Cooperation of composers (4)

In this post we see two helpmates and a direct mate, which are the result of cooperation of some Greek composers.
When chess composers are working together, the egoism is retreating. The composers cooperate and their friendship is elevated.

Problem_766 Byron Zappas and Nikos Siotis Recommendation, Jubilee Tourney C. Goumondy-40, 1986

1B6/5R2/6p1/2s3p1/3Sk1p1/3p4/3brp2/7K (4 + 9) h#2, 3.1.1.1 (Helpmate two-mover, three solutions)

1.Re3 Sf5 2.Kf3 Sg3# (Knight - Rook battery) 1.Be3 Rc7 2.Kf4 Re7# (Rook - Bishop battery) 1.Ke3 Ba7 2.Se4 Sc2# (Knight - Bishop battery) The white pieces form batteries in a circular manner. Black begins with putting a piece on e3 and is self-blocked. There is a Grimshaw interference (bR and bB) on e3 which is exploited by White giving Anderssen mates (the white piece A is interposed to white piece B, Black moves, the white piece B moves and gives indirect check).

Problem_767 Nikos Pergialis and Manos Pantavos original

8/7R/B7/8/8/1kP1S2R/8/2K5 (6 + 1) #2 (two-mover)

Tries : {1.Sc2? A Ka4! a}, {1.Bc4+? B Kxc3! b} Key : 1.Ra7! 1…Ka4 a / Ka3 / Ka2 2.Bc4# B 1…Kxc3 b 2.Sc2# A A miniature presenting theme Banny (tries {1.A? a!}, {1.B? b!} but after the key the defense of each try is mated by the key of the other try 1...a 2.B#, 1...b 2.A#). The key forms an indirect battery (because it aims to a flight of the bK, not straight on it) and it is like an ambush.

Problem_768 Ioannis Kalkavouras and Panagiotis Konidaris and Emmanuel Manolas Kudesnik, 2013

8/1p3q2/8/p4r1b/2kS1R2/2pS1s2/4BK2/8 (5 + 8) h#2, 4.1.1.1 (Helpmate two-mover, four solutions)

1.Sd2 Bxh5 2.Kxd3 Be2# (sacrifice of knight d3, switchback of  wB) 1.Rd5 Rxf7 2.Kxd4 Rf4# (sacrifice of knight d4, switchback of wR) 1.Rc5 Sc1+ 2.Kb4 Sc2# (the knights move from d3 d4 to c1 c2) 1.b6 Se6+ 2.Kb5 Se5# (the knights move from d3 d4 to e5 e6) This belongs to the subgenre HotF, Helpmate of the Future, where the similar solutions appear in pairs. In the first pair of solutions the bK comes near and is mated by contact, while in the second pair of solutions the bK goes away because of check and the white knights mate from afar by firing two batteries (direct and indirect). In all the solutions the black pieces make preventive self-block, (blocking a square which will become a flight after the move of the bK).

Problem_769 Harry Fougiaxis and Kostas Prentos 2nd Prize, 7th Moskovskaya Matreshka, Wageningen, 2006

3b4/1r3Bpq/p1s1Ss1p/1p3P1p/1Pk2K1R/2r5/4P3/8 (7 + 12) h#2, (Helpmate two-mover), a) diagram, b) wKf4 < -- > wSe6

a) 1.Se7 Sc5+ 2.Sfd5+ Ke5# b) 1.Sd7 Sd3+ 2.Sd4+ Kd6# 2x2 batteries are fired. Self-interferences, Cross-checks and Royal-battery mates. (The problem is included in the FIDE Album 2004/2006, p.285, E168 with 8 points).

Harry Fougiaxis (2)

We wish to mr. Harry Fougiaxis, president of WFCC, long living and prosperity, since in two days he will have his name-day.

Harry Fougiaxis has walked a long creative path in the area of chess composition. Today we present an old composition of his, published in 1988. It is included in the leaflet [Selected Chess Compositions by Greek Composers] which was issued by the Greek Chess Composition Committee, during the 47th World Congress of Chess Composition in Halkidiki, Greece, 4-11 September 2004.

	(Problem 492) Harry Fougiaxis (Χάρης Φουγιαξής), Second Prize, U.S. Problem Bulletin 1988, Helpmate in three moves. (Two solutions). h#3 211111 (4 + 6)
[b7/8/1b1s4/S2k4/8/1Sr5/P3K3/3r4]

1.Rc4 Sd4 2.Kc5 a3 3.Bd5 Sab3#
1.Bc5 Sc6 2.Kc4 a4 3.Rd5 Sba5#

Changed self-blocks on bK initial square (d5).
White pawn moves 1-2 steps.
Diagonal / Orthogonal Echo.
Model mates.

The new president for WFCC (ex PCCC) said...

The permanent committee for chess composition (PCCC) of the "Federation International des Eschecs" (FIDE) is now a Federation and has the title "World Federation for Chess Composition" (WFCC).
The statute rules have been modified (to conform with Suisse law).
After the elections for presidency (four years of service) we have :
President : Harry Fougiaxis GRE
1st Vice President : Hannu Harkola FIN
2nd Vice President : Georgi Evseev RUS
3rd Vice President - Treasurer : Thomas Maeder SWI
Two more officers are going to be elected soon in newly established positions, an auditor and a reserve auditor.

As the new president of WFCC mr Harry Fougiaxis said to us, he has the impression that the elected team has uniformity and a willingness to help the world of chess composition.

First plans for action
1. Registration of name and statute rules of WFCC in Verne, Suisse.
2. Improvement of relations with FIDE.
3. Coordination and restructuring in the work subcommittees of ex-PCCC, (Solving - FIDE album - Studies - WCC Tournament etc).
4. The titles (GM of FIDE for chess solving, GM of FIDE for chess composition) will continue to be supported by FIDE.

Some perennial problems have already been spotted (like the delayed preparation of the FIDE Albums) and there are ideas for useful usage of internet.

You have read (in world exclusiveness) the first "press conference" of the new president of WFCC, mr. Harry Fougiaxis.

May 07 – 10 in Subotica

Three Greek International Masters in chess composition are in Subotica (it is in northern Serbia near the borders with Hungary) participating in the 5th European Chess Solving Competition (5 ECSC 2009) :

Pavlos Moutecidis,
Harry Fougiaxis,
Kostas Prentos.

We send our warmest wishes for their success.

You may find details from the competitions here.

08-May-2009 : The problems from the Open Solving Contest are published here. (In problem 10 there is a black pawn in e7).

In the five-mover to the right, the under-promotion key creates a threat, which can be parred by one of the black rooks. There follow two nice variations (with threats Bc2-d1-f3, Sf2-d1-e3), where the bB and the bS want to go to g5, then the rook runs to save the situation and... Try to solve this problem or see the solution at the end of this post!

09-05-2009 : Results from the Open Solving Contest, 82 solvers
12 problems were given. Points per problem 5. Maximum points 60.

1. Dolf Wissman NLD (Rating 2551.86) 60.0 points
2. Marjan Kovacevic SRB (2586.67) 57.5
3. Georgy Evseev RUS (2804.69) 55.0
4. Piotr Murdzia POL (2772.25) 53.0
5. Vlaicu Crisan ROU (2378.03) 53.0
6. Michal Dragoun CZE (2572.65) 52.5
--------------------------
18. Kostas Prentos GRC (2482.62) 46.5
--------------------------
60. Harry Fougiaxis GRC (2123.41) 25.0

09-05-2009 : The problems from the first round of the 5th European Chess Solving Competition are published here.

10-05-2009 : 5 ECSC 2009, Results for Solvers and National Teams :
1. GM Piotr Murdzia, POL, points 87.5, time 317 minutes, rating 2772.25
2. GM Georgy Evseev, RUS, 83.0, 332, 2804.69
3. IM Michal Dragoun, CZE, 77.5, 317, 2572.65
4. Bojan Vuckovic, SRB, 75.5, 318, 2623.10
5. Kacper Piorun, POL, 73.5, 351, 2340.96
6. Dolf Wissmann, NED, 73.0, 339, 2551.86
--------------------------
12. Kostas Prentos, GRE, 67.5, 360, 2482.62

We are very glad about the successful results of our Kostas Prentos, who remains steadily among the top solvers of the world.

In the team results only countries with 3 solvers are shown
(1) Poland 231.5 (2) Russia 226.5 (3) Serbia A 222.0 (4) Finland 204.0 (5) Ukraine 194.5 (6) Czech Republic 183.0 (7) Israel 175.0 (8) Romania 173.5 (9) Slovakia 169.5 (10) Croatia 161.0 (11) Lithuania 160.0 (12) Slovenia 159.0 (13) Belarus 154.0 (14) Great Britain 146.5 (15) Serbia B 146.0 (16) Serbia junior 109.0

11-05-2009 : Let us have a look at problem composition...
The texts about the composition contests in Subotica are extremely interesting. They are elucidating the way the Judges are thinking when they give prizes to the problems. You have the opportunity to admire some excellent creations of the composers.

---

Solution for the five-mover problem :
Key 1. e8=S! ( > 2. Sc7#)
1...Ra7 2. Bd1 ( > 3. Bf3#) Sg5 3. Bd3+ axb3 4. Sd1 ( > 5. Se3#) Ra1 5. Sc7#
1...Rb7 2. Sd1 ( > 3. Se3#) Bg5 3. Sc3+ bxc3 4. Bd1 ( > 5. Bf3#) Rb1 5. Sc7#

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).

Harry Fougiaxis (1)

The International Master on Composition of chess problems Harry Fougiaxis writes about himself (from "Harry Fougiaxis 40 Jubilee Tourney" pamphlet edited by the Greek Chess Problem Committee, December 2006) :

"I was born on April 20th 1966 in Athens. I graduated as an electronic engineer from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and I am currently working as an instrument and industrial automation engineer in oil and gas applications. I am not married.
My father taught me the moves of chess at the age of 7 or so, and three years later I joined a local chess club. I was soon hooked and quite liked the friendly atmosphere there. So I started studying intensively, but after some time I realised that I could not really withstand the pressure of competitive OTB chess.
Meanwhile I was frequently finding that I was more and more thrilled by the chess problems that I encountered in Triantafyllos Siaperas's weekly newspaper columns, even if I was just average as a solver. My very first attempts to compose were when I was about 15. The Greek chess problemists' society had announced a national competition for beginners and I sent in a couple of entries. Thus I came to meet Byron Zappas, Dimitris Kapralos, Pantelis Martoudis and Nikos Siotis, who used to have regular meetings; they all helped me a lot with their comments and with chess literature. However, my first "true" teacher turned out to be living some 500 km away: it was Pavlos Moutecidis who influenced me the most. We exchanged letters continuously for more than 5 years and we eventually became close friends, despite the distance and the age difference. Strangely, I was not particularly attracted by selfmates (Pavlos's specialty), but by helpmates, which I have studied continuously for the past 25 years.
I have so far published about 150 problems, certainly not many, the vast majority being h#2s, some with orthodox and some with fairy units. I should admit that I have been rather lazy lately, composing only occasionally (during PCCC meetings, for instance), but my interest to chess problems has never faded. It was a great honour and pleasure to host the PCCC congresses in Greece in 2004 and 2005, with the support of the Greek Chess Federation and of the few, but hard-working Greek problemists. I was awarded the title of International Master in 2001 and I have acted as a FIDE Album judge four times".

The untired Harry Fougiaxis continues supporting various events, as you may see in the recent Solving Contest in Patras, doing his best for the Greek Chess.

	(Problem 271) Harry Fougiaxis, First Prize, Rex Multiplex, 1985 Helpmate in 2 moves. Two solutions. h#2, 2111, (9 + 5)
[r5Q1/4KRP1/S2Pb3/8/2k2rBR/7P/8/6b1]

Key : 1.Rf4-f2! Rf7-f3 (A) 2.Be6-d5 Bg4-d7# (B)
Key : 1.Be6-c8! Bg4-d7 (B) 2.Rf4-d4 Rf7-f3# (A)

Masked white batteries. Bi-colour Bristol manoeuvres. Black interferences. Black moves along the pin-lines. Diagonal / Orthogonal echo.

	(Problem 272) Harry Fougiaxis, Second Prize, U S Problem Bulletin, 1988 Helpmate in 3 moves. Two solutions. h#3, 211111, (4 + 6)
[b7/8/1b1s4/S2k4/8/1Sr5/P3K3/3r4]

Key : 1.Bb6-c5! Sa5-c6 2.Kd5-c4 a2-a4 3.Rd1-d5 Sb3-a5#
Key : 1.Rc3-c4! Sb3-d4 2.Kd5-c5 a2-a3 3.Ba8-d5 Sa5-b3#

Changed self-blocks on bK initial square. White pawn 1-2 step moves. Diagonal / Orthogonal echo. Model mates.

	(Problem 273) Harry Fougiaxis, Second Prize, U S Problem Bulletin, 1989 Helpmate in 2. Grasshoppers a8, g4, g8. Nightriders b3, b4, c1, h6, h7. Twin with wGa8 => wGa7. a) h#2, (4 + 6), Grasshoppers (3 + 0), Nightriders (3 + 2) b) wGa8 => wGa7
[G2K2G1/4p2N/2P3pN/2p1P2p/1nk3Gp/1n3P2/8/2N5]

The Grasshopper is a hopper (moves on a row or file or diagonal and goes exactly behind a hurdle). (Explanation here together with another problem by Harry Fougiaxis).
The Nightrider is a rider (linear piece moving with multiple Knight-steps).
The problem (a) is shown on the diagram.
To create problem (b), the white Grasshopper of a8 is placed on a7.

(a) Key : 1.Nb3-f5! Nh7-d5+ 2.Kc4-d4 Gg4-g7#
(b) Key : 1.Nb4-f6! Nh6-d4+ 2.Kc4-d5 Gg8-g5#

Interesting geometrical play including Nightrider moves with opposite vectors. Note that in b) the pin of bNf6 by the wNh7 plays no active role in mate!


(This post in Greek language).

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper, (German Grashüpfer, French Sauterelle), is a popular fairy piece, which was invented in 1912 by the British founder of the Fairy Chess Thomas Rayner Dawson.
The Grasshopper, which in diagrams has the symbol of an upside-down Queen and in texts the letter G, belongs in the category of the hoppers. It moves on a line or diagonal (just like the Queen) towards a piece (obstacle or hurdle) and steps down on the the square exactly behind the hurdle.
If the Grasshopper is on a8 and there is another piece on a2, the Grasshopper can move to square a1. If there is an enemy piece on the arrival square, the Grasshopper captures it. The piece on a2, which were used as a hurdle for the hopping of the Grasshopper, is not affected. If there are no hurdles for the Grasshopper to jump over them, (or the Grasshopper 'sees' on its lines of movement various pieces, but they have behind them other pieces, having same color as the Grasshopper), the Grasshopper cannot move.
The Grasshopper is a linear piece strategically interesting. We can interpose on a5 a piece and the Grasshopper Ga8, which were threatening the square a1 using as hurdle the piece on a2, now is threatening the square a4 because it can hop over the piece on a5. Also, a battery with a Grasshopper is not firing after removing the front piece , but it is formed and fired by placing in front of the Grasshopper a piece.
If there are Grasshoppers in the initial position of a problem, then a pawn may be promoted to Grasshopper.

	(Problem 106) T. R. Dawson, British Chess Magazine, 1943 Mate in 2. (Grasshoppers). #2 (6+8) 1+3 grasshopper
[8/7p/7K/1g2Sbp1/G3g1Sk/2B3gp/8/6s1]

The Grasshopper Gb5 is threatening Bf5.
The Grasshopper Ga4 can move to c6 and f4.
The Grasshopper Ge4 can move to e6 and g6 (not to h4).
The Grasshopper Gg3 can move to b3 and d6 (not to g5).
The Grasshopper Ga4 keeps the Ge4 pinned because, if Ge4 is lifted, then Ga4 is threatening Kh4 which is exactly behind the hurdle Sg4.

There are some tries: {1.Bxe4? [2.Be4~#] Se2!}, {1.Sf3+? Sxf3!}, {1.Sg6+? hxg6!}, {1.Sh2? Gxf5!}, {1.Gf4+? gxf4!}.

Key: 1.Se3!
It so happens that the key unpins Ge4 (!), but black is in zugzwang.
In the next three variations white forms a battery arriving on the line of Ga4, and removing at the same time the hurdle of the black G which has moved but it cannot come back!
1...Ge6 2.S5g4# (if Ge6xg4 is played, the Grasshopper from e6 becomes the hurdle for Ga4).
1...Gg6 2.Bg4#
1...Ge2 2.S3g4#

Other variations:
1...Sg1~ 2.S(x)f3#,
1...Gg3~ 2.Be1#,
1...h2 2.Sg2#,
1...Gxf5 2.Sxf5#,
1...g4 2.Gf4#.


In the next problem-147, by the IM Harry Fougiaxis, we observe in the two solutions similarity of movements on the file or on the diagonal (orthogonal-diagonal echo), where the black Grasshoppers win the needed tempo with the key:

	(Problem 147) Harry Fougiaxis 434 Sinfonie Scacchistiche No. 91-82, 06/1988 Helpmate in 2, two solutions h#2, 2.1.1.1, (5+5), 2+2 grasshopper
[4G3/G7/2K1S3/2S5/3ggp2/3pk3/8/8]

By examination of this position, we locate two sequencies of moves in the set play:
1...Sg5+ 2.Ge2 Se4# (First check is discovered and the mate is made with double checking).
1...Sb3+ 2.Gf2 Sd4# (Similar mechanism with the previous one, but on the diagonal).

Look now where black will find the move to win one tempo:
1.Ge7! Sg5 2.Ge2 Se4#
1.Gb6! Sb3 2.Gf2 Sd4#


(This post in Greek language).