www.arves.org - Skovoroda 300

Studies awarded in memory of the Ukrainian humanist educator, traveling philosopher, poet and teacher,

born 300 years ago, on December 3, 1722, in the village of Chernukhy, in the Poltava Region

3.12.1722 - 9.11.1794

[Event "1st Prize G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Jan Timman"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3b4/1p6/1P1P1k1P/p1p5/4p3/B4N2/3Pr3/7K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "19"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Ng5 $1 {Attacks the Black e-pawn} (1. Ne5 $2 Rxd2 2. h7 Kg7 3. Nf7 Kxh7 4. Nxd8 e3 $19) 1... Kf5 $1 (1... Kxg5 2. h7 Bf6 3. Bb2 $1 (3. d7 $2 Rxd2 4. Bc1 e3 $1 $19) 3... Bxb2 4. d4 $1 exd3 5. d7 d2 6. d8=Q+ Kg4 7. Qg8+ $11) (1... Kg6 2. h7 Bf6 3. d7 Rxd2 4. Nxe4 Rd1+ 5. Kg2 Bh8 6. Nxc5 $11) 2. h7 (2. Bc1 $2 e3 $1 3. h7 exd2 4. Bxd2 Bf6 5. Bxa5 Re8 $19) 2... Bf6 3. Bc1 $1 (3. Bxc5 $2 Rxd2 $19) 3... e3 $1 4. d4 $1 Rd2 $1 (4... Kg6 5. Ne4 Re1+ 6. Kg2 Rxc1 7. d7 Rh1 8. Nxf6 e2 9. d8=Q e1=Q 10. Qg8+ $11) (4... Re1+ 5. Kg2 Rxc1 6. d7 Rc2+ 7. Kg1 $1 e2 8. Nf3 $11) 5. Nf3 Rd1+ 6. Kg2 e2 7. Bg5 $1 ({Try:} 7. d7 $2 e1=Q 8. Nxe1 Rxd4 9. Bg5 Rxd7 $1 10. Bxf6 Rxh7 $19) 7... e1=Q 8. Nxe1 Kxg5 9. d7 $1 Rxd4 10. Nf3+ {Switchback, draw. The best study of the competition with a complete game plot. The introduction is connected with the finale exceptionally harmoniously and gracefully: the white pieces step by step weaken the position of the enemy and logically escape with a forked blow of the ubiquitous white knight, which begins and ends the duel on the field from which the game began. Yes, the idea of conducting passing pawns to the transformation field is often used in the author's ideas, but the judge was captivated by the echo of the game of different pieces on the same field (1.Ng5! and 7.Bg5!) - the fight begins with the tactical sacrifice of the white knight, and then the bishop becomes the hero. Such moves, found by the famous Netherlands grandmaster-practitioner, certainly decorate chess.} (10. h8=Q $2 Bxh8 11. Nf3+ Kg4 12. Nxd4 Bf6 $19) 1/2-1/2

[Event "2nd Prize G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "David Gurgenidze"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1p2p3/4k1Kp/1RP3R1/4P2r/1n2P2P/r3P3/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Re5+ $1 Kxe5 (1... Kd7 2. Rxb7+ Kc6 3. Rxb3 Ra4 4. Rb6+ Kd7 5. Rb7+ Kc6 6. Rbxe7 $18) 2. c6+ Nc5 $1 (2... Kxe4 3. cxb7 $18) 3. cxb7 Ra6+ 4. Kf7 Rf6+ 5. Ke8 $1 ({Try:} 5. Kxe7 $2 Re6+ $1 6. Kf7 Rf6+ 7. Kg7 Rb6 $1 8. Rxb6 Nxb7 9. Rxb7 Ke6 $1 (9... Rxh3 $2 10. Re7+ $1 Kd6 11. Kf6 $18) 10. Rb6+ Ke7 11. Rxh6 Rxe4 $11) 5... Rb6 $1 6. Rxb6 Nxb7 7. Kxe7 $1 (7. Rxb7 $2 Rxh3 $11) 7... Nc5 ( 7... Rxh3 8. Re6#) 8. Rb5 Rxh3 (8... Rxe4 9. Rxc5#) 9. Rxc5+ Kxe4 10. Ke6 Rxe3 (10... Rh1 11. Re5#) 11. Rc4# {A dynamic study of the Georgian etudist, the first world champion in the section of studies, with a wide play on two flanks and the axis of a large-scale struggle on one of the central verticals. After an unexpected renuuciation of the capture (5.Ke8!), which ensures White's success in his checkmate hunt for the black king, both pieces go down together in one line. The author's idea is advantageously emphasized by a beautiful introduction and a final stage with checkmate fireworks, the foundation of which was formed by White's pawns in the initial position. I am a supporter of the development, of old studies, but on the condition that each subsequent study is better than the previous one. I think that A. Wotava himself would be envious of two pairs of echo-mates, compare his study (HHdbVI#64595). And for the judge, the construction of three pawns in the center of the board represents another three centuries since the birthday of Grigoriy Skovoroda!} 1-0

[Event "3rd Prize G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Michael Pasman"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3N2N1/8/4P3/8/3k4/r3rp2/2P4K/3B4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "25"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. e7 $1 (1. Kg3 $2 Re1 $1 2. Bxf3 (2. e7 Rg1+ 3. Kf4 f2) 2... Ree3 $1 3. Kh4 Rxf3 4. Nh6 Kd5 $19) 1... Re1 (1... f2 2. Kg2 $11) 2. c3+ $1 ({Logical try:} 2. Kg3 Rg1+ 3. Kf4 f2 4. Ne6+ Kc3 $1 $19 {c3 square is free for black king, differently from main line}) 2... Rxc3 {Otherwise f3 pawn falls} 3. Kg3 Rg1+ 4. Kf4 $1 (4. Kf2 Rg2+ $19) 4... f2 {Now during all next moves white can't promote queen, because black is faster after promotion or winning the queen, but...} (4... Rxg8 5. Bxf3 Re8 6. Nc6+ Kc5) 5. Ne6+ $1 Kd3 6. Nc5+ $1 Kd4 (6... Kc4 7. Be2+ $11) (6... Kd2 7. Ne4+ {fork} Kxd1 8. Nxf2+ $11) (6... Rxc5 7. Be2+ $1 Kxe2 8. e8=Q+ Kd1 9. Qa4+ $11) 7. Ne6+ $1 Kd5 8. Nf6+ $1 ({Thematic try:} 8. Nc7+ $2 Kd6 $1 9. Be2 f1=Q+ 10. Bxf1 Rxf1+ 11. Kg4 Rxc7 12. e8=N+ Ke5 $1 13. Nxc7 Rg1+ 14. Kf3 Rxg8 15. Ke2 Ke4 $1 16. Nb5 Rg2+ 17. Kd1 Kd3 $19) 8... Kd6 ( 8... Kxe6 9. e8=Q+) 9. Be2 f1=Q+ (9... Kxe7 10. Nd5+ {fork} Kxe6 11. Nxc3 $11) 10. Bxf1 Rxf1+ 11. Ke4 Rxf6 (11... Kxe7 12. Nd5+ {fork}) 12. Nc7 $1 (12. e8=Q $2 Rxe6+ $19) 12... Rxc7 ({secondary line} 12... Rcf3 13. e8=N+ $1 {fork} Kc5 ( 13... Kc6 14. Nxf6 Rxf6) 14. Nxf6 Rxf6 15. Ke5 $11) (12... Rff3 13. e8=Q Rce3+ 14. Kd4 Rxe8 15. Nxe8+ Kd7 16. Ng7 Rf7 17. Nh5 Rf5 18. Ng3 $11 {and knight is defended}) (12... Kxe7 13. Nd5+ $11 {double fork}) 13. e8=N+ $1 {Over the past two years, the Israeli international master-practitioner has also proved to be an excellent etudist. In his new work, he skillfully and economically disguised the ending of the study, in which the transformed knight (phoenix) with its final fork plants two black rooks at once (and if the black knight gets rid of the white passed pawn a move earlier, then another knight strikes a similar echo fork). The idea is a series of simple ideas, but all the characters come to the necessary fields in the course of the game, and most importantly, the author has maintained the harmony of the material. The small logic (2.c3+!) in the opening and the sacrifice (12.Nc7!) in the final stage are also attractive. It's interesting to compare J.Fritz (HHdbVI#47744) with the perpetual attack of the transformed knight alternately on each of the two rooks of black.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4th Prize G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Igor Jarmonov"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "K7/8/k2P2B1/7p/1P6/n2P3p/3nNp2/6b1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "20"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. d7 (1. Ng3 $2 Kb6 2. d7 Kc7 $19) 1... Ndc4 $1 (1... f1=Q 2. d8=Q Nac4 3. Qc8+ $1 Kb5 4. dxc4+ Nxc4 5. Nc3+ Kxb4 6. Nd5+ Kb5 7. Be8+ $1 Ka5 8. Qc7+ Nb6+ 9. Nxb6 $11) 2. dxc4 (2. d8=Q $2 Nb6+ 3. Kb8 Bh2+ $19) 2... f1=Q 3. b5+ $1 (3. d8=Q $2 Qf3+ 4. Qd5 Qf8+ $19) 3... Nxb5 (3... Ka5 4. d8=Q+ Ka4 5. Qd3 $1 Qf8+ 6. Kb7 Qe7+ 7. Kc6 Qe6+ 8. Kb7 h2 9. Nc3+ Ka5 10. Nd5 Qd7+ 11. Kb8 $11) 4. cxb5+ Kxb5 5. Bd3+ $1 (5. d8=Q $2 Qf3+ 6. Kb8 Bh2+ 7. Ka7 Qa3+ 8. Kb7 Qa6#) 5... Kc6 6. Nd4+ (6. d8=Q $2 Qa1+ $19) 6... Kxd7 7. Bxf1 h2 8. Bh3+ $1 (8. Nf3 $2 h1=Q $19 9. Bg2 $6 Qxg2 {- no stalemate}) (8. Bg2 $2 Bxd4 $19) 8... Kc7 ( 8... Kd6 9. Nf5+ Ke5 10. Ng3 h4 11. Nh1 $11) 9. Nf3 $1 (9. Ne6+ $2 Kd6 $1 10. Bg2 Kxe6 $19) 9... h1=Q 10. Bg2 $1 Qxg2 {- stalemate. The hard work of the white bishop is the key to saving white in the final. It is hardly immediately possible to foresee in the study that the game with victims on both sides will end in a stalemate, before which White will be able to use the limited movement of the transformed Black queen. A similar queen blockade has been encountered more than once, for example, by G.Kasparyan (HHdbVI#55540), but the international master practitioner from the Ukrainian Mariupol managed to find new possibilities in the well-known construction of the pieces. The original capture of the queen (5.Bd3+! Kc6 6.Nd4+) is also interesting. For the completeness of the plan there is not enough trifle: the arrival of the black bishop g1 on its field in the course of the game...} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5th Prize Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Steffen Nielsen"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4q3/1r3p2/1p1P1p2/3k1P2/P4BPQ/5P2/2P1pR2/KR1n4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. d7 $1 ({Logical try:} 1. Rb5+ $2 Qxb5 2. axb5 Ra7+ 3. Kb1 Nc3+ 4. Kb2 Na4+ 5. Kb3 Nc5+ 6. Kc3 e1=Q+ 7. Rd2+ Nd3 {and Bd6 is not possible}) (1. Qxf6 $4 Qxa4#) 1... Qxd7 2. Rb5+ Qxb5 3. axb5 Ra7+ 4. Kb1 Nc3+ (4... e1=Q 5. Rd2+ $18) 5. Kb2 Na4+ 6. Kb3 Nc5+ 7. Kc3 (7. Kb2 Nd3+ $11) 7... e1=Q+ 8. Rd2+ Nd3 9. Bd6 (9. Qxe1 Ra3#) (9. Kxd3 Ra3+ 10. c3 Qxh4) 9... Ra4 {Play for stalemate} (9... Qxh4 10. Rxd3#) (9... Rc7+ 10. Bxc7 Qxh4 11. Bxb6 $18) (9... Qa1+ 10. Kxd3 $18) (9... Qe5+ 10. Kxd3 Kxd6 11. Qh2 $18) 10. Bb4 $1 (10. Qxe1 $2 Ra3+ 11. Bxa3 { Stalemate}) (10. Kxd3 $2 Rd4+) (10. Qh2 $2 Rd4 $11 (10... Rc4+ $11)) 10... Qxh4 (10... Qe5+ 11. Kxd3 Rxb4 12. Qf2 Rc4 13. Qe3 (13. Rd1)) 11. Rxd3+ Ke5 12. Bd6# {In the logical study of the Denmark etudist, the result depends on the correct choice on the first move. A tense game all over the board with threats of checkmate and stalemate, ending in a checkmate for the black king, who could never find a safer place. The white queen goes without a game load, but this minus determined exactly the pluses - the dynamics of all other white and black pieces that overlap the connect lines and squares.} 1-0

[Event "sp. Prize G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Luis Miguel Gonzalez"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1k6/1Pp2ppr/P1pp4/P5P1/4K1RP/r6Q/4p3/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Qh1 Rh8 2. Kf4 $1 ({Logical try:} 2. Kf5 $2 Rxa5+ $1 3. Kf4 Re8 4. Rg1 Rxa6 $1 ({but not} 4... e1=Q $2 5. Rxe1 Ra4+ 6. Re4 $1 $18 {as the main line}) 5. Re1 Ra4+ $1 6. Kf3 Rae4 $1 $11) (2. Rg1 $2 Rxh4+ $1 3. Qxh4 Ra4+ 4. Kf3 Rxh4 $11) 2... Re8 (2... Ra4+ 3. Kf3 Rxg4 4. Kxg4 Re8 5. Qb1 e1=Q 6. a7+ Kxa7 7. b8=Q+ Rxb8 8. Qxe1 $18) 3. Rg1 e1=Q $1 4. Rxe1 $1 ({Logical try:} 4. a7+ $2 Kxb7 $1 ({but not} 4... Kxa7 $2 5. Rxe1 Ra4+ 6. Re4 $1 Raxe4+ 7. Qxe4 Rxe4+ 8. Kxe4 g6 9. a6 $18 {as the main line}) 5. a8=Q+ Kxa8 6. Qxc6+ Kb8 7. Rxe1 Rxe1 $11) 4... Ra4+ 5. Kf5 $1 ({Logical try:} 5. Re4 $2 Raxe4+ 6. Qxe4 Rxe4+ 7. Kxe4 g6 $1 8. Kd4 Ka7 9. Kc4 Kb8 10. Kb4 Ka7 {Position X with wPa5 - White cannot lose a tempo and it only remains to play} 11. Kc4 Kb8 12. Kd4 Ka7 13. Ke4 { positional draw} ({if} 13. Kd3 $2 c5 $1 14. Kc4 c6 $19)) (5. Kf3 $2 Ra3+ 6. Kf2 Ra2+ 7. Kg3 Ra3+ 8. Kg4 Ra4+ 9. Kf5 {loss of time}) 5... Rxa5+ 6. Kf4 Ra4+ 7. Re4 $1 (7. Qe4 $2 Rexe4+ $1 8. Rxe4 Rxa6 $1 {and Black has unless a draw}) 7... Raxe4+ 8. Qxe4 Rxe4+ 9. Kxe4 g6 $1 10. Kd4 $1 (10. Kf4 $2 c5 $1 $19) (10. h5 $1 gxh5 11. Kf5 h4 $1 $19) 10... Ka7 11. Kc4 $1 Kb8 12. Kb4 $1 Ka7 {Position X without wPa5 allows White to lose a tempo with a triangulation maneouvre} 13. Ka5 ({or} 13. Ka4) 13... Kb8 14. Ka4 Ka7 15. Kb4 $1 Kb8 16. Kc4 $1 Ka7 17. Kd4 $1 Kb8 18. Ke4 $1 Ka7 {Same position as after 9th Black move but bK on a7 instead of b8 which leads to pawn break} 19. h5 $1 gxh5 20. Kf5 h4 21. g6 $1 fxg6+ 22. Ke6 h3 23. Kd7 Kb8 24. Kxc6 h2 25. a7+ $1 Kxa7 26. Kxc7 h1=Q 27. b8=Q+ Ka6 28. Qb6# {A logical study of a large scale with three false attempts and two nice victims of white pawns in the final. White farsightedly gets rid of the a5 pawn, and then, for the sake of losing momentum, makes a march-throw of his king to the very edge of the left flank and then back. The minidual that occurs during the king's journey is insignificant - because White's plan to win is the only one.} 1-0

[Event "1 hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Sergiy Didukh"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "rn6/8/1P6/8/1P4p1/2p5/p4B1P/k2K1N2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Kc1 Nc6 2. Be1 Ra3 3. Ne3 Nxb4 ({Main B)} 3... Nd4 4. Nc2+ Nxc2 5. Kxc2 g3 6. Bxg3 $1 (6. hxg3 $2 Rb3 7. Kxb3 c2 8. Bd2 Kb1 9. b7 a1=Q 10. b8=Q Qd4 $1 { This double attack reveals why the bishop on d2 is worse than on f4.} 11. Qf4 Qd3+ 12. Ka4 Qa6+ {perpetual check.}) 6... Rb3 7. Kxb3 c2 8. Bf4 Kb1 9. b7 a1=Q 10. b8=Q Qb2+ (10... Qd4 11. Qc8 $18) 11. Kc4 c1=Q+ 12. Bxc1 Qxc1+ 13. Kb5 Qf1+ 14. Ka5 $18) 4. Nc2+ Nxc2 5. Kxc2 g3 6. hxg3 $1 (6. Bxg3 $2 Rb3 7. Kxb3 c2 8. b7 c1=Q 9. Be5+ Kb1 10. b8=Q a1=Q 11. Bxa1 Qb2+ $1 12. Bxb2 {stalemate.}) 6... Rb3 7. Kxb3 c2 8. b7 c1=Q (8... Kb1 9. b8=Q a1=Q 10. Kc4+ Kc1 11. Qf4+ Kb1 12. Bd2 $18) 9. Bc3+ Kb1 10. b8=Q a1=Q 11. Kc4+ $1 {That's why Bc3 is better than Be5.} Kc2 12. Qb3# {In the new work of the famous etudist from Lviv region, the elegant struggle of both sides is presented in a fresh and attractive way. The ending seems to be predetermined by the location of the locked black king, but in order to mate him, and it looks like a paradox, it is necessary to release him from the corner. The content of the study is complemented by two variants with a change in the game of the decision, an elusive choice (between 6.Bxg3! and 6.hxg3?) and finals with a queen incomplete. But, unfortunately, both variants are not quite equivalent in terms of game intensity and clear ending.} 1-0

[Event "2 hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Amatzia Avni & Martin Minski"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/3bnp2/6k1/3P4/6nK/6pQ/B1N4b/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "18"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Nd4 (1. Ne3 $2 Nxe3 2. Qxd7 g2 $19) (1. Bb1 $2 Nf5+ 2. Kxg4 Nd4+ 3. Kh4 Nf3# ) 1... Kh6 {Creating the threat ...Ng6#} 2. Bb1 (2. Qxg4 $2 Ng6+ 3. Kh3 Bxg4+ 4. Kxg4 g2 $19) (2. Qxg3 $2 Bxg3+ 3. Kxg3 Ne3 $19) 2... Ng6+ (2... Ne5 3. Nf5+ $1 Bxf5 4. Bxf5 $11) 3. Bxg6 fxg6 {a new threat - ...g5#} 4. Ne6 (4. Nf3 $2 Ne5 5. Nxh2 Bxh3 $19) 4... Bxe6 (4... Ne3 5. d6 Bc8 6. Ng5 Bxh3 7. Nxh3 $11) 5. dxe6 {split into two main lines A)} Nf2 ({B)} 5... Ne3 6. Qf1 $1 Nxf1 7. e7 g2 8. e8=Q g5+ 9. Kh3 $11) 6. Qf5 $1 {geometrical queen sacrifice echo to Qf1!! in the other line} gxf5 7. e7 g2 8. e8=Q g1=Q (8... Bg3+ 9. Kxg3 g1=Q+ 10. Kf3 $11) 9. Qg6+ $1 (9. Qe6+ $2 Kh7 $19) 9... Kxg6 {stalemate. The two-variant study of the Israeli-German duet of authors with attractive echo-sacrifices of the queen in two variants (6.Qf5! and 6.Qf1!), but let down the introduction with the departure of four light pieces from the chessboard... Of course, these exchanges changed the ratio of material forces, which was necessary for the co-authors for certain actions, in adjusting the movements of the pieces to their new and interesting idea. And yet, the exchange introduction lowered the perception in general.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3 hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Leonid Topko"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3q1N1k/2p4P/5bP1/1P5K/3p4/3B4/7B/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "27"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. g7+ $1 Bxg7 (1... Kxg7 2. Ne6+ $18) 2. Ng6+ Kxh7 3. b6 $1 ({Logical try:} 3. Ne5+ $2 Kg8 4. Bc4+ Kf8 5. Ng6+ Ke8 $19) 3... cxb6 4. Ne5+ $1 (4. Ne7+ $2 Kh8 5. Ng6+ Kg8 6. Bc4+ Kh7 $19) 4... Kg8 5. Bc4+ Kf8 (5... Kh7 6. Bd3+ Kg8 7. Bc4+ {positional draw}) 6. Ng6+ Ke8 7. Bb5+ Kf7 8. Bc4+ Kf6 (8... Ke8 9. Bb5+ Kf7 10. Bc4+ {positional draw}) 9. Be5+ Kf5 10. Bd3+ Ke6 11. Bc4+ Kd7 12. Bb5+ Kc8 13. Ba6+ Kd7 14. Bb5+ {positional draw. The work of the veteran of Ukrainian etudy from Kryvyi Rih presents an original synthesis of three positional draws, where the white bishop pursues the black king on three different diagonals. And in order for everything conceived by the author to happen, white sacrifices all three of his pawns in the opening, the last of which (3.b6!) is a small logical filling of the study.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4 hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Amatzia Avni & Yochanan Afek"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6k1/1p3q2/3K1P2/7R/1P6/R7/3p4/3b1r2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Rg3+ (1. Ra8+ $2 Qf8+ 2. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $19) 1... Bg4 $1 ({not at once} 1... Qg6 2. Rxg6+ Kf7 3. Rhh6 $1 $18) 2. Rxg4+ Qg6 $1 (2... Kf8 3. Rh8+ Qg8 4. Rhxg8+ ({ or} 4. Rgxg8+) 4... Kf7 5. R4g7+ Kxf6 6. Rf8+ Kxg7 7. Rxf1 $18) 3. Rxg6+ Kf7 4. Rg7+ $1 (4. Rd5 $2 d1=Q 5. Rg7+ Kxf6 $19) (4. Rhh6 $2 d1=Q+ $19) 4... Kxf6 5. Rf5+ $1 Rxf5 (5... Kxf5 6. Rf7+ $18) 6. Rg1 {white has avoided an immediate disaster but he still needs to play accurately to save the day.} Rf4 $1 7. Kd5 $1 (7. Rd1 $2 Rd4+ 8. Kc7 Ke6 $1 9. b5 (9. Kxb7 $2 Rxb4+ 10. Kc6 Rd4 11. Kc5 Ke5 $19) 9... Rd7+ 10. Kc8 b6 $19) 7... Rf5+ (7... Rxb4 8. Rd1 Rb2 9. Kc4 Ke5 10. Kc3 $11) 8. Kd6 $1 ({Surprisingly staying away of the "d" pawn. The alternatives lose the resulting pawn ending i.e.} 8. Kd4 $2 {Kc4? loses similarly} Ke6 9. Kc3 Rd5 10. Rd1 Ke5 $1 11. Rxd2 (11. b5 Kd6) 11... Rxd2 12. Kxd2 Kd4 13. b5 Kc5 $19) (8. Ke4 $2 Re5+ 9. Kd3 Re1 $19) 8... Rf4 ({Or} 8... Rf3 9. Rd1 Rd3+ 10. Kc7 $1 (10. Kc5 $2 Rd7 $19) 10... b5 11. Kc6 $11) 9. Kd5 { positional draw. The sacrificial game of the parties leads to equality, in which the coordinated actions of the king and rooks of White allow them to maintain positional balance. But the study of the Israeli co-authors lacks an introduction - the initial position is almost ready and, unfortunately, is not created during the game. It is interesting to compare a similar sacrifice (5. Rf5+!) with a false sacrificial attempt of another rook in the study by J. Marwitz (HHdbVI#43147).} 1/2-1/2

[Event "5 hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Taras Rudenko"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2K1k3/ppP2p2/1P3P2/P1P1n3/1p6/3P4/6b1/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "27"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. a6 $1 ({Try:} 1. Kb8 $2 Nc6+ $1 2. Ka8 Kd7 3. Kxb7 Nxa5+ 4. Kb8 Bb7 5. c6+ Kxc6 6. bxa7 Kb6 $1 7. a8=Q Nc6#) (1. bxa7 $2 Bh3+ 2. Kxb7 Bg2+ $1 3. Kb6 Kd7 4. d4 Nc4+ $19) 1... bxa6 2. b7 (2. Kb8 $2 Nc6+ 3. Kb7 Na5+ 4. Kb8 Bh3 5. bxa7 Nc6+ 6. Kb7 Nxa7 7. Kxa7 $19) 2... Nc6 3. b8=Q Na5 $1 4. Qa8 $1 (4. Qxb4 $2 Bh3+ 5. Kb8 Nc6+ 6. Kb7 Nxb4 $19) 4... Bxa8 5. Kb8 Bb7 (5... Nc6+ 6. Kxa8 Kd7 7. Kb7 Na5+ 8. Kb8 Nc6+ 9. Kb7 $11) 6. c6 Bc8 $1 7. Kxc8 b3 8. Kb8 Nxc6+ 9. Ka8 $1 (9. Kb7 $2 Nd8+ $1 10. Ka8 b2 11. c8=Q b1=Q $19) 9... Kd7 10. Kb7 Nd8+ 11. Kb8 Nc6+ 12. Kb7 Na5+ 13. Kb8 Nc6+ 14. Kb7 {positional draw. A witty positional draw is obtained after precise and subtle moves of White to the corner (queen sacrifice 4.Qa8! and 9.Ka8! - king's triangle: b8-a8-b7). The study is decorated with a try on the 1st move with a mate knight. The author from Ukrainian Poltava, by the way, is 11 years old, for whom this year was his debut in chess composition. Currently, he has already published several studies...} 1/2-1/2

[Event "sp. hm. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Jan Sprenger"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1b4K1/4B2p/1p2r1k1/1R6/2Pq2P1/3p4/Q7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "19"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 {Theme: play with batteries, pins and skewers and a Nowotny interference. Symmetric material.} 1. Rg4+ Kh5 2. Qd1 $1 {battery} ({logical try} 2. Qf1 $4 Qxf1 $1 {queen en prise}) ({logical try} 2. Qg1 $2 Rxe6 3. Qh2+ Kxg4 4. Qh4+ Kf3 $1 {square f3 available}) 2... Qe2 $1 {The other ways to block the diagonal remove the obstacles in the tries 2. Qf1 and 2. Qg1.} (2... Re2 3. Qf1 $1 {no Qxf1} Qxc3+ 4. Kg8 $18) (2... Bf3 3. Qg1 $1 Rxe6 4. Qh2+ Kxg4 5. Qh4+ { square f3 blocked} Kf5 6. Qf4#) 3. Re4 $1 {Nowotny with pin} (3. Qb1 $2 Qxg4+ 4. Bxg4+ Kxg4 5. Qd1+ Kxg3 6. Qxd2 Rh5 $10 {followed by Bf3}) ({thematic try}  3. Qh1+ $4 Bxh1) ({thematic try} 3. Qxe2 $2 Rxe2) 3... Rg5+ (3... Rxe4 4. Qh1+ Kg5 5. Qxh6#) (3... Bxe4 4. Qxe2+) (3... Qxd1 4. Rxe5#) 4. Kf7 Rf5+ $1 (4... Qxd1 5. Rh4#) (4... Rg7+ 5. Kxg7 Qxd1 6. Re5#) 5. Bxf5 $1 Qxd1 6. Bg6+ Kg5 7. Re5+ Kg4 8. Bh5+ {skewer} Kxg3 9. Bxd1 Bf3 10. Re3 $1 $18 {In the game study of the German grandmaster-practitioner, white's actions are thought out from the beginning to the end (overlapping Novotny with a quartet of different mates). The winning of the queen at the end was found in the study by E. Pogosyants (HHdbVI#44483), but Black keeps the intrigue with the bishop move, with the threat of transforming the pawn d2. However, White took everything into account half a step further, having in reserve a rook-binding move.} 1-0

[Event "2 com. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Itay Richardson"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5NB1/7r/2k4p/4r2N/5pP1/6pK/6P1/8 b - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "18"] [EventDate "2022"] [Source "Analyze This"] 
 1... Rh8 (1... Re1 2. Nxf4 $10) 2. Ng6 (2. Nxf4 $2 Rxg8 $19) 2... Re1 $1 (2... Rxh5+ {even loses to even loses to} 3. gxh5 Rxg8 4. Ne7+ $18) 3. Bd5+ $1 (3. Nxh8 $2 Rh1#) 3... Kxd5 4. Nhxf4+ Ke4 (4... Kd6 5. Nxh8 $16) 5. Nd3 $1 (5. Nxh8 $2 Kxf4 6. Ng6+ Kg5 7. Nf8 (7. Nh4 Rh1+ $19) 7... Re7 8. Kxg3 Kf6 9. Kf4 Rf7 $19) 5... Kxd3 (5... Rd1 6. Nc5+ (6. Nxh8 $2 Rxd3 $19) 6... Kd4 7. Nxh8 Kxc5 8. Kxg3 $10) 6. Nxh8 Re3 (6... Re7 7. Kxg3 Rg7 8. Kh4 Ke4 9. Kh5 $10) 7. Nf7 (7. Ng6 $2 Ke2 8. Nh4 Kf2 9. Nf5 Re1 10. Nxg3 Re3 $19) (7. g5 $2 hxg5 8. Nf7 Re7 9. Nxg5 Rg7 10. Ne6 Rg8 11. Nf4+ Ke3 12. Nd5+ Kf2 13. Nc3 Rh8+ 14. Kg4 Kxg2 $19) 7... Ke4 8. Kh4 $1 ({Thematic try:} 8. Ng5+ $2 Ke5 $1 9. Nf7+ Kf4 $19) 8... Kf4 (8... Rb3 9. Nxh6 Kf4 10. Nf5 Rb2 11. Nxg3 $10) 9. Ng5 $1 hxg5+ (9... Ra3 10. Nh3+ Ke5 11. Ng1 Rb3 12. Nh3 $10) 10. Kh3 $10 {stalemate. White consistently and sacrificially, at the cost of three easy pieces, finds salvation. Outwardly restrained, but quite nice study by a young Israeli author.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "3 com. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Ivan Maly"] [Black ""] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1b4b1/4P3/8/4n2p/2p5/3k4/1K6/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. e8=Q c3+ 2. Ka1 $1 (2. Kc1 $2 Ba7 $19) 2... c2 3. Qd8+ Ke2 4. Kb2 Bh7 (4... Bb3 5. Qxb8 Nd3+ 6. Kxb3 c1=Q 7. Qh2+ Ke3 8. Qg3+ $1 Ke2 9. Qh2+ Ke3 10. Qg3+ Kd4 11. Qd6+ Ke4 12. Qg6+ Kf4 13. Qxh5 Qb2+ 14. Kc4 Ne5+ 15. Kc5 $1 $11 (15. Kd5 $2 Qb5+ 16. Ke6 Qd7+ 17. Kf6 Ng4+ 18. Kg6 Qe8+ $19)) 5. Qxb8 Kd1 $1 6. Qb3 Bd3 (6... Nd3+ 7. Kc3 Nf4 8. Kd4 $1 Ne2+ 9. Ke3 Nc3 10. Kd4 Bg8 11. Qxc3 c1=Q 12. Qf3+ $11) 7. Qa4 $1 (7. Kc3 $2 h4 8. Kd4 Ke2 $1 9. Qa3 Nf3+ 10. Kc3 Kd1 11. Qa4 Ne5 12. Kd4 Nc4 13. Qb3 Nd2 $19) 7... Nc4+ (7... h4 8. Qa1+ $11) 8. Kc3 h4 9. Kd4 $1 h3 (9... Ke2 10. Qa1 Nd2 11. Kc3 Nb1+ 12. Kb2 Kd1 13. Qa4 $1 $11) 10. Qb3 Nb2 11. Kc3 h2 12. Kxb2 Be4 13. Qe3 $1 h1=Q 14. Qc1+ Ke2 15. Qxh1 Bxh1 16. Kxc2 $11 {In the work of the famous etudist from Ukrainian Cherkasy, the active play of the white king on the large diagonal with a return, as well as the exact move 7.Qa4! (7.Kc3?) is remembered.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4 com. G. Skovoroda-300"] [Site ""] [Date "2022"] [Round ""] [White "Marcel Dore"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/8/kpp2ppp/8/1PP3P1/5PKP/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "23"] [EventDate "2022"] 
 1. Kf3 c4 2. bxc4 bxc4 3. h4 $1 {A)} ({Thematic try :} 3. Ke3 $2 Ka4 $1 4. Kd4 Kb3 {zz} 5. f3 h4 6. g4 fxg4 7. fxg4 h3 $1 {zz -+}) 3... g4+ ({B)} 3... gxh4 4. gxh4 Ka4 5. Ke3 $1 (5. Kf4 $2 Kb3 6. Kxf5 Kxc3 $19) 5... f4+ 6. Kd4 $1 ({ Thematic try :} 6. Kxf4 $2 Kb3 7. Ke4 Kxc3 $11) 6... Kb3 7. f3 $1 {zz} Kc2 8. Kxc4 Kd2 9. Kd4 $1 (9. Kd5 $2 Ke3 10. c4 Kxf3 $11) 9... Ke2 10. Ke4 $1 $18 (10. c4 $2 Kxf3 11. c5 Kg2 {(g3) =})) 4. Kf4 Ka4 5. Ke5 $1 (5. Kg5 $2 Kb3 6. Kxh5 Kxc3 7. Kg6 $1 $11) 5... Ka3 6. Kd5 Kb3 7. Kd4 {zz} Kc2 8. Kxc4 Kd2 9. Kd4 $1 ( {Thematic try :} 9. Kb4 $2 Ke2 10. c4 Kxf2 11. c5 f4 $1 12. gxf4 g3 $11) 9... Ke2 10. Ke5 $1 (10. c4 $2 Kxf2 {see thematic try 9.Kb4?}) 10... Kxf2 11. Kf4 Ke2 12. c4 $1 $18 {A simple pawn study of the French veteran with precise moves of the white king. The author's reworking of his study (HHdbVI#6777).} ( 12. Kxf5 $2 Kf3 $1 13. c4 Kxg3 $11) 1-0

[Event "7.hm Seneca MT Th?mes 64"] [Site ""] [Date "1978"] [Round ""] [White "Marwitz=J"] [Black "(+0534.12a2b6)"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3R4/1r1P4/1kb1p1N1/2p5/R7/8/K7/1n6 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "21"] [EventDate "1978"] 
 {Themes 64=100 Themes 64/12 1980 (EG#04392).} 1. Ra6+ $1 (1. Raa8 $2 Rxd7 2. Rxd7 Bxa8 3. Kxb1 Be4+) 1... Kc7 (1... Kb5 2. Ne5 $1 Nc3+ 3. Ka1 $1 Rxd7 (3... Bxd7 4. Rd6) 4. Rxd7 Bxd7 5. Ra8 $1 Bc6 6. Rb8+) (1... Kxa6 2. Ra8+) 2. Rc8+ ( 2. Rxc6+ $2 Kxc6 3. Ne5+ Kd6 4. Ra8 Nc3+ 5. Ka3 Rxd7) 2... Kxd7 3. Raxc6 $1 (3. Rcxc6 $2 Nc3+ 4. Ka3 (4. Ka1 Rb1#) 4... Nb1+ 5. Ka4 Nc3+ 6. Ka3 (6. Ka5 Rb5#) 6... Nb1+) 3... Nc3+ 4. Ka3 (4. Ka1 $2 Rb1#) 4... Nb5+ 5. Ka4 Nc7 $1 (5... Na7 6. Nf8+ Ke7 7. R6c7+) 6. Rd6+ $1 (6. Ne7 $2 Rb4+ 7. Ka5 Rb5+ 8. Ka4 Rb4+ 9. Ka3 Nb5+ 10. Ka2 Nc3+) 6... Kxd6 (6... Kxc8 {<main>} 7. Ne7+ Kb8 8. Nc6+ Ka8 (8... Kc8 {<main>} 9. Rd8#) 9. Rd8+ Rb8 10. Rxb8#) 7. Rd8+ Kc6 8. Ne7+ Kb6 9. Nc8+ Ka6 (9... Kc6 {<main>} 10. Rd6#) 10. Rd6+ Rb6 {<eg>} 11. Rxb6# 1-0