Weekly Problems 2012-B
Problems 86-110
86
Alexander Goldstein
Práce 1947, Prize
Mate in 3
Solution
White has two natural moves to d6 but they are refuted if played prematurely: 1.Bxd6? threatens 2.Bc7 but 1…Rf7!, and 1.Sxd6? threatens 2.Sb7 but 1…Re7! The key 1.Bb4!, with the short threat of 2.Ba5, aims to decoy the black rooks to the a-file. 1…Ra1 2.Bxd6 (3.Bc7) Re7 3.Bxe7, and 1…Ra2 2.Sxd6 (3.Sb7) Rf7 3.Sxf7 (2…Ke7 3.Sb7/Sf7). So the right capture on d6 ensures that White can deal with the remaining black rook defence on the 7th rank. Also 1…Re7 or 1…Rf7 2.Ba5+ Rc7 3.Bxc7.
Solution
This miniature is solved by 1.c4 Kc7 2.Ke7 Kb6 3.Kd6 Ka5 4.Kc5 b3 5.d6 b4. The parallel king marches are complemented by the farseeing square-vacation 1.c4, and the crossing of the critical square d6 before it’s self-blocked. But the main point of this appealing helpmate is the subtle 4…b3! to avoid an en passant capture, as well as the ideal-mate finish.
88
Thomas Denton Clarke
The Brisbane Courier 1917
Mate in 2
Solution
Except for the flight-taking 1…Kf6, every black move has been provided with a set mate. A good waiting key, 1.e4!, grants a second flight on d4. Now both king moves are followed by the same white mating response, though the effects are quite different: the pin-mate 1…Kf6 2.e5 and the battery shut-off 1…Kd4 2.e5 (not 2.exf5?). Any bishop move, 1…B~, permits another battery to fire, 2.exf5 (changed from the set dual, 2.Re6/Sf7). The g8-rook yields four distinct variations: 1…Rg~ 2.g8=Q, 1…Rf8 2.gxf8=Q, 1…Rxh8 2.gxh8=Q, and 1…Rxg7 2.Bxg7. Lastly 1…fxe4 2.Qxe4, 1…Sc3+ 2.Qxc3, and 1…Sd2 2.Qxa1.
Solution
The two solutions, 1.Ka7 2.Qa8 3.Bc8 4.Ba6 5.Rb7 Sxc6 and 1.Qb7 2.Bc8 3.Rd7 4.Kc7 5.Sb8 Se6, have dissimilar play though they both end with an ideal mate. The more interesting second phase shows a follow-the-leader sequence involving all five black pieces.
90
Frederick Hawes & Frank Ravenscroft
The Problemist 1959, 1st Prize
Mate in 2
Solution
The flight-giving key 1.Ba6! threatens 2.Sc7. Black has four defences on c5 that are self-pins, but which anticipate the unpinning effect of the threat. In each case White takes advantage of the self-pin to mate in another way: 1…Qxc5 2.Se3, 1…Rxc5 2.Qf7, 1…Sdxc5 2.Sxc3, and 1…Sexc5 2.Sd4. Black’s self-pinning moves in such a scheme are known as Schiffmann defences, and the four thematic variations rendered here equal the record. Also, 1…Sxd6 2.Sxd6, and 1…Kd5 2.Sc7.
Ian Shanahan: Beautiful flight-giving key leading to a 4-fold Schiffman – the record. A superb problem!
91
Linden Lyons
Australasian Chess 2012
Mate in 2
Solution
The square-vacating key 1.Bb8! threatens 2.Sc7. Since the threat removes the white bishop’s control of d6, any move by the rook from that square will defend by creating a potential flight. 1…Rd4 2.Qxe5, 1…Rd5 2.Qf5, 1…Rd7 2.Bf7, 1…Rd8 2.exd8=S, 1…Rc6 2.Qxc6, and 1…Rb6/Ra6 2.Qc4. So a single rook generates six distinct variations, without any duals. There’s by-play with 1…Sf8+ 2.exf8=S.
92
Matthew Fox
Chess Life 1958
Mate in 2
Solution
The black queen is defending against two knight mates on d5 and g2, and almost all initial black moves will relinquish control of one of the two squares. Only 1…Qg5! retains the queen’s focus on both mating squares and it would defeat a simple waiting move like 1.Rb3? The surprising key, 1.Qg2! (waiting), grants a flight and changes one of the focal mates. 1…Qf7 (or to e6, etc.) 2.Qg5, 1…Qg7 (or to g6, etc.) 2.Sd5, 1…Sfg6/Shg6 2.Qg5, 1…Se6/Sf7 2.Sd5, 1…Qxg2+ 2.Sxg2, and 1…Kxe3 2.Qd2.
Solution
The black king’s final square seems likely to be the congested d5, especially since a bishop mate will cover the e6 flight. After 1.Bxe4 Bxc4, the players coordinate to activate the c2-pawn, with the aim of using it to control c5 – 2.Bd5 Ba2 3.Bb3 cxb3 4.Kd5 b4. Nice switchbacks by the two bishops; the white bishop also shows critical play by crossing over the b3-square (twice), before it’s occupied for an interference and vacated again for the battery mate.
94
Arthur Mosely
The Hampshire Telegraph & Post 1915, 3rd Prize
Mate in 2
Solution
Two prominent black checks are already provided with white responses: 1…Rxd6+ 2.Sxd6 and 1…Bxd2+ 2.Sxd2. This set play is unexpectedly changed by the key, 1.Sc5!, which threatens 2.Qf4. The extra guard on b3 frees the d3-rook to answer the checks with battery mates: 1…Rxd6+ 2.Rxd6 and 1…Bxd2+ 2.Rxd2. There is plenty of good by-play featuring two pairs of queen and rook mates: 1…Bf2/Bg3 2.Qc1, 1…Sg6 2.Qxf7, 1…Rxc5 2.Rxc5, and 1…Sb5 2.Ra4.
95
John James O’Keefe
Hamburgischer Correspondent 1932
Mate in 3
Solution
White has many rook tries that fail to one defence only, e.g. 1.Rd1? Bf6!, 1.Rb1? Be5!, 1.Rh1? (threat: 2.Rh8+) Ba3!, 1.Ra7? Ba3!, and 1.Re7? Ba3! It’s the latter try that points to the key, 1.Ra1! (2.Ra8), as after 1…Bxa1 the decoyed bishop cannot stop 2.Re7 and 3.Re8. Also 1…Ba3 2.Rxa3 Kh8 3.Ra8, 1…Be5 2.Ra8+ Bb8 3.Rxb8, and 1…Bf6 2.Ra8+ Bd8 3.Rxd8.
96
Molham Hassan
Australian Chess 2003
Mate in 2
Solution
The key 1.f4! (threat: 2.f5) entails a triple-sacrifice of the pawn, while conceding a flight on d6 as well. The two main variations show a curious effect possible only with en passant captures, 1…exf3 e.p. 2.Bf5 and 1…gxf3 e.p. 2.Rxe4. In each case Black unblocks two vital white lines simultaneously – one for the mating piece, initially blocked by Black (on e4/g4), and the other for the g3-bishop, initially blocked by White (on f4). 1…Bxf4 is another line-opening, which enables 2.Qd5. Lastly, 1…Kxd6 2.f5 sees the threat working as a battery mate, and 1…f5 2.Rh6.
97
Brian Tomson
Sunday Times 1971
Mate in 3
Solution
Set play is provided for all black moves: 1…Sc~ 2.Re7 (threat: 3.Be4) Kg6 3.Be4, 1…Sf7 2.Rg6 (3.Rf6) Kxg6 3.Be4, and 1…Sg6 2.Rf7. The waiting key 1.Rg3! changes two of the variations: 1…Sc~ 2.Be4+ Kxe4 3.Sxd6, and 1…Sg6 2.Rg4 (3.Be4/e4) hxg4 3.hxg4, 2…Sf4 3.e4, while 1…Sf7 2.Rg6 (3.Rf6) Kxg6 3.Be4 is as set. The short mate in one of the set lines is a slight flaw, but this is a difficult mutate where every white second move in the post-key play is an active sacrifice.
98
William Whyatt
Weekly Times 1959
Mate in 2
Solution
A fine key, 1.Re6! (threat: 2.Sg7), sacrifices the rook to four black pieces: 1…Bxe6 2.e4, 1…Sxe6 2.Qb1, 1…fxe6 2.Qh7 and 1…Kxe6 2.Bg4. In the first two variations, White exploits the half-pin arrangement on the fifth rank to produce a couple of pin-mates. Thus two ideas are neatly combined: a complete half-pin and multiple black defences on the same square. Also, 1…Qxe8 2.Qxd5.
99
Stephen Bicknell
Australian Chess Problem Magazine 1995
Mate in 2
Solution
A good key 1.e4! (waiting) offers another flight on d4 and unexpectedly obstructs the B + R battery. 1…Kc4 2.Qc3, 1…Kxd4 2.Qd5, 1…Kxe4 2.Rg4, and 1…Ke2 2.Qxa6. Four black king moves are answered distinctively, including (a little unusually) three flights to the same rank.
100
J. Van Der Klauw
Australian Chess Problem Magazine 1996
White to move. Can White castle?
Solution
Black’s last move to reach the diagram wasn’t …Re8-d8 or …Re7-d7, because either would mean Black was to play while checking White. And it wasn’t …Kb8-c8 because the white bishop couldn’t have delivered the check. That leaves …0-0-0 as Black’s only possible last move. If Black has just castled, that means the black king previously had not moved from e8, and the original rook from h8 couldn’t have escaped from the top-right corner. That implies the d7-rook is a promoted piece. Regardless of where Black promoted, the new rook must have visited d1, e1, or f1 in order to leave the first rank. In all cases the rook must have displaced the white king, either by attacking or occupying e1. So we have proved that the white king has moved before, and now cannot castle.
George Meldrum: Love this week’s Van Der Klauw problem. Went from “position impossible”, to castling “yes”, to castling “no”.
Solution
White and black half-pins are combined in 1.S6g7 d8=Q+ 2.Ke6 Sg5 and 1.Bg7 Se5 2.Kd6 d8=Q, and rendered in an economical Meredith setting. The white half-pin arrangement on the 7th rank prompts Black’s unpinning moves to g7. Black’s half-pin on the 6th rank is anticipatory in that the king only walks onto the thematic line during play, and this leads to a pair of pin-mates.
102
Alexander Goldstein
The Sun-Herald 1961, 3rd Hon. Mention
Mate in 2
Solution
No mate is set for the black king’s flight to f6, and the key 1.Qh5! (threat: 2.Qf7) provides for it with 1…Kxf6 2.Qh6. The thematic black rook – appropriately unpinned by the key – defends by creating a potential flight on f5. A random rook move 1…R~ (including 1…Rxh5) opens the f-file and permits 2.Rf3, a battery mate that covers f5 and f6. Three correction moves disable 2.Rf3 but commit new errors: 1…Rf4 2.Qxe5 and 1…Rf2 2.Rxb6 show self-interferences, while 1…Rxf6 is a self-block that forces 2.Rd3.
Solution
Some pieces on their home squares are not what they seem… 1.Sf3 Sc6 2.Se5 Sd4 3.Sxd7 Sf3+ 4.exf3 Sf6 5.Bb5 Sxd7 6.d3 f6 7.Bh6 gxh6 8.Sc3 Bg7 9.Se2 0-0 10.Sg1 Sb8. The paradoxical Sibling theme is effected twice, with the original knights from g1 and b8 getting sacrificed and replaced by their counterparts or “sibling” pieces.
104
Laimons Mangalis
Die Schwalbe 1952
Mate in 3
Solution
White has two thematic tries, 1.Kd8? and 1.Kd6? (both with the double threats of 2.Be6 and 2.Rc7), and they are refuted by 1…Bb6+! and 1…Bb8+! respectively. A good key 1.Kc7! gives a flight and entails one threat only: 2.Be6+ Ke7 3.d6. Now both black bishop checks are playable but White has an answer to each: 1…Bb6+ 2.Kd6 (3.Be6) Bc7+ 3.Rxc7, and 1…Bb8+ 2.Kd8 (3.Be6) Bc7+ 3.Rxc7. Clever Roman decoys of the black bishop to a square where it’s liable to be captured. Also, 1…Ke7 2.d6+ Kf7 3.Be6.
105
John Lindsay Beale
Chess World 1947
Mate in 2
Solution
Most of Black’s moves have set mates prepared, except for 1…e3 and 1…Qxc3, and the waiting key 1.e3! completes the block. Random moves by the black queen unguard e5: 1…Q~ 2.Se5. The queen has four corrections that prevent this knight mate, but all commit the error of self-block: 1…Qb5 2.Qxd4, 1…Qc5 2.Sd2, 1…Qd5 2.Qa4, and 1…Qxc3 2.Rxd4. Three pawn defences continue the accurate play – 1…dxc3 2.Rd4, 1…dxe3 2.Rxe3, and 1…exd3 2.cxd3, but 1…b5 allows multiple mates: 2.Se5/Qxd4/Qe6/Qf7. This unfortunate dual can be avoided by replacing the black pawn on b6 with a white one.
106
William Johnstone McArthur
Chess Monthly 1883, 1st Prize
South Australian Chronicle Tourney
Mate in 3
Solution
This miniature is solved by the waiting key 1.Bc5!, after which the black king has two flights. 1…Kxd5 leads to 2.Se3+ Kxc5 3.Qb6 (an ideal mate), and 2…Ke5 3.Qf5, while 1…Kf4 enables 2.Sf2 Ke5 3.Qg5 (a model mate), and 2…Kf3 3.Qg4. A fine example of the Bohemian style of composition, which aims for a variety of elegant mating nets.
107
Srbo Zaric
Australian Chess Problem Magazine 1994
Mate in 2
Solution
The key is the striking queen sacrifice 1.Qe5!, threatening the pin-mate 2.Qf4. Captures of the queen open lines for the white bishop and permit another two pin-mates: 1…dxe5 2.Bxc5 and 1…fxe5 2.Bxg5. Two knight defences result in yet more pin-mates, now based on the immobilised e4-bishop: 1…Sxe2 2.Rxd3 and 1…Sxe6/Sh3 2.Rxf3. The problem’s economy could be improved by replacing the c5-queen and the e4-bishop with black pawns.
Solution
In this neat miniature, White must arrange the pieces to accomplish two related goals simultaneously: (1) confine the white king for the eventual mate, and (2) restrict Black’s possible play to a move that gives mate. The only configuration that works is to place the white king on f1, with the other white pieces on g1, f2, and e2 to variously self-block and control the black king. 1.e4 2.e5 3.e6 4.e7 5.e8=R 6.Rg8 7.Rg1 8.Kf1 9.Be2 10.c4 11.c5 12.c6 13.c7 14.c8=S 15.Sd6 16.Se4 17.Sf2, and now Rxg1 mate is forced.
109
Henry Tate
Good Companions 1917, 4th Hon. Mention
Version by Peter Wong
Mate in 2
Solution
The give-and-take key 1.Sd4! (threat: 2.Ke5) removes an unprovided flight on b5 but grants a new one on d4. The highly thematic key also unpins the black knight, which is freed to give multiple discovered checks. In doing so the knight allows d4 to be guarded by the g4-rook, and this enables White’s royal battery to fire in a variety of ways. A random check, 1…S~+, is followed by the dual 2.Kd7/Kf5. Two correction moves generate new battery mates – 1…Sxf6+ 2.Kxf6 and 1…Sxd6+ 2.Kxd6, while the dual mates are separated in the variations, 1…Sxc5+ 2.Kf5 and 1…Sg3+ 2.Kd7. If Black takes the flight, White answers with an indirect battery mate: 1…Kxd4 2.Sb3.
110
Denis Saunders
The Problemist 1988
Mate in 2
Solution
The surprising withdrawal key 1.Kb2! vacates c3 to threaten 2.Qc3. Two flights are offered to the black king: 1…Kd4 2.Qe5 (a double pin-mate) and 1…Kxb4 2.Qa3 (this line explains why 1.Kc2? or 1.Kd2? would fail). 1…Se5/Se3 opens the rank for the h4-rook, permitting 2.Qe3, and the unguard 1…Qxf7 allows the white queen to gain control of the two flights with 2.Qxd6.