[Event "1st place (10.2 points) 10th WCCT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(1) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r6/8/7k/1N6/KR2R3/p4n1p/4p3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

{"Interesting variations." (FIN) "Splendid. Multiple thematic tries, with the
play in each differentiated from the others by clever tactics; multiple echoes
too. This is a fine study in any context, but in this particular theme
tournament it is outstanding, displaying the theme to maximum advantage. Rook
studies tend to have difficult, if not obscure, supporting variations that are
not to everyone's taste. However, one cannot but be impressed by the variety
of play following the three moves of the black Kh6 in reply to 1 Re6+." (GBR)
"The basic known matrix has been elaborated with multiple 'thematic' tries.
The important and interesting one shows knight annihilation by white to open a
line for his rook." (ISR) "In total 6 positions A/B with minor differences.
White has two main defences against the promotion of the h-pawn: either by
playing Rb8 threatening Rh8+, which only works if the BK is on the h-file (A5/
B5), but not too close to the 8th line (A1/B1) and if there is no WS on b5 (A3/
B3). The other defence is playing Rxg1+ followed by a knight fork. This only
works if BK is at g5 (A2/B2 and A4/B4). As a bonus there are positions A6/B6
where White only draws the rook ending if the BK now is as far of fas possible.
All this is accomplished by subtle checks (1.Re6+, 1... Kh7 2.Re7+), and a
surprising sacrifice (3.Sa7!) in the 1...Kh5 main line, which turns out to be
the thematic try in the 1...Kg5 main line. It takes some time to comprehend
the study, but all lines are crystal clear. A thematic masterpiece." (NED).} 1.
Re6+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 1. Rxe2 $2 Ra8+ ({or} 1... a2 2. Rxa2 Ra8+) 2. Na7 (2.
Kb3 a2 3. Rxa2 Rxa2 4. Kxa2 h2 5. Rb1 Ng1 6. Nd4 h1=Q $19 {position B2}) 2...
Rxa7+ 3. Kb3 a2 4. Rxa2 Rxa2 5. Kxa2 h2 6. Rb1 Ng1 {position B1} 7. Rb8 Kg7 (
7... Kh7) 8. Rb7+ Kg6 9. Rb6+ Kg5 10. Rb5+ Kg4 11. Rb4+ Kg3 12. Rb3+ Kf2 13.
Rb2+ Ne2 14. Rb1 Nc3+ $19) 1... Kh5 ({main} 1... Kg5 2. Rxe2 Ra8+ 3. Kb3 $1 ({
Thematic try:} 3. Na7 $2 Rxa7+ 4. Kb3 a2 5. Rxa2 Rxa2 6. Kxa2 h2 7. Rb1 Ng1 $19
{position B5}) 3... a2 4. Rxa2 Rxa2 5. Kxa2 (5. Nd4 $2 Rf2 $1 $19) 5... h2 6.
Rb1 Ng1 7. Nd4 $1 h1=Q {position A2/A4} 8. Rxg1+ $1 Qxg1 9. Nf3+ $11) ({main} 
1... Kh7 2. Re7+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 2. Rxe2 $2 Ra8+ (2... a2) 3. Kb3 a2 4.
Rxa2 Rxa2 5. Nd4 Rf2 $1 6. Nxf3 Rxf3+ 7. Kc2 {position B6} Kg6 $19 (7... Kh6))
2... Kh8 3. Rxe2 Ra8+ 4. Kb3 a2 5. Rxa2 Rxa2 6. Nd4 $1 Rf2 (6... h2 7. Nxf3
h1=Q 8. Rh4+ Qxh4 9. Nxh4 $11) 7. Nxf3 Rxf3+ 8. Kc2 $1 $11 {position A6}) 2.
Rxe2 Ra8+ 3. Na7 $3 ({Thematic try:} 3. Kb3 $2 a2 4. Rxa2 Rxa2 5. Kxa2 h2 6.
Rb1 Ng1 {position B3} 7. Nd4 h1=Q $19 {position B4}) 3... Rxa7+ 4. Kb3 a2 5.
Rxa2 Rxa2 6. Kxa2 h2 7. Rb1 $1 (7. Rb8 $2 Kg4 $1 8. Rh8 Nh4 $19) 7... Ng1 {
A1/A3/A5} 8. Rb8 $1 Kg4 (8... Kg6 9. Rh8 $11) 9. Rg8+ (9. Rh8 $2 Nh3 $19)
1/2-1/2

[Event "1st prize The Problemist"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(2) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q4k2/1b1P2N1/5P2/1n2n3/1N6/1R4K1/2R2B2/3r4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Judge Oleg Pervakov: "An excellent combination study is crowned by a rather
new position of domination. Bravo, Martin!"} 1. Ra2 $1 (1. Ne6+ $2 Kf7 $1 (1...
Kg8 $2 2. Ra2 Qb8 3. Ba7 $1 Nxa7 4. Na6 Qa8 5. Nac7 Qb8 6. Na6 $11) 2. d8=Q
Rxd8 3. Nxd8+ Qxd8 $19) 1... Qb8 2. Ba7 $1 (2. Na6 $2 Bxa6 $19) 2... Nxa7 3.
Na6 Qa8 4. Nc7 (4. Ne6+ $2 Kf7 5. d8=Q Rxd8 6. Rxb7+ (6. Nxd8+ Qxd8 7. Rxb7+
Kxf6 $19) 6... Rd7 $19) 4... Qb8 5. Na6 Rg1+ 6. Rg2 $1 (6. Kh3 $2 Bg2+ $19) (6.
Kh2 $2 Nf3+ $19) (6. Kf2 $2 Nd3+ $1 7. Kxg1 Qg3+ $19) 6... Rxg2+ 7. Kh3 Rh2+ $1
8. Kg3 $1 Rh3+ $1 (8... Qd6 9. d8=Q+ Qxd8 10. Ne6+ Kg8 11. Nxd8 Rg2+ 12. Kh3
$11) (8... Nxd7+ 9. Nxb8 $11) 9. Kxh3 Bg2+ $1 10. Kxg2 Qa8+ 11. Kg1 $1 (11. Kh2
$2 Kf7 $1 12. Rb7 Kg6 $19) (11. Kf2 $2 Kf7 $1 12. Rb8 Qf3+ $1 $19) 11... Nxd7
12. Rb8+ $1 (12. Ne6+ $2 Kf7 $1 13. Rb8 Qd5 $1 14. Rf8+ Nxf8 $19) (12. Nc7 $2
Qc8 $1 $19) 12... Nxb8 13. Ne6+ Kg8 14. f7+ $1 (14. Nac7 $2 Qf3 $1 15. f7+ Qxf7
$19) 14... Kxf7 15. Nac7 {domination} Qb7 (15... Qc6 16. Nd8+) (15... Qe4 16.
Ng5+) (15... Qf3 16. Ng5+) 16. Nd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "1st prize Boris Ilyich Oleynik-82 MT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(3) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7p/6P1/4n2k/2BK4/R7/6Q1/4q2r w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

{Judge Sergiy Didukh: "Spectacular fight of heavy-weight boxers. White blocks
Black's starting attack by sacrificing his bishop, then he repels the second
wave of attack by a beautiful combination containing Q-sacrifice and
knocking-out promotion to knight. Boxers must be very smart to fight like
that!"} 1. g7 $1 (1. Be2+ $2 Kh6 2. Rh3+ (2. Kxe5 hxg6 3. Qf3 Qg1 4. Qf8+ Kh7
5. Qf7+ Kh6 6. Qf4+ Qg5+ 7. Qxg5+ Kxg5 $11) 2... Rxh3 3. Qxh3+ Kg7 4. Qxh7+ Kf6
5. Qh8+ Kxg6 6. Qh5+ Kg7 7. Qxe5+ Kh6 $11) (1. gxh7 $2 Qh4+ 2. Kxe5 Qe7+ 3. Kd5
Qd8+ 4. Kc5 Qf8+ 5. Kb5 Qb8+ 6. Kc5 Qf8+ 7. Kd4 Rh4+ 8. Kc3 Qxa3+ $11) (1. Rh3+
$2 Rxh3 2. Qxh3+ Kxg6 $11) 1... Rh4+ (1... Qh4+ 2. Kxe5 $11) 2. Kd5 Qd1+ $1 (
2... Ng6 3. Qe2+ Qxe2 4. Bxe2+ Kh6 5. Ra7 $18) 3. Bd3 $1 (3. Kxe5 $2 Qd4+ 4.
Ke6 Re4+ 5. Qxe4 Qxe4+) 3... Nxd3 {battery} 4. Ra5 $1 {counter battery} (4.
g8=Q $2 Ne5+ 5. Kxe5 Qd4+ 6. Ke6 Re4+ 7. Qxe4 Qxe4+ $11) 4... Ne5+ $1 {
switchback} (4... Nf4+ 5. Kc6+ $18) 5. Kxe5 Qe1+ {switchback} 6. Qe2+ $3 (6.
Kf6+ $2 Qxa5 7. Qf3+ Rg4 8. g8=Q Qa1+ 9. Ke7 Qa7+ $11) 6... Qxe2+ 7. Kf6+ Kh6 (
7... Kg4 8. g8=Q+ $18) 8. g8=N# $1 1-0

[Event "2nd prize 43rd World Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(4) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4Q3/4p2P/2p5/2P1B3/2PKb3/2P2q2/4k3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

{Judge David Gurgenidze: "German chess composer has once again crafted
immaculate study with masterful design."} 1. Qh5 $1 (1. Bh2 $2 Qe3+) (1. Bf4 $2
Qxf4 $19) 1... Qxh5 2. h8=Q Bh7 $1 (2... Qg4 3. Qh2+ Bg2+ 4. Qf4 Qd7+ 5. Bd6
exd6 6. Qe3+ $11) 3. Bf4 Kf2 $1 (3... Kf3 {/Kd1} 4. Qe5 $11) 4. Qf8 $1 {battery
} (4. Qe5 $2 Qd1+ 5. Bd2 Qxd2# {mate with self-block on e5}) (4. Qf6 $4 exf6
$19 {no stalemate}) 4... Qg4 5. Qf6 $3 (5. Ke5 $2 Qe2+ 6. Be3+ Kxe3 $19) 5...
Kf1 $1 (5... Bb1 6. Qg5 Qd1+ 7. Bd2 $11) 6. Qf8 $1 ({logical try} 6. Qf7 $2 Bg6
$1 7. Qf8 Kf2 $1 8. Qf6 $1 Qd1+ $1 9. Bd2+ Ke2 $1 10. Qxe7+ (10. Qxg6 Qxd2+ 11.
Ke5 Qe3+ 12. Qe4 Qxe4+ 13. Kxe4 Kd2 14. Kd4 Kc2 $19) 10... Kxd2 $19 {
position X with bBg6}) 6... Kf2 (6... Bb1 7. Ke5 Qe2+ 8. Be3+ $11) (6... Kg2 7.
Qh6 $1 Qd7+ 8. Bd6 $1 e5+ $1 9. Ke3 $1 $11) 7. Qf6 $1 (7. Qh6 $2 Qd7+ 8. Bd6
e5+ $1 9. Kxe5 Qf5+ 10. Kd4 Qe4#) 7... exf6 {first ideal pin stalemate} ({main
} 7... Qd7+ 8. Bd6+ exf6 {second ideal pin stalemate}) ({main} 7... Qd1+ 8.
Bd2+ exf6 {third ideal pin stalemate} (8... Ke2 9. Qxe7+ Kxd2 {
position X with bBh7} 10. Qxh7 Qg1+ 11. Ke5 Qxc5+ 12. Ke6 $11)) 1/2-1/2

[Event "1st prize StrateGems"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(5) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K6k/P3p1p1/4R1P1/1r1r2PB/2b3P1/1P6/8/4Q3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Judge Peter Gyarmati: "A beautiful key setting is achieved after the seventh
move when Black is in Zugzwang -- the main line (the roles are reversed in the
try). All moves show tactical motifs. The author built his work superbly, the
highlight of the study comes at the end: a minor piece promotion."} 1. Rb6 $1
Rxb6 (1... Rd8+ 2. Kb7 Rd7+ 3. Kc8 $18) 2. Qxe7 Re5 $1 (2... Rd7 3. Qxd7 Bg8 4.
Qb7 $1 Rxb3 5. Qb8 $18 {zz see mainline}) 3. Qd8+ $1 ({logical try:} 3. Qxe5 $2
Bg8 $1 {zugzwang for White} 4. Qb8 Rxb3 {zz} 5. Qxb3 Bxb3 6. Kb8 Bd5 $11) 3...
Re8 $1 (3... Bg8 4. Qxb6 $18) 4. Qxe8+ Bg8 5. Qe5 $1 {zugzwang for Black} (5.
Qb8 $2 Rxb3 $11 {zz}) (5. Qd8 $2 Rb8+ $1 6. axb8=Q {stalemate}) 5... Rb4 $1 (
5... Rxb3 6. Qb8 $18 {zz}) 6. Qd6 $1 (6. Qb8 $2 Rxb3 $11 {zz}) 6... Rxb3 (6...
Rb5 7. b4 $1 Bd5+ 8. Qxd5 $18) 7. Qb8 $1 {zz} Rxb8+ (7... Ra3 8. Kb7 Rxa7+ 9.
Qxa7 $18 (9. Kxa7 $2 {stalemate})) 8. axb8=N $1 (8. axb8=Q $2 {stalemate}) (8.
Kxb8 $2 Bd5 $11) 8... Bd5+ 9. Ka7 $18 1-0

[Event "2nd prize Chess Informant-50 AT"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "(6) Martin Minski (Germany)"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2B5/6k1/b3K3/5PP1/5P2/1Q6/4p1P1/7q w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

{Judge Yochanan Afek: "In the heat of the battle each side promotes a second
queen; however the side that sacrifices both his queens is the one to emerge
the eventual winner against the remaining enemy queen. A breathtaking battle
with plenty of quiet moves and subtle finesses."} 1. f6+ (1. Qc3+ $2 Kg8 2. Kd6
e1=Q 3. Be6+ Qxe6+ 4. Kxe6 (4. fxe6 Qxg2 $11) 4... Qxg2 5. Qc7 Qa8 6. Qf7+ Kh8
$11) 1... Kh8 2. g6 $1 e1=Q+ (2... Bc4+ $1 3. Qxc4 e1=Q+ 4. Kf7 $18 {
see mainline}) 3. Kf7 Bc4+ $1 (3... Qh5 4. Qb8 $18) 4. Qxc4 Qe8+ $1 (4... Qh5
5. Be6 $1 $18) 5. Kxe8 Qe1+ 6. Qe2 $3 (6. Qe6 $2 Qxe6+ $1 7. Bxe6 {stalemate})
(6. Be6 $2 Qxe6+ $1 7. Qxe6 {stalemate}) (6. Kf7 $2 Qe8+ {/Qe7+!} 7. Kxe8 {
stalemate}) 6... Qxe2+ 7. Kf8 Qxg2 8. g7+ Kh7 9. Bb7 $1 (9. Bf5+ $2 Kh6 10.
g8=Q Qa8+ 11. Ke7 $1 Qa3+ $1 $11 (11... Qxg8 $2 12. f7 $18)) (9. Be6 $2 Qa8+
$11) 9... Qg1 (9... Qg6 10. Be4 $1 Qxe4 11. g8=Q+ $18) (9... Qxb7 10. g8=Q+ $18
) (9... Qg4 10. Be4+ Kh6 11. g8=Q Qc8+ 12. Ke7 $1 $18 {see mainline}) 10. Be4+
Kh6 11. g8=Q Qc5+ 12. Ke8 (12. Kf7 $2 Qc4+ $1 13. Ke7 Qxe4+ $11 (13... Qxg8 $2
14. f7 $18)) 12... Qc8+ 13. Ke7 $3 (13. Kf7 $2 Qd7+ {/Qc4+=}) 13... Qxg8 (13...
Qc7+ 14. Ke6 Qc4+ (14... Qf7+ 15. Kxf7 $18 (15. Qxf7 $2 {stalemate})) 15. Bd5
$18) 14. f7 Qg7 15. Ke8 $18 1-0

