Crackers from Ukraine

[Glarean]

The problem chess scene in today's Ukraine is a very diverse and lively one, and its leading composers are internationally highly esteemed personalities.
Notable among them are Sergei Didukh (*1976), Mikhail Pastalaka (*1974), Sergiy Borodavkin (*1969), Vladislav Tarasiuk (*1968), Igor Yarmonov (*1967), Sergey-N Tkachenko (*1963), Eduard Eilazyan (*1956), Vladimir Ryabtsev (*1959), Alexander Stavrietsky (*1959), Michael Grushko (*1955), Valery Gorbunov (*1950) or even a Vladimir Samilo (*1946).

The following examples show how aesthetically pleasing and at the same time chesswise complex these active Ukrainian problem authors are able to compose. They are likely to be hard nuts to crack even for the so overpowering chess programs and cannot simply be overrun by the engines...

Alexander Stavrietsky - Mate in 12
[fen]3b2q1/2kp3b/1p5p/R2P4/2p3P1/1Pr1p2K/p3BR2/3Q4 w[/fen]


.

Igor Yarmonov - White to play and draw
[fen]8/3p4/p3b3/P4p1p/4pP1P/2pP2Np/Q2P2kp/2N1K3 w[/fen]


.

Sergei Didukh - White to play and draw
[fen]r4B1k/3p2Rp/7K/2pp4/1q3pBp/1N4b1/4R3/4r3 w[/fen]


.

Vladimir Samilo - Mate in 11
[fen]7r/3KR1pp/5k2/7P/2Pp4/pn1P4/b7/1n4R1 w[/fen]


.

Vladislav Tarasiuk - White to play and win
[fen]7R/Bp5p/7K/8/8/P6B/1b3pN1/kn3b2 w[/fen]


.

Analyzes and downloads: https://glarean-magazin.ch/Schach/Ukrai ... nisten.htm

Regards: Walter

[Cornfed]

The problem chess scene in today's Ukraine is a very diverse and lively one, and its leading composers are internationally highly esteemed personalities.
Notable among them are Sergei Didukh (*1976), Mikhail Pastalaka (*1974), Sergiy Borodavkin (*1969), Vladislav Tarasiuk (*1968), Igor Yarmonov (*1967), Sergey-N Tkachenko (*1963), Eduard Eilazyan (*1956), Vladimir Ryabtsev (*1959), Alexander Stavrietsky (*1959), Michael Grushko (*1955), Valery Gorbunov (*1950) or even a Vladimir Samilo (*1946).

The following examples show how aesthetically pleasing and at the same time chesswise complex these active Ukrainian problem authors are able to compose. They are likely to be hard nuts to crack even for the so overpowering chess programs and cannot simply be overrun by the engines...

Alexander Stavrietsky - Mate in 12
[fen]3b2q1/2kp3b/1p5p/R2P4/2p3P1/1Pr1p2K/p3BR2/3Q4 w[/fen]


.

Igor Yarmonov - White to play and draw
[fen]8/3p4/p3b3/P4p1p/4pP1P/2pP2Np/Q2P2kp/2N1K3 w[/fen]


.

Sergei Didukh - White to play and draw
[fen]r4B1k/3p2Rp/7K/2pp4/1q3pBp/1N4b1/4R3/4r3 w[/fen]


.

Vladimir Samilo - Mate in 11
[fen]7r/3KR1pp/5k2/7P/2Pp4/pn1P4/b7/1n4R1 w[/fen]


.

Vladislav Tarasiuk - White to play and win
[fen]7R/Bp5p/7K/8/8/P6B/1b3pN1/kn3b2 w[/fen]


.

Analyzes and downloads: https://glarean-magazin.ch/Schach/Ukrai ... nisten.htm

Regards: Walter

Unless by 'engines' you mean those powering TANKS.

Seriously though, I find it hard to stomach how some (I won't name the chess website...it's NOT this one) are 'justifying' that invasion. One person there posted a link to a known disinformation website with various 'neo-Nazi' stuff directed toward the Ukranian President, who is...Jewish.

The problems...indeed hard. I just tried one and had to give up pretty quickly, too much chaos on the board for this human.

[JVMerlino]

The King from CM9000 (now 20 years old) finds the Mate in 12 from the first position in one second (and in only about 1M positions searched):

Code: Select all

Time	Depth	Score	Positions	Moves
0:00	1/3	-5.76	6528		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Rff5 bxa5 3.Rb5+ Kc8
					4.bxc4
0:00	1/4	-5.66	19579		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Rff5 bxa5 3.Rb5+ Ka7
					4.bxc4
0:00	1/4	-5.55	36985		1.Qd4 exf2+ 2.Qxc3 bxa5 3.Qxa5+
					Kd6 4.Qa3+ Ke5 5.bxc4
0:00	1/5	-5.69	76631		1.Qd4 exf2+ 2.Qxc3 bxa5 3.Qxa5+
					Kd6 4.Qa3+ Kxd5 5.bxc4+ Ke6 6.Qa6+
					d6 7.Qxa2
0:00	1/5	-2.25	86134		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Ra8+ Kxa8 3.Bf3+ Be4
					4.Bxe4+ Kb8 5.Rxa2 e2+ 6.Kh2
0:00	1/6	-0.34	100784		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Ra8+ Kxa8 3.Bf3+ Be4
					4.Bxe4+ Kb8 5.Rxa2 e2+ 6.Kh2 Rh3+
					7.Kxh3 Qxg4+ 8.Kh2 Qxe4 9.Rxe2
0:00	1/7	-5.03	432760		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Rff5 Bxf5 3.Rxf5 cxb3
					4.Qa1 Rc2
0:00	1/8	2.93	892612		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Ra8+ Kxa8 3.Qh1+ Kb8
					4.Qa8+ Kxa8 5.Bf3+ Kb8 6.Rxa2 Be4
					7.Bxe4 e2+ 8.Kh2 Rh3+ 9.Kxh3 Qxg4+
					10.Kxg4 h5+ 11.Kxh5
0:01	1/9	Mate12	1004886		1.d6+ Kb8 2.Ra8+ Kxa8 3.Qh1+ Kb8
					4.Qa8+ Kxa8 5.Bf3+ Kb8 6.Rxa2 Be4
					7.Bxe4 e2+ 8.Kh2 Rh3+ 9.Kxh3 Qxg4+
					10.Kxg4 h5+ 11.Kxh5 cxb3 12.Ra8#

[Glarean]

Unfortunately #5 is a dual, sorry.