Sunday, August 03, 2008

7th Solving Contest in Greece, 2008-06-01, G.C.F., Aegaleo

The seventh Chess Problems Solving Contest in Greece, organized by the Greek Chess Federation (E.S.O.), was successfully held at the hospitable Chess Club of Aegaleo (Sunday, June 01, 2008).
Twenty one solvers have participated, having 4 hours time to solve 12 problems (the Group-A) or 8 problems (the Group-B). The problems were selected by the IM Harry Fougiaxis.

The most points in Group-A were gathered by :
1. Kostas Prentos (56 points from 60 maximum, in 227 minutes), Champion of Greece for the seventh time in a row,
2. Andreas Papastavropoulos (43.2, 240),
3. Nikos Mendrinos (35, 238),
4. Ioannis Garoufalidis (28.2, 240),
5. Dimitris Skyrianoglou (27.2, 239),
6. Panagiotis Konidaris (26.5, 240).
With less points follow Panagis Sklavounos, Alexandros Kostouros, Kostas Mitsakis, Leokratis Anemodouras, Lefteris Markessinis, Spyros Ilantzis, Giorgos Tsolakos, Emmanuel Manolas, Aggelos Sandalakis, Theodora Koutsogiannopoulou, Vassilis Blazos, Theopistos Nikitidis, Apostolos Tsiropoulas, Ilias Georgakis.

In Group-B, Panagiotis Papathanassiou took first place.

In Women, Miss Theodora Koutsogiannopoulou had the best result.

The winners were awarded with Cups, Medals, Books. The Champion received also an artistic chessboard.

We present the 20 problems of this contest, 8 'easier' problems for Group-B and 12 'harder' problems for Group-A. The Contest was divided into two Rounds of two hours each.

Observe in the solutions the way points are distributed in variations.
The points are written in boldface inside brackets.
When we write the solution, we must not omit important variations.



Group B, 1st Round, Time : 2 hours


(Problem 181)
Franz Pachl,
Third Prize, Schach-Echo, 1979
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (8+7)
[5q2/8/8/QB6/3r1R1B/s2p1p2/2sRP3/3S1k1K]

Tries : {1.eхd3? [2.Rf2#] Rb4!}, {1.eхf3? [2.Rf2#] Qb4!}, {1.e3? [2.Rf2#] Sb4!}, {1.Rxc2? Sxc2!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.e4! [5.0] [2.Rf2#]
1...Qb4 2.Rxf3#, 1...Rb4 2.Bxd3#, 1...Sb4 2.Se3#



(Problem 182)
Norman A. Macleod & David Friedgood
Prize, Quick Composition Contest, Ramsgate, 1984
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (8+7)
[8/8/3S1Kp1/2p3P1/2Bkb2Q/2ps4/3s2P1/B4S2]

Set play : 1...S3~ 2.Qf2#, 1...S2~ 2.Qxe4#

Tries : {1.Ke6? Sf4+!}, {1.Sb5+? Kxc4!}, {1.Qe1? Sxe1!}, {1.Qf2+? Sxf2!}, {1.Qxe4+? Sxe4+!}, {1.Qf4? Sxf4!}, {1.Sh2? Ke3!}, {1.Sxd2? Ke3!}, {1.Bxc3+? Kxc3!}, {1.Bb2? cxb2!}.

Key : 1.Ke7! [5.0] (zz)
1...Ke5 2.Bxc3#, 1...S3~ / Se5 2.Qh8# / Qf2#, 1...S2~ 2.Qxe4#



(Problem 183)
Theodor Begheijn,
Third Prize, Tijdschrift, 1960
White plays and wins.
+ (5+3)
[S4k1K/5r1P/1P6/8/1p6/8/1P6/8]

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Sc7! Rf6 2.b7 Rb6 3.Se6+ [1.0] Kf7 4.Sd8+ Kf8 5.b3 [1.0] Rb5
6.Se6+ Kf7 7.Sc5 [1.0] Rb6 8.Se4 [1.0] Kf8 9.Sd6 [1.0] +-



(Problem 184)
Valery Karpov,
Problem, 1973
Selfmate in 2 moves.
s#2 (11+6)
[4RS2/B2p2Q/2P1P3/5k2/3K1s2/4P2P/1pr5/bB3R2]

There are tries : {1.Ra8? / Rd8? / e7? d5!}, {1.Qf6+? Kxf6!}, {1.Qg4+? Kf6!}, {1.Qg5+? Kxg5!}, {1.Qf7+? Kg5!}. The solution follows :

Key: 1.Rb8! [1.0] (zz)
1...dxc6 2.Rb6 [1.0] c5#
1...dxe6 2.Qh6 [1.0] e5#
1...d5 2.Rxb2 [1.0] Bxb2#
1...d6 2.Qe5+ [1.0] dxe5#

The solution shows the four variations with moves of the bPd7.



Group B, 2nd Round, Time : 2 hours


(Problem 185)
Juan C. Morra,
Práca, 1955
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (9+7)
[BK6/4p3/b7/2R5/S2k2S1/1Q6/srsP4/Br1R4]

Tries : {1.Kc7? / Ka7? / Bh1? / Bg2? / Bb7? e6!}, {1.Rc4+? Bxc4!}, {1.Rc8? Bxc8!}, {1.Rd5+? Ke4!}, {1.Bxb2+? Rxb2!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Rc7! [5.0] [2.Rd7#]
1...Scb4 2.Qe3#, 1...Sab4 2.Qc3#, 1...Se3 2.dxe3#, 1...Sc3 2.dxc3#, 1...Bc8 / Bc4 2.R(x)c4#, 1...Bb5 2.Qd5#, 1...Bb7 2.Qc4#



(Problem 186)
Chithathur Gopalan Sathya Narayanan,
Telescacco 2000
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (7+10)
[5S2/1ss2b2/2Qp2pK/b5Rp/4Sk2/1r3p2/5B2/1B6]

Set play : 1...Rb4 2.Qc1#

Tries (virtual play) : {1.Sxg6+? Bxg6!}, {1.Qc1+? Bd2!}, {1.Qxd6+? Sxd6!}, {1.Sc3? Rb4!}, {1.Sg3? Re3!}, {1.Sf6? d5!}, {1.Sxd6 ? Sc5!}, {1.Sc5? Sd5!}, {1.Bg3+? Ke3!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Sd2! [5.0] [2.Qe4#]
1...Rb4 2.Qxf3#, 1...Bd5 2.Sxg6#, 1...d5 2.Qf6#, 1...Sd5 2.Qc4#, 1...Re3 2.Bg3#, 1...Sc5 2.Qxd6#



(Problem 187)
Genrikh M. Kasparyan,
Zarya Vostoka, 1931
Mate in 3 moves.
#3 (7+7)
[8/4p3/6QP/sPp1k3/8/2K1Spp1/4P3/3Sr3]

Tries : {1.Qf5+? / Qh5+? / Qg5+? Kd6!}, {1.Qe6+? Kxe6!}, {1.Sg4+? Kf4!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.b6! [1.0] [2.Qf5+ [1.0] Kd6 3.Qd5#]
1...Rxd1 2.Sg4+ [1.5] Kf4 / Kd5 3.e3# / e4#
1...e6 2.Qxg3+ [1.5] Kf6 / Ke4 3.Qg7# / exf3#



(Problem 188)
Christer Jonsson,
feenschach, 2006
Helpmate in 2 moves. (2 solutions).
h#2 2111 (5+6)
[5B2/8/K1s5/1p5p/4kb1R/3r4/R7/1B6]

Key : 1.Kd5! Rd2 2.Be5 Ba2# [2.5]
Key : 1.Ke3! Bh6 2.Rd4 Rh3# [2.5]



Group A, 1st Round, Time : 2 hours


(Problem 189)
Jacques Savournin,
Third Commendation, Phénix, 1996
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (9+8)
[4B3/p1r1P2q/Q7/1p1kSsR1/3bSKP1/8/7p/3R4]

Tries : {1.Bc6+? Ke6!}, {1.Bf7+? Qxf7!}, {1.Qa2+? Rc4!}, {1.Qe6+? Kxe6!}, {1.Qd6+? Sxd6!}, {1.Qc6+? Rxc6!}, {1.Sf3? Qg7!}, {1.Sc6? Rd7!}, {1.Sf6+? Kc5!}, {1.Rxd4+? Kxd4!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Sc4! [5.0] [2.Se3#]
1...bxc4 2.Qd6#, 1...Kxc4 2.Qxb5#, 1...Rxc4 2.Qd6#, 1...Rc6 2.Qxc6#, 1...Qh3 2.Bf7#



(Problem 190)
Friedrich Chlubna,
Arbeiter Zeitung, 1964
Mate in 3 moves.
#3 (7+10)
[sK3B2/1B6/4k1P1/3R1s1S/2p1rpS1/2pp4/8/2b1r3]

Tries : {1.Bc8+? Kxd5!}, {1.Sg7+? Sxg7!}, {1.Rd6+? Sxd6!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Bc6! [1.0] [2.Rd6+ [1.0] Sxd6 3.Sg7#]
1...Ba3 2.Re5+ [1.5] Rxe5 3.Sxf4#
1...Rd4 2.Bd7+ [1.5] Kxd5 3.Sf6#



(Problem 191)
Yakov Vladimirov,
First Prize, Uralsky Problemist, 2002
Mate in 4 moves.
#4 (11+10)
[5R2/2psp3/1p2B2p/3PP1b1/1P1kS1r1/1PS1p1p1/4KR2/B7]

Tries : {1.Rf5? g2!}, {1.Sd2? exd2!}, {1.Sxg3? Rxg3!}, {1.Sxg5? hxg5!}, {1.Sc~+? Kxe4!}, {1.Rf1? Sxf8!}, {1.Rf4? Bxf4!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.R8f6! [0.5] [2.Sb5+ Kxe4 3.Bf5+ [0.5] Kxd5 4.Sxc7#]
1...Bxf6 2.Sd2 [3.Sc~#] exd2 3.Sb1+ [0.8] Ke4 4.Sxd2#
1...Sxf6 2.Sc5 [3.Sc~#] bxc5 3.Sa4+ [0.8] Ke4 4.Sxc5#
1...exf6 2.Sd6 [3.Sc~#] cxd6 3.Sb5+ [0.8] Ke4 4.Sxd6#
1...gxf2 / exf2 2.Sxf2 [3.Sc~#] exf2 / gxf2 3.Sd1+ [0.8] Ke4 4.Sxf2#
1...Rf4 2.Sxg3 [3.Sc~#] Rxf2+ 3.Rxf2 [0.8] [4.Sc~#]



(Problem 192)
Jan Rusinek,
First Prize, New Statesman, 1971
White plays and draws.
= (5+4)
[2K5/2Psk1P1/PP6/8/2b5/2s5/8/8]

The solution follows :
Key : 1.a7! (a) Ba6+ 2.b7 Se4 3.g8=S+! [1.0] Ke8 4.Sf6+! [1.0] Sexf6 5.a8=B! [1.5] (b) Se5
6.Kb8 Sc6+ 7.Kc8 Bf1 8.b8=R! [1.5] (c) Ba6+ 9.Rb7 Se4 = (stalemate)

Notes :
(a) 1.Kb7? Bd5+ 2.Ka7 Sb5#
(b) 5.a8=Q? Sd5 6.Qxa6 Se7#
(c) 8.b8=Q? Ba6+ 9.Qb7 Se4 10.Qxa6 Sd6#, or 8.b8=S? Se7+ 9.Kb7 Bg2+ 10.Ka7 Sc8+



(Problem 193)
Valery Karpov,
Third Honourable Mention, Shakhmatny, 1967
Selfmate in 3 moves.
s#3 (10+8)
[s7/2p2p2/1pSp1P2/1P1K2BQ/B2pR3/3k4/1P2p1R1/8]

Tries : {1.Se5+? dxe5!}, {1.Re8? e1=B!}, {1.Bc2+? Kxc2!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Re7! [1.0] (zz)
1...e1=Q 2.Qf3+ Qe3 3.Rd7 [1.0] Qxf3#
1...e1=R 2.Qh7+ Re4 3.Re6 [1.0] fxe6#
1...e1=B 2.Qh3+ Bg3 3.Rxc7 [1.0] Sxc7#
1...e1=S 2.Bc2+ Sxc2 3.Sb4+ [1.0] Sxb4#

The problem is an allumwandlung (AUW), achieving the four promotions.



(Problem 194)
Nikolay Popkov,
Shakhmatnaya Poeziya, 2008
Helpmate in 4 moves. (3 solutions).
h#4 3111... (2+11)
[8/3s4/6p1/1sS1p3/pqkrp1K1/p3p3/8/8]

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Qa5 Sxa4 2.Kb3 Sb6 3.Rb4 Sxd7 4.Ka4 Sc5#
Key : 1.Rd3 Sxe4 2.Sd4 Sc5 3.Kd5 Sxd7 4.Ke4 Sf6#
Key : 1.Kd5 Sa6 2.Ke6 Kg5 3.Qe7+ Kxg6 4.Sd6 Sc7#

One solution = [2.0], two solutions = [4.0], three solutions = [5.0] points.



Group A, 2nd Round, Time : 2 hours


(Problem 195)
Arthur J. Mosely,
First Prize, Australian Columns, 1921
Mate in 2 moves.
#2 (8+9)
[8/2Sp1Sp1/1p3sB1/pR4R1/K2Bpk1s/6p1/6P1/8]

Many tries : {1.Sd5+? Sxd5!}, {1.Se6+? dxe6!}, {1.Bh7? g6!}, {1.Rg4+? Kxg4!}, {1.Rf5+? Sxf5!}, {1.Rb3? b5+!}, {1.Rf5+? Sxf5!}, {1.Re5? b5+!}, {1.Bg1? e3!}, {1.Bf2? gxf2!}, {1.Be3+? Kxe3!}, {1.Be5+? Ke3!}, {1.Bxb6? e3!}, {1.Ka3? a4!}, {1.Kb3? a4+!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Se5! [5.0] (zz)
Variations : 1...e3 2.Sd3#, 1...Kxg5 2.Be3#, 1...Sf3 2.Rf5#, 1...Sxg2 2.Rf5#, 1...Sxg6 2.Sxg6#, 1...Sf5 2.Rxf5#, 1...Sf~ 2.R(x)g4#, 1...d5 / d6 2.Se6#.



(Problem 196)
Jan Kotrc,
Shahmat, 1884
Mate in 3 moves.
#3 (5+11)
[5S1Q/4pk2/p1B4p/2p2b2/r1pP3K/2bs2p1/8/8]

Tries (without interest) : {1.Qg7+? Kxg7!}, {1.Qg8+? Kxg8!}, {1.Be8+? Kxe8!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Se6! [0.5] [2.Sd8+ [0.5] Kg6 3.Be8#]
1...Bh3 / Bg4 2.Qg7+ [1.0] Kxe6 3.Qg6#
1...Se5 2.Be8+ [1.0] Kxe6 3.Qxe5#
1...Ba5 2.Bd7 [1.0] [3.Qg7#. Not {2.d4? c3+!}] Bxe6 3.Be8#
1...Kxe6 2.d5+ [1.0] Kf7 / Kd6 3.Be8# / Qb8#



(Problem 197)
Viktor Lukashov,
Special Honourable Mention, Shakhmatnaya Poeziya, 2007
Mate in 4 moves.
#4 (7+7)
[8/K1p2B2/3p2r1/8/p2kSP2/4s1P1/5B2/1Q4s1]

Tries : {1.Bc4? Kxc4!}, {1.Bd5? Kxd5!}, {1.Bxe3+? Kxe3!}, {1.Qd3+? Kxd3!}, {1.Qc2? d5!}, {1.Qb4+? Kd3!}, {1.Qd1+? / Qc1? Kxe4!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Ba2! [1.0] [2.Qd1+ Kxe4 3.Bb1+ [1.0] Sc2 4.Bxc2#]
1...Sf3 2.Qb5 [3.Qd5# / Qc4#] Kxe4 3.Qd5+ [1.0] Sxd5 4.Bb1#
1...Se2 2.Qb4+ Kd3 3.Qc4+ Sxc4 [1.0] 4.Bb1#
1...Rxg3 2.Qc2 ( > 3 [3.Qc4#] d5 3.Sxg3 [1.0] [4.Sf5#]



(Problem 198)
Nikolay Ryabinin,
64, 1990 (version, after Valery Khortov)
White plays and draws.
= (3+4)
[4R3/r6k/2K5/8/6Ps/8/8/7s]

If Black has two Knights, with a white Pawn on g4 he can win. If the white Pawn steps forward, only then should White try to exchange Rooks.
The solution follows :
Key : 1.Re5 [2.Rh5+ [3.RxS]] Sg3
2.Re3 [1.0] Sf1
3.Rh3 [1.0] Ra6+
4.Kb7 Rh6
5.Rc3 [1.0] (is threatening continuous check, or [wRxh6 bKxh6 wPg5+] and the position theoretically is a draw) Sg6
6.Rc5 Sg3
7.Rh5 [1.0] Sxh5
8.g5 [1.0] = (this is a nice picture of Rook trapping).



(Problem 199)
Aleksandr Azhusin,
First Honourable Mention, Shakhmatnaya Poeziya, 2000
Selfmate in 3 moves.
s#3 (7+11)
[4Q3/5R2/1pP2p2/pS1k1p2/p7/K2S4/bpP5/rrb5]

Tries : {1.Qe6+? Kxe6!}, {1.Rd7+? Kc4!}, {1.c4+? Kxc4!}. The solution follows :

Key : 1.Qg8! [0.5] [2.Re7+ Kxc6 3.Qc4+ [0.5] Bxc4#]
1...Kxc6 2.Rc7+ Kxb5 3.Qc4+ [0.8] Bxc4#
1...Ke4 2.Qg2+ Ke3 3.Re7+ [0.8] Be6#
1...Kc4 2.Ra7+ Kxb5 3.Qd5+ [0.8] Bxd5#
1...Ke6 2.Rf8+ Ke7 3.Qf7+ [0.8] Bxf7#
1...Be3 2.Rd7+ Kxc6 / Ke4 3.Qd5+ [0.8] Bxd5#



(Problem 200)
Lars Larsen,
Skakbladet, 2002
Helpmate in 3 moves. (3 solutions)
h#3 311111 (3+12)
[4sb2/3p2pb/B1p1r3/3Sp3/4k1p1/4rpK1/8/8]

The solution follows :
Key : 1.f2+ Kh2 2.Kf3 Bf1 3.Re2 Bg2#
Key : 1.Re1 Sf6+ 2.Ke3 Kh2 3.Kf2 Sxg4#
Key : 1.Rg6 Se7 2.d5 Bc8 3.d4 Bf5#

One solution = [2.0], two solutions = [4.0], three solutions = [5.0] points.


(This post in Greek language).

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