Selfmates 7


As I promised, I made a little search for s#3 with tries that could be considered as examples for Problem Echo 2000 tourneys. Just look...
Hartmut Laue
2nd Prize Schach-Echo 1981

1.d8S? th. 2.d6+ Bxe5#, 1...Rf6!
1.Sc8? th. 2.Qd4+ Bxd4#, 1...Rg7!
1.Bd3! th. 2.Bc2 ~ 3.Bxb4+ axb4#
1...Rxg4 2.d8S! (th. 3.d6+ Bxe5#) Rg7 3.Qe7+ Rxe7#
1...Rh6 2.Sc8! (th. 3.Qd4+ Bxd4#) Rf6 3.Qd6+ Rxd6#
1...e3 2.Sb3+ a,cxb3 3.Bxb4+ axb4#

Logic selfmate - black defends against nonchecking threat by threat of check, but this way he gives up good defence against one of the main plans. Unpins of white queen lead to two battery mates.









s#3 (12+10)

Michael Keller
1st Prize Schach 1982

1.Rf5? th. 2.Qe4+ Kxe4 3.Rc4+ Bd4#, 1...g6!
1.Bf5? th. 2.Qe5+ Kxe5 3.Bb2+ Bd4#, 1...g5!
1.Bc1! th. 2.Qe3+ fxe3 3.dxe3+ Bxe3#
1...g6 2.Qe4+ Kxe4 3.Rc4+ Bd4#
1...g5 2.Qe5+ Kxe5 3.Bb2+ Bd4#

Most people would call that Dombrovskis theme: threats in tries are refuted exactly by the same black moves that allow them in solution. Well, but both variations from solution are present in set play too, key only forces black to play thematical defences. This is sometimes called pseudo-Dombrovskis, "genuine" Dombrovskis beeing reserved for problems where key allows thematical variations.

I don't grumble against quality of this selfmate - without any doubt it is very good and clearcut selfmate.









s#3 (11+9)

Uri Avner
3rd-4th Prize The Problemist 1986

1.Sf7? zz, 1...bxc1B! 2.Qf8+ Kc4 3.Sa3+ Bxa3+ 4.Rxb1
1.Sb7? zz, 1...bxc1S! 2.Qf8+ Kc4 3.Bd3+ Sxd3+ 4.Qf1
1.Qf8! zz,
1...bxc1B 2.Sb7+ Kc4 3.Sa3+ Bxa3#
1...bxc1S 2.Sf7+ Kc4 3.Bd3+ Sxd3#

In tries, black exploits wrong placement of white knight and simple opening of white lines pointing to first row. In solution, where white plays his moves in right order and the choice is still available on second move, he closes own line before opening it. Thus we get the standard Bannyj pattern.









s#3 (13+7)

Zoltan Labai
Peter Gvozdják

2nd Prize Probleemblad 1991

1.Bh2? th 2.Sfe4+ Qxe4 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#
1...f5 2.Sge4+ Qxe4 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#
1...Re3 2.Rd5+ Qxd5 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#
1...Se3!

1.Rh6! th 2.Sge4+ Qxe4 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#
1...f5 2.Rd5+ Qxd5 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#
1...Re3 2.Sfe4+ Qxe4 3.Qc4+ Qxc4#

Cyclic change of threat and two continuations after the same defences - threat Lacny or Shedey cycle according to new terminology system of some cyclic themes. Of course, the third moves are always the same and the ground of mechanism is in fact only 2 moves long.









s#3 (11+10)

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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