FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

1

Miguel Illescas:

Invisible morphology of the
chessboard. A homage to Reti.

If you are one of those who believe that the
chessboard is a perfect square, made up of smaller
but equally perfect squares, and looks upon it as a
static, monotonous and predictable space, allow
me to invite you to open your mind and explore
another radically different point of view.
Try to imagine the board as a living space,
constantly transforming as a result of the profile of
its inhabitants, the pieces, and what happens to
them.
For example, few people know that when all the
pawns on one side of the board disappear the grass
stops growing in that area. It becomes a barren
desert, a dangerous crossing zone where no piece
wants to settle down.
Another common problem is to see the board as a
flat surface. It is well known that in the opening
both sides strive to dominate and occupy the
center, because that is where the pieces can
develop their full potential. Therefore, from a
strategic point of view, the board has a pyramidal
structure: the summit made up by the four central
squares, flanked by an in-depth perimeter.
The foot of the mountain would be found below,
while the sides which make up the outer contour
would be the beaches. Outside of the limits of this
island is the vast sea, empty of chess, which some
people insist on calling the "real world".

Richard Reti (1889 - 1929)

The chessboard offers many more mysteries and
surprises, hidden behind its apparently geometric
uniformity.
Richard Reti was one of the pioneers that
discovered some of these secrets. Few people
know that Reti only lived for 40 years - he died of
scarlet fever - a fact that really enlarges his figure,

in view of the huge chess legacy that the great
character left behind .
Apart from his many victories and memorable
exhibitions - 29 blindfold games in Sao Paulo
(1925), featuring 21 wins and only 2 defeats - Reti
authored several books that set the trend, such as
"New ideas in chess" (1922). This book set down
the foundations of what would come to be called
"the Hypermodern School". Along with other
authors such as Nimzowistch, these books updated
Steinitz's postulates and opened up new horizons
in chess during those years.
Also famous and currently in full force is the
opening that bears his name, 1. ¤f3 d5 2.c4, which
he used to defeat the unbeatable World Champion,
Jose Raul Capablanca, in New York (1924).

The best study in History

His exploits were many but dare I say that Reti's
most important contribution to the theory of
modern chess comes from the following position,
which I'm sure that many of you already know.
In the most simple and beautiful way Reti showed
that the laws of physics that govern nature don't
always have to be complied with on the
chessboard:

Reti, 1921

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-mK0
9+-+-+-+-0
9k+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and draw

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

2

At first glance the situation seems desperate for
White: his king is unable to detain the advance of
the black pawn, while at the same time his own
pawn is at the mercy of the enemy king.
However, the draw can be achieved thanks to the
specific geometry of the chessboard, that
invalidates the Pitagoras theorem.
1.Kg7! h4 2.Kf6! Kb6
If 2...h3 the White king is able to support his own
pawn on time after 3.Ke7.
3.Ke5! Kc6
Again, 3...h3 4.Kd6 h2 5.c7 and White promotes
his pawn.
4.Kf4
and the White king traps the enemy pawn.

Much less known is the following version of the
same theme, which was also composed by Reti.
The wording of the study defies all logic.

Reti, 1928

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9k+P+-zp-zp0
9+-+-+-+K0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and draw

The White king can successfully deal with the
three enemy pawns thanks to his own pawn on c6,
which despite appearances is still alive.
1.Kg6 Kb6
If 1...h5 2.Kg7! h4 3.Kf6 we reach the same
position as the previous study, while if 1...f5
2.Kg7 f4 3.Kf6! and now 3...Kb6 leads to the main

line, while 3...f3 is answered by 4.Ke7.
2.Kg7 f5
Or 2...h5 3.Kf6 h4 4.Ke5.
3.Kf6! f4 4.Ke5! f3 5.Kd6
The geometry helps White again.
5...f2 6.c7 f1Q 7.c8=Q
and the pawn on h6 doesn't change the assessment
of a draw.

Based on the previous problem, I thought up a
variation to use in a training session:

Illescas, 2015

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+L+-+-zp-0
9pmkP+-zp-zp0
9+-+-+-+K0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and draw

If you don't know the 1928 study, this problem is
quite difficult. Now the solution is obvious:
1.Ba6!! Ka6 2.Kg6
reaching the position created by Reti.

Reti is still alive!

The most amusing thing about the previous
position is discovering how Black can win after
the natural 1.Kg6. The logical continuation would
be
1... a5 2.Kg7
and the first instinct is to continue with
2...a4 3.Bc8 a3 4.Be6 h5 5.Kf6 h4:

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-mkP+LmK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

6.Ke5!
Reti is still alive! The bishop on e6 balances the
pawn on a3 and the variations of Reti's original
study are fully valid. The game could end
6...h3 7.Kd6! h2 8.c7 ½.
The game is also a draw if Black advances the
other pawn on his fourth move. After 4...f5 5.Kf6
f4 6.Ke5! the draw is achieved. Accelerating the
advance of the h-pawn doesn't change anything:
2...h5 3.Kf6 h4 but after 4.Bc8 a4 5.Be6 a3
6.Ke5! is a draw, as in the previous variation.
If instead Black advances the f-pawn quickly then
the scenario changes substantially.
1.Kg6 a5 2.Kg7 f5 3.Kf6 f4 4.Ke5 f3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+L+-+-+-0
9-mkP+-+-zp0
9zp-+-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Now 5.Bc8 Kc6 is bad and Black wins, but...
5.Kd6! f2 6.Ba6!!
This brilliant resource saves White. Note that if

6.c7 f1=Q 7.c8=Q Qf6 8.Kd5 Qf7 9.Kd6 Qb7
Black wins the queen ending.
6...Ka6 7.c7 f1Q 8.c8Q

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+Q+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9k+-mK-+-zp0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+q+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

And White's initiative allows him to achieve an
easy draw by capturing the a5 pawn.
A lot of analysis but we still haven't found the way
for Black to win. If we try 1...h5 or 1...f5 then
both 2.Ba6! or 2.Kg7 draw easily.

"Kill Reti"

The solution is to nullify the value of the c6 pawn.
1.Kg6 a5 2.Kg7 f5 3.Bc8 Kc7!!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+L+-+-+0
9+-mk-+-mK-0
9-+P+-zp-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

"Kill Reti", but instead of the obvious 3... Kc6, the
subtle tet move gains a decisive tempo in the pawn
race.
4.Be6 f5!!

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

4

The white bishop will be forced to lose a tempo
with this pawn. Alternatively, 4...h5 5.Kf6 h4
6.Kg5 would lead to a draw.
5.Kh6
With Reti out of the equation 5.Bf5 doesn't work
because of ...a3 6.Be6 h5 winning.
5...f4 6.Bd5 a3 7.Kg5 f3 and one of the black
pawns promotes.
It can be very helpful to know this resource.

Illescas, 2016

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+-sN0
9mk-+-+-mKp0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black to play and win.

1...Rh8!
1...h5 is not enough to win. After 2.Ng6 the rook
can't keep his pawn alive for long: 2...Rb1 3.Kh6
Rh1 4.Kg5 Kb6 5.Nh4 draw.
2.Kh8 h5 3.Kg7 h4 4.Kf6
There is an important difference with regard to
Reti's study: the black king is on a7, instead of a6.
4...Kb8!
Preventing the white king from supporting his
pawn.
5.Ke5 h3 6.Kd6 Kc8!
Reti has been assasinated.

The geometric peculiarity of the chessboard, on
which travelling along the diagonals is not slower
than along files or ranks, is the main theme behind
many great studies...

Ulanov, 1950

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9-+-+-+-mK0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and draw.

White's king is far away from the action and must
come back quickly …
1.Kg7 Kc6 2.Kf6 Kd5 3.Kf5 c5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zpk+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

4.Kg4!!
The key is that after the natural 4.Kf4 Kd4 5.a4 c4
6.Kf3 Kd3 7.a5 c3 8.a6 c2 9.a7 c1Q 10.a8Q Qh1
the white queen is skewered.
4...Kd4 5.a4! c4 6.a5 c3
If 6...Kc5 7.Kf3 draw.
7.a6 c2 8.a7 c1Q
With the white king on f4 this would be check.
9.a8Q ½.

Here is another example on this subject.

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

5

Boman, 1952

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-sN-+-+0
9+-zp-mk-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+pzP-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-vL-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and win

1.Nc6!
The immediate 1.Bf2 doesn't work because of Kd8
2.Kd5 (if 2.c6 b4 3.Kd4 Ke7 and the pawn is
captured) 2...c6!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+pzPK+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-vLp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

3.Ke4 (or 3.Kc6 b4 4.Kb7 b3 5.c6 b2 6.c7 Ke7
etc.) 3...Kd7 4.Kf3 Ke6 5.Kg2 b4 6.Kf3 b3 7.Bd4
Kd5 ½.
1...Kd7 2.Nb8 Kc8 3.Bf2! Kb8 4.c6! b4
Now after 5.Kd4? Ka7! 6.Kc4 Ka6! 7.Kb4 g1Q
8.Bg1 the black king is stalemated! Luckily for
White the simple 5.Ke4! achieves an easy win.

All the previous studies aren't bad but as a homage
they are at an enormous distance from the net
composition. Its content and beauty truly does
justice to Reti's genius.
The following magnificent study begins with an
apparently natural position, but finishes with a
surprising outcome, more suitable to an Alfred
Hitchcock film.

Zachodjakin, 1934

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+N+-+-+0
9+-+k+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9vL-+-+-+p0
9n+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White to play and win

White has to attend immediately two important
threats: on his knight and on his last pawn, which
is essential to fight for the win.

1.Nb6
This check is the only way to continue, as both
1.Ne7 Nb2 and 1.b3 Kc8 lead to an easy draw.
1...Kc6!?
The best try for Black. If 1...Nb6 2.Bb6 h4 3.Kg6
Kc6 White wins with 4.Bg1!, for example 4...Kb5
5.Kg5 h3 6.Kg4 Kb4 7.Kh3 Kb3 8.Bd4 etc.
2.Na4 Kb5 3.Bc3!
If 3.Bd8? Ka4 4.Kg6 Kb3 5.Bf6 h4 Black is saved
by the bell by one tempo and achieves a draw.
3...Ka4

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas

6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9k+-+-+-+0
9+-vL-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

4.Ke6!
Reti's spirit makes an appearance.
4...h4
Of course if 4...Kb3 5.Kf5, captures the pawn.
5.Kd5! h3
Again, 5...Kb3 6.Ke4!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+K+-+-0
9k+-+-+-+0
9+-vL-+-+p0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black's pawn escapes, but it all boils down to the
last act of this frenetic play.
6.Kc4! h2 7.Bb4! h1Q 8.b3 mate – 1:0.