15th January 2024
My sixth study has been published in the no. 126 of Pat a Mat (December 2023). After nos 1 & 5 it is the third study with the material NP vs PP.
White to move and win.
Thomas Niessen
Pat a Mat, 2023.
1. Kc7 Kd4 2. Na2 Kc4 3. Kb6 d5 4. Ka5.
Zugzwang. The wK has reached its destination. White would like to give up his N for the d-pawn or to bring the N all around to c6.
4... Kb3 5. Nc1+ Kc3 6. Ne2+ Kc4 7. Ng1! Kb3 8. Nf3 Kc3 9. Ng5! Kb3 10. Ne6 Kc4 11. Nd8 d4 12. Nc6 d3 13. Ne5+ Kc3 14. Nxd3 Kxd3 15. Kxa6 1-0.
On its journey from c3 to d3, the N has touched three rims of the board and missed the h-file twice narrowly.
The three studies with the material NP vs PP were done in reversed order. This here (no.6) was the first one. Related material is published in my article "Roundtrip, rundlauf and beyond". On my search for the big circle study, I got no. 5. And eventually I succeeded with the big circle (no. 1).
Further studies with this material are not planned. The big rectangle is the only challenge left (see the addendum at the end of no.1), but I believe that it needs another approach.
Addendum 15th June 2024. According to Pat a Mat 128, page 377 this study received the 1st prize in the Pat a Mat 2022-2023 tourney. 25 studies participated and the judge was composition GM Yochanan Afek (Israel/The Netherlands). My sincere thanks go to the organizers and the judge.