[Event "White to play and win"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Villeneuve, A."]
[Black "0301.20"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4k3/8/5P2/4PK2/5N2/4r3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.25"]
{The goal, if the bK is on e8: Kg7 and Ng6, which Black tries
to forbid by placing the rook on "f", attacking f6 and preventing f7. And
symmetrically, if the bK is on f8: Kd7 and Nd6, which Black tries to
forbid by placing the Rook on "e", attacking e6 and preventing e7. The
pawns are more difficult to protect in the 7th rank than in the 6th, it will thus be necessary
push one of them only if the continuation is clearly winning.} 1. e6 $8 {Threatens f7+
followed by Ng6+.} (1. Ke6 $2 Rg3 $8 2. f7+ Kf8 $8 3. Kf6 Rf3 $8 $11) 1... Rf3 $1
{This would be draw with the R in f1, but the win would be much faster with the R
in f2. With the bK in f8, there would be a symmetrical gain, but a bit shorter..}
(1... Rg3 $6 2. f7+ Ke7 3. Ng6+ $8) 2. Ke5 $8 (2. Kg4 $2 Rf1 $8 3. Kf5
Kf8 $1 $11) (2. Ke4 $2 Rf1 $8 3. Ke5 Re1+ $1 4. Kd6 Rd1+ $8 5. Nd5 Kf8 $8) (2.
Kg5 $6 Rg3+ $1 3. Kf5 $8 (3. Kh6 $6 Rf3 $1)) (2. -- Kf8 $2 (2... Rf1 $8) (2...
Rf2 $2 3. Kg5 $1 Kf8 4. Ng6+ $8 Ke8 5. Ne5 $8 {: see text in 16th after
symmetry}) 3. Kg4 $1 Rf2 4. Ng6+ $1 (4. Kg5 $1) 4... Ke8 5. Kg5 $8 {: see the
7th move of the text; one continues in the same way until 26 Ng7+, symmetrical of 28 Nd7+})
2... Kf8 $1 (2... Re3+ $6 3. Kd6 {(the rook does not have the check in d1 that
would draw)} Rg3 4. f7+ Kf8 5. Kd7 Re3 6. Ng6+ $8) (2... Rg3 $6 3. f7+ Ke7 (
3... Kf8 4. Kf6) 4. Nd5+ $8 Kf8 5. Nf6 $1 Re3+ {(Rook is too close to wK)} 6.
Kd5 $8 Rd3+ 7. Ke4 $8 Rd8 8. Ke5 $1 Ra8 9. Nh7+ Ke7 10. f8=Q+ Rxf8 11. Nxf8
Kxf8 12. Kd6 Ke8 13. e7 $8) (2... Rf1 $6 3. f7+ Kf8 4. Ng6+ $8 Kg7 5. f8=Q+
Rxf8 6. Nxf8 {idem}) 3. Ng6+ $8 (3. Ng2 $6 Rf1 4. Nh4 $8 Ke8 5. Ng6 $8 Rf3 6.
Nh8 $8) (3. Ke4 $6 Rf1 4. Ng6+ $8 Ke8 5. Ke5 $8 Rf3 6. Nh8 $8) (3. f7 $2 Kg7 $8
(3... Rg3 $2 4. Kf6 $1) (3... Re3+ $2 4. Kf6 $1)) 3... Ke8 $1 (3... Kg8 $6 4.
Ne7+ $1 Kf8 5. Nf5 $1 {threatens e7+}) 4. Nh8 $3 {[#]A new form of the "strongest
attacking move in the world" of Nimzovitch-Rubinstein 1926 : 18 Ng3-h1!! for
19 Nf2.} (4. Nh4 $6 Rf1 $1 5. Nf5 $2 (5. Ng6 $8 Rf3 6. Nh8 $8 {: text}) 5...
Re1+ $8 6. Kd5 Rd1+ $8 7. Kc4 Rc1+ $8 8. Kd3 Re1 $8 9. e7 Kf7 $1 $11) 4... Kf8
(4... Re3+ 5. Kf5 $8 Rf3+ 6. Kg5 $1 Rf2 $1 7. Ng6 $1 Rf1 8. Nh4 $8 {with a
symmetrical sequence of 8 Nc4!!, except for one detail: it will be necessary to play
24 Kh5! (for Kg6-h7-g8) rather than 24 Kh6? Kf7! 25 Nd6+ Kxf6 26 e8Q Rh2+ forcing
the Queen to cover}) (4... Rg3 5. Kf5 $8 {idem}) (4... Rf1 $6 5. f7+ {which was not
possible with Knight on h4}) 5. Nf7 $8 (5. f7 $2 Rg3 $1 (5... Re3+ $1 {
idem}) (5... Rf6 $2 6. Kd6 $8 Rh6 7. Ng6+ $3 {[#]} Rxg6 8. Kd7 $8 {: Roman theme :
g8 is less favourable than h8 !}) 6. Kf6 Rf3+ $8) 5... Rf2 $1 {A paradoxical
defence : the R is better off on the first row, but does not get there
immediately for tempo reasons.} (5... Rf1 $6 6. Nd6 $8 Re1+ 7. Kd5 $8 {:
text on the 15th; White has saved himself the long manoeuvre of changing
move}) (5... Re3+ $6 6. Kd6 $1 Rd3+ (6... Rf3 7. Ne5 $1) 7. Kc6 Rf3 (7... Ra3
8. Nd6 $1 Ra6+ 9. Kd7 Ra7+ 10. Kd8 $8) 8. Kd7 $8 Rd3+ (8... Rxf6 9. e7+ $8) 9.
Nd6 $8) (5... Ra3 $6 6. Ng5 $1 (6. Nd6 Re3+ 7. Kd5 Re1 {: text}) 6... Ra5+ 7.
Kf4 $8 Ra4+ 8. Kf5 $8 Ra5+ 9. Kg6 $8) 6. Nd6 $8 {Threatens e7+.} (6. Ng5 $6 Rf1 $1
7. Nf7 $8 Rf2 8. Nd6 $8) 6... Re2+ 7. Kd5 $8 Re1 $1 {Now, the only way
to progress is to pass the move to Black, which will require 8 moves!
The reason will appear on 18th move.} (7... Rd2+ $6 8. Kc6 $1) 8. Nc4 $3 {[#]the
threat is Kd6-d7.} (8. Nf5 $6 Ke8 $1 9. f7+ $2 Kf8 $8 10. Nh4 Rg1 $1 $11 {:
compare with the 18th move in the text}) 8... Ke8 {Here White will transmit
the move by a simple triangulation.} (8... Rd1+ $6 9. Kc6 $1 Rc1 10. Kd7 $1)
(8... Re2 $6 9. Kd6 $1 Ra2 10. Ne5 $1 Ra6+ (10... Rd2+ 11. Kc7 $8 Rc2+ 12. Kd8
$8) 11. Kd7 $8 {(coming to f5 does not work because of ...Ra5!)} Ra7+ 12. Kc8 $8
Ra8+ (12... Ke8 13. f7+) 13. Kb7 $8 Ra1 14. Nd7+) 9. Kd6 $3 {[#]The wK relays the N
on the d6 turntable. The threat is f7+ followed by Ne5} Rf1 $1 {Take advantage from
the fact that there is no longer Nd6+ then e7+.} (9... Kd8 10. Ne5 $8 (10. f7 $2 Rd1+ $8)
(10. e7+ $2 Ke8 $8 11. Ne5 Rd1+ $8 12. Ke6 Rd6+ $1 13. Kxd6 {stalemate}) 10... Rd1+
11. Kc6 $1 Rc1+ (11... Rf1 12. Nf7+ $8 Ke8 13. Nd6+ $8) (11... Re1 12. f7 $1
Ke7 13. Ng6+ $8) 12. Kd5 $8 Rd1+ 13. Ke4 $8 {: see further 11...Kd8}) (9...
Rd1+ $6 10. Kc6 {: text on 12th}) (9... Re2 $6 10. f7+ $8 Kf8 11. Ne5 $8 Rd2+
12. Kc7 $8 Ke7 13. Ng6+ $8) 10. Ke5 $8 Re1+ 11. Kd5 $8 {A non-reciprocal Z.}
Rd1+ $1 (11... Rf1 $6 12. Nd6+ $8) (11... Re2 $6 12. Nd6+ $8 (12. Kd6 $6 Rf2 $1
) 12... Kf8 13. Nf5 $8 {: text on 16th}) (11... Kd8 $1 {(also leads to many
adventures !)} 12. Ne5 $8 Rd1+ (12... Re2 13. f7 $1 {(and not e7+ followed by Ke6
because of ...Rf2!)} Rd2+ 14. Ke4 $1 Re2+ 15. Kf3 $1) 13. Ke4 $8 Rf1 14. Nf7+
$3 {[#]} Kc7 (14... Ke8 $6 15. Nd6+ $8) 15. Ke5 $8 Rf2 16. Nh8 $3 {[#](an echo
necessary, threatening f7 and then Ng6, a return journey of the 3rd & 4th move)} Re2+ 17.
Kf5 $8 Kd6 18. Nf7+ $8 Kc7 19. Ng5 $1 ({also possible} 19. Ne5 $1 Kd6 {
(or ...Kd8 20 Nd7!!, see 13...Kd8)} 20. Nc4+ $1 {followed by e7 or f7}) 19... Re1
(19... Kd8 20. Nh7 $1 Rf2+ 21. Kg6 $8 Re2 22. Kf7) (19... Kd6 20. Kg6 $8) 20.
f7 $1 (20. Kg6 $1 Rf1 21. Kf7 $1 Re1 22. Ke7 $1) 20... Rf1+ 21. Ke5 $1 ({or the
sacrifice} 21. Nf3 $1 Rxf3+ 22. Ke4 $1 Rf1 23. e7 $8) 21... Kd8 22. Nh7 $8 Re1+
23. Kf6 $8 Rf1+ 24. Kg7 $8 Rg1+ 25. Ng5 $3 {[#](you have to sacrifice anyway
!)} (25. Kf8 $6 Re1 $1 26. Ng5 $8 Re5 $1 27. Kg7 $8) 25... Rxg5+ 26. Kf6 $8) (
11... Kf8 $6 12. Ne5 $1 Rd1+ 13. Kc6 $1 {aiming at d8}) 12. Kc6 $8 {To bring
another simple Z.} (12. Kc5 $6 {(would require a different triangulation)} Rc1 $1
{Z} 13. Kd4 $8 (13. Kd5 $6 Re1 $1 14. Kd6 $8 {back on 9th}) 13... Rd1+ (13...
Re1 $6 14. Nd6+ $8 Kf8 15. Kd5 $8 {text}) 14. Ke5 $1 Re1+ 15. Kd5 $1 Rd1+ 16.
Kc6 $8) 12... Rc1 {the threat was Nd6+ then e7+.} (12... Re1 13. Nd6+ $8 Kd8
$1 14. Kd5 $8 Re2 15. Nf5 $1 {as in the text on 16th}) 13. Kc5 $3 {[#]It is
more usual to defend a knight by unpinning it, but 13 Kb5? draws and
13 Kd5? is a waste of time.} (13. Kb5 $2 Re1 $1 $11) (13. Kd5 $6 Re1 $1 {
: back on 8th black move}) 13... Re1 {Black is in zugzwang and must let go of ballast :
either the Rook unpins the Knight, or must go in the 2nd rank (less favourable),
or the Black King lets his counterpart come on
d8 or f8.} (13... Rc2 14. Kd5 $8 Re2 15. Nd6+ $8 Kf8 16. Nf5 $8 {returns to
even}) (13... Kd8 14. Kd5 $1 Rd1+ (14... Re1 15. Ne5 $8 {already seen on 11...Kd8}
) (14... Rf1 15. Ke5 $8 Rf2 16. Nd6 $8 Re2+ 17. Kf5 {idem}) 15. Ke5 $8 Rc1 16.
Nd6 $8 Re1+ 17. Kf5 $8 Re2 18. Nf7+ $1 Ke8 (18... Kc7 19. Ng5 $8 {followed by Kg6}
) 19. Ne5 $8 Kd8 (19... Kf8 $6 20. Ng6+) (19... Rf2+ 20. Kg6 $1 {for Kg7 and
Ng6}) 20. Nd7 $3 {[#]} Re1 21. f7 $8 Rf1+ 22. Kg6 $1 {and the wK runs in f8}) (13...
Kf8 14. Kd5 $8 Re1 (14... Rd1+ 15. Kc6 $8 Rc1 16. Kd7 $8) 15. Ne5 $1 (15. Nd6
$6 {text}) 15... Rd1+ 16. Kc6 $1 {and wK run to d8}) (13... Rc3 $6 14.
Kd4 $1) 14. Nd6+ $8 (14. Kd5 $6 Rd1+ $1 {: back on 11th black move}) 14... Kf8
(14... Kd8 15. Kd5 $8 {gives the same line of play except for a few details,
explained below}) 15. Kd5 $8 {This is the position after the 7th black move,
but changed move.} Re2 $1 (15... Re3 $6 16. Nf5 $1 Re1 17. Kd6 $8 Rd1+ (17...
Rf1 18. e7+ $8) 18. Kc6 $1 Rc1+ 19. Kd7 $8 Rd1+ 20. Nd6 $8) (15... Rd1+ $6 16.
Kc6 $1 {(with the bK on d8, one would play Ke5-f5, threatening Nf7-e5, as already seen)}
Re1 17. Kd7 $8) 16. Nf5 $3 {[#]The bR had to be moved from e1 to e2 to
the decisive plan (see below). The threat is again Kd6-d7.} (
16. f7 $2 {would also win with bK in d8, but makes no sense here}) 16...
Ke8 $1 (16... Re1 $6 17. Kd6 $8 (17. e7+ $2 Kf7 $8) 17... Rf1 18. e7+ $1 (18.
Kd7 $1 Rxf5 19. e7+ $8) 18... Kf7 19. Nh6+ $8) (16... Rd2+ $6 17. Kc6 $8 {
(with the bK on d8, one would play Kc4! threatening at the same time e7+ and f7)} Re2 18. Kd7 $8
) 17. f7+ $8 {White can finally compromise his pawn chain, which
would not win with the rook on e1.} (17. Nh4 $6 Rf2 $1 18. Ke5 $8 Rf1 $1
19. Ng6 $8 Rf3 20. Nh8 $8 {and everything would have to be done again}) 17... Kf8
18. Nh4 $3 {[#]This move requires the bR to be in the 2nd row, otherwise it would access the
"g" column, preventing Ng6+.} Rd2+ (18... Kg7 19. Ng6 $1 Rd2+ 20. Kc6 Rd8 21. f8=Q+) (
18... Rf2 19. Ng6+ $8 Kg7 20. f8=Q+ Rxf8 21. Nxf8 Kxf8 22. Kd6 $8) 19. Kc5 $3 {[#]
The White King likes this square (see the 13th move) but here, it looks like he
the impression that he deserts.} (19. Ke5 $6 Re2+ $1 20. Kf6 $2 Rf2+ $8 21. Nf5 Re2
$3 $11 {[#]} 22. e7+ Rxe7 23. Nxe7 {stalemate}) (19. Kc6 $6 Rc2+ 20. Kd5 $1 Rd2+ 21. Kc5 $8
) (19. Kc4 $2 Rd8 $1 (19... Kg7 $1 20. Ng6 Rd8 $8) 20. Ng6+ Kg7 21. e7 Rc8+ $8
{followed by ...Kxf7}) 19... Rc2+ (19... Kg7 20. Ng6 $8 Rc2+ 21. Kd6 $8) (19...
Rd8 20. Ng6+ $8 {for 23 Kd6!}) 20. Kd4 $8 {It was an illusion: he returns
quickly, to the meeting of the bR.} Rf2 (20... Rd2+ 21. Ke3 $8 Rd8 22. Ng6+ Kg7 23.
e7 $8 Rd3+ 24. Kxd3 Kxf7 25. Ke4) (20... Rc8 21. Ng6+ $8 Kg7 22. Ne5 $8 Kf8 23.
Kd5 $1 Rd8+ 24. Nd7+ $1) 21. Ng6+ $8 Kg7 22. Ne5 $8 {Threatens e7. N relays the
wK on the e5 hub.} (22. Nh8 $6 Kf8 23. Ng6+ $8) 22... Kf8 (22...
Rd2+ 23. Kc3 $1 Rf2 (23... Rd8 24. e7 $1) 24. e7 $1) 23. Kd5 $8 {Renew the
threat Ng6+.} (23. Kc5 $2 Ke7 $8) 23... Rd2+ 24. Kc6 $1 {to d8.} (24. Kc5 $1)
24... Rc2+ 25. Kd7 $1 Rd2+ 26. Kc7 $1 Rc2+ (26... Ke7 27. Ng6+ $8) 27. Kd8 $8
Rd2+ 28. Nd7+ $8 {Thus, White has obtained after the 15th black move the same
position as after the 7th, with one detail (the "petite difference"), the rook
is on e2 instead of e1, which allows the realisation of the plan. A foreground
of 8 moves, for a total of 23 fully determined moves. An almost miracle discovery.
The fact that this study was not rewarded by the "judge" is certainly an
epiphenomenon, but is no less mysterious.} 1-0
Add a comment