Chess study 5 – Yochanan Afek Study

in Chess Studies Chess Training on January 15, 2017 January 29, 2019

CHESS STUDY 5

YOCHANAN AFEK STUDY

There are many people in chess who aren’t top grandmasters and therefore don’t get enough recognition for everything they have done for the chess. I feel that the name of Yochanan Afek certainly deserved to be mentioned in that context.

Because this Israeli international master is also an international grandmaster in chess composition and international chess arbiter and has devoted his life in teaching numerous Israeli kids the secrets of our ancient game.

Therefore, for this week’s study, we have chosen a problem from his vast collection of beautiful chess studies:

   [White "Yochanan Afek Study"]   [Black "White to play and draw"]   [Result "1-0"]   [FEN "6rk/P7/5KP1/6P1/8/8/8/8 w -- 0 1"]   {This study is a fabolous example of the paradoxical nature of our game. White starts with:}   1 g7+ Kh7 2 g6+ Kh6   {And now what?}   3 a8Q! Rxa8 4 Kf7   {It seems that White is gone mad, but the surprise is yet to come.}   4... Ra7+ 5 Kg8!!   {The point. White stalemates himself. No matter which pawns Black takes, he can't avoid it:}  5... Kxg6   (5... Rxg7+ 6 Kh8)   6 Kh8 Rxg7   {And whatever Black does he can't avoid this stalemating construction.   A great study with the minimal material.}

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