Chess Endgame Magic & Tactics:

The Chess Wizardry of Wotawa

by
Cyrus Lakdawala
& Carsten Hansen

2022
CarstenCHess
Chess Endgame Magic & Tactics: The Chess Wizardry of Wotawa

Copyright © 2022 by Cyrus Lakdawala & Carsten Hansen

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the publisher's express written permission except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2022

ISBN (ebook) 978-87-93812-34-5

ISBN (paperback) 978-87-93812-35-2

CarstenChess
Bayonne, NJ 07002

www.WinningQuicklyatChess.com
Contents
Introduction 5
Chapter 1: Pawn Endings 9
Chapter 2: Queen Endings 18
Chapter 3: Rook Endings 20
3.1 Each side has a rook 20
3.2 Multiple rooks 33
3.3 Rook(s) vs Pawns 44
Chapter 4: Minor Piece Endings 63
4.1 Bishop endings 63
4.2 Knight endings 70
4.3 Mixed minor piece endings 71
4.4 Minor piece(s) vs pawns 87
Chapter 5: Mixed Pieces Endings 101
5.1 Rook and minor piece(s) 101
5.2 Pure heavy piece endings (queens and rooks) 182
5.3 Mixed endings with queens 188
5.4 Mixed endings vs. pawns 212
Chapter 6: Forced Mates 221
Introduction
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C Clarke

“Wotawa's Book of Chess Tactical Spells, Geometric Ensorcellments, Paradoxical Incantations, and
Endgame Magic” was the working title for this book. Sadly, that title does work for several practical
reasons, most importantly of these: nobody would be able to remember it, and there would probably
not be room for it on the cover unless printed in a font similar to that used to write this introduction.

Do you believe in magic? The writers of this book promise that you will after going through Alois
Wotawa's stunning geometric chess creations. Alois Wotawa was one of the greatest endgame study
composers of all time. Born in Vienna in 1896, he learned chess late. He didn't know how the pieces
moved until he attended law school, where he earned a doctorate and eventually taught. He was
allegedly a pacifist at heart and said he didn't enjoy the competitive aspect of over-the-board chess. He
loved our game for the pure art of it and was naturally attracted to composed endgame studies. So
gifted was he at composing that some, including your writers, believe he may well have been the
greatest of all time.

The famed chess coach and writer IM Mark Dvoretsky discovered a potent coaching secret: Wotawa's
studies are an explosive improvement tool. Dvoretsky had his stable of successful students - many of
them IMs and GMs - labor on Wotawa's studies throughout his coaching career. So surreally unlikely
are the solutions to Wotawa's art, we immediately feel a Carlos Castañeda(ish) hallucinatory vibe when
the answers are revealed. Carsten and I dislike chess books where the writer(s) assume a supervisor
role. In this book, we lay out the data (often with hints), and it's up to you to decipher and solve it. This
will significantly benefit your tactical understanding, your ability to plan, and your power of
calculation. But please remember that the average club player will NOT be able to solve these. Solving
them is actually not the point. All you need to do is try and then look up the solution after just a few
minutes. After going through them, we promise that your internal geometric database will gratefully
receive a fountain of entirely original patterns that will not be found in a typical tactics book or online
server puzzles. These new patterns will be the hidden secret to your coming tactical power.

The Benefits of Solving Endgame Studies

"Endgame studies are useless!" claim the dimwitted on Facebook chess groups. Such a claim is
essentially the actor who plays a doctor on a TV soap opera, who then feels they are fully qualified to
dole out medical advice to friends and family. Have you ever seen a post on Facebook of some beginner
who beats some other beginner with a completely rote, cliched "combination" - the likes of which we
have seen 10,000 times on Puzzle Rush - then posts the position of their triumph? Then they await
praise, writing something like: "The beauty of my achingly beautiful combination is probably more
than your heart and emotions can absorb!" Let's not be this guy and not be satisfied with the ordinary
anymore. Familiarity with the studies of Wotawa contains the power to transport your tactical mind to
places it has never been before. Far from being out of touch with the concerns of club-level players
who seek to improve, endgame studies are, in reality, geometric rocket fuel. If you add up Carsten's
and my total chess experience, it comes to over a Century. In that Century+, we have seen vast
variations of chess geometry, yet when we went over Wotawa's studies, there were hundreds of patterns
- especially mating patterns - we had never seen before! When it comes to how we study, there is no
such thing as insubordination since most of us follow orders. Carsten and I are guessing you include
the following:
1. Study of the opening through books, videos, and online resources.
2. Study of top-level games from past and present.

5
 3. Study of basic endgame positions.
4. Practice with online blitz.
5. Solve online puzzles (which are tiny subsidiary companies to the giant endgame study
corporation).

Tradition is an artificial boundary. We promise you that if you add composed endgame studies and
mates, the alteration adds a radically new dimension. I (Cyrus) have a student named Jonathan, in his
mid-50s, who for 20 years cycled dismally between 1260 and 1390. Then in 2019, I tried something
new, and Jonathan and I began working on endgame studies and composed mates in two (most of
which are way, way more difficult than standard online tactics and mates). His rating at the time of the
writing is 1684. That is the power of endgame studies and composed works.

Here are the benefits of working on endgame studies:

1. Is it possible to control and regulate chaos? Since chaos is simply another word for "I don't
understand." Work on such horrifically complex studies for a while, and you will find even
the most complex or subtle over-the-board position can still be broken down into parts. This
way, we slowly begin to understand the whole. There is no such thing as a position so
irrationally complex that its essence is impossible to articulate. We learn to break down a
position - no matter how complex - into words and explainable logic, which helps us clarify
our position's requirements.
2. The beginner only believes in that which is seen above ground, while the experienced player
is far more interested in that which is hidden. We eradicate the superficial when we begin to
realize the complexity hidden within the seams of simplicity. At first, some of the relatively
simplified positions in the studies appear easy to solve. When we see the ridiculously complex
solution, we get the eerie feeling that A.Wotawa, magician/engineer, somehow fit a jet engine
into a 1972 Ford Pinto.
3. When we play tournament chess, we tend to wing it, i.e., "This looks right, or maybe not...
Let's try the move. I hope it works!" In endgame studies, there is little to no latitude in their
interpretation. We learn that forcing positions require mathematical precision. We no longer
get away with a lazy big-picturing-it stance.
4. We chip away and eventually destroy the conventional mind when we look for anomalies
and the unexpected. In endgame studies, we essentially go to our favorite Italian restaurant
and then ask the waiter to take our order for Moo goo gai pan. When trying to crack a study,
we must expect the shockingly unexpected, the unlikely, the bizarre, and, with Wotawa, the
impossible. Don't look for logical, hackneyed ideas. If mundane ideas worked, then it wouldn't
be an endgame study. Going through this book, over and over, we experience the mentally
jarring realization that what we previously believed isn't the way the position's ultimate truth
exists.
5. We rarely put 100% courageous effort into our life endeavors unless it's our passion. And if
chess is your passion, then there is nothing more challenging or scarier than attempting to
solve an endgame study by Alois Wotawa. Confrontation of our chess fears is both cathartic,
and a therapeutic path to improvement since most of us experience aversions to both miserably
hard work and even more to failure. With endgame studies, we get both the hard work and,
when solving, mostly failure! This is the reason most club-level players don't go anywhere
near composed works. When GM Max Illingworth and I (Carsten is also an admin. in the
group) began our Facebook group Chess Endgame Studies and Compositions in 2019, we
were stunned to see how many titled players were active solvers. Some of our members
include GMs Alexey Shirov, Nigel Short, and Judit Polgar. If top-level GMs are regular
solvers, you should also be one. Top players like them are likely not in it for the esoteric value,
and they understand that studies are powerful improvement tools that keep them ahead of the
competition.
6. So many players don't improve because we are contented lab mice who memorized their
maze's way to the cheese. If they are placed in a new maze of unfamiliar patterns, that is where

6
 disorientation begins. If you are unfamiliar with endgame studies, this book will be your new
maze. Be patient with yourself and realize you don't need to solve these correctly. Just try for
a few minutes and if nothing comes up, play through the solution. That's it. If you follow this
method, you insert hundreds of original and previously unseen geometric patterns into your
mental database to the point where conventional online combinations will seem trivially easy
by comparison. So, when you get that "No thank you, count me out! This is too difficult!"
feeling, it's just fine to play through the solution without actually solving the study.
7. It is within the subconscious where savage ideas are born and grow up to be monsters.
Working on endgame studies will exponentially grow your internal tactical pattern-
recognition database. The size of our internal database directly correlates to the size of our
ratings.
8. The people with an aversion to composing works who say endgame studies are artificial and
of no practical value are the ones who spread a false stereotype. Please don't believe them.
Carsten and I have seen their power, which is why we keep writing books on this subject.

Mr. Miyagi, the teacher of the Karate Kid, taught us the "wax on, wax off" method, and he was right.
Keep working on endgame studies, and you will be a chess black belt someday. Chess Positions are of
Two Natures:
1. The mundane, conventional surface level.
2. The deeper ultimate level is where the position's hidden truth resides.

By adding endgame studies to your daily workout, you will move away from number 1 on the list and
draw closer to number 2. Are you ready to enter the terrifyingly beautiful labyrinth of Wotawa's mind?
Great, then let's begin!

The material is of three kinds:

The wins:
Every study in this chapter comes with two points:
1. White wins in every one of them.
2. When you first tackle them, you will be convinced that it is impossible for White to win!

Until now, you grew up in a small town of easy-to-solve online chess puzzles. All you had to look
forward to was to live the life of a clerk in your father's small store.

Are you brave enough to leave this town - with its boredom and security - or will you use the powerful
inertia of ambition to move to the exciting/scary big city of composed endgame studies?

The draws:
Now we come to the nasty business of survival. In the drawing studies, Wotawa plays macabre
geometric jokes upon us, where every indicator says White should lose, and every time, White
miraculously holds the draw. These are all White to move and draw studies, and this is the chapter
where we, the dead, return to life. In over-the-board play, a draw tends to be somehow considered
something less than a decisive result. In the composing world, however, drawing studies are not
considered a lesser doctrine, and some of the most elegant studies in the book are in this chapter. Attack
gets all the good press, doesn't it? Yet our collective fathers told us those sacred (and often repeated!)
words: "Defense wins championships!" when speaking of their beloved sports teams. It happens to be
true. So let's listen to dad and work on our defensive resourcefulness in this chapter.

The mates:
White always wins and always forces mate. Some are excerpts from Wotawa's studies, while others
are full studies. In this chapter, your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to break in unseen,
avoid the security cameras, kill the bodyguards, kill the target, the black king and then get out without

7
arrest, injury or death. Are mates emanating from studies the same as most server online mating puzzles?
The answer is no. Mates emanating from composed studies contain far more devilishly tricky patterns
than standard online puzzle mates. We have planned for you to actively engage with the solving of
each study, which we also tackle in parts. So, we hope this is more of an experiential process than
passive reading, as we would with a novel.

Cyrus Lakdawala
San Diego, October 2022

8
Chapter 1: Pawn Endings
Chess is at its purest when it comes to pawn
endings. Kings, pawns, and pure precision, it is
easy to mistake them for being simple or even
straightforward. Of course, they can be, but
when they emerge from the mind of an artist
like Wotawa, they can be pure magic.
the draw: (whereas 6...Kg6? 7.e6! dxe6+
8.Kxe6 and 6...Kg5? 7.e6! dxe6+ 8.Kxe6
both win for White) 7.Kd6 (7.e6 fails to
win after 7...dxe6+ 8.Kxe6 Kf3) 7...Kf5
8.Kd5 Kg4! White is unable to make
progress.

(1) b) 1.e5? Kb4 2.Kb7 Kxc4 3.Kc7 Kd5

A.Wotawa Draw.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937 1...Kb4 2.c6!
Creating passed e-pawns.
2...dxc6 3.e5 Kc5 4.e4!

White wins
King and pawn endings appeal to the working- Black's king is unable to approach the e-pawns.
class coalition of voters, who are accustomed to 4...Kb6 5.Kb8
hard work for a paycheck. Cutting off ...Kc7.
Exercise (calculation/critical decision) : 5...c5 6.e6 Kc6 7.e5!
Black is about to play ...Kb4, and Our choice is To keep Black's king out of d6.
between: 7...c4 8.Kc8
Enabling e6–e7.
a) 1 c4–c5, intending 2 c5–c6. 8...c3 9.e7 c2 10.e8Q+
CHECK!
b) Move our king closer to Black's 10...Kc5 11.Qf7
lone pawn with 1 Kb7. Many other moves win as well.
Calculate which one wins. 11...c1Q
Answer : Push the c-pawn. Okay then. Let's ignore the obvious. The wealth
1.c5! gap narrows, but only for a move.
12.Qc7+
a) 1.Kb7? While religion teaches us Bye bye, black queen. 1–0
that no sinner is irredeemable, this
teaching doesn't apply to king and pawn (2)
endings, where all sinners - without A.Wotawa
exception - are consigned to the flames of Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940
hell. The move blows it. 1...Kb4 2.Kc7
Kxc4 3.e3 Kd3 4.e5 Ke4! 5.Kd6 Kf5
6.Kd5 Kg4! is the only move that holds

9
 Or 9.Kg2 h4 10.Kh2 g3+ 11.Kh3 g4+ 12.Kg2.
9...h4 10.Kg2 g3 11.Kh3 g4+ 12.Kg2 The
safecracker hears that glorious final click.
Zugzwang. All of Black's pawns fall. 1–0

(3)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Montag, 1951

White wins
In this case, our obvious move of creating a
passed a-pawn is correct. It's our third move
which is incredibly difficult to find.
1.a4!
1.c3? b3! 2.a4 (2.axb3 Kc2 wins) 2...Kc1 3.a5
Kxb2 4.a6 Kc2 5.a7 b2 6.a8Q b1Q+ wins.
1...bxa3 2.bxa3 Ke2!
Black's king hopes to assist his kingside pawns.
3.Kg1!!
a) 3.Kg2? g5 4.a4 h4 5.a5 g4 6.a6 h3+
7.Kg3 h2! 8.Kxh2 Kf2 9.a7 g3+ 10.Kh3
g2 11.a8Q g1Q 12.Qf8+ Ke2 White is
losing.
b) 3.a4? Kf2 4.a5 g5 5.a6 g4 6.a7 g3
7.a8Q g2+ 8.Kh2 g1Q+ 9.Kh3 Qg3#.
3...Ke3
3...g5 is too slow. 4.a4 g4 5.a5 h4 6.a6 g3 7.a7
h3 8.a8Q wins.
4.a4 Kd4 5.a5 Kxc5 6.c4!
White wins
My student Jonathan and I (Cyrus) solved this
one together. It's a lengthy study, yet White
only needs to find a few good moves and one
strong plan.
1.b6!
1.Ke7? (the inability to act when necessary can
sometimes have the same effect as not caring)
1...Ka7! 2.Kd7 Kb6 Black's f-pawn promotes.
1...Kb8
1...cxb6? 2.Ke7! when White promotes first
and wins.
2.Ke6! Kc8!
2...f4? 3.Kd7! White promotes.
3.b7+ Kb8 4.Kxf5 Ka7

Black's king is hungry, cold, and friendless,

unable to move from c5. Our goal will be to
place Black's pawns in the same situation. Exercise: (calculation) : What is White's
6...g5 7.Kg2 g4 8.Kg3 g5 9.Kh2 winning plan?

10
 Answer : Step 1: Transfer the king to a6, 17...Kb8 18.Kf5 Ka7 19.Ke4 Kb8 20.Kd5
after which Black is in zugzwang and must Ka7 21.Kc4 Kb8 22.Kb5 Ka7 23.Ka5 Kb8
move one of the pawns. 24.Ka6!
5.Ke4! Kb8 6.Kd5 Ka7
6...g5 7.hxg6 hxg6 8.Ke6! White's king wins
the g-pawn.
7.Kc4! Kb8 8.Kb5! Ka7 9.Ka5! Kb8
White's king remains within the square of
Black's passed g-pawn. 9...g5 10.hxg6 hxg6
11.Kb5 g5 12.Kc4 g4 13.Kd3 g3 14.Ke2 g2
15.Kf2 Oh, nyet you don't! The g-pawn falls.
10.Ka6!

Zugzwang again. Step 4: Win Black's d-pawn,

which is forced to push forward.
24...d5 25.Kb5 d4 26.Kc4 Ka7 27.Kxd4
Step 5: Transfer the king to d7 to zugzwang
Black's king from its protection of c7.
27...Kb8 28.Kd5 Ka7 29.Ke6 Kb8 30.Kd7
1–0

(4)
Zugzwang. Now comes Step 2: White forces A.Wotawa
Black to move a pawn, which will eventually Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954
be lost.
10...g5 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Kb5 Ka7
12...g5 13.Kc4 g4 14.Kd4 g3 15.Ke3 d5
16.Kf3 d4 17.Kxg3 d3 18.Kf2 d2 19.Ke2 and
the d-pawn falls.
13.Kc4 Kb8 14.Kd5 Ka7 15.Ke6 Kb8
16.Kf6 Ka7
The defense arises in its new, diminished form
since the g-pawn falls.
17.Kxg6

Step 3: Head back to a6, re-zugzwanging Black,
and forcing the d-pawn to move.
White wins
Black has enough extra pawns to field a
baseball team. Still, White wins since the
passed h-pawn is more dangerous than any of
Black's.
1.Kc5!!
Most of us would play 1.Kxd5? without even
thinking. When I (Cyrus) first attempted to
solve the study, your writer, who apparently has
the cunning of a farm animal, played this not-
so-devious and wrong move. 1...Kb4 2.Kc6

11
Kc4 3.h4 Kd4 4.Kxc7 Ke4 5.Kd6 Kf5 6.Kd5 Black is about to promote, with check. In this
(6.Ke7? Kg4 7.Kxf7 Kxh4 8.Kf6 Kh3 9.Ke5 position which looks completely lost for White,
Kg2 10.Kxf4 Kxf2 Black wins) 6...Kg4 7.Ke4 Wotawa advances a bizarre hypothesis that it is
Kxh4 8.Kxf4 Draw. White who is faster.
1...d4 2.Kc4! 1.d7+!!
2.Kxd4? Kb4 3.h4 c5+ 4.Ke4 c4 5.h5 c3 6.h6
c2 7.h7 c1Q 8.h8Q Qe1+ 9.Kxf3 Qc3+ a) 1.fxe7? a1Q+ 2.Kxb6 Qxb2+
10.Qxc3+ Kxc3 11.Kxf4 Kd3 Draw. 3.Ka5 (3.Kc6? Qb7#) 3...Qa3+ 4.Kb5
2...d3 3.Kc3! Qb3+ is a perpetual check.
White's king refuses to capture and floats about
as if he were a lost balloon, disembodied from b) 1.dxe7?? Kxc7 2.cxb6+ Kd7 3.b7
its previous owner. a1Q+ 4.Kb8 Qxb2 5.Ka8 Qa3+ 6.Kb8 e5
3.Kxd3? Kb3 4.Kd4 Kb4 5.Kd3 Kb3 is a with zugzwang; Black wins.
repetition draw.
3...d2 4.Kc2! c) 1.f7?? a1Q+ 2.Kxb6 Qxb2+ 3.Ka6
Qf6 wins.

d) d) 1.cxb6?? seals off our own king's

escape route: 1...a1R#.
1...Kxc7
1...Kxd7? 2.Kb7 a1Q 3.c8Q#
2.d8Q+!
Attraction/pawn promotion.
2...Kxd8 3.f7 a1Q+
3...Kc7 4.cxb6+ Kc6 5.f8Q a1Q+ 6.Kb8 Kxb6
7.Qxe7 (White's b-pawn is safe due to the
discovered attack on b7) 7...Qa2 8.Qd6+ Kb5
9.Kb7! (zugzwang) 9...Qb1 (9...Ka4 10.Qa6+
4.Kxd2 is a minor dual solution since it also Kb3 11.Qxe6+ Kxb2 12.Qxa2+ Kxa2 13.e5
wins. 4...Kb3 5.h4 Kb2 6.h5 c5 7.h6 c4 8.h7 wins) 10.Qxe6 wins.
c3+ 9.Kd3 c2 10.h8Q+ Kb1 11.Qb8+ Kc1 4.Kb7
12.Qb3 wins. Black's queen is unable to deliver a single
4...Kb4 5.h4 Black's king is outside the check.
square of White's passed pawn. 1–0 4...Qf1 5.c6!
Amazingly, Black's king and queen are
(5) outworked by the white king and two passers.
A.Wotawa Black can't even hold a draw.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960 5...Qf4
5...Qxf7? 6.c7+ Kd7 7.c8Q+ Kd6 8.Qc7#.
6.e5!
This is the awkward throat-clearing to get
someone's attention—interference/overloaded
defender.
6...Qf3
6...Qxe5? 7.f8R#.
7.b3! b5 8.b4!

White wins

12
 1...Kxh7 2.Kb5! Kg6 3.Kc6 Kf7! (D)
3...Kxf6? makes it easy for us. 4.Kxc7 Ke6
5.Kc6 Ke5 6.f4+ Ke6 7.f5+ Ke5 8.f6 wins.

Zugzwang.
8...Qxf7 9.c7+ Ke8 10.c8Q# 1–0

(6)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962
White wins
We are certain the Inquisitors who tortured
people into confessions of heresy, witchcraft,
and consorting to have sex with the devil, felt
confident in their piety and of the certainty of
entry to heaven when their life ended.
Composers of diabolical king and pawn
endings are in the same category as the
Inquisitors since they love to torture us into
impossibly complex calculations.
1.h7!!
Exercise (critical decision) : Do you want
to capture c7 or temporize with 4.f3–f4?
Answer : Only the push of the h-pawn wins.
This is Black's toughest defense.
4.f4!
4.Kxc7? d5 5.cxd5 c4 6.d6 c3 7.d7 c2 8.d8Q
c1Q+ and Black will deliver perpetual check.
4...Kg6!
4...Kxf6 5.Kxc7 d5 6.cxd5 c4 7.d6 White
promotes with check and wins.
5.Kxc7!
Now is the correct time.
5...d5 6.Kd6! d4
6...dxc4 7.Ke7 c3 8.f7 c2 9.f8Q c1Q 10.Qg8+
Kh6 (10...Kf5 11.Qe6+! Kxf4 12.Qh6+ wins)
11.Qg5+ Kh7 12.Kf8! forces mate.
7.Ke7 d3 8.f7 d2 9.f8Q d1Q

a) 1.Kb7? d5! 2.cxd5 c4 3.Kxc7 c3

4.h7 Kxh7 5.Kd7 Kg6! 6.Ke6 c2 7.f7
c1Q 8.f8Q Qe3+ 9.Kd7 Qa7+ when 10.Qf6+
White cannot escape perpetual check. This is the most efficient path.
10...Kh7
b) 1.Kb5? Kxf6 2.Kc6 Kg6 3.Kxc7 10...Kh5? 11.Qg5#.
d5 4.cxd5 c4 5.d6 c3 6.d7 c2 7.d8Q c1Q+ 11.Kf8!
is a draw.

13
Black's queen is out of checks, and White just looking at the diagrammed position again.
threatens mate on g7. The side that creates zugzwang will win the
11...Qg4 game:
11...Qd4 12.Qe7+ Kg6 13.Qg5+ Kh7 1.b4!
14.Qh5#. Our timing must be perfect.
12.f5! 1.g4? a5! 2.g5 b5 3.g6 f6! Zugzwang. Black
Cutting off a queen check on c8. wins.
12...Qg8+ 13.Ke7 Qxc4 1...b6

a) 1...b5 2.g4 f6 3.Kg6 a6 4.b3

Zugzwang.

b) 1...f5 2.Kg5 Kxg7 3.Kxf5 White's

outside passed pawn wins the game.
2.b3!

a) 2.g4? a6 3.b3 a5 4.bxa5 bxa5 5.g5

c5 6.g6 f6! With zugzwang.

b) 2.g3? a5! 3.bxa5 bxa5 4.b3 c5 5.g4

a4 6.bxa4 c4 7.a5 c3 8.a6 c2 9.a7 c1Q+
Exercise (calculation) : Work out the and it's check and Black wins.
details of White's mate in 4: 2...a6
Answer: 2...a5 3.bxa5 bxa5 4.g4 c5 5.g5 a4 6.bxa4 c4
14.Qg6+ Kh8 15.Kf8! 7.a5 c3 8.a6 c2 9.a7 c1Q Congratulations on
Threatening mates on g7, h6, and h5. your promotion, ma'am! 10.a8R+ and mate next
15...Qd4 move.
15...Qf7+ would be a brilliant stalemate trick if 3.g3!
not for Black's c-pawn! 16.Qxf7 Sorry, no 3.g4? is too much of a good thing: 3...c5 4.bxc5
stalemate. bxc5 5.Kg5 a5 6.Kf5 Kxg7 7.Ke4 Kg6 8.Kd5
16.Qh6# 1–0 Kg5 9.Kxc5 Kxg4 10.Kb5 f5 11.Kxa5 f4
12.b4 f3 wins.
(7) 3...c5 4.bxc5 bxc5 5.g4 f6!
A.Wotawa 5...a5 6.g5 (zugzwang) 6...a4 7.bxa4 c4 8.a5 c3
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1964 9.a6 c2 10.a7 c1Q (no check since White's
pawn blocks on g5) 11.a8R+ Qc8 12.Rxc8#.
6.Kg6 a5

White wins
My student IM Ming Lu and I (Cyrus) solved Exercise (calculation) : What is White's
this one in 2019, and I'm suffering from PTSD, only winning move?

14
 Answer : Counterintuitively, DON'T
capture the h-pawn and, instead, move the king
away from the action to h6!
7.Kh6!!
You just entered one of those Las Vegas
breakfast buffets where the average calorie
total for the meal is north of 5,000 calories. You
then ask the chef for an egg-white omelet filled
with fat-free cottage cheese and spinach, fried
in low-calorie cooking spray. I just described
the white king's level of self-control in NOT
consuming the f6–pawn.
7.Kxf6? c4! (7...a4?? 8.bxa4 c4 9.a5 c3 10.a6
c2 11.a7 c1Q 12.a8R+ Kh7 - No, we refuse to
spite-block on c8 with the black queen:
13.Rh8#) 8.bxc4 a4 9.c5 a3 10.c6 a2 11.c7
a1Q+; aaargh! It's check, and Black wins.
7...a4 8.bxa4 c4 9.g5!
Interference. Black cannot be allowed to
promote with check.
9.a5? loses to 9...c3.
9...c3
9...fxg5 10.a5 c3 11.a6 c2 12.a7 c1Q 13.a8Q+
and mate in 3.
10.gxf6 c2
10...Kf7 loses to the simple 11.Kh7.
11.Kg6!
White draws
Exercise (planning/calculation) : This is
a battle of quantity versus quality. Black is
down four pawns, yet White appears to be in
deep trouble since Black's lone h-pawn
promotes faster than any of White's. Come up
with White's drawing plan:
Answer : Step 1: To achieve our future
stalemate, we must first give away all our
kingside pawns.
1.e6!
1.b6? is the wrong push: 1...h2 2.b7 h1Q 3.b8Q
Qa1+ 4.Kb5 Qb1+ wins White's queen.
1...Kxe6
1...h2 2.e7 h1Q 3.e8Q Qd1+ 4.Kb4 Qd4+ and
perpetual check.
2.f5+! Kxf5
2...Kf7 3.g6+ Kg7 4.b6 h2 5.f6+! Kxf6 6.g7!
Kxg7 7.b7 is similar to the main line.
3.g6! Kxg6

11...c1Q 12.f7# 1–0

(8)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1943

Step 2: We begin a race to promote our b-pawn.

Of course, there appears to be a problem here
since Black promotes first and then wins our
queen with a check on a1, followed by a check
on b2 or b1, and then ...Qxb8. We must
envision one ply further.

15
 4.b6!
4.a6?? is the move of a lazy calculator! 4...h2
5.a7 h1Q Black covers the a8–promotion
square and wins.
4...h2 5.b7 h1Q 6.b8Q Qa1+
We are about to lose our queen. Should we be
worried? No, we fall into Black's "trap" with
wide-eyed innocence because we deviously
engineered a stalemate with Step 3:
7.Kb5! Qb2+ 8.Ka6!
We punctuate our previous move by self-
imprisoning our king on a6.
8...Qxb8
Stalemate. Now we see why White gave away
the kingside pawns. ½–½
(9)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963
White draws
This is one of the most incredible composed
works ever created by the human mind. The
position will later turn into a battle of extra
queen versus pawns, with the queen-up side
struggling to hold the draw! Now you may be
16
asking: "Why is White the one trying to hold
the draw? Isn't White just winning?" The
answer is White is indeed the one fighting for a
draw since our king is actually in grave danger
of being mated!
Exercise (critical decision) : Should we
capture on b3 with our a-pawn or c-pawn?
Answer : Capturing towards the center
with our a-pawn is correct.
1.axb3
1.cxb3? h6+ 2.Kh5 Kd6 3.c5+ Kxc5 4.c4 Kd6
5.c5+ Kxc5 6.a4 Kd6 7.a5 Ke7 8.a6 Kf8! 9.a7
Kg8 10.a8Q+ Kh7 11.Qc6 g6+ 12.Qxg6+
fxg6#.
1...h6+! 2.Kh5 Kd6! (D)
2...Ke6? 3.c5 Ke7 4.c6 Kd6 5.c4 Kxc6 6.b4
Kc7 7.c5 Kc6 8.c4 Kc7 9.b5 Kb7 10.c6+ Kb6
11.c5+ Kc7 12.f3! Kc8 13.b6 Kb8 14.c7+ Kc8
15.c6! with zugzwang; White wins.
Here is Black's plan to win the game:
1. Black wants to zugzwang us by
freezing and then winning our
queenside pawns.
2. Then Black wants to transfer the
king to h7 and deliver mate
with ...g7–g6 mate.
3. The problem with this plan is that
it's too slow since we, as White,
will self-stalemate with f2–f4.
4. This means that Black will allow
us to promote if the black king is
given access to h7.
3.c5+!!
This is our only path to the draw.
3.b4? is too slow: 3...Ke7! 4.c5 Kf8! 5.c6 Kg8
6.c7 Kh7 7.c8Q g6#.
3...Kxc5
Black must capture the pawn.
3...Ke7? loses to 4.c6 Kd6 (4...Kf8 5.c7 Kg8 13...Kxh8 14.f4!
6.c8Q+ Kh7 7.Qxf5+ wins) 5.c4 Kxc6 6.b4 Just as it feels as if our exhausted defensive
Kd6 7.c5+ Kd5 8.c3 Kc6 9.c4 Kd7 10.b5 Kc7 muscles refuse to respond to our will, we
11.c6 Kd6 12.c5+ Kc7 13.f3! (zugzwang) produce a new resource: our king is in a
13...Kc8 14.b6 Kb8 15.c7+ Kc8 16.c6 with stalemate position and must be offered luft.
zugzwang number 2; White wins. 14...f6!
4.c4 Kd6 5.c5+! Kxc5 6.c4! Kd6 7.c5+! White's king must be given air.
Kxc5 8.b4+! Kd6!
8...Kxb4? 9.f4 Kc4 stalemate. a) 14...g6+ 15.Kxh6 Kg8 16.h5 gxh5
9.b5 Ke7! 17.Kxh5 is drawn.
Destination: h7. Black will allow the b-pawn to
promote with check. b) 14...Kh7 stalemate.
10.b6 Kf8! 11.b7 Kg8 12.b8Q+ Kh7 15.Kg6
Our advanced king position is enough for us to
save the game.
15...Kg8
15...h5 16.Kxh5 Kh7 stalemate.
16.Kxf5 Kf7 17.h5 g6+
Black's only try.
17...Kf8 18.Kg6 Kg8 19.f5! Kf8 20.Kh7 Kf7
21.Kh8 Kf8 22.Kh7 draw.
18.hxg6+ Kg7 19.Kg4 Kxg6 20.f5+

Note that if our c-pawn had been promoted, we

would now have Qxf5+. What now? Black
threatens to mate us by pushing the g-pawn one
square.
13.Qh8+!
When it comes down to a choice of saving our
dignity or life, we would be wise to opt for the
latter. This giving away of our extra queen buys
us precious time.
20...Kf7 21.Kh5 Kg7
a) 13.Qg8+! also works. 21...Ke7? is an overpress. 22.Kxh6 Kd6
23.Kg7! Ke5 24.Kg6 Zugzwang. White wins.
b) "I'm not the bill-paying type and 22.Kg4 Black is unable to make progress.
will just live off my credit card," thinks ½–½
White's delusional queen. 13.Qc8? g6#.

17
Chapter 2: Queen Endings
For Wotawa, starting a study in a pure queen
ending clearly did not have much appeal; the
length of this chapter is a testament to that. But
as you work your way through the book, you
will frequently notice that the outcome of the
original study ends up in queen endings of
some variety.
(10)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939
White wins
1. Black's g-pawn is much faster than
our c-pawn, which sits on its
original square.
2. We can't even capture Black's a3–
pawn since Black's queen blocks
on a7, swapping and leaving us in
a lost ending. What else can we try?
1.Qh1+!!
What? Aren't we handing Black a precious
tempo? Actually, the brilliant point is that
Black's g-pawn is provoked to g2, after which
the pawn no longer supports Black's queen.
This, in turn, allows tactics that win Black's
queen.
a) 1.Qh8+? Ka7 2.Qb8+ Ka6 3.Qb7+
Ka5 4.Qd5+ Kb4 5.Qb3+ Kc5 6.Qxa3+
Kd4, and here the tablebase says this is a
draw, but in real life, most of us humans
would lose with White.
18
b) 1.Qxa3+?? is really dumb:
1...Qa7+ 2.Qxa7+ Kxa7 Black promotes
and wins.
c) 1.Qb1?? (threatening mate on b7
and b8, which is too slow) 1...Qc5+ 2.Kd7
g2, Black wins.
1...g2
1...Ka7?? 2.Qb7#.
2.Qh8+ Ka7 3.Qb8+ Ka6 4.Qb7+ Ka5
5.Qd5+!
For now, most of us are still caught in the
bondage of the abstract and still don't
understand the point of all these checks. We
know it's not perpetual check since this is a
White wins study.
5.Qa8+? Kb4 6.Qe4+ Kc3 7.Qd3+ Kb2
8.Qb3+ Kc1 9.Qxa3+ Kd1 10.Qa1+ Ke2
11.Qa6+ is a perpetual check.
5...Ka6
5...Kb4 6.Qb3+ Ka5 (6...Kc5 7.Qb6+ picks off
Black's queen) 7.Qxa3+ Kb5 8.Qb3+ Ka5
9.Qa2+! Black loses the queen next move to
either c3+ or c4+.
6.Qd3+!
a) 6.Qc4+? Ka5 7.Qc3+ Ka4 8.Qb3+
Ka5 9.Qxa3+ Kb5 10.Qb2+ Ka4
(10...Ka5 11.Qa2+ White wins Black's
queen next move with a discovered attack)
11.Qa2+ Kb4 (11...Kb5 12.c4+) 12.c3+
wins Black's queen.
b) 6.Qc6+? Ka5 7.Qc3+ Ka4 8.Qb3+
Ka5 9.Qxa3+.
6...Ka5 7.Qxa3+ Kb5 8.Qb3+ Ka5
8...Kc5 9.Qb6+ wins the queen.
9.Qa2+!
 Now we see the theme, and the position is de-
mystified: Black's king is forced to move to a
square which allows a discovered attack.
9...Kb4
Or 9...Kb5 10.c4+ Kb4 11.Qxf2 is the same.
10.c3+!
Discovered attack.
10...Kxc3 11.Qxf2 1–0

19
Chapter 3: Rook Endings
It is no lie that rook endings occur more
frequently than any other type of ending in
practical play. That, of course, makes them
particularly important to understand. The rook
endings in studies are frequently much more
complex and artistic than those occurring in
practical play, but there is an arc where ideas
that are seen in studies emerge in real games
and vice versa. In my (Carsten) only study, I
had presented a stalemate idea to International
Master in composition, Steffen Slumstrup
Nielsen, and he created a masterpiece
surrounding my original element.
3.1 Each side has a rook
(11)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
White wins
White is down a pawn. Our two big plusses are:
1. Massive king position.
2. A dangerously deep, passed h-
pawn.
Come up with a clear plan to turn these two
favorable factors into a win.
Answer: Step 1: Push our passed pawn.
1.h6!
1.Rb5? Rc8 2.Rxb7 Rc6+ 3.Kf5 Rxc5 4.Rxd7
Rc1 is drawn.
1...Re8
This was the line Wotawa gave.
20
a) 1...Kg8 is Black's best line, from a
tournament perspective, since it reaches
queen versus rook: 2.Ke7 Rc8 3.Kxd7
Rc6 4.Ra8+ Kh7 5.Rf8 Kxh6 6.Rxf7 Rxc5
7.e6 Rd5+ 8.Kc7 Re5 9.Kd6 Re1 10.e7 b3
11.Rf1! Rxf1 (11...Re2 12.Kd7 Rd2+
13.Ke6 Re2+ 14.Kf7 wins, since Black's
checks end) 12.e8Q wins.
b) 1...Rc8 2.e6! Interference. White
wins since a black rook check on c6 is
prevented.
2.c6!
Step 2: This interference shot disrupts Black's
chi energy.
2...bxc6
2...Re6+ 3.Kf5 Rxc6 (3...Rxh6 4.cxb7 Rb6
5.Ra8+ Ke7 6.b8Q wins) 4.Ra8+ Ke7 5.h7
promotes.
3.Ra8!
This is our final hanging chad to sort out.
Step 3: Decoy/pawn promotion.
Certainly not 3.h7?? Re6+ 4.Kf5 Kg7, and it is
Black who wins.
3...Rxa8 4.h7 Our business is concluded,
and there is nothing left of Black's position but
charred skeletal parts and teeth. It's mate next
move. 1–0
(12)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
White wins
 Exercise (combination alert) : Do you see 2...Kf4 3.Rxg4+!
White's idea? Step 2: Attraction.
Answer : Give a rook check on the en prise 3.Rh3? blows it: 3...gxh3 4.h7 Rxh2 5.h8Q
square f4. Rc2+ 6.Kd7 h2 White is unable to win.
1.Rf4+! 3...Kxg4
There wouldn't be much stealth involved if this 3...Kf5 4.Rh4 Re2 5.Kd7 Rd2+ 6.Ke7 Re2+
was supposed to be a covert operation. 7.Kf7 Rb2 8.Rh5+! Kg4 9.h7! wins.
Step 1: Attraction. 4.h3+!
As pointed out to us by Isaac Garner and his Step 3: Interference.
coach, grandmaster Karsten Müller, the 4...Kf5
tempting alternative 1.g3? is insufficient on 4...Kxh3 5.h7 Rc2+ 6.Kb7 Rb2+ 7.Ka8.
account of 1…Ra6! 2.Rf4+ Ke5 3.Rg4 Re6! 5.h7 Rc2+
and Black draws.
1...Kxf4
1...Kd5 2.Rg4! (not only covering g2, but also
ensuring promotion) 2...Re2 3.g7 Re8+ 4.Kc7!
Rg8 5.Kd7 Ke5 6.Ke7 Kf5 7.Kf7! wins.
2.g3+!
Step 2: Interference, Part II.
2...Kxg3
Black's would-be defenders are not doing a
great job presenting a united front in halting the
promotion of White's remaining g-pawn.
3.g7 Step 3: Pawn promotion. 1–0

(13) Exercise (critical decision) : Which

A.Wotawa direction should White's king head toward? a8
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936 or f7?
Answer : a8 is the correct hiding place for
White's king.
6.Kb7!
6.Kd7 isn't a blunder yet, as long as White
doubles back: 6...Rd2+ 7.Ke7 Re2+ Now
White must backtrack and head for a8 since
8.Kf7? (when it comes to the position's
requests, White's king is a bit hard of hearing.
This move loses to 8.Kd7! still wins) 8...Rb2!
9.h8Q Rb7+ 10.Kg8 Rb8+ 11.Kg7 Rxh8
12.Kxh8 Kg5 13.Kg7 a5 promotes and wins.
6...Rb2+ 7.Ka8! White promotes.
1–0
White wins
(14)
Let's see what we learned from the last study in A.Wotawa
the book. This is a more complex version of the Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942
same themes.
2.Rg3+!
Step 1: Zwischenzug. We check before
chopping the g4–pawn, which at first glance
appears nonsensical since this allows Black to
protect g4.
2.Rxg4? Rxh2 3.Rg6 Kf4 draw.

21
 White wins Must we offer a draw? After all, our h-pawn
falls. Not yet, since Black's clunky king and
Our king is too far away to save our h-pawn. rook trip over each other when we chase the
Our solution is to win the king and rook versus king onto the h-file.
king and rook ending! 8.Rg1+!
1.Ra3+! Like Monty Hall, we are willing to make a deal.
Interdepartmental memo: What the hell are we Black gets the h-pawn, and we get Black's rook!
doing!? This feels totally counterintuitive since 8...Kxh6
it moves Black's king closer to White's lone 8...Kh5 9.Kf6! Rxh6+ 10.Kf5 wins.
pawn. 9.Kf6! Black loses the rook or is mated.
1–0
a) 1.Rf6? (cutting off Black's king fails)
1...Re7+ 2.Kc6 Ke4 3.Kd6 Rh7 4.Ke6 (15)
Ra7! 5.Rg6 (5.Rf7? hangs the h-pawn to A.Wotawa
5...Ra6+ 6.Ke7 Rxh6) 5...Kf4 6.Kf6 Rh7! Schach Magazin, 1949
White is unable to make progress.

b) 1.h7? is foolish since the pawn falls

immediately with 1...Re7+ 2.Kc6 Rxh7.

c) 1.Kc7? Kf4 2.Kd7 Kg5 ...Rh4 is

coming, and the game is drawn.
1...Kf2
1...Kf4 2.Ra4! (attraction/pawn promotion;
2.Rh3 Re7+ 3.Kc6 Rh7 4.Kd5 Kg5 is a draw)
2...Rxa4 3.h7 Now we see why Black's king
was lured to f4: it impedes Black's ...Rh4 and
White wins.
2.Rh3 Re7+ White wins
2...Kg2 is met with 3.h7!.
3.Kc6 Rh7 4.Kd5 Kg2 5.Rh5 Kg3 6.Ke5 This is an inhospitable environment where
Kg4 7.Rh1 Kg5 most species won't survive, much less thrive.
Isn't White in terrible trouble?
After all:
1. We are down a pawn.
2. Our passed c-pawn is in terrible
danger due to the simple threat
of ...Rc1.
3. Our king is threatened with ...Rd8
mate.

22
Black's king looks perfectly safe. Prove why 6...g5 7.Qh3+! Attracting Black's king to g6.
the "Black's king looks perfectly safe" 7...Kg6 8.Qd3+ The double attack picks off the
statement is false. rook.
1.c7! 7.Qh4+! Rh5 8.Qf4+!
Step 1: Decoy Black's rook to c1 while Forcing Black's rook into a deadly pin.
conveniently cutting off Black's threat to mate 8...Rg5 (D)
us on d8. 8...g5? 9.Qf6#.
1...Rc1 2.f6!
Step 2: Sacrifice a pawn to seize control over
the 5th rank.
2...gxf6
2...Rxc7?? 3.fxg7 Rxg7 (3...Rc8+ 4.g8N+ wins)
4.g5+ Kh5 5.Kxg7 wins.
3.g5+!
Step 3: Gum up the works with a second pawn
sacrifice.
3...fxg5 (D)
3...Kh5 4.gxf6+ and one of White's passers
promotes.

Exercise (planning) : A reckoning draws

near. How does White force the win?
Answer : Step 1: Retreat the queen to h3,
preventing Black from unpinning with ...Kh5.
9.Qe3! a5
9...Kh5 10.Qh3# "I am totally reformed!"
claims the queen at her third murder trial.
10.Kg8!
Step 2: Walk the king to f6, winning Black's
pinned rook.
10...a4 11.Kf7 a3 12.Kf6 1–0

Exercise (combination alert) : How does (16)

White win material? A.Wotawa
Answer : Overloaded defender. Centurini MT, 1951
4.Rb1! Rxb1
Forced. Black's rook cannot simultaneously
cover White's threat to promote on c8 and the
mating threat on h1.
4...Rxc7? 5.Rh1#.
5.c8Q
Threat: Qh3 mate.
5...g4

a) 5...Rb3 6.Qg8! with the dual threats

Qh7 mate and Qxb3.

b) 5...Rh1 6.Qb7! with the deadly

double threat of Qxh1 mate and Qh7 mate. White wins
6.Qxg4
Threat: Qh4 mate.
6...Rb5

23
 Exercise (critical decision): Black will Exercise (combination alert) : What do
meet 1.d7 with ...Rc4+, followed by ...Rd4. Our we do? Black is about to play ...Rd5.
choices are: Answer : Mating net/overloaded defender.
7.Kf6!
a) 1 Rd1 playing on the Principle: It's never pleasant for the opponent when they
Place your rook behind your passed pawn. are given a preview of their impending death.
Principle: The king is a fighting piece in the
b) Toss in the zwischenzug 1 g4–g5+. ending!
7...Rd5 8.d8Q!
c) Play 1 d6–d7 anyway. Removal of the guard.
How should we continue? Superior to the also winning 8.g5+ 8...Rxg5
Answer : Only line c) is correct. 9.d8Q wins.
1.d7! 8...Rxd8
The cobra pokes its head out of the Fakir's 8...hxg4 9.Qc7! g3 10.Qxg3 b6 11.Qe3+ Kh5
basket. But has it really been tamed? 12.Qh3#.
9.g5# 1–0
a) 1.Rd1? gives Black time to
blockade the d-pawn with 1...Re8 2.d7 (17)
Rd8 3.gxh5 Kxh5 4.Kc3 Kg6 5.Kc4 Kf6 A.Wotawa
6.Kc5 Ke6 7.Kb6 Rxd7 8.Rxd7 Kxd7 Schach Magazin, 1951
9.Kxb7 c5 10.a5 c4 11.a6 c3 12.a7 c2
13.a8Q c1Q draw.

b) 1.g5+? Kg6! (Not 1...Kxg5? 2.d7

Rd4 3.Rd1 winning) 2.d7 Rc4+! 3.Kd3
(3.Kb3? Rd4 Black wins) 3...Rxc1 White
is unable to promote due to a check on d1.
4.Ke2 Rc2+ 5.Ke3 Rc3+ 6.Ke2 Rc2+ is
perpetual check.
1...Rc4+!
1...Rd4 2.Rd1 Rxd7 3.Rxd7 hxg4 4.Kd3 wins.
2.Kd3!
2.Kb3? Rd4! 3.Rh1 Rxd7 4.Rxh5+ should end
in a draw. White wins
2...Rxc1 3.Ke2!
3.Kd2? is met with 3...Rc5! 4.d8Q Rd5+ What an odd dream you are having. The
5.Qxd5 cxd5 6.gxh5 Kxh5 Black wins. heading above the diagram clearly says, "White
3...Rc2+ 4.Ke3 Rc3+ 5.Ke4 Rc4+ 6.Ke5 wins," but how?:
Rc5+ 1. Black's king looks perfectly safe
(he isn't!).
2. White's a6 and g6–pawns are in
dire trouble.
Step 1: Decoy.
1.g7! Rxg7
1...Ra8 2.Rxa3 Kg6 3.Rg3+ Kh7 4.g8Q+!
Rxg8 5.Rxg8 Kxg8 6.a7 promotes and wins.
2.Rxa3 Rc7

a) 2...Kg6 3.Rg3+! (simplification)

3...Kf6 4.Rxg7 Kxg7 5.a7 wins.

24
 b) 2...Ra7 is met with 3.Rg3! Rxa6
4.Rg7 a3 5.g4#.

c) 2...b5 3.Rg3! Ra7 4.Rg8 forces mate.

3.Rg3!
Step 2: Imprisonment of Black's king.
3...a3 4.a7!
Step 3: Decoy/interference. This way, Black's
rook cannot deliver a check on White's third
rank since Black's a-pawn interferes.
4.Rg8? Rc3+ 5.g3 a2 6.a7 a1Q 7.a8Q Qf1+
8.Qg2 Qxg2+ 9.Kxg2 Rc6 10.Kh3 (threat: g3–
g4 mate) 10...Rg6 11.g4+ Kg5 12.Rf8 Rc6 White wins
when White is lucky to be able to draw.
4...Rxa7 5.Rg8! In case you are getting boggled by the difficulty
level of the studies, we tossed in an easier one.
How does White force promotion?
Answer : Step 1: Rook
sacrifice/interference.
2.Rh4! Kxh4 3.h7 Rh3+ 4.Kg2 Kg4 5.f3+!
The trap's jaws close around the black
king/rook's leg.
Step 2: Overloaded defender/interference.
5...Rxf3
5...Kh4? (the king blocks his own rook's
coverage of the promotion square) 6.h8Q+
6.h8Q is a technical win for White.
1–0
Step 4: Clearance. The rook gets out of the way
(19)
of White's g-pawn, which now threatens g2–g4
A.Wotawa
mate.
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1953
5...Ra4 6.g4+
Step 5: Win Black's rook.
6...Rxg4 7.Rxg4 b5 8.Rb4! a2 9.Rxb5+
Step 6: Zwischenzug.
9...Kg6 10.Ra5
Step 7: The a-pawn is caught, and White wins.
1–0

(18)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952

White wins
Surely, the fact that White must be losing is
beyond argument, isn't it?
After all:
1. Black king and rook easily halt our
passed c-pawns.

25
 2. Black's passed h-pawn surges the all too familiar: "Where the hell did that
forward. We lose if we go passive come from!?" 1–0
and try to blockade it on h1.
White is winning. Our task is to weave mating (20)
nets with discovered attack themes: A.Wotawa
3.c3!! Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1955
This almost appears to be a random move until
we see White's next few moves.
3.Ra1? is too slow. 3...Rxc4 4.Rh1 Rh4 5.Kd8
h2 6.Ke7 Kd5 7.Kxf7 Ke5 8.c4 Kf4 9.c5 Kxf3
10.c6 Kg2 wins.
3...h2
All Black's king moves lose to discovered
attacks or a mating net.

a) 3...Kd6? 4.c5+ (discovered attack)

4...Kxc5 5.Rg4 wins.

b) 3...Kb6? meet with the same fate.

4.c5+ wins. White wins

c) 3...Kc5 4.Kc7! h2 5.Ra5+! Kxc4 1.Ra8!

6.Ra4+ (discovered attack) 6...Kxc3
7.Rxh4 wins. a) 1.h7? Rc3+ 2.Ke2 Rc8 3.Kf3 Rh8
4.Ra6+! Kc5 5.Kc7! 4.Rxf7 a3 5.Ra7 a2 6.Rxa2 Rxh7 draw.

b) 1.Rxa4? Rc3+ 2.Ke2 Kh5 3.h7 Rc8!

4.Ra3 Kg6 5.Rxh3 Rh8 draw.
1...h2 2.Kg2 h1Q+ 3.Kxh1 Kh3
Threatening mate on c1.
4.Rg8 Rc1+ 5.Rg1 Rc8 6.h7 Rh8

If there is a chess stock market, this is where it

crashes for Black. Deadly dual threats:1. Rc6
mate.2. Ra5+!, followed by the discovered
attack on Black's loose rook with Ra4+ and
Rxh4.
5...h1Q
Or 6...a3 7.Rg3+! Kh4 8.Rg8.
a) 5...Kxc4 6.Ra4+ - discovered attack. 7.Rg8!!
Attraction/clearance. White must force Black's
b) 5...Rxc4 (interference) 6.Ra5#. rook to take the h-pawn.
6.Rc6# Black's king is buried with full 7.Rg7? f5 8.Kg1 a3 9.Rg3+ Kh4 10.Rxa3 Rxh7
military honors. The most often repeated is drawn.
thought when we play over a Wotawa study is 7...Rxh7 8.Rg2!
Threat: Rh2+.

26
 8...Rh5 1...Kg7 2.Rf5! (interference) 2...Rg1+ 3.Kxb2
Rh1 4.Rf8! (interference number two) 4...Kxf8
a) 8...Rh4 9.Rg3#. 5.a7 and White promotes and wins.
2.e5!
b) 8...a3 9.Rh2+ Kg4 10.Rxh7 a2 Attraction.
11.Rg7+ Kf3 12.Rg1. 2...Rxe5
9.Rh2+ Kg4 10.f3+! 2...Rh5 is met with 3.Rf8!
3.Re3!
Now we see the worm in Black's otherwise
perfect apple. Attraction/pinned piece. Black's
private anguish is there is no way to gain
control over the a8–promotion square.
3...Rxe3 4.a7 1–0

(22)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1964

Overloaded defender.
10...Kxf4 11.Rxh5 Kxf3 12.Ra5
1–0

(21)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959

White wins
Exercise (combination alert) : Black's
king looks completely safe. Prove why he isn't.
Answer : Interference.
1.a4!!

a) 1.a7? Ra6 2.g6 fxg6 3.Rg8 Rxa7

4.Rxg6 Rxa2 when White fights for a draw,
mainly since g2–g3 NOT-mate is an
illegal move!
White wins
Exercise (combination alert) : Come up b) 1.a3? Kg4! and Black holds a draw.
with a series of moves that force promotion of 1...bxa4
our forward a-pawn: Or 1...b4 2.a7 Ra6 3.g6! fxg6 4.Rg8 Rxa7
Answer : Begin with a check on f3. 5.Rxg6 Rxa4 6.g3#.
1.Rf3+! 2.a7 Ra6 3.g6!
1.Ra3? is too slow: 1...Re5 2.a7 Re8 3.Rb3 Ra8 Step 2: Clearance. White's rook must control
4.Rb7 c6 5.Kxb2 g5 6.Kc3 g4 7.Kd3 Ke5 the g-file, and we are willing to give away three
8.Rg7 Kf4 and Black will draw. pawns to achieve it.
1...Ke7 3...fxg6
Black's rook must have access to a5. 3...Rxg6? 4.Rb8 wins.

27
 4.Rg8! Rxa7 b) 1.Rxh6? Kxb5 2.Rg6 Rf7 3.Rg7
4...Kg5 loses to 5.a8Q Rxf6 4.b7 Rb6 5.Rxg5 Rxb7 6.Rxe5+ Kc6
5.Rxg6 7.Rh5 Rf7 with a draw.
1...gxf4

a) 1...g4 2.b7! Rxb7 3.fxe5 g3 4.e6 g2

5.Rg8 h3 6.e7 h2 7.e8Q g1Q 8.b4+ Kb6
9.Qc6+ Ka7 10.Qa6#.

b) 1...exf4 2.b7 Rxb7 3.f7! with the

same finish as in the study.
2.b7!
Clearance.
2...Rxb7 3.f7!
Decoy.
3...Rxf7 4.Rb8!
White doesn't consider the evils of income
inequality so evil. Black would be drawing if
the a-pawn was removed from the board since
then ...Ra2 would be playable, pinning our g-
pawn.
5...a3 6.g3# 1–0

(23)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Kurier, 1964

The term for a soon-to-be executed prisoner is

"Dead man walking." In our case, it's "Dead
man sleeping, since Black's oblivious king isn't
going anywhere. We seize control over the
black king's flight square on b6, and there is no
defense to the coming David and Goliath mate
next move.
4...f3
Black's hateful lummox of an f-pawn blocks a
saving rook check on f3.
White wins 5.b4# 1–0

This study is a more complex version of the (24)

same theme as the previous one. A.Wotawa
1.f4!! Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966
Interference.

a) 1.b7? Rxb7 2.b4+ Kxb5 3.Kb3 e4

4.Rxh6 Rf7 5.Rg6 h3 6.Rxg5+ Kc6 7.Rg6
Kd5 8.Rh6 Ke5 9.Rxh3 Rxf6 10.Rh2 Kd4
and Black will hold the draw.

28
 2.Rd7 Ke1 3.Kg2 Ke2 4.Kg3 Ke3 5.Kg4
Ke4 6.Kg5 Ke5 7.Kg6 Ke6 8.Kg7 Ke5

White wins
This isn't one of those "Come for the view, stay
for the excitement" vacation advertisements. 8...Re8 9.Kh6! (9.Rd8? Re7+ is a draw) 9...Rc8
Although it is drier than what we are 10.Kg6 Rg8+ 11.Kh5! Rc8 12.Kg4 Ke5
accustomed to with Wotawa, it is also both 13.Kf3 Ke6 14.Ke4 Kf6 15.Kd5 wins.
practical and instructive. 9.Kf7 Rh8
1. Our king must reach either d7 or
b7, and our job is to muscle out
a) 9...Kf5 10.Rd5+ Ke4 11.Ke6 Rxc7
Black's king, who will do
12.Rc5! Kd4 13.Rc1 wins.
everything in his power to prevent
our plan.
b) 9...Ra8 10.Kg6! (10.Ke7 Rc8
2. At the same time, we cannot allow
White isn't making progress) 10...Rg8+
Black's king to reach d6 or chop the
11.Kh5 Rc8 12.Kg5 Rg8+ 13.Kh4!
c6-pawn since our forward c-pawn
Threat: Rd8. 13...Rc8 14.Kg3 Ke4 15.Kf2
then falls.
White's king reaches the queenside.
Be careful on your first move since it is one of
10.Kg6!
those "forever" decisions.
10.Rd8? Rh7+ is once again drawn.
1.Kg1!!
10...Rg8+
Only the counter-intuitive king retreat works.
10...Rc8 11.Kg5 Ke6 12.Kf4 Kf6 13.Ke4 Ke6
14.Kd4 wins.
a) 1.Kh3? Ke4 2.Rd7 Kf3 3.Kh4 Kf4
11.Kf7 Rc8 12.Ke7 Rh8 13.Rd1 Rh7+
4.Kh5 Kf5 5.Kh6 Kf6 6.Kh7 Re8! 7.Kh6
14.Kd8 Rh8+ 15.Kd7 Rh7+ 16.Kc8
Rh8+ 8.Rh7 Rc8 White is unable to make
progress.

b) 1.Re7? Kf2! 2.Kh3 Kf3 3.Kh4 Kf4

4.Kh5 Kf5 5.Kh6 Kf6 6.Rh7 Ke5 7.Kg6
Kd6 Draw.

c) 1.Rf7+? Ke3 2.Kg3 Kd4 3.Kf4

Kd5 4.Kf5 Kd6 Draw.

d) 1.Kh1? Ke2 2.Rd7 Kf1! reaches a

drawn position.
1...Ke2!
1...Ke4? 2.Rd7 Kf3 3.Re7 Kf4 4.Kf2 Kf5
5.Ke3 Kf6 6.Rd7 Ke6 7.Kd4 White's king White's king will hide on the b-file.
walks over to b7. 16...Rh2 17.Rb1! Kd6 18.Kb8 wins.
1–0

29

(25)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1938
White draws
Exercise (planning) : This study is
impressive because we can create a giant prison
for Black's rook and earn a repetition draw.
How?
Answer : Interference. A black pawn at e4
has the effect of imprisoning Black's rook.
1.e4!!
a) 1.Kg7? Re8! 2.Rc1 h3 3.Rxc5 h2
4.Rc1 Rxe3 5.Kf6 f4 6.Kf5 f3 7.Kf4 Rc3!
8.Rh1 f2 9.Rf1 Rh3 wins.
b) 1.Kf6? h3 2.Kxf5 h2 3.Rh1 Kxb7
4.Kf4 Kc6 5.e4 Kd6 Black wins since the
c-pawn will distract the white king from
the kingside.
1...fxe4
a) 1...h3? 2.e5 h2 3.Rh1 Kxb7 4.e6
Kc7 5.e7 Kd7 6.Rxh2! and White wins.
b) 1...Kxb7 2.exf5 h3 3.f6 h2 4.Rh1
Kc6 5.Kg7 Rh3 6.f7 Rg3+ 7.Kh7 Rf3
8.Kg7 with a draw.
c) 1...f4 2.e5 h3 3.e6 Kxb7 4.e7 Kc6
5.e8Q+ Rxe8 6.Kxe8 c4 7.Rh1 Kd5
8.Rxh3 Kd4 9.Rf3 Ke4 10.Rc3 Kd4
11.Rf3 and again a draw.
2.Kg7!
George Orwell's anti-hero Winston Smith
believed the forces of Big Brother were
unaware of his secret rebellion. He was wrong,
30
just as the black rook is wrong in its belief in
freedom from the white king's surveillance.
Step 2: Chase the black rook in a circle!
2...Rh5 3.Kg6! Re5 4.Kf6! Re8 5.Kf7 Rh8
6.Kg7 Black's rook is caught in a weird box
and can never escape the white king's perpetual
chase. ½–½
(26)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1951
White draws
Exercise (planning): Come up with a
drawing plan for White:
Answer : Step 2: Clearance. White's rook
must be given access to every square on the f-
file except f8.
1.Kg2!
a) 1.Rb4+? Kc3 2.Rb7 a2 3.Rc7+
(3.Ra7? Rxh7! Black's a-pawn is poison
for White's rook due to a skewer on h2)
3...Kb4 4.Rb7+ Kc5 5.Ra7 Rxh7! 6.Ra8
Rh1! wins.
b) 1.Rf7? a2 2.Rb7+ Kc3 3.Ra7 Rxh7!
is the same; Black wins.
c) 1.Ke3? a2 2.Rf2+ (2.Rb4+ Ka3
wins) 2...Kb3 3.Rf1 Rxh7 4.Rg1 Ra7
5.Ra1 Kb2 wins.
d) 1.Kg3? Rxh7 2.Rf2+ Kc1 3.Rf1+
Kd2 4.Rf2+ Ke1 5.Ra2 Ra7 6.Kf3 Kd1
7.Ke3 Kc1 8.Kd3 Kb1 9.Rh2 a2 wins.
e) 1.Kg1? Rxh7 2.Rf2+ Kc1 3.Rf1+
Kd2 4.Rf2+ Ke3 5.Rf8 Ra7 6.Re8+ Kd2
 7.Rd8+ Kc2 8.Rc8+ Kb3 9.Rb8+ Ka4
when Black will promote and win.
1...Rxh7
1...a2 2.Rf2+ Kb3 3.Rf3+ Kb4 4.Rf4+ Kb5
5.Rf5+ Kb6 6.Rf6+ Kb7 7.Rf1! (this is the
perfect moment to retreat since Black's king
interferes with the intended ...Ra7) 7...Rxh7
8.Ra1 draw.
2.Rf2+
Step 2: Begin bombarding Black's king with
rook checks.
2...Kb3 3.Rf3+ Kb4 4.Rf4+ Kb5
4...Kc5 5.Ra4 wins the a-pawn and draws. White draws
5.Rf5+ Kb6 6.Rf6+ Kb7 7.Rf3!
Exercise (planning) : We are not so broke
that we need a Go-fund-me page, yet we still
deal with major problems:
1. 1 If we play 1 Rb4? to stop Black's
b-pawn from promoting, Black
responds with the decoy shot
1...Rh4!.
2. If we respond with 2.c2–c4, then
Black plays ...Rxc4!, forcing
promotion.
3. 1 Rf1? is easily refuted by 1...Ra7+,
followed by 2...Ra1.Come up with
a solution to this problem.
"One pill makes you larger and one pill makes Answer : We must first drive the black
you small!" king to the c-file. This way, if Black plays
Step 3: Move the rook to f3, after which Black's 2...Rxc4??, we recapture with check.
king is in the way of ...Ra7. 1.Rg4+!
7.Rf2? is a tragic near-miss for White: 7...Rh6
8.Ra2 Ra6 9.Kf3 Kc6 10.Ke4 Kc5 11.Kd3 a) 1.Rf1? Ra7+ 2.Kb3 Ra1! wins.
Kb4 12.Kc2 Rh6 13.Ra1 Rh2+ 14.Kd3 a2 wins.
7...a2 8.Ra3 ½–½ b) 1.Rb4? Rh4! 2.c4 Rxc4! wins.
1...Kf8!
(27)
A.Wotawa a) 1...Kh8 2.Rb4! draw.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1953
b) 1...Rg7 2.Rb4! draw.

c) 1...Kf7 2.Rg1! draw.

2.Rf4+! Ke8! 3.Re4+! Kd8 4.Rd4+ Kc8
5.Rb4! Ra7+
5...Rh4 6.c4! Black can no longer play ...Rxc4
since White would recapture with check.
6.Kb5 Ra5+ (D)
6...Ra2 7.Rb3! (Not 7.Kc4? which loses to
7...Ra4) 7...Kc7 8.Kb4 b1Q 9.Rxb1 Rxc2 is
drawn.

31
 Answer : We can exploit a stalemate idea
by shifting our rook to the fourth rank later.
1.c7!
1.Re2? Re4! 2.c7 Kb7 3.c8Q+ Kxc8 4.Kxa6
Kc7 5.Kb5 Kd6 wins since Black's king walks
over to d3, dislodging the blockade of the e-
pawn.
1...Kb7
1...e2 is met with the simple overloaded
defender combination. 2.Rxe2
2.c8Q+! Rxc8 3.Rc4!!
3.Re2? Re8 4.Kb4 a5+! 5.Kc3 (5.Kxa5 Kc6
Exercise (critical decision) : Where should 6.Kb4 Kd5 7.Kc3 Ke4 wins) 5...a4 6.Kd3 a3
we move our king? 7.Kc3 Kc6 8.Kb3 Kd5 9.Kxa3 Kd4 10.Kb3
Answer : Move to c6. Kd3 wins.
7.Kc6! 3...e2
White avoids a trap.
a) 3...Rxc4 stalemate.
a) 7.Kxb6? Ra8! wins since Rxb2
hangs the rook to a discovered attack b) 3...Re8 4.Re4! holds the draw.
check on b8.
c) 3...Rg8 4.Re4 Rg3 5.Kb4 Kc6
b) 7.Kc4? Ra4! wins. 6.Kc4 a5 7.Kd3 Kb5 8.Rxe3 Rxe3+
7...Rc5+ 8.Kxb6 Rc7 9.Ka6! 9.Kxe3 Kb4 10.Kd2 Kb3 11.Kc1 Just in
9.Rxb2? hangs the rook to 9...Rb7+ time; draw.
9...Rxc2 10.Rb3 Kc7 11.Ka5 White's king
moves to a3, and then the b-pawn falls. d) 3...Rf8 4.Re4 Rf3 5.Kb4 Kc6 6.Kc4
½–½ a5 7.Kd3 Kb5 8.Rxe3 draw.

(28) e) 3...Rc6 4.Re4 Rc3 5.Kb4 draw.

A.Wotawa 4.Re4 Rc2 5.Kb4 a5+
Wiener Kurier, 1953

Now we chase Black's rook for all eternity, or

White draws a three-fold repetition, whichever comes first.
6.Kb3!
Exercise (combination alert) : Our 6.Kxa5? Kc6 7.Kb4 Kd5 8.Re8 Rc4+! 9.Kb3
problem is that Black's king helps to stop our Re4 Black wins.
passed pawn, while our king is nowhere near 6...Rd2 7.Kc3 Ra2 8.Kb3 is a repetition
Black's passed e-pawn. White still has access to draw. ½–½
a hidden draw:

32
 10...Rxh2 Stalemate. ½–½
(29)
A.Wotawa 3.2 Multiple rooks
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957
(30)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939

White wins
Exercise (planning): Work out White's
drawing plan:
Answer :
1. Toss in both b3–b4! and b2–b3.
2. Transfer the king to a3.
3. Give up our rook on h2, which,
when captured, gives us stalemate.
5.b4!
a) 5.Kd3? Going after Black's h-pawn
is too slow. 5...Kc7 6.Ke3 Kc6 7.Kf3
Kc5 8.Kg2 Kb4 wins.
b) 5.Kb4? Kb7 6.Kc3 Kc6 7.b4 Kd5
8.Kd3 (it's too late to switch to the
drawing plan with 8.b3 Ke5 9.Kb2 Kf4
10.Ka3 Kg3 and the problem is 11.Rxh2
Kxh2! Sorry, no stalemate. Black wins)
8...Rh4 9.Kd2 Kc4 wins.
5...Rh3+ 6.Kc2!
6.Kd4? Kc7 7.Kd5 Rh6 8.b3 Rh3 9.Ke5 Kd7
10.Rd1+ Ke7 11.Rh1 Rh5+ 12.Ke4 Kd6
13.Kf4 Rh4+ 14.Kg3 Rh6 15.Kf3 (15.Rxh2
Rxh2 16.Kxh2 Kd5 Black wins) 15...Kd5
16.Ke3 Rh3+ 17.Kd2 Kd4 Zugzwang. Black
wins.
6...Kc7 7.b3! Kd6 8.Kb2! Ke5 9.Ka3! Kf4
The proximity alarm goes off. We can't allow
Black's king to reach g3.
10.Rxh2!
Our financial future isn't intertwined with our
future success if we give away cash to score our
draw.
White wins (excerpt)
Our dilemma is: Black threatens the simple
1...g1(Q). If we play 1...Rxd8, then Black
promotes on g1. If we take the g2–pawn, Black
captures our h8–rook, and we are busted. What
do we do?
Answer : We begin by taking Black's rook,
allowing promotion on g1.
4.Rxd8!
a) 4.Ka6? g1Q 5.Rxd8 Qg6+ 6.Ka7
Qg7+ 7.Ka6 Qf6+ 8.Ka7 b4 Black is
winning.
b) 4.Rxg2?? Rxh8 5.Rc2+ Kd4
6.Kxb5 h5 Black wins since White's king
is not there to help stop the passed h-pawn.
4...g1Q 5.Rd1!!
Suddenly Black's apparent safe status is
threatened with major derailment.
Step 2: Attraction/double attack. What double
attack? We threaten Black's queen and also
threaten mate on c8.
5...Qg4
It doesn't work when you are forced to play
tennis against yourself. Black's queen isn't
powerful enough to halt the white rook volleys.
5...Qxd1 loses to 6.Rc8+ Kd6 7.Rd8+ picks up
the queen.
6.Rc8+!

33
Step 3: Attraction/discovered attack. Black has
no choice but to capture our rook, which loses
the queen.
6...Qxc8 7.Rc1+ 1–0
(31)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1950
White wins
Our winning hopes lie in our a7–pawn.
1.Rh7+!
Overloaded defender. A move as in-your-face
as this one does not suggest amiability!
a) 1.Rxg8? Rxg8 2.Rh7+ Ke6 3.Rxb7 Ra8
4.Kxa3 (4.Rxb6+ Kd7 5.Ra6 Kc7 6.Kxa3 Kb7
Draw) 4...Kd5 5.Kb4 Kc6 6.Rh7 Rg8 White is
unable to make progress.
b) 1.Rh6? Ra8 2.Rxh8 Rxh8 3.Rh4 Ra8 4.Rh7+
Ke6 5.Rxb7 Kd5 6.Kxa3 Kc6 Draw, as shown
in variation a).
c) 1.Rg3? b4 2.Rxg8 Rxg8 3.Rxb4 Ra8 4.Ra4 b5
5.Rxa3 Ke6 6.Kb3 Kd6 7.Kb4 Kc6 Draw.
d) 1.Kb3? a2 2.Kxa2 Rxg4 3.Rxh8 Ra4+ 4.Kb3
Rxa7 Draw.
e) 1.c3? Ra8 2.Rxh8 Rxh8 3.Rh4 Ra8 4.Rh7+
Ke6 5.Rxb7 Kd5 Draw.
f) 1.Rh3? Rc8 2.Rf3+ Ke6 3.Rg6+ Kd5 4.Rd3+
Ke5 5.Rg2 Ra8 6.Re2+ Kf4 7.Rxa3 is drawn.
1...Ke6
a) 1...Kf6 2.Rxg8 Rxg8 3.Rxb7 Ra8 4.Kxa3
Ke5 5.Kb4 Kd6 6.Kxb5 wins.
b) 1...Rxh7 2.Rxg8 Kxg8 3.a8Q+ wins.
2.Rg6+!
Same theme! These rooks are ninjas who
abandon stealth and hang bells around their
necks!
a) 2.Kxa3? Rxg4 3.Rxh8 Ra4+ Draw.
b) 2.Kb3? a2 3.Kxa2 Rxg4 is the same.
34
c) 2.Rh3? b4 3.Rxh8 Rxh8 4.Rxb4 Kd6
5.Rxb6+ Kc7 6.Rb3 b6 7.Rxa3 Kb7 8.Kb3 Ra8
9.Kb4 Rxa7 Draw.
d) 2.Rxg8? Rxg8 3.Rxb7 Ra8 4.Kxa3 Kd6
5.Kb4 Kc6 6.Rh7 Rg8 7.Rh6+ Kb7 8.Kxb5
Rg5+ 9.Kb4 Kxa7 Draw.
2...Kd5 3.Rh5+!
a) 3.Rxh8? Rxh8 4.Rxb6 Kc5 5.Rxb7 Ra8
6.Kxa3 Kc6 7.Rh7 Rg8 (7...Kb6 8.Kb4 Rg8!
Draw) 8.Kb4 Rg4+ 9.Kb3 Ra4 10.c4 Ra1
11.Rh6+ Kb7 12.cxb5 Kxa7 Draw.
b) 3.Rxg8? Rxg8 4.Rxb7 Ra8 5.Kxa3 Kc6
Draw.
c) 3.Kxa3? Ra8 4.Rxh8 Rxh8 5.Rxb6 Kc5
6.Rxb7 Ra8 7.Kb3 Kc6 8.Rh7 Kb6 9.Kb4 Rg8!
Draw.
3...Kc4
a) 3...Ke4 4.Rg4+! Kf3 5.Rxg8 Rxg8 6.Rh3+
Ke4 7.Rxa3 Ra8 8.Kb3 Kd5 9.Kb4 Kc6
10.Ra2 Kd6 11.Kxb5 Kc7 12.Ra4 Kd7
13.Kxb6 wins.
b) 3...Kd4 4.Rg4+! Ke3 5.Rh3+! is the same.
White wins.
4.Rg4+!
These rooks clearly possess magical powers!
4...Kc3 5.Rh3+! Kxc2
Exercise (combination alert): How does
White force the win, based on Black's insecure
king position?
Answer : Removal of the guard.
6.a8Q!
White must avoid the trap 6.Rg2+? Rxg2!
7.Rxh8 Kc3+ 8.Kxa3 (8.Kb1 Rg1+ is perpetual
check) 8...b4+ 9.Ka4 Ra2+ 10.Kb5 Rxa7
11.Rh3+ Kc2 12.Kxb4 Draw.
6...Rxa8 7.Rg2+ Kd1
7...Kc1? 8.Rb3! mates next move.
8.Rb3!
Black's king continues to face the white rooks'
not-so-silent rebukes. Threat: Rb1 mate.
8...Rhc8 9.Rb1+ Rc1
After massive cost and effort, Black is left with
nothing.
10.Rg1+ White wins a rook and all of
Black's pawns shortly. 1–0

(32)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954

Exercise (combination alert): Our

business is not yet concluded. Here is an easy
one for you; the solution is not a labor-intensive
project. White wins:
Answer : A pair of rook checks on f8, and
then f7 picks off Black's rook.
5.Rf8+
5.Rb1? Rd2 6.Kg7 Re2 7.Kg6 Re1 8.Rxb2 f1Q
9.Rxf1 Rxf1 would only be a draw.
5...Ke7 6.Rf7+ 1–0

(33)
White wins A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954

1. Our king is in check.

2. Black also threatens ...Ra1.
3. We must use our king as a fighting
piece to go after Black's
underdefended king.
3.Kg7!

a) 3.Ke5? Ra1 4.Rxf2 Rxd1 5.Rxb2

Draw.

b) 3.Kg5? Ra1 4.Re5+ Kf8 5.Rf5+

Kg8 6.Rxf2 Rxd1 7.Rxb2 is the same draw.
3...Ra7+ White wins
3...Re6 4.Rxf2.
4.Kg8! Exercise (planning): We must go after Black's
Threat: Rf8+, followed by Rf7+ and Rxa7. king. Our problem is that a move like 1 Rf7 or
4...Rd7 (D) Rf8, both threatening mate on the h8–file, is
Black's rook cannot leave the seventh rank easily met with 1...R6d5, negating our threat.
since 4...Ra1? 5.Re5#. Do you see another plan?
Answer : Step 1: Shift our rook to e5.
3.Re5!
Threat: Rf7 (or Rf8) and Rh8 mate.
3.Rf8? R6d5 is drawn.
3...Rd7

35
3...R6d5? loses to 4.g4+! Removal of the guard. b) 9.Re7? Rd3+ 10.Kf2 f4 is
4...Rxg4 5.Rxd5 unavailable since Black promotes with
4.Rf2! check. 10...c1Q Black wins.
Step 2: Prepare to shift the f3–rook to h2. 9...Rd1

a) 4.Rf8? Rh7! 5.Rf2 c3 6.Rh2 c2 a) 9...Rd5 10.Ree1 Rd3+ 11.Kf2 Rf3+!

7.Rxc2 Rf7 8.Rc8 Rf5! is drawn. 12.Ke2! wins.

b) 4.Rf1? Rg4 5.Rf8 Rh7 6.Rc8 Rxg5 b) 9...c1Q 10.Rxc1 Rc2! 11.Rce1 Re2
7.Rxc4 Rxe5 8.Rh4+ Kg5 9.Rxh7 draw. 12.Kf3! wins.
4...c3! 5.Rh2! 10.Re7!
Threat: Kg2+ and Rh4 mate. Threat: Rh7 mate.
5...Rh4+! 10...Rd3+
This is a good try which doesn't work.
a) 10...Rxh1? 11.Rh7#.
a) 5...Rh7 6.Kg2+ Kg4 7.Rxh7 Rd2+
8.Kf1 c2 9.Rc7 (9.Rh4+ Kxg3 10.Rc4 b) 10...c1Q? 11.Rh7#.
Rd1+ 11.Re1 wins) 9...Rd1+ 10.Re1 11.Kf2 Rd1
consolidates. 11...Rd2+ 12.Kf3 Rd3+ 13.Ke2 Rd4 14.Rc7
wins.
b) 5...Rc7 6.Kg2+ Kg4 7.Rh4#; c) 12.Kf3! Rd3+
5...Rd2 6.g4#. Black still prays for a stalemate. If a rattlesnake
6.gxh4 Rd3+ bites the hiker next to you and then turns its
6...c2 7.Rxc2 Rd2 (7...Re7 8.Rc8 Re8 9.Re7!) fangs in your direction, remember that the
8.Rcc5 Rd5 9.Kg2. snake exhausted most of its supply of toxin in
7.Kg2 Rd2+ 8.Kg3 c2! the first bite. The second will not be fatal. We
will survive Black's attempt at a self-stalemate.
12...Rxh1 13.Rh7#.
13.Ke2!

What is White's only winning move?

9.Rh1!
Only h1 works.
We finally broke down the chain of logic in
a) 9.Rc5? c1Q! 10.Rxc1 Rd1! Oh no! Black's position and exhausted all defensive
The merry-go-round is set in motion. options. White wins. 1–0
11.Rcc2 (a1) 11.Rxd1 Stalemate, while a2)
11.Rc8 is met with 11...Rd8!) 11...Rd2 (34)
12.Rc7 Rd7! and draw. A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1955

36
 (9...Kd3 10.Qc3+ wins the rook) 10.Qc3+
Kd1 11.Qc2#.
5.e8Q e1Q

White wins
You have to be kidding. I'm not finding a draw
for White, much less a win.
1. Black is about to promote on e1. Step 4: Do you see White's forced mate?
2. Not much can be done about this. 6.Qg6+! Ka1
3. We need to find a way to get at
Black's king.
a) 6...Kc1 7.Qc2#.
Answer : Step 1: Move our rook to the en
prise d2–square!
b) 6...Rd3+ (this is the "Let's stretch
1.Rd2!!
things out," spite-block method) 7.Qxd3+
Stop messing with our heads with your
Ka1 8.Qd4+ is the same finish as in the
Kafkaesque geometry, Wotawa!
study.
7.Qg7+ Kb1
a) 1.e7? e1Q 2.e8Q Qg3+! 3.Ka4
Black has a couple of spite-blocks on d4 and c3
Qxd6 4.Qb8+ Qxb8 5.Rxb8+ is drawn.
which stall mate by only two moves.
8.Qb2# 1–0
b) 1.Rhd8? Rxd6 2.Rxd6 e1Q 3.e7
Qe3+! (this eliminates White's cheapo to (35)
mate Black's king on our first rank) 4.Kc4 A.Wotawa
Qxe7 wins. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1955
1...Rxd2
1...e1Q? 2.Rb2+ Kc1 Black is also mated by
moving the king to a1: 3.Rc8+ Qc3+ 4.Rxc3#.
2.Rh1+
Step 2: We give what at first looks like no more
than a spite check on h1.
2...Rd1 3.Re1!
Suddenly, this rook is in charge of the operation
by default. The study continues with
lunatic/genius intensity.
Step 3: Interference. This brilliant shot gives
White time to promote.
3...Rxe1 4.e7 Rd1

a) 4...Rc1 5.e8Q e1Q 6.Qg6+. White wins

We are down a pawn, and our only chance to
b) 4...Kc1 5.e8Q Kd2 6.Qd8+ Ke3 win is to go after Black's king. Paradoxically,
7.Qb6+ Kd3 8.Qb5+ Ke3 9.Qe5+ Kd2 the only way to do so is to swap off a pair of
rooks.

37
 1.Rh5+!
1.Rxh3+? Rh6 2.Rxh6+ (2.Rdh5 Rbf6+ is
perpetual check) 2...Rxh6 3.g5 Ra6 4.g6 Rf6+!
(chopping White's g6–pawn allows us mate on
the h-file) 5.Ke7 Kg7 with a draw.
1...Rh6 2.Rxh6+ Rxh6 3.g5! Rh5
a) 3...h2 4.g6! Rh7! A typical
intelligent person's error is believing there
is nobody else out there who is smarter.
We out-sleaze Black with 5.Rh3! The
killer decoy wins.
b) 3...Rh4 4.Rf3 h2 (4...Kh7 5.Rf6!
wins) 5.g6 Rh7 6.Rh3! wins.
c) 3...Ra6?? 4.Rxh3+ mates next move.
4.Rf3! Kh7
4...h2 is once again met with 5.g6!
5.Kf7 h2 6.g6+ Kh6 7.g7 Rf5+!
It appears as if Black foiled us. White still wins.
7...h1Q? 8.Rf6+ Kg5 9.g8Q+ Kh4 10.Rf4+
Kh3 11.Qg4+ mates in 2.
8.Rxf5 h1Q 9.Rf6+ Kh5 10.g8Q
Forensic accounting indicates that not only is
White up a rook but that Black will also run out
of checks.
10...Qd5+ 11.Re6 Qf5+ 12.Kg7 Qg4+
13.Kh7
38
Black ran out of checks since the queen check
on f5 is met with a queen block, winning. 1–
0
(36)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung,1956
White wins
When we get overwhelmed by a study's
complexity level, keep in mind that a goldfish's
comfort level ends at the curvature of its bowl.
Tackle enough of these, and you will get better
and better at solving them.
1.h6!!
Interference. At this stage, it's difficult to see
why we must clog the h6–square.
a) 1.Rxg6? Rf7 2.Rf2 Rd7 3.Rc2+ Kb7
draw.
b) 1.Rb1? (this is a case of the right
idea, wrong implementation) 1...Rfa2!
2.Rc2+ Kd7 3.Rd1+ Ke7 4.Re2+ Kf6
5.Rf1+ Kg5! 6.Rxa2 Rxa2 7.Rf7 Ra3+
8.Kf2 Kxh5 9.Rxg7 draw.
 c) 1.Rxf2? Kxb6 2.hxg6 Rxa7 3.Rf7
Rc7 4.Kf4 Kc6 5.Kf5 Rd7 6.Ke6 Rd6+
7.Kf5 Rd5+ draw.
1...gxh6

a) 1...Kxb6 2.hxg7 Rxh2 3.Kxh2 wins.

b) 1...Rxh2 2.hxg7 Raa2 3.Rb3 Rag2+

4.Kf4 g5+ (4...Rf2+ 5.Ke4 Re2+ 6.Re3
wins) 5.Kf5 wins since White's king hides
on g6.
2.Rb1!
Step 2: Overloaded defenders.
2...Rfa2 White wins
The only move. Losing instantly are the lines
We would have a back-rank mate if only our
a) 2...Rxb1? 3.a8Q. lummox of a king weren't in the way...
1.Kd7!
b) 2…Rxa7? 3.Rxf2.
3.Rc2+! a) 1.Kc7? Re8 2.Kxc6 Rb8 3.Kb5 Ra1
Step 3: Overloaded defender/pawn promotion. 4.Rh7 Ra5+ 5.Kc6 Ra1 6.Rxh5 Rc1+ is
3...Kd7 drawn.
3...Rxc2?? 4.Rxa1 wins.
4.Rd1+! b) 1.Rb7? (threat: Rb8 mate) 1...Re8+
Same idea. 2.Kc7 b5 3.Kd6 White is lucky to hold a
4...Ke7 5.Re2+! Kf6 6.Rf1+! Kg7 draw.

c) 1.Rf8? Ra7! Black wins.

d) 1.Rg8? Ra7! Black wins.

1...Rh6 2.Rg8+!
It must be this rook that delivers check.
2.Rf8+? Kb7 3.Ke8+ Kc8 4.Kf7+ Kd7
5.Kg8+ Ke6 Black wins.
2...Kb7 3.Ke8+ Kc8 4.Ke7+ Kc7 5.Kf8+!
Kd6
5...Kd8? 6.Kg7#
6.Kg7!

One neat point of sealing the h6–square is

displayed in the line 6...Kg5 7.Re5#. Now we
see why h6 needed to be clogged by a black
pawn!
7.Re7+ Kg8 8.Re8+
Or 8.Rxa1 Rxa1 9.Re8+
8...Kg7 9.Rxa1
Simplification.
9...Rxa1 10.a8Q 1–0

(37)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958

39
Interference/mating net. Black's rook is
induced into moving to e6, where it cuts off its
king's flight square.
6...Re6
This move places the Black king in a "with
friends like these, who needs enemies?"
situation since his potential escape squares on
c6 and e6 are blocked by friends.
6...Kd5 is better but still loses: 7.Kxh6 Kxd4
8.Kxh5 b5 9.Rf5 Rb6 (9...b4 10.Rg4+ Kc3
11.Rf3+ wins) 10.Rg4+ Ke3 11.Rb4! Kd3
12.Rf3+ Kc2 13.Rh4! Kd2 14.Rh2+ Ke1
15.Rb3 and back rank mate next move.
7.Rd8#
1.Rh3!!
a) 1.f4+? only draws: 1...gxf4 2.Rh3
f3! 3.Rxf3 Rd4 4.Rxc5+ Ke4 5.Re3+ Kf4
6.Kf6 Rd6+ 7.Kg7 d2 8.Rc4+ Kg5
9.Rg3+ Kh5 10.Rh3+ with perpetual
check.
b) 1.Rh6? Rd4 2.Rxc5+ Kf4 3.Rf6
Kxf3 4.Rcxf5+ Rf4 5.Rd5 Rxf6 6.Kxf6
Ke2 7.Kxg5 d2 8.f4 d1Q 9.Rxd1 Kxd1
Black promotes faster and wins.
c) 1.Rc1? is too passive. 1...d2 2.Rd1
c4 3.Rc8 Rd4 White is busted.

d) 1.Re8? d2 2.Kf7+ Kd6 3.Re6+ Kc7

4.Re7+ Kc6 wins.
1...d2

1–0

(38)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961
Now White can force mate in 3. See if you can
solve it without moving the pieces.

a) 1...g4? 2.f4#.

b) 1...f4 2.Rh5 Kf5 3.Rh6! g4 4.Rh5+

Kg6 5.Rxd5 wins.

c) 1...Rd6 2.Rxc5+ Rd5 3.f4+ gxf4

4.Rxd5+ Kxd5 5.Rxd3+ wins.

d) 1...Rd4 2.Rxc5+ Kf4 3.Ke6 and

Black is mated.
White wins 2.f4+!
Clearance.
I (Cyrus) well remember the migraney attempt
2...gxf4 3.Re3+!
to (unsuccessfully) solve this one in 2019, after
Clearance.
which the mind harkened back to the third
3...fxe3 4.f4# 1–0
grade "the dog ate my homework" defense to a
skeptical teacher.

40
(39) 8...Rab6+ 9.Ka5 Rxc8 10.Kxb6 Kd6 11.Kb7
A.Wotawa draw.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940 9.Kxa6 ½–½

(40)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942

White draws
Exercise (combination alert) : Do you see
White's trick?
Answer : Overloaded defenders. White draws
1.Rxh6!
Only at the end of the study do we understand White can miraculously save the game by
that this financial commitment is a sound exploiting a hidden geometric quirk:
investment. 1.Rf1+!
1.a7? Kg7 2.Ra1 Ra8 wins. Step 1: Give check on f1.
1...Rhxh6 1.Rc3+? Kd2 2.Rc7 Rb5+ 3.Kxf6 Ra6+ 4.Ke7
1...Rcxh6?! 2.c8Q+ is at least a draw for White. Rab6 Black wins.
2.a7 1...Kd2 2.Kg6!
Black's rooks are getting overloaded. Step 2: Use Black's f-pawn as a human shield
2...Rb6+ 3.Ka3! from rook checks. White threatens b8(Q),
This careful distinction is necessary. followed by Rxa1.
3.Kc3? Rhc6+ 4.Kd4 Ra6 wins. 2.b8Q? loses to 2...Ra5+! 3.Kg6 Rxb8
3...Ra6+ 4.Kb4 Rhc6 5.Kb5! 2...f5

a) 2...Kc3 allows 3.b8Q draw.

b) 2...Rxf1 3.b8Q f5 4.Qd6+ and

perpetual check.

c) 2...Rxb7 3.Rxa1 draw.

3.Kg5!
Step 3: We MUST hide White's king from a
check from the a1–rook.
3.b8Q? blows it, due to 3...Ra6+ (zwischenzug)
4.Kg5 Rxb8 and Black wins.
3...f4 4.Kg4 f3 5.Kg3 f2
How weird to see a lone king dominating a pair
of paralyzed rooks.
5...Rab6+ 6.Ka5 Ra6+ 7.Kb5 Ke7 8.c8Q!
Overloaded defender.
8...Rxc8

41
 11...Ra4+ 12.Rf4!
This trick is the point of promoting the b-pawn.
One universal mystery is: why does the
adulterous movie husband always sign a close
version of his name in the hotel register in every
movie and TV show, where his chances of
getting exposed skyrocket? 12.Kg5? loses to
12...Rxb8
12...Rxb8 13.Rxa4 ½–½

(41)
A.Wotawa
5...Ke2 6.b8Q! Rxb8 7.Rxa1 Rg8+ 8.Kh2 f2 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944
9.Ra2+ Black's king has no place to hide.
9...Ke3 10.Ra3+ Ke4 11.Ra4+ Ke5 12.Ra5+
Draw, since 12...Kd6 is met with 13.Rf5
winning Black's f-pawn.
6.Rxf2+!
Step 4: Take the once-shielding f-pawn with a
check.
6.Kg2? Rxf1 7.b8Q Rg1+ 8.Kh2 (taking the
f2–pawn allows mate on f1) 8...Rg2+! 9.Kh3
Rh1+! 10.Kxg2 f1Q+ and mate in 3.
6...Kc1

a) 6...Ke3 is met with 7.Rf1!.

White draws
b) 6...Ke1 7.Kg2! holds the draw.
7.Rf1+ Kc2 8.Kg2! White's king is in check, and it looks as if a rook
Step 5: White's king continues to exploit is about to fall.
Black's pawn as a shield from black rook 2.Kf5!
checks. 2.Kh4? Rxf6 and White can resign.
8...Kc3 2...Rf2+ 3.Kg5! Rfxf6
8...Ra2 9.Rf2+ Kd3 10.Rxa2 Rxb7 draw. 3...Rdxf6 4.Rc2! Rf1 5.Rc1+! Kb2 6.Rxf1 Rxf1
9.Kg3! Kc4 10.Kg4 Kd5 7.e5 Kc3 8.e6 Kd4 9.e7 Re1 10.Kf6 Kd5
10...Rxf1 11.b8Q is also drawn. 11.Kf7 Draw.
11.b8Q! 4.e5
This double attack looks worthless since Black
can give check on g6.
4...Rg6+ 5.Kf5 Rb6
5...Rde6 6.Rh3 Kb2 7.Rh7! is similar to the
study's finish.
6.Rb3! Rbc6 7.Rc3! Rce6

Step 6: Decoy.

42
 Black can't avoid losing a rook due to White's
threat of Rh6+, followed by c5–c6+.
4...Rb1
4...Rd1 5.Rh6+ Rd6 is pretty much the same.
5.Rh6+ Rd6
Black is forced to withdraw monies from
savings and checking accounts, liquidate stocks,
and still lacks the funds to fulfill the position's
wish for a win for Black.
5...Kb7 6.c6+ Draw.
6.cxd6 cxd6 White can reach a drawn
Philidor's position by placing the rook on the
Exercise (planning): Come up with a third rank. ½–½
drawing plan for White:
Answer : Transfer the rook to f6. (43)
8.Rh3! Kb2 A.Wotawa
8...Rb6 9.Rb3! simply repeats. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1955
9.Rh8! Kc3
9...Rb6 is met with 10.Rb8! Rxb8 11.Kxg6 Kc3
12.e6 Kd4 13.e7 Kd5 14.Kf7 Just in time.
White draws.
10.Rf8! Kd4 11.Rf6! Just in the nick of
time. ½–½

(42)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1950

White draws (excerpt)

White draws
Exercise (planning): You can regain the
lost rook and force a drawn rook and pawn
ending.
Answer: Step 1: Decoy.
1.b7! Rb1+ 2.Kc3 Rxb7 3.Rh5+
Step 2: Force Black's king to c6.
3...Kc6
3...Ke6 4.c6 Rd3+ 5.Kxd3 Rb4 6.Rh6+ Draw,
since we don't need our c-pawn.
4.Kc4!
Black's king is NOT as safe as it first appears.
We must generate threats quickly:
7.Re6!!
Threat: Rd4 mate.
7.Rfd6? is a hallucination since we fail to
deliver mate after 7...h1Q 8.Rd4+ exd4
9.Rxd4+ Not-mate! Black's king has access to
e5, and we lose.
7...Rxd8
a) 7...h1Q? 8.Rd4#.
b) 7...Rxe6 8.Rxh8 Ra6 9.Kf2 Ra2+
10.Kg3 Kxe3 11.Rxh2 transposes.
8.Rxh6 Ra8! 9.Kf2!
9.Rxh2? Ra2+ Skewer is a blunt reminder of
our vulnerability since we hang our rook.
10.Kd1 Rxh2 wins.
9...Ra2+ 10.Kg3 Kxe3 11.Rxh2!

43
We leach a precious resource from Black's
position. Of course, we must calculate
accurately.
11...Rxh2 12.Kxh2 Kf4
1.Rc5+!
1.Re5+? Kxd4 2.Re7 d1Q 3.Rd7+ Ke4 4.Rc4+
Kf5! Black wins.
1...Kxd4!
1...Kd6? 2.Rce5! Threat: R8e6 mate. 2...Kc6
3.Kc8! Renewing the mating threat. 3...Rxd4
4.R8e6+ Rd6 5.Rxd6+ Kxd6 6.Re8! wins.
2.Rc7! d1Q 3.Rd7+ Kc4

a) 3...Kc3 is met with 4.Re3!;

b) 3...Kc5 4.Re5+ Kc6 5.Re6+ Kb5

6.Re5+ Ka4 transposes to the study's main
line.
4.Re4+ Kb5
4...Kc3 5.Re3! Rxe3 6.Rxd1 Rxg3 is a draw.
5.Re5+ Ka4 6.Re4+ Kxa3 7.Re3!
There are many ways for White to draw and one
way to lose. Choose wisely.
13.g5!

a) 13.Kg2? (this natural move blows

it) 13...Kxg4 14.Kf2 Kf4 and Black wins.

b) 13.Kg1! Kxg4 14.Kg2! draw.

13...Kxg5 14.Kg3 e4
14...Kf5 15.Kf3 draw.
15.Kf2 Kf4 16.Ke2 ½–½

(44)
A.Wotawa People say it's rude to stare, yet every major
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969 piece on the board seems to be staring at each
other. On the board, a once abstract idea makes
its leap into the realm of form. This slick dual
pin saves us.
½–½

3.3 Rook(s) vs Pawns

(45)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939

White draws
Exercise (critical decision): We must
make black open the d-file by chopping our d-
pawn. The question is, should we give check on
c5 or e5?
Answer : c5 is correct.

44
 4...g2 5.Rb6#.
5.Rh1!
Houston, you have clearance for takeoff!
There is no remedy to the coming shift of the
rook to h6, delivering mate in two moves at the
most. 1–0

(46)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

White wins
We give you a written guarantee that this study
is a masterpiece that will blow your mind and
leave you disoriented. I remember working on
it with a student, and it took us close to 30
minutes to crack. Usually, your writer is
Patience, personified. But after working on this
one, I was grinding and gnashing my teeth after
about 15 minutes of pure frustration, thinking:
"This is impossible!" Our lone rook feels
overwhelmed by Black's surging passed pawns. White wins
We can force a draw easily due to the black
king's vulnerable position. But a win? It looks We reach yet another "You must be joking?"
completely impossible, except that it is indeed moment. We are up a rook, and this is where
possible. our good news seems to come to a halt. Our
1.c3!! rook feels overwhelmed by Black's kingside
Objection, your Honor! This weird, almost passers, and Black's king looks perfectly safe.
nonsensical move is too difficult to find! Both assumptions are incorrect. Just watch:
1.Rf5!
a) 1.Rf1? Kb6 2.Kc8 Kc6 3.Kd8 Kd5 Control over the fifth rank is the key to solving
4.Kd7 Ke4 5.Kxd6 g3 White's rook is this one.
overwhelmed by Black's passed pawns. 1.Rg2? bxc5 2.bxc5 Kb5 3.Kxb7 Kxc5 4.Kxa7
Kd4 5.b4 Ke4 6.b5 Kf3 7.b6 Kxg2 8.b7 h3
b) 1.Kc7? f2 The best White has is to 9.b8Q h2 is drawn.
take the perpetual check with 2.Rb6+ Ka7 1...g2
3.Rb7+.
1...f2 a) 1...Kb5 2.Kxb7 g2 3.c6+ Kxb4
1...g3 2.d3! is the same. 4.Rg5 h3 5.c7 h2 6.c8Q g1Q 7.Qc3+ Ka4
2.d3!! 8.Qa3#.
Our c-pawn is destined to be the star of the
show. b) 1...bxc5 2.Rg5! cxb4 3.Rg4! Kb5
2...cxd3 4.b3 a5 5.Kxb7 Kc5 6.Rc4+ Kd5 7.Rxh4
2...g3 3.dxc4 g2 4.c5! dxc5 5.Rd1! and mate a4 8.bxa4 b3 9.Rh1! wins.
next move. 2.Rg5 h3
3.c4! g3 4.c5!
Interference. We gain a precious tempo with
the threat: Rb6 mate. It's critical that the c5–
square is clogged by a black pawn.
4...dxc5

45
 We can't halt promotion, and our goal is to
coordinate rooks and our king to checkmate
Black. Our first move is obvious; our second
move is not!
1.Ra2+ Kb7 2.Rab2+!!
2.Rfb2+? Kc6 3.Rc2+ Kd6 4.Ra6+ Kd5 Draw.
2...Kc6

a) 2...Kc7 3.Ke6! g1Q 4.Rfc2+ Kd8

5.Rb8#.

b) 2...Ka8 3.Rb1 g1Q 4.Ra2#.

Exercise (calculation): How does White
force mate? c) 2...Ka7 3.Rb3 g1Q 4.Ra2#.
Answer : Seize control over the fifth rank. 3.Ke6!
3.c6!! bxc6 Our king must assist. Threat: Rfc2 mate.
3...h2 4.cxb7 g1Q 5.b8N#. One composed 3...d3
work Principle is: NEVER assume that your Black is forced to reject a not-so-lucrative offer
promotion will always be to a new queen. to promote one of the passed pawns.
4.b5+! 3...g1Q? 4.Rfc2#
To the people who say, "Violence is not the 4.Rf8!
answer," Wotawa responds: "Violence is a Threat: Rc8 mate.
wonderful answer!" 4...Kc5
4...cxb5 4...Kc7? 5.Rbb8! g1Q 6.Rfc8#.
4...Ka5 5.bxc6+ Ka4 6.c7 h2 7.c8Q g1Q 5.Ke5!
8.Qc2+ Kb4 9.Qc3+ Ka4 10.Qa3#. Threatening mate on c8.
5.b4! 5...Kc6 (D)
The position resolves itself into a coffin for 5...Kc4? 6.Rc8#.
Black's king.
5...h2 6.Rg7!
Or 6.Rg3! g1Q 7.Ra3#.
6...g1Q 7.Rxa7# 1–0

(47)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

The once formless bureaucracy begins to

arrange itself into the recognizable face of a
mating pattern.
Exercise (calculation): Work out White's
mate in 4:
Answer : Give a check on f6.
6.Rf6+! Kc7
6...Kc5 7.Rbb6! g1Q 8.Rfc6#.
White wins 7.Rf7+ Kc6
7...Kc8 8.Kd6 g1Q 9.Rf8#.
8.Rbb7!

46
Step 2: Double rooks on the 7th rank. b) 2.Kc2? Rh5! 3.Kd3 Rd5+! 4.Ke4
8...g1Q 9.Rfc7# 1–0 Rd8! 5.Kf5 Rf8 6.Kg5 Rb8 7.Kf5 Rd8
White is unable to make progress.
(48)
A.Wotawa c) 2.Kb4? Rh1 3.Kc5 Rc1+ 4.Kd6
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941 Rc8 and Black reaches the draw zone.
2...Rh1

a) 2...Rh5 3.Kd4 Rf5 4.Ke4 Rh5

5.Kf4 with zugzwang. Black's rook
cannot keep White's king out of the fifth
rank, and White's king infiltrates and wins.

b) 2...Rh4 3.Kd3 Rf4 4.Ke3 Rh4

5.Kf3 Kf8 6.Kg3 Rh6 7.Kf4 Rh5 8.Kg4
Rh1 9.Kf5 wins.
3.Kd2!
Black's rook must not be allowed to reach its
own back rank, or the game will be drawn.
White wins 3...Rh3
3...Rb1?? allows the familiar trick 4.h8Q+.
This isn't a study where we are caught in some 4.Ke2 Kf8 5.Kf2 Kg7 6.Kg2 Rh6
geometric blizzard, unable to see a strategic 6...Ra3?? and White wins with the trivial decoy
marker, and left wandering directionlessly. mechanism 7.h8Q+
There are solid arguments for the black 7.Kf3 Rh4 8.Kg3 Rh6 9.Kf4
position's eventual overthrow:
1. White has three connected and
deeply passed pawns for a rook.
2. Neither black king nor rook can
ever chop the g6–pawn since White
can then promote to a new queen
with a deflection sacrifice of one of
the remaining pawns.
3. The position White CANNOT
allow is for White's rook to the 8th
rank. If this happens, Black can
play ...Kg7 and ...Kxg6.
4. The presence of the a-pawns on
the board is in White's favor since
White's king keeps moving up the board while
we may be able to slip our king to
simultaneously denying Black's rook to any
b7 or b8 and then pick off Black's
squares on the 8th rank.
a-pawn. If this happens, we will
9...Rh5 10.Kg4 Rh6
win since our four pawns will
10...Rh1 11.Kf5 Rh6 12.f8Q+ Kxf8 13.Kf6
overwhelm Black’s king and rook.
Zugzwang. White wins.
This will be our goal in this study
11.Kf5 Rh1 12.Ke6 Re1+ 13.Kd7 Rd1+
1.a6! Kg7 2.Kc3!!
14.Kc7 Rc1+ 15.Kb7
Mathematical precision is required.
White's king acts like he owns the place.
15...Rb1+ 16.Kxa7
a) 2.Kc4? Rh1 3.Kd5 Rd1+! 4.Kc6
Rd8! 5.Kb7 Rf8 6.Kxa7 Kxg6 7.Kb6
Kxf7 8.a7 Kg7 draw.

47
Time hasn't been kind to White's position since
we threaten to promote either f or h-pawn, and
Black's rook must move to either f1 or h1,
allowing White's king to escape imprisonment.
16...Rf1 17.Ka8! Rh1 18.a7 Rf1 19.Kb7
Rb1+ 20.Ka6 Ra1+ 21.Kb5! Rb1+
We have seen the theme before. 21...Rxa7?
22.h8Q+ wins.
22.Ka4 Ra1+ 23.Kb3 Rxa7
Or 23...Rb1+ 24.Ka2
24.h8Q+
White wins
Black's king has zero moves, so we must be on
high alert for the Mad Rook theme, where
Black's rook goes bonkers, attempting to give
itself away. If we take the Mad Rook, it's
stalemate.
1.Kd4!
a) 1.g4? Re8+ 2.Kf6 Re6+! (a weird
idea is likely to succeed if it is hidden
within normalcy's seams; Oh no! Mad
Rook theme!) 3.Kg7 (3.Kg5 Rg6+ 4.Kf4
Rxg4+! draw) 3...Re7+ 4.Kg6 Re6+
5.Kg5 Re5+ 6.Kh4 Rh5+ is perpetual
check, or... 7.Kxh5 stalemate.

b) 1.Kf6? Rf8+ and Mad Rook, just

as in line a).
1...Re8
Threatening perpetual check with ...Re4+.
2.h8Q!
Step 2: Decoy, which evades the threatened
Mad Rook perpetual check.
Or
1–0
a) 2.h8R!.
(49)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942 b) 2.g4? blows the win: 2...Re4+!
3.Kc3 Rc4+ 4.Kb3 Rb4+ 5.Kc3 Rc4+
6.Kd3 Rd4+ 7.Ke3 Rd3+ 8.Kf4 Rf3+
9.Kg5 Rf5+ (there is no way to escape
Black's rook checks) 10.gxf5 stalemate.
2...Rxh8 3.Kc3!
Step 3: Continue to hide the king.
3.c4? Rh4+! is drawn.
3...Re8 4.Kb2!
Keep hiding.
4...Rg8 5.g4!

48
Overloaded defender. Black's rook, of course, 16...Re8 17.Kc5!
cannot touch the g4–pawn since it must cover The Mad Rook theme no longer works since
against the promotion threat of the forward c- Black's stalemate is ruined with ...b7xc6.
pawn. 17...Rg8
5...Re8 6.g5 Rh8 7.g6 Rf8 8.g7 Re8 9.Ka2! 17...Re5+ 18.Kd6 Re6+ (wow, this is
Zugzwang. Black's rook is booted from the e- aspirational thinking!) 19.Kxe6!
file, which ruins the Mad Rook attempt. ( Principle : If it ain't broke, don't fix it;
9...Rg8 10.c3! thanks very much for the free rook since it's not
stalemate)19...bxc6 20.c8Q#
18.Kd6 bxc6
18...Re8 19.Kd7 Rg8 20.c8Q+ mates in 3.
19.Kxc6 1–0

(50)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952

Step 4: Push the c-pawn to c6, which destroys

Black's stalemating tricks.

a) 10.Kb3! also wins and mates a

touch faster than Wotawa's solution:
10...Re8 11.c3 Rc8 12.Kb4 Rg8 13.c4 Re8
14.Ka4! Rg8 15.c5 Re8 16.Kb5 Rg8 17.c6
Re8 18.Kc5! wins since the stalemate is
eliminated. White wins
Did you get an "A" in geometry in high school
b) 10.Ka3! also works.
or get by with "D" grades? We need to summon
10...Re8 11.Kb3 Rg8 12.c4!
our geometric power in this one to deliver mate
The c-pawn can only be pushed when Black's
before Black promotes to a queen and saves the
rook cannot deliver check.
game. For now, our attack feels headless and
12...Re8 13.Kb4! Rg8 14.c5 Re8 15.Kb5
without direction. How do we proceed?
Rg8 16.c6!
1.Rha5!
Threat: R5a6 mate.
1...Kc6

49
1...b1Q? 2.R8a6#. 1. Our rook is unable to deal with
2.Kc8! Black's three passed pawns alone.
Renewing the threat. 2.R8a6+? Kd7 is drawn. 2. Our king is miles away from
2...Kd6 helping the rook.
2...Kb6?? 3.R8a6#. 3. Our other plan is to go after
3.Kd8 Ke6 Black's king with 1 Kg3, but this is
3...Kc6 4.Rc8+ Kb6 5.Rxa2! b1Q 6.Rb8+ wins easily refuted when Black plays the
the queen and the game. simple 1...c3–c2, wrecking out
4.R8a6+ Kf7 5.Rf5+ Kg7 mating threats and promoting to
boot.
Exercise (calculation): How do we
proceed?
Answer : Our king heads for the queenside
anyway, which at first seems to be a lost cause.
1.Kf3!

a) 1.Kg3? (threat: Rd1 mate) 1...c2

when the mating threat is neutralized, and
we lose.

b) 1.Rd1+? saves the game yet fails to

Exercise (calculation): White's rooks are
simultaneously sullen/argumentative. Can you
work out White's forced mate in 4?
Answer : Begin with a rook check on g5.
6.Rg5+ Kf7
6...Kh7 7.Rxa2! b1Q 8.Rh2#.
7.Rgg6!
Step 2: Double rooks on the 6th rank, and there
is no halting mate on f6.
7...b1Q 8.Raf6# 1–0
(51)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952
win it. 1...Kg2 2.f4 b3 3.f5 c2 4.Rc1! c3
5.f6 b2 6.Rxc2+ Kg1 7.Rxb2 cxb2 8.f7
b1Q 9.f8Q Qg6+ draw.
1...b3!
1...c2 2.Ke2! c1Q 3.Rd1+ Qxd1+ 4.Kxd1 Kg2
5.f4 wins.
2.Ke2!
This is a narrow aperture where we clear the
way for the f-pawn to push forward while
moving White's king closer to Black's passed
pawns.
2...b2 3.f4!
This is our ransom note to the relatives of
Black's kidnapped king: threat: Kf2 and Rh7
mate.
The rote 3.Rb7? allows 3...c2 4.Rxb2 c1Q and
we must resign.
3...Kg2
This is an attempt to evade the mating threat.

a) 3...c2 4.Kf2! c1Q 5.Rh7#.

b) 3...Kh2 4.Rb7 c2 5.Kf2!

(threatening mate on the h-file) 5...Kh3
6.Kf3 (renewing the threat) 6...Kh2
7.Rxb2! when the forward c-pawn is
unable to promote since it's pinned.

White wins c) 3...b1Q 4.Rd1+ Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1

wins.
4.Rg7+ Kh2

50
 Answer : Step 1: Interference. Black's king
a) 4...Kh1 5.Rb7 (threat: Kd1) 5...c2 will later be in the way on the 7th rank.
6.Kf2 c1Q 7.Rh7#. 1.g7!!

b) 4...Kh3 5.Rb7 (once again, a) 1.Kb4? Rh4+! 2.Kb5 Rxh5+ 3.Kb6

threatening to blockade with Kd1) 5…c2 Rh8 draw.
6.Kf3 (threat: Rh7 mate) 6...Kh2 7.Rxb2
wins. b) 1.h6? Ra3+! 2.Kb6 Kxg6 3.Kb7
5.Rb7 c2 6.Kf2! draw.

c) 1.a8Q?? Ra3+ 2.Kb5 Rxa8 wins.

1...Kxg7

a) 1...Rg3 2.Kb4! Rg4+ 3.Kc3 Rg3+

4.Kd2 Rg2+ 5.Ke3 Rg3+ 6.Kf2 wins.

b) 1...Rxh5+ 2.Kb6; No more rook

checks, and White wins.
2.h6+!
We offer pawn number 2.
2...Kf7
2...Kh7 3.Kb4! Rh4+ 4.Kb5 Rh5+ 5.Kb6
Welcome to the dungeon of Wotawa's Rxh6+ 6.Kb7 and Black's king is in the way of
Inquisition. Threat Rh7 mate. the rook on h7.
6...Kh3 7.Kf3 3.h7! Rh1
Repeating the mating threat. 3...Kg7 4.Kb4! Rh4+ 5.Kb5 Rh5+ 6.Kc6 Rh6+
7...Kh2 7.Kb7 wins.
7...Kh4 8.Rh7#. 4.Kb4!
8.Rxb2 Black's forward c-pawn is pinned, Now both pawns threaten to promote, and
and there will be no promotion. 1–0 Black can only stop one of them.
4...Rb1+ 5.Ka3!
(52)
A.Wotawa a) 5.Kc5? Rc1+ 6.Kd6 Rc8 7.Kd7
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956 Ra8 8.Kc6 Kg7 draw.

b) 5.Kc3? Rc1+ 6.Kb4 Rc8 7.Kb5

draw.
5...Rh1 6.Kb2!

White wins
Exercise (planning): How do we force
promotion of one of our pawns?

51
Now the king soon makes the journey to
Black's second rank, after which Black's king a) 1...Kxg7 2.Rh3 Kg6 3.Rxg3+ Kf5
obstructs the rook. 4.Rh3 wins.
6...Rh2+ 7.Kb3 Rh3+ 8.Kb4 Rh4+ 9.Kb5
Rh5+ 10.Kb6 b) 1...a4 2.Ke7 Kxg7 3.Rh3 a3
It isn't much of a race when White's king drives 4.Rxg3+ Kh6 5.Rh3+ Kg5 6.Rxh2 a2
a Porsche while Black's rook is forced to take 7.Rh1 Black is too slow and loses.
public transportation. 2.Rh7!
10...Rh6+ 11.Kb7 1–0 The rook magically protects its forward g-pawn.
2.Ke7? Kxg7 3.Rh3 f4 wins.
(53) 2...f4
A.Wotawa ...f4–f3 is in the air.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961
a) 2...Kxh7 3.Kf7 h1Q 4.g8Q+ Kh6
5.Qg6#.

b) 2...a4 3.Ke7 h1Q 4.Rxh1 Kxg7

White wins. 5.Rf1.
3.Ke7!

White wins
At first glance, White's disorganized position
resembles that "relative" who constantly gets
him or herself into self-inflicted trouble and
then calls you at 3:00 a.m. with the terrible
words: "Hi, I hope I didn't wake you. Could you
do me a big favor?" 3...f3 4.Kf6
1. Our rook is stuck defending Threat: Rh8 mate.
against Black's attempted 4...Kxh7
promotion on the h-file. 4...f2 5.Rh8#.
2. Our king is too far away to halt the 5.Kf7 h1Q 6.g8Q+ Kh6 7.Qg6#
push of the forward a-pawn, who 1–0
seeks to promote to a new queen.
All we can do is go after the black king. But (54)
how? A.Wotawa
1.g7!! Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962

a) 1.Rh8+? looks more brilliant than

it is. 1...Kg7! (1...Kxh8?? loses instantly
to 2.Kf7) 2.Rh7+! Kxg6 3.Rh3 Kf5 Black
wins.

b) 1.Ke7? Kg7 2.Rh7+ Kxg6 3.Rh3

Kf5 wins.
1...f5

52
 a) 4...Kg6 5.Rxc7 g2 6.Rc1 gxh4 7.b6
h3 8.b7 h2 9.b8Q g1Q 10.Qb1+! wins.

b) 4...Ke6 5.Rxc7 g2 6.Rc1 gxh4 7.b6

h3 8.b7 h2 9.b8Q g1Q 10.Qb3+ (moving
the king to f5 allows Qb1+, and moving to
d6 allows mate in four, starting with Qd3+)
10...Ke5 11.Rc5+ Ke4 12.Qd5+ Kxe3
13.Rc3+ Ke2 14.Qd3+ forces mate.

c) 4…Kf8 5.Rxc7 g2 6.Rc1 gxh4 7.b6

h3 8.b7 h2 9.b8Q g1Q 10.Rc7! h1Q
White wins 11.Kd7+ Kf7 12.Qe8+ Kg7 13.Ke6+
Kh6 14.Qh8+ Kg5 15.Rg7#.
This one is so full of minute details that we
could be forgiven if we just looked up the
solution.
Black is about to promote the g-pawn, and our
rook cannot reach it. We must find a way to
generate threats quickly; a mate seems
impossible. Is there a way we can create our
own passed pawn?
1.g5!
1.Rxh6? g2 2.Rh8+ Kg7 3.Rxh5 g1Q 4.Kxc7
Qxe3 5.b6 Black can take the perpetual check.
1...hxg5

a) 1...Kg8 2.g6 g2 (2...fxg6 3.Rxc7 g2

Exercise (combination alert) : What are
4.Rc1 wins) 3.gxf7+! Kf8 4.Rg7! Kxg7
we to do? Our rook - who appears to be one of
5.Ke8 wins.
those reality show numbskulls with millions of
followers - is hanging, and Black also threatens
b) 1...g2 2.gxh6! g1Q 3.Rh8+ wins to promote the forward g-pawn. Force White's
Black's queen and the game. win:
2.Rxh5 Answer : Swap pawns, offering our rook.
Threat: Rxg5, preventing Black's promotion. 4.hxg5! g2
2...f6! 4...Kxh8 5.gxf6 g2 6.f7 wins.
2...g4 fails miserably to 3.Rg5 f5 4.Rxf5+ Kg7 5.gxf6+ Kf7 6.Rg8!
5.Rg5+. Step 2: Attraction.
3.Rh8+ 6...Kxg8 7.Ke8!
At first glance, this looks like no more than a It's little finesses like this one which we need to
spite check in a lost position. see.
3.hxg5? g2 4.Rh8+ Kf7! (4...Kg7?? 5.gxf6+! 7.Ke7? g1Q 8.f7+ Kh7 9.f8Q Qxe3+ Black
Kf7 6.Rg8! Kxg8 7.Ke8! g1Q 8.f7+ Kh7 holds a draw.
9.f8Q; the e3–pawn can't be taken since White 7...g1Q 8.f7+ Kh7 9.f8Q
would block on e7 and force queens off the
board. This means White is winning) 5.Rh7+
Kg6 6.Rxc7 g1Q 7.b6 Qxe3 8.b7 Qb6 Black
holds the draw.
3...Kg7 (D)
3...Kf7 4.Rh7+! and now:

53
 b) 2...Kb5 3.Kd5 Ka6! 4.Kc6 Ka7
5.Rf7+ Ka6 6.Rb7 g2 7.Rxb6+ Ka7
(7...Ka5? 8.Rb8 and mate next move on a8)
8.Rb1 f5 9.Kd5 f4 10.Ke4 h5 11.Kxf4 h4
12.Kxe3 h3 13.Kf2 halts the pawns and
wins.
3.Ra8+ Kb5 4.Kd5!

White wins since our e3–pawn is safe. If

Black takes it, we block on e7 and swap queens.
1–0

(55)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1962

Now we see the peril behind White's once

harmless facade.
4...e1Q
Black's tiny mom-and-pop outlet is put out of
business by the giant corporation with whom
they cannot compete.
5.c4# 1–0

(56)
A.Wotawa
Tidskrift for Schack, 1963

White wins
Create a mating net before Black promotes and
consolidates.
1.b6!
The a-file must be opened.
1...axb6 2.a3!

a) 2.c3? Ka3! 3.Kf5 g2 4.Ra8+ Kb2

5.Rg8 Kxc3 6.Rxg2 Kd3 7.Rg3 Kd2
8.Ke4 e2 9.Rd3+ Kc2 10.Re3 Kd2 Draw.

b) 2.Kd5? g2 3.Kc4 b5+ 4.Kc3 b4+ White wins

5.Kc4 Ka3 Black wins.
2...e2 Of course, we can take perpetual check, and a
Now White can force mate in 3. win is another matter. Black is about to promote
in just two moves with check, so White should
a) 2...Kxa3 3.Rg8! wins. start generating threats immediately.
1.Rxa4!!

54
If you want a future financial reward, taking
risks is often necessary, and this one requires
extraordinary calculation mixed with tactical
imagination.
1.Kc2? f2 2.Rxa4 f1Q 3.Rb4+ Ka5 4.Rc5+ and
perpetual check. A rook check on a8 is a double
question mark since Black blocks on a6 with
the queen and wins.
1...Kxa4

a) 1...Kb6 2.Rb4+ Ka7 3.Rc7+ Ka6

4.Rcb7! f2 5.R4b6+ Ka5 6.b4+ Ka4
7.Kc2! and mate in 2. Exercise (planning): How can White win
ALL of Black's pawns or deliver mate?:
b) 1...h2 2.Rb4+ Ka6 3.Ra8#. Answer : DON'T capture the h3–pawn but
2.Rc5! instead cut off Black's king from access to the
Principle: When hunting the enemy king, don't 4th rank.
chase him. Instead, seal off exit routes. Threat: 7.Rh4!!
Kc2, b2–b3+ and Ra5 mate.
2...Kb3 a) 7.Rxh3? If you chose this move,
2...g2 3.Kc2 g1Q 4.b3+ Ka3 5.Ra5#. then it is with a heavy heart that we must
3.Rb5+! inform you that Black wins after 7...g2
Our king needs access to c2. 8.Rg3 f2.
3...Ka4
3...Kc4 4.Rxf5 Kb3 5.Rb5+ Kc4 6.Rxh5 Kb3 b) 7.Ke1? h2 We are caught in traffic,
7.Rh4! Kxb2 (7...g2 8.Rb4+ Ka2 9.Kc2 g1Q and White cannot prevent promotion.
10.Ra4#) 8.Rxh3 g2 9.Rg3 Kxc3 10.Ke1 7...Kxb2
Black's pawns are blockaded and White wins. 7...g2 8.Rb4+ Ka2 9.Kc2 g1Q 10.Ra4#.
4.Rxf5! 8.Rxh3! g2 9.Rg3! f2
One down, five to go! Or 9…Kb3 10.Ke1.
4.c4? h2 5.Kc2 h1Q 6.b3+ Ka3 7.Ra5+ Kb4 10.Rxg2 1–0
8.Rb5+ draw.
4...Kb3 (57)
Forced. A.Wotawa
5.Rb5+! Kc4 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1968

a) 5...Ka2 6.Kc2 g2 7.Ra5#.

b) 5...Ka4 6.Rxh5 Kb3 7.Rh4!

transposes.
6.Rxh5 Kb3 (D)
6...g2 7.Kc2 g1Q 8.b3#.

White wins

55
We note with the inclusion of the a2 and a3
pawns, Black's rook is hemmed in somewhat.
We exploit this factor in the following way:
1.f6!

a) 1.g6? f6! 2.Kb7 Rb4+ 3.Kc7 Ra4

4.Kb7 is a repetition draw.

b) 1.h7? Kg7 2.g6 fxg6 3.fxg6 Rb4

4.h8Q+ Kxh8 5.g7+ Kxg7 stalemate.
1...Kg8
1...Rh4? 2.h7! (decoy) 2...Rxh7 3.Kb7 and
mate in 2.
2.g6! White wins
2.Kb7? Rb4+ 3.Ka6 Ra4+ 4.Kb6 Kh7! is
drawn. Nobody can look in every direction
2...fxg6 3.Kb7 Rb4+ 4.Ka6! simultaneously, yet sometimes it feels like this
4.Kc6? Rc4+ 5.Kb5 (5.Kb7 Draw) 5...Rc8 ability is required to solve a Wotawa study. Our
6.Kb6 Kh7! 7.Kb7 Rf8 8.a8Q Rxa8 9.Kxa8 mating net is more potent than Black's
Kxh6 10.Kb7 g5 11.Kb6 Kg6 12.Kc5 Kxf6 promotion.
13.Kb4 Ke5 14.Kxa3 Kf4 15.Kb4 Ke3 16.a4 1.c6!!
Kf2 17.a5 Kxg2 18.a6 Kh2 19.a7 g2 20.a8Q 1.e3? Kxc5 2.Rg2 Kc4 3.e4 Kd4 4.Kxb4 Kxe4
g1Q 21.Qh8+ Kg2 22.Qa8+ is a theoretical wins.
draw, although White must fight for it. 1...bxc6 2.Rd3! g2
4...Ra4+ 5.Kb6 g5
5...Rb4+? 6.Ka5 wins. a) 2...c5? 3.b3#.
6.Kb7 Rb4+ 7.Ka6 Ra4+ 8.Kb6
b) 2...b3? 3.axb3+ Kc5 4.b4+ Kc4
5.b3#.
3.b3+ Kc5 4.Rd1 h3

Black again! We need to exhaust Black of pawn

moves.
8...g4
Also, both a) 8...Kh7 9.f7, and b) 8...Kf7 9.h7 Exercise (planning) : Work out the plan
are losing. for White's mating net:
9.Kb7 Rb4+ 10.Ka6 Ra4+ 11.Kb6 Answer : Step 1: play e2–e3. Why?
Zugzwang. Now Black's position is a catacomb, Because we later require a rook lift to d4 to
with only decomposing flesh inside. 1–0 mate Black's king.
5.e3!
(58) 5.a3? bxa3 Black wins.
A.Wotawa 5...h2 6.a3!
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969

56
Step 2: Push the a-pawn one square, threatening 5.g4!
b3xa4 mate.
6...bxa3
6...g1Q 7.axb4#
7.Rd4!
The rook pulls rank on the black king.
Step 3: Lift the rook since we require control
over the c4–square.
7.b4+?? NOT-mate is a terrible hallucination
since Black's king escapes via c4, and Black
wins.
7...g1Q 8.b4# You all guessed Step 5!
1–0
Threat: Rf5 mate, which can only be halted if
(59) Black gives up the new queen.
A.Wotawa 5...Qb1
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1970
a) 5...fxg3 6.Rxf1 wins.

b) 5...Kd5 isn't all that wonderful an

escape plan. 6.Rf5#.
6.Rf5# 1–0

(60)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941

White wins
Once again, we reach the "You must be
joking!?" stage. Come up with White's winning
idea.
Answer : Mating net/discovered attack.
3.Rf8!!
3.Ke7? f3! Interference; Black wins. By
contrast, 3...Kf5 4.Rg8! f1Q 5.g4+! wins for
White.
3...a3
3...f1Q 4.g4! Black is mated or loses the
queen through a discovered attack on the en
passant capture on g3. 4...fxg3 (or 4...Qb1
5.Rf5#) 5.Rxf1.
4.Rf7!
Zugzwang. After the hasty 4.g4? fxg3 and it is
Black who wins.
4...f1Q
"Love makes fools of us all," wrote William
Thackeray, and we are pretty confident he was
speaking about situations like this one.
White wins
Exercise (planning): Chess comes in two
components:
1. The surface.
2. The deeper level hides its secret
truth.
We must dig deeply to work out the drawing
plan. Black's pawns are close to their respective
promotion squares, and we must construct a
perpetual check--and fast!
Answer : We MUST force our b-pawn to
the fourth rank. Therefore, we must toss in a2–
a3!!.

57
 3.a3!! White's overworked rook must deal with
potential promotions on both a and d-files. We
a) 3.Kf6? loses to the simple 3...g3! cannot act on assumption and must find White's
4.Rxf3 g2; We can also reverse the order only drawing move.
with 1.Rd7!!

b) 3.Ke7! h3 4.a3!!. a) 1.Rd5? Kb1 2.Rb5+ Kc2 3.Ra5

Kb3 4.Rb5+ Ka4 5.Rb7 e3 White's rook is
c) 3.Rd1! also works after 3...g3 4.a3!!. overwhelmed by black a and forward e-
3...g3 pawns. 6.Rxe7 e2! Black wins.
3...bxa3 4.b4! Kc7 5.Ke7 Kc6 6.Rd1 f2 7.Rd6+
is perpetual check. b) 1.Rd1+? Kb2 2.Rd2+ Kb3 3.Rd1
4.axb4 g2 5.Rd1 f2 6.Ke7! e3 4.Kc7 e2 5.Re1 Kc3 wins.

c) 1.Rd2? Kb1 2.Rd1+ Kb2 3.Rd2+

Kb3 4.Rd1 e3 5.Re1 e2 6.Kc7 Kc3 7.Kc6
Kd2 wins.

d) 1.Kc7? e3 2.Re8 Kb2 3.Rb8+ Kc3

4.Ra8 e2 wins.
1...e3
1...Kb2 2.Rb7+ Kc2 3.Ra7 Kb3 4.Rb7+ Kc4
5.Rc7+ Kd3 6.Rd7+! encouraging Black's king
to step in front of the e4–pawn. 6...Kc2 7.Ra7
Kb3 8.Rb7+ Black isn't making progress.
2.Rb7!
Just in time to support the rook on d8, d7, and 2.Rxe7? Kb2 3.Rb7+ Kc3 4.Rc7+ Kb4 5.Ra7
d6. e2 wins.
6...g1Q 7.Rd8+ Kc7 8.Rd7+ Kc6 9.Rd6+ 2...e6
Our b4–pawn provides a forcefield from which 2...e2 3.Rxe7 Kb1 4.Rxe2 a1Q 5.Re1+ Draw.
the black king can never escape. 3.Rb6!
½–½ This way, White attacks the e6–pawn while
imprisoning Black's king.
(61) 3.Rb3? e2 4.Re3 Kb1 5.Rxe2 a1Q 6.Re1+ Kb2
A.Wotawa 7.Rxa1 Kxa1 8.Kc7 e5 wins.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1943 3...e5
3...e2 4.Rxe6 Kb1 5.Rxe2 Draw.
4.Rb5! e4 5.Rb4!

White draws
And so on...

58
 5...e2 6.Rxe4 Kb1 7.Rxe2 a1Q 8.Re1+
Finally, we win the queen with a skewer.
8...Kb2 9.Rxa1 ½–½

(62)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1951

Now is the time to chop the e2–pawn.

10...Kd7 11.Rxe2! is the same.
11.Rxe2! d1Q 12.Rd2+!
White's position rises in blood revolt—
attraction/stalemate.
12...Qxd2 ½–½
(63)
A.Wotawa
White draws Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1955

Exercise (planning): There was a cook in

the earlier portion of the study, so we begin on
move 4. What is our drawing plan?
Answer : Set up a stalemate with the
following:
1. Move our king to a3.
2. Lure Black's king to the d-file.
3. When Black plays ...d3–d2, we
play ...Rxe2!.
4. When Black promotes to a new
queen on d1, we give up our rook
on d2 with an attraction/stalemate
combination, resulting in stalemate.
You now know every stage of the plan. White draws
But can you work out the move order? We are in a desperate situation since Black can
4.Ka3! give away the rook for both our passed pawns.
4.Kxb5? loses to 4...d2 1.c7 Rd6+ 2.Kc5!
4...Kd7 2.Kb7?? Rd7 3.Kb6 Rxc7 4.Kxc7 h4 Black is
4...d2 5.Re7+ is similar to the study's finish. too fast in the race.
5.Re3! Kc6 2...Rxd3 3.Kb4
Black attempts to dodge our plan. 3.c8Q?? Rc3+ wins the new queen.
5...d2 6.Rxe2! d1Q 7.Rd2+! Qxd2 stalemate. 3...a5+! 4.Kc4!
6.Re5! Kd6 7.Re3 Kc7 Obviously, too slow is 4.Kxa5? Rc3 5.Kb6 h4
7...Kd5 8.Rxd3+ Ke4 9.Rd7 Kf3 10.Re7 Kf2 6.Kb7 h3 7.c8Q Rxc8 8.Kxc8 h2.
11.Rf7+ Kg3 12.Re7 is a repetition draw. 4...Rd1
8.Re7+ Kc6 9.Re5 d2 10.Re6+ Kd5

59
 b) 4...Kc4 5.Kc1 Kb3 6.Kb1 draw.
5.Kc2 Ra2+ 6.Kb3! Rxh2 Stalemate.
½–½
(65)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

Exercise (planning): Work out the steps

for White's draw:
Answer : We can engineer stalemate with
our king on b3 and our a2–pawn pushed to a3.
5.Kb3!
White's king self-seals to engineer stalemate.
5...Rc1 6.a3! h4
Or 6...Rxc7 Stalemate.
7.c8Q! White draws
Doors can be opened if we lubricate the hinges
with bribes and money. We must go after Black's king before the h and
7...Rxc8 Stalemate. ½–½ g-pawns promote and come after us.
(64) 1.Ra8+!
A.Wotawa Patzer sees a check... Losing are the lines
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1955
a) 1.a4? Ka7!.

b) 1.b5+? Ka7!.
1...Kb5 2.Rc8!!
Principle: Store leftover food in a clean
container. Black's king must not be allowed to
escape via c6.
2.Kb3? Kc6! wins.
2...Kxb4

a) 2...g2 3.Kb3 (threat: a2–a4+,

White draws
Exercise (combination alert):
move holds the draw?
Answer : Get skewered on purpose!
4.Kd1!!
The solution is as believable as the employee
who calls in "sick" on a Friday.
4...Ra1+
a) 4...b3 5.Rh5+ Kb4 6.Kc1 Ka3
7.Kb1 Rg7 8.Rh1 draw.
followed by Ra8 mate) 3...Ka6 4.Ra8+!
Kb5 5.Rc8! draw.
b) 2...Ka4 3.Kc3! g2 4.Kc4
Which (threatening mate) 4...Ka3 (4...b5+?
5.Kc3 g1Q 6.Ra8+ Qa7 7.Rxa7#) 5.Kc3
Kxa2 6.Kc2 Ka3 7.Kc3 draw.
3.a3+! Ka4
a) 3...Kxa3? 4.Rc3+ Kb4 5.Rxg3 wins.
b) 3...Kb5 4.Kb3 Ka5 (4...g2? 5.a4+
Ka6 6.Ra8#) 5.Ra8+ Kb5 6.Rc8! draw.
4.Ra8+

60
4.Kc3? g2 5.Kc4 Kxa3 6.Kc3 Ka4 7.Kc4 b5+ 6.Rc6+ Kb1 wins) 3...b2 4.Kc2 b1Q+!
8.Kc3 Ka5 Black wins. 5.Kxb1 Ke2 6.Re6+ Kd3 7.Rd6+ Ke3
4...Kb5 5.Rc8! 8.Re6+ Kf4 9.Rf6+ Ke4 wins.

c) 1.Rxb4? "Natural" doesn't always

equate with harmless. 1...Kg2 2.Rg4+
Kh3! wins.
1...b3
1...c2+ 2.Kxc2 b3+ 3.Kd2! b2 4.Kc2 b1Q+
5.Kxb1 Ke2 6.Re7+ Kd3 7.Rd7+ Draw.
2.Rg8! b2
2...c2+ 3.Kd2 c1Q+ 4.Kxc1 Ke2 5.Re8+ Kd3
6.Rd8+ Ke4 7.Re8+ Black is unable to make
progress.
3.Kc2 b1Q+

5...g2 6.Kb3 Ka6

6...g1Q? 7.a4+ Ka6 8.Ra8#
7.Ra8+ Kb5 8.Rc8! ½–½
(66)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

Principle: Don't offer charity if you don't have

the money. This fails to win for Black, as do all
other moves.
4.Kxb1 Ke2 5.Re8+ Kd3 6.Rd8+ Ke4
6...Kc4? 7.Rd1! White wins.
7.Re8+ Kf5
7...Kd5 8.Rd8+ Ke6 9.Rd1! Ke5 10.Rf1 Ke4
White draws 11.Rxf2 Ke3 12.Rc2 f2 13.Rxc3+ Ke2 14.Rc1
Draw.
Wotawa's imagination extends to Reality's 8.Rf8+ Kg4 9.Rg8+ Kh5 10.Rh8+ Kg6
limits and maybe even a bit beyond that. Only 11.Rh1
one rook move draws. What should White play
here?
1.Rg7!!

a) 1.Rg8? b3 2.Rg7 b2 3.Kc2 b1Q+!

Decoy. (Black makes no progress after
3...Ke2 4.Re7+) 4.Kxb1 Ke2 5.Re7+ Kd3
6.Rd7+ Ke4! 7.Re7+ Kd4 8.Rd7+ Ke5
9.Rd1 Ke4 10.Kc2 Ke3 11.Kxc3 Ke2
12.Rd2+ Ke1 wins.

b) 1.Rg6? c2+! 2.Kxc2 b3+! 3.Kd2

(3.Kxb3 Ke1 4.Re6+ Kd1 5.Rd6+ Kc1

61
 11...Kf5 12.Kc2 Kf4 13.Kxc3 Kg3
13...Ke3 14.Ra1 Ke2 15.Ra2+ Kf1 16.Ra8 ½–½
Kg2 17.Rg8+ is also drawn.
14.Kd3 Kg2 15.Ke3!

62
Chapter 4: Minor Piece Endings
Working with bishops and knights often creates
magic out of something that looks predictable
or even mundane. In these compositions, you
will find that Wotawa found ways to give the
minor pieces supernatural powers with which
they stop unstoppable pawns or find ways to
checkmate apparently unassailable kings.
4.1 Bishop endings
(67)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
b) 1...Bf1 2.bxc6 Bb5 3.cxd7 Bxd7
4.Ke7 wins.
2.c6! dxc6
Black continues the policy of what at first
appears to be predatory financial practices. In
reality, White is the one who is winning.
3.d7!
Huh? Step 2: Give away our passed d-pawn!
Threat: Bxg5+, followed by d8 (Q)+. Why do
we want Black's bishop to capture our pawn?
We can't tell you since doing so would give
away the answer to our coming exercise.
3...Bxd7

Exercise (calculation): White to play and

White wins force mate in 4:
Answer : Push the h-pawn to create a
"Wotawa finds mating possibilities in what mating net.
appears to be the quietest of endgames," writes 4.h4!!
Dvoretsky. This study is a wonderful Threatening mate on the move.
demonstration of the Principle : Opposite- 4...gxh4
colored bishops favor the attacker. We first
envision White's mating net: Kf6 and bishop on a) 4...Be6+ 5.Kf6! gxh4 6.Be7! h3
f8 or g5, both mates. 7.Bf8#.
1.b5!
Step 1: Pawn breakthrough. b) 4...g4 5.Bg5#.
1.Kf6? The idea of Be7 followed by Bf8 mate 5.Bxh4
is too slow. This is the moment where we think We gave up every one of our pawns and still
to ourselves: "I blundered. Now let me concoct deliver mate!
a scapegoat argument on why I'm not to blame 5...b4 6.Kf6!
for it!" 1...h4, and White is suddenly fighting It doesn't require Nostradamus to predict that
for the draw. Black will be mated.
1...cxb5 6...b3 7.Bg5# 1–0

a) 1...Bg2?? and simplest is 2.b6 (68)

forcing promotion. A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936

63

White wins
1. Both sides own deep passed pawns,
threatening to promote.
2. Black's king doesn't look all that
safe, and we envision White's
mating pattern: Kf5, Bf2, and g2–
g4 mate. All which remained was
the implementation.
Let's begin by decoying Black's blockading
bishop from f6.
1.e7!
This move gains a crucial tempo.
1.Kf4? (how can such a blameless-looking
move be an error? In fact, it is way too passive
and throws away White's win) 1...c2 2.Be3
Bg5+ 3.Kf3 Bxe3 4.e7 c1Q 5.e8Q+ Kg5
6.Qe7+ Kxf5 7.g4+ Kg6 8.Qe6+ Kg7! (Not
8...Kg5?? 9.Qf5+ Kh4 10.Qh5#) 9.Qe7+ is
perpetual check.
1...Bxe7 2.f6!
Step 2: Clearance, plus a second tempo gained.
2...Bd6!
Black threatens ...Kg6 or...Kg4, escaping the
mating net.
2...Bxf6? makes it easy for White. 3.Kf5 Be5
4.Bf2! (we have only mentioned this to students
10,000 times: Principle : Cut off the enemy
king's flight squares in a mating attack, rather
than chase him. Now we threaten g2–g4 mate)
4...Bg3 (what else?) 5.Bxg3 c2 6.Bf2 c1Q
(congratulations on your inheritance) 7.g4#
3.Kf5 Kh4!
This is Black's most robust line of resistance.
a) 3...c2 4.Bf2 Bg3 5.Be3 b4 (5...c1Q
6.Bxc1 b4 7.f7 Bd6 8.g3 Bf8 9.Bb2 Be7
10.f8Q Bxf8 11.Bf6 b3 12.g4#) 6.f7 Bd6
64
7.f8Q! (this is more accurate than 7.Bf2)
7...Bxf8 8.Bf2! c1Q 9.g4#.
b) 3...b4 4.Bf2 Forces mate in 3.
4.Bf2+ Bg3 5.f7 c2
5...Bxf2 6.f8Q Kg3 7.Qg7+ Kh2 8.Kf4! c2
9.Qxh6+ Kxg2 10.Qc6+ Kf1 11.Kf3 mates in
4.
6.f8Q c1Q
In chess, coming in second in a mutual
promotion race is about as depressing as your
child giving you for Father's Day, a mug that
says: "World's 2nd Best Dad!"
Exercise calculation/planning): White to
play and force mate in 7:
Answer : The key is to finagle White's
queen to the mating square h1.
7.Qb4+!
This check decoys Black's queen away from g5.
7...Qc4
7...Kh5?? 8.Qg4#.
8.Qe7+ Kh5 9.Qe8+! Kh4 10.Qd8+! Kh5
11.Qd1+!
We are reminded of the 1970's video game
Pong, where the ball shuttles back and forth
across the screen. Now we see it: h1 will be the
mating square.
11...Kh4 12.Qh1# We cruelly prevent even
the spite-block ...Bh2, since it is pinned. 1–0
(69)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
 A former student set up this position, a portion
of a Wotawa study, on a demonstration board
at the San Diego Chess Club and asked me to
solve it. I had only 10 minutes until the round
was about to begin and essentially flagged
when they yelled, "Pairings are up!" unable to
find White's winning plan. Can you do better?
Exercise (planning):
1. Our king is locked out of play.
2. Our passed b7–pawn is blockaded.
3. Black's king is about to escort the
h6–pawn down the board. Only in
White wins Wotawa's realm does White win.
What is White's winning plan?
Exercise (combination alert): White's Answer :
position displays signs of benevolence. When 4.f3!!
we examine deeper, we find the opposite. We Here is our plan:
can force promotion, while Black can't. Step 1: Push forward with f2–f3!!.
1.Be5! Step 2: Transfer our bishop to g1.
Interference/pawn promotion. Step 3: Push again, this time with e2–e3!.
1.Kd3? Ke7 2.h6 Kf7 Draw. Step 4: Break Black's blockade of b8 with
1...dxe5 Bh2!!.
1...Ke7 is too slow. 2.h6 Kf7 3.h7 The Step 5: After Black captures our free bishop, we
annoying imp will reach h8 and promote to a slam the door shut with f2–f4!, severing the
new queen since White's bishop covers black bishop's connection to b8.
against ...Kg7. 4...Kg5 5.Bg1!
2.h6 Bd4 Step 2.
2...e4 3.Kc3! Cutting off ...Bd4. 3...Bb8 4.Kd4! 5...Kf5
Sorry. No ...Be5. 4...e3 5.h7 White promotes 5...Kh4 6.Bf2+ Kh3 7.e4 h5 8.Ba7!! Bxa7 9.e5
with check, disallowing Black's promotion. h4 10.e6 Kg2 11.e7 h3 12.e8Q h2 13.Qg8+
3.Kd3 Ba1 4.Ke4! Interference. White Kf2 14.Qh8 Kg1 15.f4 h1Q 16.Qxh1+ Kxh1
prevents the opening of the diagonal and 17.f5 White wins since Black's overloaded
promotes. 1–0 bishop cannot deal with both White passed
pawns.
(70) 6.e3!
A.Wotawa Step 3.
Schach Magazin, 1949 6...Ke6
Outwardly, Black looks fine. However, this is
not what "fine" looks like after White's next
move.
7.Bh2!
Step 4.
7...Bxh2 8.f4!

White wins (portion)

65
 Everyone loves a hero. But what about an anti-
hero, like White's bishop? Wotawa was clearly
a criminal mastermind! This counterintuitive
move blocks our g-pawn, is the study's most
difficult move to find, and white's idea is
revealed in the next two moves.
4...a4 5.Bh4! Bxh4 6.g4+!

The final position is one of those "proof of life"

photos from the evildoers who kidnapped
Black's bishop.
Step 5: Black's bishop no longer covers b8, and
White promotes.
1–0

(71)
A.Wotawa Overloaded defender/interference.
Schach Magazin, 1951 6...Kg6
6...Kg5 (of course, this gives us the license to
print our own money) 7.d8Q+.
7.Kxh4 wins. 1–0

(72)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1953

White wins
Prove why our passed pawns are more potent
than Black's:
1.d6
Our first move is obvious; our second is not.
1...Be5 2.Bb8!
Threat: d6–d7! White wins
2...Bf6 3.d7!
3.Bc7 doesn't do us any good since it is met The position looks hopelessly drawn due to the
with 3...Be5. bishops of opposite colors.
3...Bd8 1.bxc5!
3...a4 is too slow. 4.Bc7 a3 5.d8Q Bxd8 6.Bxd8
a2 7.Bf6 White wins since both black passers a) 1.Bxc5+? Kg2 2.Bd6 gxh4 draw.
are under control.
4.Bg3!! b) 1.Bxa7? gxh4 2.bxc5 Be4 3.Kd7
Kg2 4.Bb8 a5 5.c6 a4 6.Bd6 a3 7.Bxa3

66
 Bxc6+ 8.Kxc6 Kxh2 9.Bd6+ Kg2
10.Kd5 h3 11.Ke4 h2 12.Bxh2 Kxh2
13.Kf3 h4 14.Kf2 Draw.
1...gxh4 2.c6+ Kf3!
Black's only prayer.
3.c7 Kg4! 4.h3+!
4.c8Q? blows it. 4...Bf5+ 5.Kd5 Bxc8 6.Bxa7
draw.
4...Kg5!

White wins
1. 1. We are up a deeply embedded e-
pawn, only a move away from
promotion.
2. If we capture Black's bishop, it's
stalemate.
3. Our win is predicated upon our
ability to target a bishop sacrifice
on either d7 or f7–pawns.
...Bf5+ is coming. How can we still force the Exercise (critical decision): Our choice is
win? to move our bishop to either h3 or f1. Which
Answer : Mating net/interference. We lure one is correct?
Black's bishop to f5. Answer : Only the counterintuitive f1–
5.Kf7! square works.
5.Ke7? (the circus clown pedals in on a 1.Bf1!
unicycle. Moving closer to the c-pawn is an
incorrect plan) 5...Bf5 6.Be3+ Kg6 7.Kd6! a) 1.Bh3? (threat: Bxd7+, followed by
Bxh3 8.Bf2 Kg5 9.Be3+ Kf5 10.Bf2 when Kf8 and e8(Q)+) 1...Bc6 2.Bg4 Bb5
White is lucky to be able to hold a draw. 3.Bh5 (threatening mate on f7) 3...Bc4
5...Bf5 4.Bf3 Bb5 5.Bd5 (time for Black to
If our opponent misbelieves, they are saving the resign?) 5...Bc4! (No! Black exploits the
game; who are we to get in the way of their stalemate theme) 6.Bc6 (6.Bxc4 is
dream? Did Black save the game? stalemate) 6...Bb5! draw.
6.Be3 Huh? What? Where did that come
from!? Apparently, White's bishop hasn't b) 1.Bxa8? is just plain dumb since
outlived his usefulness, after all. 1–0 we delivered stalemate.
1...Bc6 2.Bc4 Bd5! 3.Bb5
(73) Threat: Bxd7+ and Kf8.
A.Wotawa 3.Bxd5? Stalemate.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956 3...Be6 4.Ba4! Bg4
4...Bd5? makes it easy for us: 5.Bxd7+! Kxd7
6.Kf8 promotes.
5.Bb3!
This way, we lure Black's bishop offside to h5.
5...Bh5
5...Be6 6.Bxe6 dxe6 7.d7+ Kxd7 8.Kf8 wins.
6.Ba2!
The bishop hunts for prey at night and rests
during the daylight hours. We need Black's

67
bishop on g6 to make our coming combination
work.
6.Be6? (there is no point in putting a silencer
on our BB gun; this fails miserably since we
don't yet have control over f7) 6...fxe6 Black
wins.
6...Bg6
Exercise (combination alert): How does
White force the win?
Answer : Move the bishop to e6.
7.Be6! dxe6
You shouldn't have any trouble with this one,
on condition that you earned a Ph.D. in
mathematics from MIT, Stanford, Princeton,
Sorbonne, or the University of Cambridge (any
of these top 5 ranked universities will do). The
solution is only 67 moves. Oh, you don't have a
Ph.D. in math? Then there may be a problem,
and you may want to play over the solution,
which is 67 moves deep! Much like George
Washington and honest Abe Lincoln, who
never repeated an untruth, your writers refuse
to lie to you. This one will be tough for the non-
math gifted!
1. The only way for White to win is to
force Black's king to open the
queenside by playing ...Kxa3.
2. We must move our bishop across
the board to gain a single tempo to
achieve this. Then White must
repeat the process over and over.
1.Ke1!
a) 1.Ke2? Kc2 2.Ke1 Kd3! 3.Kd1
stalemate.

a) 7...fxe6 8.Kxg6 Now we see why b) 1.Be1? Kc1 2.Ke2 Kc2 3.Bd2 Kb3
we needed to force Black's bishop to g6. 4.Be1 Kxa4 5.Kd2 Kxa3 6.Kc2 is drawn.
8...e5 9.f7#. 1...Kc2 2.Ke2 Kb1!
White wins much faster after 2...Kb3 3.Kd1
b) 7...Bh5 8.Bxd7+! Kxd7 9.Kf8 Kb2 4.Be1 Kb3 5.Kc1 Kxa3 6.Kb1 Kb3
White promotes on e8. 7.Bd2 Ka3 (7...Kxa4 8.Kb2 wins) 8.Bc1+ Kb3
8.d7+! 9.Bb2 Kxa4 10.Ka2 wins.
Decoy/pawn promotion. 3.Kd1 Kb2 4.Be1 Kb1! 5.Bf2 Kb2 6.Kd2
8...Kxd7 9.Kf8 1–0 Kb1 7.Bg1 Kb2 8.Bh2 Kb1 9.Be5 Kb2
10.Bd4 Kb1 11.Bc5 Kb2 12.Ba7 Kb1 13.Bd4
(74) Kb2 14.Be5 Kb1
A.Wotawa Damn you, take our a3–pawn!
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959 15.Bh2! Kb2 16.Bg1 Kb1 17.Bf2 Kb2
18.Be1 Kb1 19.Kd1 Kb2 20.Bd2! Kb1
21.Bc1!

White wins

68
All that for one stinking tempo? Well, we are
almost one-third of the way through the study!
Semi-Zugzwang. Black's king must give way.
21...Ka1! 22.Kc2 Ka2 23.Bd2!
The bishop begins the tempo-gaining journey
once again.
23.Bb2? would be suicide-inducing since we
accidentally stalemated Black's king.
23...Ka1 24.Be1 Ka2 25.Bf2 Ka1 26.Bg1
Ka2 27.Bh2 Ka1 28.Be5 Ka2 29.Bd4 Ka1
30.Bc5 Ka2 31.Ba7 Ka1 32.Bd4 Ka2 33.Be5
Ka1 34.Bh2 Ka2 35.Bg1 Ka1 36.Bf2 Ka2
37.Be1 Ka1 38.Bd2 Ka2 39.Bc1 Ka1 Zugzwang number 3. Black's king must give
40.Bb2+ Ka2 41.Kc1! way. Honestly, we were worried that we would
all die of natural causes before this study
finished.
56...a5
Or 56...Kc5 57.Ka4.
57.Bd8! Kc5

a) 57...Ka6 58.Ka4 wins.

b) 57...a4 58.Bc7 and so on.

58.Ka4 Kxd6 59.Kxa5 Kc5 60.Bb6+ Kc6
61.Bd4 d6 62.Ka6 d5
Our next goal is to win the d5–base pawn.
63.Ka5 Kc7 64.Kb5 Kd6 65.Kb6 Kd7
At long bloody last: zugzwang! 66.Kc5 Ke6 67.Kc6
41...Kb3 42.Kb1!
Zugzwang number 2!
42...Kxa4 43.Ka2 Kb5 44.a4+!
Now a path is opened for White's king to enter.
44...Kxa4
44...Kc6 45.Ka3 Kc5 46.Bc1 (zugzwang)
46...Kxd6 47.Kb4 Kd5 48.Ba3 (zugzwang,
once again) 48...Ke6 49.Kxc4 Ke5 50.Kc5
Ke6 51.Kd4 d5 52.Bb4 wins.
45.Bc1 Kb5 46.Ka3 Kxa5
46...Kc5 47.Ka4 Kxd6 48.Kb4 Kd5 49.Ba3 d6
50.Bc1 (zugzwang) 50...Kc6 51.Kxc4 d5+
52.Kd4 Kb5 (52...Kd6 53.Ba3+ Kc6 54.Bb4
wins) 53.Kxd5 Kxa5 54.c4 wins.
The final zugzwang wins all three of Black's
47.Bd2 Kb5 48.Be1
central pawns. 1–0
Here we go again! Destination: c7.
48...Ka5 49.Bf2 Kb5 50.Bg1 Ka5 51.Bh2
(75)
Kb5 52.Be5 Ka5 53.Bd4 Kb5 54.Ba7 Ka5
A.Wotawa
55.Bb8! Kb5 56.Bc7!
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942

69
 If this is death, it is a cosmeticized version, the
way we see a corpse in the coffin with makeup,
Sunday best clothes, and a peaceful expression.
4.Bh1? The move loses to 4...Kb4 5.Kb2 Bd3!
6.Kc1 Kc3 7.Kd1 Be2+ 8.Kc1 (8.Ke1 Kd3
9.Bxf3 gxf3 10.h4 Kc2 11.h5 Bd3 12.h6 Bh7
wins) 8...Bf1 9.Kd1 Bg2 and game over.
4...gxh3 5.Kb2 Kb4 6.Kc2 Kc4 7.Kd2 Kd4
8.Ke1
Step 2: Transfer the king into e1. Black's king
is unable to approach without delivering
stalemate.
White draws 8...Kc4

1. We are down a pawn. a) 8...Kc3 stalemate.

2. Black threatens to push the g-pawn
up the board and create a deadly b) 8…Bc4 9.Kd2 Bd5 10.Ke1 Kd3
passed pawn with ...g7–g5, ...g5– 11.Kf1 Kd2 12.Kg1 Ke1 13.Kh1 when
g4, and ...g4–g3!, forcing no progress is made since 13...Kxf2 is
promotion on the kingside. stalemate.
How do we respond? 9.Kd2 Kb3 10.Ke1 White will keep
1.Be6! shuffling between d2 and e1. ½–½
The rote 1.Kb2? loses: 1...g5 2.Kc3 g4 3.Kd2
Bf3 4.Be6 g3! 5.fxg3 fxg3 6.Bxh3 gxh2 when 4.2 Knight endings
Black promotes and wins.
1...g5! (76)
1...Bf1 2.Kb2 Kb4 3.Kc2 Kc5 4.Kd2 Kd6 A.Wotawa
5.Bg4 Ke5 6.Ke1 Bg2 7.f3! Kd4 8.Kf2 is Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967
drawn since Black's bishop can never escape its
prison.
2.Bxh3!
Are we allowing our bishop to be driven into a
pit on h1?
2...g4 3.Bg2 f3

White wins
It's clear that we must recapture, but with which
pawn?
1.hxg3!
The h-pawn is correct.
Exercise (planning): Envision a fortress 1.fxg3? It takes 28 moves of analysis to prove
for White: why this move is incorrect! 1...c3 2.Nc7 c2
Answer : Step 1: Offer the bishop on h3. 3.h4 c1Q 4.Nce6 Kxg3 5.h5 Qh1 6.h6 Kf2
4.Bh3!! (6...Qxh6? gets forked with 7.Nxf5+) 7.Kg6
Qg2+ 8.Ng5 Qc6+ 9.N7e6 Qxa4 10.h7 Qe8+

70
11.Kg7 a4 12.Nc5 a3 13.h8Q Qxh8+ 14.Kxh8
Ke3 15.Nge6 a5! 16.Nb3 a4 17.Na1 Kd3
18.Nc5+ Kc3 19.Nxa4+ Kb4 20.Kh7 Kxa4
21.Kg6 a2 22.Kxf5 Ka3 23.Ke4 Kb2 24.Kd3!
Kxa1 25.Kc2 a5 26.f5 a4 27.f6 a3 28.f7
stalemate.
1...c3 2.Nxf5!! Kxf5
2...c2? 3.Ne3+ wins.
3.f3!
We close the door on Black's king.
3.Nc7? Ke4 4.Ne6 Kd3 5.g4 c2 6.g5 c1Q 7.g6
Qc8 8.g7 Qd7+ 9.Kf6 Qc8 10.Kf7 Qd7+ draw.
3...c2 4.Nc7 c1Q 5.Nd5!
Once our f-pawn is protected, we threaten g3–
g4 mate and Ne7 mate.
5...Qc7+!
This is a good swindle try. 5...Qc4 6.g4#
6.Ne7+!
We give the offer only a cursory glance before
rejecting it. This wins Black's queen the correct
way.
Temptations don't usually appear with horns on
their heads. 6.Nxc7? stalemate.
6...Qxe7+ 7.Kxe7 The stalemate is lifted,
and White wins. 1–0
4.3 Mixed minor piece endings
(77)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
71
White wins
We are going to need to win Black's rootless
knight:
1.Kd5! Nb4+
a) 1...Ne1? 2.Be4! wins the knight
since White's king just walks over and
takes it.
b) 1...Na3? 2.Kc5 Kb4 follows, and
the knight is lost.
c) 1...Na1? 2.Kc4 picks off the knight.
2.Kc5 Na6+
2...Na2 3.Bd3! Kg7 (3...Nc3 4.Ne3!
eventually traps the knight) 4.Kc4 Nc1 5.Bf1
Kg6 6.Kc3 Kf5 7.Ne3+ Ke4 8.Nc2 Kf3
9.Nd4+ Kf2 10.Bc4 Ke1 11.Kc2 wins the
knight.
3.Kb5 Nc7+ 4.Kc6 Ne8
It's not an easy life to be on the run from the
law.
4...Na6 5.Ne3 Kg7 (5...Nb4+ 6.Kb5 Na2
7.Bd3 Kg7 8.Kc4 wins) 6.Nd5 Kf7 7.Kb6
Nb8 8.Kb7 corners the knight.
5.Bd7!
More efficient than the also winning 5.Kd7
Ng7 6.Bg6 Kg8 7.Ke7 Kh8 8.Kf7
5...Ng7
At long last, solid ground is underfoot for
Black's knight.
6.Nf6!
 4...c6+ 5.Ke5 Bb6 6.Kxf5! is similar to the
main line's finish.
5.Ke6!

...or maybe not! Zugzwang and the knight is

lost next move. 1–0

(78)
A.Wotawa 5.d8Q? (this shallow move cost our position its
Schach Magazin, 1950 life) 5...c6+ 6.Ke6 Bxd8 7.Bxd8 Kg4 8.Kd6 b4
9.Bf6 f4 10.Kc5 b3 11.Kb4 Kg3 12.Be5 Kxg2
13.Kxb3 f3 wins.
5...Nc6
5...c6 6.Kxf5 and mate next move.
6.d8Q!
Decoy. 6.Kxf5? Nd4+ 7.Ke4 c5 White is
busted.
6...Nxd8+ 7.Kxf5!
We told you this was more a book on magical
spells, ensorcellments, and incantations.
Black's king is unexpectedly caught in a mating
net.
7.Bxd8? Kg4 Black wins.
White wins 7...Nf7
Mate follows on all other moves.
This one is full of clever twists and turns where 8.g4# 1–0
we must weave our way through numerous
military checkpoints to reach our destination. (79)
We mix the threat to promote to a new queen A.Wotawa
with an unexpected mating net on Black's king. Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1953
1.h5!!
1.Be7? is both natural and incorrect. Black
escapes with a draw with 1...c5+ (this opens the
way for a future ...Nc6, if White allows it)
2.Kxc5 Bf2+ 3.Kd5 c6+! (clearance, allowing
for ...Bb6) 4.Ke6 Bb6 5.h5 Kxh5 6.Kxf5 Kh6
7.Bc5 Bd8 8.Bxa7 b4 9.Bd4 a5 10.g4 a4 11.Bf6
Bc7 12.g5+ Kh7 13.g6+ Kg8 14.Ke4 a3
15.Be5 Bd8 16.Bd6 a2 17.Be5 Kf8 18.Kd3
Be7 19.Kc4 c5 20.Kb3 Kg8 21.Kxa2 c4 and
White is unable to make progress.
1...Kxh5 2.Bg5!
Threatening to promote.
2...c5+ 3.Kxc5 Bf2+ 4.Kd5 Bb6 White wins

72
So incredible is this study that 3700-rated Answer : We should back off to g1, which
Stockfish 15 took several minutes to solve it. eventually creates zugzwang.
1. Black has multiple pawns for the 8.Bg1!
piece, with three surging toward 8.Bxg3? d3 9.Bf4 Bf2 is drawn since White
their respective promotion squares. cannot set up a mating net.
2. Black's king doesn't look all that 8...g2 9.Bf2!
healthy on a8; if we move our king Zugzwang.
to a6, we threaten Nb6 mate. But 9...g1Q 10.Bxg1
big deal. Black can play 1...Bc5 to Another pawn falls, and Black is in zugzwang,
counter this. which is that awful situation where your spouse
1.Ka6 steals all the blankets, leaving you shivering for
Threat: Nb6 mate. the remainder of the night.
1...Bc5 10...Bc5
Covering the threat to mate on b6. Now we play
our first trick. a) 10...d3 11.Bxa7 d2 12.Nb6#.
2.Bxd6!
Overloaded defender. b) 10...Bb8 11.Nb6#.
2...Bxa7 11.Nxc5 d3 12.Nd7!
2...Bxd6? 3.Nb6#. The only reason to play 12.Nxd3 is to test to
3.Bb8!! see if you know how to mate with a bishop and
Threat: Bxa7 followed by Nb6 mate. knight against a lone king. What's that, you say?
3...Bc5 You don't know how to deliver mate with
bishop and knight? There must be some
a) 3...d3? 4.Bxa7 d2 5.Nb6#. solution to this. Give us a moment to think. We
have it! You can order our endgame books
b) 3…Bxb8? 4.Nb6#. which show you how.
4.Bxe5 Ba7 12...d2
Forced. 4...d3? 5.Nxc5 d2 6.Nd7 d1Q 7.Nb6#.
5.Bb8!
Dance!
5...Bc5 6.Bg3! Ba7
6...d3 7.Nxc5 d2 8.Nd7 d1Q 9.Nb6#.
7.Bf2!
Black is out of bishop moves.
7...g3 (D)
7...Bb8? 8.Nb6#.

White has three different mates in 2.

13.Ba7

a) 13.Nb6+ Kb8 14.Bh2#.

b) 13.Bh2 d1Q 14.Nb6#.

13...d1Q 14.Nb6# 1–0

(80)
Exercise (critical decision) : Should we A.Wotawa
grab the g-pawn or back our bishop off to g1? Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956

73

White wins
We must weave mating threats around Black's
king (you heard us correctly!) while
simultaneously halting Black's threats to
promote on the kingside.
1.Bd3+!
a) 1.Nb3? Nf4! d3 comes under the
knight's control, and Black wins.
b) 1.Bxg6? h2 2.Bd3+ b5 3.Ne4
(threat: Nc5 mate) 3...dxe4 4.Bxe4 g4
5.Kf7 g3 6.Ke6 h1Q! 7.Bxh1 g2! 8.Bxg2
stalemate.
c) 1.Nf1? Ne5 (seizing control over
d3) 2.Kg7 Kb5 3.Kf6 Ng4+ 4.Kxg5 h2
5.Ng3 Nf2 6.Kf4 Ne4!! (6...h1Q?
7.Nxh1 Nxh1 8.Ba2 is drawn) 7.Bxe4
dxe4 8.Kxe4 Kxb4 9.Kf3 Kxa5 10.Kg2
Kb4 11.Kxh2 a5 12.Nf5 a4 13.Ne3 Kb3
when the a-pawn promotes.
1...b5 2.Bxg6!
a) 2.axb6+? Kxb6 3.Nf1 Nf4! 4.Bf5
Kb5 White fights for the draw.
b) 2.Nf1? Nf4! 3.Bf5 (threatening
mate on c8) 3...Kb7! 4.Kg7 d4 5.Kh6
Nd5 6.Bxh3 Nxb4 7.Kxg5 Ka6 8.Kf5
Kxa5 9.Ke4 d3 10.Nd2 Ka4 11.Kd4 Ka3
12.Be6 Kb2 13.Nf3 a5 14.Kc5 is drawn.
2...h2 3.Ne4!
Threat: Nc5 mate.
a) 3.Nb3? Kb7 4.Nc5+ Kc6 5.Be8+
Kd6 6.Nb7+ Kc7 Black wins.
74
b) 3.Be4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Kb7 5.Ng3
Kc6 White is busted since Black's king
will wipe out the b and a-pawns.
3...dxe4
3...Kb7 is too slow. 4.Ng3 Kc6 5.Kf7 d4
6.Ke6 White wins.
4.Bf5!
Threat: Bc8 mate. 4.Bxe4? g4 5.Kf7 g3 6.Ke6
h1Q 7.Bxh1 g2 8.Bxg2 stalemate.
4...Kb7
4...h1Q? How wonderful to live with such an
innocent outlook on life. 5.Bc8#
5.Bxe4+ Ka6!
It's stalemate if Black can eliminate the g and
h-pawns.
5...Kc7 6.Kf7 Kd6 7.Kf6 Black's hope of king
entry is sealed off. 7...g4 8.Bh1 g3 9.Bg2 Kd7
10.Ke5 Kc7 11.Ke6! Kc8 12.Kd6 Kb8
13.Kc6 wins.
6.Kf7 g4
An 18th Century sailor treads water while
clinging desperately to a plank from the deck of
the now sunken ship. "At least it can't get any
worse than this," he muses. Then he notices a
pair of malevolent fins circling him. We just
described the black king's plight.
Exercise (planning): We arrive at the
position's inner sanctum. Exercise (planning):
Black's goal is to give away both passed pawns
to achieve stalemate. Is there a way for us to un-
stalemate Black's king?
Answer : There is: move our king to d5,
which allows Black's king unwanted access to
b7.
7.Ke6!
7.Ke7? g3 8.Kd7 h1Q 9.Bxh1 g2 10.Bxg2
7...g3 8.Kd5!
8.Kd6? h1Q! 9.Bxh1 g2! 10.Bxg2 Stalemate.
8...Kb7 9.Bh1 Ka6
9...Kc7 10.Kc5 a6 11.Bg2 Zugzwang. White
wins.
10.Ke4!
Our un-stalemate plan is repeated, over and
over.
10.Kc5? g2 11.Bxg2 h1Q 12.Bxh1 Stalemate.
10...Kb7 11.Kf4+ Ka6 12.Kf3!
How annoying for Black's king, who can't seem
to get himself stalemated.
12...Kb7 13.Kxg3+ Kc7
Exercise (critical decision/calculation) :
Our choices are 14 Kxh2 and 14 Kf4. Only one
is correct. Calculate the differences and pick: White wins
Answer : Our king can't afford the time to
decentralize and capture the h2–pawn. Black is about to promote to a new queen, and
13...Ka6 14.Kg2! Kb7 15.Kxh2+ Ka6 16.Kg2! coming up with a mating net is a grave urgency
on our part.
1.e6!!
We must clog the e6–square, the importance of
which only becomes apparent in note b).

a) 1.Kb7? Nf3 2.Kb6 Ne1! Black

wins.

b) 1.Kc7? fxe5! (1...h1Q? 2.Nd4!

wins) 2.Kb6 h1Q 3.Na5 Qh6+! This is
why we needed a black pawn on e6.
Without it, Black's queen can give a check,
and our side loses after 4.Nc6+ Qxc6+
Oh, no, you don't! Black's stalemate is once 5.Kxc6 e4.
again frustrated.16...Kb7 17.Kf3 Ka6 18.Ke4 1...fxe6 2.Kc7!
Kb7 19.Kd5 Ka6 20.Be4 Kb7 21.Kd6+ wins. 2.Kb7? Nf3 3.Kb6 Ne1! wins.
21...Ka6 22.Bd3 The b5–pawn falls, and Black 2...h1Q
never did get the stalemate.
14.Kf4! a) 2...Nf3 3.Nc5!! (threat: c2–c3+,
14.Kxh2? allows Black to escape with a draw followed by b2–b4 mate) 3...Kxc5 4.c3!
after 14...Kd6 15.Kg3 Ke5 16.Bc6 Kd4 d4 5.b4+ Kd5 6.c4#.
17.Bxb5 Kc3 18.a6 Kxb4 19.Bf1 Kc5 20.Kf4
Kd6 21.Kf5 Kc7 22.Ke6 Kb8 23.Kd6 Ka8 b) 2...Ne2 3.Bxe2 h1Q 4.Nd4! (threat:
White can't make progress, and the game is c2–c3+ and b2–b4 mate.) 4...Qc1 5.c3+
drawn. Qxc3+ (forced) 6.bxc3+ Kxc3 7.Nxe6 d4
14...Kd6 15.Kf5 Ke7 16.Ke5 Black's 8.Kd6 d3 9.Bd1 Kd2 10.Bh5 Ke1 11.Ke7
queenside pawns soon fall. 1–0 when both black f-pawns fall and White
wins.
(81)
A.Wotawa c) 2...d4 3.Nxd4 h1Q 4.c3+ Ka5
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958 5.Nb3+ Ka4 6.Nc5+ Ka5 7.b4#.
3.Nd4!
Nc6+ is in the air.
3...Qe4
This leads to mate in 6.

75
3...Ne2 4.Bxe2 Ka5 5.c3 Qe1 (5...Qe4 6.Nb3+
Ka4 7.Nc5+ Ka5 8.b4+ wins) 6.Nb3+ Ka4
7.Nc5+ Ka5 8.b4#.
4.c3+ Ka5 5.Nb3+!
5.Bxe4? (we, your endgame shepherds, both
learned through painful experiences in our
youth: If a chess nerd meets a beautiful woman
at a bar and, by a miracle, she gives you her
number, which happens to be: 123–456–78910,
you may as well stop calling it after the 10th try
since she gave you a fake one) 5...dxe4 6.b4+
Ka4 7.b5 e5! 8.b6 exd4 9.b7 dxc3 10.b8Q Ne2!
11.Qb1 Nd4!, and unbelievably, White can't
win.
5...Ka4 6.Nc5+ Ka5
Prove that our extra piece is worth more than
Black's surging passed pawn.
1.axb4 a4!
This is Black's trickiest response which forces
us to find a future double exclam move to win.
1...axb4 2.Bd6 Na2 3.Ne7 b3 4.Ba3+ b2
5.Nxd5 Kb1 6.Nc3+ Ka1 7.Kc2 Nxc3
8.Bxb2+ wins.
2.Kxc3 Kb1

Exercise (planning/combination alert):

You must dig deep for this one. Black is about
to promote to a new queen in three moves, and
with check! Find a way to coordinate White's
pieces to foil this plan:
Exercise (calculation): White mates in 3: Answer : Move the knight AWAY from
Answer : Just take the queen with the the action to an en prise square!
bishop. 3.Nh4!!
7.Bxe4! dxe4
7...Kb5 8.Bd3+ Kxc5 9.b4#
8.Kc6!
Seize control over b5.
8...Ne2 9.b4# 1–0

(82)
A.Wotawa
Tidskrift för Schack, 1963

a) 3.Nf4? a3 4.Nxd5 a2 5.b5 a1Q+

6.Kc4 Qa2+ 7.Kc5, and the game should
end in a draw.

b) 3.Bf4? gxf4 4.Ne5 a3 5.Nf3 a2

6.Nd2+ Kc1 7.Nb3+ Kd1 8.b5 f3 9.b6 f2
White wins

76
 10.b7 f1Q 11.b8Q a1Q+! 12.Nxa1 Qc4+ c) c) 1.Kb8? Nxc5 2.Bc8+ Kb6 3.e7
13.Kb2 Qxd4+ 14.Kb1 Qe4+ draw. Bc6 4.Nf5 Nd7+ 5.Bxd7 Bxd7 draw.
3...gxh4 1...Bxe6
3...a3 4.Nf3 a2 5.Nd2+ halts the promotion and 1...Kb5 2.Bxb7 Bxe6 3.c6 Kb6 4.Kb8 Bd5
wins. 5.c7! transposes.
4.Bf4!! 2.Bxb7+!
Step 2: Prepare to give away a second piece! 2.Bxe6? Nxc5 draw.
4...a3 5.Bc1! Kxc1 6.Kb3 2...Kb5 3.c6 Kb6 4.Kb8 Bd5! 5.c7!
Hail Satan. How the hell did Wotawa pull that
off? We can only speculate that he made an
agreement with the devil to come up with a
solution to this most devious of studies. 1–0

(83)
Wotawa,A -
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

We can't allow Black to win our final pawn.

5.Nf5? (now is not the time to get materialistic)
5...Bxc6 draw.
5...Bxb7 6.Nf7!
The move is the key. Suddenly Black's king and
bishop are both short of options.
6...Ba6
When grief merely alters form, it's still grief.
White wins Also, losing for Black are the lines
Exercise (critical decision): We are up a) 6...Kc6 7.Nd8+.
two pawns and can't allow Black to win both,
even at the cost of a piece. Our choices are
b) 6...Ka6 7.Nd6.
between a) 1 e6–e7, b) 1 c5–c6, c) 1 Bc8, and
7.Nd8!
d) 1 Kb8.
Zugzwang.
Which one would you play?
7...Kc5 8.Nb7+! Interference. 1–0
Answer : Only c), the pin of Black's knight,
works.
(84)
1.Bc8!
A.Wotawa
Houston Chronicle, 1965
a) 1.c6? The fallout from this natural
yet incorrect move is a draw. 1...Nc5
2.Bc8+ (a1) 2.Kb8 Bxc6 draw, or a2) 2.e7?
Nxd7 3.e8Q Bxc6#) 2...Kb6 3.e7 Bxc6+
4.Kb8 Nd7+ 5.Bxd7 Bxd7 draw.

b) 1.e7? Nxc5+ 2.Kb8 Nxd7+ 3.Kc7

Nf6 4.Ng4 Ne8+ 5.Kd7 Bf7 and Black
holds the draw.

77
 3...Bc4 4.a4! e1Q 5.Bb7#.
4.Bd3+! Bb5
4...b5 5.Bxe2 Kb6 6.Kc8! White's king walks
over and takes the g7–pawn.
5.c4!

White wins
Another Wotawa shocker lies ahead.
Exercise (combination alert/planning):
What is White's only winning plan?
Answer : Use White's king in the attack to
travel to b8 via c8, giving away both knights in 5...e1Q
the process! This is the less painful euthanasia route.
1.Kc8!! Black can prolong the suffering without
altering the result, with 5...Bd7 6.Bxe2 c5
a) 1.Ncd4? e1Q 2.Kc8 c6! 3.Nc7+ 7.Kc7 Bf5 8.bxc5 bxc5 9.Kc6 wins.
Ka7 4.Ndb5+ cxb5 5.Nxb5+ Ka6 6.Nc7+ 6.cxb5# 1–0
is perpetual check.
(85)
b) 1.Bd3? Bxc6+ 2.Kxc6 e1Q 3.a4 A.Wotawa
Qd1 4.Nxc7+ Ka7 5.Nb5+ Kb8 6.Bg6 München Olympiad Deutsche Schachblätter,
Qd8 is a likely draw. 1936

c) 1.Kxc7? e1Q 2.a4 Qg3+ 3.Nd6

Bxc6 4.b5+! Bxb5 5.axb5+ Ka5 6.c4 is a
likely draw.

d) 1.Nb8+? Kb7! Black promotes and

wins.
1...Bxc6
1...Kxb5 2.Bd3+ Kxc6 3.Bxe2 is won for
White since White's king threatens to walk over
and chop the g7–pawn. When Black's king
helps defend it, White creates a fatal passed a-
pawn.
2.Kb8! White wins
Now we give away another piece to hem in
Black's king further. Our extra knight is stuck in the corner, and on
2...Bxb5 top of that, Black threatens the simple ...Bf6,
2...Kxb5? 3.Bd3+ Ka4 4.Bxe2 wins. followed by ...g7–g7 mate. How do we get out
3.Be4! of this one?
Threat: Bb7 mate. Answer : Step 1: Give away our knight on
3.Bf5? Bd7! 4.Bd3+ b5 5.Bxe2 Kb6 Black b6.
holds a draw. 1.Nb6!!
3...Bc6

78
 a) 1.Nxc7? Bxc7 2.g4 g6! 3.g5 Bb6 8.g6+ Kf8 Stalemate.
(threatening a deadly bishop check on d4) Or 8...Kxg6. ½–½
4.Be3 Bd8 5.Bf4 d5 6.Be3 Ba5! 7.Bd2
Bb6 8.Be3 d4 wins. (86)
A.Wotawa
b) 1.Be3? Bf6! 2.Bg5 Ba1 3.Nxc7 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
g6+ 4.Bf6 Bxf6#.
1...cxb6

a) 1...g5 2.Nd7! gxf4 3.gxf4 c5 4.f5

c4 (4...Ba5 5.Ne5+! dxe5 6.f6 Bd8
stalemate) 5.f6 c3 6.Ne5+! Kf8 (capturing
the knight is an immediate stalemate)
7.Ng6+ Kf7 8.Ne5+ is a perpetual check
since unplayable for Black is 8...Kxf6??
9.Kg8 wins.

b) 1...Bf6 2.Nd5 Ba1 3.Bd2! Be5

4.Bc3 Bxg3 5.Bxg7 and White holds the
draw. White draws

c) 1...g6 (threat: ...Bf6 mate) 2.Nd7 Matters appear dire for White, who is unable to
Be7 3.Bh6 c5 4.Bg7 c4 (c1) 4...d5 5.Ne5+ halt promotion. Nor is White able to create a
Ke6 6.Kg8 wins, or c2) 4...Bd8 5.Nf6! c4 mating net.
6.Ng4 Bg5 7.Bc3 Kf8 8.Nf6 Kf7 9.Ne4 1.Bd4!!
Be7 10.Bg7 d5 11.Nd2 Bc5 12.Nf3 Bd6 1.Nh2? a2 when There is no mating net, Black
13.Ne5+ wins) 5.Nb6 White wins. promotes and wins.
2.Bg5! Bc7 1...exd4+ 2.Kf3 a2 3.Ng3
2...Bxg5 3.g4 Bf6 4.g5! Ba1 (4...Bxg5 is Threat: Nf5 mate, which looks easy to cover.
stalemate) 5.g6+ Kf8 stalemate. 3...g6
3.Bd8! Bb8
Everyone knows that in a race between a rabbit
and a tortoise, the rabbit is the one who gets
shafted.
4.Bc7! Ba7 5.Bb8!

Exercise (planning): This is our draw-or-

You can run, but you can't hide. The a7–
fugitive is trapped.
5...Bxb8 6.g4 d5 7.g5 Be5
Threat: ...g7–g6 mate, but one move too slow.
be-killed moment. Work out White's coming
stalemate:
Answer : Transfer the knight to h1,
followed by g2–g3+.
4.Nh1!
With this move, White self-entombs.
4.Nf5+? gxf5 5.g3+ Kh3 Black wins.
4...a1Q 5.g3+! Kh3 Stalemate. ½–½

79
(87) (88)
A.Wotawa A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944 Schach Magazin, 1949

White draws White draws

How does White deal with Black's double Our first move is evident since it appears that
promotion threats? our only chance for a swindle is to move our
1.Ke2! king to a6 and then play for the cheap trap Nb4
1.Nxd2? loses to 1...a2. and Nxc6 mate.
1...d1Q+ 1.Ka6
Threat: Nb4 and Nxc6 mate.
a) 1...axb2 2.Nxd2 draw. 1...Bc5
Nb4 must be prevented.
b) 1...a2 2.Nd4+ Ka4 3.Nc2 Bb3
4.Kxd2 Bxc2 5.b3+! Kxb3 6.Bd4 draw. a) 1...c5? 2.Nc3 g2 (2...c6 3.Bf8!
2.Kxd1 Bb3+ 3.Kc1 a2 4.Nd4+ Kb4 Threat: Bd6 mate. 3...Kc7 4.Ne4 wins, as
4...Kc4 is the same as the study's finish. does Ka7) 3.Nd5 Bd4 (3...c6 is met with
5.Be1+ Kc4 4.Bf8) 4.Ne7.

b) 1...g2? 2.Nb4 Black is mated next

move.
2.Bf8!!
Step 2: Decoy.
2...Bxf8
2...f3? 3.Bxc5 f2 4.Ba7#
3.c5!
Step 3: Interference. Push to c5, renewing the
threat to mate with Nb4 and Nxc6 mate.
3...Bxc5

We have seen White's drawing idea several

times in the notes already, and this version
comes with a little twist.
6.Nc2! Bxc2 7.b3+! Kxb3 8.Bc3!
Suddenly, Black's expected win begins to fold
inward.
8...Kxc3 Stalemate. ½–½

80
 Did you fall for 2...a1Q? 3.Nc7#? Oh, the
shame, the wrongness of it. Actually, we would
be delighted if our opponents fell for it!
3.Na3+ Kb4 4.Nxc2+ Kb3 5.Na1+!

Exercise (combination alert): Black's

bishop believes he has doused the white
knight's pagan flame by preventing Nb4 and
Nxc6 mate. Do you see White's drawing idea?
Answer : White must be rid of all pawn
moves to create stalemate. Pushing the b-pawn
up one square accomplishes this.
4.b3!! g2 5.Nb4!
Threat: Nxc6 mate, forcing Black to capture.
5...Bxb4 Stalemate. ½–½
(89)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Kurier, 1952
You will not take that which is rightfully mine!
We have enough time to sacrifice both our
knights for the lone a-pawn.
5.Nd4+ Kc3 6.Nc6 a1Q 7.Nb6 This is not so
easy for the queen to win.
5...Kb2 6.Nb6 Kxa1 7.Na4! Kb1 8.Nc3+
Kb2 9.Nxa2 ½–½
(90)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954

White draws
How can White's knights catch Black's White draws
runaway a-pawn?
Answer : Our position is loaded with problems.
1.Nc4! 1. Black threatens our e-pawn, and if
1.Kb8? Bd3! 2.Nc7+ Kb6 3.Nb7 (3.Nd5+ we push it and promote it, then
Kc5 4.Nc3 Kxd6 5.Kb7 Kc5 6.Na2 Bb1 Black can play 1...Nh5!,
7.Nc3 Kb4 forces promotion) 3...Bc4! Black threatening ...Ng3+ followed by a
forces promotion and wins. deadly bishop check on d4.
1...a2 2.Kb8!! 2. Our knight on c3 hangs.
White sets up a devilish trap. How do we solve these issues?
2...Kb5! 2.e7!

81
We push anyway, ignoring Black's threat to
mate us.
2.exf7? Bg7 halts the f-pawn and wins.
2...Nh5!
2...Bxc3 3.e8Q Ncd3 4.Qxf7 is drawn.
3.Ne4!
Covering Black's mating threat is the highest
priority.
3.e8Q? Ng3+ 4.Kg1 Bd4+ 5.Qe3 Bxe3#.
3...Ng7
3...Ne2 4.Nf2+! (Black's attackers are no
longer the Dream Team, but not 4.e8Q? Nhg3+
5.Nxg3 Nxg3+ 6.Kg1 Bd4+ 7.Qe3 Bxe3#) White draws
4...Kg3 5.Ne4+ Kh3 6.Nf2+ and White simply
repeats the position. We must find a way to halt Black's forward h-
4.Ng5+! pawn from promoting:
1.c7!
1.Nxa5? Bc7! Black promotes and wins.
1...Bxc7 2.Nxa5 Bxa5 (D)
2...h2? 3.Bb7+ Ka7 4.Bh1 White wins.

This check wins Black's bishop.

a) 4.Nd6? Ne8! (interference) 5.Nxe8

Ne2 6.Nd6 Ng3+ 7.Kg1 Bd4#.
Exercise (combination alert) : We can still
b) 4.Nf6 Ne2 White is busted. draw if you find the right idea:
4...Kg4 5.Nxf7 ½–½ Answer : Set up a stalemate by backing
our king to a4.
(91) 3.Ka4!!
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1955 a) 3.Kc6? h2 4.Bb7+ Kb8! White's
bishop cannot control the promotion
square.

b) 3.Kxa5? h2 wins.
3...h2 4.Bc4!
This is our point: It's stalemate if Black's (future)
queen is lured to d5.
4...Ka7
4...h1Q? 5.Bd5+! Qxd5 is stalemate.
5.Bd5 Kb6 6.Ba8 h4
6...Be1 7.Kb3 Kc5 8.Kc2 Kd4 9.Kd1 Ba5
10.Ke2 Ke5 11.Kf2 Kf4 12.Kg2 draw.

82
 7.Bh1 h3

White wins

Exercise (critical decision/calculation): We can win Black's knight or bishop by

We lose if Black's king reaches g1. What promoting our e-pawn. The problem is that our
should we play? king is far away from Black's passed a-pawn,
Answer : Only by moving our bishop to a8 and our lone bishop will get shoved aside, as
do we gain the necessary time for our king to Black promotes. We have but one narrow path
reach f1. to escape a loss.
8.Ba8! 1.c4!
It's never too late to blow it in chess. Decoy.
1.Bc2? a3 2.Bb3 Kd6 3.e7 Nf4! 4.e8Q Bxe8
5.Kxe8 Nd3 6.Kd8 Nc5 7.Ba2 Ne4 8.Kc8
a) 8.Kb3? (this leads to the critical
loss of a tempo) 8...Kc5 9.Kc2 Kd4 Nxc3 9.Bb3 (9.Bg8? Nd5 shuts out the bishop)
9...Kc5 10.Kb7 Kb4 11.Bf7 Ne2 12.Kb6 Nc1
10.Kd1 Ke3 (White's king lacks access to
and there is no answer to the coming ...Nb3 and
either e2 or e1) 11.Ba8 Kf2 wins.
Black wins.
1...Bxc4
b) 8.Bf3? (any old bishop move fails
No choice.
since Black's king gains a tempo if this
1...Ba6? 2.e7 Nf6 3.Kf7 White wins.
bishop moves to f3, e4, or d5) 8...Be1
2.e7 Nf6 3.e8Q+! Nxe8
9.Kb3 Kc5 10.Kc2 Kd4 11.Kd1 Ke3
(White's world is no longer sunshine and
cotton candy. This position would be
drawn if White's bishop was on a8. This
critical loss of tempo costs our side the
game) 12.Bb7 Ba5 13.a4 Kf2 Black wins.
8...Be1 9.Kb3 Kc5 10.Kc2 Kd4 11.Kd1
The attack on the bishop gains White the
crucial tempo needed to hold the draw.
11...Bh4 12.Ke2 ½–½

(92)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958
Exercise (combination alert): How does
White force a draw?
Answer : Bang our bishop down on d7.
4.Bd7+!
4.Kxe8? a3 5.Bb1 Kc5 (in a fight between
three hawks and a pair of hummingbirds, you
would be wise to place your bet on the former;

83
White's puny bishop will be muscled out from
its perch on b1) 6.Ke7 Kd4 7.Kd6 Kc3 8.Kc5
Kb2 wins.
4...Kxd7 stalemate.
4...Kd6 5.Bxa4! is also drawn. ½–½

(93)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

We achieved an iron blockade of f3. ½–½

(94)
A.Wotawa
Schach Echo, 1961

White draws
Exercise (combination alert): Try and
work out White's miracle draw:
Answer : Step 1: Transfer the bishop to e2.
3.Be2!!
3.Nc5? Kxc5 4.Bb7 Kd4 5.Kf7 Ke3 6.Kg6
Kf2 7.Kh5 Bg5 wins.
3...h1Q 4.Bf3+! White draws
"Embrace me, and all your forbidden desires Not only are we down a pawn, but also Black's
will come true," says Black's startled queen to a-pawn threatens to surge up the board.
the bishop. 1.Nxa4!
Step 2: Attraction. We can still hold the draw if we eliminate
4...Qxf3 5.Ne5+! Black's final pawn.
Step 3: Knight fork/stalemate.
5...Kd5 a) 1.Ke7? a3 2.Nd1 Ne2 3.Ne3 Nd4
5...fxe5 stalemate. 4.Ng2 Kxb6 5.Kf6 Kc5 6.Ke5 Bc4 wins.
6.Nxf3
White can hold the draw with accurate play.
b) 1.Nd1? Kxb6+ 2.Ke7 Ne2 wins.
6...Bg5
1...Bxa4
6...Bf2 7.Kf7 f5 8.Kf6 Ke4 9.Ng5+ Kf4
1...Kb7+ 2.Ke7 Bxa4 3.Bh7 Bc2 4.Kf6 Draw.
10.Nh3+ draws.
2.Bh7 Nh5
7.Kf7 Ke4 8.Ne1 Bh4 9.Kg6 f5 10.Ng2 Bg3
Black operates under the presumption that the
11.Kg5 Bc7 12.Kf6 Bf4
f-pawn is tactically protected due to a knight
12...Bd8+ 13.Kg6 Be7 14.Kh5 Kf3 15.Kg6.
fork on g7.
13.Nh4 Be5+ 14.Kg5 f4 15.Kg4
2...Bc2 3.Ke7 Nd5+ 4.Ke6 Ne3 5.Ke5 Nc4+
6.Kf4 Nd6 7.Ke5 Draw.
3.Bxf5!

84
 2. Black's forward c-pawn is threatening to
promote after a move like ...Bg5.How can we
still hold the draw?
Answer : First, we must give away a knight
for Black's forward c-pawn.
1.Na5+ Kb5

a) 1...Kd7 2.Nxc4 Bf4 3.Nxf4 c1Q

4.Ne5+ Kc8 5.Ned3 Qc6 6.Bf2 should
end in a draw.

b) 1...Kc7? 2.Bg3+ Kc8 3.Ne1 White

The bishop expects to receive the military wins.
Purple Heart medal, even though his "wound" 2.Nxc4! Kxc4
was from a paper cut. We give away our second 2...Bxb2 3.Nd6+ Kc6 4.Bd2 Kxd6 5.Bxh6
piece to achieve stalemate. c1Q 6.Bxc1 Bxc1 7.Kg4 Kd5 8.Kf3 Kd4
3.Ke7? Ng3 4.Kf6 f4 wins. 9.Ke2 Kc3 10.Ne1 Bh6 11.Nf3 a3 12.Kd1
3...Ng7+ 4.Kd8! Nxf5 5.b7! Kb2 13.Ne1 Kxa2 14.Nc2 Draw.
Attraction. This move forces Black's king to cut 3.b3+!
off our c8–square, which in turn produces Step 2: Give away both our a- and b-pawns for
stalemate. Black's a-pawn.
5...Kxb7 Stalemate. ½–½ 3.Bf2? Bxb2 4.Ne3+ Kd3 5.Nxc2 Kxc2
6.Kxh6 (6.Be3 Bc1) 6...Kb1 7.Kg5 Kxa2
(95) 8.Kf4 Kb3 9.Bc5 Bc1+ 10.Ke4 Ba3 11.Bd4
A.Wotawa Bd6 12.Kd3 a3 13.Bf6 a2 14.Bd4 Ba3 wins
Illustrierte Berliner Zeitung, 1964 since ...Bb2 follows.
3...axb3 4.axb3+ Kxb3 5.Bc3!
Step 3: Clearance. We open e1 for our knight.
5...Be3!
5...Kxc3 6.Ne1 Be3 7.Nxc2 is a draw since
Black is left with the wrong-colored bishop and
rook pawn.
6.Bb2!!

White draws
Few of us are brave enough to confront our
phobias. It's unlikely most titled players will
even come close to solving this one, which
from a difficulty scale of 1 to 10, is an 11! It's
essential that we at least try and only then look
up the answer. Step 4: Attraction.
Exercise (combination alert): Well, here 6.Nxe3? c1Q Black wins.
we are. The question is: where is "here?" 6...Bd2
1. We are up two pieces for two black pawns. 6...Kxb2 7.Ne1! c1N (7...c1Q 8.Nd3+ Draw)
8.Nf3 Kc3 9.Nh4 Ne2 10.Nf5 Bd2 11.Nxh6
draw.

85
 7.Bc1! yoked with defensive issues since our bishop is
Step 5: Interference. trapped:
7...Bxc1 1. It gets forked on f5 if we move it
7...Kc3 8.Ne3! Bxc1 9.Nxc2 Draw. to e7.
8.Ne1! 2. It gets skewered with 1...Bb2+, if
Request permission to engage the enemy, we chop the f6–pawn.
Captain! 3. We lose if we begin with 1 Ne6
Step 6: Give away our last piece to reach a since Black has the simple double
drawn rook pawn and wrong-colored bishop attack 1...Kd7.
ending. 4. 1.b5–b6 is met by 1...Bxc5+,
8...Bd2 9.Nxc2 Kxc2 10.Kg4 Kd1 11.Kf3 followed by 2...Kxd8.
Ke1 12.Kg2 One of these lines saves White. Which one?
Answer : We should deliberately fall into
Black's skewer.
1.Bxf6!!

a) 1.Ne6? Kd7 2.Kd5 Ne8!

Zugzwang. White loses a piece.

b) 1.Be7? Nf5+ Forks.

c) 1.Bxc7? Bxc5+ 2.Kxc5 Kxc7

3.b6+ Kd7 wins.

d) 1.b6? Bxc5+ 2.Kxc5 Kxd8 wins.

Our king reaches h1, and we hold the draw. 1...Bb2+
½–½ 1...Bxc5+ 2.Kxc5 Ne4+ 3.Kc6 Nxf6 4.b6
eliminates Black's final pawn and draws.
(96) 2.Kd5 Bxf6 3.b6!
A.Wotawa 3.Kc6? Nc4! Black wins since the c7–pawn
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967 can't be swapped away.
3...cxb6 4.Nd7!

White draws
We are within sight of our ultimate goal. Triple
Exercise (combination alert/critical attack on f6, d6, and b6. Black loses the final
decision): In most of our over-the-board pawn, and the position is drawn.
chess games, many of our move choices are
guided by telepathic means, which equates to a) 4.Kxd6? loses to 4...Be7+! 5.Kxe7
wild guesses. We can't do that here and must bxc5.
work out the details. In this position, we are

86
 b) 4.Na4? b5 5.Nc5 Be7 6.Ke6 Bf8 e) 1.Kg8?? Bd5+ 2.f7 g5 and Black
7.Kd5 b4!. wins.
4...Kxd7 Stalemate. 1...Bd5 2.Kd6! Bf7 3.Kd7! Bd5 4.c6+!
Other moves lead to a similar outcome:

a) 4...Be7 5.Nxb6+ draw.

b) 4...Bd8 5.Kxd6 draw.

c) 4...b5 5.Kxd6 b4 6.Nxf6 b3 7.Ne4

b2 8.Nd2 draw. ½–½

4.4 Minor piece(s) vs pawns

(97)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937 Decoy. White goes for a scorched earth policy.
4...Bxc6+
Both the tree's roots and fruit are poisoned.
4...Kb6 5.c7 wins.
5.Kd6! Be8 6.Ke7! The white king's malice
has run its course since now the bishop's claim
to f7 is impinged by the presence of the g6–
pawn. 1–0

(98)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1938

White wins
We can obviously draw if our king chops the
loose g6–pawn. How do we win, though? Our
choices are: a) 1 Kxg6, b) 1 Ke7, c) 1 Ke8, d)
Ke6, e) 1 Kg7, and f) 1. Kg8.
Only one move out of the lot wins. Which one?
Answer:
1.Ke7!!

a) 1.Ke8? g5! 2.f7 Bh5! and Black

wins. White wins

b) 1.Ke6? Kc6! 2.Kf7 g5 3.Kg6 Bd5 The power of endgame studies is that they
draw. eradicate the superficial within our analysis.
You would think a simplified position would be
c) 1.Kxg6? Bd5 draw. easy to solve, and it's the exact opposite.
1. We are up a full piece.
d) 1.Kg7? Bd5 2.f7 Bxf7 3.Kxf7 g5 2. The problem is our f-pawn is about
4.Ke6 Kc6 draw. to be removed from the board,
leaving us with only our a-pawn.

87
 3. If Black's king can reach the a8–
corner, the position is drawn since
we are stuck with rook pawn and
wrong colored bishop.
Exercise (planning): It's clear from the
data that we MUST prevent Black's king from
reaching a8. How do we accomplish this?
Answer : Seize control over the critical b6–
square via Be7!! and Bd8!.
1.Be7!!
The deep point of the move is to seize control
over b6 later on with Bd8!
Hey, is this one of those "micro-aggressions"
a) 1.Bb4? exf2+ 2.Kf1 c5 3.Bxc5 Ke4 we keep hearing about? Now we see the
4.a4 Kd5 5.Bxf2 Kc6 6.a5 Kb7 and brilliant point behind the first move of the study
Black's king reaches the drawing corner. 1 Be7!!: White seized control over b6. Black's
king is frozen in place since if he moves, White
b) 1.Bc5? exf2+ 2.Kf1 Ke4 3.a4 Kd5 promotes.
4.Bxf2 c5 5.a5 Kc6 draw. 6...c4
6...Kd7 Okay, let's go with directionless, blind
c) 1.Kf1? c5! 2.Bxc5 exf2 3.a4 Ke4 panic. Of course, this fails miserably to the
4.a5 Kd5 5.a6 Kc6 6.Kxf2 Kc7 and the simple 7.a7
drawing corner is reached. 7.Kxf2 c3 8.Ke2 c2 9.Kd2 c1Q+ 10.Kxc1
Zugzwang. White promotes. 1–0
d) 1.fxe3? (an experienced solver of
endgame studies won't even bother (99)
looking at this one since the move is way A.Wotawa
too close to what we would all play Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939
without thinking in an over-the-board
game) 1...Kxe3 2.Bc5+ Kd3 3.a4 Kc4
4.Bb6 Kb4 5.a5 Kb5 Black's king heads
for a8 and the game is drawn.
1...exf2+
a) 1...e2 2.Bb4 c5 3.Be1 c4 4.a4 Ke4 5.f4!
Kxf4 6.a5 wins since Black's king is outside the
square of White's passed pawn.
b) 1...Ke4 2.fxe3! Kxe3 3.a4 Kd4 4.a5 The c6–
pawn interferes with the black king's attempt to
stop our a-pawn, and Black loses.
2.Kf1 c5
This clears a path for Black's king to reach a8,
except it doesn't! White wins
3.a4
Now is not the time to get greedy with 3.Bxc5? This twin study is similar to the last one in the
Ke4 4.a4 Kd5 5.Bxf2 Kc6 6.a5 Kb7 Draw. book.
3...Ke4 4.a5 Kd5 5.a6 Kc6 6.Bd8! White faces considerable obstacles to the win:
1. White's king is far away from the
arena of action.
2. Black threatens to play ...c6–c5,
followed by ...Kd3.
3. The possible exchange of the c4–
pawn leaves White vulnerable to

88
 rook pawn and wrong-colored
bishop draws.
1.c5!
This way, White creates a passed a-pawn.

a) 1.Kxh7? c5! 2.Bxc5 Kd3! 3.Bxb6

Kxc4 4.a4 Kb4 5.a5 Kb5 with a draw,
since Black's king reaches a8.

b) 1.Bc5? is clever, but not as clever

as Black's next move… 1...Kd3! 2.Bxb6
Kxc4 3.a4 Kb4 4.a5 Kb5 draw.
1...bxc5
1...b5? 2.Bb4 is an easy win for White, since
a2–a3 secures both white pawns and also the
bishop.
2.Bb2!!
b2 is the only square that works.
a) 2.Bc1? Kd3 3.a4 Kc4 4.Bd2 Kd5
5.a5 Kd6 6.Bf4+ Kd7 7.a6 Kc8 8.Kxh7
c4 9.Kg6 c3 10.Kf5 c2 11.Ke6 c1Q!
Decoy. 12.Bxc1 Kb8 draw.
b) 2.Bxc5? Kd3 3.a4 Kc4 4.Bb6 c5
5.a5 Kb5 draw.
2...Kd3 3.a4 Kc4
Threat: ...Kb4. 3...c4? 4.a5 c3 5.Ba3 Kc4 6.a6
wins.
4.Bc3!
Seizing control over b4. Black is in zugzwang.
4...Kd5
4...Kxc3 5.a5 Kd2 6.a6 c4 7.a7 c3 8.a8Q c2
9.Qa5+ Kd1 10.Qa4 Kd2 11.Qd4+ Ke2
12.Qc3 Kd1 13.Qd3+ Kc1 14.Kg5 Kb2
15.Qd4+ Kb1 16.Qb4+ Ka2 17.Qc3 Kb1
18.Qb3+ (this would be drawn if Black's c6 and
h7 pawns didn't exist, since then, Black could
play ...Ka1) 18...Kc1 19.Kf4 wins.
5.a5 Kd6
Exercise (combination alert ): How do we
proceed?
Answer : Plant our bishop on e5, where it
can't be taken.
6.Be5+!
Removal of the guard/interference.
6...Kd7
6...Kxe5 7.a6 promotes.
7.a6 Kc8 8.Kg5!
Our king must stop Black's forward c-pawn, not
our bishop, who must remain on its current
diagonal to cover against ...Kb8.
8.Kxh7? "The number you have reached is out
of service. Please try again or contact the
operator." This distraction allows Black to hold
the draw after 8...c4 9.Kg6 c3 10.Bxc3 Kb8
11.Bd4 c5 12.Bxc5 Ka8.
8...c4 9.Kf4! c3 10.Ke3

White wins since Black's king will never

reach the drawing corner. 1–0

(100)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939

89
 White wins Exercise (critical decision) : Two
candidate moves pop up: we can move the
1. White's bishop must multi-task bishop to d3, threatening Bg6 mate, or we can
between attempting to deliver mate move the bishop to b5, threatening Be8 mate.
to Black's king, and halting Black's Be careful. Only one of the moves works:
passed pawns. Answer : b5 is the correct square for the
2. A bishop check on e8, f7, or g6 bishop.
becomes more than just a check if 4.Bb5!
we can toss in h2–h4; since then, 4.Bd3? looks deadly yet fails miserably to 4...f5!
the black king has been mated. 5.Bxf5 Qc6! White has no mate and must
Exercise (planning): How should we resign.
proceed? 4...c6
Answer : Push the e-pawn only a single It's critical to provoking this pawn move since
square. it denies Black the ...g6–f5 and ...Qc6
1.e3! defensive resource, while 4...Qxe3 5.Be8#
The powerful do not need to raise their voices ends the game.
to be heard. Only this understated move wins. 5.Bd3!
1.e4? c3! 2.Be2 c2 3.h3 f5! 4.exf5 c1Q White If Black's king is Cinderella, Black's queen is a
has no mate, and Black wins. loser of a fairy godmother since she cannot
1...c3 move to c6, which means her king is mated.
1...Kg5? 2.Bxc4 wins. 5...f5 6.Bxf5 Black cannot play Qc6,
2.Be2! defending the g6–mating square and its mate in
Step 2: Don't worry about Black's promotion. two moves at the most. 1–0
Let's go for mate instead.
2.Bd3? a4 3.Bb1 a3 White's bishop is (101)
overloaded, and one of Black's pawns will A.Wotawa
promote. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939
2...c2
2...Kg5 (choosing our manner or time of our
death is a false feeling of control) 3.Bd1! (this
halts both black passed pawns) 3...Kf5 4.Bc2+
Ke6 5.e4 Kd6 6.Kg6 c5 7.d5 Ke5 8.Kf7! Kd6
9.Ba4 c4 10.Bd1 Kd7 11.Kg6 Kd6 12.Kf5
wins.
3.h4!
Sealing Black's king in his tomb.
3...c1Q

White wins

90
Black is about to make a new queen with the e-
pawn in just two moves. Our two extra pieces
feel like they reside in a galaxy far, far away.
We must coordinate mating threats against
Black's king with clever tricks to halt
promotion.
1.Ng6!!
For now, this just feels like a delusion of
grandeur since it neither threatens Black's king
nor halts Black's passer. On top of that, the
knight simply hangs! Keep watching.
1.Bg7+? Our mothers always told us that
everything happens for a reason. Quite often,
the reason is: we did something dumb! 1...Ke6!
2.Ng6 e2 3.h4 e1Q 4.h5 a3! 5.bxa3 Qxc3
6.Nf8+ Ke7! 7.h6 Qxf3 8.h7 Qh3 9.h8Q
Qxh8+ 10.Kxh8 f3 11.Ng6+ Ke6 wins since
the f-pawn can't be caught.
1...Kxg6
1...e2 2.Be7+! Kxg6 (2...Ke6 3.Nxf4+! gxf4
4.Bh4 c5 5.dxc5 d4 6.Be1 successfully
blockades Black's passed pawns) 3.h4!
transposes.
2.Be7! e2 3.h4! e1Q
3...gxh4 4.Bxh4 c5 5.dxc5 d4 6.c6 dxc3 7.c7
cxb2 8.c8R (it's not against the law to show off.
Of course, a queen gets the job done as well)
8...b1Q 9.Rc6#.
4.h5+ Kh6 5.Bf8# 1–0
(102)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940
White wins
This is a 23–move study, so be warned: this is
a labor-intensive project!
91
We immediately see the idea 1.Ka3 and 2.b2–
b4 is mate. Let's start there and see where it
leads us.
1.Ka3!
Threat: b2–b4 mate.
1.Bf3? Be8 is lost for White since Black's king
is safe.
1...Be8
Black must give up the bishop.
1...Bf1? 2.b4+ Kb5 3.e7 promotes and wins.
2.b4+ Kb5 3.Ba4+ Kc4 4.Bxe8 Kd5!
Keeping watch over White's intended Bc6.
5.e7!
Threat: Bf7+, followed by promotion.
5.Bb5? Kxe6 6.Bxa6 h2 7.Bb7 b5! 8.Kb3 Kf5
9.Kc3 Kg4 10.Kd4 Kxh5 11.Kc5 Kh4
12.Kxb5 g5 13.Kc4 Kg3! 14.b5 g4 15.b6 Kf2
16.Bd5 g3 17.b7 g2 18.b8Q g1Q 19.Qf4+ Ke1
20.Qxh6 is drawn.
5...Ke6 6.Bb5!
This gains White a crucial tempo.
6...Kxe7 7.Bxa6 h2
After 7...Kf6 8.Ka4 Kg5 9.Be2 Kf4 10.Bf1
Kg3 11.Bc4 h2 12.Bd5, Black is too slow.
8.Bb7 b5!
Black gains time cutting off White's king.
9.Kb3 Kf6 10.Kc3 Kg5 11.Bf3!
This move gains a tempo for the bishop to reach
c6. We are at an unrecognizable shore, and at
this stage, it's virtually impossible to see who
will be faster in the mutual promotion race.
11...Kf4
11...h1Q 12.Bxh1 Kxh5 13.Kd4 g5 14.Kc5 g4
15.Kxb5 Kh4 16.Kc5 and Black is once more
too slow.
12.Bc6 Kg5 13.Kd4!
13.Bf3 Kf4 14.Bc6 Kg5 repeats the position.
13...Kxh5 14.Kc5 g5 15.Kxb5 Kh4 16.Kc4
g4 17.b5 Kh3 18.b6 g3 19.b7 g2
 This move is destined to be the agent of the
black king's eventual destruction.

a) 1.f4? a3 2.e6 dxe6 3.Be5 a2 4.Bxd4

Kxf4 5.Kg6 e5 6.Ba1 e4! 7.dxe4 Kxe4
8.Kf6 Kd3 9.Ke5 Kxc4 10.Kd6 Kb5
11.Bd4 a1Q! (decoy) 12.Bxa1 b6 13.cxb6
Kxb6 draw.

b) 1.Be7? a3 2.Bf6 a2 3.e6 Kxf6

4.exd7 Ke7, and Black wins.

c) 1.Bf8? a3 2.Bg7 a2 3.e6 a1Q 4.exd7

20.Bd7+! Qa8 5.Bxd4 Qd8 and Black wins.
White must shift Black's king to a dark square.
20.b8Q? g1Q is drawn. d) 1.Kg7? a3 2.e6 dxe6 3.Be5 Kxe5
20...Kh4 4.Kg6 Kf4! (4...a2? falls into White's trap:
Of course, moving to g3 allows White to 5.Kg5! a1Q 6.f4#) 5.Kf6 a2 Black wins.
promote with check.
21.b8Q e) 1.e6? dxe6 2.Bf8 a3 3.Bg7 e5 Black
We threaten both Qf4+ and also Qxh2+. promotes and wins.
21...g1Q 1...a3
It doesn't matter which pawn Black promotes. 1...Kg4 2.e6! dxe6 3.Be5 Kf3 4.Bxd4 Ke2
22.Qf4+ Kh5 23.Be8+ Black's queen is the 5.Kg5 Kxd3 6.Be5 Kxc4 7.Kf6 Kd5 8.f4 a3
little girl in Poltergeist who sees the malevolent 9.Bc7! (9.Ba1? Ke4! 10.Kxe6 Kxf4 11.Kd6
entity within the TV. Black has no choice but Ke4 12.Kc7 Kd5 13.Kb6 Kc4 14.Be5 a2 draw)
to block on g6, which loses the queen. 1–0 9...Ke4 10.Kxe6 a2 11.Be5 a1Q 12.Bxa1 Kxf4
13.Kd6 Ke4 14.Kc7 Kd5 15.Kb6 Kc4 16.Be5
(103) wins.
A.Wotawa 2.e6!
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944 Clearance.
2...dxe6 (D)
2...Kxe6 3.Kg6! is similar to the mating net in
the main line.

White wins
"Things look bleak for White, who cannot stop
the a-pawn. In this harmless-looking endgame, Exercise (planning): Now what? We can't
one needs to have an exceptional fantasy to find stop Black from promoting. How on earth do
the idea of playing for mate," writes Dvoretsky. we win?
1.Kh6!!

92
 Answer : Attraction. Black Be5! and when
Black's king captures, we can set up a mating
net with only our king and f-pawn.
3.Be5!! Kxe5
3...Kg4 4.Bxd4 Kf3 5.Kg5 Ke2 6.Kf6 Kxd3
7.Be5 Kxc4 8.Kxe6 when White's f-pawn is
too fast.
4.Kg5!
There will be no speedy recovery for Black's
king since there is no way to prevent f2–f4 mate.
4...a2 5.f4# 1–0
language. Unbelievably, this is White's only
path to victory, and all other moves lose.
2...hxg5
a) 2...Kxg5 3.Ne3 a1Q 4.Nf3+ Kh5
5.g4#.
b) 2...c1Q 3.Bxf6 (threat: g3–g4 mate)
3...Qd1 4.Ne3 Qe2 5.g4+ Qxg4 6.Nhxg4
a1Q 7.Ne5 Qxd4 8.Nf5 Qg1 9.Ng7+
wins the queen.

(104) c) 2...a1Q 3.Bxf6 Qd1 4.Ne3 Qe2

Wotawa,A - 5.g4+ Qxg4 6.Nhxg4 c1Q 7.Ne5 Qxd2
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963 8.Nf5 wins.

d) 2...fxg5 is met the same way with

3.Ng4!!.
3.Ng4!!

White wins
Black's position is the rock, which, if turned
over, reveals maggots underneath. Here, we
clearly sense that White's attack on Black's
unfortunate king is worth more than Black's Attraction/knight fork/mating net.
two potential queens. We have our general plan 3.Ne3? a1Q 4.Nf5 g4 5.Ng7+ Kg5 6.Ne6+
and know exactly where we want to go. Then Kf5 7.Ng7+ draw.
comes the big problem: how do we get there? 3...Kxg4
Our difficulties arise when we attempt to slog 3...c1Q? 4.Nxf6#.
through the nightmarish details. 4.Ne3+ Kxg3 5.Nxc2 Kh2
Answer : 5...Kf2 6.c6 g4 7.c7 g3 8.c8Q g2 9.Qf5+ Ke2
1.f6! 10.Qg4+ Kf2 11.Qh4+ Ke2 12.Qg3 Kf1
13.Qe1#.
6.c6 g4 7.c7 g3 8.c8Q g2 9.Qc7+ Kh1
a) 1.Bf2? Threat: g3–g4 mate. 1...g4
10.Qc6!
Black wins.

b) 1.g4+? Kh4 Black's king escapes.

1...exf6
1...a1Q 2.fxe7 Qxf1 3.e8Q+ Qf7+ 4.Qxf7#
2.Bxg5!!
Huh? What? Please don't blame the writers of
this book for our inarticulate response to
Wotawa's shot since English is our second

93

10...g1Q 11.Qxd5+ Kh2 12.Qh5+!
This is more efficient than the also winning
12.Qxa2.
12...Kg2 13.Qg4+ Kh1 14.Qxg1+
Simplification.
14...Kxg1 15.Kg6 White's forward d-pawn
promotes quickly. 15.d5 also wins. 1–0
(105)
A.Wotawa
Tidskrift för Schack, 1963
White wins
1. We are up a piece.
2. Black has two passed pawns
running down the board toward
promotion.
3. Even if we free our bishop with
d4–d5, the bishop cannot deal with
both.
4. Logic tells us that we must look for
a mating net.
1.g5!!
This appears to be a mondo-strange decision.
One idea is that our coming Bb6! and Bd8! will
94
begin to hit Black pawns if Black captures on
g5.
a) 1.Kb7? h3 2.d5 h2 3.Bf2 h1Q 4.a7
Qxd5+ 5.Kb8 Qg8+ 6.Kb7 Qd5+ Draw.
b) 1.d5? (there is no point in freeing
the bishop since the bishop can't halt both
black passed pawns) 1...Kxa6 2.Bg1 f3
3.b4 Kb5 4.Kc7 h3 Black's bishop will be
overloaded next move, with either pawn
push.
1...fxg5
a) 1...h3 2.gxf6 h2 3.f7 h1Q 4.f8Q
White wins.
b) 1...f5 2.Bb6! Kxa6 3.Bd8 Kb5 4.g6!
hxg6 5.Bxh4 f3 6.Kc7 g5 7.Be1 f4 8.b3!
Ka6 (8...g4 9.Kb7! and mate next move)
9.a4 g4 10.b4 g3 11.b5+ Ka7 12.b6+ Ka6
13.b7 f2 14.b8Q fxe1Q 15.Qa8#.
2.Bb6!
The bishop isn't en prise since a6–a7 is
threatened.
2...Kxa6
2...Kxb6 3.a7 White promotes.
3.Bd8! f3 (D)
3...Kb5 evades mate at the cost of the inability
to promote. 4.Bxg5 White wins.
Exercise (combination alert): Work out
White's mate in 3:
Answer : Start by pushing the a-pawn two
squares, which seizes control over b5.
4.a4!
Black's king, expressionless as a stone, can do
nothing about the coming mate on b5.
4.b4? is a case of the right idea, wrong move
order. Black won't allow our planned a2–a4,
and we lose after 4...Kb5!
4...f2 5.b4
Step 2 is obvious. We push our b-pawn to the
fifth rank, where it delivers mate.
5...f1Q 6.b5# 1–0
(106)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969
b) 2...Kb6 3.hxg3 fxg3 4.Ne1 halts
Black's passer and wins.
c) 2...Kc4 3.hxg3 f3 4.e4! wins.
3.hxg3 f3! (D)
3...fxg3 4.Ne1 Ke4 5.h4 Kxe3 6.h5 Kf2 7.h6
Kxe1 8.h7 g2 9.h8Q g1Q 10.Qa1+! with
simplification, the queens are removed from
the board, after which Black loses the b-pawn
and the game.

White wins Exercise (planning): It appears as if we

are losing. We aren't. Work out an undercover
Black threatens:
operation for White to prevent Black from
1. 1...g3–g2.
promoting.
2. 1...g3xh2.
Answer : Move the knight to either d4 or
3. 1...f4–f3.
e1.
4. 1...b4–b3.
4.Ne1!
Our two minor pieces feel doomed in their wish
By now, we are accustomed to Wotawa's
to halt them.
irrational wishes being fulfilled.
1.Bc5+!!
4.Nd4! is a dual solution, which drives
Attraction.
composers crazy, but us, not so much! 4...f2
1.hxg3? b3 2.Nb4 b2 3.Nd5+ Ka6 4.Nc7+
5.Nf3 f1Q 6.e4+! wins.
Ka5 5.Bb4+ Ka4 6.exf4 b1Q 7.Ne6 when
4...f2
White holds a draw, but no more. 4...Ke4 is easy to deal with. 5.Nxf3 wins.
1...Kxc5
5.Nf3!
Acceptance is the path of sternest resistance.
The knight goes about its unfathomable affairs,
Declines fail miserably.
seemingly oblivious to the fact that Black is
about to promote.
a) 1...Kb5? 2.hxg3 b3 (2...fxg3 3.axb4 Step 2: Transfer to f3.
g2 4.e4 wins) 3.Nd4+ Kxc5 4.Nxb3+ 5...f1Q
Kc4 5.exf4 wins. 5...f1N 6.g4 Ke4 7.g5! Nxe3 8.Nh4 wins.
6.e4+!
b) 1...Ka6? 2.Nxb4+ Kb5 3.hxg3 f3 Geometric injustice is on the ascendence!
4.Nd3 wins. Usually, we expect to win when up a queen for
2.axb4+ Kd5 a knight. Not here, though.
Step 3: Attraction.
a) 2...Kb5 3.hxg3 f3 4.Nd4+ picks up 6...Kxe4
the f3–pawn. 6...Kc4 7.Nd2+

95
 7.Nd2+ Step 4: Fork on d2. 1–0
(107)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935
White draws
How did Wotawa create a study with so little to
work with?
1. White is down a piece.
2. If We lose both our pawns, we
DON'T necessarily lose the game
since Black is then left with a rook
pawn and a wrong-colored bishop.
However, our king must reach a1 to
achieve this kind of draw.
3. The horrible irony is that it would
be an easy draw if we didn't own
our two b-pawns, since then we can
play Ka3, Kb2, and Ka1, with a
theoretical bishop and wrong color
rook pawn ending. Our own pawns
may inhibit us in this task.
How should we begin?
Such dry positions leave little scope for an
ambush. We draw if we lose both b-pawns and
transfer the king from a4 to a1 since Black is
left with the bishop and the wrong colored rook
pawn.
1.Ka5!!
Intuitively, it feels as if our king moved in the
wrong direction, and our goal should be some
kind of (non-existent!) fortress on a1.
a) 1.b4+? Kb6 2.b3 Bg4 3.Ka3 Kb5
4.Kb2 Kxb4 5.Ka1 Ka3 (5...Kxb3 and
draw, due to rook pawn and wrong color
bishop) 6.Kb1 Bf5+ 7.Ka1 Bd3 8.b4 draw.
96
b) 1.Ka3? Bd7 2.Ka2 Kd4 3.Ka1
Kd3 4.b4 Kc2 5.Ka2 Be6+ 6.b3 Bf5
7.Ka1 Kc1 8.Ka2 Bd3 9.Ka1 (9.Ka3 Kb1
10.Ka4 Kb2 11.Ka5 Kxb3 12.Kb6 Kxb4
(this would be a draw if White's king had
access to a1. On b6, forget it since Black
promotes) 9...Bb1! (zugzwang; White is
forced to push the forward b-pawn) 10.b5
axb5 (no stalemate. White has a pawn
move) 11.b4 Be4! And again no stalemate,
and Black wins.
1...Bc8 2.b4+ Kc6!
2...Kc4? Allows White to draw immediately
with 3.b3+! Kxb3 4.b5 eliminating the final
black pawn.
3.b3!
3.b5+? axb5 4.b4 Bd7.
3...Bb7
We appear to be in zugzwang. Prove that we are
far from that state:
Answer : Push to b5, turning Black's a-
pawn into what appears to be a superior b-pawn.
4.b5+!
Isn't this just a delusion of grandeur? Or maybe
a sign of Stockholm syndrome, where we do all
we can to benefit our captors?
4.Ka4? Kb6 5.Ka3 Bc6 6.Kb2 Bb5 7.Ka1 Kc6
And we already demonstrated Black's winning
technique above.
4...axb5 5.b4! Ba8
5...Bc8 stalemate.
6.Ka6 Bb7+ 7.Ka5
White's king, like some demented, terminally
ill undertaker, can't wait to bury himself to join
the myriad people he buried in the past.
7...Bc8
We are men of science who don't believe in
mysticism and devils. After this study, however,
we do! ½–½
(108) Step 3: Interference. Fix the g5–pawn as an
A.Wotawa unprotectable target.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939 3...Bxg4+ 4.Ke7 Be2 5.g4!
Step 4: Interference again. Fix Black's g-pawn
where it sits, round two!
5...Bxg4 6.Kf6 ½–½

(109)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941

White draws
The news for White appears grim since Black
has the correct bishop and rook pawn if we lose
all our pawns. Work out a plan to save the game.
1.Kd7
Let's move our king closer.
1...Be2! White draws
Black's best practical try.
1...Bxg2 2.Ke7! (2.Ke6? - sometimes, our Black is promoting. Is there some way to set up
hand gets ahead of our brain and makes a a fortress draw?
shallow/obvious move which blows - 2...Bh3 1.c3!
3.Kf5 h5! Black wins) 2...Bf3 3.g5! with the It's crucial to hang on to the b4–pawn, which
same finish as in the main line. imprisons Black's king.
2.g5! 1.gxf4? is too slow. 1...h2 2.c3 Kb3! White is
Step 2: Turn Black's h-pawn into a more mated.
vulnerable g-pawn. 1...Kb3!
2...hxg5 1...h2? is too greedy. 2.Ka2! h1Q 3.b3#.
2...h5 3.g6 Kd2 4.Ke7 Ke3 5.g7 Bc4 6.Kf6! 2.Kb1!
(6.Kf8? loses to 6...Kf2 7.g8Q Bxg8 8.Kxg8 Threat: Bf7 +, followed by Ka2, and then mate
Kxg2 9.Kg7 Kxg3) 6...Kf2 7.Kg5 draw. on b3.
3.g4! 2...Kc4
2...h2? 3.Bf7+ Ka4 4.Ka2 h1Q 5.b3#.
3.Kc2!
Threat: Bf7 mate.
3...Kd5
3...h2? 4.Bf7#.
4.g4! h2 5.Bg6! h1Q 6.Be4+
Black's king can never enter our position.
6...Kd6 7.Ba8 Qe1 8.Be4!

97
White created a fortress. 19...f2+ 20.Kg2 Ke3 21.b7 Ke2 22.b8Q f1Q+
8...Qe2+ 23.Kxg3 Qf3+ 24.Kh4 Qe4+ 25.Kg5 Qxc4
8...Qxe4+? 9.fxe4 Ke5 10.Kd3 f3 11.Ke3 f2 Draw.
12.Kxf2 Kxe4 13.b3 White wins. 20.b7 f2+ 21.Kg2 Ke2 22.b8Q f1Q+
9.Kc1! 23.Kxg3 ½–½
9.Kb3? Allows 9...Qxe4! 10.fxe4 f3 Black
promotes. (110)
9...Qxe4!? A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1949

Black goes for the Costco, economy-sized

version, returning the queen for a bishop. The White draws
resulting king and pawn ending is drawn.
10.fxe4 Ke5 11.Kd2 Kxe4 12.Ke2 f3+ 1.d4!
13.Kf2 Kf4
13...Kd3 14.Kxf3 Kc2 15.c4. a) 1.Kg4? Kd2 2.Kxh3 Kxd3 3.Kg2
14.b3 b4 4.Kf2 c4 5.Ke1 Kc2 6.Ke2 c3 7.Bf6
At last, we create our own passed pawns. b3 8.Bxc3 Kxc3 9.Kd1 b2 wins.
14...Kxg4 15.c4 bxc4 16.bxc4 Kf4
16...Kh3 17.c5 b) 1.Ke4? b4 2.Kd5 b3 White's bishop
17.b5 g4 18.b6 g3+ 19.Kg1 Ke3 is overloaded.
1...cxd4
1...c4 2.d5 b4 3.d6 b3 4.d7 h2 5.Bxh2 b2
6.Bf4+ Kc2 7.d8Q b1Q Draw.
2.Ke4 b4 3.Kxd4 b3 4.Kc3 b2 5.Bf4+!
This forces Black's king to block his pawn.
5...Kb1
Threat: ...Ka2 and ...b2–b1(Q).
6.Kb3 Ka1

98
 Now is the correct timing.
2...Be3 3.b7 Bg1!

Exercise (combination alert): Work out

White's draw:
Answer : Step up a stalemate by moving Exercise (planning): Black just won the
the king to a3. custody battle for control over our promotion
7.Ka3! b1Q square, b8. Work out White's draw.
7...b1N+ 8.Kb3 Nd2+ 9.Kc3 Nf3 10.Kd3 Answer : Hide the king on h3, where
Draw. stalemate is the common denominator.
8.Be5+! 4.h4! Bh2+ 5.Kh3! d4
Suddenly Black's queen is neck-deep in a crisis 5...Be5 6.b8Q! Bxb8 stalemate.
that she doesn't understand. Step 2: Win back 6.b8Q! Bxb8 The bishop is that religious
the newly promoted queen with a bishop check kid we knew in school who was convinced that
on e5. everyone else but him was destined for hell. He
8...Qb2+ 9.Bxb2+ Kb1 10.Be5 ½–½ realizes his mistake since he just delivered a
stalemate to White's blissful king. ½–½
(111)
A.Wotawa (112)
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956 A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958

White draws
White draws
Black will meet 1.b6? with 1...Be3 2.b6–b7
Bg1!, winning. Is there a way we can avoid this This is a beautiful dance of bishops versus
fate and still hold a draw? promoting pawns.
Answer : Zwischenzug. 1.g6!
1.h5!! Interference. Black's ...Bh5 must be gummed
1.b6? Be3! 2.b7 Bg1! 3.h5 Bh2+ Black wins. up with a pawn on g6.
1...gxh5 2.b6!

99
 a) 1.b7+? Kxb7 2.g6 Bh4!! 3.g7
(3.gxh7 Bf6 4.e7 Bh5 halts White's pawns
and wins) 3...Be7+ 4.Ka4 (moving the
king to b3 allows a bishop check on e6
while moving the king to b2 allows a
bishop check on f6) 4...Bd1+ 5.Ka5 Bf6!
6.g8Q Bc3#.

b) 1.e7? Bh5 wins.

1...hxg6!

a) 1...Bd5? 2.e7 Kd7 3.gxh7 Bc3 4.b7

Be5 5.e8Q+ Kxe8 6.b8Q+ Bxb8 7.h8Q+ A soldier of fortune is attracted to high-
Kd7 8.Qxb8 wins. risk/high-reward job offers and is willing to
endure extreme privations to reach the goal—
b) 1...Bh4? 2.g7 Be7+ 3.Ka4 Bd1+ attraction/double attack. The bishop must be
4.Ka5 and White wins. taken.
4.Kxb4 c5+!
c) 1...Bb4+ 2.Kxb4 c5+ 3.Kxc5 hxg6 Clearance. White's promotion attempt has been
4.Kd6 Kd8 5.e7+ Ke8 6.Ke6 Bb7 7.Kf6 halted.
Be4 8.b7 (overloaded defender) 8...Bxb7 5.Ka5!
9.Kxg6 draw. 5.Kxc5? Bc6 6.Kd6 Be8 Black wins.
2.b7+! 5...Bc6
Decoy. 2.e7? Kd7 3.b7 Bb4+! 4.Kxb4 c5+!
5.Kxc5 Bxb7 Black wins.
2...Kxb7
2...Kc7? 3.e7 Bb4+ 4.Kxb4 c5+ 5.Kxc5 Bc6
6.b8Q+ wins.
3.e7 Bb4+!

Exercise (combination alert): This one is

easy! Force the draw:
Answer : Just promote and give away a
new queen.
6.e8Q! Bxe8 Stalemate. ½–½

100
Chapter 5: Mixed Pieces Endings
The breaking ground for modern study
composition falls in this category. This is
because adding more pieces creates more
complexity and options and more magic. This
chapter is by far the longest of the book but is
also the most fun. But speaking of fun, some of
these compositions are so hopelessly complex
that we, your humble guides on this adventure,
will occasionally encourage you to lean back
and enjoy the madness that ensues on the board.
5.1 Rook and minor piece(s)
a) The natural inclination is to go after
Black's king via the h-file, which is the
incorrect plan. 1.Rc1? gxh3 2.gxh3 Rh8
Black escapes.
b) 1.Bxg4? Kxg4 2.f3+ Kg3 3.Rc7
Ba6! (3...Bd5?? 4.Rc5 Ba8 5.Rxg5+ Kh2
6.Kf2 leaves Black completely lost)
4.Rxf7 Kxg2 Black should save the game.
1...f5!
White's bishop is taboo.

(113) a) 1...gxh3? 2.Nf3+ (double check)

A.Wotawa 2...Kh5 3.g4#.
Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935
b) 1...Kh5? 2.Ne6!! (clearance)
2...gxh3 (2...fxe6 3.Bxg4+ Kh4 4.g3#)
3.Ng7#.
2.Nf3+!

White wins
What a mess. Let's take inventory:
1. We are up a piece for a pawn, but
this is a temporary state since our
Step 2: We season our attack by a knight check
bishop on h3 is trapped and about
on f3 to favorably alter the structure.
to be lost.
2...Bxf3
2. Although the kingside is occupied
2...Kh5 3.Bxg4+! fxg4 4.Rc1! Threat: Rh1
to capacity, our eye is drawn to
mate. 4...gxf3 5.Rh1+ Kg4 6.gxf3+ Kf5 7.Rxh6
Black's king on h4. Is he in danger?
wins.
At first, it doesn't feel like he is
3.exf3 f4+
since Black, after capturing our
All of Black's moves are forced.
bishop, can back the king up to h5,
3...Kh5? 4.fxg4+ fxg4 5.Bxg4+ Kh4 6.g3#
move the rook from h6, and then
4.Ke2 gxh3
back the king to safety to the h6-
Otherwise, Black is just down a piece.
square. As we soon discover,
5.g3+! Kh5 6.g4+! Kh4 7.Kf1! Rh7
Black's king IS in danger.
1.Rc4!!
The lateral lift is the correct way to Black's king.

101
 Exercise (planning) : Black's king is Step 3: Retreat the rook to c1, intending Rg1!,
trapped in a box. Work out a mating plan for Rg3!, and Rxh3 mate, to which there is no
White: defense.
Answer : Step 1: Make certain Black's rook 11...Rh8 12.Rg1! Ra8 13.Rg3!
can never leave the h-file. This shot hits Black with the coiled spring
8.Rc8! shock of a Jack-in-the-box.
8.Kg1? Ra7 9.Rc8 h2+! 10.Kg2 h1Q+! 13...fxg3+
11.Kxh1 Ra1+ 12.Kh2 (Black appears helpless, 13...Ra2 14.Rxh3#.
yet there is a saving stalemating combination) 14.fxg3# 1–0
12...Ra8! (we are familiar with physical
accidents, yet all chess players also understand (114)
there is such a thing as cerebral accidents. In A.Wotawa
this case, Black matches our side, villainy for Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
villainy) 12...Rh1+? is a misplaced stalemating
combination: 13.Kxh1 (oops. It isn't stalemate
since Black's king can move to h3; 13...Kh3
14.Rh8#) 13.Rc7 Ra7! 14.Rc1 (intending Kg2
and Rh1 mate) 14...Ra1! and so on. Draw, since
15.Rxa1 is stalemate.
8...Rh6
You call the Department of Motor Vehicles,
hoping to renew your driver's license by phone
rather than in person. You get the machine:
"Your call is important to us. Please enjoy this
muzak for the next 45 minutes to an hour while
on hold!" We just described the sad fate of
Black's rook. White wins
9.Kg1
Step 2: Bring the king around to h2. After we successfully solve a hackneyed online
9...Rh7 10.Kh2 Rh6 11.Rc1! combination, our usual response is to shrug
with a gesture of indifference and think: "Eh,
big deal. That was easy." We dare you to say
this to the coming study, which seemingly
achieves the impossible and is one of the most
spectacular in the book.
1. White is down a rook and a piece.
2. Black's b-pawn can't be halted
from promotion.
3. Black's king appears completely
safe.

102
It would be a miracle if White could hold a
draw. To find a win reaches the level of "You're
joking, right?"
1.Re3!
a) 1.Re5? does allow White a miracle
draw, which does us no good in this
chapter of the book! 1...b2 2.Kxf7 b1Q
3.Rd8+ Kh7 4.Rg8! Qb3+ 5.Be6 Qxe6+
6.Rxe6 Rxe6 7.Rg7+ Kh8 8.Rg8+ Draw.
b) 1.Kxf7? (White's pursuit of mate
or perpetual check is a forlorn quest)
1...e1Q 2.Rd8+ Kh7, and White's
counterplay goes dead.
1...b2 2.Bf5!!
What is this, if not just a spite block?
2...gxf5 3.Rb5!!
Spite-block number 2!
3...Rxb5
3...Re6 4.Rxe6 fxe6 5.g6 e1Q 6.g7+ Kh7
7.g8Q+ Kh6 8.Qg7#.
4.Re6!! (D)
4.Kxf7? b1Q 5.Re8+ Kh7 6.g6+ Kh6 7.Rh8+
Kg5 8.g7 Qb3+ Black wins.
"Black's pawns cannot be stopped. As usual
with Wotawa, White plays for mate; with that
in mind, he spectacularly sacrifices all his
pieces," writes Dvoretsky. Threat: Rh6 mate.
Spite-stall number 3 is coming right up! No, we
did our research, and as far as we know, Alois
Wotawa was never institutionalized, nor did he
require anti-psychosis medications. You may
be staring at the page, dumbfounded,
wondering if White's last three moves - which
hang a bishop and two rooks - were typos or
some kind of joke. We assure you they are
neither.
4...fxe6 5.g6 e1Q
103
Only now do we realize the truth of the
scriptural declaration that a rich man, woman,
queen, or rook is unable to enter the kingdom
of heaven.
5...h4 6.g7+ Kh7 7.g8Q+ Kh6 8.Kf7.
6.g7+ Kh7 7.g8Q+ Kh6 8.Qg7# 1–0
(115)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940
White wins
We can't allow Black a pure rook versus bishop
since that would be drawn. We must hang on to
our h-pawn so our first move is clear.
1.Rd5!
a) 1.Rc7? Bxh5 2.Rxc5 g6 is drawn.
b) 1.Rxg7? Bxh5 draw.
1...Kf7
1...c4 2.Rf5+ Ke7 3.Kxg7 wins.
2.Rf5+!
a) 2.Re5? Bd3 3.Rxc5 Kf6 4.Kg8 Be4
(not 4...Bf5 5.Rxf5+! Kxf5 6.Kxg7 White
wins) 5.Kf8 Bd3 6.Ke8 Be4 White can't
make progress.
b) 2.Rxc5? Kf6 3.Kg8 Bg4 4.Kf8 Bf3
is the same ending as line a). The best
White can get is a drawn rook versus
bishop ending.
2...Ke6
2...Ke7?? hangs the bishop to the simple
3.Re5+
3.Kxg7!
Interference. Black's king will block the 6.Kb3 Kf6 7.Ka4 Rxb4+ 8.Kxb4 Kf5
bishop's diagonal, preventing it from
sacrificing itself for White's h-pawn.
3...Kxf5
Have you ever done something dumb, where
everyone around you glares at you, and then
you say: "Hey, I'm not the bad guy here."
Black's king is in that situation since he is in his
bishop's way.
3...c4 4.Rg5 Bd3 5.h6 Kd6 (5...c3 6.Rc5) 6.h7
Bxh7 7.Kxh7 c3 8.Rg3! wins.
4.h6 1–0

(116)
A.Wotawa Exercise (calculation/critical decision):
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942 White can play either 9.Kb5 or 9.h3–h4. Only
one of the moves wins. Work out which one.
Answer : Only the push of the h-pawn wins
since it distracts Black's king from White's d-
pawn, which we need to win.
9.h4!
9.Kb5? blows it. 9...Ke4! 10.h4 Kxd4
11.Kxb6 Ke5 12.Kc5 d4 13.Kc4 Kf5 Draw.
9...Kg4 10.Kb5 Kxh4 11.Kxb6 Kg5
12.Kc5 Kf6 13.Kxd5 Ke7

a) If it were Black's move, ...Kd7

would be an opposition draw.
14.Kc6 1–0
White wins
(117)
The earlier part of this study is cooked, so let's A.Wotawa
begin on move 3. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942
Exercise (combination alert): Black is up
the exchange for a pawn. Do you see our
winning idea?
Answer : Attraction/trapped piece.
3.Bb4!
The natural (but incorrect!) 3.Bd6? allows the
rook to escape with 3...Ra5 Black is winning.
3...Rxb4
3...Kd7 4.Bd2! wins since there is no defense
to the coming b3–b4, Kb3 and Ka4 plan.
4.Kc3 Rb5 5.b4!
Step 2: Paralyze Black's rook. Our position may
look like it depends upon its welfare check each
month, but look again: Black's rook is
completely sealed in. White wins
5...Ke7
Black is about to promote. How can we prevent
5...Kd7 6.Kb3 Kd6 7.Ka4 Kc6 8.h4 Rxb4+
it?
9.Kxb4 Black loses the king and pawn ending
1.Rh6!!
due to our outside/passed h-pawn.

104
Step 1: Hem in Black's king by transferring the Oh no! We believe the matter is settled until it's
rook to h6 and offering our knight. unsettled!
Exercise (critical decision/calculation):
a) 1.Nxd7? Kc6! (1...a1Q? 2.Rh6! Only one square for White's king wins. Which
(threat: Rb6 mate) 2...Qe1 (2...Qa5 one?
3.Rh5+ wins) 3.Rb6+ Ka5 4.b4+ Ka4 Answer : Only d1 works.
5.Nc5#) 2.Ne5+ Kc7 3.Nxg4 a1Q and the 5.Kd1!!
ending is drawn.
a) 5.Kc3? Nxb3 6.h5 Nc5 7.Kd4
b) 1.Na4? intending Rh1 and Rb6+ Ne6+ 8.Ke5 Kb3 9.h6 Nf8 10.Kf6 Kxb2
doesn't work: 1...a1Q 2.Rh6 Qh1! 11.Kg7 Ne6+ 12.Kf6 Nf8 is a repetition
(covering b7) 3.Rb6+ Ka5, White has no draw.
way to set up a mating net.
1...Kxc5 b) 5.Kd3? Nxb3 6.h5 Nc5+ 7.Kd4
Eeh, it's only money: Attraction. Ne6+ transposes to line a).
1...a1Q loses quickly to 2.Nxd7 Qe1 3.Rb6+ 5...Kxb3
Ka5 4.b4+ Ka4 5.Nc5#. 5...Nxb3 6.h5 Nc5 7.h6 Ne6 8.h7 wins.
2.b4+ Kxb4 6.h5 Nc2 7.h6 Nxe3+ 8.Kc1 The h-pawn
can't be caught and White wins. 1–0
a) 2...Kb5 3.Rh5+! (step 2: Give a
rook check on h5) 3...Kxb4 4.Ra5! (step 3: (118)
attraction) 4...Kxa5 5.b4+! (step 4: A.Wotawa
clearance, which allows White's king to Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1943
halt the a2–pawn from its intended
promotion square) 5...Kxb4 6.Kb2
Black's king is outside the square of
White's now promoting forward h-pawn.

b) 2...Kc4 3.b3+ Kd5 4.Kb2 halts the

a-pawn and wins.

c) 2...Kd5 3.Rh5+ Ke4 4.Ra5 wins.

3.Rb6+! Ka4
3...Kc5 loses to 4.b4+! Kxb6 5.Kb2.
4.Rb3!
This is the fire extinguisher that puts out
Black's counterplay. 4.b3+? Ka3 Black wins. White wins
4...a1N+! (D)
4...a1Q? 5.Ra3+ Qxa3 6.bxa3 Kb5 7.h5 The h- Now what? Black threatens ...Kxg6, as well
pawn promotes. as ...a2–a1(Q).
4.Rg2!!
This almost looks like a random move. In
reality, watch the lateral magic which is about
to happen.
4.Bb2? is what we would all play in a
tournament game. White is busted after
4...Kxg6
4...a1Q 5.e4+!
Clearance. White's route to b2 is slowly
opening.
5...Ke5 6.Bb2+!
Let there be light! Attraction/double attack.

105
 6...Qxb2 7.f4+! Zugzwang.
Double attack. 5...d2
7...Kxf4 8.Rxb2 5...Rb1+? is the same story. 6.Rb2+ wins
The next step is to trap Black's knight. Black's rook.
8...Na3 9.Rb3! 6.Rxd2+ Kg1 7.Rg2+ Kh1 8.Ka6!
Where are you going?
9.Rb3 Nc2 This is not such a great backup
plan, and White wins by a mile. 10.Kxc2 Kxe4
Black's pawns are way too slow. 11.Ra3 f5
12.Kd2 e5 13.Rxa7 wins. 1–0

(119)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Schachzeitung, 1949

Zugzwang. Dire urgency is many steps ahead

of mere importance: Black has no legal king
moves, while any rook move hangs it to a
discovered check. 1–0

(120)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1949

White wins
We are up two pieces for only one pawn. Our
problem, of course, is that White's pieces are,
for now, in a jumble and danger, and we can't
even afford to lose one of them.
1.Bf3
This is the only way to protect the knight,
which protects White's rook.
1...Rf5
Now what? We are pinned.
2.Rg2+!
...or maybe not!
White wins
2...Kxh1
2...Kf1? makes it easy for us after the fork Black threatens the g6 bishop and also ...Rf4+
3.Ng3+. and ...Rxh4.
3.Bc6! 1.Bh5!!
Threatening a discovered check which wins We allow the rook check on f4.
Black's rook.
3...Rf1 4.Kc7! d3 a) 1.Be4? Rf4 2.b7 Rxe4+ 3.Ka5 Re8
Black's rook is safe only on f1. 4...Rc1?? draw.
5.Rc2+ Black's rook is decapitated, as if by the
propeller of a spinning, out-of-control b) 1.b7? Kxg6 2.Bg3 Kf6 3.b8Q Rxb8
helicopter. 4.Bxb8; we are thinking about a joint book
5.Kb6! project where we prove that a king and

106
 bishop (or king and knight) can beat a lone
king. So far, we are having trouble proving
our hypothesis!
1...Rf4+
1...Rh8 2.b7 Rb8 3.Bf3 Kf7 4.Bg3 wins.
2.Kb3!

a) 2.Ka3! also works.

b) 2.Kb5? Rxh4 3.Be8 Rh2 4.b7 Rb2+

draw.
2...Rxh4 3.b7 Rh1
Intending to give a check on b1 if White White wins
promotes.
3...Rh3+ 4.Kc4 Rh4+ leads to our main line. The game appears to be headed for a certain
4.Kc2 Rh2+ 5.Kc3 Rh3+ 6.Kc4 Rh4+ draw since our a7–pawn is doomed, while
Black's rook looks like it can easily sacrifice
itself for our h-pawn. On top of that, if we
promote on h8, Black wins our new queen with
a rook check on c8. Come up with an idea that
destroys the harmony from Black's defense.
1.a8Q+!!
Step 1: Attraction. Black's king needs to be
lured to a8. We only discover why at the end of
the study.

a) 1.Bg4? Re4+ 2.Kd7 (2.Kf7 Rf4+

3.Kg6 Rf8! draw) 2...Rd4+ 3.Ke7 Re4+
4.Kf6 Rf4+ 5.Kg5 Rf8 draw.
Exercise (combination alert): Do you see
our win? b) 1.h8Q? The new queen isn't much
Answer : Decoy/interference. cause for celebration since it's
7.Bg4!! immediately lost after 1...Rc8+ 2.Kf7
Black's rook must be shifted to the g-file. Why? Rxh8 draw.
Because then Black's king is in the way of a 1...Kxa8 2.Bg4!
check on g7. Step 2: Offer the bishop on g4, which now
7...Rxg4+ interferes with Black's ideas of Rc8+ and ...Rh4.
7...Rh8 8.Bc8 Rh4+ 9.Kc3 Black ran out of 2...Re4+
checks.
8.Kc5 a) 2...Rb4 3.Kd8! Rd4+ 4.Kc7 Rc4+
c7 is the white king's land of milk and honey. 5.Kb6 Rb4+ 6.Ka6! leads to a finish, as in
8...Rg5+ 9.Kc6 Rg6+ 10.Kc7 1–0 the study's main continuation.

(121) b) 2...Rxg4, of course, allows 3.h8Q

A.Wotawa 3.Kd7 Rd4+ 4.Kc7 Rc4+ 5.Kb6 Rb4+
Schach Magazin, 1950 6.Ka6!

107
 1...Rxd2 2.d6!
Step 2: Attraction.
2...Rxd6
2...Kb5 3.d7 Rc2+ 4.Kd6 Rd2+ 5.Ke7 Re2+
6.Kxf6 Rd2 7.Ke7 Re2+ 8.Kd8 Rxf2 9.f6!
Attraction. This way, White gains a tempo.
9...Rxf6 10.Ke7 wins.
3.b4+!
Step 3: Overloaded defender.
3...Kd5 4.b5!

It's too late to enact a cure for a terminal patient.

Black can't cover against the promotion threat
on h8, coupled with a bishop check on f3,
should Black's rook move to b8.
Not 6.Kc5? Rb8 draw. 1–0

(122)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1950

Step 4: Interference. Black's rook is weirdly

helpless.
4...Kc5
4...Ke5 5.f4+! wins, just as in the main
continuation.
5.b4+!
Step 5: Overloaded defender.
5...Kd5 6.f4!
Principle: Finish what you started.
Step 6: Zugzwang. Black's rook falls. 1–0

White wins (123)

A.Wotawa
Exercise (combination alert): We are Schach Magazin, 1950
down a piece and threatened with discovered
checks on both a5 and f4. Our next move
defines the game's result:
Answer : Sacrifice the exchange on d2,
leaving us a rook down!
1.Rxd2!!
At first, our rook appears to be a compulsive
chipmunk, making preparations by gathering
nuts and acorns before the lean times of the
coming Winter. In reality, the Winter will be
lean for the black king and rook.

a) 1.b4+? Kxd5 Black wins.

White wins
b) 1.d6? Ba5+! 2.Kc8 Rxd1 wins.

108
 Exercise (combination alert): The theme
in this study is Interference. We must find ways
to interfere with the black rook's goal of
winning our h-pawn.
Answer: Interference number 1.
1.Nc1!
1.Kg2? Rxa2+ 2.Bd2 Ra8! Black draws.
1...Rxc1 2.Bc7!!
Even after amputation, we still have the option
of a facsimile limb with a prosthesis.
Decoy/interference number 2!

a) 2.Bc3? Rxc3+ 3.Kg4 Rc8 4.Kf5 White wins

Ke7 5.Kg6 draw.
Exercise (critical decision): We want to
b) 2.Kg2? Rc8 draw. promote and must decide between 1.Kf7 and
2...Kxc7 1.Kh7. Only one of them wins:
Answer : Only h7 works.
a) 2...Rxc7? 3.h8Q. 1.Kh7!
Threat: g8(Q)+.
b) 2...Rh1+? is met with the simple 1.Kf7? Ng5+ 2.Kf6 Ne4+ 3.Kf5 Nd6+ 4.Kf6
block 3.Bh2. Ne8+ 5.Kf7 Nxg7 6.Kxg7 draw.
3.Kg2! 1...Ng5+ 2.Kh6 Rh1+!
Do you see our plan? We hide on g7. First, we Giving up the knight is Black's best path of
must prevent ...Rh1. resistance. After 2...Ne6? 3.g8Q+, White wins.
3...Rc2+ 4.Kg3 Rc3+ 5.Kg4 3.Kxg5 Rg1+ 4.Kf5 Rf1+ 5.Ke6!
5.Ke4 isn't a blunder but could be the prelude
to one: 5...Re1+ 6.Kf3? Re8 7.Kf4 Rg8 8.Kf5
Rxg7 draw.
5...Re1+ 6.Kd7 Rd1+ 7.Kc7 Rc1+

5...Rc4+ 6.Kg5 Rc5+ 7.Kg6 Rc6+ 8.Kg7

White promotes. 1–0

(124)
Wotawa,A - Hmm. We wonder why Wotawa placed that
Schach Magazin, 1950 horribly offside knight on a1 in this study.
8.Nc2!
Principle : If you are underestimated,
therein lies your hidden power.
Attraction. We use the knight as a human shield
for our king. Amazingly, Black draws if the
rook is on the first rank and loses if it is lured
to the second rank.

109
 8...Rxc2+ 9.Kd6 Rd2+
9...Rc8 is too slow. 10.Ke7 Kb7 11.Kf7 Rc7+
12.Kf6 Rc8 13.Kg5 Kc7 14.Kh6 Kd7 15.Kh7
Ke7 16.g8Q Rxg8 17.Kxg8 wins.
10.Ke5 Re2+ 11.Kf4! Re8
11...Rf2+ 12.Kg3 wins.
12.Kf5
We can protect both g-pawns.
Or 12.Kg5
12...Rg8
12...Rb8 doesn't work since our king hides from
rook checks on the h-file: 13.Kg5 and on to h7.
13.Kf6 1–0
Step 2: Decoy.
(125) 5...Rxh6
A.Wotawa 5...Rxg3+ 6.Kc2 Rg2+ 7.Kd3 Rg3+ 8.Ke4
Schach Magazin, 1951 Rg4+ 9.Kf5 White promotes.
6.Rg5+!
Step 3: Attraction. Black's king must be pushed
back to the 6th rank.
6...Kb6 7.Rg6+!
Step 4: Decoy/removal of the guard.
7...Rxg6
You know you aren't on Craig's List if your
"choices" are down to one.
8.h8Q 1–0

(126)
A.Wotawa
Centurini MT L'Italia Scacchistica, 1951
White wins
At first, this one looks like an easy win for
White if we push the h-pawn, and it's not so
simple. First, you must find Black's optimal
defense, and then you need to try and refute it.
1.h7!
An easy win? Not quite. In reality, the pawn
moves up the board in baby steps.
1...Bb2+!
This is Black's surprise.
1...Re8? 2.Bf6 and Black must resign.
2.Kxb2!
2.Ka2 Bh8 is drawn.
2...Re2+ 3.Kb3! White wins
Should we push to f7 or chop the e3–pawn with
a) 3.Kc3? Rh2 wins the h-pawn. a check?
Answer : It's best to grab the pawn
b) 3.Ka3? Rh2 is the same. immediately.
3...Rh2 4.Bh6! 1.Bxe3+!
Step 1: Interference/attraction. 1.f7? Ra8 2.Bxe3+ Kxc4 3.Bxc1 Rf8 4.Ne3+
4...Rh3+ 5.Rg3! Kd4 5.d6 Rxf7, Black will hold the draw.

110
 1...Kxc4 2.Bxc1! Kxd5 ...and sold! Zwischenzug. White promotes.
2...Rxc1? 3.f7 wins. Not 10.f8Q?? Rf1+ and Black wins. 1–0
3.f7 Ra8
...Rf8 is coming. What do we do about it? (127)
4.Ba3!! A.Wotawa
Answer: Decoy. Welt Presse, 1951
4...Rxa3+ 5.Ne3+!

White wins
Decoy number 2.
5...Rxe3+ The game will be a theoretical draw if Black
Wounds come in two categories: wins White's undefended b-pawn--unless
1. Superficial. White finds a way to generate threats upon
2. Deep. Black's king. How do we do this?
This one is clearly in number 2 on the list. 1.Rh1+!
There is no choice since if Black's king moves, At first glance, this looks like a pointless check.
we will promote it on f8. 1.Be7? Rxb7 2.Bf6+ Kh7 3.Kd4 Rb8 4.Ke5
6.Kg4 Re4+ 7.Kxg5 Re5+ 8.Kg4! Rg8! 5.Rh1+ Kg6 Threat: ...Re8+ and ...Kxf6.
6.Be7 f5 7.Ke6 f4 8.Rg1+ Kh7 White cannot
weave a mating net, and Black reaches a
theoretical draw.
1...Kg8
1...Kg7 2.Bf8+! and White wins, as in the
study's main line.
2.Be7!
Threat: Bf6 and Rh8 mate.
2...Kg7 (D)
2...Rxb7? 3.Bf6! Black is mated in five moves.

Going once. We must retreat to force

promotion.
8.Kg6 This doesn't blow the win just yet.
8...Re6+ 9.Kg7? (9.Kg5! Re5+ 10.Kg4! is still
winning for White) 9...Re7 Draw. Okay, duly
noted. This means we must retreat our king.
8...Re4+ 9.Kf3
...going twice.
9...Re1 10.Kf2!

111
 Exercise (combination alert): How does
White force promotion?
Answer : Attraction/interference.
3.Rb1! Rxb1 4.Bb4!
Step 2: The bishop blocks Black's control over
the promotion square.
4...Rc1+
The rook moves from one slum to another.
5.Kd2 How annoying for Black that ...Rc8
is unplayable. White promotes and wins. 1–0

(128)
A.Wotawa Step 4: Imprisonment. Black's king cannot get
Schach Magazin, 1951 out of the way, and White threatens to push to
the promotion square on a8.
6...Re3
Black calls in the National Guard, but it's too
late since Black's rook cannot help halt the
passed a-pawn.
7.Ra1+ The a-pawn costs Black a rook. 7.a7
also works. 1–0

(129)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952

White wins
Black threatens to win our final pawn
with ...Ra3. What should we do about it?
1.a6!!
At first sight, this looks like a blunder that
hangs the a-pawn.
1.Kg6? Ra3 The a-pawn falls, and Black
reaches a theoretical draw.
1...Ra3 2.Ba4!
Step 2: Interference.
2...Kxa4
2...Rxa4? loses without a fight to 3.Rh4+ Kb5 White wins (Decoy)
4.Rxa4 Kxa4 5.a7 Our goal is to promote.
3.Rh3! 1.Rg5!!
Step 3: Decoy. Step 1: Decoy. At first, it looks as if our rook
3...Ra2 just ingested a high-grade hallucinogen.
3...Rxh3 4.a7 White promotes and wins. 1.Kxa7? Rxg4 2.b7 Ra4+ 3.Kb6 Bd6 4.Rd5
4.Rh2! Ra1 5.Rh1! Ra3 Bg3 Draw.
5...Ra2 is met the same way. 1...Rxg5
6.Rb1!
a) 1...Rxb6+ 2.Kxb6 is completely
lost for Black.

112
 b) 1...Re6 2.Kxa7 Re4 3.Ra5! Bd6 10.Kg4!
4.g5 Ke7 5.b7 Rb4 6.a3 Rb3 7.a4 Rb4 8.g6
Kf8 9.Rf5+ Kg7 10.a5 Kxg6 11.Rd5 Bh2 a) 10.Kxf2? is obviously a draw after
12.Ka8 Kf6 13.a6 wins. 10...Bc5+ 11.Kf3 Bxa7 draw.
2.bxa7 Rg6+ 3.Kb5!
3.Ka5? allows 3...Bb4+ 4.Kb5 Rg5+ 5.Kxb4 b) 10.Kg3? Bd6+! 11.Kxf2 Bc5+
Rxg4+ 6.Kb5 Rg5+ 7.Kb6 Rg6+ 8.Kb7 Rg7+ draw.
9.Kb8 Ke7! 10.a8Q Rg8+ 11.Kb7 Rxa8
12.Kxa8 Kd6 13.Kb7 Kc5 Draw. c) c) 10.Ke4? Re2+ 11.Kd5 Re8
3...Rg5+ 4.Ka4 Rxg4+ 12.Kc6 draw.
10...Rg2+ 11.Kh3! Rxa2 12.a8Q+ Ke7

Exercise (critical decision): Our king is

desperate to dodge Black's rook checks. Do you We can't allow Black to consolidate by
want to take the bishop, or is there a better bringing rook and bishop to safety.
move? 13.Qb7+
Answer : Moving to b3 eventually escapes 13.Qe4+ also wins.
the rook checks. 13...Kd6 14.Qb6+ Ke5 15.Qe3+ Kf5
5.Kb3!! 16.Qb3! Ra1 17.Qd5+ Kg6
5.Kxa3? Rg3+, as we have seen in the notes 17...Kf4?? 18.Qd4+, picking off the rook.
above, is drawn. 18.Qe6+ Kh7 19.Qf7+
5...Rg3+ 6.Kc2! Rg2+ 7.Kd1 Rg1+ 8.Ke2
Rg2+ 9.Kf3 Rf2+!

Our queen develops a Glenn Close-like fixation

Exercise (critical decision): The sneaky
so-and-so just checked us on f2. What should
we play?
Answer : Only moving the king to g4 wins.
upon the black king, who she is convinced is
Michael Douglas.
19...Kh8
19...Kh6 20.Qf6+ also wins the rook.
20.Qf6+ picks off the rook. 1–0

113
(130)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952

Exercise (combination alert): Do you see

White's winning trick?
Answer : Mating net.
Step 2: Hang a second piece!
White wins 3.Rg3!! Rxb3
Forced.
The theme of this one is obvious: how can 3...Bxg3? If there were Oscars for oblivious
White exploit the precarious position of Black's moves, this one deserves a Lifetime
king, whose working space is somewhere Achievement award. The move allows the
between a broom closet and an office drone's shocker 4.Bf7#.
cramped cubicle? 4.Rxb3 Be7 5.Rb5+ Kg6 6.Kg4 Bf6 7.h5+
1.Bb3! 7.Rb6? h5+! and our expectations of a joyous
Threat: Bd1 mate. At first sight, it looks like we outcome come crashing down since the
just blundered away our h-pawn since Black position is a theoretical draw.
has a bishop check on d6. 7...Kf7 8.Kf5 Bg5 9.Rb7+ Kg8 10.Kg6 Kf8
11.Rb8+ Ke7 12.Kg7
a) 1.Bc4? Bd6+ 2.Kh3 Ra3+ 3.Kg2
Kxh4 White is lucky to draw.

b) 1.Bd5? Bd6+ 2.Kh3 Ra3+ 3.Kg2

Kxh4 is the same problem for White as
line a).
1...Bd6+
We can't move our king to h3 since Black pins
our bishop with ...Ra3.
1...Rd7 2.Bc2 Rd6 3.Bf5.
2.Kh3!!
Oh, wait, this is a Wotawa study, where nothing
is as it appears to be. We shockingly allow the
pin on a3.
Wotawa stops the study here, although the win
2...Ra3
is far from trivial. White's plan:
1. Push Black's king away as far as
possible from the h6–pawn.
2. Switch the rook over and target h6,
taking the pawn only when Black's
king cannot reach the drawing zone.
It’s easy to see, yet enacting the
plan requires us to work our way
through a technical, bureaucratic
nightmare.

114
 12...Bd2 13.Rb7+ Ke8 1.bxc7
13...Ke6 14.Kg6 Bg5 15.Rb2! Bc1 16.Re2+ Threatening to promote, either on a8 or c8,
Kd5 17.Re1 and the winning technique is followed by the other. Black's response is
similar to the one demonstrated in the main line. forced.
14.Rb1 Bg5 15.Re1+ Kd7 16.Kf7 Kd6 1...Rd1+
17.Kg7 Kd7 18.Rg1! 1...Rxh2? 2.a8Q+ Kxa8 3.c8Q+ Ka7 4.Qc7+
Threat: Rxg5. Rubbing it in by picking off Black's rook.
18...Bf4 2.Kb2!
18...Ke6? 19.Rxg5 hxg5 20.h6 wins. 2.Kc2? There is no grace period for errors in
19.Kg6 Be3 20.Rd1+! Kc7 endgame studies. Every move must be exact.
20...Ke6? 21.Re1 wins. 2...Ra1 3.d5 Rxa7 4.d6 Kc8 wins.
21.Kg7 Bg5 22.Rg1 Be3 23.Rg6! 2...Rd2+ 3.Kb3 Rd3+ 4.Kb4!
The idea is to force Black to take the
obstructing d4–pawn to open the a1–h8
diagonal for our buried bishop.
4...Rxd4+ 5.Kb3!
Now we begin to retreat.
5...Rd3+ 6.Kb2 Rd2+ 7.Kb1 Rd1+

Black's king is far enough away.

23...Kd7 24.Rxh6! Bxh6+ 25.Kxh6 Ke7
26.Kg7 1–0

(131)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954 Force White's win: Step 1: Attraction. We need
Black's rook on a1.
8.Kc2! Ra1
8...Rg1 9.c8Q+ wins.
9.g8Q!
Your services are no longer required.
Step 2: Clearance.
9...Nxg8 10.Bxa1 Ne7 11.Bd4 1–0

(132)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954

White wins
Black is rich - not Thurston Howell III rich -
but clearly well off, with an extra rook for what
will be only four scattered white pawns. We
must find a way to overwhelm Black's extra
rook with our queenside pawns.

115
 This random-looking check derails Black's
intent. 3.Bc3? Rbg1+ is drawn.
3...Ka6
3...Kxa5 4.Ra2+ Kb4 5.Rb2+! Rxb2+ 6.Kxh1
Rb1+ 7.Kg2 Rb2+ 8.Kf3 Rb3+ 9.Kf4 wins
since Black can't evade promotion.
4.Bb6! Kxb6
4...Rxb6 allows 5.g8Q.
5.Rb2+!

White wins
You will need to find multiple deeply
embedded tactical tricks to find a way for
White to promote.
1.Kg3!

a) 1.Rd7? Rhg1+ 2.Kf2 Rg5 3.Bc3

Rxb3 4.Bf6 Rg6 is drawn.

b) 1.Kf3? Rh3+! 2.Kg4 Rh7! 3.Bc3 Removal of the guard.

Rg1+ 4.Kf5 Rgxg7 5.Bxg7 Rxg7 is a
drawn rook and pawn ending.
c) 1.Ba5+? Kxa5 2.Ra2+ Kb4 3.Kg3
Rxb3+ 4.Kg2 Rbh3! 5.g8Q R1h2+ 6.Kg1
Rh1+ is perpetual check.
d) 1.g8Q? misses the point: 1...Rbg1+
2.Kf2 Rxg8 should end in a draw.
1...Rxb3+ 2.Kg2!
The king doubles back.
2...Rbb1
2...Rhh3 3.Bd6! White seizes control over g3
and promotes.
3.Ba5+!!
5...Rxb2+ 6.Kxh1 Rb1+ 7.Kg2 Rb2+ 8.Kf3
Rb3+ 9.Kf4 Rb4+
The helpless rook is eventually swallowed and
continues moving down the position's digestive
tract.
10.Kf5 Rb5+ 11.Kf6 Black is out of checks,
and White will promote. 1–0
(133)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1954

White wins
Exercise (combination alert):
1. We are up two minor pieces for
Black's three scattered pawns.

116
 2. Our big problem is that our minor Black covers the g8 mating threat. Also, the
pieces hang simultaneously. rook must remain on f8 since Nf7 mate must
3. The game will end in a draw if we also be covered. Now we begin to get the
lose even one of them. picture of our winning plan. We must reach a
4. So our first goal is to find a tactical position with Black to move, who is threatened
idea that saves them both: with zugzwang.
Answer : Move the knight to h6, 6.Rg1!
threatening to deliver mate to Black's king with 6.Rg3? walks into the Mad Rook draw theme
Rg2 and either Rg8 mate or Nf7 mate. after 6...Rf2+ 7.Kxa3 Ra2+! and so on.
1.Nh6! 6...Rf2+ 7.Ka1 Rf8 8.Kb1! Rb8+
The sad part for Black is that it would be a draw 8...a2+ 9.Ka1 with zugzwang; White wins.
if the h7–pawn didn't exist. 9.Ka2 Rf8
1...f4 9...Rb2+ 10.Ka1! (10.Kxa3? Rb3+! is either
perpetual check or stalemate if the rook is
a) 1...Rxc1? 2.Rg2 wins since Black captured) 10...Ra2+! 11.Kb1 (11.Kxa2?
cannot cover the simultaneous mating stalemate) 11...Rb2+ 12.Kc1 Rb1+ 13.Kxb1!
threats on g8 and f7. (at last, we rid ourselves of that irritating,
fawning sycophant) 13...a2+ 14.Kc2! a1Q
b) 1...Kg7 2.Rg2+ Kf6 3.Bg5+ Ke5 15.Rg8# or 15.Nf7#.
4.Re2+ Kd4 5.Kxa3 wins. 10.Rg2!
2.Bxf4
Both minor pieces survived.
2...Rh4
2...Kg7 3.Rxa3 wins.
3.Rg2!
Dual threats Rg8 mate and Nf7 mate.
3.Rf2? walks into Black's trap: 3...a2!
(overloaded defender) 4.Rxa2 Rxf4+ draw.
3...Rxf4+

Zugzwang. 10.Rg2! Rf2+ (you want something

of value? Great, but how are you planning to
pay for it) 11.Rxf2. Sorry Black king. It isn't
stalemate since g7 is available.
1–0

(134)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956
What is White's best move?
Answer : DON'T capture the a-pawn but
instead move the king to a3, since this evades
Black's trap.
4.Kb3!
4.Kxa3 Rf3+ 5.Kb2 Rb3+! The Mad Rook
saves Black.
4...Rf3+
4...Rf8 5.Ka2! is the same.
5.Ka2 Rf8

117
 White wins
Exercise (combination alert): We are up
a piece, and the bad news is that both our
bishops hang simultaneously. How do we
remain up a piece without losing one of them?
Answer : Offer a rook!
1.Rd5!
Attraction. 1.Bf3? Rxd8 2.Rg6 Kh7 3.h5 draw.
1...Rxd5 2.Bf6+
We want to lure Black's king to g8 to pin the
rook with Bb3 later.
2...Kh7
2...Kg8 3.Bb3 pins and wins Black's rook.
3.Bc2+! Kg8 4.Bb3 Kf7! 5.Be5! Ke6
5...g2+? is met with 6.Kxh2
6.Bb8!
Our bishop must remain on this diagonal and
stay as far away from Black's king as possible.
a) 6.Bc7? Kd7 Black escapes with a
draw after 7.Bxd5 Kxc7 8.Bf3.
b) 6.Bf4? Kf5! Again, Black escapes.
6...Kf5
6...h5 7.Kg2 (zugzwang) 7...Kf5 8.Bxd5 Kg4
9.Bf3+! Kxh4 10.Bf4! with zugzwang is
similar to the main line.
7.Bxd5 Kg4 8.Be6+!
8.Kg2? Kxh4 9.Bf3 Kg5 is drawn.
8...Kxh4
8...Kf3 9.Ba7 Kf4 10.Kg2 wins.
9.Bf4 Kh5 10.Bf5!
118
Black's king is boxed in.
10...Kh4 11.Bxh6 Kh5 12.Be3!
It will be critical to cover g1, as we will soon
see.
12...Kh4 13.Kg2 Kh5 14.Kh3!
Black's bishop reminds us of the low-faith,
agnostic priest from the Exorcist, who was
bizarrely elated by encountering the possessing
demon. Why? Because the existence of a
denizen of Hell simultaneously proved to him
the existence of God. Zugzwang. Now we see
why White's bishop moved to e3: Black lacks
the resource ...Bg1.
1–0
(135)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957
White wins
We must promote one of our passed pawns and
are boggled by the weight of choices. Only one
move wins.
1.Nb8!
a) 1.h7? Kxd7 Both wing pawns are
halted.
 b) 1.Rb8? Bxb8 2.Nxb8 d2! Black
promotes with check and wins.

c) 1.Nf6+? Kf7 2.Kb1 d2 3.Kc2 Rc8+

wins.

d) 1.Nb6? Be5! (1...Kf7? is met with

2.Rf2! d2 3.Rxf4+ Kg6 4.Rd4 wins)
2.Ka2 Bxb2 3.Kxb2 Kf7 is drawn.
1...d2 2.Rxd2
2.Rb1! is a minor dual solution. 2...d1Q 3.Rxd1
Bxb8 4.Rxd5! (White must avoid 4.a8Q? Be5+ White wins
5.Kb1 Rxa8 6.Rxd5 is drawn) 4...Bxa7 5.h7!
transposes to our main line, and White wins. 1. If we play 1 c6–c7 then Black will give a
2...Bxb8 3.Rxd5! rook check on c6.
3.a8Q? Be5+ 4.Kb1 Rxa8 5.Rxd5 is drawn. 2. When we respond with 2 Rc2, Black has
3...Bxa7 4.h7! Bd4+ access to an interference/pawn promotion
This preacher isn't going to save anyone since combination with 2...Bc4, after which it
he can't even save himself. appears as if our c-pawn will fall.
5.Rxd4! Ra8+ Prove why this is an inaccurate assessment and
that White actually wins:
Answer :
1.c7!!
We deliberately plan into Black's combination.
1.Rc2? allows Black to hold a draw with
1...exd3 2.c7 Be6 3.Rc6 Rh7! 4.Bxd3 Re7 is
drawn.
1...Rc6+
1...Be6 2.d4 Kg1 3.Rf7!.
2.Rc2 Bc4!
Interference.
3.dxc4 bxc4

How does White win?

Answer : Decoy.
6.Ra4!
6.Kb2? Kf7 7.Rxg4 Rh8 Draw.
6...Rxa4+ 7.Kb2 Rb4+ 8.Kc3 White
promotes. 1–0

(136)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

Exercise (combination alert): We are

about to lose our c-pawn. Find a way to win the
game:
Answer : Attraction/skewer.
4.Rg2!!

119
Of course, the en prise rook is no gift, and the
lesson we all learned from the movie Miracle
on 34th Street is that the optics are terrible
when we try to prosecute Santa Claus.
4...Rxc7
4...Kxg2? loses to the simple skewer 5.Bxe4+
Kg3 6.Bxc6
5.Bxe4
We threaten a deadly discovered check on g7.
5...Re7 6.Bc6! Re1+
6...Rc7 7.Ba8 Ra7 (Or 7...Rc8 8.Rg8+) 8.Ra2+
wins.
7.Kd2 Rf1 White wins
7...Ra1 8.Ke3! is winning for White.
8.Ke2! Rb1 9.Ke3 Rb3+ 10.Kf4! Happily, some studies are worthy of our
10.Kd4? h4 11.Kxc4 Rb6 12.Bd5 Rd6 13.Bf3 righteous wrath and solve themselves in that we
Rf6. keep making the logical next move until it's
10...h4 11.Bf3 finished. This one is not too tough, and our
11.Rg4+? Kh2 12.Rxh4+ Kg1. rooks hang simultaneously, and our next move
11...Rd3 (D) is totally obvious.
11...h3 12.Rc2+ Kg1 13.Kg3! Rxf3+ (13...Rb1 1.Rb3+
14.Rh2 and mate next move) 14.Kxf3 h2 This rook is destined to be the ringleader of the
15.Rc1#. rebellion.
1...Kc5
1...Ka4? 2.Bc6#.
2.Rxc3+ Kxd5

a) 2...Kb4 3.Rc4+ Ka3 Moving the

king to b5 is mate in 2. 4.Bc6! forces mate
on a4.

b) 2...Kd6 3.Bg8! wins since all the

rooks come off the board, and we are left
with a bishop and the correct rook pawn.
3.Rcxd3+ Ke6
3...Kc6 4.Rc2+ Kb5 5.Rb3+ Ka4 Nor is a6 a
A single loose end remains: How do we get to safe haven for Black's king. 6.Rc4#.
Black's king? 4.Re3+!
Answer : Step 1. Give check on g4.
12.Rg4+! Kh2 13.Rxh4+
Step 2: We chop the h-pawn, seizing control
over h1.
13...Kg1 14.Kg3 Step 3: Move in closer
with our king. The Rh1 mate threat obliges
Black to hand over a rook. 1–0

(137)
A.Wotawa
Schachdelikatessen, 1960

4.Re2+? Kf5 5.Rf3+ Kg4 Black is saved.

120
 4...Kf6 5.Rf2+ Kg5
5...Kg7 6.Rg3+ Kh6 (6...Kh8 7.Rf8#) 7.Rf6#.
6.Rg3+ Kh4
6...Kh6 7.Rf6#.
7.Rf4# 1–0

(138)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

Exercise (combination alert): A rook

White wins
This one is considered one of Wotawa's all-
time classics. White's final mating attack is just
so surrealistically unlikely. In an altered form,
we have already seen this theme earlier in the
book.
1.f8Q!
1.gxh5+? Kxf7 2.Ra8 b2! 3.Rxa3 Rd2+! 4.Kc6
Rc2+ 5.Kb5 Rc1 Black wins.
1...Rxf8
check on f1 doesn't work, nor does a rook swap.
Is it time for White to resign?
Are you ready for a mindblower? White to play
and win:
Answer : Refuse to take the rook a move
our rook, leaving it en prise on h8. White also
threatens Rf1 mate.
3.Rh8!!
3.Rxf8+? Kxf8 4.Rf1+ Kg8 5.Ke7 Threat: Rf8
mate. 5...h6 6.Rf8+ Kh7 7.Rb8 Nc4 8.Rxb3
Ne5 is drawn.
3...Rxh8
3...b2?? is met with 4.Rf1#.
4.Rf1+! Kg8

a) 1...Nf6+ 2.Kc8 Rc2+ 3.Kb7 and

White wins.

b) 1...Rf7+ 2.Qxf7+ (2.Ke6? walks

into 2...Nf4+) 2...Kxf7 3.Rb8 Nf6+
4.Kd8! Nxg4 5.Rxb3 Nc4 6.Rxh7 with a
technical win for White.
2.gxh5+!
2.Rxf8? Nf6+ 3.Kc8 b2 Black wins.
2...Kf7
Exercise (planning): Work out the white
sequence to force mate in three moves.
Answer : Push the h-pawn to h6,
disallowing Black's ...h7–h6.
5.h6!
5.Ke7? (the threat to mate on f8 is too slow)
5...h6 Black's king is safe, and White loses.
5...b2

a) 5...g6 6.Ke7 b2 7.Rf8#.

121
 b) 5...gxh6 6.Ke7 b2 7.Rg1#
6.Ke7
Threat: Rf8 mate can only be prevented by
allowing another mate on the g-file.
6...gxh6
6...b1Q After Hansel and Gretel got their
eviction notice from the evil stepmother, they
found themselves homeless, lost, and starving
in the woods. Then an unkind witch, also into
cannibalism, invited them into her gingerbread
house, not believing her luck. To her dismay,
the homicidal Hansel and Gretel promptly
killed the witch, claiming self-defense, and got
away with it in court. The moral for the witch:
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
7.Rf8#.
7.Rg1# 1–0
the c2–pawn. Please remember Lasker's advice:
if you see a good move, don't play it right away
since there might be a better one that is hidden.
Answer : Attraction/mating net.
3.Rg7!!
The floating rook achieves that which we all
long for in life: a place to call home.
If this were a tournament game, the vast
majority of us would have settled for 3.Rxc2?
b1Q 4.Rf2+ Kg6 5.Bd6 is only a fortress draw
for White.
3...Kf5
3...Kxg7 4.Be5+ Kg6 5.Bxb2 Black's
promotion dreams are over.
4.Be5!
Our bishop looms vampirically over his victim,
and this is his "Don't think that you will escape
me" moment.
4...b1Q
The mate applies if Black promotes on the c-
file, as well.
5.g4# 1–0
(140)
A.Wotawa
Wiener Kurier, 1960

(139)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

White wins
We can't lose our final pawn, or the game will
be drawn. Proceed:
1.b6 Rf3+!

a) 1...Rf6 2.Be3 Rf3+ 3.Kg2 Rxe3

4.Rh4+! is similar to the study's actual
finish.
White wins
Find a way to weave mating nets with the b) 1...Rb2? loses without a fight.
tactical halting of Black's surging passed pawns. 2.Be3 Rb3 3.Rxe7 White consolidates and
We have access to a fortress draw by chopping wins.

122
 2.Kg2! Rb3 3.Be3! b) 3...Kg6 4.Rh6+ picks off Black's
Attraction. rook.
3...Rxe3 4.Rh4+! Kc5 5.Rb4!
Interference.
5...Kxb4 6.b7
Now Black's attempts to halt promotion are
about as effective as presenting the ruthless
head of a drug cartel with a petition asking them
to stop selling heroin. 1–0

(141)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

What now? Our bishop hangs, and there seems

to be no way to save our b-pawn. We must
remember the words of that not-so-great
predictor of coming events, Yosemite Sam,
who constantly warned Bugs Bunny: "Say your
prayers, rabbit!" Bugs always found a way out,
and we must do the same.
Exercise (combination alert): Find
White's three-step combination that forces the
win:
Answer : Step 1: Attraction.
White wins 4.Rb1! Rxb1 5.Bb4!
Step 2: Interference.
Find a way to either promote or mate Black. 5...a2 6.b8Q+ Kg7 7.Qg3+ Step 3: We win
1.Rh1+! Black's a-pawn via a double attack, no matter
1.Bxa3? Rxb7 is drawn. where Black's king moves. 1–0
1...Kg8
No choice since (142)
1...Kg7? 2.Bf8+! Kxf8 (2...Kg6 3.Rh6+ wins A.Wotawa
Black's rook) 3.Rh8+ Kg7 4.b8Q wins. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961
2.Be7!
Threatening to move the bishop to f6, which
overloads Black's rook.
2...Kg7

a) 2...Rxb7 3.Bf6! forces mate.

b) 2...f6 3.Rb1! Rxb1 (3...a2 4.b8Q+

wins) 4.Bb4 a2 5.b8Q+ Kf7 6.Qa7+ wins
the a-pawn and the game.
3.Bf8+!
Attraction.
3...Kg8 (D)
White wins
a) 3...Kxf8 4.Rh8+ and promotion
next.

123
 1. We can be up a rook if we promote 6...Qa8 is instantly mated with 7.Kg6#.
on Black's bishop with check. 7.Kxe5 Bxb3 8.Kd6 Ba4 9.e5
2. Our problem is it doesn't look like
there is any way to halt Black from
promotion on the a-file since 1 Rh3
is met with the interference
defensive shot 1...Ng3!.
1.Rh3!!
We play into Black's combination anyway
since there is a hole in it.
The rote 1.hxg8Q+? Kxg8 2.Rh3 Ng3! 3.Rxg3
a2 4.Bd6 a1Q 5.Bc5 White has a fortress draw
but no win.
1...Ng3! 2.Rxg3 a2

Black's offside bishop and king are

overwhelmed by White's pawns. 1–0

(143)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961

Exercise (combination alert): Surely we

must capture Black's bishop and take the
fortress draw? Actually not. White has a
remarkable win if you look deeply enough.
Answer : Annihilation of a defensive
barrier. White either creates a mating attack or
halts Black's passed a-pawn.
3.Rxg7!! White wins
3.hxg8Q+? Kxg8 4.Bd6 is only a draw.
3...Kxg7 This one is full of clever twists and turns. Our
rook hangs, and Black also threatens ...a3–a2.
a) 3...a1Q? 4.hxg8R#. Our solution appears simple until we see
Black's response to it.
b) 3...Bxh7 4.Kxf6 a1Q 5.Bxe5 Qa8 1.Rxg7+
6.Kg5! Qd8+ 7.Bf6 Qd2+ 8.Kh5 Qd6 1.Ra7? halts Black's promotion ambitions at too
9.Rg6+! wins the queen and the game. high a cost. 1...Bg6#.
4.h8Q+! 1...Bg6+!
Step 2: Decoy. We need the f6–pawn. Decoy! 1...Kh5 2.Kc2! Bg6+ 3.Rxg6 a2
4...Kxh8 5.Kxf6! a1Q 6.Bxe5 4.Rh6+ Kg4 5.Kb2 wins.
The Cobra pokes its hooded head out of the 2.Rxg6+ Kf5
Fakir's basket. Are we certain it is tamed?
Step 3: Double attack. We threaten Black's
queen, as well as Kg6 mate.
6...Qxe5+
No choice.

124
 8...Na3 9.Rb6!
This gains time, forcing Black's king to retreat.
The line is slightly more accurate than the
winning 9.Rb3! Nxc4 (this is a suicide note
more than the last stand) 10.Kxc4 Kxe4 11.Rb6
Ke5 12.Rxa6 f5 13.Kxc5 f4 14.Kc4 f3 15.Kd3
wins.
9...Ke5
Black's king is forced to take a resentful step
back.
10.Rxa6 Nb1 11.Ra1

Exercise (combination alert): Double

attack. Black threatens to chop our rook and
also to promote the a-pawn. You are going to
need to dig deep and think outside the box to
have any hope of solving White's problems:
Answer : Move the rook to the second rank,
which at first seems like total lunacy.
3.Rg2!!

a) 3.Rg1? a2 4.Kc2 a1Q 5.Rxb1 Qa4+

wins.

b) 3.Kc2? a2 4.Rxf6+ Kxf6 5.Kb2 At last, we trap Black's knight. 1–0

Nc3 6.Ka1 Nxe2 7.Bxc5 should end in a
draw. (144)
3...a2 4.Bc1! A.Wotawa
What? Are we just going to allow Black to Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961
promote?
4...a1Q 5.e4+! Ke5 6.Bb2+!
Step 3: Decoy.
6...Qxb2 7.f4+
Step 4: Discovered attack, winning Black's new
queen.
7...Kxf4 8.Rxb2

White wins
This one is nothing short of multiple geometric
miracles.
1.Ra8!!
1.Rb8? Rfxc7 2.Bg7+ (2.Raa8 c1Q wins)
2...Kxg7 3.Ra7 Rxa7 4.Rxc8 Rxa2 5.Kg2 Rb2
Much obliged, ma'am. By a miracle, we won draw.
Black's queen. Step 5 will be to trap and win 1...Rfxc7
Black's knight. 1...Rxa8 2.Rb8+ Rf8 3.Bxf8.

125
 2.Bg7+!! Black's precarious king position can be
Attraction. You are the CEO of a giant exploited, and unbelievably, Black cannot
corporation with $3.3 billion in debt. In a promote successfully.
moment of epiphany, you realize the company 1.Be6!
can regain solvency by having a bake sale. We Threat: Nxg6 mate.
just described how nonsensical White's last
move appears. a) 1.Nxg6+? Kf5 2.Bh7 Rxf2 3.Nf4+
2...Kxg7 Kg5 4.Bxe4 b2 5.Kd6 Rf3! 6.h4+ Kg4
2...Kg8 3.Rxc8+ Rxc8 4.Bb2 c1Q 5.Bxc1 Rxc1 7.Nxh5 Rxe3 8.Nf6+ Kxh4 9.Bh7 Kg5
6.a4 White wins. 10.Nd5 Rh3 11.Bc2 Rh1 12.Kxc5 b1Q
3.Rb7! c1Q 13.Bxb1 Rxb1 14.Kd6 Rb8 15.c5 Rd8+
3...Kf8 4.Rxc7 16.Ke5 Rc8 17.Kd6 Rd8+ Draw.
4.Rxc8!
Exploiting a pin. White wins BOTH Black b) 1.Ne2? (passive defense loses)
rooks! 1...Rxf2 2.Nc3 b2 when White is unable to
4...Qxg5 generate threats and loses.
4...Rxb7 5.Rxc1 White wins. 1...Rg2!
5.Rcxc7+ Kf6 6.Rxh7 This buys Black time. 1...b2? (misses the point:
2.Nxg6#.
2.Nxg2 g5! (D)
2...b2? 3.Nf4 b1Q 4.Nxg6#.

It's an easy technical win for White. 1–0

(145)
A.Wotawa More than any other resource, composed
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962 studies contain the power to transform our
minds from the mundane to the supernatural.
Exercise (combination alert/planning): We
arrive at the "Are you joking?" phase of a
Wotawa study. There IS a way for White to
stop Black from promotion, and try and find it:
Answer : Move the knight to h4!
3.Nh4!!
Threat: Ng6 mate.
3.h4? is too slow. 3...b2 4.hxg5 b1Q 5.Nf4
Qb7+ 6.Bd7 Qa6 White is busted since ...Qd6+
is next.
3...gxh4
3...b2? 4.Ng6#.
White wins 4.Bg8!
Step 2: Transfer the bishop to h7. At first, this
random-looking move baffles us to the level of

126
a pastor asking the congregation if it would be our answer and says: "Well done!" In this one,
okay to install a stripper pole in the church. our attack is more potent than Black's passed
4...b2 5.Bh7! a5 pawns.
5...b1Q 6.f4+! wins, just as in the study's 1.Rb5!!
continuation. As so often is the case, Wotawa begins with
6.Bg6! some showmanship by leaving a rook en prise
Step 3: Zugzwang. Black must promote. on the very first move.
6...b1Q 7.f4+! 1...Rxb5
The following variations are both long and
tactically amazing.

a) 1...Bd3 2.Rxb2 Bf4! (White

threatened mate with a bishop check on d2,
followed by a rook check on b6) 3.Ra5! g3
4.Rb7 (threatening mate on h7) 4...Bf5
5.Rb6! Kg5 6.Kg7! (threat: Rxg6 mate)
6...Bc1! 7.Rxg6+ Kf4 8.Rf6 Ke3 9.Raxf5
wins.

b) 1...Bf4 2.Rxb2 Bd3 3.Ra5 g3 4.Rb7

(threat: Rh7 mate) 4...Bf5 (4...g5 5.Ra6+!
Step 4: Discovered attack. Force Black into the (removal of the guard) 5...Bxa6 6.Rb6+
en passant capture. Bd6 7.Rxd6#) 5.Rb6 Threat: Rxf5.
7...exf3 5...Kg5 6.Kg7! (threat: Rxg6 mate)
Goliath, meet David. Black's queen falls. 6...Bc1 7.Rxg6+ Kf4 8.Rf6 wins, just as in
8.Bxb1 f2 9.Bd3 f1Q 10.Bxf1 Ke4 11.Kd6 line a).
1–0 2.Bd2+
We force Black's rook into a pin.
(146) 2...Rg5 3.Ra5!
A.Wotawa We lure Black's bishop to f5.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962 3...Bf5

White wins Exercise (combination alert): Work out

White's forced mate in 4:
You write "3+3=5" on the blackboard of your Answer : Step 1: Decoy. Move the rook to
first-grade class, beaming with pride at your the en prise a7–square.
extraordinary math skills. Then your hateful 4.Ra7!! Bxa7
teacher erases the faulty equation with pursed 4...e1Q 5.Rh7#.
lips and judgmental eyes. In the alternative 5.f4!
universe of a Wotawa study, the teacher praises

127
Step 2: Push the f-pawn one move forward,
creating the unstoppable threat of mate on g5.
5...e1Q
5...Bxd4+ (yes, yes, you petty little person, we
are all so terrified of your spite check) 6.cxd4
e1Q 7.fxg5#.
6.fxg5# 1–0

(147)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963

Exercise (combination alert): How does

White force mate in 5?
Answer : Overloaded defender. White's
rook can move to c1, cutting off the black king's
escape route.
4.Rc1!
4.Rd1? c5 Black is winning.
4...Rxf7
4...Rxc1 5.f8Q+ c5 6.Ra4+! Kxa4 7.Qe8+ Kb4
8.Qb5#.
5.Ra4+!
Attraction.
White wins 5...Kxa4
"No worries, everything is under control," said
Black's h-pawn looks faster than our f-pawn. the captain of the Titanic moments before it hit
Our only chance to win is to go after the black the iceberg.
king. 6.Rc4# 1–0
1.Kb6!
(148)
a) 1.Rb7? Rexe1! 2.f7 Ref1 3.Rc1 Rxf7! A.Wotawa
4.Rc4+ Ka5 5.Rxf7 h1Q 6.Rf5+ Qd5! Schach Echo, 1963
7.Rxd5+ cxd5 8.Rxd4 Rg7+ 9.Kb8 Kb6
10.Rb4+ Kc5 and White is lucky to hold a
draw.

b) 1.Rh7? h1Q 2.b3+ Kb5 3.a4+ Kc5

4.Rxh1 Rxh1 5.Bb4+ Kxb4 6.Rxh1 Rf3
7.Rc1 Rxf6 8.Rc4+ Kxb3 9.Rxd4 and the
game will end in a draw.
1...Rexe1 2.Ra7+ Kb4 3.f7! Ref1 (D)

a) 3...Rgf1?? 4.Rxe1 wins.

b) 3...h1Q 4.f8Q+ Kc4 5.Rd1! Rxd1

6.Qf5! Threat: ...Ra4 mate. Black is mated White wins
in 3 moves at the most.
How do we force promotion of one of our
passed pawns?
1.d7!

128
 a) 1.a7? Rc8 2.Nc3 Be6 3.Nb5 Bg4+ 5...Rxd7
4.Nf3 Ra8 5.Kc2 Bd7 6.Nfd4 Rxa7! 5...Bd5 Of course, the trouble is the bishop now
7.Nxa7 Kxd4 draw. interferes with the rook's connection to d8.
6.d8Q
b) 1.Nf1+? Kf2 2.Nd2 Rxd6 3.a7 Ra6, 6.a8Q 1–0
White will be lucky to draw.
1...Rd6 (149)
1...Bb3+ 2.Ke1 Rd6 3.Nf1+! Ke4 4.a7 wins. A.Wotawa
2.a7 Bd5 (D) Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1964

a) 2...Rxd2+? loses to 3.Kc1.

b) 2...Rxd7? 3.a8Q Rxd2+ 4.Kc1 wins.

White wins
Prove why Black's scant king safety is more
important than Black's threat to promote to a
new queen:
Exercise (combination alert): Black's
1.Nb7+!
position falls apart after White's explosive
1.Nc2?? Ka4! Black wins.
combination:
1...Kb4
Answer : Steps 1 and 2: Give away both
1...Ka6? 2.Rg8! (threat: Ra8 mate) 2...Ka7
knights!
3.Nd8! Ka6 (3...b4 transposes after 4.Nc6+)
3.Nc4+!
4.Nc6 (renewing the threat of Ra8 mate) 4...b4
At first, this doesn't appear to be much of a
5.Ra8+ Kb5 6.Ra5#.
knight fork since Black captures with check.
2.Nc5!!
3...Bxc4+ 4.Nd4!!
Step 2: Attraction.
Overloaded defenders/pawn promotion. We
2...Kxc5
give away another knight with check!
2...h1Q 3.Nc2+ Kxc5 Moving the king to a5
4...Rxd4+
allows mate with our b-pawn. 4.b4#
3.Rg4! h1Q (D)
a) 4...Bd5? "A problem ignored is a
problem conquered," thinks the school
a) 3...d4 4.Rxh4 All of Black's passers
nerd, who is 10 seconds away from the
are halted, and White wins.
school bully's fist slamming into his nerd
glasses and nerd face. The move loses to
5.Nf5+ Kf4 6.Nxd6. b) 3...Kb4 4.Rxh4 wins.

b) 4...Kxd4? 5.a8Q wins.

5.Kc1!
Step 3: Move our king to the c-file.
5.Ke1? walks into a back-rank mate after
5...Bb3! 6.a8Q Rd1#.

129
 Answer:
1.Rcxc1!
Our threat is Rd2+, forcing mate.

a) 1.Kxa5? Nxc5 2.Rxc1 Nb3+ 3.Kb6

Rf3 4.c7 Bf5 5.f7 Bc8 6.Re1 Rxf7 7.Bc3 is
a draw.

b) 1.f7? Rxc5 White is mated.

c) 1.c7? Rxc5 Again, White is mated.

1...Rb5+
Exercise (combination alert): You know a) 1...Rc5? 2.Rd2+ Bc2 3.Rdxc2+ Rxc2
that feeling where you sense pain is coming, yet 4.Rxc2+ Kb1 5.Kxa4! Kxc2 6.c7 promotes and
don't know which direction it's coming from? wins.
Well, that moment is here for Black, and b) 1...Rh4+? hangs the rook on a5. 2.Kxa5.
White's last move is the vanguard of an c) 1...Bf5? 2.Rd2+ Bc2 3.Rdxc2+ Nb2 4.Rxb2#.
impending invasion. White mates in 2. 2.Kxa4 Rh4+
Answer : Attraction/clearance. We must
seize control over the 4th rank with a knight
sacrifice.
4.Nd3+!
Work on such tactics daily, and we create
powerful new neural pathways.
4...Bxd3 5.b4# 1–0

(150)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1964

Exercise (critical decision): We have

blocks with 3 Rc4 and 3 Bd4. Which one should
we play?
Answer : The bishop block looks
nonsensical, yet it is the one that allows White's
fortunes to rise.
3.Bd4!!
3.Rc4? Bxc4 4.Bd4 (threat: Ra1 mate) 4...Bb3+
(4...Rxd4? 5.Rxd4 Rc5 6.Rxc4! Rxc4+ 7.Kb5
Kb3 8.f7 wins) 5.Kxb5 Bxd1 6.c7 Bg4 7.Kc5!
Bc8 8.Be5 Rh1 9.Kd6 Rf1 10.Ke7 draw.
White wins 3...Rxd4+ 4.Rc4 Bxc4

How do we cipher through the various a) 4...Rxc4+ 5.Kxb5 Be2 6.Rd2+

discordant elements?
1. Both kings appear to be in danger.
2. Black is up two pieces.
3. White has two dangerously
surging passed pawns, both threats
to promote.
How should we proceed?
Rc2+ 7.Rxe2 Rxe2 8.c7 Re8 9.Kb6 h5
10.Kb7 h4 11.f7! Rf8 12.c8Q wins.
b) 4...Rbd5 5.Rxd4 Rxd4+ 6.Ka5
Rd5+ 7.Kb6 Rb5+ 8.Kc7 Bg6 9.Rf1 Bf7
10.Kd7 Rc5 11.c7 wins.
5.Rxd4 Rc5

130
5...Bf1 6.c7 Rc5 7.f7 wins. Exercise (combination alert): What is
6.Rxc4! White's only path to victory?
Answer : Step 1: Decoy.
1.Bd4!!

a) 1.Rxd5? g1Q+ 2.Rxg1 Rxg1 3.Rxd2

is drawn.

b) 1.Ra8+? Kd7 2.Rxd5+ Ke6 3.Re5+

Kd7 4.Ra1 g1Q+ 5.Rxg1 Rxg1 6.Rd5+
Ke6 7.Rxd2 draw.

c) 1.Kc6? (threatening mate on a8)

1...Rg6+! 2.Kxd5 g1Q 3.Rxg1 Rxg1 and
Black wins.
Finally, a shaft of sunlight shoots through the
cloud cover. Black's remaining rook cannot d) 1.Rg1? d1Q 2.Rxd1 g1Q+ 3.Rxg1
deal with the white king and two passers. Rxg1 4.Rxd5 draw.
6...Rxc4+ 7.Kb5 Kb3 8.f7 Rb4+ 9.Kc5 Rf4 1...Rxd4 2.Rxd5!
10.c7 h5 11.Kd5! Step 2: Decoy, Part II!
2...Rxd5 3.Kc6!
Step 3: Double attack!
3...Rb5!
Black tries a desperate decoy. 3...d1Q? 4.Ra8#.
4.Kxb5 h5 (D)
4...Kd7 5.Kc5 h5 6.Kd4 h4 7.Ke3 h3 8.Kf2
Ke6 9.Rd1 Ke5 10.Rxd2 wins.

Let's not fall for the vile cheapo 11.c8Q? Rc4+

1–0

(151)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

Exercise (critical decision): Should

White's king move forward to c6, or is it time
for a defensive retreat to c4?
Answer : Only moving the king forward
wins.
5.Kc6!
The mating threat gives White a crucial tempo
to transport the king over to the kingside.
5.Kc4? blows it: 5...h4 6.Kd5! (only by
reversing course can White save the game)
6...h3 7.Kc6! Kd8 8.Kd6 d1Q+ 9.Rxd1 h2
White wins

131
10.Ra1 Ke8 11.Ke6 Kf8 12.Kf6 Ke8 13.Ke6 5.Ka6! e2 6.Nxd5+ Ka4 7.Rc4#) 4.b4! e1Q
draw. 5.a4#.
5...Kd8 2.Rh1!
5...Kb8 6.Kd5 h4 7.Ke4 h3 8.Kf3 Kc7 9.Rd1 Threatening a deadly rook check on h5.
Kc6 10.Kg3 wins. 2...Be5
6.Rd1! Ke7 7.Kd5 h4 8.Ke4 h3 9.Kf3 2...c6 3.Rh5+ d5 4.Rxd5+! cxd5 5.Bf8!
Clearance. 5...e2 6.a4+ Ka5 7.b4#
3.Nxd7 e2 4.Rxh6! e1Q 5.Rh5! f2 6.g7! f1Q
7.Nxe5!

h3 is the next stop on the white king's

pilgrimage. Oh no, you don't. Black doesn't get
time for ...h3–h2. 1–0
Black is mated, despite the two extra queens!
(152) 7...Nf4
A.Wotawa 7...c5 8.g8Q forces mate.
Schach Echo, 1965 8.g8Q Qg2+ 9.Nf3+! Nxh5 10.Qc4+ Ka5
11.Qa6#

White wins
1–0
Oh, Lord! Norman Bates is released from the
asylum and now decides to compose endgame (153)
studies! We file this one firmly into the A.Wotawa
unsolvable category. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966
How does White get to Black's king?
1.h6!!
Huh? This pawn can be taken two ways!
1...Nxh6
1...Bxh6 2.Bd6!! cxd6 (2...cxb6 3.Ra1! e2
4.a4+ Ka5 5.b4#) 3.Rb1! e2 (3...Kb4 4.Rc1! d5

132
 4.Nc2!!
Threat: Nb4+ and Ra5 mate. Is White going too
far with the I'm-giving-all-my-stuff-away
doctrine? Actually, not, since this clears the
way for a deadly push of the b-pawn, enabling
Ra5 mate.
4...bxc2
4...Bc4 5.Nb4+ Ka7 6.Ra5+ Ba6 7.Rxa6#.
5.b4!
Black's king is about to get pistol-whipped by
our rook, b-pawn, and king.
5...c1Q 6.Ra5# 1–0
White wins
(154)
It's another race between our mating attack and A.Wotawa
Black's promotion to a new queen. Come up Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967
with a mating plan:
Answer : Step 1: Clearance.
1.c6! bxc6

a) 1...Bd5 2.Nxd5 bxc6 3.a6 h1Q 4.a7

Qg2 5.a8Q Qxb2 6.Qxc6+ Ka5 7.Rc5#.

b) 1...h1Q 2.cxb7 mates in 5 at the

most.
2.a6!
Step 2: Attraction.
2...Kxa6
2...h1Q is once again too slow. White wins
after 3.a7 Qg2 4.a8Q Qxb2 5.Qb7+ Ka4 White wins
6.Qa7+ Kb4 7.Qc5+ Ka4 8.Kb6! and mate in
2. It appears that Black can draw easily. If we
3.Rc5! subject the position to a critical examination, it
Step 3: Cut off Black's king. We force mate, no tells a different story. 1 Rxf2 will be met with
matter how Black responds. the zwischenzug 1...Bxh4+.
3...h1Q How can we throw the defense out of alignment?
Answer:
1.Rxf2!
1.Ra4 Rf7 2.a6 Bxh4+ 3.Ke8 (3.Kc8?? Kc6
White is mated) 3...Ra7 draw.
1...Bxh4+ 2.Rf6!!
This decoy trick messes up Black's everyday
defensive ideas.
2.Kc7? allows Black to draw after 2...Bg3+
3.Kb7 Bxf2 4.a6 Kxc4 5.a7 Bxa7 6.Kxa7
Kxc3
2...Bxf6+ 3.Kc7 Bxc3 4.a6 Ba5+

Exercise (combination alert): White can

force mate in 4:
Answer : Decoy/clearance.

133
 a) 1.Rd6+? Ke4! 2.b6 cxb6! 3.Nb5
cxb5 4.Rxb6 Rxa7 draw.

b) 1.bxc6? bxc6! 2.Nb5 cxb5 3.Ra6

c6 4.Kc5 Kc3 5.Kxc6 b4 6.Kb7 Rxa7+
7.Kxa7 b3 draw.
1...cxb6
1...Kd4 2.bxc7 Kd5 3.Nc4 wins.
2.Nb5!
Step 2: Interference. By sacrificing our knight,
we get two important things in return:
1. We turn Black's three pawns into a
Exercise (critical decision): What is our useless triplicate on the b-file.
only winning move? 2. Most importantly, we hang on to
Answer : Only b8 works. our a7–pawn, with a rook check on
5.Kb8! f3 and then a transfer to the a-file.
White must give away a tempo. 2...cxb5
5.Kb7? Bb6! Draw. 2...c5+ 3.Kb3 c4+ 4.Ka3 c3 5.Rd6+ Kc2 6.Rd7
5...Bb6 wins.
Black bishop and king are drawn and lost into 3.Rf3+ Kc2 4.Rf2+!
the impenetrable depths of the jungle. This zwischenzug is essential. The ordinarily
6.Kb7! Zugzwang. 1–0 jovial IM Paul Littlewood, a master solver and
an admin on Chess Endgame Studies and
(155) Compositions, lamented this study was too
A.Wotawa much even for him due to its extraordinarily
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967 high level of subtlety.
4.Ra3? Kb2! Black holds the draw.
4...Kc1!
4...Kb1 5.Kb3! Kc1 6.Rf1+ Kd2 7.Ra1 Kd3
8.Ra2! Kd4 9.Kb4 Kd5 10.Kxb5 Kd6
11.Kxb6 Kd7 12.Kxb7 wins.
5.Ra2

White wins
Humans, for centuries, have attempted to
transform lead into gold. You will need to do
just that to win this difficult study.
Exercise (planning): It's clear that Black
draws if we lose our a7–pawn. How on Earth Now is the time to switch to the a-file.
do we hang on to it? 5...Kb1 6.Kb3!
Answer : Step 1. Push our b-pawn, giving 6.Ra3? Kb2! 7.Rb3+ Ka2 8.Ra3+ Kb2 draw.
it away on b6. 6...Kc1
1.b6!! 6...b4 7.Rh2 Kc1 8.Rh1+ Kd2 9.Ra1 wins.
7.Ra3! Kb1 8.Kc3!
This move gains a tempo.

134
8.Kb4? Kb2! is drawn. 3...c2
8...Rc8+ 3...Kxf6? 4.Bxd4#.
8...b4+ 9.Kxb4 Kb2 10.Ra4 Kc2 11.Ra2+ Kb1 4.Bxd4! c1Q
12.Kb3 Kc1 13.Ra4 wins. 4...Kf8 5.Be3 Both passers are halted.
9.Kb4 Ra8 10.Kxb5 Kb2 11.Kb4! 5.Rc6+
11.Ra4? Kb3! Draw. Step 3: Discovered check.
11...Kb1 12.Kb3 Kc1 13.Ra4! 5...Kg8 6.Rxc1

13...Kb1 14.Kc3! Rc8+ 15.Kb4! Ra8 Wotawa's level of deception makes politicians
We gained a tempo. appear wholesome and honest by comparison!
16.Kb5 Kb2 17.Kxb6 Kb3 18.Kxb7! 1–0 Note that White's rook happens to halt the
promotion of the f-pawn. 1–0
(156)
A.Wotawa (157)
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1968 A.Wotawa
Schach Echo, 1968

White wins
Black has two pawns about to promote. How do
we use our two extra rooks to deal with the
issue?
Answer: Step 1: Attraction.
1.Rf6!! Kxf6 2.Rxb6+
2.Bxb6? Kg7 3.Bxd4+ f6 Black wins.
2...Kg7
2...Ke5?? 3.Bb8+ Kd5 4.Rb5#.
3.Rf6!
Step 2: Attraction, Part II.
White wins
Exercise (combination alert): If we
promote, Black wins back the queen with a
rook check on f4. How should we continue?
Answer : Attraction, make the promotion
anyway. The idea is to seize control over c4 for
our a3–knight.
1.f8Q!
1.Kf5? Bxc5 2.Kxg4 Bxa3 Black wins.
1...Rf4+ 2.Ke5!

135
Believe it or not, our king on e5 is essential to
our coming attack.
2.Kg7? Rxf8 3.Nc4+ Kb5 wins.
2...Rxf8 3.Nc4+! Kb5

White wins
We own three pieces for a rook and three pawns.
Our problem is it appears that we are losing one
of them. We must once again find a way to go
White mates in 5. after the black king.
4.Nd6+! 1.Bh3!
The knights buzz around Black's king with the A large population provides cover for a fugitive
droning of annoying flies. since they are but one among many.
4...Ka5 1.Bb7? cxd6 2.Bxg2 Rxg2 is drawn.
4...Kxc5? 5.d4# Huh, what? 1...Rgf2+
5.Ndb7+ Kb5 6.c4+! 1...Rxd6 2.Bxg2 wins.
Attraction. 2.Nf7+ Rxf7+ 3.Kxf7 g4! 4.Bxg4!
6...Kxc4 7.Nd6+ Kxc5 8.d4# 4.Bf1? hangs the bishop to the simple double
attack 4...Rf2+
4...Rd4

How in the hell did Wotawa manage this?

Now we see why White's king was needed on
e5. 1–0 Double attack.
Exercise (combination alert): The only
(158) consistent trait of a Wotawa study is its
A.Wotawa unpredictability. It's time for us to look for a
Schach, 1968 shocker:
Answer : Attraction.
5.Rd3!!

a) 5.Nb6? Rf4+! Zwischenzug Black

wins back a piece and draws.

136
 b) 5.Nc5? Rxg4 Draw. Exercise (combination alert): White
mates in 11.
c) 5.Bh3? Rf4+! 6.Kxg6 Rxa4 Draw. Answer : Attraction/interference.
5...Rxd3 6.Nc5! 2.Nc5!!
Threats: Nb7 mate and Nxd3. Even the most ambiguous plans must still have
6...Rg3 some basis for launching. This looks like a
Some of us prefer the oblivion of death to a random move, and we see its point after Black's
continued life of pain. 7th move of the study.
Less flashy yet empirically better is 6...c6 2.Rh3+? Kg4 3.Ne5+ Kf4 4.Rf3+ Ke4 5.Bb7+
7.Nxd3 wins. Kd4 6.Rd3+ Kc5 Black's king escapes, and we
7.Nb7# 1–0 lose.
2...Bxc5
(159) As a visualization exercise, try to work out
A.Wotawa White's mate in 8 without moving the pieces.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1968 It's an easy mate since the study for the
remainder solves itself with forcing checks.

a) 2...b1Q 3.Rh3+ Kg4 4.Bc8+ Kf4

5.Rf3#.

b) 2...Rh6+ 3.Kf5 Rf6+ 4.Kxf6 Bxc5

5.Rh3+ We mate, just as in the study.
3.Rh3+ Kg4 4.Bc8+ Kf4 5.Rf3+
Go West, young man! Black's king is led to a4,
his execution square.
5...Ke4 6.Bb7+ Kd4 7.Rd3+ Kc4

White wins
Only inbreeding could have produced this
monstrosity.
1.Kf6!
We must prevent the black king's flight to g5.
1.Rh3+? Kg5 2.Rg3+ Kf4 3.Rf3+ Kg5 draw.
1...Bxf8 (D)
1...b1Q 2.Rh3+ Kg4 3.Ne5+ Kf4 4.Rf3+ Ke4
5.Bd3+ Kd4 6.c3+ Kd5! 7.c4+ Kd4 8.Nc6+
Kc3 9.Bxb1+ Kb2 10.Bxh7! a1Q 11.Bxh6
Black is busted.
Now we see why White gave away our knight
on c5. Black's bishop interferes with the c5–
escape square for Black's king.
8.Ba6+ Kb4 9.Rb3+ Ka4 10.Bb5#
1–0

(160)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1970

137
 White wins Exercise (combination alert): Find
White's winning shot:
Black is about to promote. Our first move, Answer : Decoy. Offer a rook on e8.
giving a check, is obvious, and our second is 4.Re8! Rxe8
anything but obvious! Only those of us with
dark, devious hearts can solve a study this a) 4...Rae7 5.Rxe7 doesn't change
geometrically malevolent. anything and if we are mated, then "here"
1.Rf8+ Ke4 2.Be6!! is just as good as "there." 5...Rxe7 6.f3#.
Decoy. White threatens f2–f3 mate.
b) 4...Kd5 (congratulations, black
a) 2.Bb7+? Rxb7 3.Rbd8 Threat: f2– king; You evaded mate and still lose)
f3 mate. 3...Reb5! Black is winning. 5.Rexe5+ Kc6 6.Ra5 wins.
5.f3# 1–0
b) 2.Bf5+? Kd5 3.Rbc8 Threat: Rfd8+.
3...Ree7 4.Rfd8+ Rad7 5.Bxd7 a1Q (161)
6.Bf5+ Ke5 is equal. A.Wotawa
2...Rxe6 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936

a) 2...Rd5 3.Bxd5+ Kxd5 4.Rf5+ Kd6

5.Ra5 wins.

b) 2...a1Q? 3.f3#.

c) 2...Rb5 3.Rxb5 axb5 4.Rf5! a1Q

5.f3#.
3.Rf5!
Renewing the threat, f2–f3 mate.
3.Rbd8? Rf6! 4.Rxf6 a1Q 5.Rf5 Qc3+ 6.Kd1
Re7 Black wins.
3...Re5 (D)
3...d3? 4.Rb4#. White draws
Our situation is dire since Black threatens to
transfer the rook to our back rank, and we are
mated. Even if we pick off the g3–pawn, we
still lose a piece to ...Ra5, with dual threats of
back rank mate and the simple ...Rxa6.
How do we unravel from this cheerless position?
1.Bf6+!

138
Step 1: This check must be tossed in since we
need to lure Black's king to a light square.
a) 1.Bh4? is a case of the right idea,
wrong move order: 1…Rxh4 2.Bd3 Rh5!
3.Bf5 Kg7, White is mated.
b) 1.Bd6? Ra5 2.Bxg3 Rxa6 3.Kxh2
is an easy technical win for Black.
c) 1.Bf1? Rd5 2.Bh4 Rd1 wins.
1...Kh7
1...Kg8 2.Bh4!! is the same.
2.Bh4!!
Expense must step aside when need enters the
room.
Step 2: Move the bishop to h4, where it can be
taken free of charge by Black's rook.
2...Rxh4
a) 2...Ra5 3.Bd3+ Now we see why
Black's had to be moved to a light square.
This check buys us a precious tempo.
3...Kg7 4.Bxg3 Ra3 5.Be5+! Nope. We
don't lose a piece. 5...Kf7 6.Be2 Re3
Double attack? 7.Bc4+ No! 7...Ke7 8.Bd4!
Re4 9.Bc5+ Kf6 10.Bd3 Re1+ 11.Kxh2
with at least a draw for White.
b) 2...Rd5 3.Bxg3 is at least even for
White.
3.Bd3+ Kg7 4.Bg6!
These are the most suicidal bishops we have
ever seen! It's either stalemate or Black's rook
never escapes its prison on the h-file.
4...Kf6
The king is powerless and must obey as if
mesmerized by Bela Lugosi's Dracula stare.
139
4...Kxg6 is stalemate.
5.Bh5! Kg5 6.Be8 Kf6
6...h5 self-traps the rook, and the position is
drawn all the same.
7.Bh5 Black is unable to make progress.
½–½
(162)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1943
White wins
White's bishop is under attack, and the g2–
pawn. How do we continue?
1.Bf6!
a) 1.Bg5? Kxg2 2.e6 Kf3 3.e7 g2
4.e8Q g1Q+ 5.Kd2 Qd4+ mates.
b) 1.e6? is too slow: 1...Rxh4 2.e7 Rh8
3.f5 Kxg2 4.f6 Kh1! 5.f7 g2 6.f8Q g1Q+
7.Kd2; now Black forces mate in 9 with
7...Rh2+ 8.Kd3 Qd1+ 9.Ke4 Re2+ mates.
1...Rf5
1...Kxg2 2.e6 Kf3 3.e7 g2 4.Bd4! Now we see
the devious point of placing the bishop on f6:
White seizes control over the g1–promotion
square. 4...Rh8 5.f5 Ke4 6.f6! Rh1+ (6...Kxd4?
7.Kf2 White wins) 7.Bg1 Kf3 8.f7 Rxg1+
9.Kd2 Rd1+ 10.Kc2! Rc1+ 11.Kd2 draw.
2.e6! Rxf6 3.f5!
3.e7? loses to 3...Re6+
3...Rxf5 4.e7! Re5+ 5.Kf1! Rxe7
The porch light may be on, yet nobody is home.
Stalemate.
5...Re6 6.e8Q Rxe8 is the same. ½–½
(163)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944
 Black sets up a cheapo.
White wins How do we force the draw?
Answer : Step 1: Block the intended mate
This is a strange neighborhood with some on a4.
stately homes in full, renovated beauty while 7.Bb3!
others languish in unattended disrepair. In
reality, our pawns and superior king position a) 7.g8Q? Ra4# You can't hear us now,
match the power of Black's extra rook. Prove but we ask in Freud's Viennese accent:
how: "How long have you had such suicidal
1.f7 thoughts?"
1.g5? Rxg5 2.f7 Rf5 3.Kb4 Kb2 (3...Be6?
4.f8Q) 4.Kc4 Be6+. b) 7.Bc6? Rg4 wins our g-pawn and
1...Rf2 the game.
1...Rg3+ 2.Kb4 Rxg4+ 3.Kc5 Rf4 4.Kd6 White 7...Bxb3 8.g8Q!
draws since our king reaches e7. Step 2: Attraction/stalemate.
2.g5! 8...Bxg8 White is stalemated. ½–½
2.Kb4? Bxg4 3.Kc5 Bh5 wins.
2...Rf4 (164)
2...Bg4 3.g6 Bh5 4.g7 Bxf7 5.Bxf7 Rg2 6.g8Q A.Wotawa
draw. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944
3.g6 Ba4!
3...Bg4 4.Kb3 Be6+ 5.Kc3 Draw.
4.f8Q!
This way, we dodge a trap.
4.g7? walks into a mating net. 4...Bc2! 5.f8Q
Ra4#.
4...Rxf8 5.Bd5
Threat: g6–g7.
5.Bf7? Ra8 6.Kb4 Be8 7.Bd5 Rb8+ 8.Kc5
Bxg6 wins.
5...Rf4 6.g7 Bd1!

White draws
Exercise (combination alert): Principle:
If a study appears too easy, you would be wise
to be suspicious. First, we need to see why the
promotion of our b-pawn doesn't work.

140
Secondly, we need to find the combination
which saves us:
Answer : Step 1: Attraction.
1.Be4+!
1.b8Q? walks into Wotawa's trap. 1...Nc5+!
2.Ka5 (2.Kb6 Nd7+ forks and wins) 2...Ra3+
3.Kb6 (Or 3.Kb4 Rb3+) 3...Nd7+ wins.
1...Kxe4 2.b8Q!
Now is the right moment.
2...Ra3+
2...Nc5+ 3.Kb5 Rb3+ 4.Ka5! Rxb8 stalemate.
3.Kb5!
Step 2: Transfer the king to the stalemating Exercise (combination alert): Both White
square c4. knights come under simultaneous attack. Find
3...Rb3+ 4.Kc4! Rxb8 Stalemate. White's save:
½–½ Answer : Step 1: Give check on d5.
5.Nd5+!! Nxd5 6.Nb4!
(165) Now comes the viper strike.
A.Wotawa Step 2: Double attack/stalemate.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944 6...Nxb4 Stalemate. 6...Rd6 7.Nxd5+ Kf5
8.Kc4 is also drawn. ½–½

(166)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944

White draws
We have problems since both our knights are
loose; if the e2–knight is removed, Black
promotes.
1.Nd4+ Kxf4 2.Nxc2 Nd5
White draws
a) 2...Na4 3.Nc7 Rxc6 4.Nb4! Draw 1.Kd6!
since the c7–knight is tactically protected 1.b8Q? Be5+ 2.Kb7 Bxb8 3.Kxb8 h5 Black
via a fork on d5. wins.
1...Re1
b) 2...Rxa8 3.Kxc3 is drawn. Renewing the threat of ...Be5+.
3.Kd4 Nf6 4.Nc7 Rxc6 1...Rg5 2.Bf5!! Attraction. 2...Rxf5 3.b8Q!
Be5+ 4.Ke6 Bxb8 5.Kxf5 Draw, since Black is
left with the wrong-colored remaining bishop
and rook pawn.
2.Be4!!
The God-fearing bishop isn't fearful of Black's
rook at all!

141
 2...Bc1 Exercise (combination alert): White is
Threat: ...Bf4+. down a lot of pawns, and capture on g7 won't
2...Rxe4 ( Principle : The player who work since Black's rook can get to the back rank
believes they are winning should view any to sacrifice itself for the forward g-pawn. How
surprise with deep suspicion) 3.b8Q Be5+ do we proceed?
4.Kd5 Bxb8 5.Kxe4 with rook pawn and Answer : Attraction. Offer the bishop on
wrong colored bishop. Draw. c6.
3.Ke5 Rf1 1.Bc6+!!
Once again, ...Bf4+ is threatened.
4.Bf3! a) 1.hxg7? Rf4+! 2.Ke2 (the g1–
bishop can't be touched due to a rook
check on g4, followed by ...Rxg6)
2...Re4+ 3.Kf3 Re8 4.Bxd5 Bd4 5.g8Q
Rxg8 6.Bxg8 a4 and Black is up too many
pawns and wins easily.

b) 1.h7? doesn't work since the h-

pawn will never promote.

c) 1.Bxa6+? Kc5! 2.hxg7 Rf4+ 3.Ke2

4.Bd5+? Ka1 5.Bf3 Re1+ 6.Be4 Bb2+ 7.Kd6
Rd1+! 8.Ke6 Rd8 wins.
4...Re1+
4...Rxf3 5.b8Q Bf4+ 6.Ke4 Bxb8 7.Kxf3 Draw.
5.Be4 Bb2+ 6.Kd6 Rxe4
6...Rd1+? 7.Bd5+, and it is White who wins.
7.b8Q! Be5+ 8.Kd5 Bxb8 9.Kxe4 Draw,
due to bishop and wrong colored rook pawn.
½–½
Re4+ 4.Kf1 Re8 wins.
1...Kxc6
1...Kc5 2.hxg7 Rf4+ 3.Ke2 Re4+ 4.Kd3 Now
we see the problem: Black's rook cannot slide
back to e8! 4...Rd4+ 5.Kc3 Rc4+ 6.Kd3!
(6.Kb3? Rb4+ 7.Ka3 Rb8 Black wins) 6...Rd4+
draw.
2.hxg7 Rf4+ 3.Kg2!

(167)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1949

A chess player's prayer: Glorious Caissa, please

bless me to resist the temptation! Weirdly,
White NEEDS Black to keep the bishop.
Not 3.Kxg1? Rg4+ 4.Kf2 Rxg6; 3.Ke2?
Re4+ ...Re8 follows, and Black wins.
3...Rg4+ 4.Kh1!
White sets up the coming stalemate.
4...Rxg6 5.g8Q! Rxg8 Stalemate. We
White draws needed Black's bishop on the board since it cuts
off our king's access to h2.

142
 5...Rf6 6.Kxg1 Rf4 7.Qa8+ Kb6 8.Qb8+ draw. b) 3...Kf1?! 4.Ng3+ Ke1 5.Re4+ Kd1
½–½ 6.Ne2 c1Q 7.Nxc1 Kxc1 when Black is
fortunate to avoid a loss.
(168)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1949

Exercise (combination alert): White to

play and force the draw:
Answer : Decoy/pinned piece.
White draws 4.Rb4!! c1Q
4...Bxb4 5.Kb2 picks up Black's final pawn.
White is unable to halt promotion yet can still 5.Rb1 ½–½
draw.
1.Rg4+!! (169)
Principle: If your enemy refuses to make peace, A.Wotawa
then fight! Wiener Schachzeitung, 1949

a) 1.Re4? c1Q 2.Re2+ Kxh1 3.Nf3!

Threat: Rh2 mate. 3...Qa1+ 4.Kb3 Qd1+!
5.Rc2 Qxf3 wins.

b) 1.Rf4? c1Q 2.Rf2+ Kh3! 3.Nf3

Bb4 4.Kb3 Bd6! Threat: ...Qxh1. 5.Rd2
Qxh1 6.Rxd6 Qxf3+ Black wins.
1...Kxh2

a) 1...Kxh1 2.Nf3 Bd4 (2...c1Q

3.Rg1+ is also a draw) 3.Rh4+! Kg2
4.Rh2+ Kxf3 5.Rxc2 Draw.
White draws
b) 1...Kh3? 2.Rg3+ Kxh2 3.Rxc3
White wins. Black plans to deal with White's threat to
2.Rh4+! promote with ...Rb8 and ...Bb5. Our third move
2.Rg1? Kxg1 3.Ng3 Kf2 4.Ne4+ Ke3 Black is the one which is really difficult to find.
promotes. 1.e7! Rb8
2...Kg2 3.Rg4+!! Kxh1 (D) 1...Rb6+ 2.Kc7 Re6 3.Kd8 Bb5 4.Bf5 Rd6+
5.Kc7 Rd4 6.Bg6 Rd7+ 7.Kb6 Rxe7 8.Kxb5
a) 3...Kf3? 4.Rg3+ Ke4 5.Rxc3 White draw.
wins. 2.Bg6 Bb5 3.Bh5+!!
We jump before we are pushed. This
zwischenzug is necessary, which becomes
apparent only at the end of the study.

143
3.e8Q? Bxe8 4.Kc7 Ra8 5.Kb7 Bc6+! Decoy. Ke3 7.Re7+ Kf3 8.Rf7+ Kg4! 9.Rf1 g2
6.Kxc6 Ra6+ Skewer. 7.Kd5 Rxg6 We just 10.Rg1 Kg3 wins.
handed the school bully our lunch money.
3...Kf4 b) 1.Rxc7? ( Principle : If you
3...Ke3 4.e8Q+ Bxe8 5.Kc7! is pretty much the foresee a ruinous war, back off and evade
same finish as the study's main line. a fight) 1...Rg8 2.Re7 Kc2 3.Kxa5 Kd2
4.e8Q! Bxe8 5.Kc7! Ra8 6.Kb7 wins, as in the above line.
1...Ka1
Not 1...Kc2?? 2.Rxc7+! Rxc7 3.g8Q.
2.Rxc7!
Overloaded defender.
2...Rg8 3.Rc1+! Ka2
Our next move is the key.
4.Rc5!

Something feels off for Black. Now, do you see

why White gave a bishop check on h5?
Black's ...Bc6+, ...Ra6+, and ...Rxg6 no longer
work since White's bishop vacated g6.
6...Rd8 7.Kc7 Rd7+ 8.Kc8! Re7 9.Kd8 ½–
½

(170) Onward to g5!

A.Wotawa 4...Rxg7 5.Rg5! Rxg5 Stalemate. ½–½
Schach Magazin, 1949
(171)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1950

White draws
From this position, we can construct a clever
stalemate idea for White's king.
1.Ka4+!
a) 1.Ka6+? Ka2 2.Rxc7 Rg8 3.Re7
Kb2 4.Kxa5 Kc2 5.Kb4 Kd2 6.Rd7+
White draws
Exercise (combination alert): The
problem with moving our rook to b3 is that
Black will give rook checks on c2 and then c3,
decoying our rook and winning. How do we

144
alter the position, so Black's idea no longer
works?
Answer : We can set up a devious
stalemate by shifting Black's g-pawn into an f-
pawn.
1.Bf5!!
A bishop is a person who rails against the
secularization of Christmas. However, this isn't
the gift Black wants.
1.Rb3? Rc2+ 2.Ke3 (2.Kf1 Rc1+ wins)
2...Rc3+! (decoy) 3.Rxc3 b1Q wins.
1...gxf5
1...Rb6 2.Bb1 is drawn. White draws
2.Rb3 Rc2+ 3.Kg3!
Black's decoy combination no longer works. Exercise (combination alert): Neither
3.Ke3 Rc3+ wins. pawn push works for White. Do you see a
3...Rc3+ combinational solution to the draw?
3...Kg5 4.Rb6! (Black is unable to make Answer : Attraction.
progress) 4...f4+ 5.Kf3 Rc3+ 6.Kf2 Kg4 1.Bc4!!
7.Rxb2 draw.
4.Kh4! Rc4+ a) 1.b7? Rxb3 2.a7 Rb6+! 3.Ke7
4...Rxb3 stalemate. Rxb7+ wins.
5.Kh3!
b) 1.a7? Bf3 2.Bd1 Bd5
Threat: ...Rh6+ and ...Rxb6. 3.Bc2 Rh6+
4.Bg6 Be4 5.Kf7 Bd5+ 6.Kf6 Bf3 7.Kg7
Kg5 8.Bc2 Rxb6 wins.

c) 1.Bd5? Bxa6 2.b7 Rh6+! (2...Rh8?

3.Ke6 Rb8 4.Kd6 Bxb7 5.Kc7! Draws)
3.Ke7 Bxb7! 4.Bxb7 Rh7+ 5.Kd6 Rxb7
wins.

d) 1.Be6? Rh6+ 2.Kg7 Rxe6 3.b7 Rb6!

wins.
1...Bxc4
5.Kg3? f4+ 6.Kg4 f3+ 7.Kg3 f2 8.Rb6+ Rc6! The next steps involve giving away both pawns
Black wins. and shifting our king to h8.
5...Rc2 6.Kg3 Kg5 7.Rb6! f4+ 8.Kf3 Rc3+ 1...Bf3 2.b7 Rh8 (2...Rh6+ 3.Ke7 Rb6 4.Kd7
9.Kf2 Kg4 10.Rxb2 ½–½ Rb4 5.Kd6) 3.Be6 Rb8 4.Bc8 Black is forced
to liquidate with 4...Bxb7 5.axb7 Rxb7 6.Bxb7.
(172) 2.b7 Rb3
A.Wotawa 2...Rh6+ 3.Kg7 Rb6 4.a7 Rxb7+ 5.Kh8 Rxa7
Schach Magazin, 1950 stalemate.
3.a7! Rb6+! 4.Kg7!

145
Destination: h8.
4...Rxb7+ Exercise (combination alert) : It feels as
With Borg-like efficiency, Black wiped out our if the white forces are a historically persecuted
entire army; We refuse to be assimilated and people who have been wiped out since if we
still hold a draw! promote, Black checks on c7 and then takes our
5.Kh8! Rxa7 Stalemate. ½–½ new queen. How do we outsmart this plan?
Answer : Fall into Black's trap!
(173) 4.e8Q!
A.Wotawa Attraction/stalemate.
Schach Magazin, 1950 4...Rc7+ 5.Kh6! Bxe8 Stalemate.
½–½

(174)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1951

White draws
This spectacular study's final stalemate is
similar to the previous study.
1.a4!! Bxa4
1...Bd3+ 2.Kg7 Bg6 3.Be1! Re6 4.Ng3! Rxe1 White draws
5.Kxg6 Rxe7 6.Nf5 draw.
2.Ng3! Kxg3 1.Rc5+!
1.bxa5? h2+! 2.Kg2 Bf3+! 3.Kxh2 Bxd6+
a) 2...Rc2 3.Nh5! Rxd2 4.Kg7 Re2 4.Kh3 Kxc4 5.Nb6+ Kb5 6.Kxh4 Bf4 7.Nc8
5.Kf7 White holds the draw with Nf6, Kxa5 8.Ne7 Kb5 9.Nf5 Kc5 and Black
followed by promotion. eventually wins.
1...Kxb4 2.Rxh5! Bg5!
b) 2...Re6 3.Nf5 Bc2 4.Kg7! Bxf5 Sealing in White's rook while
5.Kf7 draw. threatening ...Be3+ and ...Rxh5.
3.Bf4+! Kxf4 (D)
3...Kg4 4.e8Q Rc7+ 5.Bxc7 Bxe8 draw.

146
 a) 2...Rxh5 3.dxe7 Re5 4.Nc7! Rxe7 ½–½
5.Nd5+ Kc5 6.Nxe7 Draw. White doesn't
even need the knight. (175)
A.Wotawa
b) 2...Ra1+ is a line we may try in a Deutsche Schachzeitung 1952
real game since there are practical chances
if we play Black: 3.Kh2 Bxd6+ 4.Kxh3
Rxa8 5.Rxh4+ Kc5 6.Rxh6 is a theoretical
draw.
3.Nc7!!
3.d7? Threat: Rxg5, eliminating the defender of
d8, is easily stopped by the simple 3...Rxa8
when Black wins.
3...Be3+
3...Re5 4.d7 Re1+ 5.Kh2 Rd1 6.Ne6 Rxd7
7.Nxg5 hxg5 8.Rxg5 draw.
4.Kh1 Rxh5 5.d7 Bg5 6.Nd5+ Kc5

Exercise (combination alert): Find
White's shot:
Answer : Overloaded defender.
7.Nf4!
Overloaded defender.
7...Kc6
7...Bxf4 8.d8Q Rd5 Threatening White's queen,
as well as mate on d1. 9.Qf8+! Bd6 10.Qf2+
Kc6 11.Qc2+ Kd7 12.Qa4+ Ke7 13.Qe4+ Re5
14.Qxh4+ Kf7 15.Qxh3 Draw.
8.Nxh5 Kxd7 9.Kh2 Ke6 10.Kxh3 Kf5
11.Ng3+!
Of course, we want the flashy version!
The boring 11.Ng7+ also draws after 11...Kf6,
we can even be obnoxious and play 12.Ne6!
Some people are vengeful by nature. 12...Kxe6
13.Kg2 Kf5 14.Kh1 Kg4 15.Kg2 h3+ 16.Kh1
Kg3 17.Kg1 Well, that was uneventful. Black's
extra (wrong colored!) h-pawn is useless.
11...hxg3 12.Kxg3 Draw, since Black is
left with a bishop and the wrong-colored rook
pawn.
White draws
Exercise (combination alert): White's
hovel is as tiny and unfurnished as Black's
mansion is elegant and tastefully decorated. We
get rook-skewered on b2 if we promote. On top
of that, Black wins easily if ...Be5 is played.
Find a shot that gums up the works:
Answer : Interference.
3.Bd4!!
3.b8Q?? Rb2+ 4.Kc4 Rxb8.
3...Bxd4
a) 3...Kxd4 4.Kc6! (it would be an
easy win for Black if the bishop could
reach e5. The problem, of course, is that
we lured Black's king to clog the bishop's
diagonal) 4...Rb2 5.Kc7 Rc2+ 6.Kd7 Rb2
7.Kc7 draw.
b) 3...Rxd4 4.b8Q Bc3 is drawn.
4.b8Q Rb2+ 5.Kc4! Rxb8 Stalemate.
5...Rc2+ is also drawn after 6.Kb3 Rb2+
7.Kc4! ½–½
(176)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952

147

White draws
We can't touch the h5–pawn since we get
skewered on g5. What should we do?
1.a3!!
This Kafkaesque response almost appears as a
random move.
a) 1.a4? Rxg3 2.Bxh5 Rg5+ 3.Kb6
Rxh5 4.a5 Kb4 5.a6 Rh6+ 6.Kb7 Kb5
7.a7 Rh7+ 8.Kb8 Kb6! 9.a8N+ (9.a8Q
Rh8#) 9...Kc6 with zugzwang; White
wins the knight and mates.
b) 1.Kc5? Rxg3 2.Bc6 h4 3.a4 h3 4.a5
Rg5+ 5.Kb6 Rg6 6.a6 h2 7.a7 Rxc6+ wins.
c) c) 1.Ka4? Rg5 2.Be2 Re5 3.Bf3
Re3 4.Bd1 (4.Bxh5 Re4+ 5.Ka5 Re5+
wins) 4...Re4+ 5.Ka5 Re1 6.Bb3 Rg1
7.Bf7 Rxg3 8.Kb5 (8.Bxh5? loses to
8...Rg5+) 8...h4 and Black is too fast.
1...Rxg3
a) 1...Kb3 2.Bd1+! Kxa3 3.Kc4
(threat: Bxh5) 3...Rg5 4.Kd4 Kb4 5.Ke4
Kc3 6.Kf4 Rb5 7.g4! h4 8.g5 Rb4+ (8...h3
9.g6 h2 10.Bf3 Rb1 11.Kg3 h1Q 12.Bxh1
Rxh1 13.Kf4 Kd4 14.Kf5 Rg1 15.Kf6
Rf1+ 16.Ke6 draw) 9.Kf5 h3 10.g6 h2
11.Bf3 draw.
b) 1...Rg5+ 2.Kb6 Kb3 (2...Kd3 3.a4
Rf5 4.Bc6 Rf6 5.a5 Rg6 6.a6 Rxg3 7.a7
draw) 3.Kc6 Kxa3 4.Kd6 Kb4 5.Ke6
Kc4 6.Kf6 Rxg3 (6...Rc5 7.Kg6 wins the
h-pawn) 7.Bxh5 with a draw.
148
c) 1...Kc2 2.Bxh5 Rg5+ 3.Kb4! Rxh5
4.a4 Kd3 5.a5 Kd4 6.a6 Rh1 7.Kb5 Kd5
8.a7 Rb1+ 9.Ka6 is drawn.
d) 1...Kd3 2.Kb4! Rg5 3.a4 Ke3
4.Bxh5 Rxh5 5.a5 draw.
e) 1...Kd4 2.Kb4! (threat: Bxh5)
2...Rg5 (2...Rb6+ 3.Ka4 Rh6 4.Kb4 draw)
3.a4 Ke5 4.Kc5 Ke6+ 5.Kb6 draw.
2.Bxh5!
White deliberately falls for Black's trap.
2...Rg5+ 3.Ka4!
3.Kb6?? fails miserably to 3...Rxh5 4.a4 Kb4.
3...Rxh5 Stalemate. ½–½
(177)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952
White draws
White's clunky pieces appear as crows among
swans.
1. Black is about to promote.
2. 1 Rd3 is met with the simple
1...Rd4.
3. This is one of those giveaway-all-
my-stuff studies.
Try and work out White's coming stalemate
draw.
1.Nf5+!!
a) 1.Ng8+? Kg6! 2.Rd3 Rd4 wins.
b) 1.Rd3? Rh4+! (1...Rd4? 2.Nf5+!
allows White to draw, as in the main
continuation) 2.Kg2 Rd4! wins.
 c) 1.Rb1 Rc4! There is no remedy to
the coming ...Rc1.
1...exf5 2.Rd3!
2.Rb1? Rc4! 3.Rg1 Threat: Bg5+ and Bxd2.
3...Be3!! interference. 4.fxe3 Rc1 Black wins.
2...Rd4 (D)
2...Bb4 3.Bb6! f4 (3...Rc4 4.Be3+ f4 5.Bxd2
draw) 4.Bc7 f3 (4...Kg5 5.f3 Rg3 6.Rd5+ Kf6
7.Bxf4 Rxf3 8.Bxd2 draw) 5.Bb6! (Be3 is
coming) 5...Rg2 6.Be3+ Kh5 7.Bxd2 Bxd2
8.Rxd2 Kg4 9.Rd4+ Kh3 10.Rh4+! Kxh4
stalemate.
White draws
Exercise (critical decision): Which pawn
should White push?
Answer : Only pushing the c-pawn works.
1.c7!
1.f7? Ra8 and game over for White.
1...Bg4
1...Rc5? 2.f7 White wins since one of the pawns
promotes.
2.c8Q+!
Step 2: Interference. The idea is to lure Black's
bishop to c8, which negates ...Ra8.
Exercise (combination alert): Find a way
to make our king go subterranean and save the a) 2.f7? Ra8 Black wins.
game with stalemate.
Answer: b) 2.Be8? Bc8 3.f7 Rf5, when both
3.Rxd2! White passers are halted, Black again wins.
Step 1: Sacrifice on d2, luring Black's rook to 2...Bxc8 3.f7 Ra1+ 4.Kf2!
that square. Only this square holds the draw.
3...Rxd2 4.Bg5+!
Step 2: Give away the bishop on g5, luring a) 4.Kg2? Bb7+ 5.Kf2 Ra8 halts
Black's king to g4. promotion and wins.
4...Kxg5 5.f4+!
Step 3: Self-stalemate by opening our second b) 4.Kh2? Rf1 wins.
rank to Black's rook. 4...Ba6
5...Kxf4 It's also stalemate after all other
king moves. ½–½

(178)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952

149
 Exercise (combination alert): As is the
case with most of Wotawa's studies, if you find
the right idea, the position transforms with the
speed of a magician's hand is faster than the
eyes can follow. How does White force the
draw?
Answer : Attraction.
5.Bd3!!

a) 5.Ke3? Bc4! 6.f8Q Re1+ 7.Kf4

Rf1+ wins the queen.

b) 5.f8Q? Rf1+ wins. Exercise (combination alert) : We can't

5...Bxd3 allow Black to promote. How do we stop it?
5...Kxd3 6.f8Q (Black no longer has ...Rf1+) Answer : Step 1: Attraction.
6...Ra2+ 7.Kg3 Bc4 is drawn. 4.Re3+!
6.f8Q!
We promote anyway. a) 4.Rd6? f1Q+ 5.Kh2 Qf4+ The
6...Rf1+ 7.Ke3! Rxf8 Stalemate. double attack picks up the rook.
½–½
b) 4.Rg3? f1Q+ 5.Kh2 Qxf6 wins.
(179) 4...Kxe3 5.Bd4+!
A.Wotawa Step 2: Attraction/simplification. By adding the
Wiener Kurier, 1952 bishop, we simplify to a drawn king and pawn
ending.
5...Kxd4 6.Kg2 Ke3 7.Kf1
Black is in zugzwang.
7...Kf3 ½–½

(180)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952

White wins
Promotion on f1 crowds out all other concerns
since it will destroy us if allowed to occur. We
must find a way to at least stall.
1.Rc6+ Kd1 2.Rd6+ Bd3!
2...Ke1? 3.Bc3+ Kf1 4.Re6! (this hems in
Black's king, who sits in front of the promotion
square) 4...Bc4 5.Re5 Bd3 6.Kh2 Ba6 7.Kg3
Kg1 8.Bd4 and the target is still within range. White draws
We will win the f-pawn and the game. White gives away all three pieces to construct a
3.Rxd3+ Ke2 miraculous stalemate.
1.Bb5!! axb5 2.Nc4!! bxc4
2...f1Q? 3.Ra7+ Kb1 4.Nd2+ Kc1 5.Ra1#.
3.Ra7+ Kb1 4.Rb7+ Kc1 5.Rf7!

150

Geometry like this is rarer than toilet paper at a
Costco Wholesale at the start of the pandemic.
5.Ra7? Kd1 6.Ra1+ Ke2 Black wins.
5...h2
5...Bxf7 is an immediate stalemate.
6.Rxf2 h1Q
6...h1R 7.Kxc4 and White reaches a theoretical
draw after the c5 pawn falls.
7.Rf1+! Qxf1 Stalemate. ½–½
Exercise (combination alert): Now comes
the (typical?) Wotawa shocker:
Answer:
4.Rf6!!
Just when we believe that every defensive idea
has been exhausted, Wotawa comes up with
another one.
4...gxf6 Stalemate.
4...Ra5 5.Rg6 when Black loses the g7–pawn
and the game is theoretically drawn. ½–½

(181) (182)
A.Wotawa A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1954

White draws White draws

Both knight and rook hang, yet White can draw. Our g5–rook hangs, and Black also
1.Ne5! Rd2+! threatens ...g7–g6+, followed by ...f7–f5+.
1...Rd5 2.Re1 Everything is secured, and White 1.Rxe6!
draws.
2.Ke3 Re2+ 3.Kd4! a) 1.Rg4? Rh3+ 2.Rh4 g6+ 3.Kg4
3.Kf4? Rxe5 The discovered attack wins. (3.Kh6 Rxh4#) 3...f5#.
3...Rxe5
b) 1.Re5? g6+ 2.Kg4 f5+ 3.Rxf5
(3.Kh4 Rh3#) 3...gxf5+ 4.Kxf5 (4.Kh5
Ng7+) 4...Ng7+ forks king and rook.
1...Rh3+!

151
We must play accurately to hold the game after
this zwischenzug.
1...fxe6 2.Re5 Ra6 3.Kg6 Kg3 4.Kxg7 Kf4
5.Kf6 draw.
2.Kg4 Rg3+
2...fxe6 3.Kf4 Rh7 4.Ke5 Kh3 5.Kxe6 Kh4
6.Rg1 Rh6+ 7.Ke5 Ra6 (7...g5? loses to the
skewer 8.Rh1+) 8.Rxg7 with a draw.
3.Kh4 Rxg5

Exercise (critical decision): An only move

Exercise (combination alert): Has Black
outfoxed us? Let's not resign just yet since we
have access to a shot that holds the draw.
Answer:
4.Rf6!!
Zwischenzug/stalemate.
is an order, not advice, to be followed or
rejected as we please. Only one move holds the
draw:
Answer : We must tie Black down to the
defense of the g-pawn by transferring our rook
to f3.
8.Rf3!
8.Rg7? Rg1 9.Rg8 g2 10.Rg7 Ra1 wins.
8...Rg1 9.Ra3 9.Ra3 Black must take a draw
since 9...g2? 10.Rh3#. ½–½
(183)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1954

a) 4.Kxg5? fxe6 5.Kf4 Kh3 It's time

for White to resign.

b) 4.Rh6? Rg4+! (4...gxh6? is

stalemate) 5.Kxg4+ gxh6 6.Kh5 Kg3
7.Kxh6 f5 promotes and wins.
4...Rg2
4...gxf6? stalemate.
5.Rxf7 g5+
5...g6 6.Rg7.
6.Kh5 g4
6...Kh3 7.Rf3+ Kh2 8.Ra3 g4 9.Kh4 g3 10.Rd3 White draws
draw.
7.Kh4 g3 Being both old and generous, we share some of
our endgame study-solving wisdom. Whenever
you get a choice to promote in an endgame
study, the odds are high that the devious
composer's solution will be to under-promote.
We have choices to promote on b8 and c8. But
which pawn to push and which piece to
promote to? Be careful: the natural move loses.
1.b8N+!
The natural promotion loses.

152
 a) 1.c8Q? Bd5 2.Bc7 Rxb7 3.Bxd6
Rc4! 4.Bc5 Bf3 with zugzwang; Black
mates after 5.Qxb7+ Bxb7+ and mate in 3.

b) 1.b8Q? Bd5+ 2.Qb7+ Bxb7+

3.Kb8 Bg2+ 4.Kc8 Bh3#.
1...Rxb8+
1...Ka5? 2.c8Q+ Ka4 3.Qa6+ Black is mated
next move.
2.axb8N+! Rxb8+ 3.cxb8N+!
White draws with the third straight
underpromotion to a knight. Not only did Black win a rook, but now both of
3.cxb8Q? Bd5+ 4.Qb7+ Bxb7#. ½–½ White's bishops are attacked, and one of them
must fall. What do we do?
(184) Answer : Step 1: Attraction.
A.Wotawa 5.Bd4!!
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1955 Clearly, this bishop must have been one of
those children who colored outside the lines.
5.Bf7? Rxg1 wins.
5...Rg3+

a) 5...Bxd4 6.Bd5+! Attraction/double

attack/stalemate. 6...Kxd5 Stalemate.

b) 5...Rxa2 6.Bxf6 is drawn.

6.Ke4 Rg4+
This is a case of failing upwards for White, who
still holds the draw.
7.Kf5!
Step 2: Double attack.
White draws 7...Rxd4 8.Kxf6 By a miracle, White
reached a draw. ½–½
At first, this appears to be an easy draw for
White. We need to see deeper to understand (185)
why our side remains in grave danger. A.Wotawa
1.Bf7+ Kc6! Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1956

a) 1...Kd6 2.Bxa2 Rb1 3.Bh2+ Kc5

4.Rg1 draw.

b) 1...Ke4 2.Re2+ Kf3 3.Bxa2 Rb1

4.Re3+ Kf4 5.Kxc2 draw.

c) 1...Ke5 2.Bxa2 Rb1 3.Kxc2.

2.Bxa2
2.Be8+? Kb7 3.Bxb5 a1Q 4.Kxc2 Qa2+
skewers and wins.
2...Rb1!
This trick wins White's rook but not the game.
3.Kxc2 Rb2+ 4.Kd3 Rxg2 White draws

153
Black has dual threats of promoting on d1, with (186)
check, and just the simple ...Bxe2, removing A.Wotawa
the defender of the d1–promotion square. Find Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1956
White's way out:
1.Re4!!
We meet Black's check with a check of our own.

a) 1.Rh7? d1Q+ CHECK! Therefore,

our intended Rxh5 mate is illegal!

b) 1.Bd1? Bxd1 2.Ke3 Bc2, Black

wins.

c) 1.Rd7 d1Q+ CHECK! Once again,

White loses.
1...Bxe2
White draws
a) 1...d1Q+ 2.Kf5+ Kxh3 3.Bxd1
Bxd1 4.Re1 Bc2+ 5.Ke5 is drawn. Our situation feels hopeless.
1. We are down a pawn, and our d7–
b) 1...Kxh3 2.Re3+! Kxh2 3.Bxh5 pawn is weak.
d1Q This is no longer with check since our 2. Our bishop is pinned, and Black
rook on e3 impinges upon Black's plan. threatens ...Nd6, winning it.
4.Bxd1 Bxe3+ 5.Kxe3 Draw. 3. If we play 1 Rf1 Nd6, our problem
2.Ke3+ Bg4! is by no means solved since, after 2
Black's best practical try.2...Kxh3 3.Kxe2 Bc4, Black's knight captures it with
Kxh2 is also drawn. check.
3.Rxg4+ Kxh3 4.Rg3+! Kxh2 Exercise (combination alert): Can you
find White's hidden stalemate idea?
Answer : Walk right into Black's plan!
1.Rf1!!
1.Rf3? Nd6 2.Bd5 Rxf3 3.Bxf3 Nc4+ 4.Ka2
(4.Kc2 a3! 5.Kb3 Nd2+ forks) 4...Kxd7 5.Be2
Nb6 6.Ka3 Kd6 7.Kb4 Kd5 wins.
1...Nd6

a) 1...Kxd7 2.Be6+ Ke7 3.Rxf8 Kxf8

4.Ka3 Nc5 5.Bg4 Ke7 6.Kb4 Kd6 7.Bf3
c6 8.Bg2 Kc7 9.Bf3 (9.Kxc5? a3) 9...Kb6
10.Bg2 Black is unable to make progress.

b) 1...Rh8 2.Be6 Nc5 3.Bg4 Rg8

Our rook hangs, and Black also threatens to
4.Bh3 Nxd7 5.Rd1 Rg7 6.Rd4 (6.Ka3?
promote with check. How do we escape?
loses to 6...Rg3+) 6...a3+ 7.Ka2 Ke8
Answer : Step 1: Move our king to f2.
8.Bxd7+ Rxd7 9.Rc4 Draw.
5.Kf2! d1Q 6.Rh3+!
White's rook is that obnoxious, inappropriate
c) 1...Nc5 2.Ka3 Kxd7 3.Kb4 Ke7
co-worker you plan to lodge a complaint
4.Bc4 Rxf1 5.Bxf1 Kd6 6.Bg2 transposes
against with the HR Department.
to the drawn line shown above.
Step 2: Give away our rook.
2.Bc4!
6...Kxh3 Stalemate. ½–½

154
The law-abiding among us need not apply. At
first glance, this appears to hang a rook and
bishop.
2...Nxc4+

a) 2...a3+ 3.Ka2 Rh8 4.Be6 Nb5 5.Rf7

c6 6.Rg7 Kc7 7.Rg8! Rxg8 8.Bxg8 Kxd7
9.Kb3 Kd6 10.Bc4 Kc5 11.Bf1 Kd4
12.Bh3 c5 13.Be6 and Black is unable to
make progress.

b) 2...Rh8 3.Be6 draw.

3.Ka2! White draws
It becomes clear: Our rook is safe.
3...Rg8 Black's threats feel far more potent than White's,
3...Rxf1 is stalemate. who is faced with mate if Black promotes.
4.Rg1! 1.Rc1

a) 1.Ra6? Rf1+ 2.Kg2 a1Q 3.Rxa1

Rxa1 4.h3+ Kf4 5.g7 (5.Nc6 Ra2+ 6.Kg1
Ra8 Black wins since 7.Ne7 is mated with
7...Kf3 8.g7 Ra1#) 5...Ra2+ White is
mated in 4.

b) 1.gxf7? a1Q+ 2.Kg2 Qa2+ and

mate in 3.
1...Rxa7 2.g7!
Decoy.
2...Rxg7 3.Ra1 Ra7

Black's position is a caricature of its former self.

The g8–rook has nowhere to go since we keep
chasing it with ours.
4...Rh8
4...Rxg1 is, once again, stalemate.
5.Rh1 Rxh1 Stalemate. ½–½

(187)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957

Exercise (critical decision) : What is

White's only drawing move?
Answer : The king must move to g2.
4.Kg2!

a) 4.hxg3? Kxg3 5.Kg1 Rb7! wins.

155
 b) 4.Kg1? Kf3 5.hxg3 Kxg3 6.Kf1 2.f3? Rd6 3.Rg8 Rd5+ 4.Ke4 Rxd7 5.Rxg7 f5+
Kf3 7.Ke1 Ke3 8.Kd1 Kd3 9.Kc1 Kc3 and Black wins.
with zugzwang; Black wins. 2...Rd5+! 3.Ke4 Rxd7
4...gxh2
4...Ra3 5.hxg3 Rxg3+ 6.Kf2 Ra3 7.Ke2 draw.
5.Kh1!
Step 2: DON'T recapture on h2.
5.Kxh2? Kf3 and Black's king reaches b2.
5...Kf3
The law of physics says that White's position is
about to topple. Of course, there are different
laws of physics in Wotawa's universe.
6.Rxa2!
Step 3: We win the a-pawn due to our self-
constructed stalemate.
6...Rxa2 Stalemate. ½–½
Exercise (combination alert): At first, it
(188) feels as if our terrible situation is made that
A.Wotawa much more terrible(er!) if we play 4 Rxg7,
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957 which is then met with the discovered attack
4...f7–f5+, followed by 5...Rxg7. What should
White do?
Answer : Fall into Black's trap since our
trap is one-ply deeper.
4.Rxg7! f5+
It's too late for Black to recant.
5.Kf3! Rxg7 Stalemate. ½–½

(189)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958

White draws
White's rook and bishop are simultaneously
attacked.
1.Rd8
This self-pin is the only way to avoid material
loss.

a) 1.Rg8? Rd5+ 2.Ke4 Rxd7 3.Rxg7

f5+ wins White's rook.

b) 1.Rh7? Rd5+! 2.Kg4 Rxd7 3.Rxg7

White draws
f5+ (discovered attack) 4.Kxf5 Rxg7 wins.
1...Kd2 This position feels game-like, and Wotawa may
have come up with the seed of his drawing idea
a) 1...Kc1 2.Rc8+ unpins and draws. from an actual over-the-board game. On the
other hand, composers Lazard and Hasek both
b) 1...Ke1 2.Re8+ is the same. preceded this study with similar themes, so that
2.Rg8 Wotawa may have conceived the idea from the

156
previous studies. So profound was his fortress a) 5.h3? gxh3 6.Bxh3 Kb7 7.Ke1 Ra8
idea that as a test, we put this position on and the rook infiltrate White's position via
Stockfish 15, and it still mistakenly assessed h1 and win.
that Black was utterly winning after 30 minutes
of "thought." b) 5.cxb6+? Rxb6 is also dead lost for
White is in deep trouble since our rook gets White.
pinned with ...Ba5, whether we move it to b4 or 5...gxh3
c3.
How do we survive this barren wasteland? a) 5...Kb7 6.Bxg4 Kc7 7.h3 is a
1.Rb4 fortress draw.
The only move.
1.Rc3? squanders our inheritance. 1...hxg4 b) 5...g3 6.hxg3 Kb7 7.Bg4! Ra8
2.Bxg4 Ba5 3.h3 Kb8 4.Bf5 Kc7 5.Bg4 Ra8 8.Bh5! Rh8 9.g4 (Oh, no, you don't!)
6.Bf5 Rg8 7.Bg4 Rg7! with zugzwang; White's 9...Kc7 10.Ke1 Kd7 11.Kf1 Ke6 12.Kg1
bishop must give way, allowing ...Rg2, with an Kf6 13.Kh2 Kg5 14.Kg3 Rxh5 15.gxh5
easy win for Black. Kxh5 16.Kh3 draw.
1...Ba5 6.Ke1!
Threat: ...Bxb4+ followed by ...a4–a3, Step 3: Transfer our king to h1.
promoting the a-pawn. 6...Kb7 7.Kf1!
2.c3! Bxb4 3.cxb4 hxg4

7...Ra8 8.Kg1 Rg8+ 9.Kh1

Exercise (planning/combination alert):
Work out White's steps to the draw:
Answer : Step 1: We must take the
flexibility out of Black's structure and
force ...b7–b5. We do this by first attacking
Black's rook.
4.Bf1! b5
4...Kb8 5.Bxa6 bxa6 6.Ke1 Kb7 (moving the
king to h3 is also useless since White will
shuffle our king from g1 to h1) 7.Kd2 a5
8.bxa5 Ka6 9.Kc3 Kxa5 10.Kb2 Kb5 11.Kc3
and there is no entry for Black's king, and the
game is drawn.
5.Bh3!!
Extremist elements have taken over. Step 2:
Offer the bishop on h3.
Black is caught in a paradoxical geometric
vortex, unable to escape the fate of a fortress
draw, even though a whole rook up.
9...Rg2
Congratulations on the rook infiltration.
Stalemate.
9...Rf8 10.Kg1 Rg8+ 11.Kh1 Black is unable
to make progress. ½–½
(190)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959

157
 White draws Threat: Ra1+! and Rxc1 mate.
3...bxa6
We must exploit the vulnerability of Black's 3...h2? 4.Ra1+ Kxa1 5.Rxc1#.
under-defended king. Do you remember that 4.Nb5!!
brief, sad period when Michael Jordan Once again, threatening perpetual check via a3
switched from basketball to baseball? Black's and c2.
position is our MJ since there are seven (!) 4...axb5 5.Rf2! Bd2
pawns for the exchange, with an armada of 5...h2 6.Rb2+! transposes to the main line.
pawns surging towards promotion, yet unable 6.Rf1+ Bc1 7.Rf2!
to win just as long as White finds a million Repeating the position.
double exclam move to hold the draw! 7...h2 8.Rb2+!
1.Rf1+!

a) 1.Rxb2+? Kc1 2.Rh2 f2 3.Rxf2 h2.

b) 1.Nc7? Kc1! Black wins.

1...Bc1 2.Nc7!!
Threat: Nb5, Na3+ and Rxc1 mate. We are
faced with a confetti of confusing data.
Losing are the lines:

a) 2.Nf6? Rh4!.

b) 2.Nxg7? Rh4!.
8...Ka1
c) 2.Nd6? Nxd6 3.Rxd6 h2 4.Rh1 f2 8...Bxb2 stalemate.
and White is out of gas. 9.Rb1+!
2...a6! Or 9.Ra2+.
Black halts the Nb5, Na3 check plan. Now 9...Kxb1 Stalemate. ½–½
what?
2...h2 3.Nb5 h1Q 4.Na3+ Ka1 5.Nc2+ Kb1 (191)
6.Na3+ with perpetual check. A.Wotawa
3.Rxa6!! Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959

158
 The lairs of the familiar refuse to fade away.
We have seen so many stalemate combinational
patterns in this book that this one should be
routine by now.
6...Rxe6
Stalemate. No sooner is Black's trap born than
it passes into extinction.
In a tournament game, Black should try
6...Ra3+ 7.Ke4 is a theoretical draw, although
the piece-down side often loses in practice!
½–½

White draws (192)

A.Wotawa
We are burdened with a lot of stuff that hangs Berliner Illustrierte, 1960
simultaneously!
1.Rxg4+

a) 1.Bxe5? Bxc4 2.hxg4 Kxg4 Black

wins.

b) 1.Be7+? Kxh3 2.Re4 Re6 wins.

1...Kxh3
1...Kh5? 2.Bxe5 Black is down a piece and
losing since 2...Re6?? cuts off control over f7
and allows 3.Bxf7+.
2.Re4!!
2.Bd7? Rxd6 3.Rd4+ Rxd7! Black wins.
2...Bxd6 3.Bd7+ Be6 White draws
Forced. 3...Kh2? 4.Rh4#.
4.Bxe6+ fxe6 Our knight is pinned, and Black threatens both
1...Rd8 and 1...c7–c5.
How do we save the game?
1.Rd7!
Step 1: Allow the pawn-push to c5, but not the
rook-move to d8.
1...c5 2.Rxb6!
Step 2: Give up the exchange on b6.
2...Rxb6 3.Kd5!!
Wow, these are expansive aspirations, and we
are unconcerned about labels of rich and poor.
Step 3: Move the king to d5, which hangs our
knight with check, and then our rook on d7!
3...Rxd4+
Exercise (combination alert): How do we
dislocate Black's hopes and hold the draw? a) 3...Rc1 4.Nb3 Rd1+ 5.Kxc5 draw.
Answer : Fall for Black's trap by chopping
the e6–pawn. b) 3...Rc3 4.Nb3 c4 5.Rh7+ Kg2
5.Rxe6! Bg3+ 6.Na5 Rb4 7.Kc5 Ra4 8.Kb5 Rxa2
5...Bc5+ 6.Kf1! Rxe6 Stalemate. 9.Nxc4 draw.
6.Kf3! 4.Kxc5 Rdb4
4...Rxd7 5.Kxb6 Rd4 6.Kb5 Kg2 7.a4 draws.

159
 5.a4! ½–½

(193)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961

Black's gains begin to regress since the rook

pair, although connected, are disharmoniously
placed to deal with the surging a-pawn.
5...Kg2
White draws
a) 5...Rb8 6.Rd8! Rxd8 7.Kxb4 Kg2
(Black's king is too far away to win the Exercise (critical decision): Black
game) 8.a5 Kf3 9.a6 Ke4 10.Kb5 Kd5 threatens mate with a knight check on g4. We
11.a7 Kd6 12.Kb6 Draw. can play 1 Rb4 or push our f-pawn with 1.f2–
f3. How should we respond?
Answer : We must fight for control over
b) 5...Rb2 6.Rd2! R2b3 7.Rd3! draw.
g4 by pushing our lower f-pawn.
1.f3!
c) 5...Rb1 6.Rd1+! Kg2 7.Rxb1 Rxb1
1.Rbb4? exf2 2.Rbd4 (threatening back rank
8.a5 draw.
mate) 2...Nhg4+! 3.Rhxg4 Nxg4+ 4.Rxg4 f1Q
6.Rd6! Rb8 7.Rd8!
wins.
The chase continues ad infinitum until Black
1...Nhxf3!
finally captures our rook.
7...Rxd8 8.Kxb4 Kf3 9.a5 Ke4 10.Kc5!
a) 1...Nexf3? 2.Rd3! Black is mated
on the back rank.

b) 1...e2? 2.Rd3! Nxd3 3.Rd4! White

forces mate.
2.Rxb6!!
Step 2: Our rooks require open lines to reach
Black's back rank.
2.Rxe3? Nxh4 3.Rxe5 Nf5+ 4.Rxf5 gxf5 5.g6
Kg8 wins.
2...axb6
2...Nd7 3.Rxc6 Kg8 4.Rc8+ Nf8 5.Rb4 e2
6.Rxf8+ Kxf8 7.Rb8#.
3.Ra4 Ng4+!
In king and pawn endings, this technique is The only move.
called "shouldering," where one king bullies 4.Rxg4 b5!
the other.
10.Kb5? Kd5 11.a6 Rb8+ 12.Ka5 Kc6 13.a7
Ra8 14.Ka6 Kc7 wins.
10...Ra8 11.Kb6 Kd5 12.a6 Draw.

160
 1.f6 Rxf6! 2.Kxf6
Now comes Black's combination, winning
heavy material.
2...b1Q!
Decoy. 2...c6 3.Ra4 Bb6 4.Ke5 Bd5 5.Ra3
White will hold the draw.
3.Bxb1 c2!
Clearance.
4.Bxc2 Bc3

Exercise (combination alert): In

Wotawa's endgame studies, we encounter
geometric supernatural wonders, which are
rarely found in over-the-board games. Black
threatens to promote on e1 in just two moves,
and our rook doesn't seem to have access to
Black's back rank. Find White's miracle save:
Answer : Push the a-pawn one square.
5.a3!
5.Re4? Nh2
5...e2 6.Ra4! Exercise (combination alert): Our rook is
Dramatic much? Of course, it's dramatic since pinned, and 5.Ke5 is met with 5...c7–c5. White
it's a Wotawa study. to play and draw:
Step 2: Set up stalemate by moving our rook to Answer : Step 1: Move our king to e6.
a4. 5.Ke6!
6...bxa4 Stalemate. White holds the game with this "after you"
6...e1Q? 7.Ra8#. ½–½ gesture.
5.Ke5? is the weak hive-think move that loses
(194) to the simple 5...c5
A.Wotawa 5...Bxd4 6.Be4!
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961 Step 2: Black's bishop is "trapped!"
6...Bxe4 Stalemate. ½–½

(195)
A.Wotawa
Schach Echo, 1962

White draws
Some studies require us to find combinations
from Black's side, and White looks okay since
the f-pawn will cost Black a whole rook. Then
we must find Black's combination, followed by
White's save! White draws

161
This one will blow your mind. Our problem is
that Black's e6–knight can sacrifice for our a) 5...Qf6? 6.Nd5+ wins.
forward passed g-pawn, while Black's a2–pawn
is promoting. How do we deal with this issue? b) 5...Qe5 6.Nc4+ draws.
Answer: We push anyway.
1.g7! c) 5...Qc3 6.Nd5+ draws.
1.Nc4+? Kd3 Black wins.
1...Nxg7 d) 5...Qb2 6.Nc4+ draws.

a) 1...a1Q? 2.Rxe6+ Kf3 3.Nxa3 e) 5...Na3 6.Rxa3+! (attraction/knight

Nxa3 4.Nd5 Nc4 5.Rf6+ Ke4 6.g8Q wins. fork) 6...Qxa3 7.Nc4+ Kf2 8.Nxa3 draw.
6.Nxa4 Ne8 7.Nb6 Kd4 8.Nc8! d5 9.Ne7
b) 1...axb1Q 2.g8Q Qa1+ 3.Kh7 Kc4 10.Nxd5! Kxd5 11.g4
Ncd4 4.Nc4+ Kf2 5.Nxa3 Qxa3 6.Rxe6 This is drawn since Black cannot set up a
Nxe6 7.Qxe6 Qxg3 8.Qa2+ and White mating net, even with two extra knights.
draws. 11...Nd2 12.g5 Ke6 13.g6 Kf6 14.g7! Nxg7
2.Nxa3!
Step 2: Chop on a3. Black is unable to promote
the forward a-pawn.
2...Nxa3
2...a1Q? loses to the simple fork 3.Nxc2+ Kd2
4.Nxa1.
3.Rh1 Nb1 (D)
3...Nc2 4.Kxg7 is also drawn.

Nope. Two extra knights are not enough, and

we hold the draw. ½–½

(196)
A.Wotawa
Tidskrift för Schack, 1963

Exercise (combination alert): When we

said this one would blow your mind, we meant
it! In a tournament game, we would all resign;
in a Wotawa study, we (of course!) have a
miracle save. What should White play?
Answer : Step 1: Transfer our rook to h4.
4.Rh4!! a1Q 5.Ra4!
Step 2: Attack Black's queen by transferring
our rook to a4. Surreally, Black's queen is
forked on every try.
5...Qxa4
You are outside on a joyfully sunny Summer's
day. Then a dark cloud - the precursor of a White draws
storm - hatefully blots out the sun's rays. We
just described Black's situation.

162
 Exercise (combination alert): We must
exploit the vulnerable position of Black's king.
We see:
1. Our bishop on either f8 or g7 is
mate.
2. Our knight on f7 is mate.
3. If we have time for Kh8 and Ng8,
that is also a mating pattern.
Try and use this data to come up with a save for
White:
Answer : Move our knight to the en prise
e6–square. The knight must be taken since we
threatened mate in one on g5. Exercise (combination alert): Work out
1.Ne6!! White's draw:
Losing tries: Answer : Attraction/double attack.
5.Bf6! Qa2+
a) 1.Nh3? Rc8!
a) 5...Qxf6 stalemate.
b) 1.Be7? gxf4.
b) 5...Qc1? 6.Bg7#.
c) 1.Nd6? Rxd6 2.Be7 gxf4. 6.Kh8 Qf7
1...Rxe6 Bg7 mate is prevented.
1...a1Q? Our double question mark blunder 7.Bxg5+!
always taunts us with the unspoken message: Step 2: Chop the g5–pawn.
"You are nothing special." 2.Bxg5# 7...Kxg5 Stalemate. ½–½
2.Nd6!
Step 2: Give away our other knight on d6. (197)
Again, the knight must be captured since Nf7 A.Wotawa
mate is threatened. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963
2...Rxd6

a) 2...Re8+?? 3.Nxe8 a1Q 4.Bf6!

Qa2+ 5.Kh8 Qf7 6.Bg7+ Qxg7+ 7.Nxg7
a4 8.Ne8 (White’s knight and king
prepare the arrest paperwork and the
booking log for the imprisoned black king)
8...a3 9.Nf6 a2 10.Ng8#.

b) 2...a1Q?? 3.Nf7#.
3.Be7!
Double attack, threatening mate on f8 and
Black's rook.
3...Rd8+
White draws
3...Rd7? 4.Bf8+ Rg7+ 5.Bxg7#.
4.Bxd8 a1Q It's clear that our knight on b4 is in the way of
our coming bishop checks.
1.Nc6+!
Clearance.

a) 1.Bxf8? Bxb3+ 2.Kxb3 f1Q 3.Bd3

e1Q 4.Bxf1 Qxf1 and Black wins.

163
 b) 1.Bd2? Bxb3+.
1...Bxc6 2.Bd2+ Ka4! (D)
2...Ka6? 3.Bd3+ Ka7 4.Be3+ Ka8 5.Bxe2
Black's pawns are halted, and White wins.

This zwischenzug is essential.

5.Bxe2? Bc5 6.Bf1 Bb5 wins.
5...Bc5 6.Bxf2! Bd5+ 7.Kb2!
7.Kb1? allows 7...Be4!
7...Bxf2 8.Bxe2 ½–½

Exercise (combination alert): How does (198)

White save the game? A.Wotawa
Answer : Clearance/interference/attraction. Schach Echo, 1963
3.Rb5!!
The Cobra arises from its basket by summoning
the Fakir's flute. Is it okay for us to use the
cliche: a bolt from the blue?

a) 3.Rb4+? loses to 3...Bxb4 4.Bc2+

Ka5! 5.axb4+ Ka6 6.Bd3+ Bb5 wins.

b) 3.Bc2? Bd5! wins.

c) 3.Rb8? Bd5+ 4.Kb2 Bg7+ 5.Kc2

f1Q and Black wins.

d) 3.Rb7? Bd5+ 4.Kb2 Bg7+! 5.Rxg7 White draw

e1Q 6.Bc2+ Kb5 7.Bxe1 fxe1Q wins. Not only are we down an exchange, but also our
3...Kxb5! bishop and knight hang simultaneously. Look
Black's king is attracted to the f1–a6 diagonal. closely, and you may be able to produce some
magic.
a) 3...Bxb5?? Black's bishop interferes 1.f6!
with its king's escape square on b5. 4.Bc2#.
a) 1.Bg5? Kxb5 2.f6 Bh8 Black wins.
b) 3...f1Q? 4.Ra5#.
4.Bd3+ Kb6 5.Be3+! b) 1.Bh6? Bxh6 2.Nd6 Bf8! 3.h8Q
Bxd6+ wins.

c) 1.Nd6? Rxc1 2.Ne8 Bf8+ 3.Kb3

Rh1 4.Nf6 Be7 5.Ng8 Rxh7 6.f6 Bf8
7.Kc4 Rh8 8.f7 Rh7 picks up White's last
pawn and wins.
1...Bxf6

164
 a) 1...Bh8 2.f7 Kxb5 3.Bh6 draw.

b) 1...Bf8+ 2.Kb3 Bb4 3.Bh6! Kxb5

4.Bg7 Bc3 5.h8Q Rxh8 6.Bxh8 Bxf6 draw.
2.Nc7!!
Where did that come from!?
2...Rxc7
2...Be5 3.Bd2+ Kb6 4.Nd5+ Kc5 5.Ne7 Ra8+
6.Kb3 Draw since Black is weirdly helpless
against Ng6 and Bc3.
3.Bg5! Rc3+
3...Bh8 allows 4.Bd8. White draws
4.Kb2!
Wait. Why are WE the ones trying to hold a
draw? After all, we threaten to promote on c8.
Not so fast.
1. First of all, Black threatens the
immediate ...Bd3, mate.
2. Secondly, Black threatens ...Nf5!
followed by ...Ng3 mate.
3. If we chop the knight on f5 with
our rook, Black recaptures with the
bishop, threatening mate on h3.
1.Nab4
We must cover the mating threat on d3.
1.c8Q? sort of misses the entire point! 1...Bd3#.
1...Nf5!
This study, which may be a concoction by a
Threat: ...Ng3 mate.
being from a parallel dimension whose laws of
1...Bf5? 2.c8Q! Bxc8 3.Rxc8 Nf5 4.Rc3+
physics differ from our own, is not for the
White wins.
tradition-bound of our more mundane universe.
2.Rxf5!
Who the hell deliberately moves into
We must give up the exchange.
potentially discovered checks?
4.Ka2? Rc2+ 5.Kb3 Rb2+ 6.Ka3 Bh8 Black
a) 2.Rg8? Bd1! (threat: ...Be2 mate)
wins.
3.Nc3 Ne3#.
4...Bh8 5.Bd2! ½–½

(199) b) 2.Nxc2? Ng3#.

A.Wotawa 2...Bxf5 3.c8Q! Bxc8
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965 3...Bh3+? Sorry, not mate. Our queen x-rays
the square. 4.Qxh3+ wins.
4.f5!

165
 draw is to swap away our h-pawn for Black's e-
pawn.
1.h4!
1.c5? Kd2 2.c6 e3 3.c7 Nc4 4.Re6 Bb7 5.h4 e2
6.h5 e1Q 7.Rxe1 Kxe1 8.Ke7 Nb6 9.h6 Be4
wins.
1...Bf3
1...Nxc4 2.h5 Bf3 3.h6 Bg4+ 4.Kc6 Bf5 5.h7
Bxh7 6.Rxh7 e3 7.Kc5 e2 8.Re7 Kd3 9.Rxe2
Kxe2 10.Kxc4 draw.
2.h5! Bxh5
2...Nxc4 3.h6 Bg4+ 4.Kc6 Bf5 5.h7 Bxh7
Clearance. Is this not the case of an empire 6.Rxh7 e3 7.Kc5 e2 8.Re7 Kd3 (threat: ...Ne3)
crumbling under the weight of its decadence 9.Rxe2! draw.
and corruption? It appears that White is making 3.Rxe4 Nxc4
spite stalls to evade mate and prolong the game
for a move or two.
4...Bxf5 5.Nf4!
Covering the mating threat on h3. Suddenly it's
not so easy for Black to drive this knight from
its seat of power on f4.
5...Bc8
1. 5...Kxf4 6.Kxf2 draw.
2. 5...Bd7 6.Nc6! Bxc6 7.Nd3! Bb5
stalemate.
6.Nbd3 Ba6
We appear to be in zugzwang. We aren't!
7.Ne2! Bxd3 Stalemate. ½–½
3...Bg6 4.Re3+ Kxc4 5.Rg3 Bd3 6.Kc7 Nb3
(200) 7.Kb6 a5 8.Rg4+ Kc3 9.Ra4! Rxa5 follows
A.Wotawa with a draw.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965 4.Kc6! Bf3
4...a5 5.Kc5! Bf7 6.Rf4 Be6 7.Re4 Bg8 8.Rg4
draw.
5.Kc5! Nd2
Black can still try for the full point. Wotawa's
study ended with 5...Bxe4 stalemate.
6.Rc4+! Kb3 7.Rh4 Be2
7...a5 8.Kb5 draw.
8.Rh2 Ne4+ 9.Kd4 Bf3 10.Ke3 Ng5 11.Rh6!

White draws
Not every study needs to be an undercover,
cloak-and-dagger operation, and this one is
quite clear. A rook for Black's bishop, knight,
and extra pawn isn't much. Our best shot to

166
 9.Ka7 Ke6 10.Kb7 Kd5 11.Rxd2+ Bxd2
12.Kxc7 Be3 wins.

b) 1.Rc6? d2 2.Ne3 Bxe3 3.Bg4 Bf4

4.Bd1 Bh3 and Black wins.

c) 1.Rd1? ( Principle : Be certain

that the treatment doesn't kill the patient)
1...Bb7#.
1...Bxf3
1...Bxc1 2.Nd4 c5! (this gives Black's king air;
2...d2? 3.Nc6+ Ka8 4.Bc8 d1Q 5.Bb7#) 3.bxc6
Dual threats, ...Rxa6 and ...Rg6, force a draw. Bf4 (3...d2? 4.Nb5 d1Q 5.c7+ Ka8 6.Bc6#)
½–½ 4.Bf5 d2 5.Bc2 is drawn.
2.Bc6! Bxc6
(201) 2...d2? 3.Rg1 d1Q (Black is destined to suffer
A.Wotawa post-partum depression after this promotion
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965 since it fails to win) 4.Rxd1 Bxd1 5.Nd4 Bg4
(threat: ...Bc8+) 6.Bb7! (threat: Nc6 mate)
6...Bd7 7.Nc6+ Bxc6 8.bxc6 draw.
3.Rxc6 d2

White draws
Exercise (critical decision): Black
threatens mate on b7 and our rook. Our choices Exercise (combination alert/critical
are to block on c6 with either our rook or bishop decision): Neither our rook nor knight can
and toss in f2–f3. Which one is correct? prevent promotion, and we must then exploit
Answer : Only pushing the f-pawn is the stalemate position of our king and give
correct. away our remaining pieces. The questions, of
1.f3! course, are: which piece do we give away first,
Studies may externally appear bare of resources and on what square?
for our side. After a period of attempting to Answer : We must give away our knight
solve, we begin to realize that we are being lied first on e3.
to and look deeper for our position's hidden 4.Ne3!
truth. 4.Rd6? cxd6 5.Ne3 Bf6!; we lose since Black
is not obliged to chop our knight and stalemate
a) 1.Bc6? Bxc6 2.Rxc6 d2 3.Ne3 us.
Bxe3 4.Rg6 (threatening mate on the back 4...Bxe3 5.Rd6! c5
rank) 4...Kc8 5.Rg1 Bxf2 6.Rd1 Be3 5...cxd6 stalemate.
(White's problem is that it isn't stalemate 6.Kxb6 c4+ 7.Kc6 c3 8.Rd8+ Ka7 9.Rd7+
by giving up the rook since White's king ½–½
has access to a7) 7.Ka7 Kd7 8.Kb7 Bf4

167
(202)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

Work out a sequence to force the draw.

Answer : Step 1: Push the f-pawn.
4.f4!
4.g3? Bxg3 5.f4 Nf5! 6.a6 Ne3+ 7.Kg1 Nd5
White wins wins.
4...Bxf4
Hope is in woefully short supply since Black is 4...Nf5 5.a6 Ne3+ 6.Kf2 and now if 6...Nd1+
about to promote. If we chop the h-pawn, we Draw. Black must avoid 6...Nd5? 7.g3 Nc7
get forked and are down two pieces. 8.a7 Kc3 9.f5 White wins since Black's knight
1.Rh4! is overloaded.
When it comes to Pandora's box, it's easy to 5.g3!
open and not so easy to close. We are going to Step 2: Double attack.
be down two pieces! 5...Bxg3 6.a6
Step 3: Just keep pushing the a-pawn until we
a) 1.Bxh2? is the move of a fatalist attract Black's bishop to the stalemating g1–a7
convinced of the inevitability of the diagonal.
coming loss. 1...Nxh2+ 2.Kf2 Nxg4+ 6...Bb8 7.a7!
3.Kf3 Ne3 4.a6 (intending to deflect The path to the draw is free of impediments.
Black's bishop away from coverage of f4, 7...Bxa7 Stalemate. ½–½
the final pawn) 4...Nxg2! and Black wins.
(203)
b) 1.Be1+? Kd1! wins since there is Wotawa,A -
no way to halt Black's promotion. Schach Echo, 1965
1...Nxh4
1...fxg3? 2.gxf3 Ke3 3.Kg2 White wins.
2.Bxh2 f3!
With this dirty trick, Black wins a second piece-
-but not the game.
3.exf3!

a) 3.Bxb8? fxe2+ wins.

b) 3.gxf3? Bxh2 when all of White's

pawns will fall, and Black wins.
3...Bxh2

White wins

168
The stunning solution freaked out one of our ½–½
GM friends when he saw the solution posted on
Facebook. (204)
Exercise (combination alert): Not only is A.Wotawa
our rook pinned, but there seems to be no way Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966
our lone bishop can halt the promotion of at
least one of Black's passed pawns. How do we
continue?
Answer : Decoy. The pin on our rook must
first be broken.
1.f7! Bxf7

a) 1...b2 2.f8Q b1Q+ 3.Bb4 Bxc6+

4.Kb6 draw.

b) 1...Bxc6+? 2.Ka7 b2 3.f8Q b1Q

4.Qe7+ Kc8 5.Qc7#.
2.Rc2!!
Step 2: The scriptures speak of the mark of the White draws
beast. Give away a full rook to CONNECT
Black's pawns. This way, our bishop can stop In a weird coincidence, both Carsten and I
both. "Magic!" exclaimed GM Gerry Hertneck reached this exact position last week in a blitz
when he saw the solution to this study on a game. Just kidding. Okay, fine, quintupled
Facebook post. The idea is to get a drawn pawns are not an everyday sight, but keep in
opposite-colored bishop ending, with Black's mind that the position is indeed legal. Our
pawns blockaded on dark squares. problem is that our rook is threatened, and
2.Rc1? Kxd6 3.Rd1 Bd5+ 4.Kb6 b2 5.Kb5 Black simultaneously threatens to promote on
Ke5 6.Kb4 Ba2 wins. d1 with check! Let's start with a desperado spite
2...dxc2 check on g7.
1.Rg7+
a) 2...Kxd6 3.Rd2 Bc4 4.Kb6 Kd5 1.Rd8? doesn't cut it. 1...d1Q+ CHECK! The
5.Ka5 Kc5 6.Ka4 Kd4 7.Kb4 Ke3 8.Kc3 queen can't be taken, and Black wins.
draw. 1...Kxh6
1...Kh8? 2.Ke2 Bb2 3.Rd7 and White's king
b) 2...bxc2 3.Bf4 Ke6 4.Kc6 Bh5 will march up the board, and Black loses.
5.Bc1 Bxf3+ 6.Kc5 Ke5 7.Kc4 Ke4 2.Rg6+!
8.Kc3 draw. Spite check number 2.
3.Ba3 Ke6 4.Kc6 2...Kxh5
2...Kh7? 3.Ke2 White wins.
3.Rg5+!
3!
3...Kxh4 4.Rg4+
4!
4...Kxh3 5.Rg3+
5!
5...Kxh2

The bishops of opposite colors save White.

169
 1.Rxb5+! Kxb5!
1...Rxb5? 2.Rxg4 Rf5 3.Rxg3! White wins.
2.Be8+ Ka6!

a) 2...Kc5? 3.Rh5! White wins since

Black's mate threat is eliminated.

b) 2...Kb6? 3.Bd4+ Kc7 4.Bg1! Rf1

5.Rxh2! White wins.
3.Bb5+!!
Attraction.
3...Kxb5
Exercise (combination alert): Dang, we No choice since
ran out of spite checks. No worries, though,
since we still have access to a saving a) 3...Kb6! 4.Bc4 and White wins.
combination:
Answer : Step 1: Move our king to f2, b) 3...Rxb5? 4.Rxg4 Rxb3 5.Ra4+!
allowing Black to promote. Kb5 6.Ra1 wins.
6.Kf2! d1Q 4.Rh5!

a) 6...d1R 7.Rb3 is a theoretical draw.

b) 6...d1N+ 7.Kf3 Ne3 is drawn.

7.Rh3+!
Step 2: Give away our rook on h3.
7...Kxh3 Stalemate. ½–½

(205)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

Attraction.
4...Rxh5 5.Bh4!
Decoy/trapped piece.
5...Rxh4
5...Rd5 6.Bxg3 h5 7.Kxh2 Kb4 8.Bh4 Kxb3 is
drawn.
6.Nf6!
Black's rook is unable to escape its box.
6...Kb4

a) 6...h5 7.Ne4 Kb4 8.Nxg3 Kxb3

White draws 9.Nf5 Rh3 10.gxh3 gxh3 draw.

We have seen this structure on kingside before b) 6...Rh3 7.gxh3 gxh3 8.Ne4 g2+
in the book. 9.Kxh2 draw.
1. We are up three pieces and a rook! 7.Nh5!
2. Black threatens what looks like an
inevitable mate on f1, which makes
our move choices a bit easier since
we must keep checking!

170
You and your soon-to-be ex-wife are in a bitter
divorce. After a lengthy legal battle, she got White draws
your $10 million estate and the $12 million in
cash, stocks, and property assets. You got the Our attempt to promote by pushing the forward
crockpot which doesn't work, and the cat, who a-pawn will be met with 1...Rh5!. We can still
hates your guts. We just described what White draw.
must be feeling right now, to go from so much 1.a7! Rh5!
up to so much down. Yet there is a happy
ending for the crockpot/cat guy since the a) 1...Rd1 2.Nd4 Rxd4 3.a8Q Bd5+
position is drawn! 4.Kc5 Bxa8 5.Kxd4 draw.
7...Kc3
7...Rxh5 stalemate. b) 1...Bd3 2.Kd5 Rh5+ 3.Ne5 Rh4
8.Ng7! 4.Nxd3 Ra4 draw.
8.Nf6? Kd4 9.b4 Ke5! Black wins.
8...Kd3 c) 1...Be2? 2.Nd4 Bd3 3.Kc7 Be4
8...Kxb3 9.Nh5 Kc2 10.Nf4 Kd2 11.Nh5 Ke3 4.Nc6 Rc1 5.a8Q and White wins.
12.Nf4 Black can't do a thing, and White holds 2.Ne5!
the draw. Step 2: Interference. Give away our knight.
9.b4 Kc4 10.b5 Kxb5 2...Rxe5
10...Kd5 11.b6 Kc6 12.b7 Kxb7 13.Nh5! is the 2...Bf1 3.Kb6 Bg2 4.Nc6 Bxc6 5.Kxc6 Ra5
same. 6.Kb7 draw.
11.Nh5 Kc6 12.Ng7 Kd7 13.Nh5 Ke7 3.a8Q!
14.Ng7 Kf7 15.Nh5 Kg6 16.Ng7! Step 3: Deliberately walk into Black's skewer.
3...Bd5+
Black is clearly an adherent of the greed-is-
good school of thought. But is it?
4.Kd6 Bxa8 5.Kxe5 ½–½

(207)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

Black is unable to make progress. ½–½

(206)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

171
 b) 3...Bxe4 4.c8Q Rc2+ 5.Kd4! Rxc8
stalemate.
4.Kb6 Rb2+ 5.Ka7 Rc2 6.Kb8 Black can’t
make progress. ½–½

(208)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

White draws
We are soon going to be down a rook!
1.f4+!
We must free our bishop.
1.Rxe2? Rxe2 2.f4+ Kh4! 3.Bb7 Bf5 wins.
1...Kxf4
1...Kf6 2.Rxe2 Rxe2 3.Bf3 Rc2+ 4.Kb6 Rb2+
5.Ka7 Bf5 6.Bb7 Rc2 7.Kb8 draw.
2.Rxe2 Rxe2 White draws
We have many options that seem to fail for
White, and only one move works.
1.Nc6!!
Threatening Rf8+ and e8(Q) mate means the
knight must be taken. Failed tries:

a) 1.Rf8+? Kxe7 2.Rf7+ Kxd8 3.Kf6

Rxc4! 4.e6 Rf4+ 5.Kg7 b2 wins.

b) 1.e6? fails to 1...Rxc4.

c) 1.Ne6? Rxc4!
Exercise (combination alert): We study,
yet many of us are frustrated with our lack of d) 1.Bd4? Rxc4!
retention. Let's test your pattern recognition.
You have seen this same combinational pattern e) 1.Rf7? Rxc4!
before in the book, with only a tiny shift. Where
is White's draw? f) 1.Kf6? Ra1 2.Rf5 b5+ 3.Ne6 Rxg1
Answer : Interference/stalemate. 4.Rh5 (White lacks time to deliver a back
3.Be4!! rank mate) 4...Rf1+ wins.
This shot gums up Black's military-industrial 1...bxc6
complex. 3.Bb7? Bf5 Black wins. 1...Ra8? 2.Rf8+ Kd7 3.Rd8+ Black is mated.
3...Kxe4 2.Bc5!
Now Black's king interferes with the b1– We renew the threat to bang down our rook on
bishop's ability to reach f5. f8, forcing Black to capture our bishop.
2.Kf6? loses to 2...Ra1!
a) 3...Rxe4 4.c8Q is also drawn. 2...bxc5 (D)

172
2...Ra8? 3.Rf8+ Kd7 4.Kf6! bxc5 5.e6+ Kd6 1.Ne4+!
6.Rd8+! Rxd8 7.exd8R# After the black king's 1.Rf8? g2 2.Rg8 g1Q 3.Rxg1 Rxg1 and Black
cremation, his ashes are spread over d6. wins.
1...Rxe4 2.Kxe4! g2

Exercise (planning): What is our plan to

force a draw? Exercise (combination alert) : We have
Answer : Simply move our king to e6. filed the paperwork for the application, and it
3.Kf6! was approved. Now finish constructing the
Principle: Never crowd a drama-king's/drama- stalemate:
queen's entrance. Threat: Ke6 followed by Rf8 Answer : Step 1: Give away our knight on
mate. f4.
3...Ra1 4.Ke6! 3.Nf4! exf4
Now we see it! Black must capture, delivering
stalemate. a) 3...g1N? 4.Rxc6+ Kd2 5.Ne6 and
4.Rf3? Rg1 5.Rxh3 Rg8 6.Rxb3 Ra8 7.Rh3 Ra1 Black is busted.
8.Rh6 Rf1+ 9.Ke6 Rf7 consolidates.
4...Rxf1 We sense a little trouble in Black's b) 3...g1Q? (this is a case of dumb and
utopia since it's stalemate. ½–½ dumber) 4.Ne2+ forks and wins.
4.Rg6! hxg6 Stalemate. ½–½
(209)
A.Wotawa (210)
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966 A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

White wins
White draws
The bad news is that we can't halt Black's
promotion; the good news is we CAN construct
a stalemate for our king.

173
We have a problem: Not only is our b5–rook
hanging, but Black also threatens a devastating
bishop check on d1.
1.Rgxf5!
1.Rxb2? Bd1+ 2.Rg4 f6! 3.Rb7 Ng7#.
1...exf5
1...Bxb5? must be filed under the heading:
colossally dumb. 2.Rxb5 and White wins.
2.Rxb2
2.Rb7? Bc6! Black wins.
2...f6!

White wins
Black threatens our knight, and the surging f-
pawn is a grave concern.
1.Rxh6!
1.Nf2? Nf5! with dual threats to chop our
hanging rook on d6 and mate on h4.
1...Rxg4!
1...Ne5 2.Rf6 Rxg4 3.Rxf3! The blocked
defender shot holds the draw.
2.Rh8+!

Exercise (combination alert) : White's a) 2.Rd6? f2! 3.Rd1 Rg1 wins.

drought-stricken position appears to be a place
where nothing grows. How do we weasel out of b) 2.Rh7? Rf4! 3.Kg3 f2 Black wins.
Black's dual threats: ...Bd1+ and ...Be8 mate?
Answer : Transfer our rook to e2, allowing c) 2.Kxg4? f2 3.Rd6 f1Q 4.Rxd7
Black to pin it. Qg2+ 5.Kf4 Qxh2+ wins.
3.Re2! 2...Kc7
3.Rb1? Be8#. 2...Kb7 3.Rh7 Rd4 4.Kg3 Rd3 5.Rf7 draw.
3...Bd1 4.f3! 3.b6+! Kxb6
Step 2: Push our f-pawn one square.
4...Bxe2 Stalemate.
4...Kg7? is an overpress by Black. 5.Re7+
Kf8 6.Rxc7 Bxf3+ Not-mate! White's king can
move into g6, winning. ½–½

(211)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967

Exercise (combination alert): Force

White's draw:
Answer : Transfer the rook to f6.

a) 3...Kc6 4.Kxg4 f2 5.Rc8+.

174
 Step 2: Sacrifice the exchange to remove all the
b) 3...Kb7 4.Rh7. pawns from the board.
2...Re7+! (D)
c) 3...Kd6 4.b7! (4.Rh6+? Ke7 2...Rxb4 3.Bxd5+ Kg7 4.Bxf3 draw.
5.Kxg4 f2 wins) 4...Rf4 (4...f2 5.b8Q+
Nxb8 6.Rf8 draws) 5.Rd8! Rb4 6.b8Q+
Rxb8 7.Rxb8 Nxb8 8.Kg3 draw.
4.Rh6+!
We begin our pro-democracy demonstration.
a) 4.Ra8? f2 5.Ra1 Rg1 wins.
b) 4.Rh7? Rf4
4...Kc7 5.Rf6!
The rook clearly doesn't believe the statement:
Nobody is above the law.
5...Ne5
5...Nxf6 Stalemate.
6.Rxf3! Overloaded defender. We hold the
draw. ½–½ We need to be ready for this zwischenzug.
What is Step 3?
(212) Answer : Interference, after which Black's
A.Wotawa happiness begins to drain away. It's crucial to
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967 go loud rather than discrete by backing up our
king, which loses.
3.Re4!!
3.Kf2? loses to 3...Re2+ 4.Kg3 Rxa2.
3...Rxe4+ 4.Kxf3 Re5+

a) 4...Bxa2 5.Kxe4 draw.

b) 4...Rd4+ 5.Ke3 Rd1 6.Ke2 draw.

5.Kf4
Step 4: Endlessly chase Black's rook.
5...Rh5 6.Kg4 Re5 7.Kf4
7.Kf4 Re7 8.Bxd5+ is a theoretical draw.
7...Re4+ 8.Kf5 Rd4 9.Ke5
White draws Step 5: Double attack. Black loses the bishop,
and the position is drawn. ½–½
Exercise (combination alert): White will
get ground down if we go with 1.Rb3 since (213)
Black responds with 1...b4–b3, followed by A.Wotawa
2...Bd5. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967
What should White play?
Answer : Attraction. We push our d-pawn
to attract Black's bishop to d5.
1.d5!
1.Rb2? is too passive: 1...b3! 2.Bb1 Bd5 White
is losing.
1...Bxd5
1...Re7+ 2.Kd4 f2 3.Rg3+ Kf8 4.Rf3 Re2 5.Bc4
White holds a draw.
2.Rxb4!

175
 Wotawa's endgame studies, what we get is
anything but standard.
8.Ne8+? loses to 8...Kd8!.
8...Kb8

a) 8...dxe6 9.Rd4! c1Q! 10.Rc4+!

Qxc4 stalemate.

b) 8...Kc8 9.Rd5! draw.

9.Rb6+!
9.Rxd7? c1Q 10.Rxh7 Qc3+! 11.Nd4 Qe3+
12.Kd5 Qg5+ 13.Kc4 Qg8+ (Double attack)
White draws Black wins.
9...Ka7
In this long study, White turns the natural order 9...Kc8 10.Rb5! draws.
upside down by finding the hidden path to 10.Rb7+!
stopping Black's c-pawn.
1.Rd6+ Kb5!
1...Kc7? (Black's king is unable to move to the
c-file) 2.Rd4! c1Q 3.Rc4+ draws.
2.Rd5+ Kb4 3.Rd4+ Kxb3
3...Ka3? is met with 4.Rc4.
4.Rd3+ Kb4
4...Kb2? 5.Rd2 draw.
5.Rd4+ Kb5 6.Rd5+ Kb6 7.Rd6+ Kc7 (D)
7...Kb7 8.Rxd7+ Kc8 9.Ne6! Kxd7 10.Nc5+
draws.

White's unsupported pieces seem to float in

empty space.
10.Ra6+? Kxa6 11.Nc5+ Kb5 12.Nd3 Kc4
13.Ke4 d5+ 14.Ke3 Kc3 15.Nc1 d4+ Black
wins.
10...Kxb7
10...Ka8?? 11.Rc7 dxe6 12.Rxc2 Ng5 13.Rg2
Nf3+ 14.Kxe6 - normally, rook versus knight
is a draw. Not here since Black's king and
knight are separated, and the engine calls mate
in 22 at this point!
Exercise (combination alert): Where is 11.Nc5+ Kb6 12.Nb3 Ng5
White's draw?
Answer : We have access to a clever
stalemate trick by first offering our knight on
e6.
8.Ne6+!!
When starting endgame studies, one of the
awful realizations is that our previous search
for strong moves has been rote, predictable, and
robotic. This is because we only looked for
standard patterns in our mental database. In

176

We save the game by winning Black's c-pawn.
12...Kb5 13.Nd4+ Kb6 14.Nxc2 and draw.
13.Kd4 Nf3+ 14.Kc3 Ne1 15.Kd2 We
win either Black's knight or the c-pawn, both of
which are drawn. ½–½
(214)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1968
White draws
We are up a rook. This is where our good news
ends since we experience difficulties halting
Black's a-pawn.
1.Rf6+!
a) 1.Rf3? (my doctor said I had to cut
dairy from my diet due to inflamed joints.
Of course, this is exactly when the ice
cream truck would daily drive by my
house, merrily playing You are my
Sunshine, with bells. Moral: life tempts us
to regress) 1...c5+ picks off the rook.
b) 1.Re4? c5+ is the same.
c) 1.Rf8? a2.
177
d) 1.Bf7? gxf4 2.Kc3 g5 3.Kb3 Bc8
4.f3 Be6+ wins.
1...Ke7 2.Rf7+! Kxe8
2...Kd8? 3.Kc5 a2 4.Rd7+ Kxe8 5.Rd1 Bc8
6.Ra1 Be6 7.Kxc6 Kd8 is drawn.
3.Rf6!
3.Rh7? a2 4.Rh1 c5+ The now familiar pattern
wins our rook.
3...Ke7 (D)
a) 3...Kd7? 4.Kc3 catches the a-pawn
and wins.
b) 3...a2 4.Re6+ Kf7 5.Re1 Bc8 6.Kc3!
Bxg4 7.Kb2 Be6 8.Re3 g4 9.Rc3 Bd5
10.Rg3 Kf6 11.Rxg4 Kf5 12.Rg3 g5
13.Rc3 Kf4 14.Re3 g4 15.Rc3 Ke5 16.Rg3
Be6 17.Re3+ Kd6 18.Rd3+ Kc5 19.Rc3+
Kb5 20.Ka1 c5 21.Ra3 Kb4 22.Ra7 c6
23.Kb2 Black can't make progress.
Exercise (combination alert): We appear
to be in a world of trouble:1. Our rook hangs.2.
If We play Rf3 to try and stop the a-pawn,
Black responds with ...c6–c5+, winning our
rook. What should we do?
Answer : Fall for the trap.
4.Rf3! c5+
4...a2 5.Ra3 Black must fight for the draw.
5.Ke5! Bxf3 Stalemate. 5...a2 6.Ra3 Bc8
Threatening both ...Be6 and...Bxg4. 7.Rxa2
Bxg4 8.Ra5 is drawn. ½–½
(215)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969
 the finished whole, and all we can do is connect
one part with its correctly fitting counterpart.
This is precisely how to solve studies. One part
leads to the next, and we essentially solve in
small portions.
3...Bxg4
3...Bd5+ is, of course, met with the simple
4.Rxd5 with a draw.
4.Rh6+! Kc5 5.Rd6! Bf3+
5...Kxd6 6.Nc4+ Kd5 7.Nxd2 draw.
6.Kh2
6.Kg1 is a dual solution.
White draws 6...Bd5 (D)
6...Kxd6 7.Nc4+.
Black is about to promote, and it appears as if
we can't do a damned thing about it.
1.Rh4+
1.Bg4? Bxg4 2.Rd6 d1Q 3.Rxd1 Bxd1 4.Nb1
Nf3 5.Kg2 Kb3 when our knight is trapped,
and Black wins.
1...Kc5
1...Kxa3 2.Rd4 Bxh3 (2...Nf3 3.Rd3+ Bb3
4.Bg2 d1Q+ 5.Rxd1 Bxd1 6.Bxf3 Draw)
3.Rxd2 is a draw.
2.Rh5+ Kc6!

a) 2...Kd4? 3.Bxe6 d1Q 4.Rd5+ wins.

Exercise (combination alert): The
b) 2...Kb6? 3.Bg4! Bxg4 4.Nc4+ Kc6 seemingly endless series of twists and turns
5.Rh6+ Kd5 6.Nxd2 with winning continue. White to play and draw:
chances for White. Answer : Step 1: Sacrifice the exchange on
d5.
c) 2...Kd6? 3.Nb5+ Ke7 4.Nc3 Bb3 7.Rxd5+! Kxd5 8.Nb1!
5.Re5+ Kd6 6.Re2, Black is busted. Step 2: Retreat the knight to b1, preparing to
2...Bd5+ 3.Rxd5+ Kxd5 4.Bg4 draw. fork on c3.
3.Bg4!! 8.Nb5? fails to 8...Kc4! 9.Na3+ Kd3.
8...d1Q
8...d1N 9.Kg3 is also drawn.
9.Nc3+ ½–½

(216)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969

As we see later, we must seize control over c4.

A jigsaw puzzle may contain 300 disconnected
units. At this stage, there is no way to visualize

178
 We commandeer the g1–square, and Black's
dream is stillborn.
6.Ra1? Ne3 7.Rb1 Nf1+ 8.Kh3 g1Q Black
wins.
6...Ndf4
6...Nxg1 stalemate.
7.Rxg2+ Nxg2 8.Kh3 Draw, since two
extra knights are not enough for a forced mate.
½–½

(217)
A.Wotawa
White draws Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969

Black is about to promote with a check, and our

first move is relatively straightforward.
1.Ne2! Kxe2
1...Nac3 2.Ndxc1 Nxb5 3.Kh2 Nbc3 4.Ng3+
Kf2 5.Nd3+ Draw.
2.Nxc1+
2.Kxg2? Ne3+ 3.Kg3 Kxd3 Black wins.
2...Kf1!
2...Nxc1 3.Kxg2 is drawn.
3.Ne2! Nac3!
Black attempts to deflect our defending knight.
3...Kxe2 4.Rb2+ Ke3 5.Rxg2 Draw.
4.Kh2! Nxe2 White draws

a) 4...Nxb5 5.Ng3+ Kf2 6.Ne4+ Kf3 We clearly face adverse conditions yet can deal
7.Ng5+ Kf2 8.Ne4+ Draw. with Black's passed c-pawn, just as long as we
find a million exclams!
b) 4...Kxe2 5.Rxd5 Nxd5 6.Kxg2 1.Rg8!
Draw.
5.Rb1+ Kf2 a) 1.Rxh7? c2 wins.

b) 1.Nb6+? axb6 2.Rxh7 c2 3.Kh5 f4!

and Black wins. 3...c1Q? 4.Rh8+ Kb7
5.Rb8+! is a Mad Rook draw.
1...Rg7+!
Decoy. 1...Kb7? 2.Nd6+ Kc6 3.Nxf5 Kc7
4.Kf6 White wins.
2.Rxg7 c2 3.Nb6+!!

Exercise (combination alert): Black

threatens ...Ne3, followed by ...Nf1+ and
promotion. What do we do about it?
Answer : Move the rook to g1.
6.Rg1!

179
 Our king is in a stalemate position. All we need
to do is to force Black to take our rook.
5...c1R 6.Kg5 (White's passed h-pawn allows a
draw) 6...Kb7 (6...Rh1 7.Rb2) 7.h5 Kc6 8.Rh2
b4 9.h6 Kb5 10.h7 Rc8 11.h8Q Rxh8 12.Rxh8
b3 13.Kxf5 Kb4 14.Ke4 b2 15.Rb8+ Kc3 draw.
6.Rg8+!
6.Ra2+? Kb7! 7.Ra7+ Kc8 8.Ra8+ Kd7.
6...Ka7 7.Ra8+! Kb7
7...Kxa8 stalemate.
8.Rb8+!

Okay then, let's keep it simple! At first, this

appears to be no more than a spite check.

a) 3.Rg8? c1Q+.

b) 3.Kh5? c1Q 4.Nb6+ Kb7! 5.Rxf7+

Kxb6 and White's Mad Rook theme
vanished since the white king is no longer
stalemated due to access to g6.
3...axb6
3...Kb7 4.Rxf7+ Kxb6 5.Rf6+ Kc7 6.Rf7+
Kd6 7.Rf6+ Kd7 draw. 8.Ra7+? Kc8! 9.Ra8+ Kd7 10.Ra7+ Ke6
4.Kh5! 11.Re7+ Kd5 12.Re5+ Kc6! Black wins since
Now our king runs out of moves if Black both rook checks are not stalemate.
promotes to a new queen. 8...Ka6 9.Rb6+! Ka5 10.Rxb5+! Ka4
4.Rg8+? Kb7 5.Kh5 b5 6.Rg2 (6.Rg1 b4 Black 11.Ra5+ Kb4
wins) 6...c1Q. 11...Kxa5 Stalemate.
4...b5! 12.Rb5+ Kc4
There is no pain-free place on the board for
Black's king.
12...Kc3? 13.Rc5+ Kd2 14.Rxc1 Kxc1 15.Kg5
White wins.
13.Rc5+! Kxc5 Stalemate. ½–½

(218)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969

This is a good try by Black. How should we

respond?
Answer : Step 1: Attack the c2–pawn
laterally, allowing it to promote.
4...c1Q 5.Rg8+ Ka7 6.Ra8+! Kb7 7.Rb8+ Ka6
8.Rxb6+! is similar to the main line.
5.Rg2!!
Warning: This is not a user-friendly study!
5...c1Q
White draws

180
Our g3–rook is pinned, our knight hangs, and (219)
Black's b-pawn is only two squares from A.Wotawa
promotion. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1970
1.Nc6+!
1.Rxb6? Kxb6 2.Nd7+ Ka7 wins.
1...Rxc6

a) 1...Ka6 2.Nb4+ Ka5 3.Rxb6 Kxb6

4.Nd3 holds the draw.

b) 1...Ka8 2.Rf8+ Kb7 3.Na5+ Ka6

4.Ra8+ Kb5 5.Nxb3 with a likely draw.

c) 1...Kb7 2.Na5+ Ka6 3.Rxb6+

Kxb6 4.Nxb3 wins.
2.Rxc6 Bxg3+
White draws
White can overcome the piece and pawn deficit
to draw.
1.Bxg8+

a) 1.g6+? Kh6! Wins, whereas

1...Kh8? 2.Bxg8 Re3+ 3.Be6! Black is
mated.

b) 1.Bxb3? Bxb3 Black wins.

1...Kxg8 2.g6!
Threat: Ke7 mate.
Exercise (combination alert): Pattern 2...Nc6!
recognition is the mother who gives birth to all The only move. We begin to feel the position's
combinations. White to play and draw: shape-shifty vibe.
Answer : DON'T capture Black's bishop 2...Re3+? 3.Kd7+ Nd8 4.Rxd8+ Re8 5.Rxe8#
and move our king to h3. 3.bxc6
3.Kh3!! 3.Rxb7? Ne5 4.Kd8 Rc3 5.Rxc7 Rxc7 6.Kxc7
3.Kxg3? This attempt at a fortress draw fails. Nc4 7.Kc6 Na3! 8.b6 Nc4! 9.b7 Na5+ wins.
3...b2 4.Rc3 b1Q 5.Kh2 Kb6 6.Rf3 Kc5 7.Rh3 3...Nc5!
Kd4 8.Ra3 f4 9.Rf3 Ke4 10.Ra3 Qc1 11.Rf3 3...Na5? 4.Rc8! Black is mated.
Qe1 12.Rh3 Qe3! (this plan ruins White's 4.Ke7+!
fortress. Nepomniachtchi beat Giri with this
same study-like idea in the 2020 Candidates'
tournament) 13.Kh1 Kd3! 14.Rf3 Ke2 when
the infiltration of the black king is fatal for
White.
3...b2
Black's future queen must be lured to our third
rank.
4.Rc3! b1Q 5.Ra3+ Kb6 6.Rb3+!
Attraction/stalemate.
6...Qxb3 Stalemate. ½–½

181

a) 4.Rc8? Re3+ 5.Kd8 Kf8 6.Kxc7+
Ke7 Black wins.
b) 4.Ra8? Re3+ 5.Kd8 Kf8 6.Kxc7+
Ke7 7.Ra7 Ne6+ wins.
4...Rxb8 Stalemate. ½–½
5.2 Pure heavy piece endings
(queens and rooks)
(220)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
White wins
Remember, Wotawa composed in the pre-
engine days, which means that some of his
studies are cooked. What is a cook? In
composer-speak, a cook is a study or mating
problem that can either have more than one
solution or is just outright refuted. In this
instance, the earlier portion of Wotawa's study
was cooked, so we edited it to begin on move
three.
Exercise (combination alert):
1. White can almost certainly
achieve a fortress draw by playing
Rxd6, followed by Rd4+ and c2–c3.
2. If you say to yourself: "Black
couldn't possibly lose here," please
keep in mind the passengers of the
Titanic undoubtedly felt safe in
their pre-iceberg era. If we could
magically seize control over the
black king's escape route on b5,
then b2–b3+ would mate next
move.
How would you continue with White?
182
Answer : Place the rook on d5 anyway,
where it is en prise and with check!
3.Rd5!!
Attraction/simplification. White forces a won
king and pawn ending, starting with the threat:
b2–b3+.
3.Rxd6? (we are conditioned to believe from
our over-the-board games: The simplest way is
usually the correct way. That doesn't work all
that well in endgame studies, the realm of
anomaly and confusion) 3...Kb5 4.Rd7 Kb6
5.c3 Qf5 6.Rd4, when White erects a fortress
draw, is all well and good, except that it doesn't
apply here since this is a White-to-play-and-
win problem.
3...Qxd5+
No choice; otherwise, b2–b3+ is devastating
for Black.
3...Qxa3+ 4.bxa3 (no stalemate since Black's
second a-pawn ruins the idea) 4...a6 5.Ka1!
Kxa3 6.Rd4 a4 7.h5 a5 8.Kb1 d5 9.Kc1! Ka2
10.Rxa4#.
4.b3+ Kb5 5.c4+
Devils jab at black king and queen with tiny
pitchforks.
Step 2: Black's wealth is confiscated barely a
minute after gaining it. We regain the queen.
But is the king and pawn ending won? We own
an outside passed pawn, yet we will be down a
pawn.
5...Kc5!
This complicates our win considerably, and
now we enter a king and pawn ending.
5...Qxc4? makes it easy for White to win.
6.bxc4+ Kxc4 7.h5 Black's king is outside the
square of the h-pawn, and White promotes and
wins.
6.cxd5 Kxd5
Mastery of king and pawn endings is the
highest of spiritual aspirations in chess. Now
it's time for a math ("maths" for UK readers!)
quiz. White's outside passed h-pawn is decisive
and wins by a single tempo!
7.Kb2 Ke4 8.Kc3 Kf4 9.Kd4 Kg4 10.a4
Kxh4 11.Kd5 Kg4 12.Kxd6 Kf4 13.Kc6 Ke4
Exercise (calculation/critical decision):
We choose between moving our king to b5 or
b7. There is no guessing in such situations, and
we must do some arithmetic to determine which
one is correct.
Answer : Only moving the king to b7
works.
14.Kb7!
As a lifetime D- student in math, I (Cyrus)
could see myself playing 14.Kb5?? Kd3
15.Kxa5 Kc3 16.b4 Kc4 17.b5 Kb3 18.Ka6
Kxa4 19.Kxa7 Kxb5 draw.
14...Kd4 15.Kxa7 Kc3 16.Kb6 Kb4
16...Kxb3 17.Kxa5 Kc4 18.Kb6 transposes.
17.Ka6
Zugzwang. White wins.
17...Kxb3 18.Kxa5 Kc4
The attempted rescue operation isn't going so
well for Black's king, who is shut out.
19.Kb6 Our a-pawn promotes. 1–0
(221)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
183
White wins
Are you ready to run the marathon? This one is
31 moves long, so we will attempt to solve it in
parts. Perhaps the most challenging obstacle to
overcome is that we must also find Black's
optimal defenses, which isn't going to be easy.
1. White is down two pawns.
2. Black's king is in real danger from
the white rook, king, and forward
c-pawn.
Exercise (planning): Come up with a plan
for White to generate a deadly threat:
Answer : Transfer the king to b6, intending
to deliver a deadly rook check on b8.
1.Ka7!
Threat: Kb6 followed by Rb8+.
1.Qh2 Qxc7 2.Rxc7+ Kxc7+ 3.Ka7 Rb8!
4.Qxe5+ d6 5.Qh2 Rb7+ 6.Ka6 Rb6+ and
perpetual check. White can't play for a win with
7.Ka5? Kb7 8.Qh7 Ra6#
1...Qxc7!!
Far from being driven by motives of economic
desperation, this queen offer is Black's best
chance. White must thread the needle perfectly
to win.
1...Rh8? 2.Kb6! forces mate.
2.Rxc7+ Kxc7
Do you see Black's intent?: ...Rb8, with a
perpetual check to follow.
3.Qd2!
3.Qh2? allows 3...Rb8!, which we saw in the
above line, is drawn.
3...g5
3...Rb8 fails to 4.Qd6+!! Kxd6 5.Kxb8 g5 Wait
a minute. Isn't Black winning? The answer is
no. 6.Kb7! g4 7.Kb6! g3 8.a3! g2 (8...bxa3
9.b4 mates) 9.axb4 g1Q 10.bxc5#
4.a4!
4.a3? is too slow. 4...Rb8! 5.axb4 Rb7+ 6.Ka6
Rb6+ 7.Ka5 Rxb4 8.Ka6 Forced since (8.Qh2?
loses to 8...Rb8! which leaves White helpless
against the rook's transfer to a8) 8...Rb6+ Draw.
4...Rb8 (D)

a) 4...bxa3 5.Qa5+ Kc8 (5...Kd6 6.b4!

and mate next move) 6.Kb6 forces mate.

b) 4...g4 5.a5! g3 6.a6 Rg8 7.Qa2! g2

8.Qa5+ Kd6 (8...Kc8 9.Qb6 g1Q
10.Qb8#) 9.Kb7 g1Q 10.Qc7#.
Oh, wait. We are back to yet another king and
pawn ending, Part II!
12...Kc8 13.Ka7 Kc7 14.Ka6 Kd7 15.Kb7
Kd6 16.Kb6!
Zugzwang. Hope, meet lost cause. Black's
treasure is abundant in plunder since both c5
and b4 are about to fall.
16.Kc8? is stalemate.
16...Kd7 17.Kxc5 Kc7 18.Kxb4 Kb6
19.Ka4

If you believe this is a financially uneven

playing field between the haves and the have-
nots, then think again: Black threatens to draw,
starting with a rook check on b7. What do we
do about it?
Answer : Queen sacrifice/simplification.
5.Qxd7+!
Why would a billionaire apply for welfare and
food stamps, citing economic need?
Two reasons for the sacrifice:
1. Black threatened perpetual check 19...c5 20.b4 cxb4 21.Kxb4 Kc6 22.c5 Kc7
with endless lateral rook checks. 23.Kb5 Kb7 24.c6+ Kc8 25.Kc4!
2. We win the king and pawn ending, White must lose a tempo to achieve zugzwang.
which is not so easy to see at this 25...Kd8
stage. 25...Kc7 26.Kc5 Kc8 27.Kd6.
5...Kxd7 6.Kxb8 g4 7.a5 g3 8.a6 g2 9.a7 26.Kb4!
g1Q 10.a8Q 26.Kc5?? Kc7 27.Kb5 Kd6 28.c7 (28.Kb6
Our mistake. It's now a queen ending. stalemate) 28...Kxc7 29.Kc5 Kd7 30.Kb6 Kd6
10...Qg8+ 11.Kb7 Qxa8+ 12.Kxa8 Black holds a lateral opposition draw.
26...Kc8 27.Kb5 Kb8 28.Kb6 Kc8 29.c7
Kd7 30.Kb7 Kd6 31.Kb8!

184
 a) 1.Rcf1? Qg7 2.Rhg1 Qa1+! 3.Rxa1
stalemate.

b) 1.Rcd1? Qh4! (threatening mate on

a4) 2.Ra1 Qd4! 3.Ra2 is met with the
spectacular (3.Rhg1 Qxa1+! 4.Rxa1
stalemate) 3...Qa1! 4.Rhh2 Qxa2+ 5.Rxa2
stalemate.

c) 1.Rxh7? stalemate.
1...Qg8
Covering the back rank while threatening...Qa2
How in the hell does someone concoct such a mate.
complex series of geometric anomalies without 2.Re6!
the help of an engine? Only Wotawa knew the Interference/weak back rank.
answer. 2...Qf8
Did anyone fall for 31.c8Q?? White's queen 2...Qxe6?? 3.Rh8+ Qc8 4.bxc8R#.
isn't exactly an inspiring role model since she 3.Re7!
just stalemated Black's king. 1–0 Blocking the mating threat on a3.
3.Rd6? Qg8! (3...cxd6? 4.Rh7! wins) 4.Rh2
(222) cxd6! 5.c7+ Kxc7 6.Rc2+ Kb8 7.Rc8+ Qxc8
A.Wotawa 8.bxc8Q+ Kxc8 9.Kxb6 Kb8! 10.Kc6 d5
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941 11.Kxd5 Kc7 Draw.
3...Qg8 4.Rf7!
Oh, no, you don't! We cut off ...Qa2 mate.
4...Qg7 (D)
4...Qd8 5.Rhf1 Qe8 6.Rf8 mates next move.

White wins
We must consider the following factors:
1. Black's back rank is weak; all we
need is a rook on the 8th rank and Exercise (combination alert): Black's
its mate. stock is about to crash. How does White force
2. Black's king has no moves, so we the win?
must be on high alert for dirty Answer : Sacrifice on c7.
stalemate tricks where Black gives 5.Rxc7!!
away the queen. 5.Rxg7? is stalemate.
3. Our king is not all that safe. A 5...Kxc7
queen moves to the a-file, and we 5...Qxc7 6.Rh8+ Qd8 7.Rxd8+ Kc7 8.b8Q#
get mated. 6.Ka7!
1.Rce1! Threatening to promote and mate.
Only this rook move works. 6...Qg8 7.Rh7+! Overloaded defender.
White promotes and wins. 1–0

185
(223)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942

How does White proceed?

White wins
Don't believe that only the super-talented are
allowed entry to a difficult endgame study's
garden of privilege. This is an exceptionally
difficult study that few GMs would be capable
of solving. It's perfectly fine to try; if nothing
comes to mind, play through the answer. We
still benefit from adding new, original tactical
patterns into our mental database.
1. If White's king isn't in hell, it's a reasonable
facsimile. All Black needs is one check, and our
king is done for. This means we must keep
giving check and forcing the issue.
2. We can swap queens with a queen check on
h1, followed by a queen check on h5. This
would leave us a million pawns down in the
resulting rook ending.
We need to pull off an engineering marvel to
win this one.
1.Qh1+!
1.Rxf8? Qd6+ 2.Kc8 Qxf8+ 3.Kd7 (3.Kb7
Qa8+ 4.Kxc7 Ra7+ 5.Kd6 Qd8+ 6.Ke5 Qf6+
7.Ke4 Re7+ 8.Kd3 Qf3+ 9.Kc4 Qe4+ 10.Kc3
Qb4+ 11.Kd3 Rd7+ 12.Ke3 Qd2+ 13.Kf3
Rd3+ 14.Ke4 Qe2+ 15.Kf5 Rf3#) 3...Qf7+
4.Kd8 (4.Kc8 Qe8+ 5.Kb7 Qa8+ transposes to
line b)) 4...Ra8#.
1...Kg6 2.Qh5+!!
The move falls under the beggars-can't-be-
choosers category. To go forward with this
madness is unthinkable, but we think about it
anyway! White will be five (!) pawns down and
wants to trade queens!
2...Qxh5 3.gxh5+ Kf7
Answer : DON'T swap rooks and move the
rook to the en prise h8–square!
4.Rh8!!
4.Rxf8+? goes nowhere for White. 4...Kxf8
5.Rf1+ Kg8 6.Ke7 Ra8 7.h6 a4 8.Rg1 g6 9.Rf1
a3 Black wins.
4...Rxh8 5.Rf1+ Kg8
Exercise (calculation/planning): It's a
fiction that Black is winning due to the extra
rook since White can force mate in 7, despite
our low level of attacking force:
Answer : Step 1: Push the h-pawn and
place Black's king into his coffin.
6.h6! Ra8
6...gxh6 7.Ke7! Ra8 8.Rg1#.
7.Ke7!
Step 2: Transfer Black's king to e7, cutting off
Black's intended ...Rf8.
7...a4 8.Rg1!
Step 3: Force ...g7–g6.
8.Rf7? gxh6 9.Rf3 (threat: Rg3 mate) 9...Re8+!
10.Kxe8 Kg7+ 11.Ke7 Ra8 and Black wins.
8...g6 9.Rf1!
Step 4: Switch back to the f-file, after which
there is no defense to the coming Rf7 and Rg7
mate.

186
 9...a3 10.Rf7! a2 One of our goals in this study is to exhaust all
Or the spite check 10...Re8+ 11.Kxe8 a2 of Black's h-pawn moves.
12.Rg7#
11.Rg7# 1–0 a) 1...Qe5 2.Rb4! Qb8 3.Rb2! draw.

(224) b) 1...Qc7 2.Rb1+ Kxb1 3.b8Q+!

A.Wotawa Qxb8 stalemate.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962
c) 1...Kxb2? as you may have guessed,
is an immediate stalemate.
2.Rb1+
Or 2.Rb6! Ka2 3.Rb3 h3 4.Rb5.
2...Ka2 3.Rb3! h3

a) 3...Qc7 4.b8Q Qc1+ 5.Kxh2 Qf1

6.Ra3+! Kxa3 7.Qb3+! Kxb3 stalemate.

b) 3...Qe5 4.b8Q Qa1+ 5.Kxh2 Qf1

6.Ra3+! is the same stalemate as in line a).
4.Rb2+ Ka3 5.Rb4!

White draws
Exercise (combination alert): Black plans
to transfer the king to a6 and then give up the
queen for white rook and passed b-pawn,
leading to a winning king and pawn ending.
How do we prevent White's intent?
Answer : We exploit the fact that our king
would be stalemate if Black's king captured our
rook.
1.Rb2!
Principle: Give up the element of surprise, and
we squander a precious asset in a war.
We make Black push another h-pawn.
a) 1.Ra4+? Kb2 2.Ra8 Qxb7 3.Rb8 5...h5
Qb3! No stalemate. Black wins. 5...Qd6 6.Rb1 Qb8 7.Rb4 only repeats the
position.
6.Rb3+ Ka4 7.Rb5! h4 8.Rb4+ Ka5 9.Rb6!
b) 1.Rb1+? Ka2! 2.Rb3 h4 3.Rb2+
Qc7
Ka3 4.Rb4 h3 5.Rb3+ Ka4 6.Rb5 h5
9...Qg3 10.fxg3 f2 11.Rb1 hxg3 12.b8Q f1Q+
7.Rb4+ Ka5 8.Rb6 h4 9.Rb1 Ka6!
13.Rxf1 g2+ 14.Kxh2 gxf1Q 15.Qe5+.
10.Rb6+ Ka7 11.Ra6+ Kxb7 12.Rb6+
10.Rb1
Kc7 13.Rxb8 Kxb8 14.Kxh2 Kc7
Or 10.b8Q! 10...Qxb6 11.Qa8+ Qa6 12.Qd5+
15.Kxh3 Kd6 16.Kxh4 Kd5 17.Kg4 Kc4
draw.
18.Kf5 Kd3 19.Ke6 (19.Ke5 Ke2 also
10...Qb8 11.Rb6!
wins for Black) 19...Ke2 20.Kf7 Kxf2
21.Kxg7 Kxe3 22.Kh7 f2 23.g7 f1Q
24.g8Q Qh1+ 25.Kg7 Qg2+ when the
queens are removed from the board, and
Black wins.
1...h4

187
 threatens a terrifying discovered
check with 1...c4–c3.
2. We notice Black's trapped king on
h3, and we begin to visualize
knight mates on f5 and g6.
3. If we somehow remove Black's g-
pawn and get our king to h2, then
g2–g3 is mate.
This all appears to be a massive stretch on our
part. How do we turn it into reality?
Answer : Step 1: Queen sacrifice/decoy.
The study begins with a "Release the Kraken"
White's annoying rook is the friend our moment!
mothers warned us not to associate with. 1.Qxb5!!
Black's king must not be given access to the 6th
rank. Black will never get the opportunity to get a) 1.Nxg3? Bxa4 2.Ndxe4 Bc6!
the king and queen in alignment to play ...Qxb7. 3.Nxc5 Kxg3, and Black wins.
½–½
b) 1.Nxe4? c3+ wins since White's
5.3 Mixed endings with queens king is given a check on e3, followed by
mate. 2.Qxb5 is also hopeless after
(225) 2...Qxb5+ 3.Ke1 Qb1+ 4.Ke2 Qxe4
A.Wotawa 1...Qxb5
Deutsch Österreichische Tageszeitung, 1930 1...Qxe3? ignores the position's whispered
warnings. 2.Qg5#.
2.Nxg3!!
Step 2: Sacrifice the knight on g3 to lure Black's
king in even deeper.
2...Kxg3

a) 2...c3+ 3.Kg1 cxd2 (3...Kxg3

4.Nxe4+ Kh4 5.Kh2 Qb2 6.Ng3 - threat:
Nf5 mate - 6...Qb1 7.Nf5+! leads to the
same finish as the main line) 4.Kh2 d1Q
(Black is helpless, even with two extra
queens) 5.Nf5+! (clearance) 5...Qxf5
6.g3#.
White wins
Welcome to the Alois Wotawa Mental Health
Center. We hope your stay with us will be
beneficial. Once upon a time, there was no such
thing as chess engines; believe it or not, people
used their human minds to create and solve. It
boggles us to think that Wotawa created such a
study without the help of an engine. This is
Wotawa's earliest study, and it's a mindblower.
Black's king caught in a box.
Can you envision the mating pattern?
Exercise (combination alert) :
1. White appears to be in dire trouble. Now this mate deserves a diagram!
Our queen hangs, and Black

188
 b) Black can be a spoiled sport and
ruin our mate by giving up the queen with
2...Qd7 3.Ngxe4 Qxh3! 4.gxh3 Kxh3 5.f5
White still wins.
3.Kg1!
Threat: Nxe4+, followed by Kh2 and g2–g3
mate, which looks very easy for Black to stop,
except it isn't.
3...c3

a) 3...Qf5 4.Nf1+ Kh4 5.Kh2 Qxh3+

6.gxh3 c3 7.Ng3 c2 8.Nf5#.
David and Goliath mate! We warned you in
b) 3...Qb2 4.Nxe4+ Kh4 5.Kh2 Qc2 advance: Wotawa's studies are NOT the same
6.Nd6 c3 7.Nf5+! (Decoy) 7...Qxf5 8.g3#. as online puzzles! At first, transitioning from
4.Nxe4+ Kh4 5.Kh2! playing through over the board games to
Threatening mate on the move. endgame studies will make you feel as if you
5...Qb2 are a 1920s silent movie star who is now
washed up with the new format of the "talkies."
We give you this advice: DON'T expect to
solve such studies successfully. If titled players
have a miserable time solving them, they will
feel completely out of reach for a club-level
player. Solving is not the point. Trying to solve
and then looking up the solution is! This is the
path to getting better. So please don't turn it into
a competition with yourself against Wotawa
since he will win 95% of the time! 1–0

(226)
A.Wotawa
Exercise (combination alert): The blood Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935
stains lead the detective to the body. How does
White force mate in three moves?
Answer : Step 1: Move the knight to g3,
threatening Nf5 mate.
6.Ng3!
Answer #2: 6.Nd6! leads to the same mate.
6...Qc2
Black's queen covers f5, yet there is another
White threat that can't be covered.
7.Nf5+!
"Patient behaving oddly. Perhaps it's time to
switch medications?" writes the psychiatrist in
the notebook. Clearance/Unpinning/Removal
of the guard: 1. White needs to clear the g3– White wins
square in preparation for the coming pawn mate.
2. White needs Black's queen to leave the One glance and it becomes clear that White
second rank to unpin White's g-pawn. must not allow Black's queen to escape from
7...Qxf5 8.g3# her cell. This means the bishop must either
reach c6 (in conjunction with a push of our d-
pawn) or e2.

189
 1.d6+! Kxd6

a) 1...Kb7 This way, Black's king

retains control over c6. 2.a6+ Kb6 3.d7
Threatening to promote with check.
3...Kc7 4.Bc6! Kxc6 5.d8Q Black's queen
remains trapped since 5...Qxf3 is
skewered with 6.Qa8+ Kc5 7.Qxf3.

b) 1...Kd8 loses without a fight after

2.Bc6 Kc8 3.a6 wins.
2.c5+!
Clearance.
2...Kxc5 3.Be2! White wins
f3 must be protected to keep Black's queen
imprisoned. Exercise (critical decision) : When we
3...Kd6 showed this position to students, they
3...Kc6 4.Bf1! Qxf3 5.Bg2 pins and wins. frustratingly couldn't find a way to Black's
4.a6 Kc7 Rasputin-like king, who can't seem to be killed
no matter how many times he is poisoned, shot,
or drowned. Look deeper, and you may find the
idea.
1. Our only chance to win is to go
after Black's seriously under-
protected king.
2. Both white rooks are currently out
of play.
3. If we sacrifice the exchange on b6,
we seize control over b4. This
means we can then play Bc1 mate.
4. We must be on high alert for
Black's stalemate traps based
upon ...Qf1+, followed
Exercise (planning): How do we force the
by ...Qxb1+, when we block on b1
win?
with a rook.
Answer : Step 1: Attraction/pinned piece.
5. The key question is: which rook
5.a7!
should be sacrificed on b6?
The goal is to lure Black's king to b7.
Answer : We force the win by sacrificing
5...Kb7 6.Bf1!
the one on a6.
"Just give me 30 seconds of your time, and I
1.Raxb6!
will be out of your hair," says the annoying
salesperson, standing at your door, right next to
your "No Solicitors!" sign. You understand a) 1.c3? (threat: Bc1 mate, is too slow)
perfectly well that they will not be gone in 30 1...Qf1+ 2.Bc1+ Qxc1#.
seconds.
Step 2: Black's queen and king have been b) 1.Rbxb6? (Right idea, wrong rook!)
attracted to the same fatal diagonal. 1...cxb6 2.Rxb6 Qf1+ 3.Rb1 Qxb1+!
6...Qxf3 7.Bg2 Step 3: Pin and win Black's 4.Kxb1 stalemate.
queen. 1–0 1...cxb6 2.Re7!!
Stealth and ninja skills are required.
(227) Step 2: This is the shocker. We move our rook
A.Wotawa to e7, leaving it en prise. Our threat, if the rook
Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935 isn't taken, is Re3 mate.

190

a) 2.Rxb6? falls into Black's trap. The
first rule of solving endgame studies is that
the "natural" move is often wrong.
2...Qf1+ 3.Rb1 Qxb1+! 4.Kxb1 Oh no!
We got suckered into a stalemate.
b) 2.c3? The threatened Bc1 mate is
too slow since Black gets there first with
2...Qf1+ 3.Bc1+ Qxc1#.
2...Qxe7
a) 2...Qf1+ 3.Re1 Qf2 4.Re3+ Qxe3
5.Bxe3 wins.
b) 2...Qf2 3.Re3+ wins the queen.
3.c3!
We have learned from horror movies: when you
hear the scratching sounds at the window from
wind-blown branches, it's never the wind or
branches.
Step 3: Seizing control over b4 with a deadly
quiet move, threatening Bc1 mate. Black's
queen no longer threatens mate on the back
rank since e1 is covered.
3...Qe2
3...Qe1+ This desperate attempt fails. 4.Bxe1
b5 5.Bd2 b4 6.Bc1#.
4.Bc1+ Qb2+
Black has only this not-so-effective spite block.
5.Bxb2# 1–0
2. If we played White in a tournament
game, most of us would be
searching for some fortress draw.
Be more ambitious. The awkward
placement of the black king and
queen tells us there may be tactics
involving mates or wins of the
black queen. If we manage to win
Black's queen, we are assured of a
win in the resulting king and pawn
ending due to our passed h-pawn.
How do we filter out the position's confusing
tumult to begin?
1.Kb1!!
We begin by leaving our b4–knight en prise!
a) 1.Be7? is the move of a player who
didn't get enough sleep. 1...Qc1#.
b) 1.Bd2? Kb6 and the king escapes.
c) 1.Bd8+? is a misplaced
combination. 1...Kxb4! 2.Be7+ c5 wins.
1...Kb5
The knight can't be touched.
a) 1...Qxb4? 2.Bd8+ Kb5 3.a4+ Kc5
4.Be7+ skewers king and queen.
b) 1...Kxb4? 2.Bc1! Qa5 3.Bd2+ wins
the king and pawn ending.

(228) c) 1...c5? 2.Nc2 wins the queen.

A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1935 d) 1...Kb6? 2.Be7! c5 (2...Kb7
3.Nxc6 traps the queen) 3.Nc2! (3.Bxc5+?
is met with 3...Kb7! when White is the one
fighting for the draw) 3...Qa5 4.Bd8+
wins.
2.Be7!
Threat: Nxc6.
2...c5!
This is Black's strongest defense.

a) 2...Qxb4? 3.Bxb4 Kxb4 4.h4 wins.

b) 2...a5? 3.Nxc6! traps the queen.

White wins c) 2...Qa5? 3.a4+ Kb6 4.Bd8+

1. White is down a queen for only two skewers.
minor pieces and a pawn. 3.Bxc5! Qa5

191
 Exercise (combination alert): Not every
a) 3...Kxc5? 4.Nc2 Qa5 5.b4+ wins Wotawa study is as daunting as finding a cure
the king and pawn ending due to White's for cancer or brokering a lasting peace accord
h-pawn. in the Middle East. This one is quite solvable.
In this game-like position, Black is up a piece,
b) 3...a5? 4.Nd3 The queen remains and we need something immediate.
trapped. 1.Rxe6!!
4.Be7!
Threat: a2–a4+, followed by Bd8+. a) 1.Re5+? Kh6 2.Qxf7 Qxe5! 3.fxe5
4...Qc7 5.a4+ Ka5 (D) Ng5+ 4.Kg4 Nxf7 wins.
5...Kb6? 6.Nd5+ forks.
b) 1.Qf2? is way too passive. Black
wins by moving the king to safety with
1...Kh6.

c) 1.Qe7? (threat: Qh4 mate)

1...Nxf4+ 2.Kh2 Nxg2 3.Kxg2 Kh6
4.Qxf7 Qxc2+ 5.Kh3 Qc8+ 6.Kg2 Qc6+
draw.
1...fxe6
Now we are down a full rook.

a) 1...Qc8 2.g4+ Kh6 3.Qxf7 Black

is mated.
Exercise (combination alert) : Force the
win of Black's queen: b) 1...f5 2.Qe7 (threatening mate on
Answer : Step 1: Attraction. h4) 2...Kh6 3.Qg5+ Kg7 4.Re7+ Kg8
6.Bd8! 5.Rd7 wins.
This bishop's sense of humor makes this study
look like one of those "A priest, a rabbi, and a c) 1...Rf8 2.Qe7 with a fatal double
minister walk into a bar" jokes. attack on f8 and h4.
6...Qxd8 7.Nc6+ Step 2: Knight fork. 2.Qg7!
1–0 Your humble authors have opened thousands of
bottles in our life, and not once has a genie
(229) emerged to grant us our wishes. The fantastic
A.Wotawa part of Wotawa's studies is that it's hard to find
Wiener Schachzeitung, 1935 one where there ISN'T a genie hidden within
the variations. What a shocker! We add a queen
to Black's bank account.
2...Qxg7

a) 2...Qa3 is met with 3.c3!

Interference. Black is mated since there is
no defense to the coming g3–g4 mate,
besides moves which stall mate.

b) 2...Qe3 3.Qxh8 Kh6 (b1) 3...Qa7

4.g4+ Kh6 5.g5+ Kh5 6.g4#, or b2) 3...h6
4.Qf6 - threatening mate on h4 - 4...g5
5.Qf7#) 4.Qf8+ Kh5 5.Qg7! h6 6.Qf6
White wins (threat: Qh4 mate) 6...g5 7.Qf7#.

192
 c) 2...e5 3.Qxh8 Kh6 4.Qf8+ Kh5
5.Qg7 Qc8+ 6.Kh2 exf4 7.Qxh7+ Kg5
8.Qh4+ Kf5 9.Qxf4+ Ke6 10.Qg4+
skewers.
3.g4+
"White mates--but not, as might be expected,
with the queen: with pawns!" writes Dvoretsky.
3...Kh6 4.g5+ Kh5 5.g4# 1–0
(230)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936
White wins
Win? Shouldn't White be looking for a draw?
After all:
1. Our queen is imprisoned in a gulag
on h7.
2. If our clunky rook wasn't in the
way on c3, we could try a mating
pattern based upon c2–c4 and b2–
b3 mate. But even that plan is
spoiled by ...Qh2.
3. Another plan is to play Rb3, give
up a rook with Rxb6, followed by
Qg8, and then go after Black's
dangerously placed king.
How would you proceed?
Answer : Transfer the rook to h3, which
threatens the c2–c4, followed by b2–b3 mate
idea. The move offers White a precious tempo.
1.Rh3!!
Clearance. The mating pattern is c2–c4,
followed by b2–b3 mate, which isn't easy to
implement. "The choice of a square for the rook
is dictated by the need to prevent the (black)
king from escaping the danger zone," writes
Dvoretsky.
193
1.Rb3? holds the draw, which isn't much help
since this is a White wins study. 1...c4! (1...b5?
2.Rh3! b4 3.b3+ Kb5 4.a4+ Kb6 5.Rxh6! wins)
2.Rxb6 Qxb6 3.Qg8 Kb5 4.Qd5+ Qc5 5.Qb7+
Qb6 6.Qd5+ Ka6 7.Qa8+ White was lucky to
hold the draw.
1...gxh3
a) 1...c4 Prevents the mate at a high
cost. 2.Rxh6! wins since 2...gxh6 3.g7
White promotes.
b) 1...Kb5 2.Rxh6! Qe8 3.Qxg7 Qe6+
4.b3 wins.
2.Qh8!!
We note a second UFO sighting!
Step 2: Queen sacrifice/decoy.
2.c4?? is foiled with 2...Qg3! which prevents
mate on b3, and it is Black who wins.
2...Qxh8
a) 2...Qe5 3.c4! Qe3 4.Qe8+!
(removal of the guard) 4...Qxe8 5.b3#.
b) 2...Qb7 3.Qe8+ b5 (Black is forced
to gum up the b5–escape square) 4.b3#.
c) 2...Qf4 3.Qe8+ b5 4.b3#.
3.c4!
Principle : When hunting the enemy king,
don't chase him. Instead, seal off escape routes.
The "But I'm rich!" business model fails
miserably here for Black, whose position is the
young, beautiful, popular heiress worth billions
with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. All the
wealth in the world isn't enough to buy off
death.
3...Qg8 4.b3# 1–0
(231)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936

White wins
At first, it looks as if White experiences trouble:
1. White's b8–bishop is pinned to the
a8–rook. If unresolved, this means
that two white pieces are paralyzed
on their squares.
2. Black's king looks relatively safe
on b5, mainly since White's pieces
are tangled up.
Exercise (planning/combination alert)
Prove why BOTH numbers 1 and 2 on the list
are incorrect!
Answer : Step 1: Begin with a check with
our lower a-pawn.
1.a4+! Kxa4!
Forced.
a) 1...Kb4? 2.Bxd6+ wins the queen.
b) 1...Kb6? 2.Bc7+ picks up Black's
queen.
c) 1...Kxa6? 2.Rxa7+ Kb6 3.Rb1+
Kc6 4.Ra6+ Kd7 5.Bxd6 White picked up
a winning material advantage.
2.Bxd6!!
Step 2: Sacrifice the exchange, freeing the
traffic jam/pin of the b8–bishop.
2...Qxa8 3.Bb8!
Step 3: Seal in Black's queen with 2 Bb8!
3...Ka3
a) 3...Qxb8? 4.Ra1+ Kb3 5.Rb1+ Bye
bye queen.
b) 3...Ka5 4.Kc5! Threat: Ra1 mate.
4...Kxa6 5.Ra1+ Kb7 6.Rxa7+ White
wins the king and pawn ending.
c) 3...Kb5 4.Rb1+ Kc6 (4...Kxa6 is
met with 5.Kc5! Zugzwang. Black must
hand over the queen) 5.Rb7 Zugzwang.
White wins Black's queen.
4.Rc8!
Step 4: Protect the bishop horizontally on c8.
Black is only left with king moves. Is there such
a thing as an unpiece? White's last move
renders Black's queen into one of those
: overacting female leads in the 1940s black and
white movie, who becomes hysterical. Then the
male lead slaps her to try and bring her back to
her senses.
4...Ka2
a) 4...Ka4 5.Kc4! Black loses the
queen since Black's king is forced onto a
dark square, allowing either a deadly
discovered check with Bc7+ or Bd6+ next
move.
b) 4...Kb3 5.Rc7! Ka4 (5...Qxb8
6.Rb7+ wins) 6.Rb7 Ka5 7.Ke5! (7.Kxe4?
is a monster hallucination: 7...Kxa6, and
we notice that Rxa7+ is an illegal move
since our rook is pinned) 7...Kxa6
8.Rxa7+ Qxa7 9.Bxa7 Kxa7 10.Kxe4
wins the king and pawn ending.
5.Kc4 Kb1
a) 5...Ka3? 6.Bd6+.
b) 5...Ka1? 6.Be5+.
This is slightly faster than Wotawa's also
winning continuation.
6.Kc5!
In this case, it's better to zag rather than zig.
6.Rc7! Ka2 7.Rb7 Ka3 8.Kd4 Ka4 9.Kxe4
Ka5 10.Kf5 Kxa6 11.Rxa7+ wins.
194
 6...Kc1 7.Rd8! Kc2 8.Bc7! Qa1+ 11.Ke2 Qxa4 12.Nd2 Qa1 13.Nf1
White constructed a fortress and should hold a
draw.
1...Kh5
1...g5 is met with 2.f3+ Kh5 3.Ng7+ Kh6
4.Bf5, trapping Black's queen.
2.Bf5!!
Step 2: Place the bishop on f5, where it can be
captured in two different ways.
2...gxf5
2...Qxf5? is obviously out since 3.Ng7+ forks
and wins the king and pawn ending.
3.Nf4+!
Step 3: Knight fork, except it, isn't a real fork
"Hell is truth seen too late," wrote that eternal since the knight can be taken!
optimist, Thomas Hobbes. White's last move 3...exf4
traps and wins the queen, who remains Before we accuse Black of predatory financial
hysterical. 1–0 practices, we must remind the reader that Black
is the one who is busted!
(232) 4.f3!
A.Wotawa We are familiar with queen and pawn endings,
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937 but this was under the (incorrect!) assumption
that both sides owned a queen!
Step 4: Black's queen is eternally frozen in
place, while Black's king cannot catch White's
a-pawn. 1–0

(233)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937

White wins

1. We are down a queen for two

minor pieces and two pawns.
2. We can grab a third pawn on g6
and hold a fortress draw.
3. We can't play number 2 on the list
since this is a White wins study! White wins
How do we proceed?
Exercise (critical decision): White is
Answer : We begin by transferring the
down heavy material, and the only chance is to
knight to e6.
go after the black king. Dvoretsky writes:
1.Ne6!
"White can only bring his bishop or knight
In a tournament game, everyone in the universe
closer to the opposing king through the d4–
would go for 1.Nxg6? Kh5 2.Nxe5 Qc8
square. The question is which piece to sacrifice
3.Bg6+ Kg5 4.Bd3 h3 5.Nf3+ Kf4 6.Ne1! Qc1
and which piece to keep?"
7.Kf1 Qxb2 8.e3+ Ke5 9.Nf3+ Kf6 10.a4

195
Our choices are: (234)
A.Wotawa
a) 1 Nd4, intending 2 Nf3 mate. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1938

b) 1 Bd4, intending 2 Bf2 mate.

Answer : b)
1.Bd4!!
Threat: Bf2 mate. 1.Nd4? looks tempting but
only draws due to a devilish trap by Black.
1...exd4 2.Bxd4 (threat: Bf2 mate) 2...Ba7!
3.Bxa7 Qb6! 4.Bxb6 stalemate.
1...exf4

a) 1...exd4? 2.Nxd4 Nothing can stop

Nf3 mate next move.

b) 1...Ba7 2.Bxa7 exf4 (2...Qb6 White wins

3.Bxb6 exf4 4.Bd8#) 3.Nd4! wins.
2.Bf2+ Kg5 We are in a kill-or-be-killed situation since both
kings appear to be in dire danger:
1. We see that if White has time for a
future Bc6, then Bxa4 will be mate.
Spoiler alert: this plan is too slow.
2. White's king is also in the soon-to-
perish category since Black's
biggest threat is to back rank mate
us with 1...Qh4! and 2...Qe1 mate.
We must find a solution to this
problem in the fragile interval.
How do we get to Black's king before ours is
mated?
Answer : Step 1: Clearance/line opening.
1.Ra5!!
Exercise (combination alert): Work out Black is forced to capture and open the b-file.
White's forced win:
Answer : Step 1: Attraction/skewer.
a) 1.Ra6? b5 2.Rb6 b4 3.axb4 cxb4
3.Bh4+!!
4.c5 Qh4 5.Rxb4+ Kxb4 6.Rxd4+ Kxc5
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
7.Rd5+ Kb4 8.Rxd6 Qh8 9.Ra6 Qf8
Step 1: Attraction.
10.Bd5 h2 11.Ra7 Kc5 12.Bf3 Kb6
3...Kxh4
13.Rb7+ Kc5, White cannot make
Otherwise, the queen falls.
progress, and Black holds a draw.
4.Nd4!
Step 2: Transfer the knight to f3, threatening
b) 1.Re7? (intending Bc6 and Bxa4 is
Nf3 mate.
clever yet too slow since Black is not
4...Kg5
obligated to capture the rook) 1...Qh4!
4...Qb6 5.Nf3#.
White is back-rank-mated next move on
5.Ne6+
e1.
Step 3: Knight fork.
5...Kf5 6.Nxd8 Ke4 7.Nc6! Black's bishop
is a dementia patient who can't remember why c) 1.f8Q? If such an obvious-looking
he is here. Step 4: Removal of the guard/pawn move were the solution, then it wouldn't
promotion. 1–0 be an endgame study. 1...Qh4! Our king is
mated next move.

196
 1...bxa5 (235)
1...h2? is oblivious to White's intent: 2.Rb5#. A.Wotawa
2.Re7!! Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939
Clearance, part II.

a) 2.Re8? The problem is b8 is covered,

and Black forces mate after the familiar
2...Qh4!.

b) 2.Re6? is also too slow. 2...Qh4!

3.Rxd6 (White's rook doesn't have time to
reach b6) 3...Qe1#.
2...Bxe7
2...h2? 3.Rb7#.
3.f8Q!
Interference. This is a difficult subtlety to spot. White wins
3.Bc6? fails to 3...Qh8! 4.Bxa4+ Kxa4 5.Ka2
Qb8! White's threat to checkmate with b2–b3 Our rook hangs. Then we have a second
is neutralized, and Black wins. problem: if our rook moves anywhere, Black
3...Bxf8 4.Bc6! plays 1...Qxb2+! forcing stalemate.
Black's problem is that the queen can no longer How do we get around these obstacles?
transfer to b8 since the clunky f8–bishop sits in Answer : Transfer the bishop to e8,
the way. allowing our rook to fall.
4...Qh4 1.Be8!!
Threat: ...Qe1 mate. Threat: Rb4 (double) checkmate. Wotawa's
5.Bxa4+! studies give us this odd feeling that we are
Decoy! This is the funeral wreath on the black watching a movie in a language we neither
king's coffin. speak nor understand.
5...Kxa4 6.Ka2!
With one innocent-looking move, White's a) 1.Rb8? Qxb2+! and stalemate on
position pulses with menace. Not a thing can be either recapture.
done about mate next move with the b-pawn.
6...Qe1 7.b3# b) 1.Rg5? Qxb2+! will be stalemate
all the same.

c) 1.Rc5? Qxb2+! 2.Kxb2.

d) 1.Rb4+? is a hallucination. 1...axb4

2.Be8+ Oops, it isn't mate, since Black's
king has access to a5.
1...axb5

a) 1...Qf8? 2.Rb4# or 2.b3#.

b) 1...Qe2? 2.Rb4#.

White's win seems so farfetched, yet here is the c) 1...Qf5? 2.b3#.

photographic evidence of it. 2.Bh5!
1–0 Threat: Bd1+ and then mate next move. From
this point on, White's bishop dominates Black's
queen.
2...Qd2

197
2...Qc2 3.Bf7 Qc4+ (a) 3...Qd1 4.b3+ Qxb3+ Black is up a queen for only a piece and two
5.Bxb3# or b) 3...b4 4.Be8+ Qc6 5.Bxc6#) pawns. We need to go after Black's king. But
4.b3+! mates. how? A check on c6 allows him to run away. If
3.Bf7! only we could seize control over b5, then Nc6
Threat: Bb3 mate. would be mate. The problem, of course, is that
3...Qc2 Black's queen covers against 1 Be2. How do we
3...b4 4.Be8+ and mate next move. proceed?
4.Be6! Answer : Move the bishop to e2 anyway
since it is tactically covered.
3.Be2!!
Threat: Nc6 mate. Such moves are only found
by certified Kraken releasers!
3.Nc6+? is a case of Patzer sees a check, Patzer
plays a check, and is the same instinct that
made our six-year-old self push painfully on
our loose tooth! 3...Kb5 4.Nxd4+ White
doesn't even hold a fortress draw. 4...Kc5
5.Nc6 Qg3! 6.Bh1 Qg7+ 7.Kc8 Kd6! 8.Kb8
Qc7+ 9.Ka8 Qc8+ 10.Ka7 Kc7 11.Nxb4
Qb8+ 12.Ka6 Qb6#.
Zugzwang. Not 4.Bd5?? b4! Black's king 3...Qh1+
escapes. The bishop can't be touched, and it would be a
4...Qc4+ false accusation to say the queen is soft on
crime.
a) 4...Qd3 5.b3+ Qxb3+ 6.Bxb3#. 3...Qxe2? 4.Nc6+ Kb5 5.Nxd4+ forks and
wins.
4.Nc6+
b) 4...Qb1+ is just a spite check to
avoid immediate mate: 5.Kxb1 b4 6.axb4
wins.

c) 4...Qe2 5.Bb3#.

d) 4...b4 5.Bd7+ Qc6 6.Bxc6#.

5.b3+! Qxb3+ 6.Bxb3# 1–0

(236)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

Black is forced to hand over the queen for a

piece, leaving us two pawns up. The study isn't
over yet, since Black still has dreams of holding
a draw due to the bishops of opposite colors.
4...Qxc6+ 5.Kxc6 Be3 6.h5 Bc1 7.Kc5!
7.Kd6? Kb6 8.Ke6 Kc6 9.Kf6 Kd6 10.Kg6
Ke7 11.h6 Kf8 12.h7 Bb2 is drawn.
7...Bd2

a) 7...Bf4 8.Kd5 Kb6 9.Ke4! Gaining

a tempo on the bishop. 9...Bc1 10.Kf5
White wins

198
 Kc5 11.Kg6 Kd6 12.h6 Ke7 13.Kg7 wins
since the h-pawn costs Black a bishop.

b) 7...Be3+ 8.Kd5 Kb6 9.Ke4

Gaining a tempo on Black's bishop,
leading to the same finish as line a).
8.Bd3! Bc1 (D)
Also losing are the lines

a) 8...Be1 9.h6.

b) 8...Be3+ 9.Kd5 Kb6 10.Ke4.

White wins
Virtually everyone who worked for a large
corporation or the government has encountered
or worked under a miraculously incompetent
manager who somehow rose above their level
of competence into a job for which they are
thoroughly unqualified. Black's queen is that
manager.
White has an easy draw, but can we win?
Our first goal is to get our rook to the first rank,
which imprisons Black's queen.
1.Ra8+ Kb3 2.Rb8+ Kc2
2...Ka3 3.Rb1! Ka4 4.Ka2 Ka5 5.Ka3 Ka6
Exercise (critical decision): What is 6.Ka4 Ka7 7.Kb5! (7.Ka5? falls for Black's
White's winning move? trap 7...Qxg2! 8.Bxg2 Stalemate) 7...Kb7
Answer : Push the a-pawn two squares. 8.Rc1! Ka7 9.Kc6! Kb8 10.Kb6! Ka8 11.Rc8#
9.a4! 3.Rb1!
Not 9.a3? Be3+ 10.Kc4 bxa3 11.Bb1 Bd2! Black's queen ran out of moves, but so what?
Draw. We can't win it. What we CAN do is to corner
9...bxa3 Black's king with our king and rook (and bishop
Now Black's position begins to fold inward. check, when necessary) and weave a mating net.
9...Bd2 is also completely lost for Black. 3...Kd2 4.Kb2 Ke2
10.Kd5 Kb6 11.Ke6 Kc7 12.Kf7 Kd6 13.Kg6 4...Kd3 5.Rd1+ Ke4 6.Kc3 Ke5 7.Kc4 Ke4
Bc3 14.a5 wins. 8.Re1+ Kf4 9.Kd4 Kg5 10.Ke5 Kg6 11.Kf4
10.b4+ Ka4 11.Bc2# 1–0 Kf6 12.Kg4 Kg6 13.Rf1 Kh6 14.Kf5 Kg7
15.Kg5 Kh7 16.Kf6 Kh6 17.Rd1 Kh5
(237) (17...Kh7 18.Rd7+ Kh6 19.Rd8! - threatening
A.Wotawa mate on h8 - 19...Kh7 20.Bf5+ Kh6 21.Rh8#)
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942 18.Rd8! Threat: Rh8 mate forces mate.
5.Kc3 Kf2 6.Kd4!

199
 26...Ka3? 27.Ra1#.
27.Kc4 Ka6 28.Kc5 Ka7 29.Kc6 Ka8
30.Kc7

A pseudo-trap is evaded.
6.Kd3? wastes time since Black has 6...Qh1!
7.Kc2 (7.Rxh1? is stalemate) 7...Qh2.
6...Ke2 7.Ke4 Kf2
7...Kd2 8.Kf3 Kc2 9.Rf1 Kd2 10.Ra1 Kc2 30...Ka7
11.Ke3 Kb2 12.Re1 Kc2 13.Rf1 Kb2 14.Kd3 30...Qxh3 only stalls: 31.gxh3 g2 32.Ra1#.
and so on, until we force mate. 31.Ra1# 1–0
8.Ra1 Ke2 9.Ra2+
We force Black's king to the first rank. (238)
9...Ke1 10.Kf3 Kd1 A.Wotawa
10...Qg1?? hangs the queen to 11.Ra1+. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942
11.Ra1+ Kd2 12.Rf1! Kd3
Or 12...Kc2 13.Ke3.
13.Rd1+!

White wins
It feels as if the financial backing for our war is
Our next task is to corner Black's king. drying up since our rooks hang simultaneously.
13...Kc2 14.Ke2 Kc3 15.Ke3 Kc2 16.Rf1! We can give one away and still win.
Kc3 17.Rc1+ Kb2 18.Kd2 Kb3 19.Kd3 Kb2 1.Re7!
20.Rf1 Kb3 21.Rb1+ Ka2 22.Kc2 Ka3 1.Re3? Qxa2 2.Rb3+ Kc4 3.Be3 Qxb2! 4.Rxb2
23.Kc3 Ka4 stalemate.
23...Ka2 24.Rc1 Ka3 25.Ra1#. 1...Qxa2 2.Rb7+ Kc4
24.Kd3! 2...Ka5? hangs the queen to the simple 3.Ra7+
Or 24.Kd2! 3.b3+!
24...Ka3 25.Kc2 Ka4 This move avoids Black's trap, whereas 3.c3?
25...Ka2 26.Rb5 Ka3 27.Kc3 Ka4 28.Rg5 Qg1 Qxb2+! 4.Rxb2 with stalemate falls into it!
29.Bd7+! Ka3 30.Ra5#. 3...Kxd4
26.Kc3 Ka5

200
 In this study, White's bishop seems to possess
the deception abilities of a Borgia Pope, who
understands the intrigues of the black king's
court.
Exercise (critical decision): White has a
choice between the variations:

a) 1 Bh2+, followed by c7xa8(Q).

b) 1 c7–c8(Q).

Exercise (combination alert): From this
position, we can win Black's queen:
Answer : Step 1: Attraction/skewer.
4.Ra7!
The spell is cast, and once inanimate mud
begins to take human form, as the Golem rises.
4...Qb1
a) 4...Qxa7 gets skewered with
5.Be3+.
b) 4...Qb2 b2 is not a great hiding
place either. 5.Bg7+ wins.
5.Ra1!
Step 2: Let's repeat the Attraction/skewer
theme.
5.Bg7+! is a minor dual solution, which seems
to drive composers crazy. The rest of us don't
care all that much! 5...Kc5 6.Ra1.
5...Qxa1
Or 5...Qb2 6.Bg7+.
6.Bg7+ The skewer does the trick.
1–0
c) 1 b5–b6.
One line loses while the other wins. Which one
would you play?
Answer :
1.b6!
1.c8Q? Bd7+ 2.Kf6 Bxc8 3.Bh2+ Kd7 4.b6
Qxb6! (4...Qa8? 5.Kf7! White wins, similar to
what happens in the main continuation) 5.axb6
Ke8 6.Bxb8 Bg4 7.Ke5 Be2 8.Kd6 Kd8
(preventing Kc7 and Kxb7) 9.Kxc5 a5 10.Be5,
and the ending is drawn.
1...Qa8
Forced. 1...Qxb6? 2.cxb8Q+! Qc7 3.Bh2+
wins Black's queen.
2.c8Q!!
At first sight, this appears to be a beginner's
blunder since Black wins White's queen next
move with a bishop skewer.
2.Bh2+? Ke7 3.cxb8Q Bd7+ 4.Ke4 Qxb8
5.Bxb8 Draw.
2...Bd7+ 3.Kf6 Bxc8 4.Bh2+! Kd7 5.Kf7!
Preventing Black from unraveling with ...Ke8.
5...Kd8

(239)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1944

Prepare yourself for a blast of alliteration:

Welcome to the wacky wonderful world of
Wotawa, where the player up a queen, a knight,
and a pawn loses!
White wins

201
 Exercise (planning): What is White's
winning plan?
Answer : Step 1:We need to engineer a
position where Black's king is on d7, and we
play Be7! Step 2: This situation would place
Black in zugzwang and force ...Qa7, after
which we win Black's queen with b6xa7,
followed by promotion of our passed a7–pawn.
6.Bc7+! Kd7 7.Be5! Kd8 8.Bf6+! Kd7
9.Be7!
Step 1 has been completed. Zugzwang number
3!
9...Qa7
Painfully, this act of self-immolation is Black's
only legal move.
10.bxa7 Kc7
Exercise (calculation) : Of course, Black
is losing if we promote on a8 to a new queen.
But we have better. Can you mate Black in four
moves and no more than that?
Answer : A bishop check on d6 or d8, both
do the job.
11.Bd6+!
Answer #2: 11.Bd8+! Kxd8 (11...Kd7 12.Bb6!
Kd6 13.axb8Q+ Kd7 14.Qc7#) 12.axb8Q b5
(or 12...Kd7 13.Qe5 b5 14.Qe7#) 13.axb6 a5
14.Qc7#.
11...Kxd6 12.axb8Q+ Kd7 13.Qe5!
Unfortunately for Black, it isn't stalemate since
the b-pawn can still move.
13...b5 14.Qe7# 1–0
(240)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959
White wins
Wotawa Karloff's position with a horror movie-
scary setup and long solution. At first, the study
looks trivially easy. Aren't we just forcing a
quick mate on Black's king? Actually, not since
Black will give up the queen, and then it
becomes a battle of White's extra rook/mating
threats, and Black's mass of kingside passed
pawns.
1.Ka2!
Threat: c2–c3 mate. Hooray, we solved the
study? Not so fast.
1.Kb2? Qxa4 2.bxa4 g3 3.Kc1+ Kc3 4.Rb3+
Kxc4 5.Kd2 g2 6.Rb1 h3 wins.
1...Qxa4+!
Giving up the queen is Black's sturdiest defense.
1...Qd8 2.c3+ Ka5 3.Ka3! (threatening to push
the b-pawn) 3...Qd3 4.Rd1! (decoy; the queen
must remain on the third rank to prevent mate
with b3–b4+) 4...Qe3 5.Rd6! (threat: Ra6 mate)
5...Qc1+ 6.Ka2 Qc2+ 7.Nb2 Qxc3 8.Ra6+
Kb4 9.Ra4#.
2.bxa4+ Ka5!
2...Kxa4? 3.b6! axb6 4.Rb5! (White has time to
construct a mating net) 4...g3 5.c3! g2 6.Rb3!
g1Q 7.Ra3#.
3.Kb3! h3 4.Re1
Threat: Re6 and Ra6 mate.
4...Kb6! 5.a5+!
5.Re7? a5! and Black wins.
5...Kc7
5...Kxa5? 6.Re6 and mate next move on a6.
6.Re7+ Kb8

202
 (241)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1962

6...Kd6 7.Rh7! f3 8.b6 axb6 9.axb6 f2 10.b7

f1Q 11.b8Q+ mates in 3.
7.Re8+
White can also flip the move order with 7.a6
first. White wins
7...Kb7
7...Kc7 8.b6+ axb6 9.a6 h2 10.Rh8 Black is too Have we entered one of those 1950s B-grade
slow. horror movies? We only have a knight for a
8.a6+ Kc7 queen, so it's clear that our only plan is to go
8...Kb6? 9.Ka4 (threat: Re7 followed by Rb7 after Black's trapped king. Our plan of Kh2,
mate) 9...Kc7 10.Re7+ Kd6 11.Rxa7 f3 12.b6 Kg3, and Rh1 mate is obvious, and what is not
f2 13.b7 Kc7 14.Ra8 wins. obvious at all is how to deal with all of Black's
9.Re7+ Kb8 defensive responses.
9...Kd6 10.Rh7 f3 11.b6 wins. 1.Kh2!
10.Rb7+ Ka8 (D) Threat: Kg3 and Rh1 mate.
10...Kc8 11.Rh7 f3 12.b6 wins. 1.g3? Rxc2 2.Nb4 Rd2! 3.Ra2 Rd1+ 4.Kg2
Qg8 5.Kf2 Qe8 6.Re2 Qa8 wins.
1...Rxa2!

a) 1...Qg8? 2.Kg3 Rxc2 3.Rh1#.

b) 1...Kh4? 2.g3+ Kh5 3.Rh1 forces

mate.
2.Rh1!
2.Rxa2? Qg8 3.Ra1 Qe8! 4.Rh1 Qe3! 5.a5 Kh4
6.Rf1 g3+ 7.Kh1 Qf2! 8.Ra1 Qxf4 9.a6 Kh5!
wins since a queen check on h4 is coming.
2...Ra3! 3.c3!

Come up with a plan for White to win. a) 3.Kg1+? Rh3! 4.gxh3 g3! clogs the
Answer : We need our king in the attack. h-file and wins.
11.Ka4! h2 12.Rh7
Threat: Rh8 mate. b) 3.g3? Ra1! 4.Rxa1 Qh8 5.Rh1 Qa8!
12...Kb8 6.c6 (6.Kg1+ Qxh1+! 7.Kxh1 c6
12...g3? 13.Rh8#. stalemate) 6...Qxc6 7.a5 Qxh1+! 8.Kxh1
13.b6! c5 9.a6 c4 10.a7 c3 11.a8Q stalemate.
Clearance. Threat: Rh8 mate. Also, White 3...Rxc3 4.g3
clears b5 for king entry. Threat: Kg2 mate.
13...axb6 14.Kb5 g3 15.a7+ Ka8 16.Ka6 g2 4...Rc1
17.Rh8# 1–0 Forced.

203
 5.Rxc1 Qg8 6.Rh1 Qa8

White wins

Exercise (combination alert): What is Exercise (combination alert): Our only

White's only winning move?
Answer : We must give away our c-pawn
to give Black moves, thus avoiding stalemate.
7.c6!
7.Kg1+? Qxh1+ 8.Kxh1 c6 9.a5 stalemate.
7...Qxc6 8.a5!
Step 2: We gain a tempo by pushing the a-pawn.
8.Kg1+? Qxh1+ 9.Kxh1 c5 Black draws.
8...Qf3 9.Kg1+ Qxh1+ 10.Kxh1 c5 11.a6 c4
12.a7 c3 13.a8R
hope is to trap Black's queen...
Answer:
1.a6!
1.Bxb7?? Qh5 2.Bd5 Qg5 3.Nd1 Qc1 4.Bb3
Qa3 5.Nf2 Qxa5 and White will be lucky to get
a fortress draw.
1...bxa6
1...Qh5? 2.a7 wins.
2.Bc6+!
The Bloodhounds are given the scent of the
escaped h3–convict's clothing and now begin to
follow the trail. This move cuts off the black
queen's escape route from h5 while attracting
Black's king to a fork square.
2...Kd8
White's next move is difficult to find.
3.Be8!!
Attraction/knight fork/queen trap.
3...Kxe8
3...Ke7 4.Nd5+ Nf4 follows, and Black's
queen is trapped.
4.Nd5! Black's queen is trapped or forked.
1–0

How brilliant we are to underpromote. Of (243)

course, promotion to a queen wins as well. A.Wotawa
13...c2 14.Rh8# 1–0 Auf Spurensuche mit Schachfiguren #149,
1965
(242)
A.Wotawa
Schach Echo, 1962

204
 5.Ba4 (5.a7? Qb7! Black wins) 5...Qb8
(threat: ...Qb1, followed by ...Qh1 mate)
6.Bd7 (threatening to mate with g3–g4+)
6...Qxf4! 7.gxf4 c2 Black wins.
1...c3
1...Qxa7? 2.Bxe4! forces mate.
2.a4
2.Bb3? c4 3.Bc2 c5 4.a4 Qc8 5.a5 Qa8 6.a6
Qb7! 7.axb7 Stalemate.
2...c4!
It is in Black's best interest to run out of pawn
moves. This way, Black can, in some lines, play
White wins for stalemate.
3.a5 c5 4.a6 Qc8!
Exercise (planning/calculation):
1. Black's king is resting a) 4...Qa8? 5.Ba4 Qxa7 6.Bc6! Qe7
uncomfortably in his coffin on h4, (coverage of e4 is only temporary) 7.a7!
and all we, as White, need to do to (deflection) 7...Qxa7 8.Bxe4! mates in 2.
deliver mate is to give any bishop
check or play g3–g4+ if a bishop is b) 4...Qd5? 5.Ba4 Qa8 6.Bd7! Qxa7
backing up the lower g-pawn. 7.g4+ fxg4+ 8.Bxg4#.
2. Black's queen dares not move 5.Ba4!
from her coverage of e4 since Bxe4!
forces mate on the entombed black
king.
3. Black's queen must also watch out
for White's plan to play Ba4, Bd7,
and then g3–g4+, followed by
Bxg4 mate.
4. We must remember that Black's
king is in a stalemate position if
Black somehow runs out of pawn
moves and then sacrifices the
queen on f4.
5. Our goal is clearly to overload
Black's semi-frozen queen with our
5.a8Q? Qxa8 6.Ba4 Qb8 7.Bd7 Qxf4! 8.gxf4
bishop's mating threats and to
c2 9.a7 c1Q 10.a8Q Qh1+ 11.Kg3 Qh4+
promote our a-pawns.
12.Kg2 Kg4! White is mated.
However, knowing what needs to be done and
5...c2! 6.Bxc2
working out the hellish details are very
Forced. Losing are
different things.
How do we proceed?
Answer : Pushing the lower a-pawn just a) 6.Bd7? c1Q.
one square is the only path to victory.
1.a3!! b) 6.a8Q? c1Q.
6...c3!
a) 1.Ba4? White's threat to play Bd7
and g3–g4 mate is too slow: 1...Qb1! a) 6...Qc6 7.Ba4! Qxa6 8.Bd7! Qxa7
(threatening mate on h1) 2.Kg2 Qe1 wins. 9.g4+ fxg4+ 10.Bxg4#.

b) 1.a4? c3 2.a5 c4 3.a6 c5! 4.a8Q b) 6...Qa8 7.Ba4! Qd8 8.a8Q! Qxa8
(capturing on b7 is stalemate) 4...Qxa8 9.Bd7 and mate in 3.

205
 7.Ba4
Threat: a8(Q), followed by Bd7.
7...c2 8.Bxc2 Qa8

a) 8...c4 9.Ba4 c3 10.Bd7! Overloaded

defender. White forces mate.

b) 8...Qc6 9.Ba4 Qxa6 10.a8Q! Qxa8

11.Bd7 mates.
9.Bb3!
9.Ba4? Qxa7 10.Bc6 Qxa6! 11.Bxe4 Qxe2
Oops. No more mate on f3. Black wins.
9...c4 10.Ba4 White draws
This was Wotawa's line (remember, this study
was composed in the pre-engine era). Our bishop and extra pawns are equals to
Faster is 10.Bc2! Qd5 11.Ba4! Qa8 12.Bd7 Black's queen.
Qxa7 13.g4+ fxg4+ 14.Bxg4#. 1.e7+ Ke8 2.g6!
10...Qxa7 11.Bc6! Qd4! Threat: g6xf7+, followed by Bg6.
Black's queen hangs around the neck of White's 2...f6
bishop like a groupie to a rock star. 2...Qc4?? 3.gxf7+ Qxf7 4.Bg6 Qxg6+ 5.hxg6!
11...Qxa6 12.Bxe4! fxe4 13.g4#. h5 6.Ke6 h4 7.f6 gxf6 8.g7 h3 9.g8R#.
12.a7 Qd1 3.Bg8!!
Threat: ...Qh1 mate. Attraction/entombment.
13.Bxe4! 3...Qxg8
No choice. 3...Qxc2? 4.Bf7#.
4.c4!

Let's avoid the oblivious 13.a8Q? Qh1#.

13...Qxe2 14.a8Q
with threats to mate on h8 and f3. Black's now hobbled queen gets a pipe to the
14...Qg4+ knee, Tonya Harding style.
14...fxe4 15.Qh8#. 4...Qh8
15.Kh2! Qe2+ 16.Bg2 Kg4 4...Qxc4 is stalemate.
Black won't have time for ...Qf2. 5.Ke6 Qg8+ 6.Kd6 Qxc4 ½–½
17.Qh8! It's mate in 2. 1–0
(245)
(244) A.Wotawa
A.Wotawa Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1936

206
 a) 5.Qf1? c4#.

b) 5.Qd3? Bf6 (threat: ...Bd8 mate)

6.Qxa6 bxa6 7.Kxa6 c4 wins.

c) 5.h4? blocks the h4–square for

White's queen: 5...Bf6 wins.

d) 5.Qxd4? is a move too slow:

5...cxd4 6.h4 d3 7.h5 d2 8.h6 d1R 9.h7
Rb1#.
5...Bf6 6.Qh4!
White draws Attraction/stalemate.
6...Bxh4 The bishop isn't exactly parading
White is up a queen for a piece and two pawns. his dominance over White's queen since it's
This is where happiness ends since Black not stalemate.
only threatens ...Bd8 mate, but White's queen is 6...Bd4? would be a delightful gift for our side.
also tied down to covering against ...Nc4 mate. 7.Qd8#. ½–½
1.Bh4
The only move. 1.Qxd7? Nc4#. (246)
1...Be3! A.Wotawa
Threat: ...c5–c4 mate. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1938
2.Bf2!
2.Qa3? When we undertake an almost
impossibly difficult project, if we miraculously
succeed, we are lauded as genius. Fail, however,
and you will be ridiculed as a fool. This is a case
of the latter. 2...Nc4#
2...Bxf2 3.Qf4!
Threat: Qf8 mate.
3...Nc4+!
Decoy, which buys Black time. 3...Bg1?
4.Qf8#.
4.Qxc4 Bd4

Exercise (planning): How can White deal
with the threat ...Bf6 followed by ...Bd8 mate?
Answer : Push the h-pawn a single square.
5.h3!!
White draws
Exercise (planning): One look, and it
becomes clear that we are playing for perpetual
check. Work out the details:
Answer : Clearance. The key to the
drawing plan is to give White's bishop access to
(future) checks on b5 and a6.
1.b6! Bxb6
1...Qxf5 fails to alter anything. 2.gxf5 Bxb6
3.Bh2! b3 4.Bf1+ Kg4 5.Be2+ Kxf5 6.Bd3+
Kxe6 7.d8Q! is similar to the main line.
2.Bh2!
Step 2: Cut off the black king's access to dark
squares on the h2–b8–diagonal.
2.Bf1+? is premature. 2...Kxg4 3.Be2+ Kxf5
4.Bd3+ Kxe6 5.Bc4+ Kxd7 6.Bb5+ Kc8

207
White's hoped-for perpetual check will not (247)
happen. A.Wotawa
2...b3 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

a) 2...a6 3.Bxa6 Kxg4 4.Be2+ Kxf5

5.d8Q! is the same drawing mechanism.

b) 2...Qxf5 3.gxf5 a6 4.Bxa6! Kg4

5.Be2+ Kxf5 6.d8Q! and draw.
3.d8Q!
Step 3: Decoy.
Premature is 3.Bf1+? Kxg4 4.d8Q Kh5! Black
wins.
3...Bxd8 4.Bf1+!

White draws
Prove that our two extra pawns are worth
Black's extra rook.
1.Qc5!
1.Bxg2? Qf2+ 2.Qb2 Qxb2+ 3.Kxb2 Kd7 is
lost for White.
1...g1Q!
Decoy. 1...Qh2 2.Bd5+ Kf6 3.Qc6+ Kg5
4.Bxg2 Qe5 5.Ka3 Black can't make progress.
2.Qxg1 Qh2+ 3.Qxh2 Rxh2+
Step 4: Begin the bombardment of Black's king.
4...Kxg4 5.Be2+! Kxf5 6.Bd3+ Kxe6
7.Bc4+!
Not all gifts should be accepted, and we must
decline the offer of the black queen with
feigned gratitude.
7.Bxh7? Nh6 and White must resign.
7...Kd7 8.Bb5+ Kc8 9.Ba6+ Kd7 10.Bb5+

Exercise (combination alert): What is

White's only drawing move?
Answer : Decoy/interference.
4.Bg2!!
4.Ka3? White is too slow: 4...Rh8 5.a5 Be2
6.Kb4 Kd7 7.a6 Bxa6 8.Ka5 Be2 9.Kb6 Rh6+
10.Ka7 Ra6+ 11.Kb8 Rb6 12.Bd5 Bb5 wins.
4...Rh8
4...Rxg2+? 5.Ka3 Black's clunky bishop
Step 5: Chase Black's king back up the board.
interferes with the rook's ability to reach the
10...Ke6 11.Bc4+ Kf5 12.Bd3+ Kg4
back rank. White promotes and wins.
13.Be2+ Kh3 14.Bf1+ And so on... ½–½
5.a5 Be2 6.a6!

208
Step 2: Attraction. Black's bishop needs to be
attracted to a6 for the coming combination to a) 3...Rd3 4.Qg3! Rxg3 stalemate.
work.
6...Bxa6 7.Bh3+! b) 3...Rd2 4.g4! Rxh2 stalemate.
Overloaded defender. White's bishop is safe
from capture. Now we see why White needed c) 3...Rd1 4.Qh8! Rd2 5.Qa1 d5 6.g4
to have the bishop on g2 rather than e4. Be5 7.Qb2! Rd3 8.Qc3! (threatening mate
7...Kd6 8.Bc8 in two, starting with Qc8+) 8...Bxc3
Interference. stalemate.
8...Kc7 9.b8Q+! 4.Qh4!
Step 3: Discovered attack.
9...Kxb8 10.Bxa6 White doesn't even need
the b-pawn to draw. ½–½

(248)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941

Hanging a queen is usually a sin that we are

unable to expiate. Not this time, though.
4...Rxh4 5.g4! Rh1 Too slow; White is
stalemated. ½–½

(249)
A.Wotawa
White wins Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1942
Black threatens ...Ra5 mate, so our move is
forced.
1.Bb5
Threat: Bc6 mate.
1...Be8
1...Rc5 2.Qh7 Bd5 3.c4! Bxg2 4.Bc6+! Bxc6
(4...Rxc6? 5.Qb7#) 5.Qxa7+! Bxa7 stalemate.
2.c4
2.Bxe8? Ra5#.
2...Bxb5+

a) 2...Bd7? 3.Bc6+! Bxc6 4.cxd5

Bxd5 5.Kb5 White wins.
White draws
b) 2...Rc5? 3.Qh7 Bc7 (3...Rc7 4.Bxe8!
We must find a way to get at Black's cornered
forces mate in 3) 4.Qe7 Bxb5+ 5.cxb5 d5
king.
6.Qe8+ Bb8 7.Qd7 Bc7 8.Qc8+ Bb8
1.Be5!!
9.Qb7#.
3.cxb5 Rd4
Threatening mate on a4.

209
 a) 1.Bxf6? Qxf6+ 2.Kc7 Qe7+ 3.Kc8
Qxe4 4.f6 Qc2+ 5.Kd8 Qxa2 wins.
b) 1.Bd5? Kb8! Black wins.
c) 1.fxg6? Qxg6 2.Bd5 (2.Kc7 Qg3+
picks off White's bishop on c3) 2...Kb8
wins.
1...fxe5!
Declining fails.
a) 1...Qe7? 2.Bc7! Qxe4+ 3.Bd5 Qxf5
4.Kd6+ Qxd5+ 5.Kxd5 h5 6.Ke6 f5
7.Bf4 h4 8.b5 h3 9.Kf6 h2 10.Bxh2 f4
11.Bxf4 g5 12.Bxg5 No stalemate. White
wins.
b) 1...gxf5? 2.Bc7 Qg5 3.Bd5
(threatening mate by moving the king)
3...fxe4 4.Bxe4 f5 5.Bf3 Qe3 6.Bd5 Qd4
7.Kd6+ Qxd5+ 8.Kxd5 f4 9.Bxf4 h5
10.Bg5 wins.
2.f6! Qxf6+ 3.Kc7 Qe7+
3...Qg7+ 4.Kc8 is also drawn.
4.Kc8 Qe8+ 5.Kc7 Black feels a tickle of
distress and must deliver perpetual checks since
5.Kc7 Qb5? loses to 6.Bd5+ Qxd5 7.exd5
White promotes on d8, with mate. ½–½
(250)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958
White draws
Exercise (combination alert): We are
down a rook for only two pawns. Our drought-
stricken position is in desperate need of rain.
Do you see our saving idea?
Answer : Queen sacrifice/fortress draw.
210
3.Qxg6+!! hxg6 4.g5!
It's critical to lock Black's bishop out of the
game.
4.Bf6? g5! 5.Bxg5 Bh7 6.Bc1 Qc4 7.Bd2 Qe2
8.Kc1 Qf1+ 9.Kb2 Qd1 wins.
4...Qd8 5.a6!
Step 2: Decoy. White doesn't need the a-pawn,
and the idea is to decoy Black's queen away
from our g5–pawn. Then White reaches a
fortress by transferring the bishop to the c1–f4
diagonal.
5...Kd7 6.a7 Kc6 7.a8Q+!
Or 7.Be1!
7...Qxa8 8.Be1!
Step 3: Transfer our bishop to the c1–h6
diagonal, which ensures that our g5–pawn
remains perpetually safe from capture.
8...Qf8 9.Bd2 Qf2 10.Bc1 Kd7 11.Kb3
Black's misery is an observable fact:
1. Despite being down a queen, White
created a fortress since the black
king and bishop were shut out, and
Black's queen lacked targets.
2. Nor can we ever be zugzwanged
since our bishop will always have
access to at least one safe square on
its diagonal, and if we don't get that,
we can move our king.
3. It's useless for Black to sacrifice a
queen for our bishop as the black
king and bishop remain shut out of
our position.
½–½
(251)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959
 The queen mistakenly believes she is a
businesswoman out for profit when in reality,
she is thrust into the role of an unpaid volunteer.
5.Ra2! Qa6+
5...Qxa2 stalemate.
6.Rxa6+ Kxa6 7.Kxf2 h3 8.Kxf3 Bf4 9.Kf2
Draw, since White's king reaches the corner.
If a player chooses 9.Kxf4? h2, then tic tac toe
may be a better fit than chess. ½–½

(252)
A.Wotawa
White draws Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961

1.Rd6+
1.Bf2? Qxb2 2.Ra7+ Kb5 3.Rb7+ Kc4 4.Rxb2
a3 5.Rb8 Bg7 6.Ra8 Bb2 Black wins.
1...Ka7 2.Bf2+!
It's essential to remove the flexibility from
Black's kingside pawns.
2.Rd7+? Ka8 3.Rc2 Qe8 4.Rd5 g2+ 5.Kg1
(moving to f2 allows mate on e3) 5...Qxe1+
6.Kh2 Qh1#.
2...gxf2
No choice. 2...Ka8? 3.Ra6#.
3.Rd4!!
White can also toss in a check on d7. 3.Rd7+ White draws
Ka8 4.Rd4!! which is pretty much the same
finish as the study. Exercise (planning): We only have two
3...Qe8 (D) pieces for a queen, yet White can force a
3...Qxd4 4.Rb7+! Ka8 (capture on b7 is fortress draw if we find the right idea:
stalemate) 5.Rb8+ Ka7 6.Rb7+ Ka6 7.Rb6+ Answer : We must remove the flexibility
Ka5 8.Rb5+ draw. from Black's structure with a knight sacrifice
on c6.
1.Nc6+!!
1.Nxc4+? Kb5; there is no useful discovery,
and White is busted.
1...bxc6 2.c3!
Step 2: We can't allow Black the
disruptive ...c4–c3.
2...Qa8
2...Kb5 3.Bg4! draws.
3.Bg4!
Step 3: The key is to cover c8 to disallow
Black's king from escaping his box into the
kingside.
Exercise (combination alert): We can 3...Qg8 4.Bd7 Qf7 5.Bg4 Qf4 6.Bd7 Qf3
never escape our prison unless there is first the 7.Ka2
determination to be free. Work out White's
draw:
Answer : Give away both rooks.
4.Rxa4+! Qxa4

211
 3.Qf7!
3.Qc1? Qc5 4.Qxh6 Qa3 White is mated.
3...Qg8!
Black just blocked our attempted mate threat on
a2. How can we still draw?
Answer : Push our e-pawn one square to
prepare for our coming stalemate.
4.e3!
4.Qe7? Qf8 5.Qe6 Qa3! wins.
4...Rd8
4...Qxf7 stalemate.
5.Qxb7+!
Black's expansive mansion is as cluttered as Step 2: Queen sacrifice.
Black's tiny hovel is elegant and tastefully 5...Kxb7 Stalemate. ½–½
decorated. Play it out for yourself. White's
bishop can never be kicked off its current 5.4 Mixed endings vs. pawns
diagonal covering the c8–escape hatch for
Black's king, which means Black's king can (254)
never escape his vast prison on the queenside. A.Wotawa
7...Kb5 8.Bc8 Qd1 9.Bf5 Ka4 10.Be6 Qb3+ Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957
11.Ka1 Qc2 12.Ka2 You see the trouble for
Black? Black's king can never enter b3. ½–½

(253)
A.Wotawa
Schach Echo, 1963

White draws
This study was ten times more spectacular from
move one since White's previous two moves
gave away free rooks! Unfortunately, the
earlier part of the study was cooked, with
multiple correct answers, and it works from this
point on.
Exercise (combination alert): Our only
point of reference is if we get White's queen to
the a-file, we deliver checkmate.
Answer : Move the queen to f7, threat:
Qxa2 mate.
White wins
We have no way to halt all of Black's passed
pawns on the queenside, so we must find a way
to get at Black's under-defended king.
1.g5+!
a) 1.Bf5? (threat: g4–g5 mate) 1...g5+
2.Kg3 Kg7! (2...a2? 3.Re7! b1Q 4.Rh7#)
3.Bb1 a2! (removal of the guard) 4.Bxa2
c2 and Black wins.
b) 1.Re5? g5+! eradicates the mating
threat and wins.
1...Kh7 2.g6+!
A liquid is a flexible entity since it assumes the
form (or non-form in this case) of its chosen
container. This clearance sacrifice is necessary
to get at Black's king.

212
2.Bf7? g6! 3.Ba2 c2 4.Rf1 c1Q 5.Rf7+ Kg8 Step 3: Seize control over g6. Step 4 is obvious.
6.Rf6+ Kg7 7.Rf7+ and perpetual check. 7...c1Q 8.Rh7# 1–0
2...Kxg6
2...Kh6 is immediately mated after 3.Bf5 a2 (255)
4.Re8 b1Q 5.Rh8#. A.Wotawa
3.Kg4! Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959

a) 3.Bb3? Kf6 (threat: ...c3–c2,

followed by ...a3–a2) 4.Re6+ Kf5 5.Re2
b1Q 6.Bc2+ Qxc2 7.Rxc2 a2! 8.Rxa2 Ke4
9.Rxa6 c2 10.Rc6 Kd3 draw.

b) 3.Bg8? Kf5 4.Bb3 Kf4 5.Rb1 c2

6.Bxc2 a2 7.Rxb2 a1Q wins.
3...c2 (D)

a) 3...Kf6 4.Ba2 c2 5.Re6+ Kf7

6.Re2+ Kf6 7.Rxc2 stops Black's pawns.

b) 3...Kh6 4.Kf5 g5 5.Kf6 c2 6.Rh1#. White wins

c) 3...Kh7 4.Kf5! g5 5.Kf6 c2 6.Rh1#. Let’s take stock:

1. We are up a rook and bishop.
d) 3...a5 4.Bg8! - threat: Re6 mate is 2. Black's queenside passers are, of
the same pattern as the study's finish. course, the primary concern.
3. If we win the other, we can
probably earn a fortress draw by
allowing Black to promote one
passed pawn.
Exercise (calculation): How can we
possibly win?
Answer : Push the g-pawn.
2.g7!
2.gxh7+? Kxh7 3.Bg3 a2 4.Ra1 b2 5.Rxa2 b1Q
6.Re2 Qf5+ 7.Kg1 Qd3 8.Kf2 Qxc3 9.Be5
Qd3 10.Re3 White is lucky to hold a fortress
draw.
2...Kxg7
2...a2 3.Bf6! b2 4.Re1 b1Q (4...Kf7 5.Re8!
Exercise (planning): Work out White's b1Q 6.g8Q+ Kxf6 7.Rf8+ Ke5 8.Qg5+ Black
forced mate in 5. is mated) 5.Re8+ Kf7 6.Rf8+ Ke6 7.g8Q+
Answer : Transfer the bishop to g8. forces mate in 5.
4.Bg8! 3.Bg5! a2 (D)
Threat: Re6 mate.
4...Kh6 a) 3...Kg6 4.Bc1! a2 (4...b2 5.Bxb2
4...c1Q 5.Re6# axb2 6.Rb1) 5.Bb2 halts the passers and
5.Re6+ g6 6.Re7! wins.
Step 2: Seize the seventh rank and threaten
mate on h7. b) 3...b2 4.Bc1! wins.
6...g5
6...c1Q 7.Rh7#.
7.Kf5!

213
 a) 1...Kd8 2.Ra8+ Kd7 3.Rc8.

b) 1...Kf8 2.Ra8+ Kg7 3.Rc8.

c) 1...Kd7 2.Rxb7+ Kxd6 3.Bg3+ e5

4.dxe6+.
2.Ra8+ Kd7
Rc8 must be prevented.
3.Rd8+! Kc7 (D)

a) 3...Kxd8 4.Bxf6+ Kd7 5.Bg5 wins.

Exercise (combination alert): Force
White's win: b) 3...Ke7 4.Rc8 wins.
Answer : Allow Black to promote by
moving the bishop back to c1.
4.Bc1! a1Q 5.Bh6+!
We go with shock and awe as an artery of flame
shoots forward at Black's king.
Step 2: Discovered attack.
5.Bh6+! Kxh6 6.Rxa1 Kg5 7.Ra5! picks off
all of Black's queenside pawns. 1–0

(256)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

Exercise (combination alert): Now what?:

1. Black's promotion seems all but predestined.
2. Our rook hangs.
Answer : Mating net/tempo gain. We gain
a crucial tempo by shifting the bishop over to
f2.
4.Bf2!! Kxd8
4...c1Q (there isn't much point in saying,
"Hooray, I won the lottery if you are about to
be executed that same day) 5.Bb6#.
5.Be3
How on earth did Wotawa manage to halt the
White wins once unstoppable c-pawn? Such is the power of
his magic.
Request permission to speak freely, sir: we can 5...Ke7 6.Kb4 f5 7.Bf4 Kd7 8.Kc3
safely file this remarkable study under the 1–0
"What the freaking hell!?" category. Black will
hold at least a draw if we allow the promotion (257)
of the advanced c-pawn. Look for a way to halt A.Wotawa
it. Der Tagesspiegel, 1960
1.Nxd6+!!
False paths: a) 1.Nc7+? Kf7, and b) 1.Ra8+?
Kd7.
1...exd6
Also, losing for Black are the lines:

214
 White wins
1. We are up a load of material, a rook,
and two knights, for only two
Black pawns.
2. Black's pawns are both deeply
advanced, and both threaten to
promote, either with ...g3–g2, or
with a transfer of Black's king to g2
and then ...h2–h1(Q).
3. Even if we manage to give up our
rook for both Black passers, the
game will only be drawn since two
knights are unable to force mate
against a lone king.
4. The theme will be familiar, where
we must find a way to halt
promotion via mating threats.
1.Rh1!
This move cuts off the ...g3–g2 ideas.
1...Kh3
a) 1...g2 2.Rxh2+ Kg3 3.Rh8 Kf2
4.Rf8+ Ke3 5.Rg8 Kf2, and now the
simplest is 6.Ne2.
b) 1...Kg4 2.Ne2 Kf3 3.Nxg3 Kxg3
4.Nd3 Kg2 5.Nf2!.
2.Nd3!!
We nonchalantly allow both ...g3–g2 and
also ...Kg2.
2.Ne2? g2 3.Nf4+ Kg3 4.Nxg2 Kxg2 draw.
2...Kg2
2...g2 3.Nf4+ Kg3 4.Nce2+ Kf3 5.Rxh2 wins.
3.Nf4+!
Step 3 is to hand over our rook.
3.Ne2! is a minor dual solution: 3...Kxh1
4.Ndf4 transposes.
3...Kxh1
215
Black would be drawing if those pawns were
removed from the board, and we must exploit
their presence.
Exercise (planning): Step 4: Work out a
mate in 3:
Answer : We must cut off Black's king
moves, forcing a self-smothering.
4.Nce2!
4.Ne4? Kg1! (4...g2?? walks into White's trap.
5.Ng3+ is the same finish as the study's)
5.Nxg3 draw.
4...g2 5.Ng3+ Kg1
Black's king is that dumb kid we all knew in
school who always sits far away from the
teacher in one of the back corners of the class
and never raises his hand to answer a question.
6.Nh3# Black's Judas pawns clog two key
flight squares for the black king. 1–0
(258)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960
White wins
We reach a familiar scene of multiple pieces
versus surging/promoting passed pawns.
1.Ne6+!
1.Rxb2? a1Q 2.Rb5 Qxa8 3.Nc6 Qa3+ 4.Rb4
should end in a draw.
1...Ke7 2.Rb7+!!
We offer our knight, which is not free of charge.
2...Kf6!
2...Kxe6 is met with the shocker 3.Rf7!, and
now:

a) 3...g5 4.Bd5+ Ke5 5.Rf5#.

b) 3...a1Q 4.Bd5+ Ke5 5.f4#.

c) 3...Kxf7 4.Bd5+ Kf6 5.Bxa2 wins. White wins

d) 3...b1Q 4.Bd5+ Ke5 5.f4#. This one is a twist on a theme we have already
3.e5+! Kxe6 seen several times in the book.
3...Kxe5 4.Rf7! b1Q (or 4...Kxe6 5.Bd5+ Ke5 1.Rb7 a3 2.Kc5! a2
6.f4#) 5.f4+! Kxe6 6.Bd5#. 2...Kf6 3.Kd4! a2 4.Rf7+ Kg5 5.f4+ Kg6
4.Rf7! 6.Be4+ and White wins.
3.Rf7!!
There it is again! As usual with Wotawa studies,
the pieces resemble characters from a Gabriel
García Márquez novel.
3...Kxf7
3...a1Q? 4.Bd5+ Ke5 5.f4#.
4.Bd5+ Kf6 5.Bxa2 Ke5 6.Bb1 Kf4 7.Kd4
Kf3

This is a limited-time offer. Take our rook now,

or the offer expires next move! By now, we
should be familiar with such rook hangs from
Wotawa since we have seen this theme several
times in the book.
4...b1Q
Hopeless is 4...Kxf7 5.Bd5+ Ke7 6.Bxa2.
5.Bd5+ Kxe5 6.f4# 1–0
Exercise (planning): How does White win?
(259) Answer : Ignore Black's b-pawn and win
A.Wotawa Black's h-pawn.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1961 8.Ke5!
8.Kc3? is too defensive minded and blows it:
8...Kxf2 9.Kxb2 Kg3 10.Bf5 Kf4 Oh no! We
are left with rook pawn and wrong colored
bishop, and it's a draw since Black's king slides
into h8.
8...Kxf2 9.Kf4
Black's h-pawn falls.

216
 9...Ke2 10.Kg4 Ke3 11.Kxh4 Kf4 12.Kh5
Ke5 13.Kg6

3...Kxe5
3...fxe6 4.Rxe6 Kf5 5.Re8 wins.
4.Bc4!
Black's king is unable to reach the drawing Black is still unable to promote.
corner. 1–0 4...Kd4
4...f1Q loses to 5.d4+ Kxd4 6.Bxf1.
(260) 5.c3+ Kc5 6.Kb3! b5 7.d4+ Black's
A.Wotawa problem is the same one as 75% of the world's
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963 population: it needs money. White is left up a
piece. 1–0

(261)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

White wins
Our extra rook and bishop are stronger than
Black's promoting f-pawn.
1.Re4+!
We must send Black's king to f3. White wins
1.Rg3+ Kf4 2.Rg4+ Kf3 3.Rg5 Kf4 4.Rg4+
draw. Exercise (combination alert): Look for a
1...Kf3 2.Re5 Kf4 shocker!
Now comes a (typical?) Wotawa shocker. Answer : Move the knight to c4, where it
3.Be6!! can be captured in three different ways! Nor
can the knight be ignored since we threaten
mate on c8.
3.Nc4!!
The directions are not easy to follow!
3.Ne4+? looks like it may be the answer, but
it's a miss after 3...dxe4 4.Rxf5+ Kc4 5.Rf1
Kxc3 6.Kxg3 Kxc2 White is losing.

217
 3...dxc4 (262)
An uneasy spasm tugs at Black's defensive A.Wotawa
muscles. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

a) 3...b1Q? 4.Rc8#.

b) 3...bxc4? 4.Rb8 d4 5.Rxb2 d3

6.cxd3 cxd3 7.Rb4! wins since 7...d2 is
met with 8.Rd4.

c) 3...Kxc4? is convenient for us.

4.Rc8#.
4.Rxf5+ Kb6 5.Rf1 b4!

White wins
We again reach Wotawa's favorite theme:
Pieces versus imminent pawn promotion. What
should White play?
1.Kg7!
We seize control over f7, threatening Rh6 mate.
Most of us would be tempted to bail out with
1.Rg5? b1Q 2.Rg6+ Kf7 3.Rg7+ Ke8 4.Rg8+
Kf7 5.Rg7+ is perpetual check.
1...Kxd6
This looks pretty scary since Black will get a
1...exd6 2.Rh8! (threats: Rb8 and Re8 mate)
supported passed pawn, just one square away
2...b1Q 3.Re8#.
from promotion.
2.Be5+ Ke6
6.cxb4 c3 7.Kxg3 Kb5 8.Kf4
Now comes a - dare we say call it this?-
White's king must race over to d3.
"typical" Wotawa shocker.
8...Kxb4 9.Ke3 Ka3 10.Kd3 Ka2
10...Kb4 11.Rf8! wins.
a) 2...Kc6 3.Rh8 b1Q 4.Rc8+ Kb7
11.Kxc3 b1Q 12.Rxb1 Kxb1 13.Kd3 g5
5.Rb8+ wins.
14.c4 g4 15.Ke3
b) 2...Kc5 3.Rh8 b1Q 4.Rc8+ Kb5
5.Rb8+ is the same.
3.Bd6!!

One pawn promotes, while another pawn is

out of luck. 1–0

218
Interference.
3...exd6 b) 2.f4? h2 3.Rxg2 h1Q 4.Ba5+ Kb7
3...Kxd6 4.Rd5+! Kc6 5.Rd1 Black's pawn is 5.Rg7+ and draw.
halted, and White wins. 2...h2 (D)
4.Rh8! b1Q 2...g1Q 3.Bf2+ White wins.
We love to hug our obsession tightly, don't we?
But to reproach, the dead serves no purpose.
Also losing are the lines

a) 4...d5 5.exd5+ Kxd5 6.Rb8 Kc4

7.Rxb2 Kxc3 8.Ra2 d5 9.Ra3+! Kc2
10.Rxh3 d4 11.Rg3 d3 12.h4 d2 13.Rg1
d1Q 14.Rxd1 Kxd1 15.h5 wins.

b) 4...Ke7 5.Rb8.

c) 4...Ke5 5.Rb8.
5.Re8# 1–0
Exercise (combination alert): Do you see
(263) White's winning idea?
A.Wotawa Answer : Move the rook to the en prise c7–
New Statesman {and Nation}, 1970 square.
3.Rc7!!
This incredible shot acts as a solvent upon
Black's defensive bond.
3...a5
Black gives the king air, but not enough!

a) 3...g1Q? 4.Ba5#.

b) 3...Kxc7 4.Bg3+ Kc6 5.Bxh2 halts

the promotion attempt and wins.
4.Bf2+! Ka6
Black's "I will just decline the rook" theory is
premised upon a little misunderstanding.
White wins 4...Kxc7 5.Bg3+ (double attack) 5...Kc6
6.Bxh2 wins.
This is one of the first Wotawa studies I ever 5.Ra7# 1–0
tried solving with a student. The solution just
blew my mind. Work out a way to prevent (264)
Black's impending promotions: A.Wotawa
1.Rc2+! Kxb6 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1967
Forced.
1...Kb7? makes it easy for us: 2.Rc7+ Ka8
(2...Kxb6 3.Ba5#) 3.Ra7+ Kb8 4.Rg7 h2 5.Bd2!
g1Q 6.Bf4+ Kc8 7.b7+ Kd8 8.b8R#.
2.f3!!
Step 2: The h2–b8 diagonal must remain open.

a) 2.Ba5+? Kb7 3.Rc7+ Ka8 White

has nothing better than to take the
perpetual check.

219
 We need Black's g-pawn pushed forward.
3.Bf8+? Kc4 4.Ba3 Kb3 5.Bc1 Ka2 6.Be3
Kb1 7.Kg2 c1Q 8.Bxc1 Kxc1 9.Kf3 Kd2!
wins.
3...g5 4.Bf8+ Kc4 5.Ba3 Kb3 6.Bc1 Ka2
7.Be3 Kb1 8.Kg2 c1Q 9.Bxc1 Kxc1

White draws
Black is about to promote, and 1.Bh6 is useless
due to 1...g6–g5. Luckily, we haven't yet
reached the thoughts and prayers phase. How
should we proceed?
Answer : Start with a rook check on the
covered h5–square. Exercise (critical decision): We are down
1.Rh5+!! a pawn, yet we can use the fact that Black's king
is away from the arena of action. What is
c) 1.Bxf6? fails to hold the draw, and White's only move to hold a draw?
we get short-changed in the transaction Answer : The king must move to g3.
after 1...c1Q+ 2.Kg2 Qc6+ picks off the 10.Kg3!
bishop and wins. 10.Kf3? f5 11.Ke3 Kd1 12.Kd4 Ke2 wins.
10...f5
d) 1.Bh6?? g5 leaves White busted. Or 10...Kd2 11.Kg4 Ke3 12.Kf5 Kf3 13.Kxf6
1...Kb6 draw.
11.h4!
a) 1...gxh5? 2.Bh6 White wins. Pushing the f-pawn creates a puncture on
Black's forcefield, which allows our king to win
b) 1...Kb4? 2.Bf8+ Kb3 3.Rc5 White Black's final pawn.
wins. 11...gxh4+
2.Rc5! 11...g4? 12.h5 White wins.
Step 2: Attraction. 12.Kxh4 Kd2 13.Kg5
2...Kxc5 3.Bh6! We save the game by a tempo. ½–½

220
Chapter 6: Forced Mates
In this chapter, White always wins and always
forces mate. Some are excerpts from Wotawa's a) 7...Bxf2 8.Bf1#.
studies, while others are full studies. In this
chapter, your assignment, should you choose to b) 7...Rb8 8.Bf1+ Rb5 9.Bxb5#.
accept it, is to break in unseen, avoid the 8.Bc8# 1–0
security cameras, kill the bodyguards, kill the
target, the black king and then get out without (266)
arrest, injury or death. Are mates emanating A.Wotawa
from studies the same as most server online Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959
mating puzzles? The answer is no. Mates
emanating from composed studies contain far
more devilishly tricky patterns than standard
online puzzle mates. We have planned for you
to actively engage with the solving of each
study, which we also tackle in parts. So, we
hope this is more of an experiential process
than passive reading, as we would with a novel.

(265)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1939

Mate in 3
Black's king is trapped and, at the same time,
appears annoyingly safe since our dark-squared
bishop cannot deliver a check. How does White
proceed?
Answer : Clearance. Transfer the bishop
to d3 (threat: Bc3 mate).
3.Bd4!
The zealot who believes "This body will die
eventually, so why not sacrifice it now for a
higher cause?" is a dangerous opponent since
they are unafraid of death, just as long as they
Mate in 3 (excerpt) take you with them.
Black's king is boxed in. Our problem is that 3...cxd4
Black's pesky rook covers both f1 and c8 3...f3 4.Bc3#.
mating squares. We need one killer move to 4.c5!
short-circuit the defense. Clearance number 2: Rc4 mate follows the next
Answer : Interference/overloaded defender. move.
7.Bf2! 4...Bxc5 5.Rc4# 1–0
Interference. The less spectacular 7.Bg4! also
works since there is no defense to the coming (267)
bishop check on e2. 7...Rb8 Now, the light- A.Wotawa
squared bishop switches to the other diagonal. Tidskrift för Schack, 1962
8.Be2+ Rb5 9.Bxb5#.
7...Rxf2
In this instance, the customer is not always right.

221
 Threatening mates on both g6 and d7. We never
forget where we receive our scars. The one on
g6 is fatal since it also cuts off f4.
5...f3
Black can also toss in the spite-check 5...Bb4+
6.axb4 c1Q 7.Ng6#.
6.Ng6# 1–0

(269)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

Mate in 4
We sense mate nearby.
5.Rf5+ Ke4 6.Rfxe5+!
This move taps into the black king's greatest
fears—attraction/interference. Black's rook
clogs the e5–escape square. 6.Rdxe5+ Rxe5
7.Rf3 Kd5.
6...Rxe5
6...Kf4 7.Rf5+ Ke4 8.Rd4#.
7.Rd4# 1–0

(268)
A.Wotawa Mate in 5
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1969 We must begin with "enhanced" interrogation
techniques on the black king.
6.Rb6+ Kd7 7.Rb7+ Kd8
7...Kd6 8.Rbc7! Boxing in Black's king.
8...g1Q 9.R2c6#.
8.Rf2!
Threatening mate on f8.
8...Ke8
8...Kc8 9.Rg7 g1Q 10.Rf8#.
9.Ra2
There are no lifelines left for the black king.
9...h1Q 10.Ra8# 1–0

(270)
Mate in 4 A.Wotawa
We see a mating pattern based on Nf8 and Ng6 Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1941
mate. Work out the details:
4.f4+!
Interference. We clog f4, which prevents
Black's king from escaping on that square. The
immediate 4.Nf8? fails miserably to 4...Kf4
when Black's king escapes.
4...gxf4
4...Bxf4 5.Nf8 and mate, next move.
5.Nf8!

222

Mate in 5
3.Na6!
Threat: Nc7 mate. This is teleportation, more
than a chess move. We must prevent Black's
king from getting air with ...a7–a5.
Step 1: We attract Black's bishop to a6.
3.Be4? a5, Black wins.
3...Bxa6
3...bxa6 is the less painful euthanasia route:
4.Be4#.
4.Be4!
Step 2: We play for eventual zugzwang by
freezing Black's bishop to a6 while covering
Black's kingside pawn pushes.
4...g2 5.Bxg2 f3 6.Bxf3
Zugzwang #2. Black must move the bishop
from a6, leaving b7 unguarded.
6...Be2 7.Bxb7#
And, of course, not the greedy 7.Bxe2? a5
draw. 1–0
This problem is firmly in the "Holy crap!"
category, and we give you a written promise
that it will blow your mind.
Can you take a guess which is White's final
mating piece? It's the g2–rook! How on Earth
are we going to achieve that?
1.Bd5!!
Threat: Ra8 mate, so Black must accept.
1.Bxf2+? Bxf2 2.Rxg4 Qb7+ 3.Kd8 Bb6#.
1...exd5 2.Nd4!
Threat: Nc6+ and Ra8 mate.
2...exd4 3.Bd6!
Threat: Bc5+ and Ra8 mate, to which there is
no defense.
3...exd6 4.Re1!
When 007 detonates a bomb, the odds are close
to 100% that he will make an attempted
witty/corny remark, like: "It's been a blast!"
Wow. That got our attention. Threat: Ra1 mate.
4...fxe1Q 5.Ra2# 1–0

(271) (272)
A.Wotawa A.Wotawa
Welt am Montag, 1951 Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1952

Mate in 5 Mate in 5

223
This one is more difficult than it first appears,
so be careful not to fall into Black's trap:
Answer: Interference/overloaded defender.
White must be on high alert to avoid Black's
Mad Rook/stalemate trap.
7.Bb4!
7.Bc3? If the solution were this easy, it
wouldn't be a Wotawa study. We intend Bg7
mate. If you thought to yourself: "That was
easy!" we regret to inform you that you fell for
Black's trap and are about to be disillusioned:
7...g1Q+! 8.Kxg1 Rb1+ 9.Kh2 Rh1+ 10.Kg3
Rg1+ 11.Kf2 Rg2+ 12.Ke1 Re2+ 13.Kd1 Rd2+! Mate in 5
14.Kc1 Rc2+ and so on, until we take the
annoying rook and stalemate Black. We see multiple mating patterns based on the
7...Ra8 8.Ba3! following:
Only with this zigzag motion (through the 1. Nf7 and Rxh6 mate.
boredom and pain) can White deliver mate. 2. Ne6 and Nf4 mate.
Again, 8.Bc3? bungles it after 8...g1Q+! First, you need to work out why these fail, and
9.Kxg1 Ra1+ 10.Kg2 Ra2+ 11.Kg3 Rg2+! then you need to find the actual solution.
12.Kxg2 stalemate. 1.c3!!
8...Rb8 9.Bb2! This way, Black is prevented from a quick
promotion.

a) 1.Ne6? Be5 wins since the Nf4

mate is covered.

b) 1.Rg6? bxc2 2.Ne6 c1Q The

would-be mate on g7 is covered by Black's
b2–bishop.

c) 1.Nf7? is too slow: 1...Bg7 2.Rg6

bxc2 3.Rxg7 c1Q Black wins.
1...Bxc3
Forced. 1...a2? 2.Ne6 with dual and
Zugzwang. unstoppable threats of knight mates on f4 and
9...g1Q+ g7.
9...Rxb2 10.d8R#. 2.Rg6! b2 3.Ne6
10.Kxg1 Rxb2 Threat: Nf4 mate.
10...Ra8 Hashtag #MeToo, gets mated with 3...Be5 (D)
11.Bg7#. 3...b1Q? 4.Nf4#.
11.d8R# 1–0

(273)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1954

224
 4.Rb3? Ree1 5.Kh3 Re4! 6.Kh2 Nb4! Black
covered the back rank and will win.
4...Rdxd5

a) 4...Rexd5? 5.Re8#.

b) 4...cxd5? 5.d8R+ Re8 6.Rexe8#.

5.Rb3!

Exercise (combination alert): How does

White force mate?
Answer :
4.Rf6!
This move is our blaring car alarm, going off at
3:00 a.m., awakening our neighbors from their
happy dreams. Interference/overloaded
defender. Threat: Ng7 mate.
4...Bxf6
4...b1Q 5.Ng7#. Overloaded defender. White mates in 4 from
5.Nf4# 1–0 this point since Black's d5–rook cannot
simultaneously block the b-file and cover the
(274) d8 promotion square.
A.Wotawa 5...Nb4
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1952 Spite block.
6.Rxb4 Rxd7
6...Rb5 7.d8R+ Re8 8.Rxe8#.
7.Rb8+ Rd8
Spite block number 2.
8.Rxd8+ Re8
Spite block number 3!
9.Rxe8# 1–0

(275)
A.Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung, 1953

Mate in 6

We see that Black's back rank is weak. Our plan

may have taken birth in the abstract, yet its odds
of survival fall drastically unless we can sort
out its specifics.
4.Nd5!!
Our once vague idea takes action and
transforms into a verb. Interference. We
threaten to promote on d8 and deliver back rank
mate.
Mate in 6

225
It's a race between our mating attack and
Black's promotion. a) 1...g2 2.Rb7! Threatening mate on
Step 1: We hand over our h-pawn to create a b4. 2...c5 3.Rb3! and mate, next move by
prison for Black's king. transferring the rook to a3.
1.h6!
Losing are the lines a) 1.Kf5? Kxh5, and b) b) 1...c5 2.Kb6 Ra7 mate is
1.Bf3? Kg5!. unstoppable next move.
1...gxh6 2.Kf5
Step 2: We further encroach upon the black c) 1...Be3 2.Rb7 is similar to the
king. study's finish.
2...a3 3.Bf3! 2.Ra7!
Step 3: Transfer the bishop to f3, threatening Threat: Kb6 mate. 2.Rb7? Bxb2! Black wins.
Bg4, followed by g2–g3 mate. 2...Be3
3...h5 2...Bxb2 3.Kb6#.
Black must prevent Bg4: 3...a2 4.Bg4 a1Q 3.Rb7!
5.g3#. Threat: Rb4 mate. 3.Ra8? Bd4! Black wins.
4.Be2! 3...Bc5 (D)
Step 4: Transfer the bishop to f1, intending g2– 3...c5 4.Rb3! g2 5.Ra3#.
g3 mate, to which there is no defense.
4...a2 5.Bf1!
Dorothy would agree: "There's no place like
home."
5...a1Q 6.g3# 1–0

(276)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960

We do not need a mating pattern factory since

Wotawa cranks them out for us. Work out
White's mate in 3.
4.Rb3!
The key to an ambush is to appear harmless
outwardly.
4...g2 5.Ra3+!
A tank has the habit of running over or pushing
aside any obstacle—interference/clearance.
Mate in 6 5...Bxa3 6.b3# 1–0
White's king, rook, and pawns are the more (277)
potent force over Black's promoting pawns. A.Wotawa
Prove it. Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959
1.c3!!

a) 1.a3? Bc1! 2.Rb7 (2.Ra7 Be3 3.Ra8

g2 wins) 2...Bxb2 Black wins.

b) 1.Rd1? Kb4 Black wins.

1...Bc1!

226
 This queen is no obedient Stepford wife. Threat:
Ra3+ and Qxa3 mate. 2.Bd2? is premature:
2...Rxg3! and it is Black who wins.
2...Bxf3

Mate in 7

1.Nb7!!
Threat: Ra3+, followed by b2–b3 mate.

a) 1.Bd2? Rxg3 2.Rxg3 Rxg3 3.Qxg3 Work out White's mate in 3:

Kxa5 4.Qa3+ Ba4 5.b3 b5! 6.cxb5 Kxb5 3.Bd2!
7.Qxa4+ Qxa4+ 8.bxa4+ Kxa4 White We can't allow Black's king access to a5.
cannot deal with four passed pawns. 3...e1Q
3...Ka5 4.Ra3# when, unfortunately for
b) 1.Qf3? Kxa5! (1...Bxf3? 2.Bd2 Black, ...b4xa3 is an illegal move.
e1Q 3.Ra3+ bxa3 4.b3#) 2.Ra3+ Ba4 4.Ra3+!
3.Qb3 b5 4.Bd2 Kb6 Black wins. Clearance. We need Black's forward b-pawn to
capture to seize control over the a5 flight-
c) 1.Qxe2? Kxa5 2.Bd2 Ka6 wins. square.
4...bxa3 5.b3# 1–0
d) 1.Nxc6? Qxc6 2.Bd2! (renewing
the threat to play Ra3+ and b2–b3 mate; (278)
2.Qxe2? Ka5 wins) 2...Rxg3! 3.Rxg3 A.Wotawa
Rxg3 4.Qxg3 Ka5 5.Qa3+ Qa4 6.Qxa4+ Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1963
Kxa4 7.b3+ should end in a draw.

e) 1.Ra3+? (our mate is an optical

illusion) 1...bxa3 2.b3+ Kxa5! (2...Kb4?
does indeed allow mate after 3.Bd2#)
3.Bd2+ Ka6 Black wins.
1...Bxb7

a) 1...Qxb7 2.Qf3!! is similar to the

finish.

b) 1...Rxg5 2.Qxe2 Rxg3 (2...Qxb7

3.Qc2!) 3.Qc2 Bxb7 4.Ra3#.
Mate in 7
c) 1...Bxg2 2.Ra3+ bxa3 3.b3+ Kb4
4.Bd2#. We are obviously in one of those homes where
2.Qf3!! if a toilet flushes, the water in the shower gets
freezing cold. This unbelievable mate in 7 falls
into the "Huh? What?!" category since the
solution is so startlingly unlikely.

227
 1.Nd2!!
Threats: Nc4 mate and f3–f4 mate.

a) 1.Nxa3? Nb6! (1...Rc7? 2.Nc4+!)

2.Rxa7 (2.Rbxb6?? Rg8+ 3.Bg7+ Raxg7+
4.Kh6 h1R#) 2...Rg8+! 3.Bg7+ Rxg7+
4.Rxg7 d3 5.Rb4 (threats: Re7 mate and
f3–f4 mate) 5...Nxd5! 6.Rb5 g2! 7.Rxd5+
Ke6 8.Rg6+ Ke7 9.Rg7+ Ke6 draw.

b) 1.Nxc3? Bc1+! 2.Kg4 Bxh6

3.Rxa7 Rxa7 4.Rb1 g2 wins.
1...cxd2
1...d3 2.Ra4! Black gets mated since Black's Mate in 7
a7–rook is overloaded.
2.Re3!! Solving such studies is nutrient-dense food for
Threat: f4 mate. our brain's pattern recognition.
2...dxe3 1.b3!
2...d1Q? 3.f4#. Threat: b3xc4 mate.
3.Ra4!
Renewing the threat of f4 mate. a) 1.Kb6? Rxb2 2.Rxb2 Rb1 Black
3...Rf7 wins.

a) 3...Rxa4? 4.Bg7#. b) 1.Rxd7? Rxb2 Black wins.

b) 3...Bb4 4.Rxb4 (threat: f3–f4 mate)
4...Rf7 leads to the same finish as in the
study.
1...cxb3
Black must accept. 1...e4? If a cartel boss asks
you: "Have you given any thought about my
offer?" you have a death wish if you say: "I
respectfully decline!" 2.Re7! and mate next
move.
2.Rf7!!
Threat: Rd4+ followed by Rxf5 mate.

a) 2.Rc4? Rh7! 3.Nxh7 b2 4.gxf5

b1Q+ wins.

b) 2.Re7? Rc2! 3.Rc4 Rxc3! 4.Rxc3

Kd4 5.Rxb3 a1Q wins.

c) 2.Kb6? b2 wins.

Exercise (combination alert): White d) 2.Rxd7? b2 wins.

forces mate in 3: 2...Rf2
Answer : Step 1: Decoy.
4.f4+! Rxf4 5.Bg7+ a) 2...Re2 3.Rd4+! exd4 4.Rxf5+ Re5
Step 2: The check on g7 is deadly. 5.c4#.
5...Rf6 6.Bxf6# 1–0
b) 2...Rd1 3.Rc4!! Threat: Rc5+,
(279) followed by Rxd7 mate, is similar to the
A.Wotawa study's continuation.
Biuletyn, 1964

228
 c) 2...a1Q 3.Rd4+! exd4 4.Rxf5#.
3.Rc4!!
Threat: Rc5+ and Rxd7 mate.
3...e4

a) 3...Rh6 4.Rxd7 a1Q 5.Rc5#.

b) 3...a1Q 4.Rc5+ dxc5 5.Rxd7#.

c) 3...b2 4.Rc5+! dxc5 5.Rxd7#.

4.Re7!
Preventing ...Ke5. 4.Rd4+? Ke5 and Black's
king escapes. Mate in 7
4...Rd2 (D)
4...a1Q? 5.Rd4#. Crazy comes in gradations. There are so many
ways to blow it. How would you go after
Black's king?
1.Nb6+!!
We begin by giving away our knight on b6.
Look at all the ways we can lose:

a) 1.Rxd4? Rh6+!.

b) 1.Rc4? Rxc2 2.Rdxd4 Rxc4 3.Rxc4

Kb3.

c) 1.Rb6? Nxc2.

How can White sneak past the defenses and d) 1.Rxa7? Rxc2.
deliver mate in 3?
5.Nf7! e) 1.Rc3? Rxc2.
Threat: Rc5+, followed by Re5 mate, to which 1...axb6 2.Rxd4!
no remedy exists. 2.Rxb6? is met with 2...Rh6! (decoy) 3.Rxh6
5...a1Q h1Q 4.Rb6 Qf1+ 5.Ka7 Nb5+ wins.
5...b2 is the same finish after 6.Rc5+ dxc5 2...Rxd4 (D)
7.Re5#. 2...g1Q? is not too bright! 3.Rxb4#.
6.Rc5+! dxc5 7.Re5# 1–0

(280)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1965

Try and work out the mate in 5 from here.

3.Rc3! g1Q

229
3...bxc3 4.b3#.
4.Ra3+!
The rook is used and casually discarded as we
would a paper napkin after a ketchupy fast food
meal. We must clog the a3–escape square.
4...bxa3 5.b3# 1–0

(281)
A.Wotawa
Schach Magazin, 1950

The perimeter motion sensors begin to go off,

warning of an intruder alert in Black's camp.
Black only has useless block/ piece giveaways
until the mate is delivered.
4.Kg6 Ba5 5.Rxa5 Ra2 6.Rxa2 Ra3 7.Rxa3
Kg8 8.Ra8#. 1–0

(282)
A.Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1956

Mate in 9
How can we unite White's divided-looking
position?
1.Nf6!!
Interference. White threatens Ra8 mate, forcing
Black to capture, clogging the f-file from black
rook checks.
1...gxf6 2.Be4!
Threat: Ra8 mate.
2...dxe4 3.Rg5!!
Interference. This way, White's king finds a
safe, checkless haven on g6, which creates an
unstoppable mating net. Mate in 9
3...fxg5 If there is a chess training boogieman, it's
endgame studies, which most club-level
a) 3...Bxg5 4.Kg6 is the same. players feel is far above their pay grade. We
share a secret: it isn't necessary to be correct
b) 3...Rg3 is idiotic, yet the only way when solving. Just try, fail and then play over
to push White's mate to nine moves. the answer. We promise you will get better
4.Rxg3 Rg2 5.Rxg2 Bh6 6.Rh1 e3 7.Rxh5 doing this. This one is in the almost unsolvable
Kh7 8.Rg7+ Kh8 9.Rxh6#. category. We are down three pawns, and Black
4.Kg6! is threatening to promote the a-pawn in just two
moves, so urgency is needed.
1.Rg7!
Threat: Rg4 and Rh4 mate.
1...Bg6

230
 a) 1...Bf5 2.Rg4! (threatening mate on
h4) 2...Bxg4 3.hxg4#.

b) 1...Rg6+ 2.Rxg6! (threatening Rg4

and Rh4 mate) 2...Bxg6 3.Ne6! when no
power can prevent Nf4 mate next move.
2.Ra7!!
Who is this rowdy, uninvited guest?
2...Rxa7
The offer can't be declined: 2...Rc6 3.Ra5+ Rc5
4.Rxc5+.
3.Ne6!
Threat: Nf4 mate. Mate in 9
3...Rf7
You are not going to believe White's only path
to the mate.
1.Kh1!!
Of course, two exclams are not nearly enough,
but what can we do? The Chessbase annotation
pallet won't allow us the five exclams this move
deserves. What? No! We refuse to hide like a
rat! Clearance. Note that 1...Bxf3+ is an illegal
move! The idea is to clear g2 for the queen to
threaten Qg2 and Qg4 mate.

a) 1.Qb2? Rxf8 wins.

Exercise (combination alert): Even a b) 1.Qe2? Nd4 wins.

well-decorated cage is still a cage. All of
Black's extra material is useless in saving the c) 1.Rbb5? Rxf8 2.Kh1 Rg8 wins.
king. White forces mate in 3.
Answer : Interference/overloaded defender. d) 1.Kf1? h1Q Black wins.
4.Bf6! 1...Nxa5
Interference/overloaded defender. White
renews the threat of mate on f4. a) 1...Rxf8 2.Qg2 Rxf4 3.Rg7 Qe8
4...Rxf6 4.Rxd5+ exd5 5.Qh3+ Rh4 6.Qf5#.
4...Bf5 5.Nf4#
5.Ng7+ Kg5 6.h4# 1–0 b) 1...Qxd6 2.Rxd5+ Qxd5 (2...exd5
3.Qg2 Qxf4 4.Ne6 forces mate) 3.Qg2
(283) Qf5 4.Rb5! Rd5 5.Nxe6! Threats: Rxb5
A.Wotawa and also Ng7+. 5...Kh4 6.Rxd5 Qxe6
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1958 7.Rd6! forces mate.

c) 1...Nc5 2.Rxc5 Qxc5 3.Qg2 and

mate in 2.

d) 1...Kh4 2.Qg2 Bxf3 3.Ng6#.

e) 1...Bc5 2.Qxh2#.
2.Qg2!! Bxf3
2...Nxb7 3.Qh3#.

231
 To mess with our heads, here is a Wotawa study
devoid of tactics!
2.Nf6!
Threat: Rg8 mate.
2...Rb8 3.Kd4!
The attack requires assistance from White's
king.
3...a5 4.Ke4!
4.Ke5 is one move slower: 4...a4 5.Kf5 a3
6.Rh1+ Kg7 7.Rh7+ Kf8 8.Kg6 Rb7 9.Rxb7 a2
10.Rf7#.
4...a4 5.Kf5 a3 6.Rh1+! Kg7 7.Rh7+ Kf8

Black's position is just barely holding it

together. All which is required is a little shove.
Work out White's mate in 3:
3.Rb5+! Bd5

a) 3...Bc5 4.Rxc5+ Qd5 5.Qxf3+ Kh4

6.Ng6#.

b) 3...Qd5 4.Qxf3+ Kh4 5.Ng6#.

c) 3...Qc5 4.Qxf3+ Kh4 5.Ng6#.

d) 3...Qxb5 Being up material is a Black's king decides to lay low until the heat is
pretty sorry silver lining when our king off--which will never be! This is not so difficult.
gets mated. 4.Qxf3+ Kh4 5.Ng6#. Find White's mate in 3:
4.Qf3+! 8.Kg6!
This is just surreal! Threat: Rf7 mate. The place is swarming with
4...Kh4 cops, and Black's king has no place to hide.
When an "invitation" is mandatory, it's no 8...Rb7 9.Rxb7 a2 10.Rf7# 1–0
longer an invitation.
5.Ng6# 1–0 (285)
A.Wotawa
(284) Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1959
A .Wotawa
Welt Presse, 1951

Mate in 10
Mate in 10 1.Nh6!

232
This was originally a cooked problem with two
solutions. Wotawa gave the inferior (but also
winning) 1.g6 Kxg8 2.g7 Kxg7 3.Bg5 a2
4.Bc1 a1Q 5.Bh6+, which wins but does not
mate.
1...b2

a) 1...a2 2.Kg3! b2 3.Rf7+ Kg6

(3...Kh8 4.Rf8+ Kg7 5.Rg8#) 4.Rf6+ Kg7
5.Nf5+ transposes to the solution.

b) 1...Kg6 2.Kg3 Kh5 (2...b2 3.Kg4

a2 4.Rf6+) 3.Rf6 b2 4.Nf5 b1Q 5.Ng7#.
c) 1...Kf8 2.Rd1! a2 3.Rd8+ Ke7
Moving to g7 allows mate in 1 on g8.
4.g6+ Ke6 5.g7 a1Q 6.g8Q+ Ke5 7.Qd5+
Kf4 White has a glorious choice of four
separate mates in one.
2.Kg3 a2 3.Rf7+ Kg6
Forced. 3...Kh8 4.g6! threatens g6–g7 mate,
Rxh7 mate, and Bf6 mate: 4...hxg6 (4...b1Q
Some sinners don't want to be forgiven. 5.g7#)
5.Bf6#.
4.Rf6+! Kg7
4...Kh5 5.Ng4 b1Q 6.Rh6#.
5.Nf5+ Kg8
Mate in 11
1.Nh4!
a) 1.Ne7? Rg4 2.Kf7 (threatening back rank
mate) 2...Nb6 3.Rd3 h5 4.f5 Kh7 5.Rd8 Rd4!!
6.Rg8 (6.Nxd4 Nd7 7.Ng6 Ne5+ 8.Nxe5 fxe5
9.Ne6 a1Q 10.Ng5+ Kh6 11.Nh3 - threat: Rh8
mate - 11...Kh7 12.Ng5+ Kh6 13.Nh3 is a
repetition draw) 6...Rd7! 7.Rxg7+ is only
perpetual check after 7...Kh6! 8.Rg6+ Kh7
9.Rg7+.
1...Rg4 2.Ng6+!
Fire two!
2...Rxg6
2...hxg6? 3.Rh3+ Rh4 4.Rxh4#.
3.Ne7! Rg4
3...h5 (this line stretches it out to the full 11
move stipulation) 4.Nxg6+ Kh7 5.Kf7 Nb6
(5...a1Q 6.Rc8 and mate next move on h8)
6.Rc5! Kh6 7.Ne7! (threat: Ng8+ and Rxh5
mate) 7...Nd5 8.Rxd5 g6 9.Rd8 Kh7 10.Nxg6
a1Q 11.Rh8#.

The black king's civil rights continue to be

violated. White to play and mate in 5:
6.g6! hxg6
6...b1Q 7.Ne7+ Kh8 8.Rf8+ Kg7 9.Rf7+ Kh8
(9...Kh6 10.Rxh7#) 10.g7#.
7.Nh6+! Kh7 8.Bg5! b1Q
Close doesn't cut it.
9.Rf7+ Kh8 10.Bf6# 1–0
Work out White's forced mate in 6:Answer:
(286) Rinse and repeat on g6.
A.Wotawa 4.Ng6+! Rxg6
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1957

233
g6 seems to be Black's one-stop shopping site. a) 2.g4+? fxg4+ Black wins since
4...hxg6? 5.Rh3+ Rh4 6.Rxh4#. 3.Nxg4? is met with 3...Qc8.
5.Kf7!
Threatening back rank mate. b) 2.bxa6 intending Bd4 and g3–g4,
5...Nb6 followed by Bxg4 mate. It's too slow.
2...exf2 The threat to promote on f1 ruins
a) 5...a1Q 6.Rc8#. our mating hopes.
2...dxe4
b) 5...h5 6.Kxg6 Nb6 7.Re3 is the 2...fxe4? 3.g4#.
same finish. 3.b6!
6.Re3! h5 7.Kxg6 Threat: Bd7! followed by g3–g4+ and Bxg4
Black's back rank can't be defended. mate.
7...Nd7 8.Re8+ Nf8+ 9.Rxf8# 1–0 3...Qd8!

(287) a) 3...cxb6? 4.Bd7! Qd5 5.g4+ fxg4+

A.Wotawa 6.Bxg4#.
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1937
b) 3...c6? 4.Bb3! Qe8 5.b7 a4 6.Be6
Qxe6 7.b8Q mates in 4 at the most.
4.b7
Threat: b8(Q), and if Black captures, then Bd7.
4...c6! 5.Bb3!
Threat: Be6, followed by g3–g4+. 5.Bxc6 also
forces mate after 5...a4 6.Bxe4!
5...Qe8

Mate in 13

We envision mates with our bishop; if it

reaches f3 or d7, we can push our g-pawn to the
fourth and mate on g4 with our bishop. We also
see ideas like g3–g4+, recapture with our
knight and mate on f6. Unfortunately, Black
has defenses to all of these ideas, and there is
another one that is deeply hidden. Force mate from this position:
2.Ne4!! 6.Be6!
As usual, Wotawa does some voodoo! Threat: It's time for the bishop to shift into hero mode.
Nf6 mate. The knight strikes from the shadows. Overloaded defender.
Threat: Nf6 mate. What we learn most from 6...Qxe6 7.b8Q
endgame studies is: the forces of that which is Black is mated in 4 moves at the most.
hidden are far more powerful than the forces 7.b8Q Qf6 8.gxf6 g5 9.Qh8+ Kg6 10.Qg7+
which are visible to our shallow original view. Kh5 11.Qh7#. 1–0

234