[Event "1 The Ultimate Sacrfice"]
[Date ""]
[White "1. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1Q1K4/2P2k2/2P5/1P2q3/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{How can White exploit his advanced pawns without allowing Black a perpetual
check?} 1. c8=N $3 {Sacrificing the white queen is the only way to avoid a
perpetual check by the black one.} (1. Kc8 $2 Qf5+ 2. Kb7 Qxb5+ 3. Ka7 Qa5+ 4.
Kb7 Qb5+ 5. Kc8 Qf5+ {is a draw.}) 1... Qxb8 2. c7 Qa8 {
It's important to keep the knight pinned.} (2... Qb7 {allows the deadly fork}
3. Nd6+) 3. Kd7 Kf6 4. Nd6 Qa7 5. Kc6 Qa8+ 6. Kb6 $18 {
The black queen has run out of checks and queening is inevitable.} 1-0

[Event "1 The Ultimate Sacrfice"]
[Date ""]
[White "2. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7N/7P/8/7k/5Q2/8/2b1K3/q7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{This is a miniature version of a theme that has been prominent in this chapter.
} 1. Qh2+ $1 {The only far-sighted choice.} (1. Qf3+ $2 Kh6 $1 2. Qh3+ Kg7 {
leads nowhere.}) (1. Nf7 $2 Qa6+ $1 2. Kd2 Qd3+ 3. Ke1 (3. Kc1 Qd1+ 4. Kb2 Qb1+
{=}) 3... Qc3+ 4. Kf2 Qc5+ 5. Kg2 Be4+ $1 6. Qxe4 Qf2+ $1 (6... Qg1+ $1 {
works in the same way}) 7. Kxf2 {is a model stalemate, meaning that each
square around the black king is attacked only once.}) 1... Kg4 ({Obviously not
} 1... Kg5 2. Nf7+ {winning without a fight.}) 2. Qg2+ Kh4 (2... Kh5 {
is defeated by} 3. Qh3+ Kg5 4. Nf7+ {queening.}) 3. Ng6+ $1 Bxg6 4. h8=Q+ $1
Bh5+ $1 (4... Qxh8 5. Qh2+ ({or} 5. Qh1+) 5... Kg5 6. Qxh8 $18) 5. Qg4+ $3 {
A decisive cross-check!} (5. Kf2 $2 Qe1+ $1 (5... Qxh8 $2 6. Qg3#) (5... Qa2+
$5 {draws more slowly:} 6. Kg1 Qb1+ 7. Kh2 Qg1+ $1 8. Kxg1 {stalemate}) 6. Kxe1
{A pin model stalemate!}) 5... Kxg4 6. Qxa1 $18 {And wins.} 1-0

[Event "1 The Ultimate Sacrfice"]
[Date ""]
[White "3. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q7/5PPK/8/r7/2bP2k1/5R2/2B5/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{White's pawn pair is ready for action, but some preparatory work is needed
first to neutralize Black's sharp threats against the white king.} 1. d5 $1 {
A quiet Novotny sacrifice on the intersection of the black line-movers (the
rook and the bishop in this case)} (1. f8=Q $2 {loses to} Rh5+ 2. Kg6 Qc6+ 3.
Qf6 Qe8+ {etc.}) 1... Bxd5 {Interfering with the black rook.} ({However,} 1...
Rxd5 {allows} 2. g8=Q+ Qxg8+ 3. fxg8=Q+ {as the bishop is now interfered.}) 2.
f8=Q Be4+ $1 {Reopening the rook's rank.} 3. Rf5 $3 (3. Bxe4 $2 {
could be met by:} Qxe4+ 4. Kg8 Qd5+ 5. Rf7 Ra8 {=}) 3... Rxf5 $1 ({Instead} 
3... Bxf5+ 4. Bxf5+ $18 {is a lot easier for White.}) 4. g8=Q+ (4. Qxa8 $2 {
leads White nowhere after:} Rh5+ $1 5. Kg8 Bxa8 {=}) 4... Rg5+ $1 5. Qf5+ $3 {
A second time on the same square! This stunning cross-check between Black's
pieces is the decisiveblow!} (5. Bxe4 $2 Qxe4+ 6. Kh8 {is no more than a draw.}
) 5... Kxf5 ({While after} 5... Bxf5+ 6. Bxf5+ Kxf5 {
White can safely pick up the enemy queen:} 7. Qxa8 $18) 6. Qxa8 {
The pinned bishop can't recapture.} Bxc2 7. Qc8+ Kf6+ 8. Qxc2 $18 {
White is winning comfortably in this textbook ending.} 1-0

[Event "1 The Ultimate Sacrfice"]
[Date ""]
[White "4. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2Bq4/2pP4/2K2k2/5P2/8/p5P1/p6b/5Q2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{In this position of material equality, White's proud pawn is blocked and the
bishops are of opposite colour. This last fact usually favours the attacker
and is a key factor in the winning efforts here.} 1. Qa1+ $1 Kg5 2. Qg7+ $1 {
Forcing the black king to move to the diagonal targeted by the white battery!}
({Routine attempts are not sufficient. After either} 2. Qxa2 $2 Bxg3 3. Qxa3
Be5 4. Qd3 Qf6+ 5. Kb7 Qb6+ 6. Ka8 Qa5+ 7. Ba6 Bf6 {=}) ({or} 2. Qe5 $2 Kg4 3.
Qf4+ Kh3 (3... Kh5 4. g4+ Kh4 5. Qxh2+) 4. Qf1+ Kxg3 5. f6 Kh4 6. f7 Bd6 {
=, Black holds.}) 2... Kxf5 3. Qh8 $3 {
A thematic sacrifice to unleash the white battery. Other attempts are futile:}
(3. Qf8+ $2 Qxf8 4. d8=Q+ Kg6 5. Qxf8 a1=Q {=}) (3. Qh7+ $2 Ke5 4. Qh5+ Kd4 5.
Qc5+ Ke4 {=}) 3... a1=Q $1 4. Qxa1 a2 {
White is clearly winning following black king moves:} (4... Kg6 5. Qe5 Kh6 (
5... Kh7 6. Ba6 $3 {is extremely strong}) 6. Ba6 a2 (6... Bxg3 7. Qe3+ $18) (
6... Qa8+ 7. Kxc7 $18) 7. Qe3+ Kg7 8. Qd4+ Kh6 9. Qd2+ Kg7 10. Qb2+ $18) (4...
Ke4 5. Qxa3 Qf6+ (5... Kf5 6. Qf8+) 6. Kxc7 Qe5+ 7. Kb7 Qd5+ 8. Kb8 Qe5+ 9. Ka8
$18) (4... Bxg3 5. Qh8 $1 Bh4 6. Qxh4 $1 $18) 5. Qh8 $1 {Again!} a1=Q $1 6.
Qxa1 Bxg3 7. Qh8 $1 {And once again!} Bh4 {What else?} 8. Qxh4 Qxh4 $1 {
With a last devious trap.} 9. d8=B+ $3 ({Since} 9. d8=Q+ $2 Ke5 $1 10. Qxh4 {
is stalemate!}) 9... Ke5 10. Bxh4 {And White wins. This was the best of my
three studies on this theme, and was ranked among the best ten in the
championship.} 1-0

[Event "2 Mate"]
[Date ""]
[White "5. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/5pp1/6q1/b5P1/3K4/6R1/2b2Q2/6R1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{The double exchange advantage is insignificant considering the vulnerability
of the white monarch, therefore extreme action is called for.} 1. Rh3+ $1 ({
A thematic try is} 1. Rh1+ $2 Kg8 2. Rh8+ Kxh8 3. Qh2+ Kg8 {with a dead end,
as the h2-b8 diagonal is blocked, preventing further offensive checks.}) 1...
Kg8 2. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 3. Qh2+ Qh7 (3... Kg8 {loses the queen after} 4. Qb8+ Kh7
5. Rh1+) 4. Qb8+ Bd8 {
Trying to avoid the inevitable but just prolonging the agony.} 5. Qxd8+ Qg8 6.
Rh1+ Bh7 {The tense struggle is now decided by a final double sacrifice to
create an aesthetic model mate.} 7. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7 8. g6+ $1 fxg6 9. Qh4# $1 {
A model mate (here the white king is just an observer)} 1-0

[Event "2 Mate"]
[Date ""]
[White "6. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3B4/8/8/8/2p3n1/1p6/4b3/1RK1k3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{White must benefit from the somewhat cramped position of the black king on
the first rank.} 1. Bh4+ Nf2 (1... Kf1 {
allows the black bishop to be won by the discovered check} 2. Kd2+) 2. Kb2+ $1
Kd2 3. Bxf2 c3+ $1 4. Kxb3 Bd1+ {
An essential in-between check to avoid 4...c2 5.Be1+.} 5. Ka2 $1 c2 $1 6. Rc1
$1 ({As} 6. Ra1 $2 c1=Q 7. Be3+ Kxe3 8. Rxc1 {proves insufficient.}) 6... Kxc1
7. Be3# $1 {An ideal mate following two active self-blocks by Black.} 1-0

[Event "2 Mate"]
[Date ""]
[White "7. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3K1k2/5b1p/P5p1/3N4/6P1/8/r7/2B5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{Black's cramped position on the eighth rank should be exploited without delay.
} 1. Bh6+ {Opposite-coloured bishops are usually an advantage for the attacker
when cooperating with at least one other piece.} Kg8 2. Nf6+ Kh8 3. Ke7 Rxa6 4.
Kf8 $1 {A refusal to capture.} (4. Kxf7 $2 Ra7+ 5. Kf8 g5 $1 6. Bxg5 h5 $1 7.
Nxh5 Kh7 {forces an easy draw.}) 4... Ra8+ {
Trying to force the capture but White comes up with a counter-blow.} 5. Ne8 $3
{A nasty zwischenzug that confuses the black defence while maintaining the
mate threat.} Rxe8+ 6. Kxf7 Rg8 7. g5 $1 {All of a sudden it's a reciprocal
zugzwang with Black to play. Any rook move (other than to f8) is met by a
bishop mate.} Ra8 8. Bg7# 1-0

[Event "2 Mate"]
[Date ""]
[White "8. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5b2/8/1r4kP/8/2Q5/7K/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Can White prevent the black pieces from coordinating, despite being busy with
the promotion threat?} 1. Qg8+ $1 Kh5 {
Otherwise the bishop is captured with check.} 2. h7 a1=Q (2... Rb3+ {loses to}
3. Kg2 a1=Q 4. h8=Q+ Qxh8 5. Qxh8+ Bh6 6. Qe8+ {and the rook falls soon.}) 3.
h8=Q+ {Promotion to a rook is also possible, however since underpromotion is
not the issue here, it is merely a negligible dual.} Qxh8 4. Qxh8+ Bh6 5. Qe8+
$1 {Deliberately encouraging Black's regrouping?} Rg6 (5... Kg5 {
allows the deadly fork} 6. Qe3+ $18) 6. Qe2+ Kg5 7. Qe5# $1 {Black's regrouping
has turned into an ideal mate following two active self-blocks.} 1-0

[Event "3 Domination"]
[Date ""]
[White "9. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/P7/qk1K2Q1/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{Can White still manage a trick before the fall of his last pawn?  It's
actually an old winning method, presented by the Italian player and
theoretician Giambattista Lolli as long ago as 1763, with a foxy little trap
as an appetizer:} 1. a8=R $3 {The Lollipop!} (1. a8=Q $2 {allows} Qd3+ $3 {when
} 2. Qxd3 {is stalemate!}) 1... Qxa8 2. Qb1+ Ka6 {The rest is just Lolli.} 3.
Qa2+ Kb7 4. Qb3+ Kc8 (4... Ka7 {is met by the quiet} 5. Kc7 $1 $18) 5. Qc4+ $1
Kb7 6. Qb5+ Kc8 (6... Ka7 7. Kc7 $1 $18) 7. Qd7+ Kb8 8. Qc7# {An ideal mate -
all the pieces take part in the mating picture and each square around the
mated king is attacked only once. The Lolli position (and naturally its
mirrored ones) is the only pawnless queen vs queen winning ending.} 1-0

[Event "3 Domination"]
[Date ""]
[White "10. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6nP/5b2/8/1k2P1B1/4K3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Can White hinder the activation of the black battery which is ready to be
unleashed against promotion by a knight check?} 1. e5 $1 {
Urgent action is called for!} (1. Kf4 $2 Ne8 {would be an easy draw.}) 1...
Bxe5 {The bishop is deflected to allow a tempo for the king.} ({Following} 1...
Nf5+ 2. Kf4 Bh8 3. Kxf5 Kc5 4. Bf3 Bg7 5. e6 Kd6 {then} 6. Kg6 $1 {
gains a vital tempo that secures the win.}) 2. Ke4 $1 Ne6 $1 3. Kxe5 Nf8 $1 {
The best try.} (3... Ng5 {loses more quickly after} 4. h8=N $1 Nh7 5. Kf5 Kc5
6. Kg6 Nf8+ 7. Kg7 {when the knight is trapped.}) 4. h8=N $1 (4. h8=Q $2 {
is obviously met by the fork} Ng6+ {The underpromotion gives rise to a
material balance which would ordinarily be an easy draw, but this is a special
case where the black knight is short of squares.}) 4... Kc5 (4... Nh7 {
does not help in view of} 5. Nf7 {
(among other winning moves) followed by Bf5 when the knight is forced back.})
5. Kf6 Kd6 6. Nf7+ Kc6 (6... Kc7 {leads to the same thing.}) 7. Ne5+ Kd6 8. Bf5
$1 {Rounding off the siege. All is set for the last act.} Kd5 9. Nf7 $1 Kc6 10.
Ke7 $18 {The knight is finally surrounded and lost.} 1-0

[Event "3 Domination"]
[Date ""]
[White "11. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/2p1K3/1NP5/8/3k4/n2B4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{Can White keep his material superiority intact?  White is a piece up but both
his pieces are under attack.} 1. Nc2 {
The key to success is indeed the cornered black knight.} ({However, all direct
attempts to take advantage of its position would fail; The main thematic try
is:} 1. Ba4 $2 cxb4 2. c5 b3 3. Bxb3 Nxb3 4. c6 {
but the knight gets back in the nick of time:} Na5 5. c7 Nc6+ 6. Kd6 Na7) ({
The knight ending following} 1. Na6 $2 Kxd1 2. Nxc5 Nc2 {
is drawn too, for instance:} 3. Na6 Ne3 4. c5 Nc4+ 5. Kd5 Na5 {and so on.})
1... Nb3 2. Na1 $3 {Entering the square that has just been left by an enemy
piece (the Umnov theme) is the only way to force beneficial exchanges.} ({
The alternative} 2. Ne3 $2 Na5 $1 3. Ke4 {allows} Nxc4 $1 {
with an immediate draw.}) 2... Nxa1 ({Forced, as} 2... Na5 {loses trivially to}
3. Nb3+ $1 ({but not} 3. Bb3 $2 Kc3)) 3. Ba4 Kc3 4. Kd5 {
Black is dominated and the zugzwang is devastating.} Kb4 5. Bd1 $1 {The zugzwan
g is maintained and Black's position is hopeless after the fall of his pawn.}
1-0

[Event "3 Domination"]
[Date ""]
[White "12. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4K3/8/6p1/7P/5pNN/7k w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]

{White's extra knights seem to face some trouble handling the enemy advanced
pawn pair. How is he going to work it out?} 1. Ne3 g3 $1 ({Following} 1... gxh3
{the black king is locked in and will soon be mated:} 2. Nef1 Kg2 3. Kf5 Kh1 4.
Kg4 Kg2 5. Kh4 Kg1 6. Kxh3 Kh1 7. Ng3+ Kg1 8. Nf3#) ({Black can also try} 1...
f1=Q $5 {first to create a flight square for his king on f2. However, after} 2.
Nexf1 gxh3 3. Kf5 {a winning two-knights-versus-pawn ending has been reached,
with a tablebase mate in 32 moves.}) 2. Nhf1 $1 (2. Nhg4 $2 {
seems to tame both black pawns and yet it is merely a draw following} f1=Q $1
3. Nxf1 Kg2 4. h4 Kxf1 5. h5 Ke2 $1 (5... g2 $4 6. Ne3+ $18) 6. h6 g2 7. h7 {
with both sides promoting.}) 2... g2 {Threatening both ...g1=Q and ...gxf1=Q
followed by ...Kg2. What is left for White to play for other than giving away
all his material and settling for a draw? Two cold-blooded quiet moves provide
the answer.} 3. h4 $3 g1=Q 4. Kf7 $3 $18 {An amazing position. It's Black to
move but there is not a single good option in sight, as his queen is totally
dominated!} 1-0

[Event "4 Forks"]
[Date ""]
[White "13. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K4b2/3k4/1P5r/1N1p4/3B4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{This is one of my earlier efforts and a personal favourite. How does White
win a titanic battle to secure promotion?} 1. b7 Bc5 $1 {A surprising
defensive resource to open up the eighth rank, whereas all the rook's direct
attempts to get there are instantly refuted.} (1... Re6 {loses to} 2. Nc7 $1) (
{while} 1... Rc6 2. b8=N+ $1 {
catches the rook to obtain a decisive material advantage.}) ({
The alternative is not any better:} 1... Ra6+ 2. Ba7 {
and the promotion is unavoidable.}) 2. Bxc5 (2. b8=Q $2 {
loses the newborn queen after} Ra6+ 3. Kb7 Rb6+) (2. b8=N+ $2 Kc8 3. Bxc5 {
is a theoretical draw. The simplest way for Black is} d4 {in order to give
away the d-pawn. White will never be able to weave a mating net, as the black
rook will threaten to sacrifice itself for the bishop, in order to leave White
with a useless knight pair.}) 2... Rh8+ 3. Ka7 (3. b8=Q $2 {is met by} Rxb8+ 4.
Kxb8 Kc6 {with a royal fork.}) 3... Kc6 {This not only forks the bishop and
knight, but also threatens a pin along the seventh rank.} 4. Bd4 $1 {
A vital switchback.} ({Quite a few solvers fall here for} 4. Nd6 $2 Kxc5 5. Nc8
Rh7 {with an easy draw.}) 4... Rh7 (4... Rf8 {or any other move of the rook
along the eighth rank allows White a vital tempo for} 5. Ka6 {followed by 6.
Be5 to win the rook by promoting and then mate with a bishop and knight. After
the text move Black is poised to eliminate the vital pawn. How on earth is
White still winning?}) 5. Bg7 $3 {
A brilliantly unexpected bishop sacrifice masks the pinning line.} Rxg7 {
The rook has been lured just a single square from its previous position,
making a vital difference after:} 6. Nd4+ $18 (6. Nd4+ $18 Kd6 7. Nf5+) (6.
Nd4+ $18 {and} Kc5 7. Ne6+ {are deadly forks, while retreating to the seventh
rank would unpin the b-pawn, allowing a triumphant promotion.}) 1-0

[Event "4 Forks"]
[Date ""]
[White "14. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5K1N/8/3P3P/5k2/7P/6P1/6p1/6r1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Both sides have promoting aspirations, though Black's prospects seem brighter.
How can White deal with this?} 1. Nf7 Ra1 2. d7 Ra8+ 3. d8=Q Rxd8+ 4. Nxd8 Kg6
$1 (4... g1=Q {doesn't promise much after} 5. h7 Qc5+ 6. Kg8 Qd5+ 7. Nf7 {
and White draws easily.}) 5. Kg8 $1 (5. h5+ $2 {fails to} Kh7 $1 {
and Black wins.}) 5... Kxh6 6. Nf7+ Kh5 {The new queen cannot be stopped, yet
a warm welcome may still be prepared for her.} 7. Ne5 $1 g1=Q 8. g4+ $1 Kh6 (
8... Kxh4 {is met by the fork} 9. Nf3+) 9. h5 $1 {A mating net has been set,
and Black has no choice but to abandon his queen. For example:} Kg5 10. Nf3+ {=
} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4 Forks"]
[Date ""]
[White "15. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/2p5/K1PRp3/2r5/k1p5/8/3N4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "18"]

{White's rook is attacked and ...c2 is threatened. How should White handle the
double threat?} 1. Rxe5 $1 (1. Rd3 $2 {is met by} Rxc5+ 2. Kb6 Kb4 $1 3. Ne3 c2
4. Nxc2+ Rxc2 $19 {and Black wins.}) 1... Ra4+ $1 {
An important in-between move.} (1... c2 {enables White to draw more easily:} 2.
Re3+ Ka2 3. Nc3+ Kb2 4. Ne2 Rxc5+ 5. Kb6 c1=Q 6. Nxc1 Rxc1 7. Re5) 2. Kb6 Rb4+
$1 3. Kxc6 c2 4. Re3+ $1 Rb3 5. Re1 $3 c1=Q (5... Rb1 6. Ne3 $1 {also holds.})
6. Ne3 $3 Qc3 {All other queen moves are met by knight forks:} (6... Qxe1 7.
Nc2+) (6... Qb2 7. Nc4+) ({or} 6... Qd2 7. Nc4+) 7. Ra1+ $3 Qxa1 (7... Kb2 8.
Nd1+ {draws in much the same way}) ({and} 7... Kb4 $4 {even loses after} 8.
Nd5+) 8. Nc2+ Kb2 9. Nxa1 Kxa1 {The draw is certain, as the c-pawn will cost
Black his rook; the black king is not even close to getting back in time.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "4 Forks"]
[Date ""]
[White "16. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2n5/k1K4p/1R6/1p6/1P6/6P1/1pN4r/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]

{The black passed pawn is too tough to beat. Preparing a warm welcome for the
newborn queen might be somewhat easier.} 1. Rb7+ Ka6 2. Na3 {White's first two
moves were forced, but now Black has a small trick to force the b-pawn through.
} Rc2+ $1 3. Nxc2 $1 b1=Q 4. Rxb5 $3 {It just so happens that the best way to
defend the attacked knight is to put the rook en prise too!} Qxc2+ 5. Rc5 {
The royal family is simultaneously in danger.} Qa4 6. Ra5+ Qxa5+ 7. bxa5 {
A totally new phase starts. The journey towards the last pawn must still be
handled with precision.} Ne7 8. Kd6 $1 (8. g4 $2 {loses to} Nd5+ $1 9. Kd6 Nf6
10. g5 Ne4+) ({similarly,} 8. Kd7 $2 Nf5 9. g4 Nh6 $1 {is hopeless for White.})
8... Nf5+ 9. Ke5 $1 Nxg3 10. Kf4 $1 Nh5+ 11. Kg5 Ng7 12. Kh6 {
White's aesthetic triangle manoeuvre secures the draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5 Pawns"]
[Date ""]
[White "17. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7P/6k1/p7/P5p1/3p4/3P2p1/4K3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "37"]

{How can White win a crucial tempo?} 1. h8=N+ $1 {
A stranger temporarily appears in the pawn community to win a single tempo.} (
1. Kf2 $2 {is too slow and loses trivially after:} Kxh7 2. Kxg2 Kg6 3. Kg3 Kg5
$19) 1... Kg7 2. Kf2 Kxh8 3. Kxg2 Kg7 4. Kg3 Kf6 5. Kxg4 (5. Kf4 $2 Ke6 6. Kxg4
Ke5 7. Kf3 {is simply a loss of time.}) 5... Ke5 6. Kf3 Kd4 7. Kf4 {
White will soon collect the d3-pawn, so Black will have to make a run for a4.}
Kd5 8. Ke3 Kc4 9. Ke4 Kb4 10. Kxd3 Kxa4 11. Kc4 $1 Ka3 12. d4 Kb2 13. d5 $1 (
13. Kb5 $2 {is thwarted by the Reti element:} Kb3 $1 {Black threatens to
advance his own pawn, while gaining a tempo to stop the enemy one.} 14. Kxa5
Kc4) 13... a4 14. d6 a3 15. d7 a2 16. d8=Q a1=Q {Black has produced a new
queen, but the unfavourable position of his king proves to be his undoing.} 17.
Qd2+ Ka3 18. Qb4+ Ka2 19. Qb3# {
This study contained a synthesis of well-known motifs.} 1-0

[Event "5 Pawns"]
[Date ""]
[White "18. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/P7/5KP1/6P1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]

{The pawns seem to be easily dominated. Where lies their chance?} 1. g7+ Kh7 2.
g6+ Kh6 {White has run out of checks, so now what?} 3. a8=Q $1 Rxa8 4. Kf7 Ra7+
{This wins all the white pawns, doesn't it?} 5. Kg8 $3 Rxg7+ ({Or} 5... Kxg6 6.
Kh8 Rxg7 {stalemate.}) 6. Kh8 $1 {
Black has a whole tempo at hand but can hardly use it!} Ra7 7. g7 $1 Rxg7 {
Stalemate! This miniature has been exceptionally well received byover-the-board
players. The final position is apparently not easy to spot from the initial
one.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5 Pawns"]
[Date ""]
[White "19. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/p3k3/P4p1p/8/6P1/8/2K5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{Black, a pawn up, threatens a standard breakthrough. Any advice for White?} 1.
Kd2 f4 $1 (1... Ke5 {allows White to create a fortress with} 2. Ke3) 2. gxf4
Kf5 3. Ke3 Kg4 $1 {
The moment of truth has arrived, at which White must make a difficult decision.
} 4. Ke4 $3 ({The intuitive retreat} 4. Kf2 $2 {is a losing move:} Kxf4 5. Kg2
Ke4 6. Kh3 Kd4 7. Kh4 Kc5 8. Kxh5 Kb5 9. Kg4 Kxa5 10. Kf3 Kb4 11. Ke2 Kc3 12.
Kd1 Kb2 {White is a tempo too late.}) 4... h4 5. Ke3 $1 h3 (5... Kg3 {is met by
} 6. f5 {leading to mutual promotions and a draw.}) 6. Kf2 {White's king
manoeuvre may appear to have lost two tempos but this is an optical illusion.
The reality is that luring the h-pawn forwards will save White precious time,
as the pawn can be captured more quickly.} Kxf4 7. Kg1 Ke4 8. Kh2 Kd4 9. Kxh3 {
The white king will get to c1 just in time to secure the draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5 Pawns"]
[Date ""]
[White "20. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/1p6/8/P4k1p/2PK3P/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{How does White convert the extra pawn?} 1. Kc2 $3 {
This stunning retreat is the key to the study.} ({There are no less than three
more aggressive attempts, all of which fail to secure the full point:} 1. c4 $2
Ke5 2. c5 (2. Kc3 Kd6 {is an easier draw}) 2... bxc5 3. Kc4 Kd6 4. Kb5 {
suggests itself - is it a win? No, it is a mirage!} Kd5 $3 (4... Kc7 $2 5. Kxc5
$18) (4... c4 $2 5. Kxc4 $18) 5. a5 Kd6 $1 6. a6 (6. Kb6 c4) 6... Kc7 7. Kxc5
Kb8 {This variation actually inspired the study shown in the previous exercise.
}) ({Let's see what happens if White tries to activate his king:} 1. Kd4 $2 Kg3
2. Ke3 (2. c4 Kxh3 3. c5 $4 (3. a5 {still draws}) 3... bxc5+ {
comes with check and Black even wins.}) 2... Kxh3 3. Kf3 (3. Kf2 Kg4 4. c4 h3
5. c5 bxc5 6. a5 h2 7. Kg2 c4 8. a6 c3 9. a7 h1=Q+ 10. Kxh1 c2 {draws.}) 3...
Kh2 4. Kf2 h3 5. c4 b5 $3 (5... Kh1 $2 6. c5 {
wins. The text move narrowly saves the game. For instance:}) 6. axb5 (6. c5 b4
7. c6 b3 8. c7 b2 9. c8=Q b1=Q {leads to the same outcome.}) 6... Kh1 7. b6 h2
8. Ke3 {Otherwise it's stalemate.} Kg2 9. b7 h1=Q 10. b8=Q {
The tablebase confirms that White's extra pawn is not enough to win.}) ({
A final try is:} 1. Kd2 $2 Ke4 $1 (1... Kg3 $2 2. c4 $1) 2. Kc2 Kd5 $1 3. Kb3
Kc5 4. Ka3 Kc4 5. Kb2 Kd5 $1 6. Kb3 Kc5 {
White can make no progress, despite his extra pawn.}) 1-0

[Event "6 Knights"]
[Date ""]
[White "21. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7K/1p5N/6p1/8/8/8/8/2k5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "25"]

{How can a single knight handle the chase of two passed pawns five files apart?
} 1. Nf8 $1 ({The most natural try} 1. Nf6 $2 {fails to} b5 2. Nd5 Kd2 $1 3.
Kg7 g5 4. Kg6 g4 5. Nf6 b4 6. Nxg4 b3 7. Ne5 Kc3 $1 {
when the second pawn is unstoppable.}) 1... g5 2. Nh7 $1 {Losing two tempos
seems like a beginner's error. What then are the exclamation marks for?} g4 3.
Nf6 $1 g3 4. Nh5 $1 g2 5. Nf4 $1 {The pawn is chased all the way to the
promotion square in order to set up a fork.} g1=Q 6. Ne2+ Kd2 7. Nxg1 {
One down, one to go.} Ke3 $1 {The king makes a formidable barrier, forcing the
knight to take the long route to the queenside.} 8. Nh3 b5 9. Ng5 b4 10. Nf7 $1
b3 11. Nd6 $1 ({But not} 11. Ne5 $2 Kd4 $1 12. Nc6+ Kc3 $19 {when the knight
is thoroughly blocked. The text move prepares to meet 11...b2 with 12.Nc4+,
thus gaining a vital tempo.}) 11... Kd3 12. Nb5 b2 13. Na3 {The mission is
finally accomplished! Two pawn journeys have been watched by the agile knight,
with the king in the corner acting merely as an observer.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "6 Knights"]
[Date ""]
[White "22. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1k1P4/p1R5/2P1b3/K7/7B/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Who can stop the terrible black pawn?} 1. d8=N+ $3 {
The agile knight will stop the pawn - just wait and see!} Ka7 2. Rxa6+ $3 {
Sacrificing the rook in order to deflect the king and expose it to a series of
useful checks.} Kxa6 3. Bc8+ Ka7 4. Nc6+ Ka8 5. Bb7+ $1 {
The bishop must be given away too.} Kxb7 6. Na5+ Kc7 7. Nb3 {
Smooth job, well done} 1/2-1/2

[Event "6 Knights"]
[Date ""]
[White "23. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/3k4/QPqp4/3p4/3P2K1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{This queen ending would be drawn, if it were not for...} 1. b7 $3 ({After} 1.
Qa7+ Kc8 {Black holds.} ({or even} 1... Ke6 $5 2. b7 Qc2 $1)) 1... Qxa6 ({
Any attempt to draw by perpetual check fails. For instance,} 1... Qc2 2. Qb5+
Ke7 3. Qxd5 $1 Qd1+ 4. Kg5 Qg1+ 5. Kh6 Qh2+ 6. Qh5 {and White wins.}) 2. b8=N+
$1 {There is no queen ending anymore, and the resulting knight ending barely
requires further commentary.} Kc7 3. Nxa6+ Kb6 4. Nb4 Kb5 5. Nc2 $1 Kc4 6. Kf5
Kd3 7. Ke6 $1 Kxc2 8. Kxd6 $1 Kd3 9. Kxd5 $18 {
White's last remaining pawn will march to victory.} 1-0

[Event "6 Knights"]
[Date ""]
[White "24. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/1P1pr3/7N/8/2k5/P7/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{White's pawns on the queenside are doomed to perish, but capturing them costs
Black time which may be used for a saving manoeuvre.  Watch a wonder in the
making:} 1. a4 $1 (1. Nf4 $2 {loses without a fight:} Re4 2. b7 Re1+ 3. Kf2 Rb1
$19) 1... Kb4 (1... Re1+ 2. Kf2 Rb1 {allows the knight to work its magic:} 3.
Nf6 $1 Kb4 4. Ne4 d5 5. b7 $1 Ka5 6. Nc5) 2. b7 Re8 3. a5 $3 {
White needs the enemy king to be precisely on this square!} Kxa5 (3... Kb5 {
is no better in view of} 4. Nf6 Rb8 5. Ne4 d5 6. Nc3+ {drawing.}) 4. Nf6 Rb8 {
Is it time to throw in the towel?} 5. Ne4 $1 {
Not quite! A typical manoeuvre saves the day:} d5 6. Nc3 $1 d4 7. Ne2 $1 d3 8.
Nc1 $1 d2 9. Nb3+ {The value of White's third move finally becomes apparent!}
Kb4 10. Nxd2 {The agile knight saves the day again.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "7 Bishops"]
[Date ""]
[White "25. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4b3/4P3/5kP1/8/5P2/6K1/7B/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Here is another ending with opposite-coloured bishops and shaky pawns, with
no room for error.} 1. f5 $1 Kxe7 2. Kg4 $1 Kf6 {
Threatening to take the remaining pawns.} 3. Be5+ $1 Kxe5 {The good news is
that there are no opposite-coloured bishops in the position anymore. Time to
play for a win, then...} 4. Kg5 {Having gained control over this crucial
outpost, White ensures that his pawns will be able to advance. We have
actually reached a reciprocal zugzwang position with Black to play!} Ba4 5. f6
Ke6 6. f7 Ke7 7. Kh6 Kf8 8. g7+ $1 (8. Kh7 $2 {is met by} Bc2 {
when White cannot make progress.}) 8... Kxf7 9. Kh7 Bc2+ 10. Kh8 $18 {
With a new queen to follow.} 1-0

[Event "7 Bishops"]
[Date ""]
[White "26. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4B2r/4k3/6P1/8/4K1P1/8/7B/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{What is the best way for White to handle his attacked bishops?  White handles
the attack on his bishops by paradoxically offering them both!} 1. Bd6+ $3 Kxe8
({The alternative is:} 1... Kxd6 2. Bf7 $1 Rh4 3. Kf5 Ke7 4. Be6 $1 Kf8 5. Kf6
$18) 2. g7 Rg8 3. Bf8 $1 Rxf8 $1 ({The passive approach is hardly an option:} 
3... Kf7 4. Kf5 Rxg7 5. Bxg7 Kxg7 6. Kg5 $18 {with Black to play and lose.}) 4.
Ke5 $3 (4. gxf8=Q+ $2 Kxf8 5. Kf5 Kf7 6. Kg5 Kg7 {
reaches the same reciprocal zugzwang with White to play and draw.}) 4... Rg8 5.
Kf6 Kd7 6. Kf7 $18 {And White wins.} 1-0

[Event "7 Bishops"]
[Date ""]
[White "27. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/K2pp3/8/3Pk3/8/4P3/8/2B5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{White is a bishop up but one of his pawns is about to fall, and the remaining
one is about to be exchanged for its black counterparts. Can White hinder this
seemingly inevitable course of events?} 1. d6 $1 {The pawn is doomed anyway,
so White gives it away actively to earn some precious time.} (1. Kb6 $2 {
fails after} Kxd5 2. Kc7 d6 $1 3. Kd7 Ke4 $1 4. Kxe7 d5 {
followed by the inevitable exchange of White's last pawn.}) 1... Kxd6 (1...
exd6 $2 {loses to} 2. Bb2+ Ke4 3. Bd4 {when Black is defenceless.}) 2. Ba3+ $1
Ke6 3. Bc5 $1 {This time-consuming bishop manoeuvre is the only winning
process. The point is to use the bishop to control the key d4-square.} d6 4.
Bb6 $1 {White deliberately blocks the direct route of his king!} Kd5 5. Kb7 Ke4
6. Kc6 d5 {Threatening simply ...e5 and ...d4.} 7. Bd4 $1 e5 8. Kc5 $1 exd4 9.
exd4 $18 {White wins by sacrificing his bishop to preserve the much more
valuable final pawn.} 1-0

[Event "7 Bishops"]
[Date ""]
[White "28. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/pP6/k7/p7/K7/7B/8/6B1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{Mate in five moves  A miniature to conclude the chapter.} 1. b8=B $1 Kb7 2.
Bgxa7 Kc6 3. Be6 $1 Kb7 4. Bd7 Ka8 ({Or} 4... Ka6 5. Bc8#) 5. Bc6# {
What a bishop pair is unable to do, a pair and a half can!} 1-0

[Event "8 Rooks"]
[Date ""]
[White "29. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/2P5/8/pk6/3rP3/1K6/R7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Is this a normal rook ending?} 1. Rxa4+ $3 ({The routine procedure} 1. Rc1 $2
Rd8 2. c7 Rc8 3. e4 Kb5 4. e5 Kb6 5. e6 Rxc7 {is too slow by a single tempo.})
(1. c7 $2 Rb3+ {draws trivially.}) 1... Kxa4 2. c7 Rb3+ (2... Rd2+ 3. Kc1 $1 ({
not} 3. Kc3 $2 Rd5 $1 4. c8=R $1 Kb5 5. e4 Rc5+ 6. Rxc5+ Kxc5) 3... Rd5 4. c8=Q
$18) 3. Kc2 Rb5 4. c8=R $3 {The Phoenix theme: the white rook, sacrificed on
move 1, is reborn to create a winning rook ending for a change.} (4. c8=Q $2
Rc5+ $1 5. Qxc5 {Stalemate!}) 4... Kb4 ({After} 4... Rd5 5. Rb8 $1 {the black k
ing is cut off at the edge of the board and the pawn proceeds comfortably to
promotion.}) 5. Kd3 $1 (5. e4 $2 Rc5+ 6. Rxc5 Kxc5 {draws.}) 5... Rb7 6. e4
Rd7+ 7. Ke3 $18 {White will win in Lucena style.} 1-0

[Event "8 Rooks"]
[Date ""]
[White "30. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rk2r/RP5P/8/8/8/2K5/8/8 w k - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{The h-pawn is about to fall. Is there still a way to save the game?} 1. b8=Q
$1 {Keeping the h-pawn alive, by giving away the other one, allows the white
king the vital time needed to rush to the kingside and save the day.} Rxb8 2.
Kd4 $1 Kf8 {To set the other rook free to act.} 3. Ke5 $1 Rb6 $1 4. Kf5 $1 Rh6
{Black appears to be just in time; however, this self-block allows a perpetual
check.} 5. Ra8+ Kg7 6. Ra7+ Kf8 7. Ra8+ {=  Positional draw by perpetual check.
} 1/2-1/2

[Event "8 Rooks"]
[Date ""]
[White "31. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5q2/8/5p2/8/1R6/R3K1k1/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{Can the pawnless rook pair outplay the queen?  The perfect harmony between
the rook pair and the king does the trick:} 1. Ke1+ $1 Kh1 2. Rh3+ Kg1 3. Rg3+
Kh1 4. Ra1 $1 {Resetting the royal battery on the first rank against the enemy
king. The threat is mate in three, starting with 5.Kf2.} Kh2 5. Kf2 {
Resuming the threat.} Qd5 (5... Qb7 {would be met in the same way.}) 6. Rh1+ $3
{Despite everything!} Qxh1 7. Rg7 $1 {The royal couple is dominated!} Kh3 8.
Rh7+ $18 {The deadly skewer finally nets the queen.} 1-0

[Event "8 Rooks"]
[Date ""]
[White "32. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2R1K3/6kP/8/2n5/8/8/6Pp/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{How should White cope with the black pawn?  The pawn is unstoppable and thus
the way out of trouble is basically tactical.} 1. h8=Q+ $1 Kxh8 2. Kf7+ Kh7 3.
Rg8 $1 Ne6 $1 (3... h1=Q {is met by} 4. Rg7+ Kh6 5. Rg6+ {
when Black must allow either perpetual check or a skewer after} Kh5 6. g4+ Kh4
7. Rh6+ {when he will have the worse side of a draw.}) 4. Rg3 $1 Nf4 5. Rg7+
Kh6 6. Rg8 $1 {Preparing a skewer.} (6. Kg8 $2 {is met by} Nh5) 6... Nh5 {
Shutting off the file and yet White still has one last resource.} 7. g4 $1 h1=Q
8. Rh8+ Kg5 9. Rxh5+ {Draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "9 Zwischenzugs"]
[Date ""]
[White "33. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/2b4P/7K/7P/1Bk5/8/6r1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{White will need a creative, far-sighted sacrifice to survive.} 1. h7 Be8+ 2.
Bf7 $3 {Before moving his king, White interrupts the expected sequence by
throwing his bishop away! The reason for this deflecting move will become
apparent on move 7.} ({Instead,} 2. Kh6 $2 {fails to} Rg6+ 3. Kh5 Kxb3 $1 4.
h8=Q Rg8+ {and Black wins.}) 2... Bxf7+ 3. Kh6 Rg6+ 4. Kh5 Ra6+ 5. Kg5 Rg6+ ({
The alternative} 5... Ra8 6. Kf6 Bb3 7. Kg7 Ra7+ 8. Kh6 Ra8 9. Kg7 {is a positi
onal draw, so Black repeats the position to set up a better winning try.}) 6.
Kh5 Kc4 $1 {The text move is a more serious winning attempt.} (6... Rg1+ 7. Kh6
{is not dangerous for White at all.}) 7. h8=N $1 {
This is why it was essential to give up the bishop on move 2!} Rf6+ 8. Nxf7
Rxf7 9. Kg6 {The resulting ending is a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "9 Zwischenzugs"]
[Date ""]
[White "34. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4kb1r/N7/8/2P5/8/4N3/8/5K2 w k - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{A rook and a bishop generally beat a knight pair in a pawnless ending. (The
tablebase shows that the same position without the c5-pawn would be mate in
138!) Can the last white pawn make a difference here?} 1. c6 $1 {
Allowing the threatened fork.} Bc5 $1 2. c7 $1 {The pawn is key.} (2. Nb5 $2 {
is refuted by} O-O+ ({but not} 2... Bxe3 $2 3. Nd6+ $1 {
followed by either c6-c7 or a knight fork on f7 or f5}) 3. Kg2 (3. Ke2 Re8 4.
Kd3 Bxe3 5. Kc4 Re5 $19) 3... Bxe3 4. Nd6 Bf4 {and Black wins.}) 2... O-O+ {
To gain a vital tempo! Castling in the endgame is usually something of a
curiosity yet it should be considered legal unless it can be proved otherwise.}
3. Nf5 $3 {This zwischenzug puts both knights en prise!} Bxa7 (3... Rxf5+ {
is obviously met by any king move followed by promoting the pawn.}) 4. c8=Q $1
{Unpinning the knight to allow the fork.} ({A slower move such as} 4. Kg2 $2 {
would lose to} Bc5 $1) 4... Rxc8 5. Ne7+ Kf7 6. Nxc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "9 Zwischenzugs"]
[Date ""]
[White "35. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2P5/8/7B/4r3/8/1n5P/2K2k2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{How can White secure promotion?  The solution involves a fierce struggle with
mutual zwischenzugs.} 1. Bf7 $1 ({Avoiding the fork that would occurs after} 1.
c8=Q $2 Rc4+) 1... Re5 $1 2. Bc4+ $3 {
An in-between check to shut off the promotion file.} ({The double fork after} 
2. c8=Q $2 Rc5+ $1 3. Qxc5 Nd3+ {draws.}) 2... Nd3+ $3 {
Black counters with his own in-between check.} 3. Bxd3+ Ke1 $1 {Setting a trap.
} 4. c8=R $3 ({To avoid} 4. c8=Q $2 Rc5+ $1 5. Qxc5 {stalemate!}) 4... Rh5 $1 {
Black must try to eliminate the last pawn.} 5. Rf8 $1 ({Caution!} 5. Rc2 $2 {
allows} Rxh2 $1 {when} 6. Rxh2 {is stalemate!}) 5... Rc5+ 6. Kb2 Rh5 ({
Black could postpone the end of the game with} 6... Kd2 {but after} 7. Rf3 {
White will consolidate and win easily.}) 7. Kc3 $1 $18 {
The mating net is decisive.} 1-0

[Event "9 Zwischenzugs"]
[Date ""]
[White "36. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r2/8/1R6/ppk3p1/2N3P1/P4b2/1K6/5B2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{White is a piece ahead but it is about to fall. How can he capitalize on his
initiative?  I have opted to conclude this chapter with one of my most
memorable composing experiences, in which it all begins and ends on the same
square!} 1. Rxb5+ $1 {The solution begins with a sacrificial in-between check.}
({Experience has shown me that most solvers fall for the natural try first:} 1.
Ne5 $2 Kxb6 2. Nd7+ Kc6 3. Nxf8 Bxg4 4. Nh7 ({or} 4. Bd3 Bd1 5. Bc2 Bxc2 6.
Kxc2 g4 {and Black is not worse}) 4... Bd1 5. Nxg5 b4 {With an easy draw.})
1... Kxb5 2. Ne5+ $1 Ka4 {Other king moves allow 3.Nd7+ with a decisive fork.}
3. Nd7 $1 {How can Black cope with the triple threat?} Be2 $1 {
A surprising defensive resource.} 4. Bxe2 ({The overly creative} 4. Bg2 $4 {
threatening mate in two as well as the rook, loses to} Rf2 $1 {
owing to the cross-check after} 5. Bc6+ Bb5+ $1) 4... Rb8+ $1 {The game seems
liable to end soon, either in a stalemate or with insufficient winning
material.} 5. Bb5+ $3 {The study begins and ends on the same square! This
stunning in-between check has received more praise than any of my other moves,
either played or composed, in the last fifty years!} ({
White's king moves are only good enough to draw. For instance,} 5. Ka2 $2 Rb2+
$1 6. Kxb2 {is stalemate}) ({while} 5. Kc2 Rd8 6. Nf6 Kxa3 {is fine for Black.}
) 5... Rxb5+ 6. Ka2 $18 {Black is total dominated due to zugzwang, with all of
his possible rook moves being met by either a direct capture or by a knight
fork.} 1-0

[Event "10 Systematic Manoeuvres"]
[Date ""]
[White "37. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5R2/1K1P4/8/1k6/8/6r1/7p/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "31"]

{Here we have an upgraded version of Lasker's Ladder by a Russian composer.} 1.
Rf5+ $1 {
White must be extremely accurate in the way he sets up the ladder manoeuvre.} (
1. Rh8 $2 {is a thematic try which narrowly fails:} Rd3 2. Kc7 Rc3+ 3. Kd8 Rc2
4. Ke7 Re2+ 5. Kd6 Rd2+ 6. Kc7 Rc2+ 7. Kb7 Rd2 8. Rh5+ Ka4 $1 9. Kc7 Rc2+ 10.
Kb6 Rb2+ $1 11. Ka6 Rd2 12. Rh4+ Ka3 {White is unable to make further progress.
}) 1... Ka4 $1 2. Ra5+ $1 {By forcing the black king to the b-file, White
prevents a future check by the black rook.} Kb4 (2... Kxa5 {loses to} 3. d8=Q+
Kb5 4. Qd5+ Ka4 ({or} 4... Kb4 5. Qd2+) 5. Qa2+ {and White picks up the pawn.})
3. Rh5 Rd3 4. Kc7 Rc3+ 5. Kd8 Rc2 6. Ke7 Re2+ 7. Kd6 Rd2+ 8. Kc7 Rc2+ 9. Kb6 $1
{Preparing the first step of the ladder.} Rd2 {Now we can appreciate the
finesse on move 2. If the Black king was on a4 instead of b4, Black would have
been able to check on b2 and force the white king to the a-file, preventing
the winning manoeuvre below.} 10. Rh4+ Ka3 11. Kc6 Rc2+ 12. Kb5 $1 Rb2+ 13. Ka5
$1 Rd2 14. Rh3+ Kb2 15. Rxh2 $1 {Pinning.} Rxh2 16. d8=Q $18 {And winning.} 1-0

[Event "10 Systematic Manoeuvres"]
[Date ""]
[White "38. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "n7/7p/7p/3K4/8/4p2p/1k2P1R1/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "29"]

{White faces a daunting mission: picking up the knight in the corner,
collecting the pawns on the other side of the board, and finally returning
with the king to protect the last pawn in time.} 1. Rh2 $1 ({
Winning a crucial tempo compared to the following thematic try:} 1. Rg3 $2 h2
2. Rh3 Kc2 3. Kc6 Kd2 4. Rxh2 Ke1 5. Kb7 Kf1 6. Kxa8 Kg1 7. Rxh6 Kf2 8. Rh2+
Kg3 9. Rxh7 Kf2 10. Rh2+ Kg1 {Despite White's huge material advantage, the
active black king ensures the draw.}) 1... Kc2 ({The king should rush to the
main scene with no delay, since the exchange-down ending following} 1... Nb6+
2. Kd4 Kc2 3. Kxe3 {is hopeless for Black.}) 2. Kc6 $1 {
A cold-blooded trip to the corner and back!} ({After} 2. Ke4 $2 Kd2 3. Kf3 Nc7
4. Kg4 ({or} 4. Rxh3 Ne6) 4... Ne6 5. Kxh3 h5 6. Kg3 h6 {
White can hardly make progress.}) 2... Kd2 3. Kb7 Ke1 4. Kxa8 Kf1 5. Kb7 Kg1 {
The second phase is a systematic manoeuvre to collect all the black pawns on
the h-file.} 6. Rxh3 Kf2 7. Rh2+ Kg3 8. Rxh6 Kf2 9. Rh2+ Kg3 10. Rxh7 Kf2 11.
Rh2+ Kg3 {White's systematic manoeuvre has yielded all three of the flank
pawns. However, the question still remains as to how he can collect the
central pawn and the full point.} 12. Kc6 $3 {
Abandoning the rook is the only way!} ({After the obvious} 12. Rh8 $6 Kf2 {
White can only win by admitting his mistake and accepting a loss of time with}
13. Rh2+ {followed by sacrificing the rook.} ({
Instead, the rook-versus-pawn endgame after} 13. Kc6 Kxe2 14. Kd5 Kd2 {
is easily drawn.})) 12... Kxh2 13. Kd5 Kg3 14. Ke4 Kf2 15. Kd3 {
And White wins - just in time!} 1-0

[Event "10 Systematic Manoeuvres"]
[Date ""]
[White "39. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7p/7P/3N3p/6pP/8/3pK3/6k1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "53"]

{How should White deal with the passed g-pawn?} 1. Nf6 $1 g3 2. Nxh7 g2 3. Ng5
$1 Kh2 4. Nf3+ Kg3 5. Ng1 Kh2 6. h7 $1 {The knight is unable to capture the
passed pawn, so the queen must do it the hard way.} Kxg1 7. h8=Q Kh1 {
The second stage of the battle will display the staircase theme, as the
newborn queen systematically approaches the action in a distinct zig-zag path.}
8. Qa8 $1 Kh2 9. Qb8+ Kh1 10. Qb7 Kh2 11. Qc7+ Kh1 12. Qc6 Kh2 13. Qd6+ Kh1 14.
Qd5 Kh2 15. Qe5+ Kh1 16. Qe4 Kh2 17. Qf4+ Kh1 18. Qf3 Kh2 19. Qf2 $1 {
To gain an extra tempo for the upcoming pawn ending.} Kh1 20. Kxd2 $1 g1=Q 21.
Qxg1+ Kxg1 {The third and last stage is a trivial one.} 22. Ke3 Kg2 23. Kf4 Kh3
24. Kg5 Kg3 25. Kxh5 Kf4 26. Kg6 Kg4 27. h5 $18 {
White finally wins this staircase to heaven by a single tempo.} 1-0

[Event "11 Various Tactics"]
[Date ""]
[White "40. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/k1K5/8/8/B7/1R6/N7/5q2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{In this pawnless miniature, how can White coordinate his three pieces to tame
the enemy king and queen?} 1. Rb7+ {There are two main lines according to
which way the king goes. In each variation the rook is the only piece (apart
from the kings of course) to survive and secure the win.} (1. Rb7+ {(A)} Ka6 2.
Bb5+ $3 {
The bishop is sacrificed to allow the other pieces to trap the queen by a fork.
} Qxb5 3. Nb4+ Ka5 4. Nc6+ Ka4 5. Ra7+ Kb3 6. Nd4+ $18) (1. Rb7+ {(B)} Ka8 2.
Rb4 $1 {To avoid the annoying check on the fourth rank, White is ready to
sacrifice his knight.} Qf7+ 3. Bd7 Qxa2 4. Bc6+ Ka7 5. Rb7+ Ka6 6. Bb5+ Ka5 7.
Ra7+ {Catching the queen with a skewer.} Kxb5 8. Rxa2 $18) 1-0

[Event "11 Various Tactics"]
[Date ""]
[White "41. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k2K4/1p6/P7/P7/3B4/8/5R2/6q1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Can White take advantage of the cramped position of the black king on the
back rank?} 1. Rf8 $3 {The front piece of the first battery is sent to create
a new battery directed at the prime target, this time as its rear piece.} Qxd4+
(1... Qg3 {loses to} 2. Kd7+ Qb8 3. Rxb8+ Kxb8 4. a7+ Ka8 {and now any waiting
move forces Black to move his pawn, which will naturally be captured by its
white counterpart.}) 2. Kc7+ Ka7 3. Ra8+ $3 {White again sacrifices the rear
piece of the battery, in order to secure promotion.} Kxa8 4. axb7+ Ka7 5. b8=Q+
Ka6 6. Qb6+ {
White forces the exchange of queens to reach an easily won pawn ending.} Qxb6+
7. axb6 $18 {White wins.} 1-0

[Event "11 Various Tactics"]
[Date ""]
[White "42. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7K/N3k3/4n3/5P2/7p/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]

{Knights dislike enemy passed pawns on the edge of the board. Can White
restrain the advanced pawn here?} 1. Nc6+ Kf8 $1 {
The trickiest move, shifting the king away from future knight checks.} (1...
Kd6 2. fxe6 Kxc6 3. Kg7 Kd6 4. Kf7 {draws easily.}) (1... Kf6 {
allows a draw after:} 2. fxe6 $1 h3 3. Ne5 $1 ({but not} 3. e7 $2 h2 4. e8=Q
h1=Q+ 5. Kg8 Qg2+ 6. Kf8 Qg7#) 3... h2 4. Ng4+ {=}) 2. Ne5 h3 3. Nf3 $1 (3. Ng4
$2 {loses to} Ng5 $1 {
when Black wins by caging the white king and advancing his own monarch:} 4. Nh2
Kf7 5. Ng4 Ne4 $1 6. Nh2 Kf6 7. Kh7 Kxf5 $19) 3... Ng5 $1 {
A sacrificial deflection.} (3... Nd4 {
is met by a well-coordinated collaboration between the white pieces:} 4. Nh2
Kf7 5. Kh7 Nxf5 6. Ng4 Ne3 $1 {A good try, but it's not enough to win.} 7. Nh2
Kf6 8. Kh6 Kf5 9. Kh5 Ng2 10. Nf1 Kf4 11. Nh2 Kg3 12. Nf1+ Kf2 13. Kg4 {Draw.})
4. Nxg5 $3 ({Avoiding} 4. Nh2 $2 Kf7 5. Ng4 Ne4 $1 6. Nh2 Kf6 {when Black wins.
}) 4... h2 5. f6 $1 h1=Q+ 6. Nh7+ Ke8 7. f7+ $1 Kxf7 {A pin stalemate!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "11 Various Tactics"]
[Date ""]
[White "43. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2q5/1p6/3kP2Q/1p1P4/1Kp5/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Don't run after material. Just maintain the initiative!} 1. e7+ $1 Kxe7 2. d6+
Kd7 ({The king should stay close to the white pawn.} 2... Kf7 3. Qh7+ Kf6 4.
Qe7+ Kf5 5. d7 {is an easier win.}) 3. Qh3+ $1 Kd8 4. Qh4+ Kd7 5. Qe7+ Kc6 6.
d7 $1 {This second sacrificed pawn is taboo.} Qh8 $1 {
The best defence is attack.} ({The self-block after} 6... Qxd7 {
is promptly punished by} 7. Qc5#) 7. d8=N+ $1 (7. d8=Q $4 {
allows mate in four starting with} Qb2+) 7... Kd5 ({Or} 7... Kb6 8. Qxb7#) 8.
Qxb7+ Kd4 {Otherwise knight forks decide.} 9. Qf3 $3 {Following this quiet
move, all of a sudden the royal couple is dominated owing to a double threat:
the skewer on the long diagonal and the surprising mate by the knight!} Qxd8
10. Qd1+ $18 {Black avoided one skewer, only to fall prey to another.} 1-0

[Event "12 Perpetual Check"]
[Date ""]
[White "44. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1B4b1/8/4R1K1/4P3/8/8/4p2k/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{The black pawn is unstoppable. How should White prepare for the newborn queen?
} 1. Rf6 $3 e1=Q 2. e6+ Kg2 3. Kg7 $3 {
After this quiet move all the white pieces work in perfect harmony.} Bxe6 4.
Rg6+ Kh3 5. Rh6+ Kg4 6. Rg6+ {The white bishop ensures that the black king may
not find refuge on any of the dark squares, and thus the black bishop proves
useless} Kf3 7. Rf6+ {=  It's a perpetual check!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "12 Perpetual Check"]
[Date ""]
[White "45. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7K/8/4P3/8/RB6/8/5p2/3r3k w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Just like in the previous exercise, White can't hinder Black's promotion. Can
you again show there is still life with a newborn queen on the board?} 1. Ra7
$1 {To welcome Black's promotion with perpetual check along the seventh rank.}
({The natural} 1. e7 $2 f1=Q 2. e8=Q {loses to} Qh3+ (2... Qf6+ {also works})
3. Kg7 Rg1+ 4. Kf6 Qh6+ 5. Ke7 Rg7+ 6. Qf7 Qe3+ 7. Kf6 Rxf7+ 8. Kxf7 Qb3+ {etc.
}) 1... Rd8+ {The text simply refutes White's idea... or does it?} 2. Bf8 $3
Rxf8+ {If instead Black immediately queens on f1 then White's perpetual
checking mechanism is intact.} 3. Kg7 f1=Q {Now White is unable to inflict
perpetual check, and yet has an entirely different idea in mind.} 4. Rf7 $3 Qe2
$1 ({The best try, since} 4... Rxf7+ 5. exf7 {
is a well-known theoretical positional draw... or stalemate.}) 5. Kxf8 $1 Qxe6
{Now White can return to his original idea of perpetual check along the
seventh rank.} 6. Rh7+ Kg2 7. Rg7+ {The black king has no shelter. His journey
to h6 would allow Rh7+! and similarly the alternative trip to f6 allows Rg6+!
with stalemate after either capture.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "12 Perpetual Check"]
[Date ""]
[White "46. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5N1p/8/b6p/7P/6KP/7R/4kr2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]

{Although material is balanced, White faces a double threat: one of his pieces
is attacked directly while the other is facing a skewer.} 1. Ne5 $1 (1. Nd6 $2
{is still a bit too far from the action and thus loses to} Bc7 2. Kg2 Rf8 3.
Rh1+ Ke2 4. Ne4 Rg8+ 5. Ng5 h6 {winning the knight.}) 1... Bc7 2. Rh1 $3 {
The only defence against the annoying pin is to put both white pieces en prise!
} ({Following} 2. Kg2 $2 Ke2 $1 3. Kg3+ Ke3 4. Kg2 Rc1 {
the pin becomes decisive.}) 2... Rxh1 ({Not} 2... Bxe5+ 3. Kg2 {as White would
not object to a rook exchange leaving Black with the wrong bishop.}) 3. Kg2 Rf1
4. Nd3+ ({Attention! After} 4. Nf3+ $2 Rxf3 $1 5. Kxf3 Kf1 $19 {it is still
the wrong bishop, but the white king cannot reach the saving corner.}) 4... Ke2
5. Nc1+ $1 Ke1 6. Nd3+ Ke2 7. Nc1+ {
It's either a positional draw by perpetual check or...} Rxc1 {Stalemate!}
1/2-1/2

[Event "12 Perpetual Check"]
[Date ""]
[White "47. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5R2/5Pr1/7b/8/8/8/B2k4/K2nn3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{Black's extra knight pair pushes White to make rapid use of his threat to
promote.} 1. Rd8+ $1 Kc1 2. Rc8+ $1 ({The premature} 2. f8=Q $2 {is defeated by
} Nc2#) 2... Nc3 $1 {
The idea is to clear the first rank for a future check by the black rook.} 3.
Rxc3+ Nc2+ 4. Rxc2+ Kxc2 5. f8=Q Rg1+ 6. Bb1+ Rxb1+ 7. Ka2 Rb2+ (7... Bxf8 {
is stalemate!}) 8. Ka1 Rb1+ (8... Bxf8 {is stalemate again.}) 9. Ka2 {
It's a positional draw, when Black can only choose between repeated checks or
stalemate!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "13 Positional Draw"]
[Date ""]
[White "48. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5P1n/6p1/6P1/k5P1/8/1K6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]

{It's a royal race to the main scene. Who arrives first?} 1. Kc3 Kb5 2. Kd4 Kc6
3. Ke5 (3. f8=Q $2 {is premature:} Nxf8 4. Ke5 Nd7+ $1 5. Ke6 Kc7 6. Ke7 Ne5 7.
Ke6 Nxg4 8. Kf7 Ne5+ 9. Ke6 Nf3 10. Kf6 Nh4 {and Black wins.}) 3... Kd7 (3...
Nf8 4. Kf6 Kd6 5. Kg7 Ke7 6. Kh6 {
draws in similar fashion to the main line because} Kxf7 {is stalemate.}) 4.
f8=Q $1 {Just before the gate is closed for good. Promotion to any other piece
comes to the same thing.} Nxf8 5. Kf6 Ke8 6. Kg7 Ke7 7. Kh6 $1 Ke6 (7... Kf7 {
is stalemate.}) 8. Kg7 Ke7 9. Kh6 {The white king is safe in his fortress}
1/2-1/2

[Event "13 Positional Draw"]
[Date ""]
[White "49. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3R4/8/7P/4pb2/4p3/4K3/6p1/4k3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{Can White save this seemingly hopeless position? The immobility of his king
might provide a clue.} 1. Rg8 Kf1 2. h7 $1 Bxh7 3. Rf8+ Ke1 ({After} 3... Kg1 {
White can chase the bishop:} 4. Rf7 $1 Bg6 5. Rf6 Bh5 (5... Bh7 6. Rf7 {repeats
}) 6. Kxe4 Kh2 7. Rh6 g1=Q 8. Rxh5+ Kg3 9. Rg5+ {=  The new queen falls.}) 4.
Rf2 $1 g1=R $1 (4... g1=Q {or 4...g1=B) is stalemate!}) (4... g1=N 5. Rf7 {
is not a problem for White.}) 5. Rg2 $1 Kf1 6. Rf2+ Ke1 7. Rg2 Rf1 8. Rg1 $1 (
8. Rf2 $2 {fails to} Bg6 $19 ({or} 8... Bf5 $19)) 8... Bf5 9. Rh1 $1 Bg6 10.
Rg1 $1 {It is a positional draw or stalemate!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "13 Positional Draw"]
[Date ""]
[White "50. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6N1/1p6/P1n5/5k2/8/8/5K2/2b5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "43"]

{White's knight is dominated while his pawn seems under control. What is to be
done?} 1. Ne7+ $1 {Deflection!} ({The alternative} 1. axb7 $2 {
is comfortably refuted by, for example,} Bg5 $1 2. Kf3 Kg6 3. Kg4 Nb8 4. Kf3
Kf7 5. Kg4 Bc1 $19 {and the knight is finally trapped.}) 1... Nxe7 (1... Ke6 {
allows} 2. Nxc6) (1... Ke4 {is met by} 2. axb7 ({but not} 2. Nxc6 $2 bxc6 3. a7
Be3+ {and Black wins})) 2. a7 Be3+ $1 {
A counter deflection, to enable the knight to stop the pawn.} 3. Kxe3 Nd5+ 4.
Kd4 Nc7 (4... Nb6 5. Kc5 Na8 6. Kd5 $1 {makes no difference.}) 5. Kc5 Na8 6.
Kd5 $1 {Maintaining the opposition!} (6. Kd6 $2 {
allows the black king to approach:} Ke4 7. Kd7 Kd5 8. Kc8 Kc6 $19) 6... Kf4 7.
Kd4 Kf3 8. Kd3 Kf2 9. Kd2 Kf1 10. Kd1 Nc7 11. Kd2 Kf2 12. Kd3 Kf3 13. Kd4 Kf4 (
13... Nb5+ {loses the last pawn after} 14. Kc5 Nxa7 15. Kb6) 14. Kc5 Na8 15.
Kd4 $1 Kf5 16. Kd5 Kf6 17. Kd6 Kf7 18. Kd7 {It's a positional draw as the
black king is kept away. Black can make one last try.} b5 $5 19. Kc6 (19. Kc8 {
comes to the same thing.}) 19... b4 20. Kb7 b3 21. Kxa8 b2 22. Kb7 {It is still
a draw since the black king is one square too far away to win the queen versus
pawn position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "13 Positional Draw"]
[Date ""]
[White "51. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1N6/1Pk5/P1p3p1/p7/K7/1r6/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{The white colony in the upper left corner is about to fall apart. Can White
avert the approaching disaster?} 1. a7 $1 ({After} 1. Nd7 $2 {
Black simply moves the rook along the b-file and White is paralyzed.}) 1...
Rb4+ $1 ({Naturally} 1... Kxb7 2. Kxb3 g5 3. Nxc6 {is just a draw.}) 2. Kxa5
Rb5+ 3. Ka6 Rb1 4. Nxc6 $1 Kxc6 (4... Rb6+ {is easier to deal with:} 5. Ka5
Kxb7 6. a8=Q+ Kxa8 7. Kxb6) 5. b8=N+ $1 {The Phoenix theme - the sacrificed
knight is instantly reborn, and on the very same square.} Kc7 6. Nc6 $1 {
The new knight even follows its predecessor.} Rb6+ 7. Ka5 Rb1 8. Ka6 {
The knight is taboo as the pawn would promote with check, so Black has nothing
better than repeating moves.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "14 Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "52. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4K3/1q3PP1/N3k3/2B1p3/4p3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Thwarting Black's mating intentions requires an unusual approach.} 1. Nc7+ $1
({Not immediately} 1. f8=N+ $2 Kf6 2. g8=N+ Kg7 {
and White loses one of his knights.}) 1... Qxc7 2. f8=N+ $1 {
The Phoenix theme! The sacrificed piece is reborn from its ashes.} Kf6 {
Black maintains the mating threat.} (2... Kf5 3. g8=Q Qxc5 {
drops the queen to a fork:} 4. Qg6+ Kf4 5. Ne6+ $18) 3. g8=N+ $1 {
A second consecutive underpromotion.} Kf5 {
Any other move is met by a royal fork.} 4. Nh6+ Kf6 (4... Kg5 {(or 4...Kf4)} 5.
Ne6+ $18) 5. Ng4+ Kf5 6. Ne3+ Kf6 7. Nd5+ $18 {The final decisive fork.} 1-0

[Event "14 Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "53. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6N1/4K1k1/8/5Pp1/6P1/6Pr/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{In this game-like position the f-pawn is set to break through and promote,
but what to?} 1. f6+ Kg6 $1 2. f7 Rh7 3. Nh6 $1 {
The pawn is more important than the knight!} Kxh6 (3... Rh8 {loses simply:} 4.
f8=Q Rxf8 5. Kxf8 Kxh6 6. Kf7 Kh7 7. Kf6 Kh6 8. Kf5 $18) 4. Ke8 Rh8+ ({
The other main line is:} 4... Kg6 5. f8=N+ $1 ({Not} 5. f8=Q $2 Rh8 $1 {when}
6. Qxh8 {is stalemate} ({whereas after} 6. Ke7 Rxf8 7. Kxf8 Kf6 {
Black holds the opposition and draws.})) 5... Kg7 6. Nxh7 Kxh7 7. Kf7 $18) 5.
f8=R $1 ({Not} 5. f8=Q+ $2 Kg6 $1 6. Ke7 ({or} 6. Qxh8 {stalemate}) 6... Rxf8
7. Kxf8 Kf6 {when Black holds the opposition and draws.}) 5... Rh7 6. Rf6+ Kg7
7. Rf7+ $18 {As we have already seen, the pawn ending following the exchange
of rooks is won for White.} 1-0

[Event "14 Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "54. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k1B5/2PN3P/7q/P7/K7/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{White cannot allow his king to be exposed to a bombardment of checks.} 1. Nb6+
$1 (1. Ba6 $2 {does not provide any proper shelter:} Qf4+ 2. Kb5 Qf1+ 3. Kc5
Qg1+ 4. Kd5 Qg2+ {=  White cannot escape the checks.}) 1... Qxb6 $1 {
Oops! Has White missed this stalemate resource?} ({After} 1... Ka7 2. Be6 Qf4+
3. Nc4 {the queen is unable to handle all the threats.}) 2. Bb7+ $3 (2. h8=Q $2
Qd4+ 3. Qxd4 {is stalemate!}) 2... Qxb7 {Having got rid of both his pieces,
White now obtains another pair of pieces in return.} 3. h8=R+ $3 (3. h8=Q+ $2
Ka7 {is surprisingly just a draw because of} 4. c8=Q ({If instead White tries} 
4. Qc3 {then} Qc6+ 5. Qxc6 {is another stalemate!}) 4... Qxc8 5. Qxc8 {
stalemate!}) 3... Ka7 4. c8=N+ $1 (4. c8=Q $2 Qb4+ 5. Kxb4 {is stalemate!})
4... Ka6 ({Or} 4... Kb8 5. Nd6+ $18) 5. Rh6+ $18 {White wins.} 1-0

[Event "14 Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "55. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/1PbP3r/8/1KP5/4k3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "27"]

{White has three pawns trying to reach the desired goal. Which will be the
happy one?} 1. Kc5 Bg2 2. b7 $3 {A surprising decision.} ({
Black is in full control after} 2. d7 $2 Rc6+ 3. Kb5 Rd6 $19) 2... Bxb7 {
The bishop has been decoyed beyond the critical d5-square. The white king will
be able to move there if the bishop's line is masked, as indeed happens on the
next move.} 3. d7 Rc6+ (3... Rh8 4. Kd6 {is a simple draw.}) 4. Kd5 $1 {
Here we are! Black has no good way to unleash the battery effectively.} Kf4 $1
{Black tries a waiting move, controlling the e5-square and attempting to put
his opponent in zugzwang.} 5. d8=N $3 {Only this way!} ({Neither} 5. c5 $2 Rf6+
6. Kd4 Rf8 $19) ({nor} 5. d8=Q $2 Rc8+ $18 {would save White.}) 5... Rb6+ 6.
Nxb7 Rxb7 7. c5 Rd7+ 8. Ke6 Rh7 9. c6 (9. Kd5 {and 9.Kd6 also draw.}) 9... Ke4
10. Kd6 Rh6+ 11. Kd7 Kd5 12. c7 Rh7+ 13. Kd8 Kd6 14. c8=N+ $1 {
=  The least likely pawn eventually does promote!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "15 Mutual Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "56. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/n1P1k2P/6PK/8/8/1p6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]

{This was one of my earliest efforts in the mutual underpromotions sub-genre.} 
1. c7 $1 Nxc7 ({After} 1... Kd7 2. h7 b1=Q {White first plays} 3. c8=Q+ $1 {
to avoid the unpleasant skewer, and then} Kxc8 4. h8=Q+ {draws.}) 2. h7 b1=R $1
({It is time for Black show caution and avoid:} 2... b1=Q 3. h8=Q $1 Qh1+ 4.
Kg6 Qxh8 {stalemate!}) 3. Kh6 ({Not} 3. Kg6 $2 Rb8 $1 4. Kg7 Ne8+ 5. Kg6 Nd6 {
and Black wins.}) 3... Rb8 (3... Ne8 {
takes the g7-square away from the white king:} 4. h8=Q $1 Rh1+ 5. Kg6 Rxh8 {
stalemate!}) 4. g6 Kf6 5. g7 Rb1 6. g8=N+ $1 Kf7 7. Nf6 $1 Rb8 8. Nd7 $1 (8.
Ng8 $2 {loses to:} Rb6+ 9. Nf6 Rxf6+ 10. Kg5 Ne6+ $19) 8... Re8 9. Ne5+ $1 Kf6
10. Ng6 {White is finally ready to queen the h-pawn, securing the draw.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "15 Mutual Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "57. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/1P6/5K2/Q1q1p3/5B1k w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Both sides will promote their only pawns, but what to?} 1. Bg2+ $1 {
It is confirmed by the endgame tablebases that both} (1. Qxc2 $2 exf1=Q+) ({and
} 1. Qa1 $2 Qc3+ $1 2. Qxc3 exf1=Q+ {are drawn.}) 1... Kh2 2. Qxc2 e1=N+ 3. Kf2
$1 {The bishop must be kept defended.} ({For example,} 3. Kf4 $2 Nxc2 4. b5
Kxg2 5. b6 Nb4 {is just a draw.}) 3... Nxc2 4. b5 Na3 $5 5. b6 Nc4 6. b7 Nd6 $1
{Black sets one last trap.} (6... Nd6 $1 {Now} 7. b8=Q $2 {
or 7.b8=B? would be a pin stalemate}) 7. b8=R $1 $18 1-0

[Event "15 Mutual Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "58. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p1Q5/p7/2P5/5K2/1r6/2p1p2k/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{How can White deal with both Black's advanced pawns?} 1. Qh7+ $1 ({
None of the discovered checks do the trick, for example:} 1. Ke4+ $2 Rg3 2.
Qh7+ Kg1 $19) 1... Kg1 $1 2. Qg6+ Kf1 (2... Kf2 $2 {allows the pin} 3. Qxc2 $16
{when only White has winning chances.}) 3. Qxc2 $1 Rf3+ $1 (3... Rb4+ 4. Kg3 (
4. Ke3 {is good enough too}) 4... e1=Q+ 5. Kf3 {
forces a draw as Black must abandon his rook to avoid being mated!}) 4. Kxf3 $1
(4. Ke4 $2 {loses to} Rg3 $1 {or 4...Rh3!.}) (4. Kg4 $2 {is defeated by:} Re3
$1 5. Qc4 Kg1 $1 $19) 4... e1=N+ $1 5. Ke4 $1 {This looks the most natural
choice and it is indeed the only king move to avoid being checked by the
knight too soon:} (5. Kf4 $2 {loses to} Nxc2 6. c6 Nd4 $19 {
or 6...Nb4 $19 when the knight will fork next move.}) (5. Kg3 $2 {
is defeated by:} Nxc2 6. c6 Nd4 7. c7 Nf5+ 8. Kf4 Nd6 9. Ke5 Nc8 10. Ke6 a5 11.
Kd7 Nb6+ $19) 5... Nxc2 6. c6 Na3 $1 7. c7 Nb5 8. c8=N $1 {The solution
featured mutual knight promotions, one of which was instrumental in creating a
fork, the other in avoiding one!} ({
White secures the draw by avoiding the fork after} 8. c8=Q $2 Nd6+) 1/2-1/2

[Event "15 Mutual Underpromotions"]
[Date ""]
[White "59. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "B6K/1P6/8/8/8/8/6pp/2N3Bk w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{Mate in 5 moves} 1. Ba7 $3 {The bishop must travel beyond the critical
b6-square to allow White's third move.} g1=R $1 {Unlike knight underpromotions
which occur for various reasons in chess compositions, rook and bishop
underpromotions are invariably connected with stalemate - either to allow the
attacker to avoid stalemate or the defender to create stalemate.} ({After} 1...
g1=Q 2. b8=Q+ Qg2 {White can now play any waiting move and then mate next move.
}) 2. b8=R+ $3 {A reciprocal rook promotion.} ({After} 2. b8=Q+ $2 Rg2 {
White has a huge material advantage, but the sudden stalemate possibilities
mean that mating on the fifth move is impossible.}) 2... Rg2 3. Rb6 $1 ({
Unpinning by} 3. Rb7 $2 {allows} Rg8+ $1 4. Kxg8 Kg2 {and now it takes White
four more moves to deliver mate, much more than stipulated.}) 3... Kg1 4. Rd6+
$1 Rf2 (4... Kf1 5. Rd1#) (4... Kh1 5. Rd1# {
utilizes the pin on the black rook.}) 5. Rd1# {
Another mate with the black rook pinned.} 1-0

[Event "16 Problem Themes"]
[Date ""]
[White "60. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6K1/3R2P1/6kP/3n2p1/r6P/2P5/8/1b6 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]

{Two pieces behind and with a king in jeopardy, White's survival chances
depend on the mobility of his advanced pawns.} 1. Rd6+ $1 (1. h5+ $2 {loses to}
Kxh6 2. Rxd5 Ba2 $19) 1... Nf6+ 2. Rxf6+ $1 Kxf6 3. hxg5+ Kg6 $1 4. Kh8 Ba2 5.
c4 $3 {The good old Novotny theme! The white pawn is sacrificed at the
intersection of the black routes.} ({Not immediately} 5. h7 $2 Rh4 6. g8=Q+
Bxg8 7. Kxg8 Rxh7 {and Black wins.}) 5... Bxc4 6. h7 Bg8 $3 {A surprising
defence, blocking the white pawn and enabling another one to queen by
capturing the bishop, though without checking!} 7. hxg8=N $3 ({Obviously not} 
7. hxg8=Q $2 Rh4+ {and White loses the queen and all his pawns.}) 7... Ra8 {
A pin stalemate!} ({Instead} 7... Rh4+ $4 {would allow} 8. Nh6 {
and Black loses.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "16 Problem Themes"]
[Date ""]
[White "61. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b5/4R3/5P2/5k2/5p1B/7P/ppp3P1/4K2R w K - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]

{White must act quickly before the armada of black pawns decides matters. 
This study provides a demonstration of the popular Valladao Task - it employs
in a single main line all three <->unusual' chess moves: en passant, castling
and promotion with preferably, but not necessarily, an underpromotion.} 1. g4+
(1. O-O {proves premature in view of:} Be6 $1 ({not} 1... c1=Q $2 2. g4+ Kg6 3.
Rg7+ Kh6 4. Bg5#) 2. g4+ Ke5 $1 3. Re1+ Kd5 4. R7xe6 a1=Q $1 5. f7 Qa3 6. R6e5+
Kc6 7. Re6+ {=  White has no more than perpetual check.}) 1... fxg3 {
En passant!} (1... Kg6 {allows} 2. Rg7+ Kh6 3. Bg5#) 2. O-O+ {Castling!} ({
The attempt} 2. Rf1+ $2 Kg6 3. Rg7+ Kh6 4. Bg5+ Kh5 {
brings the attack to a dead end. The white king should be led to safety first.}
) 2... Kg6 3. Rg7+ (3. f7 $2 {is rather slow in view of:} c1=Q $1 4. f8=Q (4.
f8=N+ $2 Kh5 5. Rh7+ Qh6 $19) 4... Qxf1+ $1 5. Qxf1 a1=Q 6. Re1 Qa7+ 7. Kg2 Bf5
8. Kxg3 Qb8+ {=}) 3... Kh5 (3... Kh6 {
is a thematic variation that includes a normal promotion:} 4. Bg5+ Kh5 5. f7
a1=Q 6. f8=Q Qxf1+ 7. Qxf1 b1=Q 8. Bc1 $1 Qb6+ 9. Kg2 $18) 4. f7 $1 ({And not:
} 4. Rh7+ $2 Kg6 5. f7 Kxh7 $1 6. f8=Q c1=Q $1 7. Qe7+ Kg6 8. Qe8+ Kh6 $1 9.
Qf8+ Kh7) 4... c1=Q 5. Rh7+ Kg6 6. f8=N# $1 {
Underpromotion, to complete the Valladao Task.} 1-0

[Event "16 Problem Themes"]
[Date ""]
[White "62. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/r7/P1P5/4P3/1N6/P7/5p1K/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]

{White's passed pawns must be carefully managed to secure the victory, while
the black pawn should not be underestimated either.  The theme of the 2017
edition of the Jenever tourney, traditionally organized by ARVES during the
annual World Congress of Chess Composition, was the Umnov Effect. This theme
requires that during the solution a white piece (other than a pawn) moves to a
square just vacated by Black.} 1. Kg2 Rf7 2. Kf1 Re7 3. c7 $1 {A pawn is given
away to clear the thematic square for pieces of both sides to occupy.} Rxc7 4.
e6 Rc6 $1 (4... Re7 {allows the powerful} 5. Nd5 $1 Rxe6 {
followed by the deadly fork} 6. Nc7+) 5. e7 ({Naturally not} 5. Nxc6 $2 {
stalemate.}) 5... Re6 6. Nc6 $1 {The theme in action! The knight moves to the
square that has just been evacuated by the rook.} ({Not} 6. Nd5 $2 Ka7 7. Kxf2
Re5 8. Kf3 Kxa6 9. Kf4 Rxe7 $1 10. Nxe7 Kb5 11. Nd5 Ka4 {
when the last pawn is picked up just in time, with a draw.}) 6... Re1+ 7. Kxf2
Re3 $1 ({Or} 7... Re2+ 8. Kf3 Re3+ 9. Kf4 Re4+ 10. Kf5 $18 {and the white king
will find refuge on the queenside, away from the checks by the crazy rook.}) 8.
a7 $1 $18 {Finally dismantling the stalemate.} (8. a4 $2 {overlooks the real
intention of the crazy rook to inflict endless checks on the third rank:} Rf3+
9. Ke2 Re3+ 10. Kd2 Rd3+ {=  is a perpetual check or stalemate.}) 1-0

[Event "16 Problem Themes"]
[Date ""]
[White "63. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5PbK/2pp3R/4ppk1/2q5/4PPNB/8/Q7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]

{Mate in three moves  The solution is:} 1. Qa5 $1 {Creating a half-pin on the
fifth rank and threatening 2.Qd8+. [To fully appreciate the solution, you
should also consider the set play (that is, how the main defences would be met
if they were played in the board position):]} (1. -- {(==>)} Qe6 2. f4+ $1 ({
not} 2. Ne4+ $2) 2... exf4 3. Rh5#) (1. -- {(==>)} Qxf7 2. Ne4+ $1 ({not} 2.
f4+ $2) 2... fxe4 3. Qg1#) 1... Qe6 {
The replies to Black's main defences are now reciprocally changed:} (1... Qxf7
2. f4+ $1 (2. Ne4+ $2 {does not work}) 2... exf4 3. Ne4#) 2. Ne4+ $1 (2. f4+ $2
{does not work}) 2... fxe4 3. f4# {In both set play and solution, the moves of
the black queen avoid White having a choice of two replies, and thus
demonstrate the theme of dual avoidance.} 1-0

[Event "17 Stalemate"]
[Date ""]
[White "64. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/k1P5/P1R5/K7/8/2p5/1p6/1r6 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "16"]

{Black is about to unleash a lethal attack by a rook and a newborn queen. How
can White prepare for this?} 1. c8=N+ $1 {
The only promotion that maintains the initiative.} Kb8 2. a7+ Ka8 3. Nb6+ Kxa7
4. Rc7+ $1 Kb8 5. Rc8+ $1 Kb7 {
White has run out of useful checks, but not out of defensive ideas:} 6. Rxc3 $1
Ra1+ 7. Na4 $1 b1=Q 8. Rb3+ $1 Qxb3 {Pin stalemate of an underpromoted piece.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "17 Stalemate"]
[Date ""]
[White "65. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/1R6/KP1p4/pP1r4/8/8/8/6q1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{Black is a queen ahead, yet his king is in distress. How can White exploit
this factor to save the game?  Just as is often witnessed over the board, the
weakness of the eighth rank is the key in the following subtle drama.} 1. Rd7
$3 {Why on earth this particular square?} (1. Rf7 $2 {is met by} Rf5 $1 2. Rxf5
Qg7 {winning.}) 1... Qg5 {This is where White needs the black queen to stand,
and it just remains to see why.} ({After} 1... Qg8 {White's task is simpler:}
2. Ra7+ Kb8 3. b7 Rxb5 4. Ra8+ Kc7 5. Rxg8 Rb6+ 6. Kxa5 Rxb7 {
Now White draws more comfortably by} 7. Rg7+ {followed by a rook exchange} ({
rather than by} 7. Rg1)) 2. Ra7+ Kb8 3. Ra8+ $3 Kxa8 4. b7+ Kb8 5. b6 {
With an unavoidable stalemate thanks to the accurate queen decoy on move 1!}
1/2-1/2

[Event "17 Stalemate"]
[Date ""]
[White "66. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7n/4Pk1p/7B/p4PK1/5P1P/6n1/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "12"]

{A seemingly hopeless situation calls for extra creativity.} 1. Bg7 $1 Kxe7 2.
Bxh8 $1 Ne4+ 3. Kh6 $1 Nf6 4. Kg7 $3 {
What the heck is this? White deliberately blocks his own bishop!} (4. Kg5 $2 {
loses to} Kf7 $1 5. h5 ({or} 5. Bxf6 h6+ $1) 5... a4 6. h6 Ne4+ 7. Kg4 a3 8.
Be5 Nd2 $19 {when Black collects the bishop at his leisure.}) 4... a4 5. h5 a3
6. h6 $1 a2 {Model self-stalemate!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "17 Stalemate"]
[Date ""]
[White "67. Yochanan Afek"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/1p6/N5p1/8/6K1/8/6B1/6B1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]

{Mate in seven  Avoiding stalemate is the focus of this more-mover that
concludes the chapter. The only way to force mate in seven is:} 1. Bh1 $3 ({
Any other bishop key fails to do the trick, for example:} 1. Bd5 $2 g5 2. Kf5
g4 3. Ke6 g3 4. Kd7 g2 5. Kc8 {Stalemate!}) 1... g5 2. Kf5 g4 3. Ke6 g3 4. Kd7
g2 5. Kc8 $1 b6 {The alternatives lose more quickly:} (5... bxa6 6. Bxg2#) ({or
} 5... gxh1=Q 6. Nc7#) 6. Bxb6 gxh1=Q 7. Nc7# 1-0
