Selections 3

It is useful to analyze the diagram position before looking at the solution. Thanks to Eiffel chess, there are many pieces immobile: Pd2 paralyzes Sc1 that would otherwise check bK, similarly Se7 paralyzes Bg8 (and is paralyzed by Pf6), Qh1 is paralyzed by Re1, Rf4 by Bd6, Pc6 by Qa7. Any capture of e7 means check from Bg8, but Re1 would unparalyze Qh1 for Qd5!, Bd6 can't capture due to selfcheck from Rf4, Qa7 would unparalyze Pc5 for c4!

1.Qc7! zz
1...dxc1=Q(w) 2.Qxe7(b)#
1...dxc1=R(w) 2.Rxe7(b)#
1...dxc1=B(w) 2.Bxe7(b)#

The key is pure tempo, waiting for Black. There is no way to move except Pd2, but it should not unparalyze Sc1 by promotion on d1. Therefore promotions on c1 are forced, with capture, providing White with additional force and allowing nicely matched variations. Queen promotion paralyzes once more c5, rook promotion pre-paralyzes additionally Qh1 and bishop promotion paralyzes Rf4. Of course, knight promotion is rules out by self-check.

a) 1.Re3! zz
1...Oxc4 a 2.Ohxg8# A
1...Oe2 b 2.Ofxg8# B
1...Od3 c 2.Oexg8# C

b) 1.Rc3! zz
1...Oxc4 a 2.Ofxg8# B
1...Oe2 b 2.Oexg8# C
1...Od3 c 2.Ohxg8# A

Both keys open line of Bc4 to f1, thus bring all three black defences to existence. Then various chains of orphans are activated, resulting in the Lacny cycle. Compare this work with #2 by Shlomo Seider awarded 20 years earlier, also with orphans, but with quite different concept.

1.Kd8? th. 2.Raa7 th. 3.Rxh7#
1...g2!

1.Kb6? th. 2.Raa7 th. 3.Rxh7#
1...Bf2!

1.Kb8! th. 2.Raa7 th. 3.Rxh7#
1...Ra2 2.Qxc5! th. 3.Sg4#, 2...Rxc5 3.Sf7#
1...Ba6 2.Qd4! th. 3.Sf7#, 2...cxd4 3.Sg4#

This orthodox threemover was an initial point of this selection. I have found it browsing FIDE Album 1992-1994 and in spite of the heavy position I liked the line effects quite a lot.

Obviously, White cannot mate immediately Sf7# or Sg5# due to intereferences yielding flights g7 and h5. Option key by wK sets up quiet threat that can be defended by two short moves of Rb2 and Bb5. Defences open for the first time still quite well closed lines a1-g7 and a5-h5. Then wQ enters one of lines, preparing mates by jumps of Se5, with re-guarding of h5 and g4. Black can capture wQ and thus open once again the masked lines. As a result we get reciprocally exchanged mates by wS (pseudo-Le Grand). But the main point of the problem is surely the line play.

1.Qxf2(f7)! th. 2.e4 th. 3.Ke2#, 2...Bg2+ 3.Kxg2(Bc8)#, 2...Ra3 3.Qe1#, 2...Re3 3.Qe1#
      2.e3 th. 3.Ke2#, 2...Bg2+ 3.Kxg2(Bc8)#, 2...Rxe3(e2) 3.Qe1#
1...Rf4 2.Qf3 th. 3.Kf2# Bg2+ 3.Kxg2(Bc8)#
      2...Rxg4(g2) 3.Qa3#
1...Rf5 2.Qf4 th. 3.Rd3# and 3.Kf2#, 2...Bg2+ 3.Kxg2(Bc8)#
1...Rf6 2.Qf5 th. 3.Kf2#, 2...Bg2+ 3.Kxg2(Bc8)#
      2...Rg6 3.Qxc2(c7)#

Here wQ is generally taboo due to looming rebirth on d1, but after the key it pinned and it is not the best idea to capture bR as well. Reborn black rook could capture white lightsquared bishop to parry check on the first rank from Rg1.

This is a setup for the play that starts with threat of 2.e2~ (not capture) and 3.Ke2#, where after unpin wQ mates.

Then vertical moves of bR defend the quiet threat as Black plans to capture Bg8 in the third move. But White responds by magnet moves on the pin line just next to the rook. There are important additional effects determining the choice of wQ moves. After 1...Rf4 White uses rebirth of Pg4 for checkmate 3.Qa3#, after 1...Rf5 there is additional threat 2.Rd3# with no possibility for Black to defend by rebirth of wP on d2 and finally after 1...Rf6 White can mate directly on c2.

1.d8=Q! zz
1...cxd1=R(Ra8) 2.Qh8 Ra6 3.Ba7, 2...Ra7 3.bxa7(a2)=
1...cxd1=B(Bc8) 2.Sb3+ axb3(b7) 3.d7=
1...cxd1=S(Sg8) 2.Qe7 th. 3.Sh6=, 2...Sh6 3.Sxh6(Sg1)=

White queen promotion prevents the same black promotion, but Black completes AUW in defences. The rest is about capturing or better blocking of the promoted black piece. Fine effects are shown after bishop and rook promotions - R/B cannot capture on b6/d7 due to annihilation selfcheck.

1.Qd2+?
1...Kb3! 2.Qb2#

1.Qf2? th. 2.Kf4 fxg5#
1...Bd6!

1.Qc7? th. 2.Kf4 fxg5#
1...Be3!

1.Qe3? th. 2.Kf4 fxg5#
1...Sxg5!

1.Qd6? th. 2.Kf4 fxg5#
1...Bxa3! 2.Qxa3#

1.Qf1! th. 2.Kf4 fxg5#
1...Be3 2.Sd5 Sd6#
1...Bd6 2.Rd5 Se3#
1...Sxg5 2.Sf4 Bxe4#
1...fxg5+ 2.Rf6 Rxf6#

Any move of wQ threats 2.Kf4 fxg5# with doublecheck. But wQ has to play very precisely. Checking bK is bad idea due to reflex mate, it is necessary to unguard d6, e3 and e4 for mates after potential defences. 1.Qd6? fails to another reflex mate. Finally just withdrawal 1.Qf1 works in line with White's expectations.