Isaak Kavnatsky 90th Jubilee Tourney

(Complete award.)
A total of 78 sound (C+) and thematic entries by 49 composers from 17 countries participated in this formal tourney for helpmates in three or more moves (h#3-n) showing the Chernous Theme, as defined below. Of these, 20 problems were retained. The award standard was high, and the prizewinners were particularly enjoyable.

I wish to thank Vladimir Chernous for his thematic inspiration, Dan Meinking for his directorial efforts, and all the imaginative composers for their artistic contributions. It was a great honor to receive and judge so many wonderful creations. Our newly classified Chernous Theme has indeed made a successful debut!

Isaak Kavnatsky
Oak Park, December 2001

Chernous Theme Definition

The Chernous Theme features the following events in h#3-n form:
(1) A black line piece (BLP) checks the white King, either directly or as the rear piece of a battery;
(2) A white unit (WU) self-pins by interfering on the check-line, and is later unpinned by Black;
(3) The BLP moves again to self-block;
(4) The WU delivers mate.

The BLP may be promoted. The unpin of the WU may be by withdrawal or by line-closure.

Note: All underlined moves are specific to the Chernous Theme.

Claims of anticipation by July 1, 2002 to: Dan Meinking / 663 Steiner St. / Cincinnati, OH 45204 (USA) or by email: dmeinking@cinci.rr.com.

Marcel Tribowski 1st Prize Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	A classic Chernous Theme twist: twice the pre-pinned Knight is self-unpinned, self-pinned (again), and unpinned. Perfect harmony and construction. Brilliant! 1.Kf2 e4! (K~?) 2.Ke1 Sc6 (Sc2?) 3.Rxe4+ Sb4 4.Re2 Sd3# 1.Sf2 g4! (K~?) 2.Sh1 Se6 (Se2?) 3.Rxg4+ Sf4 4.Rg2 Sh3#

h#4 (4+6) 2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

János Csák 2nd Prize Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	The rich Chernous sequences blend batteries, Umnovs, critical self-blocks, and line-closing unpins effortlessly! 1.d6+ Sd7 2.Bd4 b5 3.Rc5 Sb6# 1.Sd6+ Se4 2.Qc6 e3 3.Bc4 Sc3#

h#3 (4+9) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Ion Murarasu 3rd Prize Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Elegant consecutive unpins draw the distant Knight to opposite mating squares via Umnov re-occupations. 1.Bh3+ Sf1 2.Rb6 Sd2 3.Sb4 Sb3# 1.Sh4+ Sf3 2.Qb4 Se5 3.Sd4 Sd7#

h#3 (4+8) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Vitalij Shevchenko Gennadij Shinkarenko V. Shum 4th Prize Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Superb motivation in this grab-and-return showpiece. Echoed Umnovs and blocking patterns arise naturally. a) 1.S4xe5+ Sc4 2.Qb5 Sb2 3.Sc4 Sd3# b) 1.S6xe5+ Sc6 2.Rb5 Sb8 3.Sc6 Sd7#

h#3 (4+9) b) + black Pb4

Marcel Tribowski 5th Prize Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Three echoed mates from separate Rook promotions, an impressive task! The logical Queen control shows real finesse. 1.Kd7 Qxb4 2.b1R+ Qe1 3.R1b8 Qe8+ 4.Kc8 Qc6# 1.Re8 Qxc4 2.c1R+ Qf1 3.R1c8 Qa6 4.Kd8 Qd6# 1.f2 Qxg3 2.f1R+ Qg1 3.R1f8 Qb6 4.Ke8 Qe6#

h#4 (2+13) 3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

Valerij Semenenko 1st HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Winding ODT treks spur the Knights into position. Achieving this in a twinless Meredith is splendid! 1.Rh5+ Se5 2.Rf5 Se6 3.Rf2 Sc4# 1.Bc3+ Sb4 2.Be1 Sb3 3.Bf2 Sd5#

h#3 (4+8) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Jurij Gordian Jevgenij Orlov 2nd HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	A patent h#3 matrix colorfully extended to h#4 form. Gallant Knight forays feature line-opening keys and dual-avoidances. a) 1.Re3 Sxe6 2.Rf2 Sxc7 (Sd4+?) 3.Qd7+ Sb5 4.Qg4 Sd4# b) 1.Rf2 Sxd7 2.Rbe2 Sb6 (Se5+?) 3.Qd4+ Sc4 4.Qe3 Se5#

h#4 (2+15) b) d5 -» d7

Christer Jonsson 3rd HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Crisp Zilahi captures afford the Queen speedy access to f7. 1.Qxg3+! Bf2 2.Qc7 Be3 3.Qf7 Bg5# 1.Qxg1+! Sf1 2.Qa7 Se3 3.Qf7 Sd5#

h#3 (5+8) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Dan Meinking Kostas Prentos 4th HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Reciprocal line-opening checks lift the mating units past the sentinel guards. Pin-models and dual -avoidances complement its airy appearance. a) 1.Qxh5+ (Qxf3?) Rg6 2.Qxf3 Bb7 3.Qg2 Rh6# b) 1.Qxf3+ (Qxh5?) Bf5 2.Qxh5 Rh8 3.Qh2 Be4#

h#3 (8+5) b) e8 -» f8

Nikolaj Nagnibida 5th HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	An intensive ODT mesh combining bi-valve self-pins, reciprocal Umnovs, and pin-models. The clever Knight coups cap this sparkling gem. a) 1.Qa6+ Rb7 2.Qe2 Bc4 3.Sf7 Rxf7# b) 1.Qf8+ Be8 2.Qf2 Rf5 3.Sb5 Bxb5#

h#3 (7+12) b) a4 -» h6

Unto Heinonen 6th HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Unified self-block keys preface sweeping Zilahi migrations en route to distinct flight plugs. 1.d3 Bg3 2.Qxh6+! Bh4 3.Qd2 Bxf6# 1.Sd3 Sf7 2.Qxb8+! Sd6 3.Qb2 Sxe4#

h#3 (5+9) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Christopher Jones 7th HM Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Apparent 'batteries' disarmed in favor of an entertaining ODT system with switchback mates. a) 1.Rxd3+ Bf3 2.Rxa3 Rg6 3.Ra4 Be2# b) 1.Bxf5+ Rg4 2.Bc8 Bf3 3.Ba6 Rg5#

h#3 (8+11) b) a5 -» a4

Ion Murarasu 1st Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Complex interplay provides three blocks and three guards. 1.Rd5 Sd4 2.Qb5+ Sd3 3.Qd7 Sc5 4.Be5 Sb7# 1.Sc5 Sb4 2.Qf5+ Sf3 3.Qd7 Se5 4.Se6 Sf7#

h#4 (3+10) 2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

Dan Meinking 2nd Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	This unassuming miniature is full of surprises! 1.b1Q+! (Ra5?) Sc1 2.Qh7+! Bh3 3.Ka6 Sd3 4.Qa7 Bf1 5.Ra5 Sc5#

h#5 (3+4)

Miroslav Henrych 3rd Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	A morsel of good humor: double Chernous precedes double switchback! 1.Qh8+ Bh2 2.Qa1+ Bg1 3.Qa4 Bh2 4.c4 Bd6#

h#4 (3+8)

Alexandr Semenenko 4th Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Beautiful coordination of angular Queen sorties and matching Pawn two-steps. 1.e5 Kd3 2.Qa3+ c3 3.Qd6 c4# 1.Kd6 Kd4 2.Qxa4+ c4 3.Qd7 c5#

h#3 (4+8) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Jorge Joaquin Lois Jorge Marcelo Kapros 5th Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001 ANTICIPATED	This double Grimshaw matrix adapts perfectly to the Chernous Theme! If not for a close predecessor by Nikolaj Vasjucko, this would have placed much higher. 1.Re6+ Sf6 2.Ke5 h6! (c6?) 3.Bf4 Sfg4# 1.Be6+ Sd5+ 2.Kf5 c6! (h6?) 3.Rf4 Sde3# The composers sent me recently a note that this problem is anticipated and will be removed from the award in its final version!

h#3 (6+6) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Nikolaj Nagnibida 6th Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Distinct promotions trigger reciprocally deployed tempi. a) 1.a1Q+ Qf1 (Qe1?) 2.Qb1 Qe1 3.Qh7 Qe8# b) 1.a1R+ Qe1 (Qf1?) 2.Rb1 Qf1 3.Rb8 Qa6#

h#3 (2+7) b) g8 -» a8

Kostas Prentos 7th Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Pointed play, including Royal unpins, highlight this majestic Meredith. a) 1.Bc5+ Rb4 2.Be7 Sd3+ 3.Kd6 Rd4# b) 1.Qd3+ Sb3 2.Qg3 Rxe4+ 3.Kf3 Sd2#

h#3 (3+9) b) e5 -» f4

Grigorij Mordukhovich 8th Comm Isaak Kavnatsky 90 JT C 1.10.2001	Symmetry notwithstanding, this twinless 'double-triple' (unpin) presents a noteworthy task. 1.Qd8+ Sd6 2.Qxa5+ Sb5 3.Qa4 Sd4# 1.Qg5+ Se5 2.Qd2+ Sd3 3.Qc2 Sc5#

h#3 (7+9) 2.1.1.1.1.1

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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