Award for 2nd TT Kobulchess Christmas 2014

(25.12.2014) Here is the Award of the 2nd KoBulChess TT - Cristmas Tourney 2014! Many thanks to all participants and to the judge IM Krassimir Gandev for his quick work. The award remains open for 1 month period. 2nd KoBulChess TT – Christmas Tourney 2014 Theme: All type problems (#/=, H#/H=, S#/S=, HS#/HS= etc.) in 2-4 moves (up to 8 moves for Series and P-Series problems) with the fairy condition Circle SneK. Other fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed. Royal pieces can be used of course. Circle SneK: When a Queen is captured - a Rook (or Royal Rook) of the same color (if exists on the board) becoming Queen; When a Rook is captured – a Bishop (or Royal Bishop) of the same color (if exists on the board) becoming Rook; When a Bishop is captured - a Knight (or Royal Knight) of the same color (if exists on the board) becoming Bishop; When a Knight is captured – a Queen (or Royal Queen) of the same color (if exist on the board) becoming Knight. Only one piece may change its type after a capture. In case of option – the capturing side choose which piece will be transformed. The capture and the change of type is a single move. If this full move result a selfcheck - the capture is forbidden.  The capture of a pawn is normal. The capture is normal also in the case when there is no piece on the board which should be transformed. Castling with Royal piece is not allowed. Entries: 22  Participants: Pierre Tritten, Manfred Rittirsch, Mario Parrinello, Kostas Prentos, Emmanuel Manolas, Rainer Kuhn, Themis Argirakopoulos, Sebastien Luce, Ralf Kraetschmer, Alain Bienabe Countries: Greece, Italy, Germany, France AWARD It was pleasure for me to be a judge of this interesting tourney. I received from the director Diyan Kostadinov 22 entries (including 2 versions) in anonymous form. I propose the following ranking: 1st Prize – Manfred Rittirsch    a) 1....Rd2? ... 3. ... Qxg3(wRh8)+ 4.hxg3(bQh5)! 1...Sf2 [~? ... 4.Sxc3(bBh3)!] 2.Rf5+ [~? ... 3.h8Q+ Rd,Rhxh8(wQf7)!] gxf5 3.h8Q+ Bxc3(wSh8)# [4.Sxc3(bBf2)??, 4.Kxf2(bSg4)??]    b) 1...Sf2? ... 3. ... Bxc3(wSh8)+ 4.Kxf2(bSh5)! 1....Rd2 [~? ... 4.hxg3(bQd8)!] 2.Sd6 [~? ... 3.h8B+ Qxh8(wBb5)!] cxd6 3.h8B+ Qxg3(wRh8)# [4.hxg3(bQd2)??, 4.Kxd2(bRb2)??] This is my favourite. Very rich Circle SneK specific logical maneuvers with reciprocal correspondence of pieces, change of promotions, cross checks and Circle SneK mates. 2nd Prize – Mario Parrinello a) 1…rQh8 2.Sa6 Sf6 3.rQa1 Sxg8(rSa1)+ 4.hxg8Q(rSh8)+ Qxa6(wSg8)# b) 1...rQc8 2.Sh6 Sc6 3.rQc1 Sxb8(rSc1)+ 4.axb8Q(rSc8)+ Qxh6(wSb8)# Wonderful Echo mates, creation of black batteries with ODT, change of functions between wSs and nice fairy play! 3rd Prize – Emmanuel Manolas 1.Bg7 fxe8Q(bQh7) 2.Bxc3(wBg1) Qxe2(bSh7)# 1.Sxc3(wBg1) fxe8S(bQh7) 2.Qd3 Sxd6(bRf8)# Model mates, selfblocks, promotions, all types of SneK conversions and SneK mates. 4th Prize – Pierre Tritten 1.Be4 Bxb3(bSf4) 2.Se2 Rxd1(bRc3)# 1.Sd2 Rxf4(bQd1) 2.Qe2 Bxg6(bBd2)# Same motivation for white captures: first one allows black transformed piece to block on e2, second one avoids black defense, change of functions, all types Circle SneK transformations. 5th Prize – Themis Argirakopoulos 1.d1B 2.b1R 3.Rb2 4.Rg2 5.Bf3 6.Bc6 Kxg2(Rc6)= [7.Rxb6(Rd6)? 7.Rxc7(Se6)? 7.Rxd6(Bc7)?] 1.d1S 2.b1Q 3.Qa2 4.Se3 5.Sg2 6.Qa8 Kxg2(Sa8)= [7.Sxb6(Rd6)?  7.Sxc7(Se6)?] A wonderful problem with AUW where the stalemate positions are possible because of SneK protections.   6th Prize – Argirakopoulos, Luce, Tritten a) 1.c2 2.c1B 3.Bf4 4.Bh2 5.g1R+ Sxg1(bRh2)# b) 1.b1S 2.Sd2 3.Sf1 4.g1Q 5.Qg4 Bxf1(bSg4)# Interchange of function between the white pieces, AUW. Special Prize – Pierre Tritten 1.Bf4+ Kxf4(bBh3) 2.Rf3+ Kxf3(bRh3) 3.Qe3+ Kxe3(bQh3) 4.Se2+ Kxe2(bSh3) 5.Sf2 Kxf2= Funny idea – the black Knight h3 plays like a Knight again after a full Circle SneK cycle of transformations 1st Honorable mention – Argirakopoulos, Tritten a) 1.Kd5 2.Kxe4(wRf8) 3.Kd5 4.Kd6 Rd8# b) 1.Sd7 2.Sxf8(wBh3) 3.Sd7 4.Sc5 Rd4# c) 1.Rc3 2.Rxh3(wRf8) 3.Rc3 4.Rc5 Rd8# Double switchbacks by three black pieces (King, Knight, Rook), Zilahi and nice white/back Forsberg suit twins.    2nd Honorable mention – Kostas Prentos 1.Qe3 Sg6 2.Bd4 Bd3# 1.Qxe5 Bc4 2.Be3 Rf4# Two Circle SneK specific mates. 3rd Honorable mention – Kostas Prentos 1.Bb1 Bg7 2.Se4 Bxe5(wBe4) 3.Bec2 Kxf5(wRc2) 4.Rf2+ Sxf2(wRb1)# 1.Rf2+ Kf7 2.Sh7+ Ke8 3.Sg5 Bxe5(wBg5) 4.Bc6+ Sxf2(wRc6)# Problem type ANI: in the 1st solution is presented a hybrid of Bristol and Indian - the first white Bishop opens the line for the second white Bishop, which on the next move will transform into Rook, creating a battery. 2nd solution reach the same mate after different active play of the white pieces. Commendations (equal rank): Com – Themis Argirakopoulos a) 1…g8R 2.e1S Rg2 3.Sc2 Rxc2(bSd3)# b) 1…h8Q 2.h1B Qh6 3.Bc6 Qxc6(bBb3)# Com – Alain Bienabe 1.Kxd5(wRe7) Ra7 2.Kc5 Ra5# 1.Kxe7(wBc4) Sc6+ 2.Ke8 Rd8# Com – Rainer Kuhn 1.Sxa1(bRd1)! Rxa1 2.a8Q+ Qxa8(wQe1)# 1.rBa8! Qa4 2.Re8+ Qxe8(rRa8)# 1.rBb7! Bxc2 2.a8Q+ Qxa8(wQe1)# Com – Sebastien Luce 1…Ba7 2.Sxa7(wBe4)+ Bxg2(bBa7) 3.Bb8 Kb6# 1…Bb6 2.Sxb6(wBe4) Bxg2(bBb6) 3.Ba7 Kc7# Com – Emmanuel Manolas 1.Qxd5(bBc3)+! (bBe6?) Kxd5(wQh5) 2.Qxe6(bSh2)+ Kxe6 3.Qxf7(bRc3)+ Kxf7 4.g8Q# Com – Rainer Kuhn 1.rSc3 Kg4 2.Bxf5+ Kxf5(rBc3) 3.rBa1 Be5# 1.rSb4 Kh3 2.rSc6 Be5 3.rSxe5(wBe8) d4# I wish to all participants and the tourney director – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015! Sofia 24.12.2014        Judge: IM Krassimir Gandev

A prized series composition

In "series" compositions, one side makes moves alone, alters the position in some fashion, and when its moves are completed, then the other side mates or stalemates, accordingly with the stipulation.

Today we will see a ser-s=198, that is a series inverse stalemate in 198 moves. The white plays 198 moves alone and in the last one the black plays and is forced to stalemate the wK. This composition was awarded with 1st prize in a ChessCafe.com tourney and is a world record in its category. (See the presentation with a Sherlock-Holmes-like story in page 5 of the document : http://www.chesscafe.com/text/puzzling54.pdf)
Four black Pawns have been promoted to bQ, bR, bR, bR. The wK has difficulty in moving around the chessboard with the assistance of the wB, but the wK is obstructive and the wB makes large rounds.
During the writing of the solution, we omit the moves which are easily deducted.

The composer, Arno Tüngler, is very succesful with very long compositions.

Problem-748 Arno Tüngler 1st Prize, ChessCafe.com 2013 Puzzler's Cup

4B3/2p1p3/2PqPr2/2r2Ps1/2Pr3b/p2PKp2/1r3s2/q5rk (7 + 15) ser-s=198

1.Bd7 6.Bc2 8.Kc3 9.Bb3 11.Ka4 22.Bb5 26.Kc8 35.Bd7 37.Ke8 48.Bf7 50.Kg7 51.Bg6 53.Kh5 64.Bg4 65.Kxh4 66.Kh5 77.Bg6 79.Kg7 80.Bf7 82.Ke8 93.Bd7 95.Kc8 104.Bb5 108.Ka4 119.Bb3 121.Kc3 122.Bc2 125.Kxf2 128.Kc3 129.Bb3 131.Ka4 142.Bb5 146.Kc8 155.Bd7 157.Ke8 168.Bf7 170.Kg7 171.Bg6 173.Kh5 184.Bg4 185.Kxg5 187.Kh3 198.Bg2+ Rgxg2/Rbxg2/fxg2=

Composers' cooperations (3)

In this post we will see five problems created by cooperative composers. In general, the chess composition is a lonely activity. Most of the time it is you and your chessboard, or even your computer running the proper software. But often the composers share an idea with someone else and the composition has more than one parents.
Who has done most of the work? Finally, it does not matter. The cooperation is worthwhile.
Whose name will be written at the top? We said, it does not matter. The main thing here is that the composers cooperate and sometimes they become friends.
There are in the chess history rare cases, where composers having together awarded compositions, at the end they do not speak to each other.

Problem-710 Ioannis Kalkavouras, Greece Emmanuel Manolas, Greece 2nd Com., www.problemiste.com, Problem 6, 1/2012

2R1RB2/bs1p1p2/5k1K/2pp1Pps/rPPp2P1/3p4/1r3P2/8 (9 + 13) #10

Try : {1.Re1?  [2.Be7#]  Re2!} Key : 1.f4! [2.Be7# / fxg5#] 1…gxf4 2.Be7+  Ke5 3.Bd8+ Kd6 4.Bc7+ Kc6 5.b5+ Rxb5 (the bRb2 goes away) 6.Bd8+ Kd6 7.Be7+ Ke5 8.Bf8+ Kf6 9.Re1 ~ 10.Be7# The travel of the black king is named pendulum. The problem is characterized Logical, that is what can not be done with the try, it appears again during the main solution of the problem.

Problem-711 Ioannis Kalkavouras, Greece Emmanuel Manolas, Greece MATPLUS 39-40, Autumn-Winter 2010, Problem 1675

5R2/5K2/2p2B2/2p2kpS/2p5/SPpb1P2/Pbs2p2/s2B1r2 (9 + 12) #8

Try : {1.Re8? [2.Re5#] Re1!} Key : 1.Sb5! [2.Sd6#] 1…cxb5 2.Rc8 [3.Rxc5#] Ba3 3.b4 [4.Rxc5#] Bxb4 4.Re8 [5.Re5#] Re1 5.Be2 [6.Re5#] Rxe2 6.Rg8 [7.Rxg5#] Re7+ 7.Kxe7 ~ 8.Rxg5# The problem is characterized Logical, that is what can not be done with the try, it appears again during the main solution of the problem.

Problem-712 János Mikitovics, Hungary Emmanuel Manolas, Greece juliasfairies.com 290

White : Kd3, Black : Kd6 Qh8 Re6 Bh3 Pd5h5g3, Neutral : Pe2, (1 + 7 + 1) The neutral pawn takes the color of the side which has the move. series auto-stalemate in 14 (White plays 14 moves and becomes stalemated). a) Diagram : condition Circe PWC (exchange of places during capture) b) +bRg5 : condition  KoBul Kings

a) 1.Kc2 2.e4 3.exd5(+bPe4) 4.dxe6(+bRd5) 5.e7 6.e8=nR (it is promoted to neutral Rook) 7.nRb8 8.nRxh8(+bQb8) 9.nRxh5(+bPh8) 10.nRh7 11.nRxh3(+bBh7) 12.nRh1 13.nRe1 14.nRxe4(+bQe1) auto= b) 1.Rd2 2.e4 3.Ke3 4.Kf4 5.exd5 6.dxe6(bK=bRK) 7.e7 8.e8=nB (it is promoted to neutral Bishop) 9.nBxh5(bRK=bK) 10.nBg4 11.Kxg3 12.Kh2 13.Kh1 14.nBxh3(bK=bBK) auto=

Problem-713 Vito Rallo, Italy Emmanuel Manolas, Greece variantim April 2013, problem 2363

8/8/8/8/8/1K2SP2/4k3/4s3 (3 + 2) h#3, 2 solutions, condition Andernach (= the capturer changes color)

1.Sxf3(=wSf3) Sd4+ 2.Kd2 Ka2 3.Kc1 Sb3# 1.Kd2 Sd5 2.Kd1 Kb2 3.Sxf3(=wSf3) Sc3# Ideal mates, Chameleon Mates (0,1), reversal of two black moves.

Problem-714 Vito Rallo, Italy Emmanuel Manolas, Greece juliasfairies.com 247

8/8/8/8/K7/pGG5/k7/s7 (3 + 3) (Grasshoppers b3 c3 + 0) h#3.5, Helpmate in 3.5 κινήσεις (that is white plays first) 2 solutions, Andernach (= the capturer changes color)

1…Gd3 2.Sc2 Ge3 3.Ka1 Kb3 4.Sxe3(=wSe3) Sc2# 1…Kb4 2.Sxb3(=wSb3) Sd2 3.Ka1 Kb3 4.a2 Ga3# In the same page of juliasfairies.com, there is the problem 248, another composition from the ones we create together with the Sicilian Vito Rallo.