Award of 21st TT Chess Composition Microweb C 5.5.2007


The theme of our 21st TT was not difficult to show - at least one move of a king and at least one paralysis in Madrasi Rex Inclusiv. No genre restrictions. Therefore it was expected that many different genres might compete and indeed these expectations were more than reached by the entries. There were direct, help, self, reflex and various series problems submitted, ending in mate, stalemate, double stalemate or even castling. Also the length varied from 2 to 53 moves. Welcome the diversity!

How then the problems might have been compared and judged? In fact it was not so difficult. Repetition of thematic elements (king moves & paralysis) was a strong factor, but overall impression and general value was equally important. I was trying to select problems with non-trivial strategy, rich use of Madrasi and/or any other present fairy elements and original ideas.

The following problems did not enter the award only so-so: No. 11 (Stun, Kd1-Kh1, s==7), No. 20 (Parrinello, Kc6-Kc8, hs#3), No. 21 (Stun, Kg1-Ka4, h#13), No. 26 (Stun, Kd3-Kf6, hs=3), No. 27 (Tungler, Kd5-Kf5, r=2), No. 29 (Stun, Kf8-Kh6, hs#2,5), No. 35 (Stun, Kd4-Kg5, s#5). Yes, 5 times Stun - he even managed to enter the award with two problems, well done. Other "majority" is the presence of 3 helpself problems among near misses. In fact, there were 11 helpself problems by 3 authors competing - and 5 of them are awarded, all by Mario Parrinello, excellent result!

Of course, thanks are due to all authors of competing problems as they have shown a lot of imagination. Finally, congratulations to all winners. Now the problems in my preferred order - from commendations through honourable mentions to the top prizes.

Juraj Lörinc
International Judge of FIDE for fairies
Bratislava, Slovakia, May 2007

Michael Shapiro
after Viktor Syzonenko (feenschach 1983)
Special Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 19

1.Kb7 2.Kc6 3.Kd5 4.Ke4 5.Kf3 6.Kg2 7.Kxh1(Ra8) 8.Kg2 9.Kf3 10.Ke4 11.Kd5 12.Kc6 13.Kb7 14.Kxa8 15.Rah1(b) 16.BHa1(b) 17.Kb7 18.Kc6 19.Kd5 20.Ke4 21.Kf3 22.Kg2 23.Kxh1(Ra8) 24.Kg2 25.Kf3 26.Ke4 27.Kd5 28.Kc6 29.Kb7 30.Kxa8 31.Rh1(b) 32.Kb7 33.Kc6 34.Kd5 35.Ke4 36.Kf3 37.Kg2 38.Kxh1(Ra8) 39.Kg2 40.Kf3 41.Ke4 42.Kd5 43.Kc6 44.Kb7 45.Kxa8 46.Kb7 47.Kc6 48.Kd5 49.Ke4 50.Kf3 51.Kg4 52.Kh5 53.d8Q(b) Qxg5(pg2)#

The author managed to more than double Syzonenko's almost 1.5 diagonal. The means used are quite strong, but it is worth noting that Double Maximummer use is not so mechanical as is often usual, rather it is in the core of problem.









ser-s#53 (8+9)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv, Circe
Antiandernach chess, Double Maximummer
2+1 bishopper, grasshopper d3, rookhopper c7

Jaroslav Stun
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 01

a) 1.CHxd6(R) 2.CHd2(Q) 3.CHf4(S) 4.Kf5 5.Ke4 6.CHe2(B) 7.Kd3 8.Kxc3 9.CHb5(R)+ CHxb5(S)#

b) 1.CHe7(R) 2.CHxe5(Q) 3.CHxd6(S) 4.CHf5(B) 5.Kf6 6.Ke5 7.Kd4 8.Kc3 9.CHb1(R)+ CHxb1(S)#

Two different ways of wK to c3 made possible by different shields and two different (but similar) mates.









ser-s#9 (2+4)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
1+3 chameleon
b) c3 -» e5

Michel Caillaud
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 12

1...a3#

1.d5 a4 2.d4 a5 3.dxc3(Ke1) Kd2 4.cxd2(Ke1)+ Kxd2(d7) 5.Kxa5(a2) Kc3 6.Kb4 a3#

Certain humour in this problem. Thanks to Circe Rex Inclusiv kings might be unparalyzed and thus they take role in the repetition of initial position - with White to move after Return of Kings (by chance there is just Lord of Rings in Czech TV).









h#6* (3+5)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
Circe Rex Inclusiv

Michal Dragoun
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 13

1.LIg6 Gg7 2.Kd5 Gg5#

1.LIe6 Kd6 2.Gf5 Gxe6#

1.LIg2 Gg1 2.Kd6 Gg3#

1.LIe4 Kd5 2.Gf4 Gxe4#

As the author says in his commentary: small study in geometry. 4 different mates in HOTF form.









h#2 (2+6)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
1+2 grasshopper, 0+2 lion
4.1.1.1

Jaroslav Stun
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 25

1.Rxc4 2.Kd5(b4) 3.Rxb4 4.Kc4(a3) 5.Kb3 6.Kxa4 7.Rb2(Ra2) 8.Ka5 axb2#

1.Kd4 2.Kc3 3.Rxc4 4.Kb3(b4) 5.Rxb4 6.Kxa4(a5) 7.Kxa5 8.Rb6(a7)+ axb6#

Again two different mates with wK on the same square. Once checkmating pawn mates directly, once it opens battery.









ser-s#8 (2+3)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
Circe parrain
2 solutions

Mario Parrinello
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007

No. 30 a) 1.PAxa7 LIe7 2.VAxe7 LIh5 3.Kc5+ VAg5#

b) 1.VAc1 LIf4 2.PAxf4 LIg8 3.Kc4+ PAf7#

The first of good strategic problems in the tourney. Echo diagonal-orthogonal with point in the final move. Black lions already stand on the future anti-battery lines, but as they stand exactly on a square where the hurdle will land, they have to be replaced. The only slight imbalance is in the motivation of the first move: 1.PAxa7 allows move of wK to c5, while 1.VAc1 prevents parrying the final white check by VAe3.









hs#3 (7+10)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
pao a4 - c7, vao a3 - e3
lion f7, g5
b) c6 -» g4

Václav Kotesovec
Commendation
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 37

1...Gg1 2.rRa1 rRb1#
1...rRg2 2.rRh1 rRg1#

1.d2 Gc3 2.rRc1 rRc2#
1.rRh1 rRf2 2.rRg1 rRf1#
1.rRg1 Gh1 2.rRa1 rRb1#
1.rRf8 rRb7 2.rRe8 rRe7#
1.rRf7 rRb6 2.rRe7 rRe6#
1.rRf6 rRb5 2.rRe6 rRe5#
1.rRf5 rRb4 2.rRe5 rRe4#

Echos, echos, echos. The author managed to put some life into potentially very boring idea.









h#2* (2+2)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
1+1 royal rook, grasshopper e1
0.2.1.1 + 7.1.1.1

Václav Kotesovec
3rd Honourable Mention
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 36


1.a1G 2.Ge5 3.Gg3 4.Ghf2 5.Gd3 6.Gd1 7.Gd5 8.Gd7 9.Gf5 10.Ke4 Kd5==

As the author says: there is a cycle of paralyses Ga4-Gd7-Gg4-Gd1-Ga4. This paralysis frame employs 2+2 units as hurdles and thanks to the position of kings hurdles cannot move as this would cause selfcheck by unparalysis. Fresh idea.









ser-h==10 (8+5)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
2+2 grasshopper

Mario Parrinello
2nd Honourable Mention
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 23

1.LOxf4-e3 Kg5 2.RLg4 RLf1 3.Rd3+ LIf4#

1.LOxf6-e6 Kg6 2.RLg5 RLf8 3.Rd5+ LIf6#

Very good D-O echo with reciprocal exchange of roles RLf4-RLf6. Lb3 paralyses checking white locust, the check is given by Madrasi specific antibattery cutting the paralysis line. Also note anti-Indian manoeuvres 2...RLf6-f1 3...LIh4-f4# and 2...RLf4-f8 3...LIh4-f6#. I just regret the crowded position in the rectangle, where the main actions take place.

See at the end of the award the new version by Paul Raican.









hs#3 (5+8)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
1+1 locust, lion h4, 1+2 rook lion
2.1.1.1.1.1

Jozsef Pasztor
1st Honourable Mention
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 14

1.Se5 a7 2.Kc5 Sa6#

1.Sc6 h4 2.Kd5 Sf4#

1.Bxd3+ Kd4 2.Ke5 Sxd3#

1.Bxb4 Kb5 2.Kc6 Sxb4#

Madrasi specific HOTF with enough differences between non-analogous phases and very good between analogous ones. Not very economical though, as predicted in h#s by one of competitors.









h#2 (5+13)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
4.1.1.1

Mario Parrinello
4th Prize
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 06

1.LIh4 LOxg4-h5 2.Kxd2 LOxc5-b5 3.LId3+ LOxd3-e2#

1.LIh6 LOxb4-a5 2.Kxe2 LOxc5-d5 3.LId3+ LOxd3-d2#

The main idea of this helpselfmate lies in triangular round trips of black locusts. W1 paralyses LIh8, W2 paralyses kings and W3 is antibattery check. Almost without blemishes - just RLb3 is one in my view. It was even possible to turn it into (normal) lion and thus reduce number of fairy elements in the problem.









hs#3 (8+7)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
2+1 lion, 1+0 rook lion, 0+2 locust
2.1.1.1.1.1

Mario Parrinello
3rd Prize
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 15

a) 1.Ke4 RLd4 2.LIxf6 RLh4 3.LIc7+ LIg4#

b) 1.Ke5 BLd4 2.LIxf4 BLh8 3.LIc7+ LIg7#

Another excellent helpselfmate has rich strategy. W1 paralyzes kings and provides hurdle for B1, that is the first part of "pendulum" manoeuvre, providing hurdle for W2. W2 paralyzes LId6 needed as hurdle in check. B2 is critical move preparing final antibattery. W3 checks by closing line (Madrasi typical antibattery) and in B3 black must paralyze LId7, thus creating mating antibattery.









hs#3 (7+10)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
3+3 lion, rook lion f4, bishop lion f6
b) g8 -» g1

Georgij Jevsejev
2nd Prize
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 17

1.Kxd4? th. 2.Kd5#
1...Kd6 2.Kxc5#
1...Ke5 2.Sc4#
1...Kd5 2.Nb4#
1...Be5+ 2.Kxe5#
1...e2!

1.Kxc5! th. 2.Kd5#
1...Kd6 2.Sc4#
1...Ke5 2.Kxd4#
1...Kd5 2.Nc3#
1...Bd6+ 2.Kxd6#

Something for Cyclone lovers. The keys and variations 1...Kd6 and 1...Ke5 form Kiss cycle using a lot of batteries created by keys. There are a few more thematic mates, both kings play very actively. Unfortunately I cannot oversee two faults: complete symmetry of the play (this kind of Cyclone themes is called "optical form" in Slovakia) and lesser economy of some white pieces.









#2 (8+11)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
2+2 nightrider

Mario Parrinello
1st Prize
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
No. 18

1...hxg5 2.Be7 Bc5 3.Kxd4 Sd2 4.Re6+ Rxe7#

1...axb3 2.Rb6 Re6 3.Kxe4 Sf3 4.Bc5+ Bxb6#

Worthy winner with perfect and rich Madrasi analogy. B1 unparalyzes bS and economizes wS. In W2 white line mover crosses the square where it is immediately paralyzed in B2, but also closes the line of final check. W3 paralyzes kings and economizes bS, B3 paralyzes white knight, that could capture mating black piece, but also opens final checking line and prevents it reclosing by bS. W4 is a check forcing capture of paralyzing white line mover... simply you have to admire author's imagination. Note also formal reciprocal relationship between B2 and W4.









hs#3,5 (9+8)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
2.1.1...

Viktor Syzonenko
feenschach 1983

1.Kb7 ... 7.Kxh1(Ra8) 8.Kg2 ... 14.Kxa8 15.Kb7 ... 20.Kg2 21.Kf1 g2#

Diagonal switchback of wK with minimal material.









ser-s#21 (1+3)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv, Circe

Mario Parrinello
2nd Honourable Mention
21st TT Chess Composition Microweb
C 5.5.2007
version Paul Raican

1.Lxe4-d3 Kf5 2.RLf4 RLe1 3.c3+ LIe4#

1.Lxe6-d6 Kf6 2.RLf5 RLe8 3.c5+ LIe6#

Paul Raican has provided this version of the 2nd HM addressing the economy issue (2 wp instead of wR, one piece less) as well as judgement reservation about crowded rectangle.









hs#3 (5+7)
Madrasi Rex Inclusiv
1+1 locust, lion h4, 1+2 rook lion
2.1.1.1.1.1

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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