P. A. Orlimont and Walther von Holzhausen
A problem featuring subtle play from both sides.
At first glance an easy mate along the g-file looks possible,
for example 1.Kd7 Bg7 2.Rc8 a1Q 3.Rg8 Qe5 4.h8Q etc., and even
an attempt by Black to improve by blocking the pawn fails –
1...Bh8 2.Rc8 a1Q 3.Rg8+ Qg7 4.d4! placing Black in zugzwang.
Black however can improve by underpromoting and playing for
stalemate. 1...Bh8 2.Rc8 a1B 3.Rg8+ Bag7 (4.d4??). Now Black is
left with 4...d4, cutting the bishops off from a1, and the rook
will mate there if White can play a waiting move; however none
is available, as 4.Kc7 and 4.Kxe7 fail to later bishop checks,
and any other king move cuts the rook’s path to a8.
The key is 1.Kxb7! and after 1...Bh8 2.Rc8 a1B 3.Rg8+
Bag7 the waiting move 4.Kxc6 can be played. Note how
all of the other six king moves fail. There follows
4...d4 5.Ra8 any 6.Ra1. A superb problem!
Dafydd Johnston: Black’s ingenious stalemate
defence leads to his downfall as zugzwang forces closing of the
diagonal which both bishops have just traversed. A remarkable
problem!