Sunday, December 29, 2013

10th International Solving Contest

The 10th International Solving Contest, for 2014, is announced

http://www.wfcc.ch/competitions/solving/isc14inv/

Saturday, December 28, 2013

2013 is almost past

The year 2013 has given me joy with international distinctions, as similarly happened to various Greek composers and I am happy for them when they achieve better awards than me!
There were also some cooperations, not yet published, which gave me great satisfaction with their beautiful results.

This same year I was disappointed when I tried to organize regular gatherings for friends of chess compositions in a place, for exchanging news and ideas.
There was no significant interest or maybe there was not enough publicity for this matter.
If someone is learning about this just now and is interested, he can contact me.

In the next year 2014 I suppose that things will become better.
There is a new move by Nikos Mendrinos, The Cup of Greece, solving contests happening simultaneously in many cities of Greece. I hope that this will give the needed push to increase of the number of the Chess Composition friends.

Let 2014 be a good year for everyone!
Manolas Emmanuel

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Season's greetings

Wishes for nice holidays for all!

Holiday problems you may find at the following:

A story with mate in various amounts of moves (relevant with which piece is stricken by the bullet)...
http://en.chessbase.com/post/chebase-puzzles-a-dangerous-game-171013

Christmas problems by very advanced composers...
http://kobulchess.com/en/news/7-2011-07-31-17-09-09/421-christmas-puzzles-2013.html


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

A prized series composition

In "series" compositions, one side makes moves alone, alters the position in some fashion, and when its moves are completed, then the other side mates or stalemates, accordingly with the stipulation.

Today we will see a ser-s=198, that is a series inverse stalemate in 198 moves. The white plays 198 moves alone and in the last one the black plays and is forced to stalemate the wK. This composition was awarded with 1st prize in a ChessCafe.com tourney and is a world record in its category. (See the presentation with a Sherlock-Holmes-like story in page 5 of the document : http://www.chesscafe.com/text/puzzling54.pdf)
Four black Pawns have been promoted to bQ, bR, bR, bR. The wK has difficulty in moving around the chessboard with the assistance of the wB, but the wK is obstructive and the wB makes large rounds.
During the writing of the solution, we omit the moves which are easily deducted.

The composer, Arno Tüngler, is very succesful with very long compositions.

Problem-748
Arno Tüngler
1st Prize, ChessCafe.com 2013 Puzzler's Cup

4B3/2p1p3/2PqPr2/2r2Ps1/2Pr3b/p2PKp2/1r3s2/q5rk (7 + 15)
ser-s=198

1.Bd7 6.Bc2 8.Kc3 9.Bb3 11.Ka4 22.Bb5 26.Kc8 35.Bd7 37.Ke8 48.Bf7 50.Kg7 51.Bg6 53.Kh5 64.Bg4 65.Kxh4 66.Kh5 77.Bg6 79.Kg7 80.Bf7 82.Ke8 93.Bd7 95.Kc8 104.Bb5 108.Ka4 119.Bb3 121.Kc3 122.Bc2 125.Kxf2 128.Kc3 129.Bb3 131.Ka4 142.Bb5 146.Kc8 155.Bd7 157.Ke8 168.Bf7 170.Kg7 171.Bg6 173.Kh5 184.Bg4 185.Kxg5 187.Kh3 198.Bg2+ Rgxg2/Rbxg2/fxg2=

Monday, November 25, 2013

WCCC 2014


The WCCC for 2014 will be held in Berne, Switzerland, from August 23 till August 30.



Saturday, November 23, 2013

Award for Carlo deGrandi

From the Greek composer Carlo DeGrandi we received an e-mail about the Award of the composition tourney Mario G. Garcia-65 JT, where he has received 1st-2nd Honourable Mention in threemovers: Award

There was another recent distinction in Aleksandr Kuzovkov-60 jubilee tourney (pdf).

Congratulations to mr. DeGrandi!

SmartPhone App for Chess Composers!

Diyan Kostadinov - Project manager
Dimitar Ivanov - Programmer
Shankar Ram - Operating support
Petya Badjaklieva - Designer

The first app for chess composing on smartphone is here!

http://kobulchess.com/en/news/7-2011-07-31-17-09-09/402-chess-composition-app-smartphone-chess-composer.html

Well done!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Greek selfmate from 1946

Mr Panagis Sklabounos discovered and sent to me a selfmate by Ioannis V. Koutalidis, which was published in the Greek magazine "Helios" in 28 Aug. 1946.
As I have mentioned elsewere, mr I. Koutalidis, editor of the chess column of the magazine, motivated and decidedly cultivated the talent of young composers (Vyron Zappas, Nikos Siotis, Dimitris Kapralos) of that time

In a selfmate, White plays first and forces Black (who is resisting) to give mate.

Problem-747
Ioannis Koutalidis
"Helios", 28-VIII-1946


rks2R2/pb6/P1pP4/2P3p1/1R4p1/8/5pPB/5K2 (8 + 9)
s#3, selfmate threemover


Key: 1.Be5!
1... g3 2.Rb1 g4 3.Bb2 Bxa6#

It uses a white interference.

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Is it not chess?

Arkas :
-I remember a crossword, which tormented me! I was trying to solve it for days, but it was impossible! ... Finally I understood what was the catch!
-It was chess!

xkcd : http://xkcd.com/1287/

Daryl Cagle : http://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/usnews/cartoons-daryl-cagle-looks-back-at-the-decade-34481082/36/

Jan Tomaschoff : http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Chess_50401

ericallie : https://www.ijreview.com/2013/09/78874-cartoon-obama-winning-bingo-checker-playing-chess-putin/

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

George Makropoulos, an interesting interview

Mr George Makropoulos is the head of Greek Chess Federation. He is also a high ranked person of FIDE.
In this interview he says very interesting things, that it is useful for anyone to know.
Enjoy the reading.

http://chess-news.ru/en/node/13774

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Three studies by Kyriakos Fragoulis

Kyriakos Fragoulis (1935 - 1997), from Leykada island in Greece, became well known in composing circles with his studies. There were other Greeks also creating chess problems of various types, but Kyriakos Fragoulis was composing exclusively studies.

Study is a position with stipulation "White plays and wins" or "White plays and draws" without specifying in how many moves we must achieve it. The study is like an endgame, but it is a composition, it is not coming from a game.

The players of over the board chess are solving studies as an exercice.

These studies were sent to me by Panagiotis Konidaris from Meganissi (an island near Leykada), who had actually met Kyriakos Fragoulis. Panagiotis says that he found them in some old and turned yellow pieces of paper (thanks Panagiotis!), and they are unpublished, as far as I know.
Their solutions are visible only if you select the text between the square brackets [...].



Problem-744
Kyriakos Fragoulis, Greece
original
8/6Pb/P1K5/7k/8/8/5P1r/8 (4 + 3)
= White plays and draws

Solution : [1.g8=Q! (1.a7? Be4+! 2.K~ Rg2 -+) Bxg8 2.a7! Bh7 3.Kd5! Rh4 (3...Bg8+ 4.Kc6 Bh7 5.Kd5) 4.f4! Rxf4 5.a8=Q! Be4+ 6.Ke5 Bxa8 7.Kxf4=]

Problem-745
Kyriakos Fragoulis, Greece
original
8/8/1r3p2/7K/6P1/6Pk/1S6/4R3 (5 + 3)
+ White plays and wins

Solution : [1.Sc4! Rb5+ (1…Rb4 2.Se3! Kxg3 3.Sd5! Rxg4 4.Rg1+, +-), (1…Rb7 2. Sd6 Rh7+ 3.Kg6 Rd7 4. Se4! Kxg4 5.Sxf6+, +-) 2.Kg6 Rg5+ (2…Kxg3 3.Se3 Rg5+ 4.Kxf6 Rg8 5.Rg1+ Kf3 6.g5 +-)
3.Kxf6 Rxg4 4.Se3! Rxg3 (4…R~ 5.g4 +-) (4…Rg8 5.Rh1+ Kxg3 6.Rg1+ K~ 7.Rxg8 +-) 5.Rh1#

The chess program Fritz prefers other continuation, without surprises and with many moves 1.Sd3 Rb5+ 2.Kh6 Kxg4 3.Re3 Rf5 4.Sf4 Re5 5.Rd3 f5 6.Sd5 Re6+ 7.Kg7 +- ]

Problem-746
Kyriakos Fragoulis, Greece
original
8/S7/7p/1p5k/6p1/6KP/8/8  (3 + 4)
+ White plays and wins

Solution : [1.h4! b4 2.Sc6! (2.Sb5? b3 3.Sd4 b2 4.Se2 Kg6 5.Sc3 h5 =) b3 3.Se5! b2 4.Sd3 b1=Q
5.Sf4#]

Monday, October 14, 2013

Nikos Pergialis, an evergreen composer

As we have already mentioned, Nikos Pergialis is a special kind of composer.

He is composer and singer of rebetiko songs, the last rebetis of our time. Here you can listen him singing a song written by the great Markos Vamvakaris : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DQ8Ad55KXw

He is also a composer of chess problems, favoring beautiful and frugal positions.

Today we will see two direct-mate two-movers and two helpmates, a three-mover and a four-mover.


Problem_740
Nikos Pergialis, Greece
original
5R2/4p1p1/8/8/4pP1R/4Pk2/5P2/5K2 (6 + 4)
#2
Set play: {1…e5 2.fxe5# [A]}, {1…g5 2.fxg5# [B]}

Tries: {1.Rh3+? / Rg4? K(x)g4!}

Key: 1.f5! [2.Rf4#]
1…e5 2.fxe6 e.p.# [C]
1…g5 2.fxg6 e.p.# [D]

Two mates by en passant capture.
Two changed mates, between set play and post-key play.
From 8 up to 12 pieces, it is a Meredith.

The composer says:
I am not going to reach old and new chessplayers and all the problem-makers
because it happened to me to lose all my prolific years.


Problem_741
Nikos Pergialis, Greece
original
8/1B6/S7/k2r2Qr/8/KR5b/4s3/8 (5 + 5)
#2
Tries: {1.Qd2+? [A] Rxd2!}, {1.Qxd5+? [B] Rxd5!}, {1.Qd8+? [C] Rxd8!}

Key: 1.Sb8! [2.Sc6#]
1…Sd4 2.Qd2# [A]
1…Rh6 2.Qxd5# [B]
1…Bd7 2.Qd8# [C]
1…Rb5 2.Rxb5#

Theme Gamage (White can unpin a black piece, because Black has just interfered with it).
Black correction (Black plays 1...Rd5-b5 to correct the inherent error of the move 1...Bh3-d7).
Move Pelle (the pinned Rd5 moves, remaining pinned).
It is Imperial, having no pawns.
From 8 up to 12 pieces, it is a Meredith.


Problem_742
Nikos Pergialis, Greece
original
8/8/P1qk1K2/8/8/8/8/8 (2 + 2)
h#3, a) diagram 2 solutions, b) wPa6 goes to e6
a)
1.Qb7 axb7 2.Kc7 Ke6 3.Kd8 b8=Q#
1.Qc8 a7 2.Kd7 a8=Q 3.Ke8 Qxc8#

b) with wPe6
1.Qd7 Kg6 2.Ke7 exd7 3.Kf8 d8=Q#

The pieces make 18 moves, all different.
Three ideal mates are formed (all the pieces take part), all similar.
Chameleon mates (bK is mated on squares of different colour).
Up to 4 pieces, it is a Weningsteiner.


Problem_743
Nikos Pergialis, Greece
original
4K3/6p1/4k3/8/1PP3PP/3B4/8/8 (6 + 2)
h#4, 2 solutions

1.Kd6 Kd8 2.Kc6 Kc8 3.Kb6 Kb8 4.Ka6 c5#

1.Kf6 Be2 2.Kg6 Kf8 3.Kh6 Kg8 4.g6 g5#

Model mates (bK and every flight are observed or blocked by only one piece).
Theme Indian.
The White battery is direct (threatening the bK), or indirect (observing a flight).
From 8 up to 12 pieces, it is a Meredith.

The composers says:
Let us take a walk hand in hand, my foolish Black King,
and if I am preparing your funeral, blame the anomaly.

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Mate with two Knights on the edge of the chessboard

There is a beautiful problem by the French poet and novelist Alfred deMusset since 1849, which shows a mate with two Knights on the edge of the chessboard. In order to achieve such a mate, one must have another black piece on board, which may disappear in the final picture of mate, or a pawn not too advanced (see Troitsky line).

Problem-737
Alfred deMusset
La Regence, 1849
1s2k1K1/7R/8/4S3/6S1/8/8/8 (4 + 2)
#3, Mate in three moves

1.Rd7! [2.Sf6#] Sxd7
2.Sc6 Sf6+
3.Sxf6#
final picture of mate

I like this problem and I have composed, for a recent composition tourney, a helpmate two-mover twin.
On the first of the twins, White manages easily to force a mate on the cooperating Black with two Knights on the edge of the chessboard, (making two simple moves and two captures).
But on the second problem a black Rook is placed on board and inhibits the mate of the first twin! White, more difficult now (with four captures, pins, unpinnings and removals of guards), manages again to achieve the mate with two knights, but in another edge of the chessboard!
For a two-mover, I consider it nice, (and it is irrelevant that the judge saw the two solutions unsimilar and gave no distinction). Of course, the two fairy conditions were very helpful TakeAndMake (the capturing piece makes one move with the way of the captured piece. Example: if a Rook captures a Knight, the Rook must make one more step as Knight) and Anti-TakeAndMake (the captured piece is not removed from the game but it makes one move without capturing anything on the arrival square.
Final result, with the two fairy conditions combined, is a situation described recently as Bulgarian billiard.
Example: (1) if a Rook captures a Knight, the Rook must make one more step as Knight, and the Knight stays on the board and makes a move itself as a Knight. (2) if a Knight captures a Bishop, the Knight must make one move as Bishop, and the Bishop stays on the board and makes a move itself).

Problem-738
Manolas Emmanuel
original
8/1K6/8/6bS/8/5S2/5k2/1b6 (3 + 3)
h#2, helpmate in 2
conditions TakeAndMake, Anti-TakeAndMake

Twin a) Diagram,
b) +bRc6, addition of a black Rook

a)
1.Bg6 Sg3
2.Kxg3(Kh5;Se4) Sexg5(Sf6;Bh6)#

b) bRc6
1.Kxf3(Ke1;Sd2) Kxc6(Kc1;Rh6)
2.Rxh5(Rf4;Sg3) Sxb1(Sd3;Ba2)#
final picture of mate a
final picture of mate b

We have composed, together with the Italian Vito Rallo, problems with similar final mates, but using another fairy condition, Andernach (the capturing piece, changes colour).

Problem-713
Manolas Emmanuel and Rallo Vito
Variantim, April 2013
8/8/8/8/8/1K2SP2/4k3/4s3 (3 + 2)
#3
condition Andernach

1.Sxf3(=wSf3) Sd4+ 2.Kd2 Ka2 3.Kc1 Sb3#

1.Kd2 Sd5 2.Kd1 Kb2 3.Sxf3(=wSf3) Sc3#

Ideal Mates, Chameleon.
final picture of mate in first solution
final picture of mate in second solution

Problem-739
Manolas Emmanuel and Rallo Vito
Julia's Fairies Νο.248, February 07, 2013
8/2K1kss1/8/5PG1/8/8/8/8 (3 + 3)
(Grasshoppers: f5 + 0)
#3
condition Andernach
Grasshopper on g5

1.Kf8 Kd7 2.Sxf5(=wSf5) Sh6 3.Sxg5(=wSg5) Se6#

1.Ke8 Ge5 2.Sxe5(=wSe5) Sg6 3.Sxf5(=wSf5) Sd6#
final picture of mate in first solution
final picture of mate in second solution

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Awards from WCCC, Batumi

Here are some Awards from the composition Tourneys in WCCC, Batumi 2013.

The president of WFCC mr Harry Fougiaxis has compiled (22 Oct 2013) a bulletin file with all the proceedings in Batumi.

D.Gurgenidze 60 JT Announcementjt_gurgenidze-60_2013_congress-batumi.pdf
G.Mosiashvili 65 JT Announcement...
G.Nadareishvili MT Announcementmt_nadareishvili_eg_2013_congress-batumi.pdf
SPIŠSKÁ BOROVIČKA Announcementmany thanks to all participants! 
this year i have received 23 entries by 17 authors from 11 countries. 
as there will be some time needed to publish the whole award, and the authors are surely waiting on it, here i give just the list of awarded problems with position of kings. 
once the award is ready, i will post here the new link, too. 
peter
2° Recommandé (h4/d4)
1° Recommandé (e2/e4)
5° Mention d'Honneur (f3/d5)
4° Mention d'Honneur (b2/f5)
3° Mention d'Honneur (f7/a5)
2° Mention d'Honneur (g8/d8)
1° Mention d'Honneur (/d1)
4° Prix (g6/a4)
3° Prix (d1/c4)
2° Prix (a4/e4)
1° Prix (h4/f6)
4th Bulgarian Wine Tourney 2013 Announcement4th-bulgarian-wine-tourney.html
1° Azemmour AnnouncementAward_1o_Azemmour.pdf
11th Romanian Tzuica Tourney AnnouncementTzuica-2013-Award.pdf
2013 13th Sake Announcement...
2th Azerbaijan Study tourney, Batumi 2013 Announcement...
Jenever Ty 2013 Announcement...
Sabra 16 AnnouncementSabra 16 Award revised
VODKA 2013 Announcement?VODKA TOURNEY-awards.pdf
Champagne 2013 Announcement?Notes of award

Saturday, September 28, 2013

World Championship in Solving, for Teams and Individuals

For the world championship of solving chess problems WCSC, which is organized during WCCC, the full results are published here : http://www.wfcc.ch/competitions/solving/wcsc13/

Team results :
1) Poland, 178,5 points in 600 minutes.
2) Germany, 162.5 in 635.
3) Serbia, 159.25 in609.

The Greece (71st Konidaris with 30 points, 44th Mendrinos with 56.5, 75th Fougiaxis with 26) is ranked 18th (in 19 teams) with 98.5 in 680 (the two best results are included).

Individual results :
1) Murdzia, Piotr, POL, GM, 85.75 points in 332 minutes
2) Zude, Arno, GER, GM, 84.5 in 281
3) Piorun, Kacper, POL, GM, 83.0 in 302
4) Mista, Aleksander, POL, FM, 82.25 in  306
5) Paavilainen, Jorma, FIN, GM, 80.0 in 360
6) Kovacevic, Marjan, SRB, GM, 79.75 in  319

Friday, September 27, 2013

Next WCCC in Bern, Switzerland

Next year, in August 2014, the WCCC (World Congress on Chess Composition) will be held in Bern, Switzerland.

The voted proposal : http://www.franziska-iseli.ch/WCCC2014.pdf

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Results from Open Solving, Batumi 2013

The results were published in the page http://www.wfcc.ch/competitions/solving/open-solving-batumi-2013/

The three first are
1) Comay, Ofer, ISR, 50/60
1) Zude, Arno, GER, 50/60
3) Vuckovic, Bojan, SRB, 49/60

7) Selivanov, Andrey, RUS, 39.5/60, the only one who solved the selfmate-in-6!

Greek participants:
23) Mendrinos, Nikos, GRE, 32/60
73) Konidaris, Panagiotis, GRE, 16/60

Congratulations!

You can see the problems with solutions here :
http://www.wfcc.ch/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013_WCCC-OPEN-56_solutions.pdf

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Michel Caillaud, Composing in computer times

A presentation by the great French composer Michel Caillaud, (August 01, 2013, Marianka, Slovakia).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh3wXcrlWB4

When there is good disposition and interesting subject, the language problems are set aside.
Here the French (who is wearing the t-shirt of the Italian problemists) speaks English and there is translation to Slovakian.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

12th Greek Championship in Solving Chess Problems


It is the 12th Championship in Solving Chess Problems in Greece.

Winners : (1) Nikos Mendrinos, (2) Panagiotis Konidaris, (3) Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis

Try to solve these 12 problems. The solutions will be shown if you select the text between the brackets [ ].


12th  Greek Championship, 15 IX 2013

Round 1  -  Problems, Time 2 hours
(725) 1
 #2, Mate in 2 moves
R7/1Q2pbKp/3Bk1P1/3R4/2pps2r/s5S1/6B1/3r2b1 (8 + 11)

Anatoly Slesarenko & Valery Shansin
1. Prize, The Problemist, 2000

[Key : 1.Rg5! (5) [2.Qxe7#]
1...Sxd6 2.Bd5#, 1...Kxd6 2.Ra6#, 1...exd6 2.Qxf7#


Changed mates, Themes Rudenko, Option, Chernet, etc
]
(726) 2
#3, Mate in 3 moves,
8/2p1Sp2/2p5/1p1Bp2K/Qb2pkP1/5pS1/r1P2PsP/8  (9 + 11)

Michael Keller & Thornsten Zirkwitz
1-2. Prize, Sachsische Zeitung, 2001

[Tries : {1.Bxf7? [2.Sg6#] Sh4!}, {1.Bxc6? [2.Sd5#] Se3!}

Key : 1.h3! [2.Kh6 ~ 3.Sh5# (1)]
1...Rxc2 2.Qxc2 (1) 2...cxd5/ f5 3.Sxd5# / 3.Sg6#
1...Sh4 2.Bxc6 (1) Bxe7 3.Qxe4#
1...Se3 2.Bxf7 (1) Bxe7 3.Qxe4#
1...e3 2.Qxb4+ (1) e4 3.Qxe4# 

Logical, Themes Banny, Pseudo Le Grand].
(727) 3
#7, Mate in 7 moves,
qr6/pp2Pb1B/rP6/p1R1SS1k/R4P2/2pPP2p/5p2/5K2 (11 + 11)

Olivier Schmitt 
Diagrammes, 2011

[Tries : {1.Bg6? Bxg6!}, {1.Sd7? Rxb6!}

Key : 1.Rc6! (1)
1...bxc6 2.Sd7 Kg4 3.Sf6+ Kf3 4.Ra2 Bxa2 5.Sd7 Kg4 6.Se5+ (3) Kh5 7.Bg6#
1...Rxb6 2.Sg7+ Kh4 3.Rxb6 [4.Sf5+ Kh5 5.Rh6#] axb6 4.Kxf2 [5.Sf3+ Kg4 6.Bf5#] Be6 5.Sf3+ Kg4 6.f5+ (1) Bc4 7.Rxc4#

Switchback of wSe5, sacrifice of wR. Two foreplans for the deflection of bBf7]. 
(728) 4
+, White plays and wins,
1b6/5b2/3p1B1k/8/6Kp/1P1S2S1/8/8 (5 + 5)

Sergeo Nikolaevich Tkachenko  
2nd Commendation, Israel-Chess-Composition-Society-50 JT, 1998

[1.Sf5+ Kg6 2.Bd8! (1) Bxb3 3.Se7+ Kf7 4.Sc6! Ke8 5.Ba5! (1) (5.Bb6? Kd7! 6.Sxb8+ Kc8 7.Sc6 Ld1+ 8.Kxh4 Kb7 9.Sd4 Kxb6! 10.Sb2 Kc5 11.Se6+ Kd5 12.Sf4+ Ke4) 
5...Bc7! 6.Bxc7 Kd7 7.Sd4! (1) Bd1+ 8.Kxh4(1) (8.Kg5? Kxc7 9.Sb2 h3 10.Sxd1 h2 11.Sf2 Kb6 12.Kg4 Kc5 13.Se6+ Kc4)
8...Kxc7 9.Sb2! (1) +- 

Domination to ensure win (according Troitzky)
].
(729) 5
h#3, 211111, Helpmate in 3 moves, 2 solutions 
2R5/3S4/1pr4s/3p1kq1/2rs4/4p3/1K6/1b6 (3 + 10)

Christer Jonsson
1.Prize, Schach, 1988

[1.Kg6 Rc7 2.Sh6-f5 Sf8+ 3.Kh6 Rh7#  (2.5)
1.Ke4 Rd8 2.Sd4-f5 Sf6+ 3.Kd4 Rxd5# (2.5)

Exchange of positions between bK and each bS, Model mates.
]
(730) 6
s#5, Selfmate in 5 moves,
2b4R/1p1p1S2/1P1Q1RSb/P1p4k/1B6/2P2KP1/ 3P1P2/5B2 (14 + 6)

Bohuslav Mikyska
Sachove Listy, 1901

[Key : 1.Sh4! zugzwang (1)
1...c4 2.Bd3 cxd3 3.a6 bxa6 4.Ba5 Bb7+5.Qd5+ (2) Bxd5#
1...cxb4 2.Bh3 ~ 3.Sg2 ~ 4.Qc5+ d5 5.Bg4+ (2) Bxg4#
]

2#: Write the key.
3# and 7#: Write the key, possible threats and all the variations until the last-but-one white move
Study: Write all the moves until a visible win.
H#: Write the full solution
S#: Write the key, possible threats and all the variations until the last-but-one white move.


12th  Greek Championship, 15 IX 2013

Round 2  -  Problems, Time 2 hours
(731) 1
 #2, Mate in 2 moves
sr6/3QS1bb/qB1S4/1R5r/p1P2R2/PPk1p2s/2B1P3/2K5 (12 + 10)

Carel J. R. Sammelius
1-2 Prize, JT Nederlandse-Bond-van-Probleemvrienden-35, 1966

[Tries : {1.Se7-f5? Re8!}, {1.Sd6-f5? Sh3xf4!}, {1.Qf5? Sxb6!}, {1.Rf4-f5? Qb7!}, {1.Bf5? Qxb5!}

Key: 1.Rb5-f5! (5) [2.Sd5# / Se4#]

Sacrifice Novotni, where only one from six moves is right!
]
(732) 2
 #3, Mate in 3 moves, 
3S1b2/Q4B2/5pp1/1kpSpR2/8/p7/2b5/K7 (6 + 8)

Cenek Kainer
Casopis Sach 1921

[Key: 1.Sc6! [2.Sd5-b4 [3.Qa5/Qa6] cxb4 3.Sd4# (1)
1...Bxf5/Be4 2.Qa4+ (1) Kxa4 3.Sd5-c3#
1...gxf5 2.Sa5 (1) ~ 3.Be8#
1...Kxc6 2.Qb6+ (1) Kd7 3.Qc7#
1...Kc4 2.Qa6+(1) Kb3 3.Qb5#

Sacrificial key, Model mates, Theme Cyclic Zilahi (the mating piece is captured in another variation)
]
(733) 3
 #4, Mate in 4 moves, 
2s5/3s1Q2/2R4B/qP1ppB2/S1pk2P1/Ppb1p3/4P3/5K2 (10 + 10)

Igor A. Agapov (after Anatoly Styopochkin)
Special Prize, 1st FIDE World Cup 2010

[Key: 1.Qe6! (1) [2.Bxe3+ Kxe3 3.Qh6+ Kd4 4.e3# (1)
1...Sf6 2.Qxe5+ Kxe5 3.Re6+ (1) Kd4 4.Bxe3#
1...Qd8 2.Rxc4+ Kxc4 3.Qc6+ (0.5) Kd4 4.Qxc3#, 3...Sc5 4.Qxc5#, 2...dxc4 3.Qc6 (0.5) Sc5 4.Qxc5#, 3...Sd6 4.Qxd6#
1...Bd2 2.Qxd5+ Kxd5 3.Be6+ (1) Kd4/Κe4 4.Rxc4# 

Changed mates, Switchback of bK, Themes Zilahi, Kniest, Bristol, Chumakov, ODT
].
(734) 4
 =, White plays and draws,
6r1/2R3pk/q1s1p3/4S2K/b3P3/4P3/2Q5/8 (6 + 7)

Amazia Avni
Chess in Israel, 1999

[1.Qh2 (1) (1.Sf7? Qa5+ 2.e5+ g6+ (2...Βxc2? 3.Sg5+ Kh8 4.Sf7+ Kh7 5.Sg5+) 3.Kg4 (3.Kg5 Βxc2) 3...Qxc7 4.Sg5+ Kg7 5.Sxe6+ Kf7] 
1...Rh8! (1...Re8? 2.Kg5+ Kg8 3.Rxg7+) 
2.Sf7 (2.Kg5+? Kg8 3.Qf4 Sxe5) 
2...Kg8+! 3.Sxh8 Qa5+ (3...Bd1+ 4.Kh4! Kxh8? 5.Kg3+) 
4.Kg6! (1) (4.Kg4? Se5+) 
4...Se5+ 5.Qxe5! Be8+! (5...Qxe5 6.Rc8+) 
6.Rf7! Qxe5  = (3)

Stalemate by self-pin.
]
(735) 5
 h#6, Helpmate in 6 moves
8/1s2k3/qp6/rB6/8/8/8/5K2 (2 + 5)

Frantiek Korostenski
Prize, Sachove Umeni 2001

[1.Kd6 Bd3 2.Qc4 Ke2 3.Qc7 Ba6 4.Kc6 Kd3 5.Rd5+ Kc4 6.Rd6 Bb5# (5)

Circuit of wB and Pelle move (while it is pinned), Bicolour Bristol
].
(736) 6
 s#3, Selfmate in 3 moves,
4b3/2S1p3/2p1p3/P1k1P2p/K4P1P/PR1R4/3S4/Q7 (11 + 5)

Leonid Kubbel
Jas 1935 , 1st Prize

[Set play : 1…Bd7 2.Sxe6+ Bxe6 3.Rb5+ cxb5#

Key: 1.Rd8! zugzwang (1)
1...Bd7 2.Qd4+ Kxd4 3.Kb4 (2) c5#
1...Bxg6  2.Qc1+ Bc2 3.Sb5 (1) cxb5#
1...Bf7 2.Sxe6+ Bxe6 3.Rb5+ (1) cxb5#

Critical move of wR, Model mates
].
       
2#: Write the key.
3# and 4#: Write the key, possible threats and all the variations until the last-but-one white move
Study: Write all the moves until a visible draw.
H#: Write the full solution
S#: Write the key, possible threats and all the variations until the last-but-one white move.