Award of 23rd TT Chess Composition Microweb C 3.3.2008

a) 1.Se6 (1.Sb3?) & 1.c5 2.c4 3.c3 4.c2 5.c1S 6.Sb3 7.Sa5 Sc5#

b) 1.Sf5 (1.Sb5?) & 1.Bb6 2.Kb5 3.Kc6 4.Bc7 5.Kd7 6.Kc8 7.Bd8 Sd6#

Although the position is very open initially, somehow white knight cannot head for the mating square using any path. The choice is limited to two squares in both twins and - and choice of the wrong one induces collision later in the black play.

1...SBg1R+ 2.Ka2R#

1.Kh3? zz
1...SBg1S+!

1.Kh1? zz
1...SBg1R+!

1.Kg3? zz
1...SBg1R+ 2.Ka3R#
1...SBg1Q+!

1.Kf1! zz
1...SBg1R+ 2.Kf8R#
1...SBg1Q+ 2.Kf8Q#
1...SBf2+ 2.Ka6SB#

Perhaps the most surprising problem of all. Although Black is quite constrained in terms of possible moves (in the initial position there is only one possible black move, answered by a mate), there are three different refutations by promotions. Knight one is the only check possible, rook one as well, although the queen promotions is ruled out by selfcheck just like in the set. Finally, queen promotion refutation is a correction of the rook promotion. The key is the most interesting move as it allows three defences, although two are very similar. The means used are very exotic.

a)
1.Re4? th. 2.Rexe5#, 1...LIxb8! A
1.Rg5? th. 2.Rgxe5#, 1...Bh4! B
1.AMxd3? th. 2.AMxe5#, 1...Gd4+! C

1.Sc6? th. 2.Sd8#, 1...LIxb7!

1.Rb5! th. 2.Rbxe5#
1...G2d5 2.CAxd5#

b)
1.Re4? th. 2.Rexe5#, 1...LIxb8+! C
1.Rg5? th. 2.Rgxe5#, 1...Bh4! A
1.AMxd3? th. 2.AMxe5#, 1...Gd4! B

1.Rb5? th. 2.Rbxe5#, 1...LIb6!

1.Sc6! th. 2.Bd8# and 2.Sd8#
1...Gf5 2.CAxf5#

And now for something completely different... The theme shown by this problem is exactly what I was expecting to receive in the direct problems. Cyclic change of defence motives of the same refutations of direct threats on the same square e5 in two twin positions:

A - direct guarding
B - pinning
C - checking

Hovewer the construction leaves impression that it can be still improved, especially the number of different fairy pieces used. Some of them do not look like necessary...

1.Sc4+? Kd5 2.Sed2 LOxc4-b4(Sb1) 3.Sa3 LOxd2-e1(Sg1) 4.Sf3 LOxe3-e4(LOe8) 5.LOxe4-d3(LOe1)+ Kc5 6.Sb1 LOxb1-a1(Sb1)+ 7.Sa3 LOxa3-a4(Sg1)#
1...Kf5!

1.Sf6+?
1...Kxd6(Sg1)!

1.Sc5+? Kd5 2.LOxf4-g5(LOf1) Kc6 3.Se8+ Kd5 4.Kb4 Kd4 5.Sf6 LOxf6-f7(Sg1) 6.Sb3+ LOxb3-a2(Sb1) 7.Sa3 LOxa3-a4#
1...Kd4!

1.LOxf4-g5(LOf1)+? Kd4 2.Kb4 Kd3 3.Sc3+ Kd4 4.Sb1 LOxb1-a1(Sb1) 5.Sf7! LOxb1-c1(Sb1) 6.Sh6! LOxb1-a1(Sb1) 7.Sa3 LOxa3-a4(Sg1)#
1...Ke6!

1.Sf7+? Kf5 2.Sh6+ Ke5 3.LOxf4-g5(LOf1)+ Kd4 4.Kb4 Kd3 5.Sc3+ Kd4 6.Sb1 LOxb1-a1(Sb1) 7.Sa3 LOxa3-a4(Sg1)#
1...Kd5!

1.Sd2+! Kd5 2.S6c4 LOxc4-b4(Sb1) 3.Sa3 LOxd2-e1(Sg1) 4.Sf3 LOxe3-e4(LOe8) 5.LOxe4-d3(LOe1)+ Kc5 6.Sb1 LOxb1-a1(Sb1)+ 7.Sa3 LOxa3-a4(Sg1)#

In the initial position Black is free in the choice of moves, therefore the check by White can be expected. There are multiple checks possible, some direct, some battery, and they set up scene for interesting action leading to two different mating pictures, if Black chooses wrong move. The right refutations take advantage of locust-like closing of lines: 1.Sc4+ Kf5! - LOg6-Se4, 1.Sc5+ Kd4! - LOe3-Sc5, 1.1.LOxf4-g5(LOf1)+ Ke6! - LOg6-Sd6. Also, if we speak about motivation, I especially liked moves 5.Sf7! and 6.Sh6! in the try 1.LOxf4-g5(LOf1)+?, motivated by need to block square of possible locust arrival.

a) 1...Sc3 2.Ra6/b6/c6/f6/h6? Qg3 3.Qxd4+; but Ke6!
1...Sde3? 2.Re6 Qg3 3.Qxd4+ Sxd4??#
1...Sde3? 2.Rc6 Qg2 3.Qxf5+; but Kc4(d6)!

1...Sc3! 2.Re6! Qg3 3.Qxd4+ Sxd4#


b) 1...Sh4? 2.Rc6 Qg2 3.Qf5+ Sxf5??
1...Sfe3? 2.Rc6 Qg2 3.Qf5+ Sxf5??
1...Sxc3?? 2.Re6 Qg3 3.Qxd4+ Sxd4#

1...Sde3! 2.Rc6 Qg2 3.Qxf5+ Sxf5#

Although there seem to be many paths leading to selfmate, indeed they are limited to one in both positions. The point is in the fact that Black king must be patrolled to avoid capture by him. But patrolling must be done right way to avoid patrolling of something else black. Therefore the refutations of tries are specific to Lortap chess.

a) 1.CAhg4! A (CAfg4? B) GIc4! a (GIf7? b) 2.Bf6 CAxe2#
(3.CAxe2! & 3.Kg5!)

b) 1.GIdc4! C (GIbc4? D) CAg6! c (CAg4? d) 2.GIc6 GIxh7#
(3.GIxh7! & 3.Kc7!)

c) 1.GIbc4! D (GIdc4? C) CAg4! d (CAg6? c) 2.GIf3 GIf7#
(3.GIxf7! & 3.Kxd3!)

d) 1.CAfg4! B (CAhg4? A) GIf7! b (GIc4? a) 2.Rg2 CAc2#
(3.CAxc2! & 3.Ke3!)

And this is something of a kind I wanted to receive in the help-problems area. Choice of right moves both in B1 and W1 unpinning two white thematical pieces, i.e. two tries in each solution, everything motivated in the very unified manner: B1 choice - try leaves guarded the prospective mating square
W1 choice - try does not guard yet unguarded square in the mating net
Excellent matrix is shown with model mates finished by blocking B2. (While some composers do not like twins produced by moving the bK, especially when there is black material completely uninvolved in some phases, for me it is no problem with such rich and balanced content.)