(Update 12.02.2011)
Final results from Greece (A from Athens, P from Patras) for the seventh International Solving Competition :
First Category
A 01. Fougiaxis Harry 27.5/60 (235' minutes)
A 02. Manolas Emmanuel 14.5 (240')
P 03. Spyropoulos Giorgos 11.5 (152')
P 04. Betsos Titos 11.5 (237')
P 05. Spiliadis Athanasios 6.0 (240')
A 06. Petridis Evangelos 6.0 (240')
P 07. Mauromati Aggeliki 5.0 (210')
P 08. Lefteriotis Emilios 5.0 (230')
P 09. Kotrotsos Nikodimos 5.0 (230')
P 10. Athanasopoulos Kyriakos 5.0 (232')
P 11. Stamatopoulos Giorgos 5.0 (233')
P 12. Iliopoulos Alexis (240')
See a post, with problems and solutions, by Tassos Alexandrou from Patras here.
Our friend Alotan sent a link http://www.matplus.net/pub/isc.php?px=1295891472, where Mr Velimirovic in the Mat Plus forum presents nicely problems, solutions and statistics. Leading solver in the world is Mr John Nunn (ELO 2773).
From Greece, leading in the first category (No.92 in the world ladder) is Mr Harry Fougiaxis (ELO 2084).
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Best Study for 1988
Today we will see the study, which was chosen as Best for the year 1988 by the Studies Subcommittee of the PCCC (Permanent Commission of Fide for Chess Composition), which has evolved in 2010 to WFCC (World Federation for Chess Composition).
[Study of the Year 1988] is a study by Maksimovskikh A. and Dolgov V., in which White has the opportunity to lead Black into a certain position, leaving en prise his pieces.
Study of the year 1988.
Here follows the solution (with comments by Themis Argirakopoulos) ...
(The game will be oriented to the promotion of the pawn or to the possible avoidance of the promotion. So we start with ...)
Key : 1.f7+! (and if 1...Rd8 then 2.Be6 and the the conversation is very short. That brings ...)
1...Rf6
2.Be6 (from where it keeps the pawn in the game and, threatening promotion, protects itself. The big problem of Black is the promotion - not the white bishop, thus he will try to push it away from defending the pawn, at any cost ...)
2...Bf5 (Without the danger to be tangled in aimless moves and transformations of the position, the White answers ...)
3.Rd8+ (If now 3...Kc5 4.Rd5+ and the superiority of white powers will simplify the situation, i.e. 4...Kc4 5.Rxf5+ Rxe6 6.f8=Q . If 3...Ke5 then 4.Bc4 Be4 5.f8=Q Rxf8 6.Rxf8 Kd4 7.Rf4 and White wins. Just a little better is the defense ...)
3...Kc3 (but white has got the squares (a2 or d5) to move his bishop, with the idea to promote the pawn to queen, exchange this queen with the black rook and, at the same time, to be able to capture with his rook the black bishop avoiding the [K+R vs K+B] ending, which is stalemate, with the exception of the black king being in the wrong corner. Let us continue with ...).
4.Bd5 Be4 (with the same pressing on the white bishop, aiming to the capture of the pawn. Then ...)
5.Rc8+ Kb2 (5...Kd4 is no better, since we can easily bring the same picture with the promotion f8=Q, i.e. 6.Bb3 Bd3 7.f8=Q . White continues with check ...)
6.Rb8+ (and if the king returns towards the center with 6...Kc3 then 7.Be6 Bf5 8.Ba2 and the chase with the bishops can not be continued, and we have the usual threats of the White. To the corner, then, with ...)
6...Ka1
7.Rb6 (What can Black capture now and not be disappointed? 7...Rxb6 8.f8=Q with easy win for the White, or 7...Rxf7 8.Bxf7 similarly, or 7...Rf5 8.Bb3 Rf3 9.Bc4 Rf5 10.Rd6 and brings forward the promotion threat. If he tries ...)
7...Rf1 (then follow the moves ...)
8.Bc4 Bd3
9.Rb1+ (and the position is ruined for Black. For example ...)
9...Kxb1
10.Bxd3+ +- (White wins)
[Study of the Year 1988] is a study by Maksimovskikh A. and Dolgov V., in which White has the opportunity to lead Black into a certain position, leaving en prise his pieces.
Study of the year 1988.
 | (Problem 491) Maksimovskikh A. & Dolgov V., 1st Prize, Kzlov MT Na Smenu!, 1987, White plays and wins. + (4 + 3) |
| [R1B5/K7/3r1P2/8/3k4/8/8/1b6] | |
Here follows the solution (with comments by Themis Argirakopoulos) ...
(The game will be oriented to the promotion of the pawn or to the possible avoidance of the promotion. So we start with ...)
Key : 1.f7+! (and if 1...Rd8 then 2.Be6 and the the conversation is very short. That brings ...)
1...Rf6
2.Be6 (from where it keeps the pawn in the game and, threatening promotion, protects itself. The big problem of Black is the promotion - not the white bishop, thus he will try to push it away from defending the pawn, at any cost ...)
2...Bf5 (Without the danger to be tangled in aimless moves and transformations of the position, the White answers ...)
3.Rd8+ (If now 3...Kc5 4.Rd5+ and the superiority of white powers will simplify the situation, i.e. 4...Kc4 5.Rxf5+ Rxe6 6.f8=Q . If 3...Ke5 then 4.Bc4 Be4 5.f8=Q Rxf8 6.Rxf8 Kd4 7.Rf4 and White wins. Just a little better is the defense ...)
3...Kc3 (but white has got the squares (a2 or d5) to move his bishop, with the idea to promote the pawn to queen, exchange this queen with the black rook and, at the same time, to be able to capture with his rook the black bishop avoiding the [K+R vs K+B] ending, which is stalemate, with the exception of the black king being in the wrong corner. Let us continue with ...).
4.Bd5 Be4 (with the same pressing on the white bishop, aiming to the capture of the pawn. Then ...)
5.Rc8+ Kb2 (5...Kd4 is no better, since we can easily bring the same picture with the promotion f8=Q, i.e. 6.Bb3 Bd3 7.f8=Q . White continues with check ...)
6.Rb8+ (and if the king returns towards the center with 6...Kc3 then 7.Be6 Bf5 8.Ba2 and the chase with the bishops can not be continued, and we have the usual threats of the White. To the corner, then, with ...)
6...Ka1
7.Rb6 (What can Black capture now and not be disappointed? 7...Rxb6 8.f8=Q with easy win for the White, or 7...Rxf7 8.Bxf7 similarly, or 7...Rf5 8.Bb3 Rf3 9.Bc4 Rf5 10.Rd6 and brings forward the promotion threat. If he tries ...)
7...Rf1 (then follow the moves ...)
8.Bc4 Bd3
9.Rb1+ (and the position is ruined for Black. For example ...)
9...Kxb1
10.Bxd3+ +- (White wins)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
C20110501 : World Chess Composition Tournament, WCCT-9
ΠΡΟΣΚΛΗΣΗ
Το Παγκόσμιο Τουρνουά Σκακιστικής Σύνθεσης (World Chess Composition Tournament, WCCT) είναι μια από καιρό καταξιωμένη διοργάνωση για ομάδες, που επιτρέπει σε συνθέτες από όλο τον κόσμο να διαγωνίζονται σε διεθνές επίπεδο για νέα σκακιστικά προβλήματα και μελέτες επί προκαθωρισμένων θεμάτων. Οχτώ τέτοια τουρνουά έχουν διοργανωθεί μέχρι σήμερα, με ενθουσιώδη παγκόσμια συμμετοχή. Προκηρύσσεται τώρα το ένατο WCCT, και έχω την ευχαρίστηση να προσκαλέσω όλες τις χώρες που είναι μέλη της Διεθνούς Συνομοσπονδίας Σκακιού (Federation International des Echecs, FIDE) να εγγραφούν σε αυτό τον διαγωνισμό και να συμμετέχουν σε μια διοργάνωση που υπόσχεται να είναι πιό δημοφιλής και επιτυχημένη από τις προηγηθείσες.
Χάρης Φουγιαξής
Πρόεδρος της Παγκόσμιας Συνομοσπονδίας Σκακιστικής Σύνθεσης (World Federation for Chess Composition, WFCC)
Αναλυτικό έγγραφο υπάρχει εδώ.
INVITATION
The World Chess Composition Tournament is a long-established team event enabling composers from all over the world to compete at international level with new chess problems and studies on set themes. Eight such tournaments have been held to date, with enthusiastic worldwide participation. The 9th WCCT is now announced, and I have pleasure in inviting all countries affiliated to FIDE to register for this competition and take part in an event which promises to be even more popular and successful than its predecessors.
Harry Fougiaxis
President of the WFCC
See detailed document here.
Το Παγκόσμιο Τουρνουά Σκακιστικής Σύνθεσης (World Chess Composition Tournament, WCCT) είναι μια από καιρό καταξιωμένη διοργάνωση για ομάδες, που επιτρέπει σε συνθέτες από όλο τον κόσμο να διαγωνίζονται σε διεθνές επίπεδο για νέα σκακιστικά προβλήματα και μελέτες επί προκαθωρισμένων θεμάτων. Οχτώ τέτοια τουρνουά έχουν διοργανωθεί μέχρι σήμερα, με ενθουσιώδη παγκόσμια συμμετοχή. Προκηρύσσεται τώρα το ένατο WCCT, και έχω την ευχαρίστηση να προσκαλέσω όλες τις χώρες που είναι μέλη της Διεθνούς Συνομοσπονδίας Σκακιού (Federation International des Echecs, FIDE) να εγγραφούν σε αυτό τον διαγωνισμό και να συμμετέχουν σε μια διοργάνωση που υπόσχεται να είναι πιό δημοφιλής και επιτυχημένη από τις προηγηθείσες.
Χάρης Φουγιαξής
Πρόεδρος της Παγκόσμιας Συνομοσπονδίας Σκακιστικής Σύνθεσης (World Federation for Chess Composition, WFCC)
Αναλυτικό έγγραφο υπάρχει εδώ.
INVITATION
The World Chess Composition Tournament is a long-established team event enabling composers from all over the world to compete at international level with new chess problems and studies on set themes. Eight such tournaments have been held to date, with enthusiastic worldwide participation. The 9th WCCT is now announced, and I have pleasure in inviting all countries affiliated to FIDE to register for this competition and take part in an event which promises to be even more popular and successful than its predecessors.
Harry Fougiaxis
President of the WFCC
See detailed document here.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Schools of chess composition
I have gathered in a short leaflet some elements about [Schools of chess composition].
I think that there are many interesting details included in it.
Read it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2-Lv0IlDIs6NzY5NzRkYzEtZGNiOS00YTA0LThjYzYtMmQxZGQ4OWRlNDgz/view?usp=sharing&authkey=CJvWq7QL
I think that there are many interesting details included in it.
Read it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2-Lv0IlDIs6NzY5NzRkYzEtZGNiOS00YTA0LThjYzYtMmQxZGQ4OWRlNDgz/view?usp=sharing&authkey=CJvWq7QL
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Chess Solver uses more of his/her brain
An article in internet magazine NewScientist [Chess grandmasters use twice the brain (11-01-2011)] by Nora Schultz is very interesting.
When a man tries to solve any kind of problem, he uses the left part of his brain.
When a trained chess solver tries to solve a chess problem, he uses both parts of his brain, in a parallel processing mode.
See comments here.
When a man tries to solve any kind of problem, he uses the left part of his brain.
When a trained chess solver tries to solve a chess problem, he uses both parts of his brain, in a parallel processing mode.
See comments here.
Monday, January 10, 2011
7th International Solving Contest (ISC)
7th International Solving Contest (ISC)
Sunday January 23rd 2011
The next International Solving Contest will take place on Sunday January 23rd 2011. The event is happening simultaneously in all participating countries.
There will be two sections: one for the experienced solvers. In this section solvers can obtain rating points.
The second section is intended for weaker, inexperienced solvers and for youth.
The delegates have to appoint a local controller who can be trusted on the responsible task of organizing this contest in your country. If you find it appropriate this contest may be organized in more than one location in your country. But for each location a local controller must take the responsibility. It is absolutely required that the local controller must dispose of an e-mail address. The delegate will thus indicate this e-mail-address.
The contest will consist of two rounds with six problems each, i.e. for each round a 2#, 3#, n#, EG, h# and s#.
For each round, the solving time is two hours.
To prevent possible irregularities it is essential that the start of the contest must be at the same time in each country. This means CET (Central European Time) at 11 hr. Local time must meet this CET. Between the two rounds a break is foreseen of minimum 0,5 hr and max 1,5 hr, at the option of the local controller.
more details ==> http://www.saunalahti.fi/~stniekat/pccc/isc11inv.htm
Sunday January 23rd 2011
The next International Solving Contest will take place on Sunday January 23rd 2011. The event is happening simultaneously in all participating countries.
There will be two sections: one for the experienced solvers. In this section solvers can obtain rating points.
The second section is intended for weaker, inexperienced solvers and for youth.
The delegates have to appoint a local controller who can be trusted on the responsible task of organizing this contest in your country. If you find it appropriate this contest may be organized in more than one location in your country. But for each location a local controller must take the responsibility. It is absolutely required that the local controller must dispose of an e-mail address. The delegate will thus indicate this e-mail-address.
The contest will consist of two rounds with six problems each, i.e. for each round a 2#, 3#, n#, EG, h# and s#.
For each round, the solving time is two hours.
To prevent possible irregularities it is essential that the start of the contest must be at the same time in each country. This means CET (Central European Time) at 11 hr. Local time must meet this CET. Between the two rounds a break is foreseen of minimum 0,5 hr and max 1,5 hr, at the option of the local controller.
more details ==> http://www.saunalahti.fi/~stniekat/pccc/isc11inv.htm
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
INTERNATIONAL CHESS COMPOSITION DAY 2011 - Results
Preliminary results of the solving contest as published in pzrdig2.bloger.hr site :
Solver Fed Point Time
1 Emmanuel Manolas GRE 30 2:00:32
2 Themis Argirakopoulos GRE 30 2:01:57
3 Martynas Limontas LTU 30 5:10:30
4 Georgij Popov RUS 30 5:13:08
5 Vladimir Šarčević GER 30 10:00:28
6 Valery Krivenko UKR 30 11:10:36
7 Henryk Kalafut USA 30 12:10:46
8 Zoran Majerić CRO 29 3:02:08
9 Mustapha Bakani MOR 29 13:11:05
10 Željko Pavlović CRO 28 3:10:02
11 Vidadi Zamanov AZE 25 1:08:50
12 Kenan Velihanov AZE 25 8:03:07
13 Predrag Žuvić CRO 25 9:00:10
14 Katarzyna Jurkiewicz POL 25 13:10:16
15 Benjeloun Youness MOR 23.5 14:00:00
16 Marija Ninković CRO 20 5:03:59
17 Nikola Crnojević CRO 20 7:07:30
18 Veljko Mrazovac CRO 20 13:23:50
Mićo Mrazovac CRO 20 13:23:50
20 Mario Stiković CRO 15 3:05:57
21 Relja Bosanac CRO 15 13:22:44
22 Nikola Šakić CRO 15 13:23:45
...
Solver Fed Point Time
1 Henryk Kalafut USA 15 12:11:39
2 Emmanuel Manolas GRE 10 2:00:32
3 Themis Argirakopoulos GRE 10 2:01:57
4 Vidadi Zamanov AZE 5 1:08:50
5 Georgij Popov RUS 5 5:13:08
6 Kenan Velihanov AZE 5 8:03:07
7 Zoran Majerić CRO 4 3:02:08
1 Emmanuel Manolas GRE 30 2:00:32
2 Themis Argirakopoulos GRE 30 2:01:57
3 Martynas Limontas LTU 30 5:10:30
4 Georgij Popov RUS 30 5:13:08
5 Vladimir Šarčević GER 30 10:00:28
6 Valery Krivenko UKR 30 11:10:36
7 Henryk Kalafut USA 30 12:10:46
8 Zoran Majerić CRO 29 3:02:08
9 Mustapha Bakani MOR 29 13:11:05
10 Željko Pavlović CRO 28 3:10:02
11 Vidadi Zamanov AZE 25 1:08:50
12 Kenan Velihanov AZE 25 8:03:07
13 Predrag Žuvić CRO 25 9:00:10
14 Katarzyna Jurkiewicz POL 25 13:10:16
15 Benjeloun Youness MOR 23.5 14:00:00
16 Marija Ninković CRO 20 5:03:59
17 Nikola Crnojević CRO 20 7:07:30
18 Veljko Mrazovac CRO 20 13:23:50
Mićo Mrazovac CRO 20 13:23:50
20 Mario Stiković CRO 15 3:05:57
21 Relja Bosanac CRO 15 13:22:44
22 Nikola Šakić CRO 15 13:23:45
...
"Solver Killers" - additional categora with extra hard problems
Solver Fed Point Time
1 Henryk Kalafut USA 15 12:11:39
2 Emmanuel Manolas GRE 10 2:00:32
3 Themis Argirakopoulos GRE 10 2:01:57
4 Vidadi Zamanov AZE 5 1:08:50
5 Georgij Popov RUS 5 5:13:08
6 Kenan Velihanov AZE 5 8:03:07
7 Zoran Majerić CRO 4 3:02:08
Solutions of the problems
A) Alain Campbell White, Good Companions Meredith T. 1918. 1.Kf6! 5 p. (~2.Qc8#) 1...0-0+/Rf8+/Kd8 2.Sgf7/Sef7/Qd7#
B) Philip Hamilton Williams, Observer, 1920. 1.Bd4! 5 p. (zz) 1...bS~/dS~ 2.Sc5/Sf6# Αλλαγμένα ματ από το έτοιμο παιγνίδι : 1...bS~/dS~ 2.Sd6/Sc3#
C) Sam Loyd, "Boston Gazete", 1859. (v.) 1.Qa5! 5 p. (zz) 1...Bd7/Be7/Rd7/Re7 2.Qd5/Qe5/Sf5/Qxb4# (Αυλοί του Οργάνου) 1...Bc5 2.Qa1# ...
D) Antonin König, Svetozor, 1869. 1.Qa8! 3 p.
~ 2.Sa5+ 0.5 p. 2...Kd6,c6/Rc6 3.Qd8/Qxc6#,
1...Rc6+ 2.Sd6 0.5 p. 2...Kxd6/cd6,S~ 3.Qd8/Qg8#,
1...Sxf5 2.Sbc5+ 0.5 p. 2...c6 3.Qg8#
1...Kc6 2.Qa6+ 0.5 p. 2...Kd5,Kd7 3.Qe6#
E) The Problemist, 2006. 1.Bc4 Rb8 2.Kd7 3.b.
2...Kb7 3.Sb8 Kb8 4.Ba6 Ka8 5.Kc6 Kb8 6.Kb6 Ka8 7.Bb7 Kb8 8.Bh2# 1 b.
2...Rb7 3.Kd6 Tb6 4.Bb6 Kb7 5.Bg1 Kc8 6.Ke7 Kb7 7.Kd7 Ka8 8.Bd5# 1 b.
( 2...Rb7 3.Kd6 Rb1 3.Bd5+! Rb7 4.Kc6! Rb1 5.Kc7 Rb7 6.Bxb7#)
F) Stanislav Juriček, TS2000, 2003. 1.Rg8! 5 p. (~2.Reg6#) 1...Kxg8/Sf6/Sf8 2.Re8++/Re7++/Rg7#
G) Miroslav Havel, zrcalna slika od "De Maasbode", 1926.
1.Qc5! 2 p. (Kd8)
1...~ 2.Qc7+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8 3.Qxe7#
1...Ke8 2.Bxf7+ 0.5 p. 2...Kd8,Kd7/Kf8 3.Qc7/Bxe7#
1...exd6 2.Qxd6+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8/Sd7 3.Bxf7/Qxd7#
1...Sa8,Sc8 2.Qc6 0.5 p. 2...Sb6/fxe6/Bc8 3.Bc7/Bxe7/Qxc8#
1...Sd7 2.Bxe7+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8 3.Bxf7#
1...Qxc5 2.Rh8+ 0.5 p. 2...Rg8 3.Rxg8#
H) Gianni Donati, 1st Prize "Thema Danicum", 2006.
1.d3 h5 2.Bf4 Sh6 3.Bd6 exd6 4.Sc3 Qg5 5.Qb1! Qc1+
6.Sd1 g5 7.a3 Bg7 8.Qa2 Bxb2 9.Qc4 f6 10.Qg4 Kf7
11.Sf3 Re8 12.Sd2 Re3 13.Sb1 Rh3 14.e3 Kg6 15.Be2 Sf7
16.Bf3 Sh8 17.Bc6 dxc6 18.0-0 c5 19.Sdc3 Sc6 20.Qd1 Bg4
21.Kh1 Be2 22.f3 Bxf1 23.Se2 g4 24.Sg1 Kg5 - 5 p. (White has to lose a single tempo, 5.Sb1??)
I) Dejan Glišić, 1st commendation "Help-Direct-Mate" 2004.
a) 1.e1=R Sd4 2.Re8 – 1.dxe8=Q! 2.5 p. (~2.Qe2#) 1...Rxf2,Re1 2.Qe1#;
b) 1.b1=R d8=Q 2.b2 – 1.Qxd5! 2.5 p. (~2.Qb3#) 1...Rc1 2.Sdxe1#
1.Qc5! 2 p. (Kd8)
1...~ 2.Qc7+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8 3.Qxe7#
1...Ke8 2.Bxf7+ 0.5 p. 2...Kd8,Kd7/Kf8 3.Qc7/Bxe7#
1...exd6 2.Qxd6+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8/Sd7 3.Bxf7/Qxd7#
1...Sa8,Sc8 2.Qc6 0.5 p. 2...Sb6/fxe6/Bc8 3.Bc7/Bxe7/Qxc8#
1...Sd7 2.Bxe7+ 0.5 p. 2...Ke8 3.Bxf7#
1...Qxc5 2.Rh8+ 0.5 p. 2...Rg8 3.Rxg8#
H) Gianni Donati, 1st Prize "Thema Danicum", 2006.
1.d3 h5 2.Bf4 Sh6 3.Bd6 exd6 4.Sc3 Qg5 5.Qb1! Qc1+
6.Sd1 g5 7.a3 Bg7 8.Qa2 Bxb2 9.Qc4 f6 10.Qg4 Kf7
11.Sf3 Re8 12.Sd2 Re3 13.Sb1 Rh3 14.e3 Kg6 15.Be2 Sf7
16.Bf3 Sh8 17.Bc6 dxc6 18.0-0 c5 19.Sdc3 Sc6 20.Qd1 Bg4
21.Kh1 Be2 22.f3 Bxf1 23.Se2 g4 24.Sg1 Kg5 - 5 p. (White has to lose a single tempo, 5.Sb1??)
I) Dejan Glišić, 1st commendation "Help-Direct-Mate" 2004.
a) 1.e1=R Sd4 2.Re8 – 1.dxe8=Q! 2.5 p. (~2.Qe2#) 1...Rxf2,Re1 2.Qe1#;
b) 1.b1=R d8=Q 2.b2 – 1.Qxd5! 2.5 p. (~2.Qb3#) 1...Rc1 2.Sdxe1#
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
WCCC-54 and WCSC-35 in Jesi, Italy
The announcement is posted for the 54th WCCC [World Congress of Chess Composition] and the 35th WCSC [World Chess Solving Championship] .
Place : Jesi, in Italy (near Ancona).
Time : August 20-27, 2011.
Official site for information : http://www.wccc2011.com/
Place : Jesi, in Italy (near Ancona).
Time : August 20-27, 2011.
Official site for information : http://www.wccc2011.com/
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