I’m working on a few modifications to the website and plan to add a section specifically for puzzles and compositions.  Granted I will always vary the difficulty from simple to incredibly difficult.

Now it has been a very long time since I posted the study by Mark Liburkin.  Before I get to another of his brilliant positions, I would like to post the answer to the previous one.

The spectacular thing about this puzzle is that white promotes three times to three different pieces, and never to a queen.

1.Ne4 Kd3 2.Nc5 Kc3 3.Nb3 Be5

Now black threatens to move the king and forcing the pawn through.

4.f4 Bg7 5.e8N!

The first underpromotion.  Promoting to a queen loses here.  5.e8Q?? c1Q (5…Kd3 6.Bd4 Bd4 7.Nd4 c1Q mate) 6.Nc1 Kc2 7.Bd4 Bd4 mate.

5…Bh8 6.f5 Be5

Now the bishop has returned to the e5 square and white will lose unless a distraction can be created.

7.Bh2! Bh2 8.b7 Be5 9.b8B!

The problem with promoting to the queen is that black can forced a stalemate.  9.b8Q? Kc4! 10.Qe5 c1Q 11.Nc1 is a draw.

9…Bb8 10.Nc7 Bc7 11.e7 Be5

12.e8R!

Again, taking a queen will draw.  12.e8Q? Kc4 13.Qe5 c1Q 14.Nc1= Only after promoting to now a rook can white finish the game.

12…Bf6 13.Re6 Bg7 14.f6+-

Mark Liburkin
Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1939

White to move and win.  Good luck.

I will have the April update, a new puzzle and the solution to the previous Liburkin study once I have the games from April finished.

In February, Ryan Clayton won the tournament with 3.5/4, drawing against Michigan junior Eric Larson.  That game was probably the only one of Ryan’s to not have the usual fireworks.  It was such fireworks that nearly cost him his first round against John Smaltz.  Nick Santus came close to winning his last round game, which would have put him at a tie for first.

The March Swiss was full of rating upsets.  Clayton lost his first round game putting him behind for the remainder of the tournament.  Loren Schwiebert took 3.5 to tie for first, knocking off Volker Jeschonnek in round 3.  Loren used the Moscow variation in the Sicilian, a line that I consider to be the most annoying that white can throw out there.

John Hibbler is again becoming a frequent visitor to the tournaments, only tying for first due to his last round draw against Eric Larson.

Please have a look at the games from the tournaments.  I should hopefully have the games from April up in the coming week.

I tend to show many people compositions or studies at tournaments, just about every month.  The following position is one a friend of mine had shown me a number of years ago.  I generally will toss positions out that were composed by Mark Liburkin, and although composed by my favorite, I haven’t shared it with anyone until now.  Before getting to the position, I am interested in obtaining any material one may have on Liburkin.  If anyone has puzzles or books by Liburkin, please contact me.

Mark Liburkin
Vechernya Moskva, 1933

White to move and win

Good luck.