Nº3 Yosha Iglesias & Daniele Gatti

Draw

Yosha Iglesias & Daniele Gatti (France-Italy)

wKf1,Qg7,Nh1,Rb7/bKh2,Na4,Bh5,Rg5,Pe4,e5,f3,g4,g6,h4
Black pieces have little mobility, but the mass of pawns is dangerous. The major Black threat is to play 1. … g3! followed by the deadly check in g2. White pieces have better mobility, but the drawish strategy does not follow this principle.

1. Rb2+!
1. … Sxb2 Rook checks in order to open the line for the Queen. Black cannot reject sacrifice:
1. … Kxh1? 2. Qa7! Threatens mate in g1 and wins [+-]

2. Qa7! [threat 3. Qf2+ Kh3 4. Sf2#]

Main line 2. … g3 3. Qg1+ Kh3 4. Sf2+ gxf2 5. Qxg5 Sc4 6. Qg3+! Actively forces draw with either 6. … Kxg3 (= stalemate) or 6. … hxg3 (= stalemate).

Main line 2. … Sd3 3. Qg1+ Kh3 4. Sf2+ Sxf2 (4. Sg3? Sf4! 5. Sxe4 g3! 6. Sf2+ gxf2 7. Qxg5 Bg4! 8. Qxe5 Kg3! 9. Qf5 Bh3+! [-+] NOT 9. … h3? 10. Qe4! h2 11. Qxf3+! Forces stalemate (=)) 5. Qg2+! fxg2+ 6. Kg1!!

Passively forces draw: Black desperately wants to lose the Knight in f2, but each of the 7 legal moves protects it! 6. … Kg3 (= stalemate); 6. … g3 (= stalemate); 6. … e3 (= stalemate); 6. … Rf5 (= stalemate); 6. … Sh1 (= stalemate); 6. … Sd1 (= stalemate); 6. … Sd3 (= stalemate).