Classic four-piece problems – Part 2

Our previous instalment presented some first-class directmates that deploy just four pieces. This time we focus on help-play problems that likewise deliver exceptional content with the same extreme economy. I selected these compositions (in both parts) from Moderne Kleinkunst (1996) edited by Hilmar Ebert and Hans Gruber, an invaluable anthology of wenigsteiners – four pieces or fewer – covering the period 1950-1994. The book includes the then complete results of the Wenigsteiner of the Year Awards, a long-standing competition (1979-present) for the world’s best super-economical problems across all genres, judged by a large panel of experts. Sadly, Hilmar Ebert (1950-2026), who was also a founding organiser of this Award, passed away in March this year. A fine problemist himself, he composed numerous works that were highly placed in these annual tourneys, including a four-move helpmate seen below.

The equivalent white and black materials coupled with the duplex condition – where the two sides switch roles to fulfil the same tasks – may suggest symmetrical play, but each pair of solutions is pleasantly diverse. Part (a): 1.Qa5 Kc8 2.Ka6 Qb7 and 1.Kd8 Kc6 2.Qe7 Qa8. Part (b): 1.Ka4 Qc3 2.Qc6+ Kxc6 and 1.Qf6 Qxf6 2.Ke8 Kc6. All four phases finish with an ideal mate or ideal stalemate.

Both twins require the black king to walk to an edge square near the white king, which must participate in the mates. In (a), White sets up a diagonal battery by moving the bishop across a critical square, b4, followed by a self-interference on that square by the rook. 1…Ba3 2.Ke6 Rb4 3.Ke7 Kg6 4.Kf8 Rb8. In (b), it is the rook that crosses over the critical square, b4 again, and then the bishop lands on that square to form an orthogonal battery. 1…Ra4 2.Kf3 Bb4 3.Kg4 Be7+ 4.Kh5 Rh4. Although the two solutions don’t match exactly at the end, they show excellent line strategies involving exchange of functions between the two white pieces.

This helpmate shares some features with the previous one: a parallelogram-shaped diagram, and critical line-play. While many mating configurations seem possible, the black king must head to h4, to enable a queen mate on g4 supported by the white king. The queen has numerous routes to g4, but only one – starting with a critical move that allows a self-interference – doesn’t hinder the black king’s trek. Meanwhile, Black wants to skip a turn because the king is already well placed, and surprisingly 1.d1=S is the sole waiting move compatible with White’s plan. 1…Qg1 2.Kf6 Kg2 3.Kg5 Kf3+ 4.Kh4 Qg4. In (b), the black king needs four moves to reach the a-file, so no time to waste here, but there’s a similar interference on the b-file to let the king through. 1.Kd7 Qb1 2.Kc6 Kb2 3.Kb5 Kc3+ 4.Ka4 Qb4. We see echo mates on opposite sides of the board, supplemented by a terrific tempo promotion. This helpmate earned 3rd Prize in the 1981 edition of the Wenigsteiner of the Year.

The white king will take five moves to reach a6/b6, leaving two for the knight to mate on c7/b6. Black must self-block b8 with a promoted rook, since a bishop promoted on b1 can’t reach the dark square, and this forces the Ka6 and Sc7 configuration. The white king follows a nicely unique path to a6 that doesn’t obstruct the black pawn. 1.b5 Kc2 2.b4 Kd3 3.b3 Kc4 4.b2 Kb5 5.b1=R+ Ka6. Now 6.Rb8? is too soon, so the rook hesitates with 6.Rb7 (not 6.Rb6+?) Sb5 7.Rb8 Sc7. The black pawn performs an Excelsior, and as a promotee it plays a tempo move to b7 that also completes a rundlauf, since the piece returns to its starting square. Black could try to lose the tempo with the original pawn, but after 1.b6 Kc2 (etc.) 2.b5 Kd3 3.b4 Kc4 4.b3 Kb5 5.b2 Ka6 6.b1=R Sb5, 7.Rb8?? is impossible.

Our last selection graces the title page of Moderne Kleinkunst, and both authors placed it among their personal Top 10 modern wenigsteiners. 1…c8=S 2.Rd7+ Kxd7 3.Ka8 Kc7. 1…c8=B+ 2.Ka7 Bb7 3.Rc7 Kxc7. 1…c8=R 2.Rc7 Rxc7+ 3.Ka8 Kc8. 1…c8=Q+ 2.Ka7 Qc6 3.Rc7 Kxc7. The Allumwandlung theme may be expected, but the four different promotions are achieved in perfect four-solution form, without twinning necessary. This helpstalemate won 1st Prize for the Wenigsteiner of the Year, 1992.

Here is a list of other classic wenigsteiners found on this site:

• Help-retractor by Julio Sunyer, Chess Amateur 1923; Problem World: Classics.

• Mate in 4 by Allan Werle, Tidskrift för Schack 1945; Problem World: Promotion Play – Part 1.

• Mate in 2 by Werner Speckmann, Schach 1963; Problem World: Allumwandlung.

• Helpmate in 3½ by Pal Benko & Andrew Kalotay, The Problemist 1989; Weekly Problem No.687 (1st Prize, Wenigsteiner of the Year, 1989).

• Proof game in 19½ by Francois Labelle, StrateGems 2012; Walkabout: A “Holy Grail” of proof games attained (2nd Prize, Wenigsteiner of the Year, 2012).

Classic four-piece problems – Part 1

7 Jun. 2026