Ecto-battery 2

1.Sb6! zz
1...Gd6 2.Sxd6(Gd1)+ Kxe7(e2)#
1...Gf7 2.exf7(Gf1)+ Kxf7(f2)#

Two ecto-batteries in the Circe form: bK is forced to capture white pawn that is reborn on the 2nd rank, activating grasshopper line aimed at wK. Moreover, it activates also indirect line aimed at wK flight (f2/e2), with natural blocking of the other flight (e2/f2).

1.Qd5! Gc6 2.Ba5 Ge4 3.Qd3 Gc2 4.Qxc2(Gc1) Gc3 5.Qb1 Kxb3(b2)#

Single line leads to ecto-battery mate with Circe self-guarding of Gc3 that is protected from double capture.

1.Rxg2(Rh1)+! Kh7 2.Rg1+ Kg7 3.Rg2+ Kg6 4.Rxe2(Rh1)+ Kh7 5.Rg1+ Kg7 6.Rg2+ Kg6 7.Rxc2(Rh1)+ Kh7 8.Re1+ Kxh8(Ke8)#

In spite of multiple captures by white rook there is only one ecto-battery here - in the 1st white move. The other content is however interesting. Especially the way of motivating triangular round-trips of bK is Anticirce typical (and typical for Raffi Ruppin's works).

1.h8R! zz
1...Qxb3(Qd8) 2.Re1+ Qxe7(Qd8)#
1...Sxb3(Sg8) 2.Ra1+ Sxe7(Sb8)#
1...Qd8 2.Re1+ Qxe7(Qd8)#

Two black pieces on the 1st rank are pinned after key, but they can capture Pb3 showing very specific Pelle move. The rebirth on the 8th rank allows capture of Be7, activating Pf7 in ecto-battery manner. Note that this very Anticirce specific selfmate got only the 6th commendation in the first big Anticirce tourney - now that must have been a high quality tourney, mustn't it?

1.Ga3! zz
1...bxa3(a7) 2.fxg8=S(Sb1)+ Gxc3(Gc1)#
      (2.fxg8=Q(Qd1)+? Gxc3(Gc1)+! 3.Gxc1(Gc8))
1...bxc3(c7) 2.fxg8=Q(Qd1)+ Gxa3(Ga1)#
      (2.fxg8=S(Sb1)+? Gxa3(Ga1)+! 3.Gxa1(Ga8))
(1...b3 2.fxg8=S(Sb1)+ Gxc3(Gc1)#)

White wants to force move by Ga8 or Gc8, firing Anticirce specific battery with R/B as rear piece. Capture by Pb4 removes one of white grasshopers, the other is expected to be captured of firing black piece. Then the right choice of white promotee on g8 must be made - if the wrong white piece would be chosen, White would be forced to parry check by recapture of firing black grasshopper. Quite complicated Circe strategy includes ecto-battery checks in the 2nd White's move, activating check on the 3rd rank by removing Sg8.

1.cxd7(d2)! th. 2.Bxg1(Bc1)+ ROxg3(ROg1)#
1...Bxb3(Bc8) 2.Bc4+ Sxc4(Sg8)#
1...Bc4 2.Bd5+ Bxd8(Bf8)#
1...Bd5 2.Be6+ Bxd8(Bf8)#
1...Be6 2.Bf7+ ROd5#

The main point of this problem is not in the ecto-battery - it is present only in the threat where bROh5 is forced to move by annihilation of bROg1. Then the difficult magnet play (typical for Hubert) follows.

1.Kxd5(Qe1)! LIg8 2.Kd6 Qe8 3.d5 LIa2 4.Kc7 LIg8 5.d6 Qe1 6.d7 Qe8 7.d8=B Qe1 8.Be7 Qxe7(Bd8)#

Another example of indirect ecto-battery, in the single-line form. Final capture by bQ causes rebirth of wB, activating bLI line to c8, b8. Could this be multiplied?