Popular fairy problems 1

So, CCM has launched its 9th TT dedicated to "popular fairy problems". In this series of selections with the same name I'll try to introduce some examples that exhibit various popular themes. Mostly geometrical themes, but also appealing formal themes like promotions in general and AUW.

In the direct problems shown below there are e.g. star and cross of kings, magnet, round trip, exchange of places...
René J. Millour
1st HM Thema Danicum 2000

1.Rc7! th. 2.Kc4#
1...Re7 2.Re4#
1...Ra8 2.Qd3#
1...Rb8 2.Qf4#
1...Rc8 2.Sf5#
1...Rd8 2.Be3#
1...Rf8 2.Qe5#
1...Rg8 2.Sb5#
1...Rh8 2.Qe3#

White threats mate by king and Black defends by guarding of c4, preventing wK from entering it. But bR unblocking e8 blocks some other square... and we have 8 such variations.









#2 (9+11)
Anticirce
Narayan Shankar Ram
2nd Prize Schach-Echo 1986

1.h8Q! zz
1...Kxc4 2.Kd7#
1...Kxa4 2.Kc6#
1...Ka2 2.Kxd5#
1...Kc2 2.Kxe6#

Astonishing theme - the star of black king is answered by mates in the form of the cross of white king.

+++ Composition In the Spotlight (CIS) No. 8 +++

Spotlight comment by Juraj Lörinc:

I have met the name "Narayan Shankar Ram" for the first time in the chess composition column in the Czechoslovak magazine Ceskoslovensky sach. His innovative #2 using siamese rooks and showing complete 4-fold Shedey cycle was explained by Peter Gvozdjak. Since that time I have met many of his Cyclone problems, but I always wondered how much did he compose in other fields. He has won some 3rd and 4th WCCT fairy sections (indeed, one of them with Ukrainian cycle problem) and in fact many-many prizes. Among them you can find also the present twomover with blend of fairly classic themes. Excellent!









#2 (10+4)
Madrasi
Michel Caillaud
Jean-Marc Loustau
2nd Prize TT Problemista 1987

1.Sb7! th. 2.Sc5#
1...Kh6 2.b6#
1...Kf6 2.Sd6#
1...Kh4 2.b4#
1...Kf4 2.d4#

Again defences form cross of black king, but this time all mates are by cutting simultaneously two lines of paralysis - 5 Nowotnys.









#2 (11+6)
Madrasi
Hubert Gockel
8355 feenschach 140 - 2002

1.Kd2! th. 2.Sf3#
1...Qc5 2.Rd5#
1...Qd5 2.Re5#
1...Qe5 2.Rf5#
(1…Qxg5 2.Bxg5#)

One of Hubert's favourite themes, magnet. It is known also as Loshinskij theme after very known #3 by great Soviet grandmaster. It is usually interesting to analyse the motivation for precise magnet moves, here you can find many elements specific to Isardam.









#2 (11+10)
Isardam
Ronald Turnbull
2nd HM feenschach 1999

Before key black king has the only flight a2 wQ guards a1, b1, c2, c2, b3, d4 from d1.

1.Sd5! Ka2 2.Qb4 Kb2 3.Sc3 Ka2 4.Kb2 Ka3 5.Sa2#

Model mate after two exchanges of places - wS-wQ and wK-bK. Perfect construction.









#5 (3+1)
Mars Circe
Stephen Rothwell
2nd Prize feenschach 1997

1.Be2! (th. 2.Sc6#) fxe2=w 2.e3+ Sxe3=w 3.Sf5+ Rxf5=w 4.Rf4+ Sxf4=w 5.Se2+ Bxe2=w 6.Sc6#

White from 2nd move uses piece newly acquired by black capture to check Black again. Also well known but appealing formal theme of round trip e2-e3-f5-f4-e2 is included.









#6 (6+10)
Andernach chess

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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