Problem of the Week
Australian Chess 2003
Mate in 5
The weekly problem’s solution will appear in the following week, when a new work is quoted. See last week’s problem with solution. See previous Problems of the Week without solutions: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3.
Use the contact form on the About page to comment on a problem you’ve solved. You can also subscribe to OzProblems updates – get an email notification when a new problem or Walkabout column is added.
Walkabout27 Feb. 2012 – Two helpmates from ‘Problem Potpourri’
As a new year begins, it seems appropriate to look back at some of the best problems of 2011 that appeared in ‘Problem Potpourri’, the Australasian Chess column. Since this source attracts original works from some of the world’s top helpmate composers, it’s perhaps not surprising that my selections favour that genre. What is curious is how these helpmate contributors – the two cited here plus Chris Feather – all seem to have similar names!
In Christer’s helpmate in 2½, White starts and mates on the third move. The three solutions feature a cyclic change of functions among White’s rook, bishop, and knight: 1…Rxb5 2.Kxb5 Bd5 3.Ka6 Bc4, 1…Sxc5 2.Kxc5 Rc7+ 3.Kb6 Rc6, and 1…Bd5+ 2.Kxd5 Rd7+ 3.Ke6 Sxc5. So each white piece in turn (1) sacrifices itself to give the black king access to a square, (2) controls the king’s flights in the mate, and (3) executes the mate. The cyclic Zilahi theme is rendered, in an elegant setting.
Christer JonssonIn Christer’s helpmate in 2½, White starts and mates on the third move. The three solutions feature a cyclic change of functions among White’s rook, bishop, and knight: 1…Rxb5 2.Kxb5 Bd5 3.Ka6 Bc4, 1…Sxc5 2.Kxc5 Rc7+ 3.Kb6 Rc6, and 1…Bd5+ 2.Kxd5 Rd7+ 3.Ke6 Sxc5. So each white piece in turn (1) sacrifices itself to give the black king access to a square, (2) controls the king’s flights in the mate, and (3) executes the mate. The cyclic Zilahi theme is rendered, in an elegant setting.
Australasian Chess 2011
Helpmate in 2½, 3 solutions
Christopher Jones
Australasian Chess 2011
Helpmate in 3, (b) Pd3 to b3
By coincidence, Christopher’s three-mover employs a similar motif of a white piece capturing a pawn to clear that square for the opposing king. Further effects shown in each twin include the creation of a white battery, and an active black sacrifice that helps to set up the battery. 1.Sg5 Bxd5 2.Ke5 Kxg5 3.Kxd5 Kf6, and (b) 1.Sf3 Rxd5 2.Ke4 exf3+ 3.Kxd5 f4. We see echoed play along orthogonal and diagonal lines in the two phases, and a standard (reciprocal) Zilahi – White’s rook and bishop take turns to be captured and to give mate.
26 Jan. 2012 – Whyatt Medal winner: Geoff Foster
The Australian Chess Federation has announced the winner of the Whyatt Medal, presented once every few years for outstanding achievements in the chess problem field. The well-deserved recipient is Geoff Foster. His compositions – a diverse range of orthodox and fairy problems – have garnered plenty of awards from around the world. One highlight is a two-mover that won the Brian Harley Award, the first time in over thirty years that an Australian has gained this major prize. Geoff is
also the expert editor of the ‘Problem Potpourri’ column in Australasian Chess. And recently he took over the reins of The Problemist Supplement, a periodical that accompanies the world’s leading chess problem journal, The Problemist. Well done, Geoff!
Here are two of Geoff’s prize-winning problems. The two-mover demonstrates cyclic refutation, a theme that’s very difficult to achieve when it involves the maximum amount of changed play. Tries (all waiting moves): 1.Qa8? 1…exd5 2.Qxd5, 1…d3 2.Qa4, but 1…exf4! 1.Qc8? 1…exf4 2.Qxe6, 1…exd5 2.Qxf5, but 1…d3! 1.Qh4? 1…d3 2.Re3, 1…exf4 2.Qxf4, but 1…exd5! In these try phases, the three thematic pawn moves rotate their functions as the refutation and as defences that induce changed mates. After the flight-giving key, 1.Sb5! (waiting), the three pawn moves yield further new mates, to bring about the maximum nine different mating moves in total: 1…exd5 2.Sxd6, 1…d3 2.Sc3, 1…exf4 2.Qxd4, and 1…Kxd5 2.Qa8.
Here are two of Geoff’s prize-winning problems. The two-mover demonstrates cyclic refutation, a theme that’s very difficult to achieve when it involves the maximum amount of changed play. Tries (all waiting moves): 1.Qa8? 1…exd5 2.Qxd5, 1…d3 2.Qa4, but 1…exf4! 1.Qc8? 1…exf4 2.Qxe6, 1…exd5 2.Qxf5, but 1…d3! 1.Qh4? 1…d3 2.Re3, 1…exf4 2.Qxf4, but 1…exd5! In these try phases, the three thematic pawn moves rotate their functions as the refutation and as defences that induce changed mates. After the flight-giving key, 1.Sb5! (waiting), the three pawn moves yield further new mates, to bring about the maximum nine different mating moves in total: 1…exd5 2.Sxd6, 1…d3 2.Sc3, 1…exf4 2.Qxd4, and 1…Kxd5 2.Qa8.
Geoff Foster
The Problemist 2003
2nd Prize
Mate in 2
Geoff Foster
Die Schwalbe 1996
4th Prize
Series-helpstalemate in 21
2 solutions
In the series-mover, Black plays 21 moves consecutively to reach a position where White can give stalemate. To incorporate more than one solution in a problem of this length is rare, and the two precise sequences are pleasingly varied. 1. Rh1 2.g1(S) 3.Bg2 4.Sf3 5.Rhg1 6.h1(B) 7.h2 8.Bh3 9.Rg2 10.Kg1 11.Rgf2 12.B1g2 13.h1(R) 14.Kh2 15.Rfg1 16.Bf1 17.Bhg2 18.Kh3 19.Rh2 20.Bh1 21.g2 Rxg5. 1.h1(R) 2.Rh2 3.Rgh1 4.g1(S) 5.Rg2 6.h2 7.Sh3 8.Rhg1 9.h1(B) 10.Rh2 11.Bhg2 12.Rgh1 13.Kg1 14.Rf2 15.Bf1 16.Rhg2 17.Kh2 18.Sg1 19.Kh3 20.Rgh2 21.g2 Kxg5. The two parts see Black promoting to the same triplet of R, B, and S, but in a shifted order. Black’s final configurations also display a change of the pinned piece on f3, which in turn forces a different white stalemating move.
3 Dec. 2011 – A Prize-winning Problem by Arthur Willmott
Congratulations to Arthur Willmott whose three-move problem has been placed equal second in the prestigious Brian Harley Award. This competition, organised by the British Chess Problem Society, is for the best three-mover published in the UK by a Commonwealth composer, over a three-year period (2006-2008). Arthur's problem also received a Second Prize in Problem Observer's informal tourney. The solution of this classy directmate can be found on Arthur's page of this site (Problem 5).
Problem Observer
2007-08
2nd Prize
Mate in 3
Arthur also celebrated his 90th birthday a few weeks ago! Still an active composer and solver, he certainly deserves our compliments in attaining this milestone.
20 Oct. 2011 – What’s New
A second award judged by Alain C. White, the Australian Problem Tourney 1910-11, is now available for download. Thanks to Paul Dunn for this report, which can be found in the Oz Archives section (along with future instalments).
Recently I came across an interesting on-line article about Brian Tomson, the late problemist from Newcastle. It's an entry from a site called IRLchess (Irish Chess History and Records), discussing Brian's chess activities both as a player and a composer. Check it out!
And here's another cartoon from Tony Lurie's Toonopia site…
Recently I came across an interesting on-line article about Brian Tomson, the late problemist from Newcastle. It's an entry from a site called IRLchess (Irish Chess History and Records), discussing Brian's chess activities both as a player and a composer. Check it out!
And here's another cartoon from Tony Lurie's Toonopia site…
6 Oct. 2011 – ‘Chris J. Feather – Selected Helpmates’
The British problemist Chris Feather is one of the foremost experts on helpmates in the world. He's also my favourite problem composer, so I was delighted to hear that he has published an anthology of his works, titled Chris J. Feather – Selected Helpmates. It contains over 300 of his problems, all accompanied by his comments and that of co-author GM Zivko Janevski. The book also includes Chris's articles on various helpmate themes and motifs, and a section on his composing influences and inspirations. As to be expected, the quality of the problems collected here is fantastic. His works are marked by great artistry combined with strategic intensity. Here’s a taste of what you will find in this excellent anthology.
The first selection involves a wealth of strategic effects in its two analogous solutions: 1.Qxc4 Qxg4+ 2.Kd5 Qxc4, and 1.Qxf3 Qxc6+ 2.Kf4 Qxf3. In both phases, the black queen unpins its counterpart and captures a knight, with the aim of clearing that square for White's mating move. The white queen captures a pinned piece, “doubling” with the initial pinner in the control of a line. After a king move (to a square that the black queen had crossed over), the white queen moves along said line and gives a pin-mate, supported by the line-piece. A striking example of an orthogonal-diagonal transformation.
Chris FeatherSakkélet 1991
Helpmate in 2
2 solutions
In helpmates with two parts, we often see a reciprocal change of functions between two pieces, e.g. the two white knights in the first problem exchange their roles of being a guard and a sacrificed piece. The second problem extends this kind of linking effect and presents a cyclic change of functions among three white pieces. The three solutions are: 1.Kg5 Rc5+ 2.Sf5 Qh4, 1.Kf5 Qxd7+ 2.Se6 Rxh5, and 1.Ke3 Re1+ 2.Se2 Rc3. Thus the queen and two rooks take turns to (1) pin the knight, (2) give mate, and (3) guard flights. Such a cyclic relationship between the three phases confers both unity and diversity to the problem. Note also that the black knight is already pinned in the diagram, and is re-pinned on three different squares – a pleasing idea in itself. Masterfully constructed, this helpmate has ideal white economy in requiring solely the thematic pieces of that colour besides the king.
Chris J. Feather – Selected Helpmates is available for 20 euros (+ postage) from Ralf Kraetschmer (ralf.kraetschmer{at}t-online.de), who's the bookseller of the German chess composition society.
Chris FeatherChris J. Feather – Selected Helpmates is available for 20 euros (+ postage) from Ralf Kraetschmer (ralf.kraetschmer{at}t-online.de), who's the bookseller of the German chess composition society.
Hatchings-2 1995
Helpmate in 2
3 solutions
30 Sep. 2011 – What’s New
Paul Dunn, the games archivist of Ozbase (the Australian Chess Games Archive), is extracting problem tourney reports from early 20th century Australian papers, and he has kindly offered to share them with readers of this site. The first such award, the Australian Problem Tourney 1909-10 for originals published in various chess columns, was adjudicated by the chess problem giant, Alain C. White.
Meanwhile, here's another comic strip from the xkcd site…
Meanwhile, here's another comic strip from the xkcd site…