Exciting ways to draw - Narayanan's Problem Corner

Narayanan's Problem Corner

Exciting ways to draw

In analytical end-game studies featuring draws, white mobilises his resources to obtain parity in material or forces stalemate positions, sometimes even with unexpected sacrifices. In the study below the Russian composer mixes these strategies to lend a modern touch to a classic composition. Initially white tries to stop black pawn d2 from queening, but this only up to a point. After 7…Kxb4 white’s ingenious plan seems to fail but now white chooses to attack the black bishop with the promoted black queen still prowling on the board. The climax is reached with a rook sacrifice leading to an extraordinary model pin-stalemate with all the pieces on the fourth rank.

Yuri Bazlov
First Prize, Chervony Gimik Ty, 1984

White to play and draw

1.b4, Bd4 (only way to prevent 2.Rd6 and save BB) 2.Nd5 +, Kd3 ( any other K-move fails to 3.Nc3, Bxc3 4.Rd6) 3.Nf4+, Kc4 4.Rc6+, Kb5 (4…Kxb4 5.Rc1!) 5.Rd6, d1=Q 6.Ke4, Kc4 7.Rc6+, Kxb4 (now if 8.Nd3+, Kb5 9.Rc1, Qg4 + wins for black) 8.Rc1, Qg4 9.Rc4+, Kxc4 stalemate!

The basic rules of chess strategy stress the need of retention of the control of one’s own pieces as well as the tempo when it matters most. In the diagram below by the greatest Russian composer of studies shows how the loss of tempo by black is capitalised by white. The white pawn at a3 moves surely and slowly to a6 during a series of pin and unpin play. Here the the black rook is pinned and unpinned thrice in a glorious sequence of moves where their majesties also move up along with the thematic piece.

Genrich Kasparayan
2 Prize, Tchigorin Memorial Ty, 1949
White to play and draw

Solution: 1.Bh5+, Ke1 2.Bh4+, Kd2 3.Bg5 (BR is pinned), Bxc5 4.Kf2, Kd3 (R is unpinned) 5.Bg6+, Re4+ (R is pinned) 6.Kf3, Bc6 7.a4, Kd4 (R is unpinned) 8.Bf6, Re5+ (R is pinned) 9.Kf4, Bd6 10.a5, Kd5 (R is unpinned) 11.Bf7, Re6+ 12.Kf5, Bd7 13.a6 draw.

Studies do not lack combinative ideas but the subtlety and exactitude play vital roles. In the third problem the solution needs a close look. The first two moves of white are irreversible curiously and the white bishop grabs the long diagonal at the earliest to prevent black king treading on black squares. When the bishop gives en prise at f6 white tactically develops stalemate position.

Selesnieff

White to play and draw

1.g6, Bd4 2.f5, exf5 3.Bf6, Bc5 (if 3…BxB stalemate) 4. BxP, BxP (not 4…KxP 5.Bb2+ and wins) 5.Kg5, Bc5 6.KxP, Kb3 7.Ke6, Kc2 8.Kf7, Be3 9.Bf6, Bh6 10.Bg7! ,Be3 11.Bf6 draws

Now an imaginative study for solving from the master of studies, Josef Kricheli. The clue to this masterpiece is that the tussle for parity goes only up to a stage and white switches to stalemate manouvre.

Here is a Josef Kricheli for solving

H&P Le Grand
I Pr, Schach Echo 1956
Mate in THREE moves.

Solution to H&P Le Grand problem in Siers Combination
1.Ra4!!(2.Nc2+,Qd4/Bd4 3.Nd6) 1…Qc5 2.Nd3+, Bd4 3.Nf2 1…Be5 2.Na2+, Qd4 3.Nc3

- C G S Narayanan

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Glossary

Symbol	Meaning
+	Check
#	Checkmate
x	Capture
!	Good Move
!!	Excellent Move
?	Bad move
??	Blunder
!?	Interesting Move
?!	Dubious Move
1-0	White Wins
0-1	Black Wins
1/2	Draw
Twoer	Mate in Two Moves

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About the author

C G S Narayanan, an international composer of repute, has been composing Chess problems for the past thirty years. He has won several awards for his compositions in International composing tourneys and he has an output of over 300 problems to his credit. He is the second Indian to win the prestigious Brian Harley Award for the best two-mover composed by a subject of British Commonwealth twice in 1977 and 1991. He has been editing THE HINDU Chess problem column from 1982 onwards, after S K Narasimhan. He has captained the Indian team in the World Chess Compositions Tournaments held by FIDE.

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