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The pawn is the soul of the game
By Siegfried Hornecker
As this is our first episode of the “Study of the Month”, I would like to introduce the idea behind this column. The World Federation for Chess Composition is the governing body for all kinds of chess composition, including endgame studies. There was a selection of the “Study of the Year” each year which was supposed to show the most appealing recent study to the general public, which was presented, also on ChessBase, each year. But as this failed to draw the attention it should, John Nunn and Yochanan Afek came up with the idea of presenting some good older studies which might not be well known, but demonstrate the artistic side of this genre to the audience, once a month.
At the same congress where this was suggested, Afek also told a heartwarming story of himself seeing an elder man and a boy – supposedly father or grandfather and son – solving or replaying an endgame study, showing their surprise at almost each move. Yochanan Afek was also surprised. This was his own study on their board.
1.Bg7+! 1.Bxg5? fxg5 2.Qh5+ Kg7 3.Qxg5+ Kxf7 4.Qf6+ Kg8 5.Rh2 5.Rb8 Qc5 5...Be6+ 6.Kg5 Nh7+ 7.Rxh7 Qd2+ 8.Qf4 Qxf4+ 9.Kxf4 Kxh7 1...Kxg7 1...Kh7 2.Qh5+ Kxg7 3.exf6# 2.exf6+ Kh8 2...Kxf7 3.Qh5+ Kg8 4.Qxg5+ 3.Qh5+ Ngh7 4.Qxh7+! Nxh7 4...Kxh7 5.Rh2# 5.Rb8+ Nf8 6.Rxf8+ Kh7 7.Rh8+! Kxh8 8.f8Q+ Bg8+ 9.Kg6! Qc7 10.Qg7+! Qxg7+ 11.fxg7# 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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Afek,Y | - | White to play and win | - | 1–0 | 2012 | | 4.c The Problemist #1076 | |
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As Philidor once said, the pawn is the soul of chess. The Saavedra study is a very famous example for another struggle where a single pawn wins ingeniously, but it will also be well known to the readers, so as this month’s study of the month I chose a pointed play that ends in a pawn drawing against probably the most possible material in a still endgame-like position.
The following study is not only outstanding because a correction was provided by one of the authors – the other one had died in 1973 already – 40 years later, but we will see soon for what other reason as well.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.c4 1.gxf7? Bxf7! 2.c4 2.Bxf7 a1Q-+ 2...Bxg8-+ 1...f6! 2.Bxf6 2.Bxd5+? Nxd5 2...Bxg8 3.h6 Nd7! 4.h7! 4.Bb2? Nf8!-+ 5.h7 Nxg6+ 6.Kg5 Bxh7 7.Kh6 Nf8 8.Kg7 Bd4+ 9.Bxd4 Ne6+ 10.Kxh7 Nxd4-+ 4.Bg7 Nf8 5.Bxf8 a1Q-+ 4...Bf2+! 4...Bxh7 5.gxh7 Nf8! 6.h8Q! 6.h8N? Ne6! 6...Ng6+ 7.Kg3+ Nxh8 8.Bxh8 Kg1 9.Kf3 Kf1 10.Ke4 Ke2 11.Kd5!= 4...Nxf6 5.h8Q a1Q 5...Bd4 6.Kg3+ Kg1 7.Qh2+ Kf1 8.Qxa2+- 8.Kf3 Bxc4 9.Qh1+ Bg1 10.Qg2+ Ke1 11.Qxg1+ Kd2 12.Qd4++- 6.Kg3+ Bh7 6...Kg1 7.Qh2+ Kf1 8.Qg2+ Ke1 9.Qh1++- 7.Qa8+!+- 7.gxh7? Ne4+ 5.Kg5! 5.Kh3? Be6# 5.Kg4? Nxf6+-+ 5...Bxh7 6.gxh7 Nxf6+-+ 5...Bh4+! 5...Nxf6 6.h8Q+ 6.Kxh4 6.Kf5? Bxh7 6...Be6+ 7.gxh7 Bxf6 6...Nxf6! 7.h8Q a1Q 8.Kg5+‼ 8.Kg3+? Bh7! 9.gxh7 Ne4+ 8...Nh7+! 9.Kh6‼ 9.Qxh7+ Bxh7 10.gxh7 9.gxh7 9...Qxh8 9...Qc1+ 10.Kg7 9...Nf6 10.Kg5+! 10.g7‼ 10...Qxg7+ 11.Kxg7 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Kuznetsov/Sakharov,A | - | White to play and draw | - | ½–½ | 1958 | | Shakhmatnaya Moskva (correction) | |
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 You probably know that you can move pieces on the replay board to analyse, and even start an engine to help you. You can maximize the replayer, auto-play, flip the board and even change the piece style in the bar below the board. At the bottom of the notation window on the right there are buttons for editing (delete, promote, cut lines, unannotate, undo, redo) save, play out the position against Fritz and even embed our JavaScript replayer on your web site or blog. Hovering the mouse over any button will show you its function. |
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About the author
Siegfried Hornecker (*1986) is a German chess composer and member of the World Federation for Chess Composition, subcommitee for endgame studies. His autobiographical book "Weltenfern" (in English only) can be found on the ARVES website. He will present an interesting endgame study with detailed explanation each month. |