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Now we come to one of my all time favorite themes: The LOST KNIGHT.
Study 18 Herman Mattison, Latvijas Sacha Vestnesis 1924, White to play and draw.
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There are ways to save a lost corner knight but sometimes only one precise way..
Solution to post 91, the Mattison study is: 1.a4, a5 2.Ke2!, Bg1 3.Kd3, Kd7 4.Kc4, Kc6 5.Nc7!!, Kxc7 6.Kb5, Bb6 7.Ka6 and zugzwang and Blaxk must give up the pawn or stalemate.
A little extra thinking will make you realize that all the moves are forced. The alternatives all lead to draws.Comment
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Here is Timman, at his best, having fun. The knight is lost on purpose, as are three additional pawns, all to set up a grandiose finish.
GM Timman, 2009, White wins.
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Solution to post 93: 1.h7, Bb2 2.c3, Bxc3 3.e5, Bxe5 4.h8=Q!, Bxh8 and now the knight! 5.Ng7!, Bxg7 all for the bishop to have its way! 6.Bd3, Bd4+ 7.Kh1, g3 8. Bf5 mate.Comment
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GM Timman's problem composing legacy:
Jan Timman, New in Chess 1994, White wins.
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Solution to post 95, Jan Timman 1994, 1.Bd6+, Kxd6 2.Rxd5+, Ke7 3.Be6, Kxe6 (or if 3...Qe8+ 4.Kf5, Qh5+ 5.Kf4 and the king will escape to the queenside) 4.Rd8, Bxd8 5.Ra8, Qxa8 Two bishop and two rook sacrifices have set this up. 6.b7, Qxb7 7.cxd8=N+, Kd5 8.Nxb7, Kc4 It looks like a draw but timing is everything. 9.Kf5, Kxc3 10.Ke4, Kb2 11.Kd3, Kxa2 12.Kc2, Ka1 13.Nc5, Ka2 14.Nd3, Ka1 15.Nc1, a2 16.Nb3 mate.Comment
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More of GM Timman's creative genius.....GM Timman, 2010, White to play and win.
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Here is the stunning solution to post 97 : White is a piece up but he could easily lose his remaining two pawns. The solution to his problem is dramatic.
1.Bc5 , Kg7 with the threat of 2...Be8 and a draw continuation. 2.Be7 , fxg5 3.Bd6!! The first stunner! cxd6 4.Nd4!! The second stunner!! A double piece sacrifice. 4....exd4
5.b6, d3 6.Kf1, Bh5 7.Ke1 and the white B-pawn promotes.Comment
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Tactics involved with pawn promotion.GM Timman, 1990/2011, White to play and win.
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Solution to diagram in post 99. 1.d7, Ne5+ 2.Rxe5, Bc8! 3.Re7+, Kg6 4.Re6+, Kf7 5.d8=Q, Bxe6+ 6.Kh5!, Bxh3 7.Qd5+, Re6 8.Qf3+, Kg7 9.Qc3+, Kh7 10.Qc7+, Kg8 11.Kxg5, Bg2 12.Qd7, Rc6 13.Qe7, Bh1
In GM Timman's notes he says that he found all these moves by himself back in 1990. He thought that White was winning but couldn't work out a continuation. After a twenty year interval and with help from a computer he proved a win for White. Here another diagram is in order (post 101)Comment
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White wins, continuation from post 100
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Solution to diagram in post 101. 14.Kf5, Rh6 15.Qd8+, Kh7 16.Qg5, Bf3 17.Qe7+, Kg8 18.Kg5, Rc6 19.Kf4, Bh1 20.Qe8+, Kg7 21.Qe5+, Kg8 22.Qh5, Rc1 23.Ke3, Rf1 24.Qg6+, Kf8 25.Ke2 and wins the bishop.Comment
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