ISC 2009 Final Results

The final results of the International Solving Contest (5th ISC 2009) were published. There were simultaneously 34 local solving contests in 27 countries and 375 solvers took part from 32 countries (234 solvers in the first category, 141 solvers in the second category).

We have published the problems and their solutions (category-round 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 2-2).

In the photo the World Champion Piotr Murdzia (see his web site, from where we have copied the final results of the first category).

ISC 2009, the 10 first in the world	country	grades	time	rank
Murdzia, Piotr	Poland	59	240	1
Mukoseev, Anatoly	Russia	54	223	2
Nunn, John	Great Britain	52	203	3
Kozyrev, Aleksandr	Russia	51	231	4
Tummes, Boris	Germany	51	236	5
Vuckovic, Bojan	Serbia	51	240	6
Yamada, Kohey	Japan	50	211	7
Podinic, Vladimir	Serbia	50	212	8
Comay, Ofer	Israel	50	215	9
Van Beers, Eddy	Belgium	50	234	10

ISC 2009, solvers from Greece	grades	time	rank
Prentos, Kostas	49,5	237	13
Sklavounos, Panagis	26,5	238	102
Papastavropoulos, Andreas	26	240	104
Konidaris, Panagiotis	25	240	113
Skyrianoglou, Dimitris	22,5	219	126
Markesinis, Lefteris	21	238	132
Spyropoulos, Georgios	20	240	139
Manolas, Emmanuel	16	140	159
Finokaliotis, Georgios	13	145	184
Spiliadis, Athanassios	12,5	240	192
Garoufalidis, Ioannis	11,5	240	198
Lykouriotis, Pantelis	11	208	202
Terzis, Filippos	11	240	204
Mavromati, Aggeliki	10	233	212
Georgakis, Elias	10	240	215
Sboukis, Konstantinos	10	240	215
Petridis, Evaggelos	10	240	215
Mouroutis, Konstantinos	6	178	225
Georgopoulos, Dimitrios	5	240	228

Deadline for Subotica

We had posted a note about the Fifth European Chess Solving Championship, which will be held in Subotica in Serbia.
We note that the deadline for applications is 15-03-2009.

Six two-movers by Kostadinov

In the site of the World Chess Championship 2009 six problems were dedicated from the composer Diyan Kostadinov to the top players Topalov and Kamsky. Here follows part of the article.

Diyan Kostadinov is a well-known Bulgarian chess problem composer. He was born on 21.01.1982 in Burgas (Bulgaria) and is titled national Master of sport for chess composition. He has been playing chess since 1997 and was a Student vice-champion of his sity. Diyan began composing in 2000 and composed more than 200 problems of all genres - Twomovers, Threemovers, Moremovers, Selfmates, Helpmates, Studies, Proof Games and Fairies and won a large number of Prizes in the most prestigious chess composing tournaments in all over the world. He is winner of the super-tournaments organized by various chess magazines.

These six two-mover problems, which were composed by Kostadinov especially for this match, form the names of the players.
We copy them below (they are named TO, PA, LOV, KA, MS, KY) and we give their keys.

	TO : 1 Qe4! PA : 1 Bc4! LOV: 1 Sd7!
	KA : 1 Se1! MS : 1 Bf3! KY : 1 f5!

Nikos Pergialis (4)

In this post we present two direct-mate problems by "the last rembetis" Nikos Pergialis, and a prized helpmate problem by Harry Fougiaxis.

	(Problem 314) Nikos Pergialis, original, 2001, Mate in 2. #2 ( 6 + 6 )
[5b1K/5R2/5B1k/4R2r/4bS2/6s1/6r1/6Q1]

Comment by the composer : "I feel pleasure when I sacrifice powerful pieces. This is an Aristocratic (without pawns) problem showing double valve”.

Tries : [1 Rh7+? Bxh7!], [1 Bg5+? Rxg5!], [1 Bg7+? Bxg7+!], [1 Rxe4? Bg7+!], [1 Rxh5+? Sxh5!], [1 Rf5? Bxf5!].

Key : 1 Qc5! ( > 2 Qxf8#)
1...Rg5 2 Bxg5#
1...Se2 / Sf1 / Sh1 2 Rxh5#
1...Sf5 (corrects the abandonment of the bRh5) 2 Rh7#
1...Bxc5 / Bd6 / Be7 2 Bg7#
1...Bg7+ (corrects the abandonment of g7) 2 Bxg7#

	(Problem 315) Nikos Pergialis, original, 2008, Mate in 2. #2 ( 5 + 7 )
[8/2p5/K5p1/1BkpQs2/8/Ps1r4/1P6/8]

Set play : (*) 1...Sfd4 2 Qe7#

Try : [1 Qxc7+? Kd4!]

Key : 1 Qf4! ( > 2 Qb4#)
1...d4 2 Qe5# (switchback)
1...Sfd4 2 Qf8# (changed mate)
1...Sbd4 2 b4#
1...Rd4 2 Qxc7#

The square d4 is four-ways self-blocked.

	(Problem 316) Harry Fougiaxis, First Prize, Israel Ring Tourney, 1985, Helpmate in 2. a) diagram, b) twin with bPd6-->b5 h#2 a) Diagram, b) bPd6-->b5 ( 10 + 11 )
[8/7r/PPkp4/2SSr1p1/pq2s3/bPs5/2Q2PB1/2R1Kb2]

Relevant verses by Nikos Pergialis, the last rembetis :
Yia'ssou re Ha'rry Fougiaxi' / me ta voithitika' sou, / ta magika' kopsi'mata / ke ta karfo'mata' sou!
(Hello Harry Fougiaxis) / (with your helpmates), / (the magical capturings) / (and your pinnings)!.

a)
Key : 1 Qb4xc5! (unpins Sb3, bQ will be pinned at the arrival square)
1...Qc2xe4 (pins itself)
2 Sc3-e2 (unpins wQ, pins the previously moved bQ, does not guard a4 anymore)
2...Qe4xa4# (wQ went initially to a square of the file where bK lies, and then delivered mate from the perpendicular row).

b) bPd6-->b5
Key : 1 Re5xd5! (unpins Se4, bR will be pinned at the arrival square)
1...Qc2xc3 (pins itself)
2 Se4-d2 (unpins wQ, pins the previously moved bR, does not guard f6 anymore)
2...Qc3-f6# (wQ went initially to a square of the diagonal where bK lies, and then delivered mate from the perpendicular diagonal).

Nine Studies in Corus 2009

This is an extract from an article by Yochanan Afek (IM) which appeared in Chessbase.

A Chess Studies Solving Contest was organized in 13-02-2009 (Study Day), during a Wijk aan Zee Tourney.
The solvers have tried to solve nine studies in three hours. The studies were difficult enough, created especially for this contest by the composers Jan Timman, Yochanan Afek, Piotr Murdzia, Andjey Jasic, Gady Costeff, Ilham Aliev and Siegfried Hornecker.

Surprising everybody, the first place were conquered (with 36/45) by the eighteen years old Twan Burg, from the small town Schijndel, in Brabant of Holland, leaving the next places for ...
2. John Nunn, 32/45, (English GM, twice world champion in solving),
3. Eddy van Beers, 28/45, (Belgian champion),
4. Dolf Wissmann, 22/45, (GM, champion of Holland),
5. Martin van Essen, 22/45.

The first three solvers have received money prizes, and a special book with studies from Corus-1970 contest was given to everyone.
In the photos of the article you will see the collector Harold van der Heijden giving his collection with 70,000 studies as a prize to Dolf Wissmann.

In the article you will find one of the studies (by Gady Costeff, White plays and draws) of the contest, without its solution, for you to solve.

(Update from ChessBase: The solution is published here, with two more studies). Some more studies and problems from the British solution contest here

Mr Gady Costeff has created special software (Chess Query Language, CQL) allowing searching of themes inside files with games or with studies (as is the collection of Harold van der Heijden mentioned before).

Solving Contest only for skiers

There are sports combining two or more different athletic activities (examples : Biathlon, Pentathlon, Decathlon).
Mr Panagis Sklavounos turned our attention to some alternative possibilities for chess players.

Some tries have been made to combine chess (having mainly mental activity) with other sports (having mainly physical activity), such as "Chess and Boxing" !
(See chess boxing and World Chess Boxing Organization).

The following news announcement describes how was combined (09-02-2009) a two kilometers running through snow in Jefferson County New York, with a Solving Chess Problems Contest.
You start skiing, you stop and solve. After some runnings you reach finish and you have an arrival time. For every correct solution this arrival time is decreased. For each wrong solution this arrival time is increased. If you miss some problem this arrival time is doubly increased.
(See the article of John Kunz in chessbase).

It seems interesting enough. You try to have a healthy mind in a healthy body.

We might replace skiing with running...
	-He is training for the Chess Olympiad! (by Rudolf Sauer from Mannheim)
...and we will put the chessboards every 400 meters
	These boards were actually used in a outdoors solving/running contest in Koropi near Athens.

Blog birthday (1)

Dear readers, dear friends of this blog,
today one year has passed since I have started the blog http://kallitexniko-skaki.blogspot.com (in Greek language), aiming to cover subjects about chess problems, about composers, about solvers, about solving or composing contests, about Greek problemists gatherings, about circulation of relevant books or magazines.

It is true that such a blog (or a book, as a matter of fact), dedicated to chess problems, was missing from Greece. That means I ought to write posts for all subjects, from very simple to very advanced. So, I have presented solved problems from various solving contests, and I wrote many posts explaining the various Themes. (To add more workload, I have translated the posts to English language in the blog http://chess-problems-gr.blogspot.com, and now these two blogs are synchronized).

If you like to estimate the spread of the published subjects, and how many work hours were spent, please see the reference post "Terminology for Problemists". The terminology contains links to posts relevant to the examined term.

Also, there is a reference post "Composers and their Chess Problems" with links to published-in-this-blog problems for each composer. The solutions of 313 problems were presented, problems created by 24 Greek and 178 foreign composers. Many thanks to composers who have published some of their original problems in this blog, (Emmanuel Pantavos, Nikos Pergialis, and others).

Fourteen biographies were presented for the following chess problem composers : Milan Vukcevich, Byron Zappas, Stavros Iatridis, Ioannis Kalkavouras, Genrikh Kasparyan, Sam Loyd, Lorenzo Mabillis, Emmanuel Manolas, Pavlos Mοutecidis, Carlo deGrandi, Nikos Pergialis, Kostas Prentos, Triantafyllos Siaperas, Harry Fougiaxis.

The content of some posts was enhanced with remarks or cooperations by the following persons : Themis Argyrakopoulos, Ioannis Garoufalidis, Spyros Ilandzis, Kostas Prentos, Panagis Sklavounos, Harry Fougiaxis. Thank you all!

This blog is read by many persons each day, but there are very few comments, mainly praising ones. It is nice that I do not receive irrelevant comments, since I have already said that I will remove them, in order to have in the blog material suitable to be read by children.

I believe that I have done remarkable infrastructure work and I thank all who have recognized it publicly (Schroendinger's Cat, Elias Economopoulos, Panagis Sklavounos, and others). I also thank all who have proposed me and have elected me “Member of the Chess Problem Committee” of the Greek Chess Federation.

For 2009, additionally to the usual material, I will try to promote the easy subjects "Problem Composing", "Publication of Problem", and also the very difficult subject "Chess Lessons in Schools".

I wish to you all : health, joy and success!
Manolas Emmanuel (a.k.a. Alkinoos)

Solving Contest 2009-01-25, ISC Categ2 Round2

From ISC 2009 we present the problems of the 2nd Round of the 2nd Category (easy problems, four per round) for you to practice. No Greek solver chose this category. It is always worthwhile to put your abilities to the test.

---

Problems for solving. (The solutions are at the end of this post).

	(Problem 310) A. C. White, Good Companions, 1923 Mate in 2. #2 (7 + 3)
[3R3K/8/5Q2/8/5S2/1B6/2PB4/1qbk4]

	(Problem 311) H. Ahues, Second Prize, Die Schwalbe, 1977 Mate in 2. #2 (8 + 10)
[2q2QB1/4p1R1/2p1S1r1/4pb2/2S5/B1Kp4/P3R3/rk5s]

	(Problem 312) O. Wurzburg, British Chess Magazine, 1896 Mate in 3. #3 (3 + 4)
[8/pk1B4/p7/2K1p3/8/8/4Q3/8]

	(Problem 313) S. Eberle, First Prize, problem, 1960 Helpmate in 2. h#2 (4 + 10)
[B5Rb/8/8/1r6/8/1r1p4/1Q1p2qs/1Ks2b1k]

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The solutions of the problems
With bold writing we include the Points, 5 points for each complete solution.


(Problem 310) A. C. White, (Good Companions, 1923), #2

Tries : [1 Bxc1+? Ke1!], [1 Ba5+? / Bb4+? / Bc3+? Bd2!].

Key : 1 Qf6-a1! (5) (zz) (The wQ half-pins the black pieces and allows the functioning of the two batteries, Pawn-Bishop and Bishop-Rook).
1...Qxa1+ / Bb2+ 2 c3#
1...Qb2+ 2 Bc3#
1...Qxb3 2 Qxc1#
1...Bxd2 2 Qxb1#


(Problem 311) H. Ahues, (Second Prize, Die Schwalbe, 1977), #2

Tries : [1 Qxf5? Sf2!], [1 Sd4? Exd4+!], [1 Sd2+? / Re1+? Kxa2!], [1 Rb2+? Kc1!].
In the next tries White opens the diagonal a2-g8 by lifting Se6, aiming to protect the Pawn in a2 when the Sc4 is also relocated, but Black closes the diagonal putting various pieces on e6. See these defenses after the Key, too.
[1 Sd8? (blocks 2 Qb8) Qe6!],
[1 Sg5? (blocks 2 Rg1) Re6!],
[1 Sf4? (blocks 2 Qf1) Be6!],
[1 Sc5? (blocks 2 Qb4) e6!].

Key : 1 Sc7! (5) ( > 2 Sd2#)
1...Qe6 / Re6 / Be6 / e6 2 Qb8# / Rg1# / Qf1# / Qb4#
1...Rxa2 2 Re1#


(Problem 312) O. Wurzburg, (British Chess Magazine, 1896), #3

Tries : [1 Kd6? Kb6!], [1 Qf1? / Qf3+? / Qc4? / Qb2+? / Qe4+? / Qg2+? Kc7!], [1 Qh5? / Qxe5? A5!], [1 Qxa6+? Kxa6!].

Key : 1 Bh3! (1) ( > 2 Qg4 (1) and 3 Qc8#)
1...a5 2 Qa6+ (3) (sacrifice, for guidance of bK)
___2...Kc7, Kb8, Ka8 3 Qc8#
___2...Kxa6 3 Bc8#


(Problem 313) S. Eberle, (First Prize, problem, 1960), h#2

Key : 1 Kg1! (Changes the diagonal pin to column pin)
1...Ka1 (Changes the column pin to diagonal pin)
___2 Qg7 (the bQ moves on the pin line and pins the wQ)
___2...Qd4# (5) (the wQ moves on the pin line and gives checkmate, despite of being observed by the pinned bQ).

Solving Contest 2009-01-25, ISC categ2 round1

From ISC 2009 we present the problems of the 1st Round of the 2nd Category (easy problems, four per round) for you to practise. (No Greek solver chose this category). It is always worthwhile to put your abilities to the test.

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Problems for solving. (The solutions are at the end of this post).

	(Problem 306) W. A. Shinkman, 1885, Mate in 2. #2 (10 + 2)
[R1B4k/8/3P3S/5K2/3R3P/3P4/2P5/Q6q]

	(Problem 307) H. W. Bettmann, Good Companions, 1923 Mate in 2. #2 (6 + 5)
[br1s4/BkP2s2/2R5/3R4/8/K2B4/8/8]

	(Problem 308) F. Sackmann, 1913, White plays and wins. + (5 + 6)
[7k/8/5PpK/Pp1P2pp/3P4/8/5p2/8]

	(Problem 309) B. Larsson, Second Prize ex aequo, Problem 5. TT 1954, Selfmate in 2. s#2 (5 + 4)
[5Q2/8/8/3S3S/4pBp1/5k2/5p2/5K2]

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The solutions of the problems
With bold writing we include the Points, 5 points for each complete solution.


(Problem 306) W. A. Shinkman, (1885), #2

Try : [1 Rd4-g4+? Qxa1!]

There are two batteries (Rook-Queen and Bishop-Rook) and the black Queen oversees the pieces that can threaten her King, but this overloads her. Meanwhile the white King, since there are unprovided checks (like 1...Qf3+) in the initial position, closes the flights of the bK.

Key : 1 Kg6! (5) ( > 2 Bb7#)
1...Qxa8 2 Rd4-a4#
1...Qc6 2 Rd4-c4#
1...Qd5 2 Rxd5#
1...Qe4+ 2 Rxe4#
1...Qf3 2 Rf4#
1...Qg2+ 2 Rg4#
1...Qxa1 2 Ba6#
1...Qe1 2 Be6#
1...Qf1 2 Bf5#
1...Qg1+ 2 Bg4#
1...Qxh4 2 Rxh4#
1...Qh3? 2 Bxh3,g4,f5,e6,d7# / Rd4-~#


(Problem 307) H. W. Bettmann, (Good Companions, 1923), #2

Tries : [1 c8=Q+? Rxc8!], [1 cxb8=Q+? Kxc6!], [1 Rb6+? Kxc7!].

Key : 1 Rd7! (5) ( > 2 c8=Q# / c8=R# / cxd8=S# / cxb8=S#)
1...Kc8 2 cxd8=Q# / cxd8=R#
1...Rc8 2 cxd8=S#
1...Sxc6 2 cxb8=Q# / cxb8=R#
1...Kxc6 2 cxb8=S#
1...Se6 2 c8=Q#
1...Kxa7 2 c8=S#
1...Se5 2 c8=Q# / cxd8=S#


(Problem 308) F. Sackmann, (1913), +

Black is the first to queen a pawn, but the situation is very difficult.

Key : 1 a6! (1) f1=Q 2 a7
2...Qa1 3 f7 Qa3 4 d6 (1) Qf3 5 d5 Qxf7 6 a8=Q+ Qg8 7 Qa1+ (1) Qg7 8 Qxg7#
2...Kg8 3 a8=Q+ Kf7 4 Qa7,b7+ (1) Kxf6 5 Qg7+ Kf5 6 Qf7+ (1) Ke4 7 Qxf1 +- (or, with reversal of moves, 1 a6! Kg8 2 a7 f1=Q 3 a8=Q+ etc).


(Problem 309) B. Larsson, (Problem 5. TT 1954, Second Prize ex aequo), s#2

Tries : [1 Qa3+? / Qa8? / Qc8? / Sg3? / Sh5-f6? e3!], [1 Qb4? / Se3? g3!].

Key : 1 Sd5-f6! (zz)
1...g3 2 Qa8 (2.5) g2#
1...e3 2 Bg3 (2.5) e2#

Symmetric position with asymmetric solution.

Solving Contest 2009-01-25, ISC Categ1 Round2

The Fifth International Solving Contest (ISC) took place simultaneously in many countries (see announcement and the preliminary results of the Greek solvers).

From ISC 2009 we present the problems of the 2nd Round of the 1st Category (more difficult problems, with international ranking for the solvers) for you to practise.
These problems are really difficult, with many tries to lead you astray, but is always worthwhile to put your abilities to the test.

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Problems for solving. (The solutions are at the end of this post).

	(Problem 300) O. Wielgos, Die Schwalbe 1962 Mate in 2. #2 (10 + 9)
[1rs5/5Q2/2p3pb/2p1P3/3SkP2/5SpP/s1PP4/3B2K1]

	(Problem 301) V. Sichev, Memorial Nabokova 1994, e.E., Mate in 3. #3 (11 + 3)
[7K/1pp3B1/6P1/4R2P/3ppk1P/RS3p1P/2r2P2/b4S1s]

	(Problem 302) V. Pachman, Second Prize, Schach 1959, Mate in 4. #4 (7 + 7)
[5q2/p1B3p1/k1S1B1P1/S7/P5K1/4pp2/1s6/8]

	(Problem 303) S. Hornecker & M. Minski, Original, Problem-Forum 2009, White plays and wins. + (7 + 6)
[8/8/3s2r1/p2Pkr2/7K/4SRp1/7P/6SR]

	(Problem 304) R. Arnold, Original, Helpmate in 5. h#5 (5 + 7)
[1s6/8/1Kp5/4q3/5p2/3p1P2/P1bP4/S3k3]

	(Problem 305) W. A. Shinkman, Pittsburgh Post, 1924, Selfmate in 3. s#3 (7 + 8)
[K1Ss2s1/p1k1P2R/4pB2/2bQ4/8/q7/2R3b1/8]

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The solutions of the problems
With bold writing we include the Points, 5 points for each complete solution.

(Problem 300) O. Wielgos, (Die Schwalbe 1962), #2

Tries : [1 Qf7xg6+? Ke4-d5!], [1 d2-d3+? Ke4-e3!], [1 Sd4-e2? Bh6xf4!], [1 Sd4-e6? Rb8-b5!].

Key : 1 Sd4-f5! (5) ( > 2 Sf5xg3#)
1...g6xf5 2 Qf7-c4#
1...Bh6xf4 2 d2-d3#
1...Ke4xf4 2 Sf5-d6#


(Problem 301) V. Sichev, (Memorial Nabokova 1994, e.E.), #3

Tries : [1 Bg7-h6+? Kf4xe5!], [1 Re5-f5+? Kf4xf5!], [1 Sb3xd4? Ba1xd4!], [1 Sb3-c5? Rc2xc5!], [1 Ra3-a8? Rc2-c6!], [1 Ra3-a5? b7-b5!].

Key : 1 Sb3-d2! ( > 2 Re5xe4+ (0.5) Kf4-f5 3 Ra3xf3#)
1...d4-d3 2 Re5xe4+ (0.5) Kf5 3 Sf1-e3#
1...Ba1-c3 2 Sd2-c4 (1) ( > 3 Bg7-h6#)
1...Rc2-c3 2 Re5-d5 (1) ( > 3 Bg7-h6#)
1...Rc2xd2 2 Ra3-a8 (1) ( > 3 Ra8-f8#)
___2...Sh1-g3 3 f2xg3#
1...e4-e3 2 Ra3xe3 (1) ( > 3 Bg7-h6# / Re3-e4# / Re3xf3#)
___2...Sh1-g3 3 Bg7-h6# / Re3xf3# / f2xg3#
___2...Sh1xf2 3 Bg7-h6# / Re3xf3#
___2...Rc2-c3, Rc2xd2 3 Bg7-h6# / Re3-e4#
___2...d4xe3 3 f2xe3#


(Problem 302) V. Pachman, (Schach 1959, Second Prize), #4

Tries : [1 Bc7-d8? Qf8xd8!], [1 Be6-c4+? Sb2xc4!], [1 Be6-c8+? Qf8xc8+!], [1 Sc6-b4+? Qf8xb4+!], [1 Sc6-d8? Qf8-b4+!], [1 Sc6-b8+? Qf8xb8!], [1 Kg4-h4? Qf8-f4+!], [1 Kg4-g5? Qf8-c5+!], [1 Kg4-g3? Qf8-d6+!].

Key : 1 Kg4-h3! ( > 2 Sc6-b4+ Qf8xb4 3 Be6-c8+ (2) Qb4-b7 4 Bc8xb7#) (the bQ is overloaded, because must focus her attention on b4, b8 and c8)
1...Qf8-h8+
___2 Kh3-g3 ( > 3 Sc6-b4#)
___2...Qh8-b8? 3 Sc6xb8#
___2...Sb2-d3 / Sb2xa4 3 Be6-c4#
___2...Qh8-h2+
______3 Kg3xh2 ( > 4 Be6-c8# / Sc6-b4# / Sc6-b8#)
______3...Sb2-d3 4 Be6-c4# / Be6-c8# / Sc6-b8#
______3...Sb2xa4 4 Be6-c4#
___2...Qh8-h3+
______3 Kg3xh3 ( > 4 Be6-c8# / Sc6-b4# / Sc6-b8#)
______3...Sb2-d3 4 Be6-c4# / Be6-c8# / Sc6-b8#
______3...Sb2xa4 4 Be6-c4#
___2...Qh8-h4+
______3 Kg3xh4 ( > 4 Be6-c8# / Sc6-b4# / Sc6-b8#)
______3...Sb2-d3 4 Be6-c4# / Be6-c8# / Sc6-b8#
______3...Sb2xa4 4 Be6-c4#
___2...Qh8-f8 3 Be6-c8+ (3) Qf8xc8 4 Sc6-b4#


(Problem 303) S. Hornecker & M. Minski, (Original, Problem-Forum 2009), +

Key : 1 Sg4+! (1) (not 1 Rxf5? Sxf5+! 2 Sxf5 Kxf5 3 Sf3 gxh2 4 Sxh2 Ke4 5 Rd1 Rd6 6 Sg4 a4 7 Kg3 a3 8 Kf2 a2 = ,
nor 1 hxg3? Rxf3 2 Sxf3+ Ke4 = ,
nor 1 Rxg3? Rh6+! 2 Kg4 Rf4+ 3 Kg5 Sf7#)
1...Rxg4+
2 Kxg4 Rg5+
3 Kxg5 (1) Se4+
4 Kg4 g2
5 Rf1 (2) gxh1=Q
6 Sf3+ Kxd5
7 Rxh1 Sf2+
8 Kg3 Sxh1+
9 Kg2 Kc4
(not 9...a4 10 Sd2 a3 11 Sb1 a2 12 Se3+ +- )
10 Sd2+ (1) Kc3
11 h4 +-


(Problem 304) R. Arnold, (Original), h#5

Key : 1 c5! (makes room for the bS in the fifth move) Kb5
2 Qb2+ (the bQ has passed over the critical square c3) Kxc5
3 Kxd2 (this must happen before the movement of the wS) Sb3+
4 Kc3 (opens the d2 for the wS) Sd2
5 Sc6 (unique waiting move) Se4# (5)


(Problem 305) W. A. Shinkman, (Pittsburgh Post, 1924), s#3

Tries : [1 e8=Q+? / e8=S+? / e8=R+? / exd8=B+? / exd8=S+? / Be5+? Kxc8!], [1 exd8=R+? Se7!], [1 Qb7+? Sxb7!].

Key : 1 Rh8! ( > 2 exd8=B+ Kxc8 3 Qc6+ / Qb7+ (0.5) Bxc6# / Bxb7#)
1...exd5 2 exd8=Q+ Kc6 3 Sxa7+ (1) Qxa7#
1...Kxc8 2 exd8=R+ Kc7 3 Qb7+ (1) Bxb7#
1...Sc6 2 e8=S+ Kxc8 3 Qxc6+ (1) Bxc6#
(the problem is an Allumwandlung, since it shows the four promotions)
1...Sxe7 2 Be5+ Kxc8 3 Qb7+ (1) Bxb7#
1...Bf1, Bh3 2 Qxd8+ Kc6 3 Sxa7+ (0.5) Qxa7#

Solving Contest 2009-01-25, ISC categ1 round1

The Fifth International Solving Contest (ISC) took place simultaneously in many countries (see announcement and the preliminary results of the Greek solvers).

From ISC 2009 we present the problems of the 1st Round of the 1st Category (more difficult problems, with international ranking for the solvers) for you to try your hand.
These problems are really difficult, with many tries to lead you astray, but is always worthwhile to put your abilities to the test.

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Problems for solving. (The solutions are at the end of this post).

	(Problem 294) A. Makanzie, First Prize, Mirror of American sports, 1886 Mate in 2. #2 (12 + 10)
[q6B/2sPS2b/1P3Rp1/2S1k1p1/1P4B1/3Prr2/4pP2/b1Q1K3]

	(Problem 295) J. Pospisil, Humoristicke listy, 1887 Mate in 3. #3 (6 + 6)
[K7/2B5/p2p4/1Pk1s3/Q7/p3S3/2B5/1s6]

	(Problem 296) G. Bluhm, Fifth Prize, Foerderungsturnier des DSV, 1961 Mate in 6. #6 (7 + 7)
[8/sS3p2/2p5/8/2pk1P2/P1Sp3R/3B1b2/7K]

	(Problem 297) W. A. Bron, Shakmatny listok 1928, Lob White plays and draws. = (3 + 5)
[3b4/8/2b5/6B1/2p3R1/8/p2K3k/8]

	(Problem 298) P. A. Petkov, feenschach, 2003 Helpmate in 3 moves. Three solutions. h#3 3.1.1.1.1.1 (6 + 7)
[K7/3p4/3P2p1/6pB/5k2/3p2S1/3Ppp1B/8]

	(Problem 299) V. Nikoletic, Sahovski Glasnik 1989, Lob Selfmate in 5 moves. s#5 (14 + 10)
[b3B2B/4pS2/1Rs1k3/PQ3SpP/1p2spP1/2p2K2/r2PRPP1/8]

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The solutions of the problems
With bold writing we include the Points, 5 points for each complete solution.

(Problem 294) A. Makanzie, (First Prize, Mirror of American sports, 1886), #2

Tries : [1 Se7-c6+? Qa8xc6!], [1 Se7xg6+? Bh7xg6!], [1 Rf6-f5+? Ke5-d6!], [1 Rf6-e6+? Ke5-f4!], [1 d3-d4+? Ba1xd4!], [1 Qc1xe3+? Rf3xe3!], [1 Qc1-b2+? Ba1xb2!], [1 Qc1xa1+? Qa8xa1+!], [1 Qc1-c3+? Ba1xc3+!].

Key : 1 Sc5-b7! (zz) (5)
1...Sc7-b5 / Sc7-e8 2 Qc1-c5#
1...Sc7-a6 / Qa8xb7 / Qa8-~8 2 Qc1xa1#
1...Sc7-d5 2 Se7-c6#
1...Sc7-e6 2 Rf6-f5#
1...Ba1-d4 2 Qc1xc7#
1...Ba1-c3+ 2 Qc1xc3#
1...Ba1-b2 2 Qc1xb2#
1...Re3xd3 / Re3-e4 / Rf3-f4 2 Rf6-e6#
1...Rf3xf2 / Rf3xf6 / Rf3-f5 2 Qc1xe3#
1...Rf3-h3 / Rf3-g3 2 Rf6-f8#
1...Ke5-d4 2 Rf6-d6#
1...Bh7-g8 / Qa8-a~ 2 Rf6xf3#

Nine tries, and after the key we see twelve different mating nets.


(Problem 295) J. Pospisil, (Humoristicke listy, 1887), #3

Tries : [1 Ka8-b7? d6-d5!], [1 Bc7-a5? a6xb5!], [1 Bc7-b6+? Kc5xb6!], [1 Bc7xd6+? Kc5xd6!], [1 b5xa6? Sb1-c3!], [1 Qa4xa3+? Sb1xa3!], [1 Qa4-d4+? Kc5xd4!], [1 Qa4-c4+? Se5xc4!], [1 Qa4-b4+? Kc5xb4!].

Key : 1 Bc7-d8! ( > 2 Ka8-b7 (1) and 3 Bd8-b6#, and if 2...Se5-c4 / Se5-d7 / d6-d5 3 Qa4xc4# / Qa4-c4# / Bd8-e7#)
1...Sb1-d2 2 Qa4xa3+ (1) Kc5xb5 / Kc5-d4 3 Bc2-a4# / Bd8-b6#
1...Sb1-c3 2 Qa4-d4+ (1) Kc5xb5 / Kc5xd4 3 Qd4-b6# / Bd8-b6#
1...a6xb5 2 Qa4-a7+ (1) Kc5-c6 / Kc5-b4 3 Qa7-c7# / Bd8-a5#
1...d6-d5 2 Bd8-e7+ (1) Kc5-b6 3 Se3xd5#


(Problem 296) G. Bluhm, (First Prize, Foerderungsturnier des DSV, 1961), #6

Try : [1 Rh3-e3? Bf2xe3!].

Key : 1 Rh3-h8! ( > 2 Rh8-d8#)
1...Sa7-b5 / Sa7-c8 2 Rh8-d8+ Sb5-d6 / Sc8-d6 3 Rd8xd6#
1...Bf2-h4 2 Rh8-e8 ( > 3 Re8-e4#)
___2...Bh4-e7 3 Re8xe7 ( > 4 Re7-e4# / Re7-d7#)
______3...Sa7-b5 / Sa7-c8 4.Re7-e4#
______3...f7-f5 4.Re7-d7#
___2...f7-f5 3 Re8-e6 ( > 4 Re6-d6#)
______3...Bh4-e7 4 Re6xe7 ( > 5 Re7-d7#)
_________4...Sa7-b5 / Sa7-c8 5 Re7-d7+ (1) Sb5-d6 / Sc8-d6 6 Rd7xd6#
______3...Sa7-b5 / Sa7-c8 4 Re6-d6+ Sb5xd6 / Sc8xd6 5 Sb7-c5 (4) ( > 6 Sc5-e6#)
____________5...Kd4xc5 6 Bd2-e3#


(Problem 297) W. A. Bron, (Shakmatny listok 1928, Lob), =

Key : 1 Bf4+! Kh1 (not 1...Kh3? 2 Rg3+ Kh4 3 Ra3 =)
2 Be5 (1) c3+ (not 2 Ba5+ 3 Ke2! c3 4 Rh4+ Kg2 5 Rg4+ Kh3 6 Rg3+ Kh4 7 Rxc3 a1=Q 8 Rc4+ K~ 9 Bxa1 =)
3 Bxc3 Ba5
4 Rh4+ Kg2 (check until bK goes on black square, else draw with triple repetition of the position)
5 Rg4+ (1) Kf1 (not 5 Rxa4? Bxa4 6 Kc1 Bb4! 7 B~ Ba3+ -+)
(There are points for this continuation : 5 Rg4+ (1) Kh2 6 Ra4 (1) ... 9 Kb2 (1) =)
6 Rf4+ Kg2
7 Rg4+ Kh2
8 Ra4 (1) Bxa4
9 Kc1 (1) Bb4
10 Be5+ K~
11 Kb2 (1) =


(Problem 298) P. A. Petkov, (feenschach, 2003), h#3 3.1.1.1.1.1

Key : 1 g4! Sf5+ 2 Ke4 Bxg6 3 Kf3 Sh4#
Key : 1 e1=S! Bd1 2 Sg2 Se2+ 3 Kf3 Sc3#
Key : 1 e1=R! Bg1 2 Re4 Sf5 3 gxf5 Bh2#

(1 solution = 1,5 points / 2 solutions = 3 points / 3 solutions = 5 points).


(Problem 299) V. Nikoletic, (Sahovski Glasnik 1989, Lob), s#5

Set play : 1...Ra4
2 Qc5 ( > 3 Qxe7+ Kd5 4 Qxe4+ Kc5 5 Qd4+ Sxd4#)
2...b3 3 Rxc6+ Bxc6 4 Sg7+ Kf6 5 Qxg5+ Sxg5#

Tries : [1 Rxc6+? / Qxc6+? Bxc6!], [1 Sg7+? Kf6!], [1 Qxb4? / Qc5? Rxd2!], [1 Qd5+? Kxd5!].

Key : 1 Qd3! ( > 2 Sg7+ Kf6 3 Qd4+ e5 4 Sf5+ Ke6 5 Sxg5+ (1) Sxg5#)
1...Rxa5 2 Rxe4+ Re5 3 Qd5+ Kxd5 4 Rb5+ Ke6 5 Sd4+ (2) Sxd4#
1...Rxd2 2 Sd4+ Kd5 3 Rb5+ Sc5 4 Rxc5+ Kxc5 5 Re5+ (2) Sxe5#