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.

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#

Two-movers (2)

If it is not accompanied by any characteristic, the expression two-mover means orthodox two-mover.

	(Problem 11) Moutecidis Pavlos, Chess magazine "O Skakistis", No.6, May 1968 (Set play), White plays and mates in 2 moves * #2 (4+5)
[8/3b2p1/6Qb/8/2pK1k1S/8/5S2/8]

The engineer Moutecidis Pavlos is a composer specialized in many-mover (langzüger) selfmates. He has composed thousands of problems and holds the title of International Master. Here we see an orthodox two-mover of his, which contains Bikos theme. (This theme was proposed by the Greek composer Bikos Spyros).

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.

Here follows the solution of the problem:
First Phase : (*)
1...Bg5 2.Qd6# (self-block at g5)
1...Bg4 2.Qxg4# (capture at g4)

Intermediate Phase : Try 1.Sh1? [2.Qg3#] Bg4!

Last Phase : Key 1 Se4! [2.Qg3#]
1...Bg5 2.Qxg5# (capture at g5)
1...Bg4 2.Qd6# (self-block at g4)

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We present here some terms about the appearance of a problem:

Miniature : A problem with 1-7 pieces in its initial position.
Meredith : A problem with 8-12 pieces in its initial position.

Light : Problem with relatively little material compared with the richness of the play. This is a desirable situation from the aspect of economy.
Heavy : Problem with relatively many pieces compared with presented play. This is a situation to be avoided, in order to have positions with economy.
Grotesque : A problem having very un-natural position, especially the one having many pieces or big difference of power between the opponents.

Aristocratic : Problem without pawns in its initial position.

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We understand that the composer has created problem-11 as a [two-mover Meredith with theme Bikos].

17/02/2008 : The International Master Fougiaxis Harry informs us that, using the same mechanism, the composer Moutecidis had presented the theme Bikos in miniature form a few years earlier:

	(Problem 126) Moutecidis Pavlos, (dedicated to Bikos Spyros) 61, "To Mat", 11 November 1952 White plays and mate in 2 moves. (There is set play) * #2 (4+3)
[3S2s1/7Q/5k2/5P2/5K2/8/b7/8]

The solution of problem-126 is as follows:

(Set play) First Phase : (*)
1...Se7 2.Qh8#
1...Bf7 2.Qxf7#

(Trial play) Note that there are seven tries:
{1.Se6? Bxe6!}, {1.Qg6+? Ke7!}, {1.Qh4+? Kg7!}, {1.Qc7? Be6!}, {1.Qf7+? Bxf7!}, {1.Qg7+? Kxg7!}, {1.Qh8+? Ke7!}.

(Actual play) Last Phase : Key 1.Sc6! [2.Qg6#]
1...Se7 2.Qxe7#
1...Bf7 2.Qh8#

[This post in Greek language].