Versions

We have seen, in problem-22, the version by Iatridis, who has changed a pawn from black to white in order to give a solution to Dittrich's no-solution problem.

In the next two versions we will see other reasonings which have led some composers to create new versions of some problems.

	(Problem 79) Sam Loyd, ”Holyoke Transcript“, 1878 White plays and mates in 3 moves #3 (13+4)
[8/6pK/4S1P1/1R1PP3/2PBkP2/3S2p1/6Pp/2R4Q]

32 Tries: {1.Sf2+? gxf2!}, {1.Qxh2? Kxd3!}, {1.f5? Kxf5!}, {1.Kh8? / Kxg7? / Kg8? / d6? / Rbb1? / Rb2? / Rb3? / Rb4? / Ra5? / Rc5? / Rb6? / Rb7? / Rb8? / Bf2? / Ba7? / Bb6? / Bc5? / Sb2? / Se1? / Sc5+? / Sb4? / Qe1+? / Ra1? / Rcb1? / Rc3? / Rc2? / Rd1? / Re1+? / Rf1? Ke4-f5!}
Key: 1.Rg1!
1...Kxc3 2.Ra1 (Bristol line clearance) K~ / Kxc4 / Ke2 3.Qb1# / Qf1# / Qd1#
1...Kf5 2.Sf2 (zugzwang) gxf2 / hxg1=S 3.g4# / Qh5#

	(Problem 80) C. Bull, 1878 White plays and mates in 3 moves #3 (11+5)
[8/6pK/4p1P1/4P3/2P1kB2/1P1S2p1/4S1Pp/5R1Q]

22 Tries: {1.Sf2+? gxf2!}, {1.Bc1? / Bd2? / Bg5? / Sxg3+? / Qxh2? Kxd3!}, {1.Kh8? / Kxg7? / Kg8? / Sb2? / Sc1? / Se1? / Sc5+? / Sb4? / Sc1? / Ra1? / Rb1? / Rc1? / Rd1? / Re1? / Rf3? / Rf2? Kf5!}.
Key: 1.Rg1!
1...Kxc3 2.Ra1 (Bristol line clearance) K~ / Kxe2 3.Qb1# / Qf1#
1...Kf5 2.Sf2 (zugzwang) gxf2 / hxg1=S 3.g4# / Qh5#

The key and the main variations of Loyd's problem have been preserved, but Bull's position is more economical, not so heavy in white forces.

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	(Problem 81) rev. Saavedra, (or position from the game [Fenton vs Potter]) 1875 White plays and wins + (2+2)
[8/8/1KP5/3r4/8/8/8/k7]

Key: 1.c7! Rd6+
2.Kb5
(Not Ka7, because after Rd7 the pawn is lost,
not Ka6 / Ka5, because after Rc6 the pawn is lost,
not Kc5, because after [Rd1 and Rc1+] the pawn (or the promoted piece) is lost).
2...Rd5+ 3.Kb4 Rd4+ 4.Kb3 Rd3+ 5.Kc2
(Now the plan [Rd1 and Rc1+] is not applicable).
5...Rd4!
(Tricky move, because if 6.c8=Q Rc4+ 7.Qxc4 forced, and black is stalemated!)
6.c8=R [7.Ra8#] Ra4 7.Kb3 [8.Kxa4 / Rc1#] ± (white wins).

	(Problem 82) A. A. Troitzky, ”Ceske Slovo”, 1924 White plays and wins + (5+5)
[8/3b4/k2p3P/1p1K3P/1P4r1/8/3R4/8]

Key: 1.h7! Rg5+ 2.Kxd6 Rxh5 3.Kc7 [4.Ra2#] Be6 4.Kb8 [5.Rd6#] Bd5 5.Rxd5 Rxd5
6.h8=R [7.Rh6#] Rd6 7.Kc7 [8.Kxd6 / Ra8#] ± (white wins)

Troitzky has taken Saavedra's idea and has presented it in new form.


(This post in Greek language).

Greek solvers of chess problems (2008)

We present here the Greek solvers with international classification and ELO grade, or with a position in the first decade of a Greek Solving contest.

Greek solvers of chess problems (international)

(*)	Surname Name	Title	(Contest, mm/yyyy, #position, ELO)
28/08/1966	Prentos Kostas	IM, Champion of Greece	(WCCC, 01/2008, #32, 2490)
.	Mendrinos Nikos	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #71, 2340)
.	Papastavropoulos Andreas	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #87, 2300)
20/04/1966	Fougiaxis Harry	IM	(WCCC, 01/2008, #168, 2123)
.	Kostouros Alexis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #219, 2047)
29/08/1971	Konidaris Panagiotis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #243, 1996)
19/06/1962	Sklavounos Panagis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #260, 1972)
.	Skyrianoglou Dimitris	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #261, 1972)
19/11/1962	Ilantzis Spyros	FM	(WCCC, 01/2008, #267, 1960)
.	Garoufalidis Ioannis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #289, 1922)
22/05/1979	Anemodouras Leocratis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #304, 1896)
12/07/1950	Manolas Emmanuel	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #338, 1811)
26/10/1973	Argyrakopoulos Themistoklis	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #349, 1775)
.	Alexandrou Anastasios	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, #358, 1760)
04/10/1961	Kalkavouras John	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, --, 1859)
.	Mitsakis I.	.	(WCCC, 01/2008, --, 1600)

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2008/03/15 Ptolemaida 2nd Solving Contest ESSKEDYM

#	points	hh:mm	Surname Name	Chess Club
1	23.5	01:24	Rompas Stergios	Giannitsa
2	21.5	01:30	Kourtis Hariton	SO Ptolemaidas
3	15.5	01:25	Kodounas George	Skakistakos Ptolemaidas
4	15.0	01:12	Spirliadis Ach.	Thessaloniki
5	15.0	01:15	Gouderis D.	Giannitsa
6-7	15.0	01:30	Triantaffylidis Ath.	Veria
6-7	15.0	01:30	Panidis K.	Skakistakos Ptolemaidas
8	12.0	01:30	Mitsis John	LP Florinas
9	11.0	01:11	Tsilouhas Vas.	PSS Kifissia Serron
10	7.0	01:30	Minas J.	SO Ptolemaidas

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2008/04/19 Athens 5th Solving Contest ESSNA "Byron Zappas"

#	points	hh:mm	Surname Name	Chess Club
1	25.0	02:13	Mendrinos Nikolaos	AO Zinon Glyfadas
2	20.0	02:15	Papastavropoulos Andreas	AO Zinon Glyfadas
3	19.0	02:15	Konidaris Panagiotis	.
4-5	15.0	02:15	Anamodouras Leocratis	AO Zinon Glyfadas
5-5	15.0	02:15	Garoufalidis John	AO Zinon Glyfadas
6	14.0	02:15	Ilantzis Spyridon	.
7	12.0	02:13	Fougiaxis Haralambos	AO Zinon Glyfadas
8	11.5	02:10	Manolas Emmanuel	AO Zinon Glyfadas
9	10.0	01:42	Skyrianoglou Dimitrios	.
10	10.0	02:12	Kalkavouras John	.

The Solving Contest took place in SO Pagratiou, 22 Zinodotou str., Athens, 19/04/2008 18:15-20:30.
Max points 30, max time 2h 15m. Among 18 contestants, Mr. Mendrinos Nikolaos became champion of Attica.
AO Zinon Glyfadas became Champion team of Attica. No young solver gave solutions.
Organizer : Sklavounos Panagis


(This post in Greek language).

Domination

We present two examples of Domination, from the 2545 which Kasparyan has included in his book.
The problem-118 is a study of the prolific composer Henri Rinck. The battle is R+B vs Q, and in a few moves the domination of the White on the chessboard ascertains his victory. The Queen tries in vain to avoid her fate.

	(Problem 118) Henri Rinck, ”Deutsche Schachzeitung“, 1903 White plays and wins + (5+5)
[6q1/6p1/2k4p/R6B/p7/8/2P3P1/2K5]

Key 1.Ra8! [2 Rxg8]. (If 1...Qxa8 then 2.Bf3+ and 3.Bxa8)
1...Qa2
2.Rxa4 [3.Rxa2]. (If 2...Qxa4 then 3.Be8+ and 4.Bxa4)
2...Qg8
3.Ra8 (The Rook insists!) Qh7
4.Bg6 Qxg6
5.Ra6+ K~
6.Rxg6 ± (white wins)


The problem-139 is a study by Kasparyan, from the chapter R+B+B vs Q. In order to avoid the immediate loss of his Queen, the black King is forced to be exposed to batteries, resulting in a series of double checks. At the end the Queen is lost.

	(Problem 139) G. Kasparyan, First Prize, Tourney Marking 20th Anniversary of the USSR Young Communist League, 1938 White plays and wins + (5+6)
[8/q1b5/8/8/3k4/p3R2p/P5Bp/6BK]

It is not good to play (1.Rd3++? Kxd3 2.Bf1+ Kc2 3.Bxa7 Kb2 4.Bc4 Be5) and black is saved.
Key: 1.Re4++! Kd5!
2.Rd4++ Kc5!
3.Rd5++ Kc6!
4.Rc5++ Kb6! (If 4...Kd6 5.Rc6+ Kd7 6.Bxh3+ Kxc6 7.Bxa7+)
5.Rc6++ Kb7!
6.Rb6++ Kc8
7.Bxh3+ Kd8
8.Rd6+ Bxd6
9.Bxa7 ± (white wins)


(This post in Greek language).

Genrikh Kasparyan

Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparyan (German: Genrich Moissejewitsch Kasparjan, Russian: Генрих Моисеевич Каспарян) is considered one of the greatest Soviet composers of chess studies.
G. Kasparyan was born 27/02/1910 in Tbilisi (Georgia USSR), and died 27/12/1995 in Erivan (Armenia USSR). He was more than 13 years old when he was taught chess, in 1924, by his older brother. He became student (1926 - 1931) of civil engineering in the Polytechnic Institute of Tbilisi. During that period he started composing and he created about 40 chess studies.
He was also very strong over the board player. In 1931 he became champion of Tbilisi and then champion of USSR, taking the first place in a match with Michail Moiseyevich Botwinnik, who became later world champion. In 1936 he went to Erivan and became the first Armenian chess player ”Meister des Sports” winning 9,5-7,5 Witali Alexandrowitsch Tschechower.
He served as soldier (July 1941 - November 1945) and was repeatedly decorated.
In 1956 he has been awarded the title ”Honourable Master of Sports”. He worked as chess tutor till 1990. As active OTB player he won ten times in the Armenian championship.
In 1928 he published his first end-game study. He has composed over 500 studies, from which about 300 have won prizes in various contests.
He took part in 13 composing championships in USSR and he won in six.
In 1950 the International Chess Federation (F.I.D.E.) gave him the title ”International Master”.
In 1956 he became ”International Judge” for chess compositions.
In 1972 he became ”International Grand Master” for chess compositions. For this high title Kasparyan needed 70 points (publications in FIDE Albums). During his career he has gathered 174,17 points.
His book ”ЩАХМАТНЫЕ ЭТЮДЫ, Доминация” (1974) is famous, (and it was translated in English as ”Domination in 2,545 Endgame Studies” in 1980).

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Two studies by Kasparyan

	(Problem 116) Genrikh Kasparyan, First Prize, ”Roycroft Jubilee Ty”, 1979 White plays and draws = (5+10)
[4Q3/4Ppr1/8/4s3/4prbB/p7/p1pP4/k1K5]

This study, is not only noteworthy because it was awarded First Prize in a famous tourney, but because Kasparyan was working on it for 30 years. By his statement, this study is based on an idea he had in 1945. Let us see the solution :

Key: 1.Qb5!
White loses in the variation (1.Kxc2 Bf5 2.Bf6 e3+ 3.Kb3 exd2 4.Bxe5+ Kb1), also in the variation (1.Kxc2 Bf5 2.Qb5 e3+ 3.Kb3 exd2 4.Qxe5+ Kb1).

1...Sd3+ 2.Qxd3
White loses again with (2.Kxc2 Bd1+ 3.Kxd1 Rg1+ 4.Ke2 Rxh4 5.Ke3 Re1+ 6.Kd4 Sb2 7.e8=Q e3+), or with (2.Kxc2 Bd1+ 3.Kxd1 Rg1+ 4.Kc2 Rc1+ 5.Kb3 Rb1+).

2...exd3 3.e8=Q Be6
The continuation (3...Rg5 4.Qh8+ f6 5.Bf2 Rb5 6.Qxf6+ Rb2 7.Bd4 Rxf6 8.Bxf6) is not good because the position is at equilibrium despite the fact that black has more material.

4.Qxe6 Rg5
The threat is [5...Rb5]. If now 5.Bxg5, then after 5...Rf1+ black can checkmate.

5.Bf2
Not (5.Qe3 Rf1+ 6.Be1 Rb5 7.Qxd3 Rxe1+ 8.Kxc2 Rb2+ 9 Kc3 Rc1+ 10 Kd4 Rb4+ 11 Ke5 Kb2). There are now two continuations...

5...Rg1+ 6.Be1 Rb4 7.Qxa2+ Kxa2
The black Rook has pinned the Bishop and white is stalemated, or...

5...Rb5 6.Bd4+ Rb2 7.Qf6 Rxf6 8.Bxf6
The white Bishop has pinned the Rook and black is stalemated.

	(Problem 117) Genrikh Kasparyan, First Prize, ”Chess in USSR”, 1935 White plays and draws = (7+7)
[8/6q1/b7/1p5p/rb5P/4k1PP/4S3/3Q2KB]

The situation, which will be presented in the solution of problem-117, can be described as Continuous Stalemate, where white and black try in vain to sacrifice their Queens. Let us see the solution :

Key: 1.Sf4! [2.Qd3# / Sd5#]
1...Qxg3+
2.Sg2+ Ke4
3.Qxa4 (White sees that if 3... bxa4, will be stalemated).
3...Qh2+ (Black sees that after 4.Kxh2 bxa4, will win).
4.Kf2! Qg1+ (Black tries repeatedly to sacrifice his Queen, but White continuously becomes pinned...)
5.Kg3! Qf2+
6.Kh2! Qg3+
7.Kg1! Qh2+ (Draw, by repetition of the moves).


(This post in Greek language).

Studies (2), draws

The study is a chess composition, that is a contrived position on the chessboard, in which the white achieves his goal no matter what is the black defense, and the goal is [white plays and wins] (symbol +) or [white plays and draws] (symbol =).

The study can be considered as a special case of the orthodox chess problem. The goal must be achieved (win or draw, just as in a chess game) without a pre-specified number of moves for the variations.
The study has also unique key and unique solution.
Typically, the studies resemble game-finales (end-games) and they have usually few pieces.

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White draws

	(Problem 87) M. S. Libiurkin, “64”, 1934 White plays and draws = (4+4)
[1K6/2P5/8/8/4P1s1/8/B5kb/7q]

The draw comes in various ways:
* with a stalemate position (of the white or of the black)
* with lack of enough material of the one side, which cannot win (i.e. K+S versus K)
* with repetition of the moves, (three times the same position, without capture, without pawn move, with the same side ready to move, with the same rights (castling, en-passant)).

Problem-87 is a study by M. S. Libiurkin, where the stipulation defines that it is white's turn to play and achieve draw.

The pawn c7 is pinned, so white cannot become any stronger by promotion, and the position is open, so stalemate is not an easy job. Let us see the solution:

Key: 1.e5! [2.c8=Q, or 2.Bd5+ that wins the black Queen].
1...Sxe5
(Now white must not continue with 2.Bd5+ because 2...Sf3 wins for black).
2.c8=Q Sc4+
(Now white must take care. If 3.Ka7, then 3...Qg1+ mates or wins the Queen Qc8).
3.Ka8 Sb6+
4.Kb7 Sxc8
5.Bd5+ Kg1
(Again white has an opportunity to lose the game. If 6.Bxh1 Sd6+ 7.Kc6 Kxh1 and black wins).
6.Kxc8!
(Now black is forced to capture the Bishop which is threatening the black Queen).
6...Qxd5
(and white is stalemated).


Richard Réti, (28/05/1889 – 06/06/1929) was born in Austria-Hungaria. (He had an older brother Rudolph, famous pianist). Réti created studies, where the white King is apparently away from the black pawn and cannot catch it before promotion, but during the solution the Réti geometry triumphs.

	(Problem 88) Richard Réti 1928 White plays and draws = (2+3)
[5K2/k7/4P1p1/8/8/8/4b3/8]

Key: 1.Ke7! g5
2.Kd6 g4
3.e7! (Exactly now! Now that the diagonal e2 – h5 has been closed) Bb5
4.Kc5 Bd7
5.Kd4 (the King has entered the square g4-g1-d1-d4-g4 and can capture the pawn).


In the next problem-89, by G. M. Kasparyan, the white King prepares to be buried alive and black, a Queen ahead, is watching unable to stop him!

	(Problem 89) G. M. Kasparyan, “Chess in U.S.S.R.”, 1937 White plays and draws = (5+3)
[k3K3/1p6/7p/1P6/1P6/8/PP6/8]

Key: 1.Kd7! h5
2.Kc7 h4
3.Kb6 h3
4.Ka5 (If 4...b6+ 5.Ka4 h2 6.a3 h1=Q 7.b3 ~ (stalemate))
4...h2
5.b6 h1=Q 6.b5 Qb1 7.a4 ~ 8.b4 ~ (stalemate).


[This post in Greek language].