Selfmates with active white king 1


In this selection of selfmates I tried to concentrate on problems with a key made by white king. Of course, you should note two selfmates with White Rex Solus and also a nice s#2 by Milan Vukcevich with reciprocal change, that are already shown at CCM. It is possible to list many-many more examples and I'll try to do it in due course.
Peter Gvozdják
Marek Kolcák

Comm Metaxa 1989

1.Qh4! zz
1...f2+ 2.Kf1 e2#
1...e2 2.Qg4 f2#

1.Kf1! zz
1...f2 2.Qh4 e2#
1...e2+ 2.Ke1 f2#

White expects two possible black pawn moves and it is quite clear that to allow mate 2...e2# it is necessary to move both queen and king. That's how the reversal of moves Kf1 and Qh4 works. The other variation is changed too and in both solution contains switchback of key piece. How simple!









s#2 (7+6)
2 solutions

Vilmos Schneider
1st Prize Stella Polaris 1969

1...Qc8+ 2.Rd7+ Bxc6#
1...b1Q+ 2.Rd3+ Bxc6#

1.Ke5! th. 2.Sxg5+ Rxg5#
1...Bc3+ 2.Rd4+ Bxc6#
1...cxb6+ 2.Rd6+ Bxc6#

Any move of Rd5 checks by battery and forces Bxc6+. However this check could be parried by switchback of a rook. That's why in the set play there are 2 variations with check and the key by king move destroys these and allows other two. Thematical key.









s#2 (12+14)

Uri Avner
Jurij Berezhnoj

2nd Prize Phénix 1993

1.Ke6! th. 2.Sb6+ Bxb6 3.Qd5+ Qxd5#
1...Bxf5+ 2.Kd6+ Be6 3.Se5+ Bxe5#
1...Rxg6+ 2.Kd7+ Re6 3.Rc5+ Bxc5#
(1...Sc8 2.Rxc6+ Bc5 3.Qd5+ Qxd5#
1...Bg2,Bf1 2.Rc5+ Bxc5 3.Qd5+ Qxd5#)

Very active white king plays a thematical key provoking two checks. After them white fires royal battery setting up black battery bishop-queen. Sharp strategy in two main variations, two other repeat threat mate.









s#3 (10+14)

Bernhard Rehm
1598 Feenschach 1952

1...Qxc1 2.Bf5+ Qxc3+ 3.Qd4+ Qxd4#

1.Kf5! Qxc1 2.Re2+ Kf3 3.Qf4+ Qxf4#

In set play white selfblocks in 2nd move, but he is unable to maintain the position, that's why he changes the play by royal key. Economical position.









s#3 (7+3)

Wolfgang Weber
570 Europe Echecs 1963

1...Qxa2 2.Qd1+ Sxd1#

1.Kd2! th. 2.Kc3 Qxa2 3.Qd1+ Sxd1#,
1...Qxa2 2.Qc2+ Ka1 3.Qc1+ Qb1 4.Ke1 Qxc1#

Here the set play is only two moves long and uses indirect battery knight-queen to d2. The key by wK naturally threats return to the initial position, however the only black move allows another continuation with echange of places of bQ and bK.









s#4 (7+4)

Radovan Tomasevic
Vukota Nikoletic

1st Prize The Problemist 1999-2000

1.Ke5! th. 2.Sb2+ Kc5 3.Bb4+ Sxb4 4.Rc3+ dxc3 5.Qf2+ Rd4 6.Sd3+ Sxd3#
1...d3 2.Qf4+ Sxf4 3.Sb2+ Kc5 4.Bf2+ Rd4 5.Rb5+ axb5 6.Sxd3+ Sxd3#
1...Rc5 2.Rb2+ Kd3 3.Sxc5+ Ke3 4.Qf4+ Sxf4 5.Bf2+ Kf3 6.Bd5+ Rxd5#
1...g3 2.Rb2+ Kd3 3.Qxh7+ Ke3 4.Rf3+ Kxf3 5.Qd3+ Se3 6.Bd5+ Rxd5#

The key moves wK from square where he has 2 flights to square where he has three flights, it means it is quite surprising, although it means that wK is nearer to indirect battery Rd7-Bc8. There is a complex full-length threat. The first defence renders the rook sacrifice on c3 impossible, but opens lines through d4 and thus leads to reciprocal exchange of functions between wQ and wB (sacrifice for leading bS to d3 vs. pin of bR). 1...Rc5 is a complex defence with primary defence motive of c5 blocking, however it unguards c5 and allows again complicated variation with unexpected pin of bS on f8-f3 line. Finally, 1...g2 guards f2, but blocks g3. Unusually rich selfmate.









s#6 (10+12)

Michael Schwalbach
feenschach 1977

1.Kg1! Qxh7 2.Bb2+ Kf4 3.Se6+ Ke3 4.Rb3+ Qd3 5.Rc3 Qxc3 6.Bc1+ Qd2 7.Kf1 Qxc1#

White King makes only two moves here and it is quite interesting he cannot go immediately to his final destination. In the subsequent play white 3 times uses the same motive of forcing zugzwang move of black Queen that must capture her pinner.









s#7 (7+2)

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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