Theme Stavrinides

The composer Alkis Stavrinides was born in Cyprus in 1947 and lives in the United Kingdom since 1967.
Byron Zappas writes in his book that he has cooperated with mr Stavrinides.
I have found in the Internet some problems by Stavrinides, which have presented the Theme Stavrinides around 1968.

Theme Stavrinides : The (compact algebraic) notation of white and black moves shows circular transposition. Theme shown in one phase : 1. K!, 1...Aaa 2. Bbb#, 1...Bbb 2. Ccc#, 1...Ccc 2. Aaa# Theme shown in tries : 1. Aaa? Bbb!, 1. Bbb? Ccc!, 1. Ccc? Aaa!

Let us see now some problems presenting the Theme Stavrinides.

	(Problem 325) A. Stavrinides, British Chess Problemists Society (BCPS), 1968 Mate in 2. #2 ( 8 + 7 )
[1SRB4/p2KP3/Q1S5/2kp4/2p5/2qP4/s2b4/8]

Tries : [1. Bb6+? / Qb6+ axb6!], [1. Sd4+? Kxd4!], [1. Qb5+? Kxb5!], [1. Qxa7+? Kb5!], [1. Qa5+? Qxa5!], [1. d4+? Qxd4!].

Key : 1. Qa4! ( > 2. Sa6#)
Watch now the cyclic transposition in the three variations :
1...Sb4 2. Qa5#
1...Qa5 2. d4#
1...d4 2. Sb4#

	(Problem 326) A. Stavrinides, Probleemblad, 1969 Mate in 2. #2 ( 6 + 5 )
[4Q3/8/3p2K1/5S2/4pkp1/8/4PqP1/B7]

A nice Meredith with cyclic transposition of the theme in four variations :

Tries : [1. Qxe4+? Kxe4!], [1. Qe5+? dxe5!], [1. Be5+? dxe5!], [1. Qe6? / Bg7? / Bf6? g3!], [1. Qe7? e3!], [1. g3+? / e3+? Qxe3!].

Key : 1. Qh8! ( > 2. Qh6#)
1...Qh4 2. e3#
1...e3 2. Qd4#
1...Qd4 2. g3#
1...g3 2. Qh4#

	(Problem 327) M. Stosic, Arbeijder Skak, 1970, Mate in 2. #2 ( 13 + 9 )
[1S2K3/3R4/Bp2PP1P/1pkp2BR/b7/P2P4/1P1bS1s1/2q2r2]

Tries : [1. Rxd5+? Kxd5!], [1. Rc7+? Kd6!], [1. Bb7? b4!], [1. Bxd2? Qc4!], [1. Be3+? Sxe3!], [1. Bf4? Sxf4!], [1. d4+? Kc4!], [1. b4+? Bxb4!].

Key : 1. Ke7! ( > 2. Rc7#)
1...b4 2. d4
1...d4 2. Bf4
1...Bf4 2. b4

	(Problem 328) Jozef Taraba, Europe Echecs, 1975, Mate in 2. #2 ( 9 + 6 )
[8/2Bp1R2/5S1K/Q1S1pkp1/1Rb5/2s3P1/1p2P3/8]

Tries : [1. Sd5+? / Sh5+? / Sh7+? / Sg8+? / Se8+? / Sxd7+? Kg4!], [1. Se6? Kxe6!], [1. Rxc4? Se4!], [1. e4+? Sxe4!], [1. g4+? Kf4!], [1. e3? Bxf7!].

Key : 1. Qa8! ( > 2. Qf3#)
1...Sxe2 2. Qe4#
1...Se4 2. Qxe4#
1...Bxe2 2. Sf6-d5,g4,h5,h7,g8,e8,d7#
1...Bd5 2. Sxd5# / 2. g4# (dual)
1...d5 2. Qc8#
and the three thematic variations...
1...Sd5 2. e4#
1...e4 2. g4#
1...g4 2. Sd5#

	(Problem 329) W. Piltschenko, Themes 64, Jan-March 1981, Mate in 2. #2 ( 12 + 4 )
[8/1K6/6P1/1Sk2B2/P2RPr2/2S2P2/2b2sQ1/2R3B1]

Tries : [1. Rc4+? Kxc4!], [1. Rxc2? Rxf3!].

Key : 1. Qg5! ( > 2. Qe7#)
Here the three thematic variations show black and white captures on the same square.
1...Bxe4+ 2. Sxe4#
1...Sxe4 2. Rxe4#
1...Rxe4 2. Bxe4#

	(Problem 330) Vaclav Kotesovec, First Honourable Mention, Probleemblad, 2002-3, Mate in 2. #2 ( 7 + 9 ) Grasshoppers ( 4 + 5 )
[gK6/8/3p2q1/3pg3/G2p3g/R2G4/Gg5R/k1G5]

Tries : [1. Ga2-c2+? Ga8xa3!], [1. Kb8xa8? Ka1-b1!].

Key : 1. Rh1! (zugzwang).
1...Ga8xa3 2. Gc1xa3#
1...Ga8-e4 2. Ga2-c2#
1...Ka1-b1 2. Gc1-a1#
And now we see the Theme Stavrinides with circular transposition in seven variations.
1...Gg6-c2 (Gc2) 2. Gc1-c3# (Gc3)
1...Ge5-c3 (Gc3) 2. Gc1-c4# (Gc4)
1...Gh4-c4 (Gc4) 2. Gc1-c5# (Gc5)
1...Ge5-c5 (Gc5) 2. Gc1-c6# (Gc6)
1...Gg6-c6 (Gc6) 2. Gc1-c7# (Gc7)
1...Ge5-c7 (Gc7) 2. Gc1-c8# (Gc8)
1...Ga8-c8 (Gc8) 2. Ga2-c2# (Gc2)

Composition Contest 1979 : Theme Bikos

Spyros Bikos was born 1911-08-22 in Pyrgos of Ilia, Greece. He died in 1987.
In 1955, as newspaperman became member of the Union of the Owners of Periodical Press. He was editor and director of the magazine [To Mat] (January 1952 – December 1965).
In the period 1954 – 1968 he was member of the Greek Chess Federation, and he served there as General Secretary from 1961 thru 1965.
He was General Secretary of the Helioupolis Chess Club from 1974 thru 1975. To honour him, there is a Spyros Bikos street in Helioupolis (in Athens), there is the "Chess Club Spyros Bikos" and a yearly event between teams : the "Spyros Bikos Cup".
He was fond of Chess Composition and he had many distinctions in International Contests. In Olympiad of Nice, in 1974, he cooperated with Dimitris Kapralos and they were awarded with the silver and the bronze medal (second and third place). He has invented the Theme Bikos (In one phase, in one variation a self-block is exploited and in another variation the moving piece is captured. In another phase, the same two defenses have reciprocal continuation ). For this theme a composition contest was organized in Holland, in 1948, having as judge the Hollander G. Seilberger.

In Greece, an International Thematic Composition Contest with [Theme Bikos] was held in 1979. Among the organizers were Bikos, Lyris, Goussopoulos and judge was Pavlos Mutecidis, International FIDE judge. There were 75 entries from various countries.
The following distinctions were awarded :
01 First Prize : Hrvoje (Vojko) Bartolovic, (Yugoslavia)
02 Second Prize : J. Savournin (France)
03 Third Prize : R. Notaro (Italy)
04 Fourth Prize : Z. Janevski (Yugoslavia)
05 First Honourable Mention ex aequo : Byron Zappas (Greece)
06 First Honourable Mention ex aequo : Val. Lider (USSR)
07 Prize out of competition : Byron Zappas (Greece)
08 First Special Prize : Byron Zappas (Greece)
09 Second Honourable Mention : D. Joffart (France)
10 Third Honourable Mention : G. Doukhan (France)
11 Fourth Honourable Mention : R. Bedoni (France)
12 Fifth Honourable Mention : Y. Spiees (France)
13 Sixth Honourable Mention : J. Hartong (Holland)
14 Seventh Honourable Mention : R. Savarini (Italy)
15 Commendation : Dimitris Goussopoulos (Greece)
16 Commendation : An. Piatesi (Italy)
17 Commendation : Y. Spiees (France)
18 Commendation : J. C. Van Gool (Holland)
19 Commendation : Dimitris Goussopoulos (Greece)
20 Commendation : R. Bedoni (France)

	(Problem 324) Vojko Bartolovic, First Prize TT [Bikos], Athens, 1979 Version by Herbert Ahues Mate in 2. #2 ( 9 + 10 )
[1KBR4/2S4s/6p1/2P1p2S/R1s1k3/6Q1/1B3p1r/4rq1b]

First Phase, Try 1. Rf8? (oversees f5, > 2. Bb7# )
1...Re3 (a) (blocks e3) 2. Qxg6# (A)
1...Qd3 (b) (blocks d3) 2. Qxe5# (B)
1...Bf3 (c) 2. Qxf3# (C) (captures f3)
1...Sf6 / Sxf8 2. S(x)f6#
but 1...Rd1!

Second Phase, Try 1. Sb5? ( > 2. Sc3# )
1...Re3 (a) (blocks e3) 2. Qg4# (D)
1...Qd3 (b) 2. Qxd3# (E) (captures d3)
1...Bf3 (c) (blocks f3) 2. Qxe5# (B)
but 1...Rc1!

Third Phase, Key : 1. Sd5! ( > 2. Sc3# )
1...Re3 (a) 2. Qxe3# (F) (captures e3)
1...Qd3 (b) (blocks d3) 2. Qg4# (D)
1...Bf3 (c) (blocks f3) 2. Qxg6# (A)
1...Rc1 2. Qe3#

We see that Bartolovic, the great Croatian composer (GM, 15-06-1932, 03-11-2005), has created a Zagoruyko frame 3x3. In three phases, the same three defenses (a, b, c) are answered with different mates (ADF, BED, CBA).
Furthermore, after the defenses (a, b, c) we see in the three phases cyclic change of theme Bikos, where in each phase two of the defenses selfblock one flight of the King while the third defense is answered with capture of the defending piece.

Notes :
1) The initial Bartolovic problem [2BR1b2/2S1p2s/K5p1/4p3/R1s1k3/6QS/1B3p1r/4rq1b ( 8 + 12 ) ] had small defects and needed the correction by Ahues, in order to be saved.
2) The correction by Ahues and other details were gathered by the IM Harry Fougiaxis.
3) The leaflet with the Judgement, was given to me by Mr. Takis Drepaniotis during a New Year 2009 festivity in Chess Club of Kallithea.

Special dedication

Nikos Pergialis, the last rembetis (popular song composer and performer), writes :

I dedicate one of my best problems to the friend of Rembetiko song Manolas Manolis, excellent composer and analyst, together with some verses...

Ston kafene' tou Manola' // ka'pnize o Ma'vros ton loula' // ki e'kane fassari'a //
ke o Mano'lis Manolas' // tsi'likos ke palikaras' // ton e'kopse sta tri'a.
(In the coffee-house of Manolas // the Black was smoking houkah // and was making fuss //
so Mano'lis Manolas' // fresh from the mint and brave // cut him in three).

Notes : Cut him in three, because the problem has three solutions!
Some of the words remind me a song by Markos Vamvakaris, back in 1936.

	(Problem 323) Nikos Pergialis, original, 2007,(dedicated to Manolas), Helpmate in 2. Three solutions. h#2 3.1.1.1 ( 4 + 2 )
[8/8/2S5/8/k7/2R5/2p5/KB6]

Key : 1. cxb1=R+! Ka2 2. Rb5 Ra3#
Key : 1. cxb1=S! Rb3 2. Sa3 Rb4#
Key : 1. c1=B! Rc5 2. Ba3 Bc2#

A three-mover as a problem for Arbiters

The problem of this post has a postulation [White plays and mates in 3 moves].
The composer Nikita Plaksin has produced more than 50 similar works of art with retroanalysis.
See here.
The solution is published in many places of the web, but please refrain from searching for it right away.

Suppose that you observe the position of a chess game.
Someone has whispered to you that White can mate in three moves.
By simple examination you see that there is an easy mate in two moves :
first the Queen checks and then the Rook gives the final blow (let say [1. Qf1+ Kxh2 2. Rh3#] ).

1) Why can not the Queen give check in the first move, and drive the White to an easy win?
2) What will the Black ask from the Arbiter after the check by the Queen in the first move?
3) Which are the correct three moves for the solution of this problem?

	(Problem 322) Nikita Plaksin, 1st and 2nd prize, Die Schwalbe, 1971 Dedicated to Dr K. Fabel Mate in 3. #3 retro ( 15 + 14 )
[1b1K3s/2pppprp/1p4p1/1p6/b1P2B2/RP2P1R1/r1PPQPPP/SB5k]

The solution follows. If you can solve the problem without seeing the solution, send a comment stating your solution.

	(Sketch for Problem 322)
[rb5s/2pppp1p/1p4p1/1p5Q/bkP3K1/4P1R1/BPPP1PPP/SrB4R]

We start from a position (see the sketch exactly above and the source here) which can be reached from the initial placement of the pieces without special difficulty. The black Rook can go to b1, the black King can come out in the middle, the black Knight can leave from g8 allowing the other Rook to move to a8, then the black Bishop returns to b8 and the Pawn moves b7-b6, and the Knight goes to h8 and the Pawn moves g7-g6. Similarly with the white pieces, the white Rook goes from a1 to g3 and then the black Rook can reach b1, etc..
Now we show the moves from the last move of a Pawn (allowing the passage of the black King) and on :

1. b3 Ra7 2. Bb2 Rf1 3. Be5 Ka3 4. Bd6+ Kb2 5. Rg1 Kc1
6. Rh1 Kd1 7. Rg1 Ke2 8. Rh1 Rb1 9. Rg1 Rb2 10. Bb1 Ra2
11. Rh1 Ra3 12. Ba2 Ra8 13. Rb1 Ra7 14. Rb2 Kf1 15. Kf3 Kg1
16. Ke2 Kh1 17. Kf1 Ra8 18. Rb1 Ra7 19. Re1 Ra8 20. Re2 Ra7
21. Ke1 Ra8 22. Kd1 Ra7 23. Kc1 Ra8 24. Kb2 Ra7 25. Bb1 Ra2+
26. Kc3 Rb2 27. Ba2 Rb1 28. Kd3 Rf1 29. Ke4 Ra8 30. Kf4 Ra7
31. Kg5 Ra8 32. Kh6 Ra7 33. Kg7 Ra8 34. Kf8 Ra7 35. Ke8 Ra6
36. Kd8 Ra8 37. Kc8 Ba7+ 38. Kb7 Rg8 39. Re1 Rg7 40. Rb1 Rg1
41. Rb2 Rf1 42. Bb1 Re1 43. Ra2 Bb8 44. Ra3 Kg1 45. Ba2 Rb1
46. Kc8 Rb2 47. Bb1 Ra2 48. Kd8 Rb2 49. Qe2 Ra2 50. Bf4 Kh1

So, the last move of a pawn (or a capture) was the move [1. b3], at least 49.5 moves ago. Black is ready to use the 50-moves rule! (See FIDE rules, articles 5(e), 9.2).

The correct solution to the Problem-322 by Plaksin is :

Key : 1. Rxg6! (the capture interrupts the series of the 50 moves) Rg8+
2. Rxg8 Sg6
3. Qf1#

A study by Gallischek

The study that we present today (which can also be found elsewhere) is a composition by Otto Gallischek. The German composer (03.Feb.1925 - 09.May.1967) is not with us anymore, but his artistic work still remains.

	(Problem 321) Otto Gallischek, White plays and wins. + ( 10 + 3 )
[k7/1pP5/1P6/8/8/K4rSQ/1SRRBB2/8 ]

Notice that the white King is in check. The solution is very amusing.

Key : 1. Bd3! Rxd3+
2. Rc3 Rxc3+
3. Ka2 Ra3+
4. Kb1 Ra1+
5. Kc2 Rc1+
6. Kd3 Rc3+
7. Ke2 Re3+
8. Kf1 Re1+
9. Kg2 Rg1+
10. Kf3 Rxg3+ (the Knight has left the third row...)
11. Ke2 Re3+
12. Kd1 Re1+
13. Kc2 Rc1+
14. Kb3 Rc3+ (if 14...Rxc7 15. Rd8+ Rc8 16. Rxc8#)
15. Ka2 Ra3+ (exactly as in the third move, but...)
16. Qxa3#

Problems by Greek composers

Today we present problems by Greek composers. Problems several decades old.

	(Problem 317) Spyros Bikos, Commendation, International Tourney Holland 1946, Mate in 2. #2 ( 11 + 5 )
[2K4s/5p1R/5P2/4Sk2/Q4P1P/1BB1p2p/4P2P/8]

The problem-317 by the journalist Spyros Bikos is the first Greek problem that had got a distinction in an international contest, back in 1946. Today the name of the composer is given to a street in Helioupolis Athens Greece, and also to a yearly contest of OTB chess.

Tries : [1. Rh5+? / Rxh8? / Bc2+? Kxf6!], [1. Sg4? Kxg4!], [1. Qe4+? Kxe4!], [1. Rh6? / Qc6? / Sd3? Sg6!], [1. Sxf7? Sxf7!].

Key : 1. Sc4! (zugzwang). The key removes a flight and offers five flights!
1...Ke6 2. Qd7#
1...Kg6 2. Bc2#
1...Kg4 / Sg6 2. Sxe3#
1...Kxf4 / Ke4 2. Sd6#

	(Problem 318) Emmanuel Emmanouilidis, magazine "Skakistis", 02/1970, Mate in 4. #4 ( 8 + 4 )
[8/8/5S2/4P3/7k/r2R3B/2p3PP/b1B3K1]

The problem-318 by mr Emmanouilidis was published in the chess magazine [Skakistis] (= chess player), February 1970.

Tries : [1. Bh3-c8,d7,e6,f5,g4? Rxd3!], [1. Rd7? Ra7!], [1. Rxa3? / Rd4+? B(x)d4+!], [1. g3+? Kxh3!], [1. Bg5+? Kxg5!].

Key : 1. Rd8! ( > 2. Rh8#)
1...Ra8 2. Bc8 ( > 3. Rh8# / g3#) (The black Rook is forced to change file and then block the black Bishop)
__2...Rxc8 3. Rd3 ( > 4. Rh3#)
____3...Bd4+ 4. Rxd4# (This was always possible...)
____3...Rc3 4. Rd4# (...but this is brand new).
1...Re3 2. Bxe3 ( > 3. Rh8#)
__2...c1=Q/Ρ+ 3. Bxc1 ( > 4. Rh8#)
____3...Bd4+ 4. Rxd4#

	(Problem 319) Vassilios Lyris, 6th place 2nd Commendation, Thematic Tourney Budapest, 1970 Helpmate in 2. Two solutions. h#2 2.1.1.1 ( 4 + 12 )
[8/p4p2/k7/3b3R/pr3pB1/8/p2R4/1r2bKsq]

The problem-319 by the engineer Vassilios Lyris was awarded with second Commendation in the Thematic Tourney of Budapest, 1970. In the initial position four black line-pieces are focusing on b7.
The theme is the exchange of roles for two white pieces and two black pieces, in the two solutions. The pairs here are (black Rb4 and Bd5), (white Rd2 and Bg4).

Key : 1. Rb4-b2! (The bRb4 goes near the bRb1).
1...Bf3 (The wBg4 (which gives mate in the other solution) blocks the bQ)
__2. Bb3 (The bBd5 blocks the bR which had just moved).
__2...Rd6# (The wRd2 mates).

Key : 1. Bf3! (The bBd5 goes near the bQh1).
1...Rb2 (The wRd2 (which gives mate in the other solution) blocks the bR).
__2. Re4 (The bRb4 blocks the bB which had just moved).
__2...Bc8# (The wΒg4 mates).

	(Problem 320) Ioannis Giampanis, "Skakistis", 04/1972 Mat in 2 #2 ( 7 + 4 )
[6B1/6K1/2p2Rp1/2P1k1p1/6P1/5P2/5B2/8]

The problem-320 by the police officer Ioannis Giampanis was published in the chess magazine [Skakistis] in April 1972.

Tries : [1. Bh7? / Kf7? Kd5!], [1. Be1? / Bg3+? / Bd4+? K(x)d4!], [1. Rxc6? / Rd6? / Rxg6? / Re6+? Kf4!], [1. Rf7? Ke6!], [1. Kh8? / Kh7? / Kh6? Kxf6!], [1. Rf5+? Gxf5!].

Key : 1. Kf8! (zugzwang).
1...Kxf6 2. Bd4#