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!

1st Solving Contest in Triandria

First Solving Contest 2002-12-01 Chess Club Triandria Greece

Some years ago the First Solving Contest of the Chess Club Triandria (Salonica, Greece) has been organized on the Sunday 2002-12-01.
The problems were selected by Carlo DeGrandi.
There were 3 judges : Costas Youvantsioudis, Costas Papadopoulos, Carlo deGrandi.
Committee for examination of Objections : Byron Zappas, Odysseas Vazelakis, Pantelis Martoudis.

There were two groups each having with 12 solvers, having 2 hours time to solve 4 problems (only direcmates, with 5 points per problem, 20 points maximum).
Group A had to solve a two-mover, a three-mover, a four-mover and a five-mover.
Group B had to solve (Teenagers) should solve four two-movers.

Winners in Group A were the following :
1. Costas Prentos (20 points, in 45 minutes), (Prize : Carved plate and 120€)
2. G. Papadopoulos (15, 53'), (Prize : Medal and 70€)
3. N. Papachristou (5, 67'), (Prize : Madal and 50€).
Other participants were (by order of application) : Tsikrikonis P., Cryssostomidis A., Exissoglou G., Eleftheriadis A., Kakousatze I., Fetihakis D., Kelessiadis G., Kyvelos S., Youvantsioudis C..

Participants in Group B (teenagers) (by finishing order) :
Boutsioukis N., Solakidis P., Gerochristos G., Constantinidis C., Papadopoulos P., Frangoulis L., Pahygiannakis L., Costopoulos D., Verikios G., Georgiadis B., Papavassiliou Ch., Siozos K..
All the participants were awarded with books.

Sponsors of the event : Asterias, Massoutis, Ygro Pyr, Koudigelis K., Catselis.


We now present the 8 problems of the Contest, 4 'easier' problems for the Group-B and 4 'more difficult' problems for Group-A.

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Group B (teenagers), Time : 2 hours

	(Problem 212) Yuri Antonov, Hlas Ludu, 1981 Mate in 2 moves. #2 (8+6)
[3K4/2pR4/2p4S/2Pskp1S/4p3/4R3/6B1/3Q4]

Tries : {1.Rd6? cxd6!}, {1.Rxc7? / Sf7+? Ke6!}, {1.Re7+? Sxe7!}, {1.Sg4+? fxg4!}, {1.Rxe4+? fxe4!}, {1.Qa1+? Sc3!}, {1.Qxd5+? cxd5!}, {1.Qd4+? Kxd4!}.
Let us observe a little closer the play after the next try, in order to compare with the post-key play :
{1.Bh3?
1...S~ (a) 2.Re7# (A)
1...f4 (b) 2.Sf7# (B)
1...Ke6 (c) 2.Rxe4# (C)
1...Sf4!}

Κλειδί : 1.Qb3! (zz).
1...Kd4 2.Qc3#
1...S~ (a) 2.Sf7# (B)
1...f4 (b) 2.Rxe4# (C)
1...Ke6 (c) 2.Re7# (A)

The problem contains the theme [Lacny 2x3] (two phases and three variations with cyclic permutation of mates).

Theme Lacny pxv. It is developed over various phases (the number of phases is p). In one phase there are some (a b c ... z) defences (the number of variations is v) which are answered with the mates (A B C ... Z). In another phase the same (a b c ... z) defences are answered with a cyclic permutation of the mates (B C ... Z A). The theme is named after the composer Ludovit Lacny, who has published in 1949 the first problem with relevant content.

	(Problem 213) Alexandr Kuzovkov Second Honourable Mention, Bachernich Charpkov, 1982 Mate in 2 moves. #2 (4+4)
[8/5K2/6Bk/4B3/Q1p5/8/s7/2q5]

Tries : {1.Kg6? / Rf2? / Rg3? d5!}, {1.Qxd7? Ke5!}, {1.Qf5+? Kxf5!}, {1.Qe5+? Kxe5!}, {1.Qd5+? Kxd5!}, {1.Rg5? / Rg4+? Kf3!}, {1.Sg3+? / Sd2+? Kxe3!}.

Key : 1.Rd2! [2.Q(x)d5#]
1...Kf3 2.Qf5#

	(Problem 214) Michael Lipton, Commendation, I R T 1996-1997 Mate in 2 moves. #2 (5+2)
[4B3/8/8/3Q3R/1k6/3s2B1/8/1K6]

Tries : {1.Qb3+? Kxb3!}, {1.Qc4+? Kxc4!}, {1.Qd4+? Kb3!}, {1.Qa5+? Kc4!}, {1.Qb5+? Kc3!}, {1.Be1+? Sxe1!}.

Key : 1.Rh3! (zz)
1...Sb2 / Sc1 / Se1 2.B(x)e1# / Bd6#
1...Se5 / Sf4 / Sc5 / Kc3 2.Be1#
1...Sf2 / Ka3 2.Bd6#

	(Problem 215) Carlo deGrandi, original, 2000 Mate in 2 moves. #2 (5+4)
[8/5K2/6Bk/4B3/Q1p5/8/s4P2/2q5]

Tries : {1.Bf4+? Qxf4+!}, {1.Bg7+? Kg5!}.

Key: 1.Qd1! [2.Qh5#]
1...Qg5 2.Bg7#
1...Qf4+ 2.Bxf4#
1...Qxd1 2.Bf4#

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Group A, Time : 2 hours

	(Problem 216) Ignaas Vandemeulebrouke, B-Merksem, 1990 Mate in 2 moves. #2 (7+7)
[8/6r1/1B3ps1/3S4/2P1kpQp/8/2K2PS1/b7]

Tries : {1.Sxf4? Se5!}, {1.Qe2+? Kf5!}, {1.Qh5? f3!}, {1.Qxf4+? Sxf4!}, {1.Sxh4? / f3+? Ke5!}.

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Sxf4! [2.Sxg6#]
1...Be5 2.f3#
1...Ke5 2.Qe6#
1...f5 2.Qe2#
1...Se5 2.Sxf6#
1...Sxf4 2.Qxf4#

	(Problem 217) Dr Hermann Weissauer, Tidskrift fuer Schack, 1987 Mate in 3 moves. #3 (9+11)
[1b3r2/1s3Sq1/2b1R3/4P1pP/1r2kpQ1/4B1ps/3R2K1/5S2]

Tries : {1.Sd6+? Bxd6!}, {1.Sh6? Qxh6!}, {1.Re8? Rxe8!}, {1.Rf6? Qxf6!}, {1.Qf3+? Kf5!}, {1.Qf5+? Kxf5+!}, {1.Bb6? Rxb6!}, {1.Bc5? Sxc5!}, {1.Kxh3? Bb5!}, {1.Rd4+? Rxd4!}, {1.Sxg3+? Kxe3+!}.

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Re7! [2.Qf3+ Kf5 3.Sxg3#]
1...Sg1 2.Bxg1 [3.Sxg3#] Rb3 / Rb4 3.R(x)d4#
1...Qxe5 2.Bg1 [3.Sxg3#]
___2...Sf2 / Sxg1 3.Sxg5#
___2...Rb3 / Rd4 3.R(x)d4#
1...Bxe5 2.Bc5 [3.Sxg3#]
___2...Sxc5 3.Sd6#
___2...Rb3 / Rd4 3.R(x)d4#

	(Problem 218) Dr Hermann Weissauer, Diagrammes, 1981 Mate in 4 moves. #4 (7+11)
[br6/3p3p/3p4/pP5p/3S1kSK/4pP2/BQ3p2/5s2]

Tries : {1.Se2+? / Se6+? Kxf3!}, {1.Bd5? Bxd5!}.

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Qa3! [2.Qxd6#]
1...Bxf3 2.Qxd6+ Ke4 3.Bb1#
1...Rxb5 / Re8 2.Qxd6+ Re5 3.Qxe5#
1...Rb6 2.Qd3 [3.Qf5#]
___2...Sg3 3.Qxe3#
___2...Be4 3.Qxe4#
___2...Rxb5 3.Bd5 [4.Se2# / Qe4# / Qf5#]
______3...Sd2 4.Se2# / Qxe3# / Qf5#
______3...Rb2 / hxg4 4.Qe4# / Qf5#
______3...Sg3 4.Qxe3#
______3...Rxd5 4.Qe4#
______3...Bxd5 4.Qf5#

	(Problem 219) A. F. Svanberg, Schachzeitung, September 1847 Mate in 5 moves. #5 (8+6)
[1S4R1/1S3s2/1p6/1k6/1p1P1s2/1P5q/K1P5/3B4]

Tries : {1.Sd6+? Sxd6!}, {1.c4+? bxc3 e.p.!}, {1.Be2+? Sxe2!}.

The solution follows :
Key : 1.Rg5+!
1...Qf5
___2.Rxf5+
______2...Sd5 3.Rxd5# / Be2#
______2...Se5
_________3.Bxe2+
____________3...Sxe2 4.Rxe5#
____________3...Sd3 4.Rxe5# / Bxd3#
_________3.Rxe5+ Sd5 4.Rxd5# / Be2#
___2.Be2+
______2...Sd3 3.Bxd3#
______2...Sxe2 3.Rxf5+ Se5 4.Rxe5#
1...Sd5 2.Rxd5#
1...Se5 2.Rxe5+ Sd5 3.Rxd5#
1...Sxg5 2.c4+ bxc3 e.p. 3.Sd6+
____________3...Kb4 4.Sc6#
____________3...Ka5 4.b4+ Kxb4 5.Sc6#


(This post in Greek language).

Carlo de Grandi

Mr. Carlo de Grandi was born (1948) in Venice, Italy. He studied Accounting and Informatics in Athens.
He has written the following books (in Greek)
(1) "About the origin and spreading of Zatrikion (Chess) through the centuries", (Istorical report). Athens, 1985 (1st edition), 1989 (2nd edition)
(2) "Istorical report for Magic Squares and Magic Stars", Athens, 1999
and he is preparing his third book "The Mathematics of the Party".

He learned to play chess when he was 10 years old. Later he limited this activity to chess by post only.

He is a composer and a solver of chess problems.
Since he started composing, in 1989, he has created more than 120 problems.

He has organised 26 Contests of Solving Chess Problems.

He has cooperated with many chess magazines : [Gambit], [Skakistiki Kinissi (= Chess Move)], [Elliniko Skaki (= Greek Chess)], [Eleftheres Ores (= Free Hours)], [Deltio T.E.S.S.K (a Regional Bulletin)], [To Sah (= The Checking], [L’ Italia Scacchistica (= The Chess Italy)], [Black and White (an Indian magazine)], [Sah Mat (= check mate)], [Skaki gia Olous (= Chess for all)].

In problem-208, by Carlo DeGrandi, there is an interesting continuation with sacrifices of white pieces and guidance of black pieces. But the bK has always very restricted mobility, and there is only one series of moves.

	(Problem 208) Carlo DeGrandi, L`Italia Scacchistica No.1156/2002, Mate in 5 moves. #5 (8+8)
[6B1/4p3/6p1/4K1P1/3S4/1Pp1kP2/2P5/4B3]

Tries : {1.Bc4? / Bf7? / Bh7? / f4? / b4? e6!}, {1.Ke6? Kf4!}.

Key : 1.Bd5! (zz) e6
2.f4 (zz) e6xd5
3.f5 (zz) g6xf5
4.Ke5xf5 (zz) Ke3xd4
5.Bf2#

	(Problem 209) Carlo DeGrandi, Original, Mate in 3 moves. (Twin with wBb8 => h6) #3 (A) diagram, (B) -wBb8 +wBh6, (6+3)
[1B6/8/4S3/6p1/4P1k1/4K1p1/6P1/7R]

In this twin problem-209, by DeGrandi, the key changes together with the piece that guards g5, but the mechanism of mate is the same.

(A) wBb8
Tries : {1.Bxg3? (zz) Kxg3!}, {1.Sf4? (zz) gxf4+!}, {1.Sxg5? (zz) Kxg5!}, {1.e5? (zz) Kf5!}, {1.Rh5? Kxh5!}, {1.Rh2? (zz) gxh2!}.
Key : 1.Bf4! (zz) gxf4+ 2.Ke2 (zz) f3+ 3.gxf3#

(B) wBh6
Tries : {1.e5? Kf5!}, {1.Rh5? Kxh5!}, {1.Rh2? gxh2!}.
Key : 1.Sf4! (zz) gxf4+ 2.Ke2 (zz) f3+ 3.gxf3#


(This post in Greek language).