[pgndiagram]  Of course, there is no repetition} Bxc4+ 5. b5 Nc6 $1 {The only defence  against Rxa7 mate} 6. Re8+ Nb8+ 7. Bxb8 Bxf7 $1 {[pgndiagram] The point of  Black's defence!} 8. Re7 $3 {Chess never ceases to amaze us with its  paradoxical beauty}   (8. Rxh8 Bg8 {And White can't prevent a draw. Whether he  moves the bishop or the rook, there is a stalemate on the board.}) 8... Be6 $1  {Introducing stalemate ideas once again}   (8... Kxb8 {The rook ending is  completely hopeless for Black} 9. Rxf7 Re8 10. Rxa7 Re5 11. Rxh7 Rxh5 12. Kxb6  Kc8 13. Kc6 Kd8 14. b6 {[pgndiagram] And White wins}) 9. Rxe6 $1   (9. Bxa7 {  Runs into a nice trick} Bc8+ 10. Kxb6 Re8 11. Rxh7 Bf5 {And White can't win  this position}) 9... Re8 $1   (9... Kxb8 10. Re7 {Transposes to the previously  examined endgame}) 10. Rxh6 {[pgndiagram]}   (10. Rxe8)   (10. Re5 {Are both  stalemates}) 10... Re1 11. Bxa7 Ra1+ 12. Kxb6 Ra6+ {[pgndiagram] A last try to  confuse the opponent}   (12... Rxa7 13. Re6 Rb7+ 14. Kc6 {Is another version of  the lost rook endgame}) 13. Kc7 $1 {Avoiding the stalemate, of course} Rxh6 14.  b6 Rxb6 15. Bxb6 {[pgndiagram] And White finally wins. Fantastic!} *

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