EG No 10501 V.Kovalenko (Maritime region)
3rd prize Shakhmatnaya kompozitsia Win

White: Ke8; pawns a2, b3, e2, h2
Black: Ke5; pawns b6, e3, h3, h4 h5

1.a4/i Kd4/ii 2.b4 (Kd7? Kc3;) Kc4 3.a5 bxa5 4.bxa5 Kb5 5.Kd7/iii Kxa5 6.Kc6/iv Kb4 7.Kd5
Kc3 8.Ke4 Kd2 9.Kf3 Ke1 10.Kxe3 Kf1 11.Kf3 Kg1 12.e4 Kh2 13.Kf2 Khl 14.e5 h2 15.e6 h3
16.e7 h4 17.Ke2/v Kg1 18.e8Q h1Q 19.Qe3+ Kh2 20.Qf4+ Kg2 21.Qf2 mate.
i) 1.b4? b5. Or 1.Kd7? Kd4 2.Kc6 Kc3, after which queens appear one after the other.
ii) Reti! If Kd5 2.Kd7 Kc5 (Kd4;b4) 3.Kc7.
iii) "The central moment. Cannot White penetrate to e3 via the infantryman on h5? Let us see:
5.Kf7? Kxa5 6.Kg6 Kb4 7.Kxh5/vi Kc3 8.Kg4 Kd2 9.Kf3 Kel 10.Kxe3 Kf1 11.Kf3 Kg1 12.e4
Kxh2, and Black is stalemated thanks to the *absence* of the h5 pawn!"
iv) "This nudge is not expendable: 6.Kd6? Kb6 7.Kd5 Kc7 8.Ke4 Kd6, and Black has taken the
opposition."
v) "The final stitch. The e3 square is reserved for the queen. 17 Ke3? Kg1 18.e8Q h1Q, and the
win has gone for ever."
vi) 7.Kf5 Kc5 8.Kg5 Kd4 9.Kf4 Kd5 10.Kxe3 Ke5, is a clear draw.
"The droll alternatives facing White on move 5, between pairs skating (5.Kd7!) and the
individual version (5.Kf7?), is resolved in favour of the former. The argument is conducted with
clarity and an even temper." 