Award of 14th TT Chess Composition Microweb C 31.5.2004

1.Bd2 Sxd4+ 2.Bf3 Sde6#

1.Rf3 Sxe4+ 2.Rd2 S4c5#

1.BLxe6 LIh5 2.Kf4 Sxe6#

1.RLxc5 LIa2 2.Kd3 Sxc5#

Impressive content, with diagonal-orthogonal echo in the background. In the first two solutions, two batteries-antibatteries Lion-Knight unpin and alternatively capture two black units and mate is given by Knight switchback. Remarkable double selfblocks by different units on d2 and f3. In the last two solutions, Black surprisingly destroys those batteries by capturing the white Knights, thus achieving the Zilahi theme, and the black King is mated on other fields, respectively f4 and d3. A high class problem!

1.Qxd6(Qc8) nBxb4(nBf4) 2.Rbxb5(Rg3) nRxe5(nRb3)#

1.Qxb5(Qc8) nRxe5(nRb3) 2.Bhxd6(Bb2) nBxb4(nBf4)#

A sparkling problem! The double captures of neutral Knights anticipatorily open b-file and h2-b8-diagonal for the mate and open fifth rank and e7-b4-diagonal for neutral figures. Then bRb1 and bBh2 reciprocally interfere. Furthermore, we observe the interchange of white moves, the absence of white unit excepted the lonely white King and model mates that are specific for AntiSuperCirce. The problem demonstrates the extraordinary possibilities of this new fairy condition, recently launched at Andernach meeting.

1.Qf3+ PAf2 2.Bxe5 Sxc5#

1.Qe3+ VAf2 2.Rxe5 Sxf6#

1.Bg7 PAxf7 2.Kf3 Sf6#

1.Rc7 VAxa7 2.Ke3 Sc5#

In the first two solutions the black Queen blocks fields e3 and f3 with check and White gives mate by two Vao-Pao and Pao-Vao antibatteries. In the last two solutions, the black King will be mated on those previously blocked fields and the mating white antibatteries are formed by Vao and Knight, respectively Pao and Knight. An original conception excellently illustrated!

a) 1...BLxe4-d3(Sb4) 2.Kxd3(BLg4) RLxb4-c4(Sf3) 3.Kxc4(RLh4) BLxf3-e2(Sb3)#

b) 1...RLxe4-f4(Sg6) 2.Kxf4(RLc2) BLxg6-f5(Se2) 3.Kxf5(BLb1) RLxe2-f2(Sg5)#

A gem miniature with ideal mates! Every move is a SuperCirce-type capture on diagonal or orthogonal line. I consider the twinning good enough but I regret that white King is in check in the initial position.

1.KAxb6 KAc4 2.Qg4 KAh4 3.KAe3 Rxg4#

1.KAxf4 KAe3 2.Bb6 KAa7 3.KAc4 Bxb6#

Captivating diagonal and orthogonal Kangaroo play! The capture of white Kangaroo at first move is rather surprising and creates a good impression.

1.Kxc4 Gb1 2.BHc5 Rd3#

1.Kxd6 Ge8 2.RHc5 Be6#

1.RHf5 Be6 2.RHxb5 Gxe7#

1.BHe3 Rd3 2.BHxb6 Gxc2#

Formation of Grasshopper antibatteries, Zilahi theme, selfblocks, total diagonal-orthogonal echo play!

1.Sd7 Lxd7-c6 2.Kd4 Lxe4-f3#

1.Se6 Lxe6-e5+ 2.Kc4 Lxb5-a5#

1.LIb7 Nd7 2.Kc6 Ne7#

1.LIe5 Ne7+ 2.Ke6 Nd4#

In the first two solutions the white Locust forms batteries with white Nightriders. In the other two, the Nightriders interfere with the Locust. An original idea economically presented.

a)
1.Qc6+ BLxc6-d5 2.RLxe6-d6 Rxg5#
1.Qf4 RLxf4-f3 2.Ke4 Re1#

b)
1.Qf7 RLxf7-f6 2.BLxe6-d7 Bd4#
1.Qe4 BLxe4-f3 2.Kf4 Bh2#

Harmonious complex of Locust-Bishop and Locust-Rook. The black Queen sacrifices herself four times, so that white Locusts can move: twice diagonally, twice orthogonally. Mates are given by classical units: Bishop and Rook.

1.LExb4 LExa3+ 2.LEb6 nMOb4#

1.LExd5 LExe5+ 2.LEc6 nMAd5#

The initial batteries are replaced by antibatteries; Zilahi and Umnov themes in the background. The use of Mao and Moa is odd but interesting.

1.LIbxd6 LIc1 2.e5 DAc4#

1.LIhxe4 LIh2 2.Qc4 FEe5#

1.Qa3 LIa6 2.LIgxe4 LId8#

1.FEf6 LIxe7 2.LIdxd6 LIg2#

The pieces Fers and Dabbaba give this problem all its attraction. They are captured twice, at first and second move.

1.Kf6 PAe4 2.RLe6 VAxa1 3.Ke5 PAd4#

1.Ke6 VAd4 2.BLf6 PAxe1 3.Ke5 VAe3#

White reciprocal antibatteries, double black King switchback in the middle of the board and perfect correspondence of the fairy pieces on a1-h8 diagonal and e-file.

a) 1.Sg3+ Kxe3 2.Bg1+ Kc1# (2.Bg5+? Kc5+ 3.Rd3!)

b) 1.Sg7+ Kxd6 2.Rd8+ Ka6# (2.Rb6+? Kd3+ 3.Bc5!)

Schiffman parade with active white batteries, crosschecks, dual avoidance, black interferences and pinmates! Very exciting content, but realized at great expense of fairy pieces.

1.Bc6 b8S 2.Kxe4 Sxc6#

1.Rf7 h8S 2.Kxf4 Sxf7#

1.Qxe4 Bc6 2.Qxf4 cxb5#

1.Qxf4 Rf7 2.Qxe4 hxg7#

In the first two solutions the reciprocal paralyses of Rooks and Bishops are followed by deparalysing captures. In the other two solutions the Rook-Pawn and Bishop-Pawn batteries are inactive and are destroyed through the captures of white pawns. Beautiful conception but the position is very heavy, with all eight white Pawns and too many black blocking units. Here is a more economical version.

1.Qd1 Ge1 2.Qd5 Qe3#

1.Qh2 Gh1 2.Qe5 Qf3#

1.Gh6 Gh7 2.Re3 Qf5#

1.Sa3 Ga4 2.Bf3 Qd4#

Four echo mates by white Queen supported by a Grasshopper. The solutions fit by pairs. Grasshoppers reciprocally change roles in all four solutions. But there remains the same observation as in the preceding problem: construction is not optimal, one can eliminate black Pawns f6 and g7 and black Bishop g2 and move bGf8 to a6, keeping the same solutions.

a) 1.nRb5 nBxc4(nBa6) 2.Kc4 nRxf5(nRf4)#

b) 1.nBf7 nRxf5(nRf8) 2.Kf5 nBxc4(nBd3)#

Another AntiSuperCirce problem, with reciprocal batteries formed by neutral Bishop and Rook. Perfect harmony but the bad twinning reduces the value of the problem.

1...Re3 2.Sf4 Bh5 3.Ke4 Bf3#

1...Bc6 2.Se6 Rg7 3.Kd6 Rd7#

Umnov theme, light and esthetical position. The Patrouille effect is discreet.

1...f8R(bR) 2.Rf1(wR) Bf4(bB) 3.Se2(wS) Sxf4#

1...f8B(bB) 2.Ba3(wB) Rc5(bR) 3.Sb3(wS) Sxc5#

Attractive miniature with minor promotions, change of functions and interesting mirror mates.

1.LIa2 Sa6 2.LId5 Sxe2+ 3.Kc4 LEf1#

1.LIe1 Sh3 2.LIe4 Sxb3+ 3.Ke3 LEa3#

Beautiful diagonal and orthogonal "epaulette" mates. Pity of unused black Knight a7. The author suggested a possible version without this knight, without white King and with a black Pawn at c8 (!?).