A study by Libiurkin and one (more) imitation

The first study comes from the collection [1234 Modern End-Game Studies], and is a composition by M. S. Libiurkin. In this pretty study White mates in 23 moves, but in the meantime has promoted five pawns to Knights and has allowed to Black three Queenings. (Unfortunally, this study is cooked, because the promotion 1.d8=Q! leads to a shorter solution).

The second study, by Manolas Emmanuel, contains no pieces, only pawns. The goal is to show the Phoenix theme, in triplicate.

In the two studies the mechanism of Knight production is similar, the road to victory is different.

Theme Phoenix : A pawn is promoted to a piece which was previously captured.

	(Problem 427) M. S. Libiurkin, "1234 Modern End-Game Studies", 1938, White plays and wins. + (10 + 10)
[8/p1pPp1p1/P1P1P1P1/2p5/3P4/5P1P/K2p2pp/3R2sk]

White can not win with 1.d8=Q?, because 1...cxd4 is threatening draw.
Key : 1.d8=S!
1...cxd4 2.Sf7 d3 3.Sh6 gxh6 4.g7 h5 5.g8=S!
(not 5.g8=Q? h4 with draw threat)
5...h4 6.Sf6 exf6 7.e7 f5 8.e8=S! f4 9.Sd6 cxd6 10.c7 d5
11.c8=S! d4 12.Sb6 axb6 13.a7 b5 14.a8=S! b4 15.Sb6 b3+
16.Ka3 b2 17.Sc4 b1=Q 18.Rxb1 d1=Q 19.Rxd1 d2 20.Sb2 d3
21.Ra1 d1=Q 22.Sxd1 ~ 23.Sf2#

	(Problem 428) Manolas Emmanuel, dedicated to M. S. Libiurkin, original, 20090310, White plays and wins. + (8 + 8)
[8/1p1p1p1P/1P1P1P2/8/4p3/6p1/2P1PpPp/5K1k]

Key : 1.h8=S! e3 2.Sg6 fxg6 3.f7 g5 4.f8=S g4 5.Se6 dxe6
6.d7 e5 7.d8=S e4 8.Sc6 bxc6 9.b7 c5 10.b8=Q c4
11.Qxg3 c3 12.Qxe3 g3 13.Qxg3 e3 14.Qxh2+ Kxh2 15.g4 Kf3
16.g5 Kf4 17.g6 Ke5 18.g7 Kd4 19.g8=Q +-
(possible continuation :
19...Kc5 20. Qb3 Kd4
21.Qb4+ Ke5 22.Qxc3+ Ke4 23.Qd3+ Ke5 24.c4 Kf4 25.c5 Ke5
26.c6 Kf6 27.c7 Kg5 28.c8=Q Kf6 29.Qdf5+ Kg7 30.Qcf8#)

Triple repetition of the Phoenix theme, in moves (2, 4), (5, 7) and (14, 19).

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08-04-2010 : The good problemist Ioannis Garoufalidis, has notified me that my problem is anticipated.
The composition is a tough job!

Hello Emmanuel
Your study is anticipated (almost mirrored !!!)

	(Problem 447) Karhia V First prize, Suomen Shakki, 1943 White plays and wins. + (8 + 8)
[8/2p1p1p1/P1P1P1P1/1p6/8/3p4/pPpP1P2/k1K5]

1.a7! b4 2.a8=S! b3 3.Sb6 cxb6 4.c7 b5 5.c8=S b4 6.Sd6 exd6 7.e7 d5 8.e8=S d4 9.Sf6 gxf6 10.g7 f5 11.g8=Q f4 12.Qxb3 f3 13.Qxd3 b3 14.Qxb3 d3 15.Qxa2+! Kxa2 16.b4 1–0

See also newspaper "Apogevmatini of Saturday" (column by Siaperas) 23-10-1976

regards
Ioannis Garoufalidis