11th January 2024

 

Creating 2-click studies is child's play. Everyone should try this once. However, like Michael Pasman, I am of the opinion that these studies have no place in tourneys. But I don't want to hide the fact that there are also well-known advocates who argue on the basis of "We judge the final result and not the way it was found".

 

Here comes a 2-click study that I did some time ago.

White to play and win.

 

Thomas Niessen

First publishing.

 

Eleven pieces! That are four more than any 2-click start position can have. Let's see how we get rid of them.

 

1. Bf6 Be7+. (1... Kb7 2. Bxh8 Be7+ 3. Ke8 Bg6+ 4. Kd7 Bf5+ 5. Be6 Bxh7 6. Rxh1 +-) 2. Bxe7 Bxh7 3. Kxc8 Bxg8.

Here we are. This is a 2-click position.The small introduction has a lot of captures, but it explains the black bishop/rook battery. Only the Nh1 looks sad.

 

The play is now quite forced.

4. Kc7! Rh2 5. Bc5 Rh7+ 6. Kc6 Rh6+ 7.Bd6 Rh7.

8. Bf4!

There is even a pretty try: 8. Re1 Bd5+ 9. Kxd5 Nf2 10. Kc6 Nd3 11. Re8+ Ka7 12. Re3 Rb7 13. Rxd3 Rb6+ 14. Kc7 Rb7+ 15. Kc6 Rb6+ =.

8... Re7 9. Bc7 Re6+ 10. Bd6 Re2 11. Bc5 Rb2 12. Rd4.

12.. Nf2.

This is quite an unlucky piece, but it should move at least once.

13. Ra4+ Kb8 14. Bd6+ Kc8 15. Ra8+ Rb8 16. Rxb8#

Finishing with a mate is always nice.

 

 

Hopefully no one even remotely thinks this is my best study yet.

We are not fully done yet. Why is the black knight needed at all? Well, without it the position is a draw!

Without the knight, the play would begin in the same way until 5. Kc6. Here Black has the surprising 5.. Bd5+!. This bishop can be taken in two ways. If the king takes, the black king can escape in any direction. So 6. Rxd5 Rc7+!. If the rook is taken, too, then it is stalemate. And otherwise, the rook checks until the black king escapes.

So, the unlucky knight on h1 is preventing a stalemate escape.