Qb Australasian Chess 2008-2013
Problem Potpourri Edited by Geoff Foster
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Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] Greetings! I know you don’t usually look at the problems, but try your hand at 1 below and you’ll be hooked for life. The E is well placed on f2, where it can set up mating threats on b4, b6, c7 or d8, but the D is also very well placed on d5 and always seems to have an answer e.g. 1.Eg3 Df4 2.Eh4 (not 2.E×f4 stalemate) De6. This is an ideal problem for learning about E vs D endings, so I recommend that you and a regular opponent, instead of playing your usual game, play this position several times, taking turns at being White. You’ll have great fun and learn plenty in the process! This problem is a real challenge so you might like to start by moving the K to c5 and solving the resultant 6 mover. David Shire’s elegant two-mover 2 has eight variations, including three pairs of matching black errors. In the three-mover 3 a waiting move will do, because if Black plays the F on b1 along the long diagonal then White captures it, followed by mate next move. White seems to have plenty of waiting moves e.g. Ge7, Ge6 or Ef3. Is one of these the key? The author of 4 has played chess for many years, but now at the age of 91 he has taken up composing helpmates! Note that in helpmates Black moves first and helps White to deliver mate. 1. Mate in 14
2. David Shire (England) Mate in 2
3. Mate in 3
4. Martin Moskowitz (USA) Helpmate in 3 (3 solutions)
January/February 2008
The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in January at Cranbrook School in Sydney, and once again there will be a problem solving competition. Much was learnt at last year’s inaugural event, so it should be even better this year. I urge all players to have a go. A report will appear next issue.
Solutions to Problems 87–90 (November–December 2007) 87. SIKDAR. Key: 1.Cf3! (threat 2.Ie5#) 1...Le3/Lf5/Ld5 2.Ih2/Ig3/Ic7 waiting 2...Le4 3.Ie5#. Mr Sikdar submitted this problem with the K on e7, but that leads to a dual continuation 1...Ld5 2.Ic7 or Ib5+. Even after repair work (i.e. K to f7), 87 is still marred somewhat by the short threat and repetition of 2...Le4 3.Ie5#. Thematically, the L’s geometric pattern of initial moves is known as Y-flights {Ian Shanahan}. The give and take key allows a different waiting second move for each of the 3 flights {Andy Sag [S]}. A tick for Sik. I had to use the computer {Bob Meadley [M]}. 88. KOZHAKIN. Try: 1.Ce5? 1...Bb6! Try: 1.Cf4? 1...B×a6! Try: 1.Gc5? 1...B×a6! Key: 1.Ce7! (waiting) 1...B×a6 2.Gb8+ L×a7 3.Cc6#; 1...Bb6 2.Cd5 Lb7 3.Aa8I#. A classy mini for 2007 {M}. 89. SHIRE. (i) 1.F×e3 I×g3 2.F×d4 Ib3#; (ii) 1.H×d7 Ie8 2.H×d4 Ib5#; (iii) 1.D×f5 Ge5 2.D×d4 Gc5#; (iv) 1.Be5 I×g7 2.B×d4 I×f7#. In each case a black unit captures the Ad4 and self blocks L on the second move {S}. Removing d4 is the chore! {M} 90. WILLMOTT. 1.Ad4 Be5 2.A×e5 Bf5 3.A×f5 e.p. Bd5 4.A×g7 Fg4 5.A×h8I F×e2 6.If6 F×d1 7.I×d8 Fg4 8.I×b8 Fc8. Black must play 2….. Bf7-f5 because a single step is illegal in monochrome chess. The resulting en passant capture is a popular device in this type of problem {ed.}. When is a check not a check? L can safely stay on e8 because the promoted I cannot go to any white square including e8! {S}. A check is a check but not in monochrome? {M}.
January/February 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] Problem 5 is another example of a duel between two pieces, in this case bishop versus rook. At first sight White appears to be in danger of losing, given that Black has a rook and a dangerous passed pawn. White's only chance is to continually threaten mate, noting that Black's rook will be vulnerable whenever it can be forced on to a white square. The author of 6 has led a very interesting life in Egypt, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and now Canberra, where his chief claim to fame is that he is my father's doctor! In 7 the black king will head for c5, so White must either prevent this or prepare a mate. Christopher Jones is one of the world's leading composers of helpmates, so 8 is bound to be good. In this problem Black moves first and both sides cooperate, enabling White to deliver mate on his third move. 5. Mate in 8
6. Molham Hassan Mate in 2
7. Mate in 3
8. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
March/April 2008
Solutions to Problems 1-4 (January-February 2008) 1 (Bruno Fargette, 2nd Prize, Themes-64, 1969) Not 1.Bh4? Nc7!, so 1.Bd4! Ne7+ 2.Kc5 Nd5! (the best defensive square) 3.Be5 Nb6 4.Kc6 (otherwise Black can threaten a perpetual check starting with Nd7+) Nd5 5.Bb8 Nb6! (if 5...Ne7+ 6.Kc5 Nd5 7.Ba7, which is why the bishop played to b8 on move 5) 6.Bg3 Nd5 7.Bf2 (returning to the initial position, but now it's Black's turn to move) Ne7+ 8.Kc5 Nd5 9.Be1 Nc3 10.Bh4 Ne4+ 11.Kc6 Nf6 (if 11...Ng5 then 12.Bf2 followed by 13.Bb6 mate) 12.Bg5 Nd5 13.Bd8+ with mate next move. Amazing that all White's moves are forced. Congratulations to Andy and Arthur on solving this difficult problem - Bob also came close. {ed.} You were certainly correct – this problem is a real challenge. {Arthur Willmott [W]} White needs to lose a tempo. {Andy Sag [AS]} Life is too short for 14 movers of this calibre ... The scheme of attacking the critical square the BN cannot defend is always good chess. {Bob Meadley [M]} This one overwhelmed my solving patience, alas. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 2 (Shire) 1.Qd7! waiting. 1...Nd5 2.N7d6. 1...Nxf5 2.Bxf5. 1...Ne else 2.Qc6. 1...Rf4 2.Ng5. 1...R else 2.Rg4. 1...Nh any 2.Ng3. 1...e1 2.Rxe1. 1...f2 2.Bg2. A wealth of mates in the Shire style. {W} Can Shire reach higher? {M} 3 (T & J Warton, The Observer, 1949 (version)) 1.Rh6 waiting. 1...Bh7 2.Rhxh7 (instead of the set 2.Rdxh7). 1...Bg6 2.Rxg6. 1...Bf5 2.gxf5. 1...Be4 2.Bxe4. 1...Bd3 2.Kxd3. 1...Bc2 2.Nxc2. A class of problem known as a mutate - a waiting move would solve the problem but none is available, so White makes a move that changes some of the set play. Mutates are comparatively rare in 3-movers. There are many tries e.g. 1.Re7? Bg6! 2.Rxg6 Rd8 and now the white bishop is pinned. Similarly 1.Re6? Bh7! 2.Rxh7 Rd8. Another really excellent try is 1.Bf3? Bd3! 2.Kxd3 b4 and now the white king gets in the way of the intended 3.Be2. {ed.} A class of deviousness I've not seen. {M} An elegant problem, but a pity there are dual mates 3.Nb4 and Bxb7. {W} I found the key of this one entirely instinctively, first seeking the least-likely-looking move before inspecting the position properly! Anyway, what might have been a thoroughly unremarkable example of the Grab theme - itself rather tedious - is here lifted right out of the rut by the many tries, most of which fail on account of the prospective third-pin on the d-file ... very entertaining indeed. [IS] 4 (Moskowitz) (i) 1.Kb4 Ba3+ 2.Kb3 Bb2 3.Bb4 Ba2 (ii) 1.c4 dxc4 2.a3 Bxd2+ 3.Ka4 Bxc2 (iii) 1.Bb4 Ba2 2.Ba3 Bc4 3.Kb4 Bd2. The BP on f4 is intriguing and a good decoy as I spent a lot of time trying to work it but it is there to stop a cook 1.Bf4 Ba2 2.Bc7 Bc4 3.Bb6 Bd2. He's getting better as he gets older! {M} An interesting problem, took me quite a while to find the reason for the pawn on c2. {W} The wB's tempo-move in (i) is nice, despite the fact that wPd3 is unemployed in this phase ... it would have been better had the composer sought a second solution (only) with another, analogous tempo-move. [IS] 86 (Hale, September-October 2007) Dennis Hale reports that his intended solution is correct. Andy Sag's solution confirms Dennis's solution in all those aspects with which it deals, but Andy completely overlooked the possibility of a pawn move discovering check from the bishop, which accounts for the difference.
March/April 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] In the Babson Task, a black pawn promotes to queen, rook, bishop or knight, and White responds with matching promotions by a single pawn. That is, a promotion to queen is answered by a promotion to queen, a promotion to rook by a promotion to rook, and so on. In 1960 a young Frenchman named Pierre Drumare became aware of this elusive task and began an obsessive “search for the impossible”. In 1982 he finally admitted defeat, saying "after 22 years of exhausting labour I now have the certainty that the quadruple echo promotion will never be perfectly realised in a direct mate problem." Then in the following year an unknown 26-year-old football trainer from Kazan achieved the task with 11, which has since become regarded as the chess problem of the twentieth century. Now that I’ve divulged the theme you should be able to see the first 1.5 moves, but this shouldn’t spoil your solving pleasure, because the real enjoyment comes in unravelling the logic behind each promotion. In helpstalemates Black usually moves first, but 12 has an extra half move, so White moves first, both sides cooperating so that Black can inflict stalemate on his second move. There are 3 solutions to be found. 9. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster Mate in 2
10. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster Mate in 2
11. Mate in 4
12. Arthur Willmott Helpstalemate in 2.5 (3 solutions)
May/June 2008
The ACF has invited nominations for the Whyatt Medal for chess problem composition. The setting out of achievements should include a listing of published problems and of any awards received in competitions, giving full publication details and a reproduction from the publication itself. Published commentary on the problems may be attached, including the comments of competition judges and, if desired, also of editors and solvers. No limit is placed on the number of problems that may be listed. A separate document or message containing the following should be provided in respect of each nominee: (a) name in full (b) contact details (phone, email, postal address) (c) description or list of relevant achievements suitable for reading at the time of presentation (d) anything else relevant to the nomination. Nominations may be forwarded by email to
[email protected], or by post to Gary Wastell, 22 Bruarong Crescent, Frankston South, Vic 3199. The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2008. Solutions to Problems 5-8 (March-April 2008) 5 (Bo Lindgren, WCSC, 1995) 1.g5 Rf8 2.Bg6 Rf4 3.c5 Rc4 4.Bd3 Rb4 5.Be2! Rb3 6.Bc4, with mate in two more moves. White’s fifth move decoys the rook onto a white square, from where it cannot prevent a deadly check. (ed.} White threatens mate with each move and the black rook is kept busy for the first seven moves. (Arthur Willmott [W]} 6 (Hassan) 1.Bd1! waiting. 1…Kf5 2.e4. 1…Kd4 2.Rc4. 1…d4 2.Qe7. 1…g4 2.Qf4. 1…f5 2.Qe5. 1…N any 2.Qxd5. This one tricked Bob. Good work from Australia’s most enthusiastic composer! {ed} In setting it up to claim no solution the computer showed me Bd1 which I never dreamed of! A scalp for Molham! {Bob Meadley [M]} Key targets g4 and leaves 2 set flights which allow pin mates. {Andy Sag [AS]} The queen mates on 4 different squares. {W} The theme of pin-mates after flights - an evergreen, as old as the hills - remains forever attractive, but only when the key gives at least one of those flights. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 7 (Caldas Viana, Chess Monthly, 1882) 1.Kg8! waiting. 1…Kd4 2.Rd2+ Kc5/Kc3/Ke4 3.Qf8/Qb2/Bc2. 1…d4 2.Qb7 d3/Kd3 3.Qg7/Qxf3. 1…Kd3 2.Qf4 c3/d4/Kc3 3.Bb5/Qxf3/Qd2. One of the best 3-ers I’ve ever seen. {M} A very elusive key move which took me ages to find. {W} Key gives queen necessary room to manoeuvre. {AS} A fantastic (albeit provisional) key, the destination square being governed by the queen’s need to reach both f8 and g7 (via b7). My only quibble is the relatively uneconomical knight, though with the black king on c5 this knight at e6 delivers mate - a potential resource that distracted me for quite a long time. Could everything be moved one square to the right, for the sake of appearance (and a King-to-thecorner key)? {IS} 8 (Jones) (i) 1.Bg3 e3 2.fxe3 Rxd5+ 3.Kf4 Bxg3. (ii) 1.Nb5 c4 2.dxc4 Bxf4+ 3.Kd5 Rxb5. It must be sound – I tried every move. {M} A classic problem and not easy to solve. {W} Took 4 days to find one solution, then 4 seconds to find the second one! In each case a black piece unpins a blocked pawn which is then invited to capture a pawn thereby pinning the first mentioned piece. The remaining pinned pawn is then captured with a check, king moves and the first mentioned piece is captured by the mating piece. A neat solution pair. {AS} I solved this one much quicker than expected, finding (i) in about 10 seconds flat, and (ii) a millisecond later! The second solution 'drops out of the hat' straight away because one has come to expect such perfect analogy from Mr Jones, together with his trademark ODT [orthogonal diagonal transformation (ed.)] and model mates. A criticism, however: since one white pawn is idle in each phase, this could more naturally be presented in twin form, minus one of the white pawns; and there is a fair amount of Black force idle in each half. Even so, I failed to improve No.8's construction; all that ebony is needed to parry cooks... {IS}
May/June 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] Your solving pleasure begins with 13, containing the usual collection of enjoyable mates that solvers are coming to expect from Molham. Then move on to the tricky 14, where the only task is to provide a mate for 1…Rxg4. 15 is a study, but don’t worry, the solution is only a few moves deep and doesn’t require a knowledge of endgame theory. The play begins with 1.Bb4+ Kb3 (if 1…Kxb4 then 1…Nd3+ wins the pawn; if 1…Kd4 then 2.Bc5+ does the same). Now what can be done about Black’s threat to create a queen with check? Things look hopeless! Finally, make sure your headache tablets are to hand before tackling 16, yet another tough nut from the master of the 3-move helpmate. Black moves first and helps White to deliver mate. 13. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster Mate in 2
14. Mate in 3
15. Draw
16. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
July/August 2008
Solutions to Problems 9-12 (May-June 2008) 9 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Nc5! (threat 2.Nb3) 1…Kxc4 2.Ra4. 1…Ke5 2.Nxe6. 1…Bxc4 2.Nf3. 1…Bd5 2.Qxd5. 1…Rg3 2.Qe4. 1…Rb8 2.Nxe6. Very nice flight-giving key. {Bob Meadley [M]} A splendid flight-giving key (closing two lateral White lines) leads to a fine differentiation of interesting mates. And the construction is really fine. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 10 (Hassan & Foster) 1.e6! waiting. 1…Kd4 2.Bd6! (instead of the set mate 2.Be3). 1…Kf3 2.Nc3. 1…Kxf5 2.Ne3. A solver’s problem. It’s not the queen but the pawn stupid! Took me a very long time. {M} This one 'led me around the mulberry bush': once I had eliminated the tries, at first I thought that the key was just another try; so I had to begin all over again. Only when I saw the well-hidden changed mate was I convinced that 1.Pe6 is indeed the key. A deceptive, well-polished composition. {IS} 11 (L V Yarosh, 1st Prize, Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1983) 1.a7! (threat 2.axb8=Q,R,B or N) 1…axb1=Q 2.axb8=Q Qxb2 3.Qxb3 Qxa1 4.Rxf4. 1…axb1=R 2.axb8=R Rxb2 3.Rxb3 Kxc4 4.Qa4. 1…axb1=B 2.axb8=B Be4 3.Bxf4 B any 4.Be3 or Be5. 1…axb1=N 2.axb8=N Nxd2 3.Qc1 Ne4 4.Nc6. It could well be the best problem of the twentieth century and perhaps the best problem EVER composed. {M} Just as Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Messiaen's Chronochromie are absolute pinnacles of human creativity in the field of music, so too is this such a milestone in chess composition. {IS} 12 (Willmott) (i) 1…Ra3 2.Be6 Bc6+ 3.Kc4 Nxe6. (ii) 1…Nf5 2.Kc5 Re4 3.Bd5 Re5. (iii) 1…Ba6 2.Be6 Nxe6 3.Kc6 Rd4. A treble devil. Took me many hours. {M} It's refreshing to see that this is not yet another triple echo: the stalemates are essentially distinct, which makes the solver's task a little more difficult. A pretty problem indeed from Arthur; good 'value for money', slightly marred only by the repetition of 2.Be6 in two of the solutions. Let's hope it escapes anticipation. {IS}
July/August 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 17. White to play and draw
18. Ian Shanahan White to play and mate in 2
19. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster White to play and mate in 2
20. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
21. White to play and mate in 3
22. Ian Shanahan Black to play and help White mate in 2 (2 solutions)
September/October 2008
Do you enjoy seeing your name in print? Well in this column we even print your opinions! Have a go at solving 17 and send in your comments, even if you don’t manage to crack it. To get you started, note that White’s only hope is to stalemate himself. After 1.Bg1, Black must not play 1…Kxb1? because after 2.Bd4 Kc2 3.Bxb2 axb2, White has achieved the desired stalemate. Therefore after 1.Bg1 Black plays his pawn to a2 and now the stalemate is much harder to find! Ian’s gorgeous 18 is a textbook example of a certain theme. What might that theme be? In 19 Molham has laid some traps for the unwary solver. How can such a charming and gentle man be so devious? Leonid’s 20 has some interesting play involving the opening of white lines. At first glance 21 looks like a 2-mover, because every Black move is provided with a mate, but White has no waiting move so Black’s suffering must continue for an extra move. The white pawns in Ian’s helpmate 22 might lead the experienced solver to expect a certain theme involving pawn promotions. A problem solving competition was held at the 2008 Ergas Junior Training Squad in Melbourne. The winner of the over 14 group was Yita Choong, with Sam Grigg and Ben Lazarus coming equal second. The winner of the under 14 group was Laurence Matheson with Emma Guo coming second. Further information is available on the Box Hill Chess Club web page. Solutions to Problems 13-16 (July-August 2008) 13 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Bf4! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1…Kxf4 2.Qh4; 1…Nf3 2.Ng3; 1…Rxf4 2.Re3; 1…exf4 2.Qd4; 1…Bb2,Bd6 2.Nd6; 1…exf5 2.Qxf5. The try 1.Bd4 nearly got me. Nice. {Bob Meadley [M]} A good key with double sacrifice. {Arthur Willmott [W]} Good play throughout. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} Sacrificial key gives a flight. Not difficult. {Andy Sag [AS]} As you say, a good collection of mates, following a lovely sacrificial, flight-giving key. It's paradoxical that 1.Bf4 works whereas the ostensibly stronger 1.Bd4 does not! Construction, however, is not quite ideal: remove Ba3 and Pc6; add a Black Knight on c8, then shift everything two squares left; this saves a man with no loss of content. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 14 (T & J Warton, The Observer, 1944 (version)) 1.Ra4! waiting. 1…Rxg4 2.Ra3 Ra4+ 3.Rxa4; 1…Rxe5 2.g5+ Re4 3.Rxe4; 1…hxg4 2.Nf6 any 3.Rxg4. Who said rooks can’t dance? Truly special. {M} I had no difficulty with 1…Rxg4 but it took ages to discover the waiting move after 1…hxg4! {AS} It took me ages to find the key: the Ka8 looks so innocent (tucked away in the corner, as if just a passive spectator - as in 16), but his cunning placement dictates the key-Rook's destination, e.g. 1.Rb4? Rxg4 2.Rb3 Ra4+! Stylistically, this smacks of the Wartons. {IS} Yes Ian, it is indeed by the Wartons! Michael McDowell has pointed out that if the white king stood on b8 or c8 then the key would be 1.Rb4 or 1.Rc4 accordingly. {ed.} 15 (A A Troitzky, Zadachy i etyudy, 1928) 1.Bb4+ Kb3 2.Nf3 f1=Q+ 3.Be1. Now if 3…Qxe2 then 4.Nd4+ wins the queen, if 3…K any then 4.Kd2 traps the queen, and if 3…Qg2 then 4.Bg3 Qf1+ 5.Be1. The black queen is locked out, so it's a draw. This excellent study might well be difficult for computer programs, materialistic as they tend to be. {N} Good to see a very tough ending. Too hard for me but not for Extreme Chess though I did play 2.Nf3. {M} 16 (Jones) (i) 1.Rh4 gxh4 2.Qg3 Re7+ 3.Kf4 Nd5. (ii) 1.Rf5 exf5 2.Qe4 Nd3+ 3.Kd5 Rd7. The two solutions are a matching pair with the rook first getting captured by different pawns, the queen then moving to the square vacated by the pawn to block the king and the two white pieces taking turns to first check and then mate. Not sure about the function of pawn on b3 as it doesn’t appear to be necessary. {AS} Two excellent solutions, typical of CJ. If the pawn on b3 were omitted there would be an additional solution 1.Kd4 Rxf3 2.Rc5 Re3 3.Ne5 Nc2. {W} Too good for me. I will keep looking but have reached the stage of mental block. {M} Spotting the Black Queen's focus on the White Pawns' squares thence deducing the Black Rook's sacrificial role led to my cracking it. The parity between solutions, as usual, is perfect; the construction not so – the pawn on g3 is idle in one solution, and the same is true of much of the Black force. However, its mates are both models, and the reasoning behind the move-order is beautiful indeed! {IS}
September/October 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 23. White to play and draw
24. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
25. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
26. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 4
27. Arthur Willmott White to play and mate in 6
28. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (a) diagram (b) –Pd4
November/December 2008
Congratulations are in order for Arthur Willmott, the deserving winner of the 2008 Whyatt Medal for chess problem composition. 27 is an example of Arthur’s skill, but you might like to warm up by tackling a few of the easier problems first. In 23 White wants to reach a drawn position by sacrificing his bishop for the black pawn, but an immediate 1.Bxa2 Rxa2+ leads to the loss of the white rook. Be on the lookout for stalemate possibilities! In Molham’s 24 the key must provide for some strong black defences, but the sparkling play is more than adequate compensation. Keep an eye on the bishop on g8 when solving Leonid’s 25! There is much to enjoy in 26, including an entertaining duel between the rooks. There are two problems for the price of one in 28. First solve the position in the diagram (Black plays first and helps White to mate in 3 moves), then remove the pawn on d4 and find a different solution! Solutions to Problems 17-22 (September-October 2008) 17 (L Semisashenov, Chess in USSR, 1940) 1.Bg1 a2 (not 1…Kxb1? 2.Bd4 Kc2 3.Bxb2 axb2 stalemate) 2.Bh7! b1=Q 3.Bd4+ Qb2 4.Bh8! Qxh8 stalemate. What came into my mind when I got the solution was a real thrill and the good old Australian expression: "what a beauty"! {Nigel Nettheim [N]} What a clever boy! {Bob Meadley [M]} 18 (Shanahan) 1.Qf5! (threat 2.Qe4) 1…N~ 2.Re2; 1…Nd2 2.Nc2; 1…Nd4 2.Nd5; 1…Ng1 2.Nxf1. Defensive knight tour pins queen and allows 4 other mates {Andy Sag [AS]} A crystal clear example of black correction. A random move of the black knight defeats the threat but allows mate by 2.Re2. The knight can correct this general error in 3 ways, but each time a secondary error is committed, leading to new mates.{ed.} 19 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Rb4! (threat 2.Nd4) 1…Bxd3 2.Bxd3; 1…Nc6 2.Bc8; 1…Ng any 2.Ne3. The try 1.Rd8? is refuted by 1…Ne5!, while 1.Rc4? and 1.Re4? fail against 1…Bxd3! {ed.} Pawn on a5 makes key sacrificial (a solver’s clue!) but appears to be unnecessary. {AS} Whether the pawn on a5 is warranted I will not presume to say. It enhances the key, though for an expert solver (which I'm not) it might have the unintended reverse effect of actually pointing to the solution! {N} 20 (Makaronez) 1.d4! (threat 2.Ba6+ Rb5 3.Bxb5) 1…exd3e.p. 2.Nxf5 Rxf5/exf5 3.Bf3/Rxe3; 1…Rd6 2.Nf3 exf3 3.Bxf3; 1…Rxd4 2.cxd4; 1…Ra5 2.bxa5. The theme might be called "double line clearance, doubled" or some such term, that is, two lines are each cleared of two impediments. {N} 21 (A Johandl, 1 Prize, Schweizerische Schachzeitung, 1967) Set: 1…Na any 2.Nc2; 1…Nh any 2.N4f5. Solution: 1.Bb4! Kxd4 2.Kf4 and now 2…Na any 3.N6b5 and 2…Nh any 3.N6f5. The black king is hemmed in, and the idea turns out to be shifting that hemming-in one square to the north-west. Thus 1.Bb4 Kxd4 2.Kf4. This is now similarly blocked, but now it's Black's move. Really good. {N} Very pretty. The knight mates remind me of certain #2 mutates of the 1920s. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 22 (Shanahan) (i) 1.Kxd7 exd8=R+ 2.Ke7 fxe8=Q. (ii) 1.f5 f8=B 2.Kf7 exd8=N. All 4 possible promotions are used. {AS} The pick of the problems. {Arthur Willmott} Just beautiful. A simple setting shows how skilful Ian’s allumwandlung {all 4 promotions (ed.)} is. {M} There are plenty of H#2 that show this theme, but I don’t know of any with black tempo play. {IS}
November/December 2008
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 29. White to play and win
30. White to play and mate in 2
31. Henryk Grudzinski (Poland) White to play and mate in 3
32. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
33. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 7
34. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3.5 2 solutions
January/February 2009
In 29 the plan is to lure the black queen off the long diagonal by sacrificing the white queen, after which the pawn can promote and capture the black queen with a skewer check. 30 is only a 2-mover, but it’s a tough one! It shouldn’t take long to solve Henryk’s 31, once the theme is spotted. Leonid’s 32 has some very interesting play and a tricky try! Molham continues to entertain with 33. In 34 White plays first and both sides cooperate to enable White to mate on his fourth move (so Black only plays 3 moves). The Lidums Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held at Saint Ignatius’ College in Adelaide from 2-13 January 2009. As in the previous two Championships a problem solving event will be held on one of the rest days. The event has now been made official, so competitors will vie for the title of Australian Junior Problem Solving Champion. The problem solving has been very popular in the past, and this year the parents and coaches are invited to join in the fun. Further details are available on the web site at http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009. Solutions to Problems 23-28 (November-December 2008) 23 (M Liburkin, 5 Prize, Shakhmatny Listok, 1928) 1.Rh8+ Kg7 2.Rg8+ Kh7 3.Bxa2 Rxa2+ 4.Kb1! Nc3+ (4…Rb2+ 5.Ka1 Kxg8 stalemate) 5.Kc1 Ra1+ 6.Kb2 Rb1+ 7.Ka3 Kxg8 stalemate. Very nice, but perhaps relatively easy. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 24 (Hassan) 1.Qh8! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1…B~+ 2.Be7; 1…Bxd6+ 2.Qe5; 1…Bxf4+ 2.Bxe4; 1…Kxd4 2.Bb4; 1…Qxd4 2.Qg8. Excellent play and a good-looking key. {N} Key sacrifices the queen. Pins and cross checks galore! {Andy Sag [AS]} A first class solvers problem that was very difficult. Lots of good tries. {Bob Meadley [M]} 25 (Makaronez) 1.Nd3! (threat 2.Rc5+ Ke4 3.Qg4) 1…f6 2.Nb4+ Kxe5 3.Bg3; 1…f5 2.Nf4+ Kxe5 3.Qg7; 1…gxh5 2.Qe8 (threat 3.Nf4); 1…Kxc4 2.Qxb5 mate. The flaw in 1…gxh5 is that 2…g5 is no longer available – really unexpected! … difficult, complicated and surprising. {N} Give and take key holds pawn but sacrifices rook. {AS} I got the key but not the gxh5 variation. {M} 26 (Makaronez) 1.Ke5! waiting. 1…f6+ 2.Rxf6+ Kb8 3.Rxf8+ Kc7 4.Rc8; 1…Rh8 2.Rh6+; 1…Rg8 2.Rg6+; 1…Re8+ 2.Re6+; 1…Rd8 2.Rd6+; 1…Ka8 2.Be4+. Excellent and elegant. The white king walks into two checks, because there is such a huge advantage in guarding the potential flight square d6. {N} Key allows two checks but rook cannot avoid exposure. {AS} 27 (Willmott) 1.Kg4 Ke5 2.Kg5 Ke4 3.Be2 Ke5 4.Bf4+ Ke4 5.Nc3+ Kd4 6.Ne6. Had to be a one-liner! The pawn gives a clue (if it is to be involved in the mate then the black king must not be allowed to escape towards h8), but still took ages to solve. Well done Arthur! {AS} It’s all so simple when Extreme Chess explains it in 2 minutes. Another victory for the Whyatt medallist. So much time for nil result. {M} 28 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxf7 exd5 2.Kf5 g4+ 3.Kf6 Bxe5. (b) 1.Bxc7 exf5 2.Ke5 Rxe7+ 3.Kd6 Re6. A well matched twin. Hard to solve (a) but then (b) was easier once the theme became clear. {AS} Separate mates with rook and bishop, the theme this composer loves. A great pair. {M}
January/February 2009
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 35. White to play and win
36. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster White to play and mate in 2
37. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
38. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
39. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
40. White to play and win (Losing Chess)
March/April 2009
In 35 White is willing to sacrifice his rook in order to ensure that the a-pawn promotes. The key move of 37 is unconventional, but the play is really splendid. In 39 Black moves first and helps White to mate in 3 moves. In Losing Chess the player losing all his men, or being stalemated, wins. Capturing, if possible, is compulsory, including capture of the king (in 40 the black king has already been captured). A king has no royal powers and may be moved next to the opposing king. There is neither check nor checkmate. Pawns may promote to king. The problem solving competition at the Lidums Australian Junior Chess Championships was a great success. Many thanks are due to Nigel Nettheim for conducting the event, with assistance from Andy Sag. More problems were set than in previous events (and there were some difficult ones), but Yita Choong of Western Australia managed to solve everything correctly to win the under 18 Open section, a fine achievement! Solutions to Problems 29-34 (January/February 2009) 29 (L van Vliet, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1888) 1.Qb4 Qh1 2.Qa3+ Kb6 3.Qb2+ Kc7 (3…Kc5 4.Ka7) 4.Qh2+ wins. If 1…Qd5 or Qf3 2.Qa4+ Kb6 3.Qb3+ wins. If 1…Qg2 2.Qa3+ Kb6 3.Qb2+ wins. 30 (T Taverner, 1 Prize, Pen and Pencil, 1890) 1.Rh7! waiting. 1…Ng3 2.Rh4; 1…Nh else 2.Nf6; 1…Qxd2+ 2.Nxd2; 1…Q else 2.d3/Qxg6; 1…dxc3+ 2.Nxc3. 1…d3 2.Qc4; 1…f2 2.Qe2; 1…Nc2 2.d3; 1…g5 2.Qg6. Everything is provided for except 1...Ng3, and the key prepares 2.Rh4. A well-hidden key. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} Key must provide for 1…Ng3 to complete the block, so not too hard to spot. {Andy Sag [AS]} 31 (Grudzinski) 1.Rc6! (threats 2.Nf4/Rf4) 1…Rxc6 2.Nf4 (threats 3.Qh4/Qg5); 1…Bxc6 2.Rf4; 1…Kh5 2.Rf4; The duplication of the rook/bishop interference is a fine idea. The symmetry would be enhanced by shifting the Ba8 to b7. {N} Sequential blocking of intersecting defensive lines creating separable threats. {AS} 32 (Makaronez) 1.Kf7! waiting. 1…Ne7 2.Nb4 ~ 3.Rxa6; 1…Nf6 2.Rb4 ~ 3.Rb5; 1…a2 2.Nb2 ~ 3.b4; 1…b5 2.b4+ Kxa4 3.Nc5; 1…g5,gxh5 2.Rf5+ b5 3.Rxb5. The white king retreats so that after 1…Ne7 or 1…Nf6 the black rook can safely be unpinned. The try 1.c7? provides a mate for 1…Nf6 (2.Ne5 ~ 3.Nc6) but fails against 1…Ne7! {ed.} Another excellent problem from this composer. {N} Can’t find the try. The solution was tough enough to find! {Bob Meadley [M]} 33 (Hassan) 1.Bg3+! Rf4/Nf4 2.Re1+ Be4 3.Qh5+ f5 4.Qh8+ Rf6 5.Qb8+ d6+ 6.Kc4+ Nd5 7.Qxb2 mate. The queen circles before the kill! Need to spot that the rook check is safe to crack this one. {AS} At Lithgow there is Hassans Walls and now Molham has his own! {M} 34 (Jones) (i) 1…Ba2 2.Nb3 Re7 3.Kc4 Bxb3+ 4.Kb5 Rb7 (ii) 1…Re1 2.Ne2 Bf7 3.Ke3 Rxe2+ 4.Kxf3 Bh5. Doubtful if Chris can reach a higher plane. Heavenly! {M} Once again, a precise matching pair. Presume pawn on f5 is a cook stopper? {AS} Yes, the pawn on f5 stops cooks such as 1…Re1 2.Kd4 Rh1 3.Ke5 Kg7 4.Kf5 Rh5. It’s a pity that the white king must be present! {ed.}
March/April 2009
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 41. $50 PRIZE! White to play and win
42. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
43. White to play and mate in 2
44. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
45. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
46. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b) BBb8
July/August 2009
A PRIZE OF $50 is offered for the best solution to 41 from a new solver. Entries will be judged on the quality of the analysis and comments – neatness is not important. Closing date is 30 July (address at top of facing page). This column continues to receive world-class compositions. Leonid’s 44 has that rare and elusive quality – humour. Christopher Jones continues to achieve delightful results with his distinctive white rook and bishop helpmates. In 46 first solve the position in the diagram, then replace the rook on b8 by a black bishop. In each part Black moves first and helps White to mate in 3 moves. The problems and solutions from the problem solving competition at the Australian Junior Chess Championships are now available at http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009. The list of winners is at http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009/Draws/draws.html. Solutions to Problems 35-40 (May/June 2009) 35 (H Rinck, 1 Prize, Budapest Chess Club, 1911) 1.Rg7! Kc2 (1…Re1 2.Rg1 Rxg1 3.a7) 2.Rg2+ Kb3 3.Ra2 Kxa2 4.a7 wins. Very nice, and I should think it could easily be missed in a game. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 36 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Qh8! (threat 2.Qd4) 1…Kxd5 2.Qa8; 1…Nf5 2.Qh1; 1…e5 2.Nf6; 1…Ne5 2.Qxe5; 1…Bc3,Bc5 2.N(x)c3. The queen gives a flight, to mate on the white. {Bob Meadley [M]} Two corner-tocorner mates {ed.} 37 (Makaronez) 1.Nbxd6! (threat 2.Qe4+ Kc5 3.Qc4) 1…c5+ 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Rd8; 1…c6+ 2.Nb7 ~ 3.Ne7; 1…cxb6+ 2.Kxb6 (threat 3.Qe4) Rh4 3.Bxf7; 1…cxd6+ 2.Ne7+ Kc5 3.Rc8; 1…Rh4 2.Bxf7+ Kc5,Kc6 3.Qb5. Four black checks by moving a particular pawn … a wonderful conception. {N} Key is a capture but allows discovered checks by the pawn. {Andy Sag [S]} A Mak attack. {M} 38 (Makaronez) 1.Nd7! (threat 2.f8=Q+ Ke6 3.Qf7) 1…Qxd8+ 2.f8=N+ Ke8 3.Nd6; 1…Ke6 2.Ng5+ Kd5/Kf5,Ke7 3.Nb6/f8=Q; 1…Kxd8 2.f8=Q+ Kc7 3.Qxb8. Key gives a flight and allows a check. {S} 39 (Jones) (i) 1.Kd7 Bh4 2.Qc7 Bf6 3.Kd6 Rxd3. (ii) 1.Kc7 Re2 2.Rd7 Re3 3.Kd6 Bxf4. Once again, a precise matching pair. Easy to solve once you learn his ‘style’. {S} Another R/B double act by the master. {M} 40 (T R Dawson, Stratford Express, 1938) 1.Nd6 Bxd6 2.Kf3 Bxh2 3.Ng1 Bxg1 4.Bg2 Bxd4 5.Qf6 Bxf6 6.Bf1 Bxh4 7.Kf2 Bxf2 8.e3 Bxe3 9.Ba6 bxa6 and White has no move, which is a win in Losing Chess. However, Bob Meadley has found the following cook! 1.a6 bxa6 2.Nd6 Bxd6 3.Kf3 Bxh2 4.Kg3 Bxg3 5.Qc2 Bxh4 6.Ng5 Bxg5 7.e3 Bxe3 8.Bc6 Bxd4 9.Qc3 Bxc3 10.a5 Bxa5 11.Bb5 axb5. The cook is very neat and almost as good as the intention, but there is a dual as White could also play 3.Kf2.
July/August 2009
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 47. White to play and draw
48. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
49. White to play and mate in 2
50. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
51. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
52. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
September/October 2009
The Australian chess problem community has suffered a grievous loss with the death of Denis Saunders. Denis had been so ill for so long that he seemed indestructible, so his passing was a shock. Denis will be sadly missed. Sincere condolences to his family. In 47 White will lose after 1.Rxe7+ Kf6 2.Rc7 Rb8+ 3.Kd7 Rb7!, but is 1.Rc7 Rb8+ 2.Kxe7 Rb7 any better? There is much to enjoy in the other problems, including some spectacular key moves. Have fun! Solutions to Problems 41-46 (July/August 2009) 41 (V & M Platov, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1908) 1.a8=Q+! Kxa8 (1…Rxa8 2.Bg2+) 2.h7 Re1+ 3.Kd7 Rd1+ 4.Kc7 Rc1+ 5.Bc4! Rxc4+ (5…Rh1 6.Bd5+) 6.Kd7 Rd4+ 7.Ke7 Re4+ 8.Kf7 Rf4+ 9.Kg7 wins. 1.a8=Q+ provides one more file for the white king, which turns out to be enough. The vital move is 5.Bc4, luring the black rook to the 4th rank where it will be blocked by its own pawn. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 42 (Hassan) 1.Qf6! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1…Kxe4 2.Qf3; 1…Bxf6 2.Nxf6; 1…Bxc3 2.Nxc3; 1…Be else 2.Qd4; 1…Nc6,Nd7 2.Q(x)c6. The play involving moves of the bishop on e5 is very good. {N} The try 1.Kf3?, threatening 2.Qxg8, is refuted by 1…Bxc7! {Andy Sag [S]} 43 (Touw Hian Bwee, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 1970) 1.Ng4! (threat 2.Qd1) 1…Rh6+ 2.Rh3; 1…Be5+ 2.Rg3; 1…Ne5 2.Rf3; 1…Be4 2.Rd3; 1…c3 2.Re4; 1…Rxe3 2.Qxe3. 44 (Makaronez) 1.Bg8! (threat 2.Re moves & 3.Be6) 1…Rxb2 2.Re7; 1…Rc1 2.Rf6; 1…Rxc3 2.Rd6; 1…Rd2 2.Re5. The rooks join in a square-dance. {N} Key gives multiple threats neatly separated by four black rook defences each artistically mirrored by a counter-cyclical white rook continuation. {S} The tit for tat theme. {Bob Meadley [M]} 45 (Makaronez) 1.Qe2! (threat 2.Nf6+ Kd6 3.Qe5) 1…Ke6 2.Ng5+ K~ 3.Qe5; 1…Bxe4 2.Qc4+ Kd6 3.Ba3; 1…d6 2.Qg4 (threat 3.Nc3) Bxe4/Bf5 3.Qxg8/Qxf5. Key gives a flight. Variations include a switchback. {S} The pawn on h3 is a signpost but lovely play. {M} 46 (Jones) (a) 1.Na4 Bc6 2.Rb4 bxa4 3.Kc4 Be4. (b) 1.Bg4 Rc6 2.Be5 fxg4 3.Ke4 Rc3. Another precise matching pair with well concealed lines. {S} How to open the awesome foursome. Jones is a gold medal helpmate artist. {M}
September/October 2009
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 53. White to play and win
54. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
55. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
56. Ian Shanahan Mate in 5 (b) remove Pd5, Mate in 7
57. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
58. Ian Shanahan Helpmate in 6
November/December 2009
In 53 White can win, despite being behind in material. It’s not difficult – just start playing moves and you should arrive at a surprising mate! Are you a good enough player to see a forced mate in two moves? In 54 White has a move after which Black is unable to prevent mate next move. Sounds simple? Have a go and send your answer by email! In 56 first find a mate in 5 moves, then remove the pawn on d5 and find a mate in 7 moves! In 58 Black plays first and both sides cooperate so that White can mate on the sixth move. Is there any reason why Black should castle? Solutions to Problems 47-52 (September/October 2009) 47 (G Zakhodyakin, 3 Prize, Chigorin Mem. 1949) 1.Rc7 Rb8+ 2.Kxe7 Rb7 3.Rxb7 c1=Q 4.Ke6+ Kg6 (to avoid perpetual check) 5.h5+! Kxh5 6.Rg7, and the black king is trapped. The black queen on its own can make no progress. As long as White is careful not to move the g pawn, even sacrificing queen for rook won’t work because Black can’t capture White’s pawn without giving up his pawn. {Andy Sag [S]} 48 (Hassan) 1.Bc5! waiting. 1…Kxd5 2.Bg2; 1…Ng any 2.Ne7; 1…Na any 2.Nb4; 1…exd5 2.Bd7. A very pleasing problem. Note the use made of the white knight on a3, which not only guards the squares b5 and c4, but also prevents the cook 1.Ba3. The deceptive try 1.Bg2? claimed a distinguished victim! {ed.} Key gives knight sacrifice on flight. The try 1.Bf8? fails against Nxe5. {S} One small step. {Bob Meadley [M]} 49 (Denis Saunders, 1HM, The Problemist, 1996/I, position reflected) Set play: 1…d4 2.Bc6; 1…Ra5 2.Qb1; 1…Qb7,Qa8 2.Nxc5; 1…Bc3 2.Qd3,Qb1; 1…c4 2.Qxd5. Key 1.Qxc5! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1…Kd3 2.Rxe3; 1…Qxc5+ 2.Nxc5; 1…d4 2.Qf5; 1…Ra5 2.Qc2; 1…Rd3 2.Qe7; 1…Bb4 2.Rd4; 1…Qb7,Qa8,Qxc7 2.Qd4; 1…Ng6+ 2.Bxg6. One of the late maestro’s best two-movers. {ed.} Key adds a check, invites a pin and gives a flight leading to a pin-mate. {S} 50 (Makaronez) 1.Ne5! (threat 2.Ng4+ Kxf4 3.Bh6) 1…Kxe4 2.Nc4+ Kxf4/Kd5 3.Bh6/Ne3; 1…Kxd4 2.Nd3+ Kc4/Ke3 3.Rc6/Rxg3; 1…Kxf4 2.Nf3 any 3.Bh6. Key unprotects all 3 pawns on the 4th rank and gives lots of play. {S} A fine 50th. The Charge of the Knight Brigade forsaking the foot soldiers. {M} 51 (Makaronez) 1.Bb2! (threat 2.Qc6+ Qxc6 3.Re5) 1…Ba4 2.Qh7 (threat 3.Qh1); 1…Re7 2.Kxg5 (threat 3.Re5); 1…Rc7 2.Qxg5 (threat 3.Qf4). Each variation shows black interference – the defence 1…Ba4 prevents Black from later playing 2…Ra1, while the defences 1…Re7 and 1…Rc7 prevent the black queen from being able to guard g5 and f4 respectively. {ed.} 52 (Jones) 1.Ke6 Rxb5 2.Ne5 Bf5+ 3.Kd6 fxe5. 1.Kxf4 Bxg6 2.Bd3 Rf5+ 3.Ke4 exd3. A stylish twin with pawn mate finishes. {S} The pawn on f4 kills and gets killed in this toughie. {M}
November/December 2009
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 59. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
60. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
61. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 4
62. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 5
63. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
64. White to play and Win
January/February 2010
A warm welcome to new composer Linden Lyons of Melbourne! Linden is 24 years of age and is a postgraduate student in history at Monash University. Linden writes: “I have been playing club chess regularly since 2005. Since the beginning of this year I’ve been working for Chess Ideas, who provide chess coaching to schools, and just this year I have begun to discover the wonders of problem composition!”. Linden is a fast learner, as an examination of 59 and 60 will reveal! In Leonid's 62 White's plan is to open the d-file, but what can be done about the defence Ra6? In 64 if the black queen is allowed to escape then Black can draw by perpetual check. The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in Hobart in January 2010. As usual a problem solving competition will be held during the event. For more information see http://www.chesstasmania.org.au/AJCC/index.html. Solutions to Problems 53-58 (November/December 2009) 53 (S Gruber, Magyar Sakkvilag 1932) 1.Kf5 Qf8 2.Ng7+ Qxg7 3.Be8+ Qg6+ 4.Bxg6+ hxg6+ 5.Kxf6 g5 6.Kf5 g4 7.hxg4#. 54 (Hassan) 1.Nh4! waiting. 1…Kxd6 2.Nd3; 1…Kd4 2.Nf3; 1…f3 2.Nxd7; 1…Nd4 2.Ng6; 1…N else 2.Nf3. Key gives two flights. The white knights do all the work. {Andy Sag [S]} I found this difficult to solve. A well constructed problem with a deceptive key. {Dennis Hale} 55 (Makaronez) 1.Bg4! (threat 2.Nf6+ ~ 3.Qd4) 1…Nc2 2.Qd3+ Kxd3/Kf4 3.Nc5/Qf5; 1…Bxe5 2.Qd5+ Kxd5/Kf4 2.Nf6/Qf3. I used 1...Rxd7 as a test to determine possible keys and it was easy to rule out all except 1.Bg4. The hard part was finding the two queen sacrifices although they were checks; however the twin double check finales are a touch of brilliance. {S} 56 (Shanahan) (a) 1.Bb5! Kxb5 2.d6 Ka5 3.d7 Kb5 4.d8=R Ka5 5.Rd5# (b) 1.Kc7! Kxa6 2.b4 Ka7 3.Bb5 Ka8 4.Ba6 Ka7 5.b5 Ka8 6.Bb7+ Ka7 7.b6# In each case White initially gives up a minor piece and in (a) underpromotes to avoid stalemate and then is able to use what is left to force a one liner win. {S} A beautiful set of moves in (b) with the mate on b6. {Bob Meadley [M]} 57 (Jones) 1.Nxd4 Rxg6 2.Nf3 Rd6 3.Bf5 exf3#. 1.exd4 Rxc7 2.d3 Rd7 3.Be5 exd3#. Yet another stylish twin with pawn mate finishes. The bPh5 prevents a cook but I can’t quite see the purpose of bPh4? {S} Why are h4 & h5 needed? Very nice black bishop clearances. {M} The bPh4 stops cooks e.g. 1.f3+ exf3+ 2.Kf4 Rxg6 3.h4 Rg4#. {ed.} 58 (Shanahan) 1.Nc6 Kxc5 2.Nb4 cxb4 3.O-O-O b5 4.Kb7 b6 5.Ka6 b7 6.Ra8 b*a8=Q#. Castling is necessary to ensure that the black king can pass b7 in time to allow 5…b7. {S} Another beautiful miniature from Ian and it must be sound as I’ve tried every move. {M}
January/February 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 65. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
66. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
67. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
68. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 4
69. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b) Nh3 > d6
70. Christian Poisson (France) White to play and mate in 10
March/April 2010
Your solving pleasure begins with three entertaining problems by local composers, then some more difficult work from a trio of overseas experts. It is a pleasure to publish an original problem from Christian Poisson, developer of the famous WinChloe database, whose 70 might best be solved by approaching it as “White to play and win”. Solutions to Problems 59-64 (January/February 2010) 59 (Lyons) 1.Na3! (threat 2.Nc4) 1…Kd6 2.Nc4; 1…d3 2.Rb6; 1…f3 2.Qh2; 1…Nd6 2.Qh8. Straightforward but nicely constructed. Key gives a flight but bishop on c7 blocks the king’s escape. {Andy Sag [S]} A good key giving a flight square. {Arthur Willmott [W]} The knight moves back to start its attack. {Bob Meadley [M]} 60 (Lyons) 1.Ba2! waiting. 1…Ne3 2.Bc3; 1…N else 2.Qg1; 1…c4 2.Qa7; 1…Bd7 2.Qxd7; 1…B else 2.N(x)e6; 1…exf4,e4 2.f7; 1…a5 2.Nb5. A bit more sophisticated; a sound waiter with a good crop of variations. {S} Excellent key with lots of variations. This is a remarkable effort from a composer with less than a year’s experience. I look forward to more problems from him. {Dennis Hale [H]} An excellent long range key with a nice variety of mates. {W} g8 to a2 now it’s over to you. {M} 61 (Makaronez) 1.Bd5! (threat 2.Bb3 ~ 3.Qc4+ Ke5 4.Qf4; 2…Ke5 3.Qe6+ Kd4 4.Qe3) 1…Kd3 2.Qc4+ Kd2 3.Be4 ~ 4.Qc2; 1…Ke5 2.Bf7 ~ 3.Qe6+ Kd4 4.Qe3; 2…Kd4 3.Qc4+ Ke5 4.Qf4. A tricky miniature. Key maintains symmetry creating much play. {S} There is a dual after 1…Ke5 2.Bf7 Kf5 3.Qe6+ or 3.Qd6. Andy Sag suggests moving the black pawn from h5 to h7, to stop mate by 4.Qg6, leaving only the very nice 1…Ke5 2.Bf7 Kf5 3.Qd6 Ke4 4.Qd5. Well done Andy! {ed.} 62 (Makaronez) 1.Qc6! bxc6 2.d3 e3 3.d4 e4 4.d5 ~ 5.dxc6; 2…Kd2 3.dxe4+ Ke3 4.Rd3+ Kxe4 5.Rc4. Tough to solve but the clues given were helpful. Each white move must threaten a mate or a check to avoid giving time for Rh7 then Rh1+. My first attempt was 1.a5? (2.Qa4#) c6! 2.d3 e3 3.d4 e4 4.d5 Bd6 5.Rxd6 which leads to a mate but one move too late. The queen looked expendable, so I then worked through queen sacrifices that threatened mate. 1.Qxe5 (2.Qa1#) and 1.Qe6 (2.Qb3#) led nowhere leaving only 1.Qc6 (2.Rc1#). {S} 63 (Jones) 1.e5 Bd3 2.exd3 e4+ 3.Kd4 Rc4#. 1.Nd3 Rc3 2.bxc3 b4 3.Kc4 Bb3#. I classify this one as black magic; the setting gives no clues at all as to a possible finale; took forever to find a solution but once found, the second one was easier, knowing Jones’s twinning style. In each case one piece self destructs to allow pawn and king manoeuvres so the remaining piece can mate. {S} Beauty and difficulty. CJ’s consistent high quality mark him as one of the best. {M} 64 (A Gurvich, Soviet flot, 1960) 1.Rab6! Qa8 2.Rc8+! Qxc8 3.Rb3 Qa8 4.Re3+ Kd8 5.Kf8 wins. Hard to believe but there it is. {M}
March/April 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 71. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
72. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
73. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
74. Arthur Willmott White to play and mate in 3
75. Arthur Willmott Helpstalemate in 2.5 (3 solutions)
76. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 5
May/June 2010
Linden and Molham start things off with a couple of really excellent two-movers. In Arthur’s 75, White plays first and both sides co-operate to enable White to inflict stalemate on his third move. There are 3 solutions to be found. Christopher’s 76 is longer than usual, but it may prove easier to solve. Solutions to Problems 65-70 (March-April 2010) 65 (Lyons) 1.Kg3! waiting. 1…e3,exd3 2.Qh1; 1…c5 2.Qa8; 1…Nxe5 2.Qxe5; 1…Nc else 2.Ne3; 1…Ne any 2.Qd4. All set mates and the white king has only one square to go to which avoids messing them up. A nice clean albeit easily solved waiter but Linden must now move up a notch and come up with a waiter with at least one changed mate. {Andy Sag [S]} A nice key - this problem is constructionally related to Linden’s no.59. The queen mates are a lovely pair. {Dennis Hale [H]} 66 (Hassan) 1.Nh3! (threat 2.e4) 1…gxh3 2.g4; 1…Bf2 2.Rg5; 1…dxe6 2.Qxh7; 1…Bb1 2.Qxb1; 1…Nd2,Nxe3,Ne5,Nd6 2.Re5. Sacrificial key and tricky variations. Try 1.d6? (2.Qe4) Rg7! {S} Clever threat and variety. {Bob Meadley [M]} This one had me baffled for quite a while - for me the hardest of the mates in two. {H} 67 (Hassan) 1.Bf4! (threat 2.Bxf5) 1…Rf2,Re3 2.R(x)e3; 1…R else 2.Be2; 1…Bh3 2.Qxf3; 1…Nc3 2.Qxc3; 1…fxg4 2.Qe4; 1…b4 2.Qc4. Another sacrificial key generating lots of play but the dual in defensive play after 1…Rf1 detracts. {S} I like the Be2 variation. {H} 68 (Makaronez) 1.Rg7! waiting. 1…g5 2.Rxg5 (threat 3.Rg2 ~ 4.Ra2) h3 3.Rg3 ~ 4.Rxb3; 1…h3 2.Rh7 (threat 3.Rxh3 ~ 4.Rxb3) h2 3.Rxh2 ~ 4.Ra2; 1…Nc7 2.Rxc7 ~ 3.Rc2 ~ 4.Ra2; 1…Nf7 2.Rxf7 ~ 3.Rf2 ~ 4.Ra2. Technically a waiter with variations having single line and two line continuations due to limited mobility of black pieces. Precise separation of the two possible mates gets a tick. {S} 69 (Jones) (a) 1.Kd4 Nxg5 2.Be4 Bd5 3.Bd3 Ne6#. (b) 1.Ke6 Nxb7 2.Bf6 Rd5 3.Ne7 Nd8#. Another high class twin with well hidden finales. {S} Five pieces have been added to make it sound. Is bRa7 needed? {M} The bRa7 stops a cook in (a) by 1.a2 Kb2 2.Ke4 Kxc3 3.Bf4 Bxb7#. {ed.} 70 (Poisson) 1.c8=Q h2 2.Qh3+ Kg1 3.Qg3+ Kh1 4.Qe3 Kg2 5.Nd5 h1=Q 6.Nf4+ Kf1 7.Qe2+ Kg1 8.Qe1+ Kh2 9.Qf2+ Qg2 10.Qxg2#. If the white pawn were moved to c4 and the black pawn to h6 then the result would be mate in 13. {Arthur Willmott} One man’s meat is another’s poisson? {M}
May/June 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 77. Molham Hassan & Geoff Foster White to play and mate in 2
78. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
79. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
80. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 5
81. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b) –Pd4
82. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 4 PWC (b) Pd5>e4 (c) Pf5>d4
July/August 2010
In 80, if the light-squared white bishop were on b1 then White would have a mate in 3, but 1.Bb1? is stalemate! In 81, first solve the position in the diagram, then remove the white pawn d4 for a second problem! It’s an honour to publish an original from helpmate maestro Chris Feather, whose 82 uses a special condition called Platzwechsel Circe (PWC). In PWC, captured units are not removed from the board, but instead they reappear on the capturing unit’s departure square. That is, the capturing and captured units exchange places. When a captured black pawn is reborn on the first rank it instantly promotes, so look for solutions in which a white piece moves to the bottom rank before capturing a black pawn! Solutions to Problems 71-76 (May/June 2010) 71 (Lyons) 1.Kh7! waiting. 1…Ndxe3 2.Qa8; 1…Nd else 2.Nf6; 1…Nfxe3 2.Qg6; 1…Nf else 2.Ng3; 1…dxe3 2.c3; 1…d3 2.cxd3; 1…exf4 2.Qxe6; 1…f2 2.Qg2. Key allows not just a check but a royal fork! 8 variations, all set mates including 2 pin mates. {Andy Sag [S]} Very tricky. If 1.Qg7? exf4! or 1.Qg6? Nxe3! {Bob Meadley [M]} Two delicious correction pins. {Ian Shanahan} A nice key with eight variations. Well done, Linden. {Dennis Hale} 72 (Hassan) 1.Kxg7! (threat 2.Nf6) 1…Kd4 2.Nc6; 1…Bxe5+ 2.Nf6; 1…Qa6,Qf1 2.Nxc3; 1…Bxd5 2.Qxd5; 1…Nxg4 2.Qxg4. The capture key switches pins, 1…Kd4 unpins the white knight and 1…Bxe5+ self pins the bishop making it ineffective against the threat. {S} If you want to win, switch the pin. Lovely. {M} 73 (Makaronez) 1.Ne5! (threat 2.Qb4+ Kxe5 3.f4) 1…Bc3 2.Qb6+ Kxe5 3.Qe3; 1…Kc5 2.d4+ Bxd4/Kxd4 3.Nd3/Qe3; 1…Ba6 2.Nc6+ Kc5 3.Qb4; 1…Na6 2.Nf3+ Kc5 3.Qb5; 1…Kxe5 2.Qb4 (3.f4) d4,Bd4 3.Qd6. Key gives two flights including a knight sacrifice followed by a non-checking continuation. An economical setting with lots of play, no duals, no short-mates. I tried to make it a Meredith (12 pieces) by removing the e6 pawn but that allows 1..Kxe5 2.Qb4 Ne6 defending f4. {S} 74 (Willmott) 1.Qh2! (threat 2.Be2+ Ke4 3.Nd6) 1…Ke4 2.Nd6+ Kf3 3.Be2; 1…Kg4 2.Bc8+ Kf3 3.Ng5; 1…d4 2.Be2+ Ke4 3.Qxe5. The key takes g3 flight. The threat becomes a short mate if 1…e4. The three variations are dual free but are all one liners starting with a check. Economy of pieces is a plus. The problem still works if the e5 pawn is omitted to avoid the short mate but there would then be a dual after 1…Be5 2.Be2+ or 2.Nxe5+. {S} 75 (Willmott) 1…Bf1 2.Bf5 Nxf5 3.Kf3 Rd4. 1…Ne6 2.Ke3 Rd5 3.Be4 Re5. 1…Rc1 2.Bf5 Bf3+ 3.Kd3 Nxf5. It is clear that the black bishop must either be pinned or captured. I found the pin solution easily enough and was amused by the finale with all pieces in a vertical line. The two capture solutions I found incredibly difficult, not sure why, but I did. No cook stoppers, one of Arthur’s best. {S} The “Viagra” solution (all pieces in a line) was not too hard, but it took me a day to get the other solutions. A world class problem. Well done AW! {M} 76 (Jones) 1.Rg7 (Rb2?) Ba8 2.f5+ Kc6 3.Ke4 Kb5+ 4.Rb7+ Kc4 5.e5 Bxb7. The checks (including a crosscheck) make it interesting as well as stopping cooks. {S} A joy to solve. {M}
July/August 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 83. White to play and Win
84. Molham Hassan (ded. to John Sharkey IV) White to play and mate in 2
85. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
86. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
87. White to play and mate in 3
88. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
September/October 2010
In 83 White can win by repeating a certain manoeuvre. 84 is dedicated to Molham’s newly arrived first grandson! Linden’s 85 is a combination of two earlier problems. Linden reports that he and Heidi were recently married in New Zealand, where they had a wonderful time, and they are both very happy! 87 has the set mate: 1…g6 2.Bd2 Kd4 3.Bc3. Can this mate be preserved? Solutions to Problems 77-82 (July/August 2010) 77 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Qh4! (threat 2.Ng6) 1…Kxe5 2.Qe7; 1…Nxf5 2.Nd5; 1…Nh5 2.Nxh5; 1…Ne6 2.Nxe6; 1…d2 2.Re2. Key gives a flight capture with switchback and pin mate variations. {Andy Sag [S]} It looks like a knight key! 1.Ne6 is a very good try. {Bob Meadley [M]} 78 (Hassan) 1.Rd4! (threat 2.Rd5) 1…Kxd4 2.Nd7; 1…Bxc4 2.Rxc4; 1…Qe6 2.Nxe6; 1…Qd7 2.Nxd7; 1…Nxd4 2.axb4; 1…Rxd3 2.Nexd3. Sacrificial flight-giving key and 6 variations. {S} Difficult key. {M} 79 (Makaronez) 1.Rb2! (threat 2.Bc7 ~ 3.Qxb8) 1…a5 2.Ba7 Kxa7 3.Qxa5; 1…Nxb2 2.Nc5 ~ 3.Qd5; 1…Kxb7 2.Qd5+ Kc8 3.Qd7. Sacrificial key to put knight on the wrong square to stop Qd5. Sacrificial continuation after 1…a5 is quite subtle. {S} 80 (Makaronez) 1.Rc2! Kd3 2.Bb1 Kd4 3.Rc7 Ke5 4.Rd7+ Kf6 5.e5. A nice one-liner. Was helpful to first solve the #3 with Bb1. Ph4 gives a strong clue that king must be forced to the f file. {S} 81 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxd5 Bxc2 2.Bb3 exd5 3.Ba4 Bd3. (b) 1.Bxd3 Rd4 2.Rc6 exd3 3.Kc5 Rd5. Another high class twin requiring capture of a white piece to allow the other to deliver a switchback mate. {S} Very tough. Another Jones javelin. {M} 82 (Feather) (a) 1.Bh2 Ba1 2.d4 Bxd4 [+bPa1=bR] 3.Rd1 Kf2 4.Rxd4 [+wBd1] Bf3. (b) 1.e3 Kf1 2.e2+ Kxe2 [+bPf1=bR] 3.Bh2 Kxf1 [+bRe2] 4.Rxe5 [+wBe2] Bf3. (c) 1.Bh4 Bh2 2.Kxh2 [+wBh1] Bxd5 [+bPh1=bR] 3.Kh3 Kf3 4.Rh2 Be6. Congratulations to the composer on this simple position that is so maddening! {M}
September/October 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 89. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
90. Linden Lyons Mate in 2 (a) diagram (b) after key of (a)
91. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
92. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
93. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
94. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
November/December 2010
In 90 there are two problems to solve: part (a) is the diagrammed position, while part (b) is the position after the key move of the first part. The two helpmates make a fascinating comparison; 93 has analogous play between solutions, while in 94 a certain strategy is performed first by one side, then the other. Solutions to Problems 83-88 (September/October 2010) 83 (W Keym, Die Schwalbe, 1968) 1.Qa1+ Kg8 2.Qa2+ Kh8 3.Qb2+ Kg8 4.Qb3+ Kh8 5.Qc3+ Kg8 6.Qc4+ Kh8 7.Qd4+ Kg8 8.Qd5+ (8.Qd7? Qd6+!) Kh8 9.Qh1+ Bh4 10.Qa1+ Kg8 11.Qa2+ Kh8 12.Qb2+ Kg8 13.Qb3+ Kh8 14.Qc3+ Kg8 15.Qc4+ Kh8 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Qd7 wins. Nice placement of the Pg5 – in fact nice placement of everything! {Nigel Nettheim} A delightful study. {Dennis Hale [H]} Lovely. {Bob Meadley [M]} 84 (Hassan) 1.Qc5! (threat 2.Rxd4) 1…Nb5 2.Qxc6; 1…Nb3 2.Qxc2; 1…Ne6 2.Qe5; 1…Ne2 2.Re3; 1…Nf5 2.Nf6; 1…Nf3 2.Nf2; 1…Bxc5 2.Nxc5; 1…cxd6 2.Nxd6. Sacrificial key and heaps of variations. {Andy Sag [AS]} Lovely! The queen mates after Nb3 and Nb5 are superb. I await Molham’s second grandchild with alacrity. {H} One of Molham’s best. {M} Well constructed, although the Nh8 can be removed if the Rh3 is moved to g3 and the entire position then shifted to the right. There are six interferences after moves of the knight; the record is seven. {Ian Shanahan [IS]} 85 (Lyons) 1.Ba1! waiting. 1…Ndxe3 2.Qb7; 1…Nd else 2.Nf6; 1…Nfxe3 2.g7; 1…Nf else 2.Ng3; 1…dxe2 2.c3; 1…dxc2 2.Qxc2; 1…c3 2.cxd3; 1…f2,fxe2 2.Qh1. Nice variations including mates on all 4 diagonals, two of them pin mates. {AS} Not 1 Bc3? dxe2! I like the maximum move of the bishop. Best wishes to Heidi and Linden. {H} Linden’s best problem to date. I was initially deceived by the try 1.Ka7. {IS} 86 (Makaronez) 1.Qe8! (threat 2.Bxf6+ exf6 3.Nf3) 1…b5+ 2.Bxf6+ exf6 3.Nf3; 1…c3+ 2.Qb5 c4 3.Qxb6; 1…Nh5 2.Qg6 c3+ 3.Qxd3. Very, very good. {M} 87 (W Eiche, Basler Nachrichten, 1948) 1.Ra1! waiting. 1…g6 2.Ra4 Kd4 3.Bc3; 1…Kd4 2.e5 g6 3.Rd1. Well concealed flight-giving key changes the Bc3 mate from a double check to a pin mate and adds another mate for good measure. A high class construction. {AS} 88 (Jones) 1.Kf5 Re4 2.Nd3+ cxd3 3.Nb6 Be6#. 1.Kd6 c3 2.Nb4 cxb4 3.Ng4 Re6#. In each case the black king vacates e6, then one knight is captured by the pawn and the other knight clears a line for the mating piece and blocks another line to make e6 available as a mating square. The white king is cleverly positioned to prevent the cook 1.Kf5 Bd3+ 2.Kf4 Bxg6 3.Nf3+ Re4#. {AS} Too many hours on this one. {M}
November/December 2010
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 95. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
96. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
97. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
98. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
99. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b) Pd2 > e2
100. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 5 (b) –Pc3
January/February 2011
The two helpmates each have a twin. In 99 move the Pd2 to e2 for a new problem, while in 100 remove the Pc3. The latter problem has a paradoxical relationship between the twinning and solutions. A new Australian chess-problem website has opened at: http://www.ozproblems.com. Peter Wong is the webmaster. The site includes profiles of various Australian problemists, explanatory articles for beginners (all written by Peter) and many downloads of Australian chess-problem material, as well as many links. Further articles will be added in future. The site is warmly recommended. The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in Melbourne in January 2011. As usual a problem solving competition will be held during the event. For more information see: http://www.ajcc2011.com.au. Solutions to Problems 89-94 (November/December 2010) 89 (Hassan) 1.Bg5! waiting. 1…Ke2 2.Qf1; 1…Ke4 2.Qf5; 1…Kc2 2.Qb3; 1…Kc3 2.Qb3. Key provides for 1…Kc2, other mates are set but a nice miniature anyway. {Andy Sag [S]} An elegant little problem. {Dennis Hale [H]} 90 (Lyons) (a) 1.Nc4! waiting. 1…Kf5 2.Qxe4; 1…Re any 2.Qxe4; 1…N any 2.Qxe5; 1…Rg any 2.Q(x)f3,Q(x)g4. (b) 1.Rc5! waiting. The diagram is a Meredith with a flight giving key and pin mate after 1…Kf5. I would not have included (b) as it does not really add value. {S} 91 (Hassan) 1.Ne7! (threat 2.Nfg6) 1…Ke5 2.Re6; 1…Rxf5 2.Nxd3; 1…Ne2 2.Nxe2; 1…Bg3 2.Qxe3. Give and take key with nice pin mate after 1…Rxf5. {S} Not an easy problem to solve. {H} 92 (Makaronez) 1.Rb6! waiting. 1…cxb6 2.Rc4 Ke2 3.Rc1; 1…c6 2.Bc4 Kc1,Kc2 3.Be2; 1…cxd6 2.Bd3 ~ 3.Rb1. Best try is 1.Rc4? c5! A Meredith with sacrificial key and two great battery mates. {S} 93 (Jones) 1.Be4 Ra6 2.Kxd3 Bxe4+ 3.Kc4 Rc6#. 1.Ne4 Bh5 2.Kf4 Rxe4+ 3.Kf5 Bg4#. A typical Jones style twin. In each case a piece moves to e4 to be captured with a check after the king moves to a newly unguarded square. {S} I enjoyed this, though knowing how Christopher’s mind works I solved it quite quickly. A pity about the d3 pawn. {Chris Feather} 94 (Feather) 1.Rh2 Rh5 2.Rah3 Rh4+ 3.Kg3 Rg4#. 1.Rg3 Bf3 2.Ke3 Bxd5 3.Rf3 Rxf3#. I do like the solution in which the white rook shuffles up and down the h-file. I don’t think I’ve seen this cleverlymotivated manoeuvre before and it’s one of those that, even knowing it’s there now, I still find difficult to see! {Christopher Jones}
January/February 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 101. Roger Cook & Nigel Nettheim White to play and Win
102. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
103. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
104. Rauf Aliovsadzade (USA) White to play and mate in 6
105. Georg Pongrac (Austria) Helpmate in 3 (b) –Pg4
106. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 5 (b) Pb2 > c5
March/April 2011
Welcome to composers Roger Cook, Nigel Nettheim, Rauf Aliovsadzade and Georg Pongrac! 101 was used in the recent solving competition at the Australian Junior Chess Championships, run by Nigel Nettheim. One of the solvers was our own Linden Lyons, whose 102 is another promising effort. The two helpmates each have a twin. In 105 remove the Pg4 for a new problem, while in 106 move the Pb2 to c5. Solutions to Problems 95-100 (January/February 2011) 95 (Lyons) 1.Qb8! waiting. 1…Kc6 2.Qc7; 1…Kd8 2.Qxc8; 1…B5 any 2.Qd6; 1…B8 any 2.Qe8; 1…N6 any 2.Qc7; 1…N7 any 2.Qxc8. Key adds a second flight. Both flights lead to pin mates. {Andy Sag [S]} 1…Kc6 and 1…Kd8 are a neat self-pin pair. {Dennis Hale} 96 (Hassan) 1.Ne8! (threat 2.Nc7) 1…Bxe4 2.fxe4; 1…Bxf4 2.N4f6; 1…Rxe8 2.Rxd7; 1…d6 2.Rxd6. An excellent pin mate setting. Tries 1.Nxc4? Bd3! pins the knight; 1.Nc8? Rf7! unpins the rook; 1.Nf5? gxf3! undermines e4. {S} Which knight is right and where is the square? {Bob Meadley [M]} 97 (Makaronez) 1.Rg5! waiting. 1…c4 2.Rg4; 1…fxg5 2.Ne5; 1…a2 2.Nb2; 1…g2 2.Nf2. Waiter with sacrificial key. Two short mates. Tries 1.Rh7,Rh8? c4! {S} 98 (Makaronez) 1.Bxe5! (threat 2.Bc7+) 1…Bc5+ 2.Bd4 ~ 3.Qxc5; 1…Kxb6 2.Qd8+ Ka7,Kb7/Kc5 3.Qb8/Qd4. Try 1.b7? (2.Qd8) Nf7! Key gives a flight and allows a bishop check. {S} 99 (Jones) (a) 1.g2 Rxc6 2.Kd5 d4 3.Kxc6 Bxg2# (b) 1.Nc3 Bxc6 2.Kc5 e4 3.Kxc6 Rxc3#. Another typical Jones style twin. In each case Black blocks the line of the mating piece allowing the black king to move into that line after the non-mating piece captures the c6 pawn sacrificing itself to the king allowing the remaining piece to mate by capturing the original blocker. {S} 100 (Feather) (a) 1.Kg2 c4 2.Kf1 Nc3 3.Ke1 Nxa2 4.Kd1 Kb1 5.Qe1 Nc3# (b) 1.d1=B Nc3 2.Bxe2+ Nd1 3.Bf1 Nxe3 4.Bg2+ Nf1 5.Bc1 Ng3#. The diagram had me completely stumped so I solved (b) first, then went back to (a) which I found exceedingly difficult due to the c3 pawn’s main purpose being to use up a tempo (apart from preventing the (b) solution from happening of course). {S} A fitting no. 100 as I’ve tried 100 ways with (a)! {M}
March/April 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 107. Ilham Aliev (Azerbaijan) White to play and Draw
108. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
109. Linden Lyons & Geoff Foster White to play and mate in 2
110. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
111. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
112. Ian Shanahan Series-helpstalemate 19*
May/June 2011
113. Georg Pongrac (Austria) Helpmate in 2 (b) Pb4>f3 (c) Kd5>e6
114. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
Welcome to composer Ilham Aliev! In Ian’s 112 Black plays a series of 19 moves (White not moving at all) to reach a position in which White can deliver stalemate on the move. Note the set stalemate b4-b5. Solutions to Problems 101-106 (March/April 2011) 101 (Cook & Nettheim) 1.Kb8 (1.e8=Q? Rd8+; 1.Nc8? Rd8! 2.Kb8 Rd7 for 3…Rb7+ 4.Ka8 Rb8+) Rd7 2.Nd5 (2.Nc8? Rb7+ 3.Ka8 Rb8+) Rxd5 3.e8=R! (3.e8=Q? Rd8+ draw) Rd6 4.Kc7 wins. A real cat and mouser this one! {Andy Sag [S]} 102 (Lyons) 1.Qe7! (threat 2.Qxc5) 1…Bf4 2.Nf5; 1…Rf4 2.Qxe5; 1…Bg4 2.Nc2; 1…cxb4 2.Qxb4. Three good defences unpin the Ne4. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 103 (Makaronez) 1.Nd8! (threat 2.Qe6+ Kd4 3.Nc6) 1…Nd4 2.Qd5+ Kxd5 3.Nxe3; 1…Rd4 2.Qb5+ Kd5 3.Rxe5; 1…b3 2.Qa4+ Kd5 3.Nc3; 1…Kd4 2.Qe6 ~ 3.Nc6. Try 1.Bxe5? Nd4! 2.Bxd4 Rxe6 (pinning the queen). The withdrawal key, queen sacrifice and two pin mates make this a high class problem. {S} 104 (Aliovsadzade) 1.Bc6! b4 2.Nb5 Ka6 3.Nf2 Ka5 4.Nd3 Ka6 5.Ka4 b3 6.Nb4. The BK is amusingly trapped in a cage. {N} A nice one-liner. {S} 105 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Re4+ Nde3 2.Kf4 Nd4 3.Qe5 Ng2# (b) 1.Ng4+ Nd6 2.Kd4 Nf6 3.Ne5 Nb5#. A knight self-pin followed by a knight self-unpin, in each of the twins. {N} Well constructed twin. White must keep the checking line blocked. Knights do all the work except in (b) where the king guards c5. {S} 106 (Feather) (a) 1.e5 Bc2 2.b1=Q+ Bd1 3.Qh7 Bb3 4.Qc7 bxc7 5.b6 c8=Q# (b) 1.Kd5 Be4+ 2.Kc4 Bxb7 3.Bd7 Ba8 4.Kb5 b7 5.Kc6 b8=Q#. Typically witty play in both solutions, and, again typically, a very fine capture-free round trip of the black king in (b). The two white units exchange mating/guarding functions in the two mate positions. {Christopher Jones} The (b) mating configuration is well hidden, and the efficiency of Black’s round-about is to be admired. {N} Once again, very hard to spot the solution, particularly in (b) where the king goes around a circle back to its original square to receive a discovered mate. {S} Terrific variety. A Feather in his cap! {Bob Meadley}
May/June 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 115. Ilham Aliev (Azerbaijan) White to play and Win
116. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
117. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
118. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
119. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 3.5*
120. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 5
July/August 2011
Ilham’s 115 has some similarities to No.107 from last issue, which should help solvers. There is more good work from local composers in 116 and 117. In 119 look for set play, in which Black moves first and mate occurs on White’s third move. In the solution White has an extra move and cannot avoid destroying the set play. Solutions to Problems 107-114 (May/June 2011) 107 (Aliev) 1.Bd1 main line 1…Ka5 2.Ke7 Kb4 3.Bxa4! Kxc4 (3…Kxa4 loses to 4.Kd6 etc.) and the bishop is able to prevent promotion of the remaining pawn. If 2…a3 3.Bb3 Kb4 4.Ba2 Kc3 5.Kd6 Kb2 6.Kxc5 Kxa2 7.Kd6! (not 7.Kb6 which loses to 7…Kb3 8.c5 a2 9.c6 a1=Q 10.Kb7 Qh1 or 10.c7 Qa8) 7…Kb3 8.c5 a2 9.c6 a1=Q 10.c7 draw. 1…a3 2.Bb3 transposes to the same line. Precise play is needed as is knowledge of the classic queen v advanced bishop pawn ending in which king can move to a8 resulting in stalemate if Qxc7. {Andy Sag [S]} Endgame studies may be practical or artistic, or anything between those extremes. As I see it, this one lies near the practical end. Depth and accuracy are required. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 108 (Hassan) 1.Nc3! (threat 2.Nd7) 1…Kd6 2.Bf4; 1…dxc3 2.Qe3; 1…Qxg4 2.Nxg4; 1…Nxc7+ 2.Qxc7; 1…Nc5,Nab8 2.Q(x)c5; 1…Ncb8 2.Qxd4. The key move gives the black king a flight square, leading to a pin-mate. The mate on e3 after 1…dxc3 is a real surprise. A random try by the knight (e.g. 1.Nf2?) is refuted by Rxc4!, while the correction try 1.Nd6? fails against Nxc7+! {ed.} 109 (Lyons & Foster) 1.Qc1! (threat 2.Qc4) 1…Bd6,Rc6 2.N(x)c6; 1…Rd6 2.Qf4; 1…Ne3 2.Qxe3; 1…Nd2 2.Qg1; 1…Ba2,Bc2 2.Qxa1; 1…Bxd3 2.Rxd3; 1…Qa2,Qc3 2.Q(x)c3; 1…b5 2.Qc5; 1…Re6+ 2.Nxe6. Good range of variation play including a “Grimshaw” when Pd5 is unpinned. {S} Both queen mates on the blacksquare diagonals come into play. The Rh6 and Bb8 mutually interfere (“Grimshaw”). {N} 110 (Makaronez) 1.Kd3! (threat 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Qc6) 1…Nf5 2.Re5+ fxe5 3.e4; 1…Ng6 2.Rd4+ cxd4 3.Qe4; 1…c4+ 2.bxc4+ Kc5 3.Qb5; 1…Na5,Nd8 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Q(x)d8. The key move pins the WRe4 which is then twice unpinned by the BNh4. After 1…Ng6 2.Rd4+ cxd4, 3.e4? would not be mate because of the en passant capture. Note the try 1.Rcc4? Ng6! {ed.} 111 (Makaronez) 1.Kc5! (threat 2.Nb2+ Ke5 3.Nc4) 1…Be2,Bd1 2.Nf2+ Ke5 3.Nc6; 1…Bg2,Bh1 2.Nf2+ Ke5 3.Nxg4; 1…Rh5+ 2.Ne5+ Kxe5 3.Nxf3; 1…Rg5+ 2.Nf5+ Kxf5 3.Rxf4; 1…cxb6+ 2.Kd6. Key adds 3 checks. {S} The defence 1…Be2 forfeits masked control of c6, which only becomes apparent once the BK moves. {ed.} 112 (Shanahan) Set: 1…b5. Solution: 1.axb4 2.Ka5 3.Ka6 4.Ka7 5.Kb8 6.Kc8 7.Kd8 8.Ke7 9.Ke6 10.Kf5 11.Ke4 12.Ke3 13.Kd2 14.Kc2 15.Kb1 16.Kxa2 17.Kb3 18.Ka4 19.b3, Kb6. King does a very long circuit to remove a pawn and end up where he started. {S} An aerobic clockwise effort by the BK. {Bob Meadley [M]} 113 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Bc3 Re7 2.Kd4 Rd1# (b) 1.Nd4 Ra6 2.Ke5 Rg5# (c) 1.Ne5 Rag1 2.Kf6 R1g6#. Diagonal pins of each of the 3 active Black pieces; very nice. The first was hard to find, then the pattern became more apparent. {N} 114 (Jones) 1.Ke5 Bc2 2.Rd3 exd3 3.Kf5 d4#. 1.e5 Bh7 2.Rg6 Rxg6 3.Ke4 Rxd6#. Rook and pawn take it in turns to capture a rook and then unleash a battery mate. Hard to visualise that the rook could possibly end up on d6! {S} Opposite “Indian” retreats by the bishop. {N} All class this twin. {M}
July/August 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 121. Ian Shanahan White to play and mate in 2
122. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
123. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
124. Linden Lyons & Geoff Foster White to play and mate in 2
125. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
126. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
September/October 2011
127. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2.5 (3 solutions)
128. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 3.5
Ian’s 121 is a beautiful example of a classic theme. Welcome to new composer Christer Jonsson! Both helpmates have an extra half move, meaning that White plays first. Solutions to Problems 115-120 (July/August 2011) 115 (Aliev) 1.Bd3! Kb6 2.Kf7 main line 2…Ka5 3.Ke6 Kb4 4.Kd5 Kc3 5.Bb1 Kb4 6.Bc2 a3 (6…Kc3 7.Bxa4) 7.Bb1 Kc3 8.Kxc5 Kb2 9.Kb4 wins. If 2…Kc6 3.Ke6 Kc7 4.Kd5 Kb6 5.Bb1 a3 6.Kd6 wins. Other lines are possible but in all cases White can force his pawn through and stop the black a-pawn. {Andy Sag [A]} 116 (Lyons) 1.Rh3! (threat 2.Ng3) 1…Bc6,Qxf5 2.Nxc3; 1…Bd5 2.Nd4; 1…Be4 2.Re3; 1…Bh5 2.Qxh5; 1…Bg4 2.Qxg4. The bishop must vacate f3, but its 5 squares are all fatal. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 117 (Hassan) 1.Qd6! waiting. 1…Kf5 2.e4; 1…Kd4 2.Rc4; 1…B any 2.exf3; 1…g4 2.Qf4; 1…Nf any 2.Qe5; 1…Ne any 2.Qxd5. Key gives 2 flights leading to pin mates whereas bishop moves remove the flights allowing a battery mate. Tries 1.Bc2? (2.N~,exf3) 1…Nf5! 1.Rxd5? (2.Qxf3) 1…g4! 1.Qxf3+? 1…Kd4! pinning queen to stop 2.Qe3#. {S} 118 (Makaronez) 1.Nc3! (threat 2.Nxa4+ bxa4 3.Ba5) 1…Nc4 2.Nd5+ Kc5 3.Bb4; 1…dxc3 2.Be3+ Ka5 3.Nc6; 1…Ka5 2.Ne4+ Kb6 3.R5f6. Sacrificial key gives a flight. {S} 119 (Feather) Set: 1.O-O-O h8=Q 2.c1=R Qa1 3.Rc7 Qa8#. Solution: 1…h8=N 2.Ke7 Nf7 3.Kf6 Nd6 4.Kg5 Ne4#. The set play is surprising, and hard to find, although the Pc2 was likely to take part somehow; the BK apparently heads into open space. The actual play is humorous because it is completely changed. {N} 120 (Jones) 1.Be4 Bf3 2.Bh7! Bh5 3.Ke4 Ke2 4.Kf5+ Kf3 5.Bg6 Bg4#. Not too hard, for once, because the mating square f5 was inviting. Each bishop moves one square beyond its destination. The Pf7 prevents dual black-bishop paths d5-f7-g6, c6-e8-g6. {N} A very amusing problem in which White exactly mimics every black move! {S}
September/October 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 129. David Shire (England) White to play and mate in 2
130. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
131. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
132. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
133. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 2 (3 solutions)
134. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b)Pd3>b3
November/December 2011
Welcome back to David Shire! Note the set mate 1…dxc5 2.Nc3 in David’s 129 and be prepared for this mating move to reappear during the play. Molham’s 130 also has some tricky tries. In 134 move the Pd3 to b3 to give a second problem to solve. Solutions to Problems 121-128 (September/October 2011) 121 (Shanahan) 1.Ra6! (threat 2.Qd5) 1…Bd6 2.Qa2; 1…Nd6 2.Qh6; 1…Re8 2.Qxd7. Black must unpin his P, but that unpins the WQ at the same time. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 122 (Lyons) 1.Ba1! (threat 2.Nb2) 1…Re4 2.Qxd5; 1…Rf4 2.Ne5; 1.Rg4 2.Qc8; 1…Rxd3 2.exd3; 1…Nc3+,Nxb4 2.R(x)c3. A well-hidden key. The R must vacate d4 but, apart from 1...Rxd3 2.exd3, its 3 other squares all interfere with a diagonal. {N} Horizontal rook defences cause inferences on different diagonals. {Andy Sag [S]} Nice retreating key. {Bob Meadley [M]} 123 (Hassan) 1.Nd3! (threat 2.Nf4) 1…Kxd4 2.Qc5; 1…Ke6 2.Nf4; 1…Rxb3 2.Qxb3; 1…Rxd3 2.Nc7; 1…e3,exd3 2.Nc7; 1…f4 2.Nb4; 1…e5 2.Qd6. Very intricate, with some excellent play and almost a wheel of tries with the Nc5. {N} Key allows a flight capture followed by a pin mate. {S} Lovely flight-giving key. {M} 124 (Lyons & Foster) 1.Qf7! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1…Nb6 2.Nxc5; 1…Ne3 2.d3; 1…Nf4 2.Qxf5; 1…Nd else 2.Qc4; 1…Ne6 2.Qxe6; 1…Rd3,Rg3 2.Qxf5. The main play involves an attractive Nd5 wheel. {N} 125 (Makaronez) 1.Rd4! (threat 2.Bd6+ Kb6/Kxd4 3.Qa6/Qd3) 1…Nf5 2.Na6+ Kc6/Kxd4 3.Qf3/Qd3; 1…Rxb4 2.Qa7+ Kc6 3.Qb6; 1…Rxd4 2.Qc3+ Rc4 3.d4; 1…Kxd4 2.Qd3+ Kc5 3.Qd6; 1…Ra8 2.Na6+ Kc6/Kxd4 3.bxa8=Q/Qd3. Key allows flight capture and great variety. {S} Terrific problem and too good for me. [M} 126 (Makaronez) 1.Re6! (threat 2.Nb4+ Kc5 3.Bd6) 1…b5 2.Rxc6! Kxc6 3.Qxb5; 1…Rb1 2.Qxa2+ Rb3 3.Qxb3; 1…g2 2.Bxh2 ~ 3.Rd6; 1…c5 2.Nb4+ cxb4 3.Qb5. The second move non-checking double sacrifice is the highlight of this problem. {S} 127 (Jonsson) 1… Rxb5 2.Kxb5 Bd5 3.Ka6 Bc4#. 1… Nxc5 2.Kxc5 Rc7+ 3.Kb6 Rc6#. 1… Bd5+ 2.Kxd5 Rd7+ 3.Ke6 Nxc5#. Wonderful! Each piece is sacrificed in turn. {N} The three pieces take turns to sacrifice, assist and mate. {S} Lovely treble. [M} 128 (Feather) 1… Nb6 2.Rf7+ gxf7 3.Qg3 f8=Q 4.Qxa3 Qxa3#. White must lose a move, but only 1…Nb6 does not spoil the scheme. Ingenious! {N}
November/December 2011
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 135. A.Troitsky, Novoe vremya 1897 White to play and win
136. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
137. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
138. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
139. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
140. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b)Kd5>b4
January/February 2012
The 2012 Australian Junior Chess Championships will be run in the inner Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill between 14-22 January 2012 (http://www.2012ausjuniorchamps.com/). The popular problem/studies solving competition will be held on 17 January and members of the public are welcome to participate. 135, by one of the most famous of all endgame study composers, is an example of the kind of task to expect, although the younger competitors will not be given anything this difficult! Molham’s 137 has two close tries. Christopher’s 140 has a twin (i.e. another problem for solving) in which the black king is placed on b4. Solutions to Problems 129-134 (November/December 2011) 129 (Shire) Set: 1…dxc5 2.Nc3. Try: 1.Ne6? (threat 2.Nc3) 1…Bd2 2.Nd4; 1…Nd5 2.Bc6; but 1…Rd3! Try: 1.Nb7? (threat 2.Ra5) 1…Bd2 2.Nxd6; 1…Nc6 2.Nc3; 1…Nc4 2.Qxc4; but 1…Bxc2! Key: 1.Nb3! (threat 2.Ra5) 1…Bd2 2.Nd4; 1…Nc6 2.Bxc6; 1…Nc4 2.Nc3; 1…Bxb3 2.Qxb3. Great key shutting in the WQ. {Bob Meadley [M]} The mate 2.Nc3 occurs after different self-blocks over three phases of play. It also occurs as the threat of the introductory try 1.Ne6. {ed.} 130 (Hassan) Try: 1.Na6? (threat 2.Nc5) but 1…Qxd2! Try: 1.Nb5? (threats 2.Nc3,Rd4,Rxe2) but 1…Nhxf5! Key: 1.Ne6! (threats 2.Nc5,Rd4,Rxe2) 1…Bxe6 2.dxe6; 1…Nd any + 2.d6; 1…Qxg4,Qf2,Qd3 2.Q(x)d3; 1…Qxc4,Qe3 2.Q(x)e3; 1…Qxd2 2.Nxd2; 1…Bg1 2.Nxd6. A difficult problem to solve. 131 (Makaronez) 1.Rh5! (threat 2.Kd5 ~ 3.Qe6) 1…d2 2.Kxf6 ~ 3.Qe6; 1…g5,gxh5 2.Kf5 ~ 3.Qe6. Sacrificial key prevents 1…h5 2…h6 3…Kh7. {Andy Sag [S]} 132 (Makaronez) 1.Kf7! (threat 2.Qc5+ Kxe5 3.Ng6) 1…Nb3 2.Nfg2 (threats 3.Nxc2,Re4); 1…Nxb4 2.Neg2 (threats 3.Ne2,Re4). The two defences allow alternate Nowotnys on g2. {S} 133 (Feather) 1.Be6 Rf8 2.Ke4 Qxf3#. 1.Bf5 Re8 2.f2 Qe2#. 1.Bg4 Rd8+ 2.Kc4 Qd5#. Triplet with queen mates on 3 different files. {S} 134 (Jones) (a) 1.Ng5 Bxd5 2.Ke5 Kxg5 3.Kxd5 Kf6#. (b) 1.Nf3 Rxd5 2.Ke4 exf3+ 3.Kxd5 f4#. King captures one piece on d5 by 2 different routes helping White to set up and execute a battery mate by the other piece. {S} Classic treble: Jones + WR + WB. {M}
January/February 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 141. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
142. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
143. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 4
144. Abdelaziz Onkoud (Morocco) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
145. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
146. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
March/April 2012
Welcome to Abdelaziz Onkoud of Morocco! His 144 is dedicated to Mina Onkoud of Melbourne. This month there are helpmates from three well known composers. If you’ve never solved a helpmate before, why not have a go? In helpmates both sides cooperate to enable White to mate. Black plays first, so in 145 the order of moves is BWBWBW. In this problem the kings are well apart, so how is it possible for White to mate after just three moves, even with Black helping? The helpmates each have two solutions, with the solutions being related in some way. Solutions to Problems 135-140 (January/February 2012) 135 (Troitsky) 1.Bc6! Rb1+ (1…Rb2 2.Bg2+ Rxg2 3.Nf4+ Kh4 4.Nxg2+ Kg5 5.Qf1 wins) 2.Ke2 Rxh1 3.Bg2+ Kxg2 4.Nf4+ Kg1 5.Ke1 g2 6.Ne2 mate. 136 (Lyons) 1.Bb8! (threat 2.Nc7) 1…Rd4 2.Qxe5; 1…Rd5 2.Qf5; 1…Rd7 2.Bf7; 1…Rd8 2.exd8=N; 1…Ra6,Rb6 2.Qc4; 1…Rc6 2.Qxc6; 1…Nf8+ 2.exf8=N. Six variations when rook defends by vacating d6 provide a great theme. {Andy Sag [S]} In composing, catering for the seven R-moves is very impressive. {Nigel Nettheim} 137 (Hassan) Try: 1.N5xe4? (threats 2.d4,Bxf6) but 1…Qd7! Try: 1.N3xe4? (threats 2.d4,Bxf6) but 1…f4! Key: 1.Bxe4! (threat 2.d4) 1…fxe4 2.Bxf6; 1…c5 2.Rxd5; 1…Nxe6 2.Rxf5; 1…Ba7 2.Qxc7; 1…Qa4 2.Nf7. Tries and key capture the Pe4 to deprive Black of an en passant defence. {ed.} 138 (Makaronez) 1.Bg8! (threat 2.Rd5+ Kf4 3.Rxf5) 1…gxh3 2.Rc4 (waiting) f4/b5/N~ 3.Re4/Qxc5/Qe7; 1…cxd4 2.Rb5+ Kf4 3.Rxf5; 1…Kxd4 2.Qxf6+ Kd3 3.Qc3; 1…Nd6,Ne7 2.Q(x)e7+ Kxd4 3.Qe3. When Black creates an escape to g4, White replaces the threat by a surprise waiter! {S} 139 (Jonsson) 1.f4 Nb3+ 2.Ke3 Rh3#. 1.Re6 Re2 2.Ke5 Nc6#. Double pin mate in both cases. {S} Lovely. {Bob Meadley [M]} 140 (Jones) (a) 1.Ba3 Ba4 2.Kc5 b3 3.Kb4 Rxc4#. (b) 1.Re5 Ba2 2.Kc5 b4+ 3.Kd5 Bxc4#. In (b) the path of the black king is reversed as well as the rooks and bishops swapping roles. {S} I’m hung up on this after many hours … The BK changes place in (a) and (b). I can’t recall a more beautiful Jones 3 move helpmate. {M}
March/April 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 147. David Shire (England) White to play and mate in 2
148. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
149. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
150. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
151. Georg Pongrac (Austria) Helpmate in 2 (b)Pc6>e5
152. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (b)Ng5>h6
May/June 2012
153. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
154. Andras Toth Helpmate in 4
Welcome to new composer Andras Toth! Andras is originally from Hungary but is now living in Canberra. He is an IM and was twice Hungarian junior champion, as well as U16 World Team Youth medalist. Solutions to Problems 141-146 (March/April 2012) 141 (Hassan) 1.Qh8! waiting. 1…Ng any 2.Qe5; 1…Qxh6 2.Nxh6; 1…Q else 2.Bxg6; 1…Ne any 2.Rcf6; 1…B any 2.Rhf6; 1…d3 2.Ne3. A compact waiter with 6 variations. Key must provide for 1…Nxh5 which creates an escape square for BK on f4; the remaining 5 variations are set play. The Bh4 could be replaced by a P. {Andy Sag [S]} A sociable WQ who likes crowds. {Bob Meadley [M]} 142 (Makaronez) 1.Qf1! (threat 2.Qf5+ Kc4 3.Nd2) 1…d6 2.Nc3+ bxc3 3.e4; 1…Nd6 2.Nxf6+ Nxf6 3.Re5; 1…b3 2.Nc3+ Kd6 3.Qf4; 1…Nc5 2.dxc5 ~ 3.Qd3. The Q switchback in the 1…Nc5 variation is a nice touch. {S} 143 (Makaronez) 1.Nb4! waiting 1…Kxc5 2.Qe6 Kd4 3.Qf5! Ke3/e3,Kc4 4.Qf2/Qd5; 1…Ke5 2.Qg5+ Kd4/Ke6 3.c6!/Qg4+; 1…Ke3 2.Qg3+ Ke2 3.Qf2+ Kd1 4.Qd2. The secondary waiter 3.c6 in the 1…Ke5 variation is a complete surprise. {S} 144 (Onkoud) 1.Nd7 Nf3 2.Be5 Qg6#; 1.Ba7 Bb3 2.Nc5 Qd6#. intersecting defensive lines in each case. {S}
Black’s second move closes two
145 (Jonsson) 1.axb1=R Nd4 2.Rg1 Ne6 3.Rg6 Rh1#; 1.bxc2 Rxa2 2.c1=B Ra7 3.Bg5 Rh7#. In each case a black P captures and promotes and the promoted piece self blocks a K flight to allow a different R mate on the h-file assisted by the uncaptured piece. {S} 146 (Jones) 1.d3 Rc6 2.Qf4+ exf4+ 3.Kd4 Rc4#; 1.Qf5+ exf5 2.c5 Re6+ 3.Kd5 e4#. It looked as if Pg5 deserved a direct role but it is only there to stop cooks e.g. 1.Qg5 Kf3 2.c5 Rc6 3.Qf4+ exf4 and similar. That threw me off the track for a long time! {S}
May/June 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 155. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
156. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
157. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
158. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
159. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
160. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 4 (2 solutions)
July/August 2012
Some chess players might find helpmates to be counter-intuitive, but try a few and you could well become addicted! The idea is that Black cooperates with White, playing helpful moves to enable White to mate. Black plays first, so in 158 the order of moves is BWBW. There are two solutions but they are related, so once you have found one the other should immediately be apparent. If you need a clue then consider the white rook on h6 and ask yourself what its purpose might be. Solutions to Problems 147-154 (May/June 2012) 147 (Shire) Try: 1.Rd6? (threat 2.Nd4) but 1…Bb6! Try: 1.Rd2? (threat 2.Rf2) 1…fxe3 2.Nd4; 1…Kxe3 2.Rf2; but 1…Be2! Key: 1.Rxe4! (threat 2.Nd2) 1…fxe4 2.Nd4; 1…fxe3 2.Rxe3; 1…Ba5 2.Rxf4; 1…Kxe4 2.Ng5. Sacrificial key gives flight capture. {Andy Sag [S]} Threat correction. The try 1.Rd6? threatens 2.Nd4, but 1…Bb6! is an adequate defence so White must find another threat. The original threat of 2.Nd4 then returns in the variation play. {ed.} 148 (Hassan) 1.Qc7! waiting 1…Kxd4 2.Rb4; 1…exd4 2.Qf4; 1…Nxd4 2.Ng5; 1…Nf else 2.Qxe5; 1…B any 2.Rxe3; 1…Ne any 2.Bf5. Key allows flight capture giving rise to a double pin mate. {S} The set mate 1…Nf any 2.Ng5 is changed by the key. {ed.} 149 (Makaronez) 1.Nc5! (threat 2.Nf5+ Kd5 3.Qe4) 1…Ke5 2.Qh2+ Kd4 3.Qf4; 1…e6 2.Nxc4 (threat 2.Qd3,Qe4); 1…Be6 2.Nc2+ Kd5 3.Qxe6; 1…c2 2.Nf5+ Kc3 3.Qe1. A give-and-take key and good range of queen mates. {S} 150 (Makaronez) 1.Qa1! (threat 2.Nc3+ Bxc3/dxc3 3.Qa8/Qd1) 1…e3 2.Qh1+ e4 3.Qh5; 1…Be1,Bd2 2.Nb4+ any 3.Qa8; 1…b4 2.Ne3+ dxe3 3.Qd1. Retraction key is good but set short mates detract. {S} One of the best 3-er keys I’ve seen. {Bob Meadley [M]} 151 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Nxf5 f4+ 2.Kd6 Nxf5#. (b) 1.Nxe7 f3+ 2.Kd5 Nxe7#. Well constructed twin. {S} In each part a black knight captures a white knight, enabling the remaining white knight to recapture and give mate. {ed.} 152 (Onkoud) (a) 1.Rxe3 dxe3 2.Qxd4 e4#. (b) 1.Bxd3 c4+ 2.Kxe6 d5#. Compact twin with queen self-pins and pawn mates. {S} 153 (Jonsson) 1.b6 Ba6 2.Qc4 Nc5 3.bxc5 Bb7#; 1.Qc5+ Kd7 2.b5 Bc4+ 3.bxc4 Nc3#. In each case a black pawn moves and then captures one piece, self blocks a king flight and also obstructs the queen to allow the remaining piece to mate. {S} Classy problem. {M} 154 (Toth) 1.Bxe4 Bxc4 2.Bd5 Ba2 3.Bb3 cxb3 4.Kd5 b4#. It is clear that the king must go to d5 but the task is how to stop it escaping back to c5. Blocking with a black pawn doesn’t work so using the white c-file pawn is the only other realistic possibility. Not hard to solve once that has been determined. {S} Took a long time to see this. More from Toth! {M}
July/August 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 161. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
162. Linden Lyons White to play and mate in 2
163. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
164. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
165. Chris Feather (England) Helpmate in 4 (b)Helpmate in 4.5
166. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 4 (b)Pd3>d5
September/October 2012
We start with two simple but neat local contributions. Linden’s 162 has a tempting try. Chris’s 165 has two parts. It should first be solved as a helpmate in 4 moves (with Black playing first), then as a helpmate in 4.5 moves (with White playing an introductory move). In 166 Christopher has added a second solution to a problem by Bror Larsson (1HM Arbejder Skak 1950). This also has two parts: first solve the diagram position, then move the Pd3 to d5 for a new problem to solve. Solutions to Problems 155-160 (July/August 2012) 155 (Hassan) 1.Nf4! (threat 2.Qd5) 1…Nc6 2.b3; 1…Nxf3 2.Bf7; 1…Be2,Rxf3 2.Nd2; 1…Bg2 2.Qd3; 1…Nc3,Nxb4 2.Q(x)c3; 1…Q any 2.Rxd4; 1…Rb any 2.Rxc5. 156 (Makaronez) 1.Ng3! (threat 2.Qd8+ Kg7/Kxe5 3.Nf5/Qd6) 1…Kg5 2.Qf5+ Kh6/Kh4 3.Qf6/Qg4; 1…Kg7 2.Nh5+ Kh8 3.Qd8; 1…h6,h5 2.Qg6+ Ke7,Kxe5 3.Qd6. 157 (Makaronez) 1.Qxg5! (threat 2.Bd7#) 1…e5 2.Rc8+ Kd5 3.Qd8; 1…e6 2.Be4+ Bxe4 3.Rd6; 1…Kxc5 2.Qxe7+ Kc6 3.Qc7; 1…bxc5 2.Qxg2+ Kb6 3.Qb7. 158 (Jonsson) 1.Bxg6 Nxe4 2.Bf5 Nc5#; 1.Nxf6 Bxf5 2.Ne4 Bc8#. 159 (Onkoud) 1.Rxd3 Re3 2.Rxd4 cxd4#; 1.Rxb6 Be6 2.Rb5 cxb5#. 160 (Jones) 1.Ne7 Kxb7 2.Nc8 a8=Q 3.Nxb6 Kxb6+ 4.Kc4 Qxe4#; 1.Nb8 axb8=N 2.Kd6 Nc6 3.bxc6 b7 4.Kc7 b8=Q#.
September/October 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 167. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
168. K.R.Chandrasekaran (India) White to play and mate in 2
169. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
170. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 6
171. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
172. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3.5 (2 solutions)
November/December 2012
Molham’s 167 is dedicated to his second grandchild, Iris Sharkey, who was born in Canberra in August. Welcome to Dr K.R. Chandrasekaran of Vaniyambadi, India! He was an active composer in the period 196580 but is now retired from work and back to composition. 168 shows that he has lost none of his skill! In Leonid’s 170 White continually threatens mate. Black usually plays first in helpmates, but 172 has an extra half-move, the order of moves being White-Black-White-Black-White-Black-White. You might expect the two white pieces to take turns in giving mate, but appearances can be deceptive! Solutions to Problems 161-166 (September/October 2012) 161 (Hassan) Set: 1…Be8 2.Rd4. Key: 1.Bc6! (threat 2.Ba4) 1…Nxb4 2.Rc3; 1…Nxb2 2.Qxe3; 1…Nc5 2.Bc1; 1…Be8 2.Re4. The pawnless setting and required double-check and pin mate in the first two variations are the main attributes. {Andy Sag [S]} An excellent problem and not ‘simple’ for me. {Bob Meadley [M]} 162 (Lyons) Try: 1.Qc2? (threat 2.Qxe4) 1…Kd4 2.Rd7; 1…N~ 2.Qa2; 1…Nc4! Key: 1.Qb4! (threat 2.Qxe4) 1…Nc4 2.Qb7; 1…Nc6 2.Rd7; 1…Nf3 2.Nxe3; 1…N else 2.Qd4. Three excellent correction moves by the black knight. {ed.} 163 (Makaronez) 1.Bf7! (threat 2.Rf3 ~ 3.Bb2) 1…Nb3 2.Re4+ Kc3 3.Rc4; 1…Rxf6 2.Rd3+ Ke5 3.Rd5; 1…Nc6 2.Bd2 ~ 3.Re4. Withdrawal key with innocuous threat is hard to see. {S} Very tough for me. {M} 164 (Jonsson) 1.Bxh5 Nac4 2.Nb4 Nb3#; 1.Qxh5 Nc2 2.Nb6 Ne4#. In each case the leading black piece unguards the mating square and unpins the knight, allowing it to create a self block. {S} 165 (Feather) (a) 1.Be5 fxe5 2.d6 exd6 3.Qc7+ dxc7 4.Kxa8 c8=Q#; (b) 1…Rxg8 2.e5 fxe5 3.Qxg8 e6 4.Ka8 exd7 5.Qc8+ dxc8=Q#. Promoted queen gives the same mate by two different paths. Took me ages to find the (b) solution. {S} For once he didn’t knock me over with a feather. {M} 166 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxf2+ Ke1 2.Rfh2 Rg2 3.Kc3 Rb2 4.Rc2 Rb3#; (b) 1.Rxf4 a4 2.Rfh4 Rg4+ 3.Kc5 Rb4 4.Rc4 Rb5#. In each case a black rook switches back after capturing a pawn thus clearing a rank for the white rook. The black rook then follows to create a self block. Nice twin. {S} A really superb find. {M}
November/December 2012
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 173. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
174. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
175. Michael McDowell (England) White to play and mate in 4
176. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
177. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
178. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 6
January/February 2013
Did the wall of black pawns in Molham’s 173 catch your eye? You should find the wall easy to crack, but watch out for some tempting tries! Welcome to new composer Michael McDowell. In his 175 the knight is well placed to deliver mate, but getting there requires some subtlety. Solutions to Problems 167-172 (November/December 2012) 167 (Hassan) 1.Qe1! waiting 1…Kxd7 2.Qxe6; 1…N any 2.Qxe6; 1…Rc8+ 2.bxc8=N; 1…R else 2.Qe5; 1…e5 2.Rxd5; 1…Qd4 2.Rxd4; 1…Qd3 2.Rxd3; 1…Qxd2 2.Qxd2. Waiter with many variations and a brilliant triple pin mate after the flight capture. {Andy Sag [S]} 168 (Chandrasekaran) Set: 1…Bxe4 2.Rf5; 1…Rhxe4 2.Ng4. Key: 1.Be3! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1…Kxe4 2.Bxf2; 1…Bxe4 2.Nf7; 1…Rhxe4 2.Bf4; 1…Rbxe4 2.Bd4; 1…Nxe4 2.Nf3. Good use of pin mates. {S} Two changed mates after a flight-giving key. {ed.} 169 (Makaronez) 1.Qd1! (threat 2.N6d7+ Ka4 3.Nxc5) 1…Rc1 2.Nc4+ Ka4 3.Nxb2; 1…Bf2 2.Nd5+ Ka4 3.Nc3; 1…N~ 2.Nc6+ Kxa6 3.a8=Q; 1…Qe6+ N6d7+ Qb6 3.Bxb6; 1…Ra2,Raa1 2.Qxb3. Cheeky sacrificial key vacates d7 for N and allows a check also. Play includes double checks and pin mates. {S} 170 (Makaronez) 1.Bg3! fxg3 2.c3 dxc3 3.Bd3 Kxd5 4.Qc4+ Kc6 5.Be4+ d5 6.Bxd5. 171 (Jonsson) 1.Nxb4 Ng3 2.Na2 Nb4 3.hxg3 Nc2#; 1.Nxd2 Nf4 2.Nb1 Nd2 3.gxf4 Nb3#. Knight ballet twin. In each case the leading black knight removes a pawn to clear a path for a white knight to deliver a pin mate while the leading white knight allows a pawn capture to use up a black tempo. Note the h2 pawn is needed to stop cooks involving the move Kh2. {S} 172 (Jones) 1…Ra3 2.Bc4 Rc3 3.dxc3 dxc3 4.Bd5 d4#; 1…Ra4 2.Re4 dxe4 3.d3 Be2 4.dxe2 d4#. Pawn ballet twin. The white pieces take turns to sacrifice to the d pawn (not to mate), leaving the remaining white piece to guard c4 and one other square allowing different pawns to mate on d4. {S}
January/February 2013
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 179. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
180. Ian Shanahan White to play and mate in 2
181. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
182. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
183. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2 (b) bRa4 (c) bNc4
184. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 4 (b) Ph3 > h5
March/April 2013
Molham’s 179 is a real solver’s problem, with plenty of excellent play. Ian’s 180 has a try showing the same theme as the solution. Christopher’s 184 has a twin (a second problem to solve) formed by moving the white Ph3 to h5. Christer’s 183 has two twins, each formed by changing the colour of a piece. In the first twin the Ra4 becomes black, while in the second twin it is the Nc4! Solutions to Problems 173-178 (January/February 2013) 173 (Hassan) Try: 1.Ne5? (threat 2.Nxg6) 1…dxe5 2.Qc5; 1…f any 2.Bg5; but 1…Bxe8! Key: 1.Ne3! waiting 1…c5 2.Nd5; 1…d5 2.Qc5; 1…e5 2.Qf7; 1…f5 2.Bg5; 1…g5 2.Nf5; 1…Bxe8 2.Qxe6; 1…Bc8 2.bxc8=N. A novelty waiter with 7 variations. {Andy Sag [S]} Very good, symmetry being one of the main features. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 174 (Makaronez) 1.Rd3! (threat 2.Qg6+ f5/Kf3 3.Qxf5/Qxg4) 1…Qxe6+ 2.Nec4+ Kd5/Kf5 3.Nb6/Qh5; 1…Qd5+ 2.Nxd5+ Kxd5/Kf5 3.Qd7/Ne7; 1…Qc4+ 2.Nexc4+ Kf5 3.Nd6; 1…Qe8 2.Nec4+ Kd5/Kf5 3.Nb6/Nd6; 1…Kf3 2.Nd5+ Kg2 3.Nf4. Key takes a flight but gives 3 checks. Great variety of moves for the Ne3. One dual and one short mate probably unavoidable. {S} 175 (McDowell) Try: 1. Re8? Bd3! 2.Bd7 Bf5! Key: 1.Bd7! Be2 2.Re8 Bf3 3.Bc8 ~ 4.Ne4,Ng4. One liner with zugzwang finale. {S} A lovely thing. {Bob Meadley [M]} Very nice miniature scheme. The edge of the board makes everything work out just right. {N} 176 (Onkoud) 1.Rc6 Re6 2.Rg1 Rh6#; 1.Qc6 Rc5 2.Rh2 Rc1. In each case Black switches the pinned piece. {S} The ‘clear the decks’ theme. {M} 177 (Jones) 1.Kd7 e6+ 2.Kc8 Bd6 3.Rd8 Ne7#; 1.fxe5 Nxe5 0-0-0+ Nd7 3.Bd4 Nb6#. Knight mates in similar configurations with and without queen side castling. {S} Pseudo-castling with the wrong rook! {N} 178 (Jonsson) 1.Re3 Bc6 2.d5 Bxa4 3.Ke4 Kb3 4.d4+ Kc2 5.Bc4 Kd1 6.Kd3 Bc2#. Precise line with truly amazing economy. {S} The mating configuration is fairly clear because Black has to occupy 3 black squares in his K-field. The move order is forced mainly to allow the white king’s passage. Good fun to solve. {N}
March/April 2013
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 185. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
186. David Shire (England) White to play and mate in 2
187. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
188. Georg Pongrac (Austria) Helpmate in 2 (b) Pb3 > f3
189. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
190. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)
May/June 2013
191. Christopher Jones (England) Helpmate in 3 (b) Pc5 > e3
192. Michael McDowell (England) Helpstalemate in 4
There is a feast for helpmate enthusiasts this month! Recall that in helpmates both sides cooperate to enable White to mate, with Black playing first e.g. in 189 the order of play is Black-White-Black-White. Two of the helpmates have a twin (a second problem to solve): in 188 move the Pb3 to f3, while in 191 move the Pc5 to e3. Note that in 192 White is to stalemate Black. Solutions to Problems 179-184 (March/April 2013) 179 (Hassan) 1.Bc3! (threat 2.Re5) 1…Bf3 2.Qe5; 1…Bf4 2.Qd3; 1…Qf5 2.Rd4; 1…exd5 2.Bxc2; 1…Rd2 2.Qe3; 1…Rxc3 2.Nf2; 1…bxc3 2.Ra4; 1…f6 2.Rxe6. A fine solvers task with threat plus 8 variations. {Andy Sag [S]} Lots of excellent play. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 180 (Shanahan) Try 1.Bxc6? (threat 2.Bd7) 1…Bxb5 2.Bd5; 1…exf4 2.Rxe2; 1…Nf8 2.gxf8=N; but 1…Rxa6! Key 1.Nxe2 (threat 2.Nd4) 1…Rxf4 2.Nxf4; 1…c5 2.Rxb6; 1…e4 2.Nc7; 1…fxg6 2.g8=Q. An ambitious task. {N} The try and solution each show masked battery formation with subsequent pin mates. {ed.} 181 (Makaronez) 1.Rc4! (threat 2.Rd6#) 1…Bb3 2.Qb1+ Kxc4/Bc2 3.Qe4/Qxc2; 1…Rf4 2.Rxe3+ Kxe3 3.Qd2; 1…Bf4 2.Rc3+ Kd4 3.Nf5; 1…bxc4 2.Qb2 ~ 3.Qc3. Key is a rook sacrifice and one of the continuations also loses a rook but unfortunately the threat is a short mate. {S} A lovely mixture of selfblocks and black interferences. {ed.} 182 (Onkoud) 1.Nd7 Bc3 2.f4 Kd4#; 1.f4 Bd3 2.Nd7 Ke4#. Choice of which bishop to move to the 3rd rank depends on the order of Black’s moves. In each case, the king must occupy the 4th rank square that the bishop has traversed. {S} 183 (Jonsson) (a) 1.Qe3+ Rg5 2.Ke4 Nd2; (b) 1.Nc3 Nd2 2.Rc4 Nxf3; (c) 1.d2 Raa5 2.Qc3 Rad5. Precision with economy. {S} All parts far from obvious, the pawn move in (c) surprising. Great variety with limited resources. {N} 184 (Jones) (a) 1.Ne4 d3 2.Ke3 Kg7 3.Kf4 Rxe4+ 4.Kf5 hxg4#; (b) 1.Ne5 Kg8 2.Ke4 d4 3.Kf5 Rxe5+ 4.Kf6 hxg5#. The twin gives a clue that the black king must move to top right quadrant and it is probably easier to tackle part (b) first. The one was the most difficult of the set. {S} A “chameleon echo” (same mate but on differently coloured squares). {ed.}
May/June 2013
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 193. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
194. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
195. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
196. Andras Toth Helpmate in 2.5 (b) Re4<>Kf5
197. Georg Pongrac (Austria) Helpmate in 3 (b) Ng2>f3
198. J.Lois, J.Kapros & C.Jonsson Helpmate in 3 (b) Kb4>h4 (c) Kb4>h8
July/August 2013
Welcome to Jorge Lois and Jorge Kapros of Argentina! Their 198 has twins in which the black king is positioned on h4 and h8. The three solutions show cyclic play of the white pieces, but the problem can be enjoyed without knowing that! The other helpmates also have twins: in 196 the pieces on e4 and f5 are switched, while in 197 the knight is moved from g2 to f3. Solutions to Problems 185-192 (May/June 2013) 185 (Hassan) 1.Re2! waiting 1…Ne5 2.Be3; 1…N4 else 2.Bf6; 1…N1 any 2.Nf3; 1…a3 2.Nb3; 1…f4 2.c3; 1…Be6,Bc8 2.Nxb5; 1…Bc6,Be8 2.Nxf5. Tries e.g. 1.Bh7? Be8+! 1.Bd8? Ne2! Waiter with sacrificial key. {Andy Sag [S]} 186 (Shire) Try: 1.Rf6? (threat 2.d6) 1…Rxe5 2.Nfd6; 1…Nd4 2.Nbd6; 1…Nf4 2.Rxf4; 1…Qa2 2.Qxc2; but 1…Qd1! Key: 1.Re6! (threat 2.Nfd6) 1…Rf5 2.d6; 1…Kf5 2.Nbd6; 1…Qf1 2.Qxc2. Mates on the same square (d6). When the try fails, a flight-giving key with a new threat is required. The original threat then returns after 1…Rf5. {ed.} 187 (Makaronez) 1.Rd8! (threat 2.Qe5+ dxe5 3.Nc5) 1…Qd5 2.Qf6+ exf6 3.Re8; 1…Qe4 2.Bg8+ Kf5 3.Rf8; 1…Kd5 2.Qc5+ Ke6 3.Bg8. Threat and one defence involve queen sacrifices. {S} 188 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Nf6 Re5 2.Bd3 Bb2#; (b) Nd3 Bb4 2.Rf6 Re4. In each case the rook is unpinned. {S} 189 (Onkoud) 1.Bxd6 Qc1 2.Qe5 Nf4#; 1.Bh3 Kxc7 2.Qf5 Qxg8#. In each case the pinned queen moves to restrict a bishop from defending the mate. {S} Marvellous play by the black queen and bishops. {Bob Meadley [M]} 190 (Jonsson) 1.Rc3 Ne3 2.dxe3 Nd7+ 3.Kd4 Rg4#; 1.Rc4 Nc3 2.dxc3 Re2 3.Kd4 Ne6#. The d4 pawn makes different captures to vacate that square for the king. {S} I was stuck for many hours. A very fine problem. {M} 191 (Jones) (a) 1.Ba4 Rf7 2.Kd5 bxa4 3.Kc4 Rf3; (b) 1.Bh3 Bf7 2.Kf4 gxh3 3.Kf3 Bc4#. Pawn captures unguard the final king position and restrict one escape. Bishop and rook take turns in giving discovered check while the moving piece makes it a mate by cutting off the remaining king escape. {S} The master of the rook/bishop helpmate. {M} 192 (McDowell) 1.f1=R d8=R 2.Rf7 exf7 3.b1=R f8=R 4.Rb3+ Bxb3=. A welcome respite after troubles with numbers 189 and 190. {M}
July/August 2013
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 199. Michael Lipton (after G.Guidelli) White to play and mate in 2
200. Molham Hassan White to play and mate in 2
201. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
202. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 5
203. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
204. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
September/October 2013
Welcome to chess problem luminary Michael Lipton of England! His 199 adds some important set play to a problem by G.Guidelli (Good Companions, Aug 1924, 1K1R4/7B/7B/1pP5/2p1SP2/2p1kSbR/4rp1p/5r2). Leonid’s 202 might be tough to solve, but the arrangement of the rooks should give a clue. Solutions to Problems 193-198 (July/August 2013) 193 (Hassan) Set: 1…Kxd5 2.Bc6. Key: 1.Rf5! (threat 2.Qd3) 1…Kxd5 2.Qc4; 1…Kxf5 2.Bg6; 1…Qxd5 2.Rf4; 1…Bd4 2.Qf3; 1…Nxf5 2.Nf6; 1…dxe5 2.Rxe5. Sacrificial key adds a second flight capture. Other variations provide a variety of self blocks. {Andy Sag [S]} Tricky changed mate after 1…Kxd5. {ed.} 194 (Makaronez) 1.Ne4! (threat 2.Qc5+ Kxe4 3.Qe5) 1…fxe4+ 2.Nxf4+ Kd4 3.e3; 1…Rxe4 2.Nxe7+ Kd4 3.Qd6; 1…Bxf2 2.Nxc3+ Kd4 3.Qe5; 1…Kxe4 2.Qe5#. Sacrificial key adds a flight and a check but the flight capture allows a short mate which detracts from an otherwise perfect problem. {S} 195 (Makaronez) 1.Nc4! (threat 2.Qd3+ Bd4 3.Qf3) 1…Kd4 2.Nxb6+ c4 3.Rxc4; 1…Ke4 2.Bc6+ Kxf5/Kd4 3.Qg4/Rd7; 1…Bxf5 2.Qd6+ Ke4 3.Bc6. Key adds two flights. Too many short mates, one being a dual, make the problem a bit untidy. {S} 196 (Toth) (a) 1… Rxg4 2.Qg6 Re4 3.g4 Rf4#; (b) 1…Rxd5 2.Bd3 Rf5 2.d5 Re5#. An accurate twin. In each case the rook captures a pawn then vacates that square to allow a pawn move to unguard the mating square. {S} 197 (Pongrac) (a) 1.b6 Re3 2.Ba6 Re6 3.Bc4 Nf4#; (b) 1.b5 Ng5 2.Rb6 Rc3 3.Rd6 Rc5#. In each case the pawn on b7 moves to clear the path for a black piece to reach the self block position in time. {S} 198 (Lois, Kapros & Jonsson) (a) 1.dxc1=N Rd4+ 2.Ka3 Rb4 3.Na2 Nc2#; (b) 1.dxe1=R Bxe3 2.Rg1 Bf4 3.Rg4 Rh1#; (c) 1.exd1=B Nf3 2.Bb3 Ng5 3.Bg8 Bb2#. A neat triplet. In each case a different promoted piece moves to a self block position leaving the uncaptured white pieces to do the business. Note that in each case the mating piece is the same as the promoted one. {S} The captured pieces and the promoted pieces, together with White’s first-moved piece, are arranged cyclically (BNR, NRB, RBN). All the pieces moved later also take part in the cycle (apart from the K-move). I am only surprised that the three composers’ initials are not also cyclical! {Nigel Nettheim} Cyclic maybe, classic mai oui! {Bob Meadley)
September/October 2013
Problem Potpourri Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail:
[email protected] 205. M.Kovačević, 1 Prize Serbian Ch. 2003/06 White to play and mate in 2
206. Leonid Makaronez (Israel) White to play and mate in 3
207. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Helpmate in 2 (2 solutions)
208. Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Helpmate in 4 (4 solutions)
November/December 2013
Christer’s 208 is a really special way to bring this column to an end. The solutions to the above problems are on the bottom of the opposite page. I wish to thank Brian Jones for his willingness to host a problem column in this magazine. Thanks also to my loyal composers, and solvers Andy Sag, Bob Meadley and Nigel Nettheim. Solutions to Problems 199-204 (September/October 2013) 199 (Lipton) Set: 1…Bxd5+ 2.Nc6; 1…Bf5,Bg6 2.N(x)f5; 1…Bg2 2.Nf3; 1…Bb1 2.Nc2. Key: 1.Rc8! (threat 2.Ncb3) 1…Bxd5+ 2.Nb7; 1…Bf5 2.Nd7; 1…Kb4 2.Nd3; 1…Kxd4 2.Rxe4. A fine flight-giving key by one of the best. {Bob Meadley [M]} Changed battery mates. This setting has three more set shut-offs (mousetraps) than Guidelli’s original. {ed.} 200 (Hassan) 1.Nxd4! (threat 2.Re4) 1…dxe5 2.Nh5 (not 2.Nxd5); 1…Nxe5 2.Nxd5 (not 2.Nh5); 1…Kxe5 2.Qe3; 1…g4 2.Rf5; 1…Bxd4 2.Qxd4; 1…Nxf6 2.Qe3; 1…g2 2.Qh2. Immensely complicated and I found it very hard to solve. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} Dual avoidance after the captures on e5. {ed.} 201 (Makaronez) 1.Qe3! (threat 2.Rxh6+ Kf5 3.Be6) 1…Rd1+ 2.Kxd1 ~ 3.Qc3; 1…Rd6 2.Re6+ Kd5,Kf5 3.Qxe4; 1…Nc7 2.Qxd4+ Kxd4 3.Rf3. Key adds a check. One variation involves a queen sacrifice followed by a battery mate. {Andy Sag [S]} I just could not see the threat. Clever. {M} 202 (Makaronez) 1.e3! (threat 2.exd4#) dxe3 2.Nd4 Kxd4 3.c5+ Ke5 4.Re4+ Kxd5 5.Ne7. Two mate threats followed by two checks make this a one liner but the three sacrifices along the way make it hard to spot the solution. {S} 203 (Jonsson) 1.Rg4 Be8 2.Rd8 Re6#; 1.Rg2 Rh6 2.Rd7 Nc6#. I admire the hidden resources the composer found. {N} The white king is cleverly placed to prevent solutions such as 1.Rd8 Rd6 2.Rg4 Nf5, because the white knight is pinned! {ed.} 204 (Onkoud) 1.Rxe3 Nef3 2.Bf4 Bf5#; 1.Nxe3 Bf5+ 2.Kxd4 Nf3#. The white move sequence is reversed and in each case Black’s first move pins the mating piece and White’s first move unpins it. {S} Solutions to Problems 205-208 (this issue) 205 (Kovačević) 1.Kb5! (threat 2.Rc4) 1…Qxe2+ Ncd3; 1…Qe8+ 2.Nd7; 1…Qxc5+ Bxc5; 1…Qd5 2.Nc6; 1…Bc3 2.Nc2; 1…Bxc1 2.Nd5; 1…Be3 2.Nbd3; 1…Ne4 2.Rxe4. 206 (Makaronez) 1.Rba3! (threat 2.R3a4+ Kxc3 3.Rc5) 1…Nd7 2.Nf3 ~ 3.Nd2; 1…Ne6 2.Nxc2 ~ 3.Ne3; 1…Qg8 2.Kxc2 ~ 3.R3a4. Anticipatory interferences by the black knight. {ed.} 207 (Onkoud) 1.Kd7 Ba4 2.Re6 Rd8#; 1.Kf5 Rb5 2.Be6 Bc2#. The white bishop and rook exchange pinning and mating duties. {ed.} 208 (Jonsson) 1.Rh6 gxh6 2.Qd2 h7 3.Kc1 h8=Q 4.Rc2 Qa1#; 1.Rf6 gxf6 2.Kd1 f7 3.Rd2 f8=Q 4.Qc2 Qf1#; 1.Re6 dxe6 2.Kc3 e7 3.Rc2 e8=Q 4.Qb2 Qe3#; 1.Rc6 dxc6 2.Kb3 c7 3.Ka4 c8=Q 4.Rb3 Qa6#. Four sacrifices of the black rook, promotions to queen on four different squares, with the black king being mated on four different squares. Remarkable! {ed.}
November/December 2013
