Václav Kotesovec 50 JT C 29.7.2006

Association of Czech problemists announces jubilee tourney Václav Kotesovec 50 JT C 29.7.2006 with theme: Fairy problems with Grasshoppers only, other kind of fairy pieces is not allowed (orthodox pieces of course are allowed, royal grasshoppers are allowed, but rookhopper or bishopper not allowed). Any stipulations and any other fairy conditions are allowed.

Judge: jubilee Václav Kotesovec

Entries should be sent before July 29th 2006 to the adress

Michal Dragoun
Ketnerova 1939/3
155 00 Praha 5
Czech Republic

or by e-mail to m.dragoun@centrum.cz.


(Vypísanie v češtine na stránke http://web.telecom.cz/vaclav.kotesovec/vk50.htm.)



If you would like to get some knowledge of the Václav's style in the grasshopper problems, I have prepared for you a short selection of his problems already present on CCM and a few completely new below: By the way, royal grasshoppers are very unusual pieces and you can get some interesting schemes using them. Just look at #2 by Juraj Lörinc with Dombrovskis theme in miniature form...
Václav Kotesovec
3rd Prize Sachove umeni 1976

1.Kf7? th. 2.Ga8#
1...Bb5 a 2.Sc7#
1...Gb2 b 2.Sxf4#
1...f3 c 2.Bc4#
1...Rxb3!

1.Rxh6! th. 2.Gg5#
1...Bb5 c 2.Sc7#
1...Gb2 a 2.Sxf4#
1...f3 b 2.Bc4#

Mlynka theme or in the current terminology cyclic exchange of defence motifs of 3 defences. All three motifs are very grasshopperal: a is enabling of jumping away by black grasshopper by providing the hurdle, b is removal of hurdle for white grasshopper mating move and c is enabling of jumping away by black grasshopper by closing antibattery line.









#2 (12+11)
4+3 grasshopper
Václav Kotesovec
1st Prize Sachove umeni 1980-81

1.d8=G! zz
1...Gd~ 2.Sc5#, 1...Gd4! 2.Bc2#
1...Gc~ 2.Bc2#, 1...Gcf4! 2.f3#
1...S~ 2.f3#, 1...Sf4! 2.Sd2#
1...Gg~ 2.Sd2#, 1...Gge5! 2.Sxd6#
1...R~e 2.Sxd6#, 1...Re7! 2.Sc5#
(1...Rf6 2.Re5#, 1...Ge~ 2.Sd2#, 1...Ge5! 2.Sxd6#, 1...Gf~ 2.Sc5#, 1...Gff4! 2.f3#, 1...g3 2.f3#, 1...gxf5 2.Rd4#)

After grasshopper we see the zugzwang position with cycle of 5 Black corrections. Mate after correction appears as the mate after next random move in the cycle. Well done - this problem entered Album FIDE!









#2 (14+10)
4+5 grasshopper
Václav Kotesovec
1st-2nd Prize Martin-Zilina 1996-97

a) 1.Gd7! th. 2.Qd4#
1...Gxd2 a 2.Qxe6# A
1...Gxc3 b 2.Sxd3# B
1...Gc5 c 2.Gg7# C

b) 1.Gg1! th. 2.Qd4#
1...Gxd2 a 2.Sxd3# B
1...Gxc3 b 2.Gg7# C
1...Gc5 c 2.Qxe6# A

Cyclic change of mates known as Lacny cycle is shown here using different geometry of the board depending on the way we glue together its edges.









#2 (8+13)
1+3 grasshopper
a) Vertical cylinder
b) Horizontal cylinder
Václav Kotesovec
1st Prize Probleemblad 2002

1.Gd2 Gxf8 2.Ga2 Rb3#

1.c4 Gb5 2.Bb4 Gc3#

1.Rf3 Gg3 2.Rb3 Bb4#

One of Václav's patents in the area of helpmates - cyclic batteries in Mars Circe. This idea uses simple fact that piece moves from and acts from different squares, thus allowing cyclic arrangement with need to replace pieces. Ba5 opens Ga1 from a8, Ga1 opens Rb2 from a1 and Rb2 opens Ba5 from c1 - all pieces aimed at bK. Still, it is necessary to take care of a2, b3 and b4 in all solutions and it is not so simple...









h#2 (5+9)
Mars Circe
2+3 grasshopper
3.1.1.1
Václav Kotesovec
1st-2nd Prize Sachova skladba 2000

1.Rb1 Gf6 2.Qc1 Ke4 3.Qh1 Kf3 4.Rg1 Gf2#

1.Qc2 g3 2.Kh3 Gf6 3.Qh2 Kf4 4.Rg2 Gf3#

1.Qh3 g4 2.Kg3 Gf6 3.Kh4 Kf5 4.Rg3 Gf4#


Threefold echo of ideal mate. Václav has probably published the highest number of those among all composers.









h#4 (3+3)
1+0 grasshopper
3.1.1...

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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