[Event "1st - 2nd Prize Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bazlov=Y"]
[Black "[+0144.11f6d1]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1b6/5N2/3PRKn1/8/8/8/7p/2Bk4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{1st - 2nd Prize: No.15 - Yuri Bazlov (Russia). This outstanding entry was
initially the outright winner of this tourney thanks to its rich tactical play,
highlighted by an amazing position of two newborn queens, actively hanging in
the open at the very same moment. Just before writing the textual part of the
award it was discovered that the final mate had appeared earlier in the try of
an incorrect study by Lamoss (HHdbIV#28782). Despite this blemish I have
decided to leave this magnificent study at the top of the award in view of its
multiple other artistic merits. Nevertheless in view of the new finding it
seems to me more appropriate to share the top honours.} 1. d7 Bc7 2. Rd6+ Ke1 (
2... Bxd6 3. d8=Q h1=Q 4. Bg5 Qf3+ 5. Kxg6 Qd3+ 6. Kh6 $18) 3. Rc6 Ne5 (3...
Nf8 4. Bf4 Nxd7+ 5. Kf5 Kf1 6. Rc1+ Kg2 7. Rc2+ Kg1 8. Be3+ Kf1 9. Rxc7 $18) 4.
Nxe5 (4. Rxc7 $2 Nxd7+ $11) 4... Bd8+ (4... Bxe5+ 5. Kxe5 h1=Q 6. Bd2+ Ke2 7.
Rd6 $18) 5. Kg7 h1=Q 6. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 (6... Qd5 7. Bxd8 Qxe5+ 8. Bf6 $18) 7. d8=Q
$1 Qxc6 $1 8. Qa5+ Bd2 9. Qa1+ Qc1 10. Nd3+ Kd1 11. Qa4+ (11. Nxc1 $2 Bc3+ 12.
Qxc3 {stalemate}) 11... Qc2 12. Qg4# 1-0

[Event "1st - 2nd Prize Tata Steel-75 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pervakov=O & Sumbatyan=K"]
[Black "[+4341.11a3a1]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5Q2/1N1q1B2/3P4/8/3p4/K2b4/8/k4r2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{1st - 2nd Prize: No.23 - Oleg Pervakov & Karen Sumbatyan (Russia). A
breathtaking queen duel ends up in mutual neat royal sacrifices clearing the
podium to a second phase: two minor pieces dominating a single rook with a
subtle reciprocal zugzwang following 11. Bg8!!} 1. Qg7 $1 (1. Qh8 $2 Qg4 $1 $11
) 1... Rf4 $1 (1... Qxb7 2. Qxd4+ Kb1 3. Qxd3+ $18) 2. Qg2 $1 (2. Qg1+ $2 Bf1
3. Qh2 Rf3+ 4. Bb3 Rxb3+ $19) 2... Be2 $1 3. Qxe2 Qa4+ $1 4. Kxa4 d3+ 5. Qe4 $1
Rxe4+ 6. Kb3 d2 7. Kc2 (7. Bh5 $2 Kb1 8. Kc3 Re5 $1 $11) 7... Rb4 $1 (7... Rd4
8. Bh5 Ka2 9. Bd1 $1 Ka3 10. Kc3 Rd5 11. Kc4 $18) 8. Na5 $1 (8. Nc5 $2 d1=Q+ 9.
Kxd1 Rd4+ 10. Kc1 Rc4+ $1 11. Kd2 (11. Bxc4 {stalemate}) 11... Rd4+ $1 12. Kc2
Rxd6 13. Nb3+ Ka2 14. Nd4+ Ka1 $1 $11) 8... d1=Q+ 9. Kxd1 Rd4+ 10. Kc1 $1 Rd3
$1 11. Bg8 $1 {zz} (11. Bc4 $2 Rxd6 12. Nb3+ Ka2 13. Nd4+ Ka3 $1 14. Nb5+ Kb4
15. Nxd6 Kc5 $11) 11... Rxd6 12. Nb3+ Ka2 13. Nd4+ Ka3 (13... Ka1 14. Nc2#) 14.
Nb5+ Kb4 15. Nxd6 1-0

[Event "3rd Prize Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keith=D & Minski=M"]
[Black "[+0312.10h1g3]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4P3/8/1N4B1/1r4k1/6N1/7K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{3rd Prize: No.64 - Daniel Keith (France) & Martin Minski (Germany). One of
the best miniatures I have seen lately. A lengthy and tense struggle to secure
promotion evolves a wealth of artistic elements: stalemates, switchback,
sacrifices and mates, all in a flowing sequence of events. Black's heroic
counter-play against the white monarch along rank and file intensifies the
thrill.} 1. Bf5 $1 Rf3 $1 {threatens Rf1 mate/Rxf5.} (1... Rxb4 2. e7 Rb8 3.
Bg6 $18) 2. Bd3 Kf2 3. Kh2 Rf6 $1 4. Bf5 $1 {switchback} Rxf5 (4... Rh6+ 5. Bh3
) 5. Nd3+ Ke2 $1 6. Ngf4+ $1 (6. e7 $2 Rh5+ 7. Kg1 Rh8 $11) (6. Ndf4+ $2 Kd2 7.
e7 Re5 $11) 6... Kf1 $1 7. e7 Rf8 $1 8. Nh5 $1 (8. exf8=Q $2 {stalemate}) (8.
Ne2 $2 Rh8+ $1 $11 (8... Re8 $2 9. Ng3#)) 8... Rh8 9. e8=Q $1 Rxe8 ({2nd main
line:} 9... Rxh5+ 10. Kg3 $18 (10. Qxh5 $2 {ideal stalemate})) 10. Ng3# 1-0

[Event "4th Prize Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Minski=M & Rusz=A"]
[Black "[+3505.01a2c3]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/3N4/R3n2q/8/2k1Np1r/K7/R7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{4th Prize: No.20 - Martin Minski (Germany) & Árpád Rusz (Hungary). An
excellent logical study in which White has to get rid of his own knight in
order to leave the c-file vacant. Both kings are subject to sharp threats of
the heavy guns as part of the thematic mechanism.} 1. Rd5 $1 {threatens 2.Se4+}
(1. Ra3+ $2 Kd2 $1 $11) (1. Rc1+ $2 Kd2 $1 $11) 1... Rh2+ $1 2. Ka3 Nc4+ $1 3.
Ndxc4 Rh1 $1 (3... Qxd5 4. Rc1+ $1 Kd4 5. Rd1+ $1 Kc3 6. Rxd5 Rh1 7. Ka4 f2 8.
Nd2 $18) 4. Nd1+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 4. Rad1 $2 Qh7 $1 {and because of the
obstacle wSc4 there is no check (mate) on c5.}) (4. Rxh1 $2 Qxh1 $11) (4. Rxh5
$2 Rxa1#) 4... Kxc4 5. Ne3+ Kc3 6. Rad1 $1 {threatens Rd3 mate.} Rxd1 (6... Qh7
7. Rc5# {compare with thematic try}) 7. Nxd1+ Kc2 8. Ne3+ $1 (8. Rxh5 $2 Kxd1
9. Rf5 Ke2 10. Kb2 f2 $11) 8... Kc3 9. Rxh5 1-0

[Event "5th Prize Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krug=P"]
[Black "[+3153.11e6h7]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4P2k/4KB2/8/4b2p/1n1R4/8/1B2q3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{5th Prize: No.11 - Peter Krug (Austria). The white rook changes its role in
the course of an exciting battery play against her majesty: from a front piece
of a bishop battery to a rear piece in a king battery. The slight dual on the
ninth move is of minor importance.} 1. e8=Q Bf5+ $1 (1... Bxd3+ 2. Be5 Nc5+ 3.
Kf7 Qf2+ 4. Bf6) 2. Kxf5 Qxe8 3. Kf4 Qb8+ 4. Kg5 $1 (4. Kg4 $2 Qc8+ $1 5. Kxh4
Nd4 $1 6. Rxd4+ (6. Rc3+ Nf5+ $11) 6... Kh6 7. Rd6 Qg4+ 8. Kxg4 {stalemate})
4... Qg8+ 5. Kxh4 Nd4 $1 6. Rg3+ Nf5+ $1 7. Bxf5+ Kh6 8. Rh3 (8. Rxg8 $2 {
stalemate}) 8... Qg2 9. Bd3 ({or} 9. Bb1 $18) 9... Qg8 10. Be4 Qg1 11. Rh1 Qg8
12. Rh2 Qg1 13. Rh3 Qg8 14. Rh1 Qg1 15. Kh3 Qg8 16. Bb2 Qc8+ 17. Kh4 Qe6 18.
Kg3+ Kg5 19. Bc1+ Kf6 20. Rh6+ 1-0

[Event "1st Special Prize Tata Steel-75 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Didukh=S"]
[Black "[+4800.01h1h6]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/8/7k/5r1p/8/1Q2R3/5q2/6RK w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{1st Special Prize: No.12 - Sergiy Didukh (Ukraine). An original battle of the
heavy artillery, inspired by the game Ding - Szczepowski, played in Istanbul
Olympiad last year, displays strong systematic and logical elements. The
construction is surprisingly almost aristocratic.} 1. Reg3 $1 (1. Re6+ $2 Kh7
$1 2. Qb7+ Rf7 3. Qe4+ (3. Qb1+ Rf5 $1 4. Qb7+ Rf7 $11) 3... Qf5 $1 4. Re5
Qxe4+ $11 {with check}) 1... Raf8 (1... Rf6 2. Qd5 $1 $18) 2. Rg6+ $1 ({Try:} 
2. Qe6+ $2 R5f6 $1 3. Rg6+ (3. Qd5 Qf5 4. Qd2+ Qf4 5. Qg2 Rg8 $1 6. Rxg8 Qh4+
7. Qh2 Qe4+ 8. R8g2 Rf4 $1 $11) 3... Kh7 4. Rg7+ (4. Qe7+ R8f7 $1 5. Rg7+ Kh6
$1 $11) 4... Kh8 5. Rg8+ Kh7 6. R1g7+ Kh6 7. Rg6+ Kh7 {White is unable to
conquer Black's fortress, e.g.} 8. R8g7+ Kh8 9. Rg8+ Kh7 10. Qe7+ R8f7 $1 11.
R8g7+ Kh8 12. Qe8+ Rf8 13. Rg8+ Kh7 14. R6g7+ Kh6 15. Qxh5+ Kxh5 16. Rh7+ Rh6
$11) 2... Kh7 3. Rg7+ Kh8 4. Rg8+ Kh7 5. Qb7+ $1 R8f7 (5... R5f7 6. Qb1+ Rf5 7.
R1g7+ Kh6 8. Rxf8 Qh4+ 9. Kg2 Qf2+ 10. Kh3 Rf3+ 11. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 12. Rg3 $18) 6.
R8g7+ $1 ({Logical try:} 6. R1g7+ $2 Kh6 7. Rg6+ Kh7 8. R8g7+ Kh8 9. Qc8+ Rf8
10. Rg8+ Kh7 11. Qd7+ (11. Qc7+ R5f7 12. R8g7+ Kh8 13. Rxf7 Qh4+ 14. Kg2 Qe4+
15. Kf2 Qd4+ $11) 11... R5f7 $1 $11 {because 12.Qd3 is not a check.}) 6... Kh8
7. Qc8+ Rf8 8. Rg8+ Kh7 9. Qd7+ $1 R5f7 (9... R8f7 10. R8g7+ Kh8 11. Qe8+ Rf8
12. Rg8+ Kh7 13. Qg6#) 10. Qd3+ {with check} Qf5 (10... Rf5 11. R1g7+ Kh6 12.
Rxf8 $18) 11. R8g5 $1 Qxd3 {without check!} 12. Rxh5# 1-0

[Event "2nd Special Prize Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Blundell=D"]
[Black "[+0031.22f2h1]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4p3/4P2b/7N/8/5KPp/7k w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{2nd special Prize: No. 37 - David Blundell (Great Britain). The general
concept of a knight challenging the bishop's umbrella to access a cornered
king, has already been dealt with as the composer himself pointed out: Krug
f1h1 (#71705), but also Elkies c4a1 (#54373), Petren c2a1 (#41022). The
present version nonetheless displays fresh elements and introduces a strong
thematic try.} 1. g3 (1. Kf1 $2 Be2+ 2. Kf2 Bh5 $11) ({Thematic try:} 1. g4 $2
Bxg4 2. Ng6 Bf5 3. Nf8 Bh3 4. Nd7 Bg4 5. Nc5 Bf5 6. Nb3 Bh3 7. Nd2 Bg2 $11)
1... Bf3 2. Ng6 Bh5 3. Nf4 Bg4 4. Nd3 Bf5 5. Nb4 Bg4 6. Na2 Bf5 7. g4 Bxg4 8.
Nc1 $1 {zz} (8. Nb4 $2 Bf5 9. Nc6 Bh3 10. Nd4 Bg4 {White cannot make progress})
(8. Nc3 $2 Bf3 9. Kxf3 Kg1 10. Ne2+ Kf1 11. Ng3+ Kg1 {zz} 12. Kg4 Kg2 13. Kh4
Kf2 14. Kh3 Kg1 15. Ne2+ Kf2 16. Ng3 Kg1 $11) 8... Be2 (8... Bd1 9. Nd3 Bg4 10.
Nf4 $18) 9. Nb3 Bf3 10. Nc5 Bd5 11. Nd3 (11. Nd7 $2 Be4 $11) 11... Bf3 12. Kxf3
{zz} Kg1 13. Nf2 Kf1 14. Nh1 Kg1 15. Ng3 h1=Q+ 16. Nxh1 Kxh1 17. Kf4 ({or} 17.
Kg4 $18) 17... Kg2 18. Kg5 Kf3 19. Kf6 1-0

[Event "3rd Special Prize Tata Steel-75 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Becker=R"]
[Black "[+4010.03c6e7]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4k2p/1pK1B3/1p6/8/8/7q/4Q3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{3rd Special Prize: No.67 - Richard Becker (USA). White repeats the same queen
manoeuvre time and again until Black is running out of waiting pawn moves and
is eventually forced to block a crucial line. This familiar concept is
presented here with remarkable economy and utmost aesthetics.} 1. Bh3+ $1 Kf8
2. Qb4+ Kf7 3. Qb3+ Kg7 4. Qc3+ Kg6 5. Qd3+ Kh6 6. Qe3+ Kh5 7. Qf3+ Kh6 8. Qf6+
Kh5 9. Qf5+ Kh6 10. Qe6+ Kg5 11. Qg4+ Kh6 12. Qh4+ Kg7 13. Qg5+ Kf7 14. Bg2 $1
Ke8 15. Qg8+ Ke7 16. Qg7+ Ke8 (16... Ke6 17. Bh3+ Qxh3 18. Qd7+ $18) 17. Qg5 $1
(17. Kb7 $2 Qd6 18. Bc6+ Kd8 $11) (17. Bf3 $2 Qh4 18. Bg4 Qh1+ 19. Kd6 Qh2+ 20.
Ke6 Qa2+ $11) (17. Qd7+ $2 Kf8 18. Qd8+ Kf7 19. Bd5+ Kg6 20. Be4+ Kh5 21. Qf6
Kg4 $11) 17... b4 (17... h6 18. Qg8+ Ke7 19. Qg7+ Ke8 20. Be4 $18) (17... Qg1
18. Qg8+ Ke7 19. Qg7+ Ke8 20. Kb7 $18) 18. Qg8+ Ke7 19. Qg7+ Ke8 20. Qg5 b5 21.
Qg8+ Ke7 22. Qg7+ Ke8 23. Qg5 b3 24. Qg8+ Ke7 25. Qg7+ Ke8 26. Bf3 $1 Qh4 (
26... b2 27. Kb7 Qd6 28. Bh5+ Kd8 29. Qg8+ Ke7 30. Qf7+ Kd8 31. Qe8#) (26...
Qh3 27. Qe5+ Kf8 28. Qf6+ Ke8 29. Kc5 $18) 27. Bg4 $1 Qh1+ 28. Kd6 Qh2+ 29. Ke6
1-0

[Event "1st  HM Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pervakov=O"]
[Black "[+0351.14c3a1]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2B5/1p1N4/rb1P1B2/3p4/p7/2K4p/8/k7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{1st Honourable Mention: No. 29 - Oleg Pervakov (Russia). Rich battery play
with a fashionable logical element of avoiding a capture emphasized by a
thematic try.} 1. Kc2+ $1 {First battery} ({1st thematic try:} 1. Nxb6 $2 h2 $1
2. Bxb7 h1=Q 3. Kc2+ Ka2 4. Bxd5+ Qxd5 5. Nxd5 Rxd6 6. Nc3+ Ka1 $1 7. Ne4+ {
2nd battery, but:} Rxf6 $11) (1. Bxb7 $2 Bd4+ $1 2. Bxd4 Rxd6 3. Kc2+ Ka2 4.
Nb6 h2 5. Bxd5+ Rxd5 6. Nxd5 h1=Q 7. Nc3+ Ka1 8. Ne2+ Ka2 9. Nc1+ Qxc1+ $11)
1... Bd4 $1 (1... Ka2 2. Bxb7 $1 Bf2 (2... Ra5 3. Nxb6 Rc5+ 4. Kd3 h2 5. Nxd5
$1 h1=Q 6. Nb4+ {3rd battery} Kb3 7. Bxh1 $18) 3. Bxd5+ Ka3 4. Ne5 $1 Rxd6 5.
Be7 Bc5 6. Nc4+ Kb4 7. Nxd6 $18) 2. Bxd4+ Ka2 3. Nb6 $1 h2 $1 4. Be6 $1 ({2nd
main line:} 4. Bxb7 $2 h1=Q 5. Bxd5+ Qxd5 6. Nxd5 Rxd6 7. Nb4+ (7. Nc3+ Ka1 $1
8. Nb5+ {4th battery, but:} Rxd4 $11 {echo - see 1st thematic try}) 7... Ka3 8.
Bc5 Rd7 $1 9. Nd5+ Ka2 10. Nc3+ Ka1 11. Ba3 Rb7 $11 ({or} 11... Rd2+ $11)) 4...
h1=Q 5. Bxd5+ Qxd5 6. Nxd5 Rxd6 7. Nb4+ Ka3 8. Bc5 $1 {The same position as in
the 2nd thematic try, but with bPb7} Rd7 ({2nd main line:} 8... Rh6 9. Nd3+ $1
{5th battery} Ka2 10. Nc1+ Ka1 11. Bd4#) 9. Nd5+ $1 {again the 5th battery} Ka2
10. Nc3+ Ka1 11. Ba3 $1 Rh7 12. Bb2# 1-0

[Event "2nd HM Tata Steel-75 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kralin=N & Shvyrkov=Y"]
[Black "[=0400.23d7c1]"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4R3/1p1K4/3P4/8/2rp4/p7/P7/2k5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{2nd Honourable Mention: No. 76 - Nikolai Kralin & Yuri Shvyrkov (Russia). A
natural and lively rook scene ending up in a stalemate following an
underpromotion.} 1. Ke6 $1 (1. Re1+ $2 Kc2 $1 2. Re2+ Kc3 $1 3. Re5 d3 4. Rd5
d2 5. Ke6 Rc6 6. Ke5 Rc8 7. d7 Rd8 8. Kd6 b6 9. Kc7 Rxd7+ 10. Rxd7 b5 $19) 1...
d3 2. d7 d2 3. d8=Q (3. Rc8 $2 Rc6+ 4. Rxc6+ bxc6 5. d8=Q d1=Q 6. Qb6 Qc2 7.
Kd6 c5 $19) 3... d1=Q (3... Rc6+ 4. Kf7 d1=Q 5. Qxd1+ Kxd1 6. Re3 Ra6 7. Rb3 b6
8. Ke6 $11) 4. Qxd1+ (4. Qg5+ $2 Qd2 5. Qxd2+ Kxd2 6. Ra8 Rc3 7. Kd5 Kc1 $1 8.
Ra7 b5 9. Rb7 Rc2 $1 10. Rxb5 Rxa2 11. Ra5 Rd2+ 12. Kc4 a2 13. Kc3 Rc2+ 14. Kb3
Kb1 $19) 4... Kxd1 5. Kd5 $1 (5. Ra8 $2 Rc3 6. Kd5 Kc1 $1 $19) 5... Rc2 6. Ra8
$1 Rxa2 7. Kc4 $1 Rc2+ 8. Kb3 a2 9. Rh8 $1 (9. Rg8 $2 a1=N+ 10. Ka3 Rc6 $1 11.
Rg1+ Ke2 12. Rg2+ Kf3 $1 $19) 9... a1=N+ $1 10. Ka3 Rc6 $1 11. Rh1+ Ke2 12.
Rh2+ Ke3 13. Rh3+ $1 Kf4 14. Ka2 $1 Nc2 15. Rb3 b6 ({2nd main line:} 15... Rc7
16. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 {stalemate}) 16. Rxb6 $1 Rxb6 {stalemate} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3rd HM Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Didukh=S"]
[Black "[+4404.75f2h7]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1N6/1r2nPpk/p2p4/3Pq1pP/8/1P2P2Q/1p2PKP1/2R5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{3rd Honourable Mention: No. 71 - Sergiy Didukh (Ukraine). In a middle-game
like position Black is building up in secret the unexpected opening of the
crowded g-file: a surprising triple ambush which should appeal to players of
any level.} 1. Nd7 $1 Rxd7 (1... Qxd5 2. f8=Q bxc1=Q 3. h6 $18) 2. f8=N+ $1 {
fork} Kg8 $1 (2... Kh8 3. Ng6+ $1 {fork} Nxg6 4. hxg6+ Kg8 5. Rc8+ $18) (2...
Kh6 3. Nxd7 Qe4 4. Rh1 g4 5. Qg3 Nf5 6. Qf4+ $18 {with check}) 3. Nxd7 Qe4 $1 (
3... bxc1=Q 4. Nxe5 dxe5 5. Qe6+ Kf8 6. d6 $18) 4. Rg1 $1 {Invisible ambush
behind three pawns!} (4. Rd1 $2 g4 5. Qg3 Nf5 6. Qf4 {no check} g3+ 7. Ke1 b1=Q
$11) 4... g4 (4... b1=Q 5. Rxb1 g4 6. Qh1 $1 g3+ 7. Kxg3 Nf5+ 8. Kh2 Nxe3 9. h6
$18) 5. Qf3 $1 gxf3 (5... b1=Q 6. Qf8+ Kh7 7. Rxb1 Nf5 8. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 9. Qf7+
Kh8 10. Qxf6+ Kh7 11. Rd1 Qxe3+ 12. Ke1 $18) 6. Nf6+ $1 {fork} gxf6 7. gxf3+
Qg6 $1 8. hxg6 Nxd5 9. Rb1 $1 Nc3 10. Rxb2 Nd1+ {fork} 11. Ke1 Nxb2 12. Kd2 1-0

[Event "4th HM Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nosek=S"]
[Black "[=3020.11h3f5]"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4P3/1B3k2/1p6/7K/8/2q1B3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{4th Honourable Mention: No. 25 - Stanislav Nosek (Slovakia). The power of the
bishop pair in a charming miniature.} 1. e7 $1 (1. Bd7 $2 Qxe1 2. e7+ Kf4 3.
e8=Q Qh1#) 1... Qe3+ 2. Bg3 b3 $1 (2... Qxe7 3. Bd3+ Ke6 4. Bc4+ Kd7 5. Bb5+
Kc8 6. Ba6+ $11) 3. Bd7+ $1 (3. e8=Q $2 Qxe8 4. Bxe8 b2 5. Bh5 (5. Bc6 b1=Q 6.
Bf3 Qf1+ $1 7. Bg2 Qd3 $1 8. Bc6 Kg5 9. Ba8 Qf5+ 10. Kg2 Kg4) (5. Bd7+ Kg5 6.
Bh4+ Kg6 7. Be8+ Kh6 $19) 5... b1=Q 6. Kg2 Qb2+ 7. Kg1 Ke4 $19) 3... Kg5 $1 4.
e8=Q Qxe8 5. Bf4+ $1 (5. Bxe8 $2 b2 6. Bc6 (6. Bf4+ Kf5 $1 $19) 6... b1=Q 7.
Bf3 Qf1+ $1 $19) (5. Bh4+ $2 Kh6 6. Bxe8 b2 $19) 5... Kf6 (5... Kxf4 6. Bxe8 b2
7. Bg6 $11) 6. Bxe8 b2 7. Be5+ $1 Kxe5 8. Bg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th HM Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krug=P"]
[Black "[+3200.12e5h8]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/2R5/2p5/1p1PK1R1/8/8/q7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{5th Honourable Mention: No. 9 - Peter Krug (Austria). A pair of rooks is
artfully taming the enemy queen. A remarkable development of an old scheme by
Ladislav Prokes (#21343).} 1. Kf6 $1 Qf2+ 2. Kg6 Qf8 3. Rh7+ Kg8 4. Rd7 cxd5 5.
Rg1 $1 (5. Rgxd5 $2 Qe8+ 6. Kf6 Qf8+ 7. Kg5 Qb4 8. Rd8+ Kf7 9. Kf5 Qb1+ $11)
5... d4 6. Rg5 {zz} d3 7. Rgd5 Qe8+ 8. Kf6 Qf8+ 9. Kg5 Qb4 10. Rd8+ Kf7 11. Kf5
1-0

[Event "Special HM Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman=J"]
[Black "[+0843.41f4g8]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4Brk1/RR5p/1PP2b1P/8/4PK2/2n5/4r3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{Special Honourable Mention: No.50 - J. Timman (the Netherlands). A similar
idea in a similar setting has been already shown by Tkachenko a6a8 (#57608).
However the daring sacrificial fore-play is a considerable improvement.} 1.
Bf7+ Kh8 2. Rb8 (2. Rd7 $2 Rxe4+ 3. Kf5 Bd4 $1 $11) 2... Rxb8 3. c7 Rf8 4. Ra8
$1 Rxa8 (4... Be5+ 5. Kf5 $1 Rxa8 6. b7 Re8 7. c8=Q Rf2+ 8. Kg4 Rg2+ 9. Kf3
Rg3+ 10. Kf2 $18) 5. b7 Rxe4+ 6. Kf3 $1 Re3+ (6... Rf4+ 7. Kxf4 Nd5+ 8. Bxd5
Bd8 $1 9. Kf5 $1 $18) 7. Kxe3 Nd5+ 8. Bxd5 Bd8 $1 9. Bb3 $1 Rb8 10. cxb8=N $1 (
10. cxb8=Q $2 {stalemate}) (10. cxb8=B $2 Bc7 11. Ba7 Bb6+ $1 12. Bxb6 {
stalemate}) 1-0

[Event "1st Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Akobia=I & Becker=R"]
[Black "[=0400.13f5g8]"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/1R4p1/8/3p1K2/7p/r4P2/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{1st Commendation: No.27 - Iuri Akobia (Georgia) & Richard Becker (USA).
Positional draws following consecutive reciprocal zugzwangs. A rook ending
with theoretical merits rather than artistic ones.} 1. Rb8+ $1 (1. Rd7 $2 h3 2.
Rxd5 h2 3. Rd8+ Kh7 $1 4. Rd1 Rxf3+ $19) (1. Kg4 $2 h3 $1 2. Rb2 Kf7 3. Rf2 Ke6
4. Kxh3 d4 5. Kg3 Kd5 $19) 1... Kf7 (1... Kh7 2. Kg4 $1 Ra4+ 3. f4 Ra6 4. Kxh4
Rd6 5. Kg3 d4 6. Kf2 d3 7. Ke1 d2+ 8. Kd1 {e.g.} Kg6 9. Rb5 $11) 2. Rb7+ Kf8 3.
Rd7 $1 Rxf3+ 4. Kg4 Rd3 5. Kxh4 Rd1 (5... Rd2 6. Kh3 $1 Rd1 7. Kg2 $1 Rd4 8.
Kg3 $1 $11) 6. Kh3 $1 Rd2 7. Kh4 $1 ({Thematic try:} 7. Kg3 $2 Rd4 {zz} 8. Kf3
Kg8 $1 {zz} 9. Ke3 Re4+ 10. Kf3 Re5 11. Kf4 Rh5 12. Rd8+ Kf7 $1 $19 ({Not} 
12... Kh7 $2 13. Rd6 {see main line})) 7... Rd1 8. Kh3 Rd4 9. Kg3 {zz} (9. Kg2
$2 Rg4+ 10. Kf3 Rg5 11. Kf4 Rh5 12. Kg4 g6 $19) 9... Kg8 10. Kf3 {zz} Kf8 11.
Kg3 {positional draw, or} Kg8 12. Kf3 Kh7 13. Ke3 Rd1 14. Ke2 Rd4 15. Ke3 Re4+
16. Kf3 Re5 17. Kf4 Rh5 18. Rd6 $1 (18. Kg4 $2 Kh6 19. Rd6+ g6 $19) 18... g6 ({
2nd main line:} 18... Kg8 19. Kg4 Re5 20. Kf4 Rh5 21. Kg4 {positional draw
with perpetual check along the 5th rank}) 19. Rd7+ Kh6 20. Kf3 ({or} 20. Kg3)
20... Rg5 21. Kf4 Rf5+ 22. Kg4 Re5 23. Kf4 Re4+ 24. Kf3 Rd4 25. Ke3 Rd1 26. Ke2
Rd4 27. Ke3 {positional draw with perpetual attack along the d-file} 1/2-1/2

[Event "2nd Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT  "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Panayotov=P"]
[Black "[+0311.22g1f7]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4pk2/4p2P/8/1NB3P1/5r2/8/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{2nd Commendation: No.6 - Petromir Panayotov (Bulgaria). Domination of a rook
by a pair of minor pieces with a little help of friends and enemies.} 1. Nd3 (
1. Nc6 $2 Rh3 2. Kg2 Rxh6 $11) 1... Rh3 (1... Kg8 2. Ne5 $1 (2. Bxe6+ $2 Kh7 3.
Ne5 Rf6 4. Nf7 Kg6 $11) 2... Re3 3. Bxe6+ Kh7 4. Nf7 Kg6 5. Bd5 Re1+ 6. Kf2 Rd1
7. Bb3 Rd2+ 8. Ke3 Rb2 9. Bc4 Rb4 10. Kd4 e5+ 11. Kc5 $18) 2. Bxe6+ $1 Kf8 (
2... Ke8 3. g5 $1 Rg3+ 4. Kh2 Rxg5 5. Nf4 Kf8 6. Kh3 Rg1 7. Kh4 Rh1+ 8. Kg5
Rg1+ 9. Kf5 Rh1 10. Kg6 $18) (2... Kf6 3. g5+ $18) 3. Nf4 Rxh6 4. g5 Rh7 (4...
Rh4 5. Ng6+ $18) (4... Rh8 5. Ng6+ $18) 5. Bf5 $1 Rf7 6. Ne6+ Kg8 7. Be4 $1 Kh8
8. Kg2 Kg8 9. Bg6 1-0

[Event "3rd Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stavrietsky=A"]
[Black "[+0540.61f1b2]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2B4R/4PP2/r7/4b3/8/3p3P/1k1PP1P1/3R1K2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{3rd Commendation: No.53 - Aleksandr Stavrietsky (Russia). The Roman theme in
action: A double sacrifice lures the black bishop to a remote square from
which check would allow the crucial pawn push to vacate the second rank for
the decisive pin. The thematic try should end with the thematic refutation 4...
Bd4+! avoiding the unnecessary black "duals" afterwards.} 1... Rf6+ 2. Bf5 $1 (
{Thematic try:} 2. Kg1 $2 dxe2 3. Re1 Rf1+ $1 4. Rxf1 Bd4+ 5. Kh2 exf1=N+ $1 6.
Kh1 Ng3+ 7. Kh2 Nf1+ $11) 2... Rxf5+ 3. Kg1 dxe2 4. Rb8+ $1 Bxb8 5. Re1 Rf1+ $1
6. Rxf1 Ba7+ 7. d4 $1 Bxd4+ 8. Rf2 $1 1-0

[Event "4th Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kovalenko=V"]
[Black "[+1311.16g1g4]"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6pr/8/7p/5pkP/6pp/3N2pQ/5BK1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{4th Commendation: No.56 - Vitaly Kovalenko (Russia). A logical effort to
secure Black an extra move and consequently a vital tempo for mating instead
of just stalemating.} 1. Be2+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 1. Qxh3+ $2 Kxh3 2. Bd3 g6 $1
3. Bxg6 Rg7 4. Bf5+ Rg4 5. Bd7 f3 6. Nxf3 {stalemate, because of wPh4}) 1... f3
$1 2. Bxf3+ Kxh4 3. Qxh3+ Kxh3 4. Be4 $1 g6 $1 5. Bxg6 Rg7 6. Bf5+ Rg4 (6...
Kh4 7. Nf3#) 7. Nf3 $1 {zz} h4 8. Ng5# $1 1-0

[Event "5th Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikitovics=J & Skripnik=A"]
[Black "[=3115.21d5e7]"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3R4/1N2kBN1/8/3K1P2/8/4q3/5pP1/5n2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{5th Commendation: No.38 - János Mikitovics (Hungary) & Anatoly Skripnik 
(Russia). A messy struggle fails to stop Black's promotion but somehow things
are eventually getting right. A decent piece healthy street-fighting.} 1. Nh5
$1 Qd3+ 2. Kc6 $1 Qc3+ 3. Kb6 Kxf7 4. Rc8 $1 Qd4+ 5. Kc6 $1 Ng3 (5... Qe4+ 6.
Kb6 Qb4+ 7. Kc6 Ne3 8. Rc7+ Kg8 9. Nf6+ $1 Kf8 10. Nh7+ Kg8 11. Nf6+ {
positional draw}) 6. Nd8+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 6. Rc7+ $2 Kg8 $1 7. Rc8+ Kh7 8.
Rc7+ Kh6 $19) 6... Ke7 ({2nd main line:} 6... Kg8 7. Ne6+ $1 Kh7 8. Nxd4 Nxh5
9. f6 Nxf6 (9... f1=Q 10. f7 Qa6+ 11. Kc7 Qa7+ 12. Kc6 Qxf7 13. Rc7 $11) 10.
Rc7+ Kg8 11. Rc8+ Kf7 12. Rc7+ Ke8 13. Rc8+ $1 Kf7 14. Rc7+ {positional draw,
or:} Kg6 15. Rg7+ $1 Kxg7 16. Nf5+ $11) 7. f6+ Qxf6+ 8. Nxf6 Kxf6 9. Rc7 $1 Nf5
$1 (9... Kg6 10. Rf7 Nf5 11. g4 $11) 10. g4 $1 Nh6 $1 11. g5+ $1 Kxg5 12. Nf7+
$1 (12. Ne6+ $2 Kf5 $1 13. Nd4+ Kg6 $1 $19) 12... Kg6 13. Nxh6 f1=Q 14. Nf7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Special Commendation Tata Steel-75 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gonzales=L"]
[Black "[=0000.44h8h6]"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7K/P1PPPp2/7k/p7/8/5p2/7p/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{Special commendation: No.49 - Luis Miguel Gonzales (Spain). How many knight
underpromotions can be displayed in a draw pawn ending? Here is a serious
attempt to improve on the records achieved of late in the continuous race
between Richard Becker and Siegfried Hornecker. This one surely shatters
records of complexity yet lacks the charm of its elegant predecessors but
still deserves attention in the sub-genre of multiple minor promotions.} 1...
h1=Q (1... Kg6 2. e8=Q h1=Q+ 3. Kg8 Qh7+ 4. Kf8 Qg7+ 5. Ke7 Qf6+ 6. Kf8 $11) 2.
e8=N $1 (2. Kg8 $2 Qg2+ 3. Kxf7 Qg6+ 4. Kf8 Qg7+ 5. Ke8 Qg8#) 2... Kg6+ (2...
Qa1+ 3. Kg8 Qg1+ 4. Kf8 Qc5+ 5. Kg8 Qg5+ 6. Kf8 $11) 3. Kg8 Qh7+ 4. Kf8 f5 $1 (
4... f6 5. Nd6 Qxd7 6. c8=Q Qxd6+ 7. Ke8 Qe5+ 8. Kf8 f2 9. Qg4+ Qg5 10. Qe4+ f5
11. Qe8+ Kh6 12. Qe6+ Qg6 13. Qe3+ Qg5 14. Qe6+ Kh5 15. Qe2+ $11) 5. d8=N $1
Qh6+ 6. Ke7 Qe3+ 7. Kd6 $1 Qd3+ $1 8. Ke6 $1 (8. Ke5 $2 Qe4+ $1 9. Kd6 f2 10.
c8=Q Qd4+ $1 11. Kc6 f1=Q 12. Qe6+ Kg5 13. Qg8+ Kh4 14. Qh7+ Kg3 15. Qg6+ Kh3
16. Qh6+ Kg2 17. Qg5+ Kh2 18. Qh5+ Kg1 19. Qg5+ Qg2+ 20. Qxg2+ Kxg2 21. Kb7
Qxd8 22. Nc7 f4 23. a8=Q Qxa8+ 24. Kxa8 f3 $19) 8... Qe4+ 9. Kd7 $1 Qd4+ 10.
Ke6 $1 Qe3+ 11. Kd6 $1 f2 12. a8=Q $1 (12. c8=Q $2 f1=Q 13. a8=Q Qff4+ 14. Kc6
Qee4+ 15. Kd7 Qd4+ 16. Ke7 Qg5+ 17. Ke6 Qge3+ $11) 12... f1=Q 13. Kd7 $1 Qfd3+
$1 (13... Qd1+ 14. Nd6 Kf6 15. c8=N $1 f4 16. Qxa5 Qg4+ 17. Kc7 f3 18. Nc6 f2
19. Qa1+ Kg5 20. Qg7+ Kh4 21. Qh7+ Kg3 22. Nf5+ Qxf5 23. Qxf5 Qf4+ 24. Qxf4+
$11) 14. Nd6 Kf6 $1 15. c8=N $1 f4 $1 16. Qxa5 $1 Qh3+ 17. Kc7 $1 Qc3+ 18.
Qxc3+ $1 Qxc3+ 19. Nc6 $1 Qd3 $1 20. Nb6 $1 Qh7+ 21. Nd7+ Ke6 22. Nd4+ $1 (22.
Nd8+ $2 Kd5 23. N6f7 Qc2+ 24. Kb7 f3 25. Nf6+ Kc5 26. Ne6+ Kb4 27. Nd4 Qa2 28.
Ne5 f2 29. Nd3+ Kc4 30. Nxf2 Qxf2 $11) 22... Kd5 23. N6b5 $1 $11 {e.g.} Kc4 24.
Kd6 Qg6+ 25. Ke7 Qg5+ 26. Ke6 Qd5+ 27. Ke7 Kd3 28. Nf6 Qe5+ 29. Ne6 Qxb5 30.
Nxf4+ Kd4 31. Ne6+ 1/2-1/2

