Yochanan Afek – Chess Study Art

[Event "2.p Tidskrift for Schack"] [Date "1972"] [White "Afek=Y"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5r2/8/1R6/ppk3p1/2N3P1/P4b2/1K6/5B2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "1972"]  {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 {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.} 6...Rd5 (6... Rb7 7. Nc5+) 7. Nb6+ 1-0  [Event "1.p Israel Ring ty Shahmat"] [Date "1975"] [White "Afek=Y"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "K4b2/3k4/1P5r/1N1p4/3B4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "1975"]  {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+ Kd6 ({and} 6... Kc5 7. Ne6+) 7. Nf5+ {are deadly forks, while retreating to the seventh rank would unpin the b-pawn, allowing a triumphant promotion.} 1-0  [Event ".c Hungary 1100 JT Magyar Sakkelet"] [Date "1997"] [White "Afek=Y"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2B5/7R/8/8/2r5/1r1k1K2/8/N7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "1997"]  1. Bf5+ Kd4+ (1... Kc3 2. Nxb3 Kxb3 3. Be6) 2. Nxb3+ Ke5 $1 3. Bd3 $1 Rc3 4. Rh5+ Kd6 5. Nd4 $1 Rxd3+ 6. Ke4 Rd1 7. Rd5+ $1 1-0  [Event "1/2.p Kralin-55 JT"] [Date "2000"] [White "Afek=Y"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "K1B1q3/8/1P6/8/k3p3/4R3/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "2000"]  1. b7 Qc6 2. Bd7 $1 Qxd7 3. Rxe4+ $1 (3. b8=Q $2 Qd5+ 4. Qb7 Qd8+ 5. Ka7 Qd4+ 6. Qb6 Qd7+ 7. Ka6 Qb7+ $1 8. Kxb7 (8. Qxb7)) 3... Ka5 (3... Ka3 4. b8=Q Qd5+ 5. Qb7 Qd8+ 6. Ka7) 4. Re5+ $1 (4. b8=Q $2 Qd5+ 5. Qb7 Qd8+ 6. Ka7 Qb8+ $1 (6... Qd4+ $2 7. Kb8 $1 (7. Rxd4 $2)) 7. Kxb8 (7. Qxb8) ) 4... Kb6 $1 (4... Ka6 5. b8=N+) 5. b8=Q+ Ka6 6. Rb5 $1 (6. Rc5 $2 Qd5+ $1 7. Rxd5) 6... Qxb5 7. Qa7# 1-0

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