Solver's impressions - special - 5


Moremover round is sometimes good for me, sometimes bad for me. This time it was successful. 2nd and 3rd moremovers were clearly motivated and thus finding solution consisted mainly of finding themes. After finding sufficiently many strategical elements the rest was almost automatical. I am not very good in solving bohemian style problems and 1st problem proved that again. Anyway 12,5 points of 15 isn't bad result.
N. Murzikov
Comm Sachmaty v SSSR 1977

1.Sd4! th. 2.Sc6+ Bxc6 3.Bxc6!
1...Kxd4 2.Re6+ Kd3 3.Be2+
1...Be6 2.Rf7+ Kd6 3.Bf8+
1...Bf5 2.Rg6+ Kf4 3.Bh6+

After unsuccessful tries to find some idea I decided to declare that 1.Sd4 MUST be key as it sacrifices out-of-play knight and I also found nice model mate after 1...Kxd4. Seeing 1...B~ 2.Sc6# I thought that it may be zugzwang problem, but after cracking two more heavy problems and return to this I discovered the threat. But I had not enough time to find attacks in other two continuations.









#4 (8+2)

Valentin Rudenko
4th HM Sächsische Zeitung 1998

1.h7! th. 2.h8Q+ Rxh8 3.Qxh8+ Rf6 4.Qxf6#
1...Qh2 2.Qxf4+ Bxf4 3.Rb3+ Kxc4 4.Rc5#
1...Rh8 2.Qf6+ Rxf6 3.Ra3+ Kxc4 4.Bd3#

The possibilities of sacrifice white queen Qf6+ Rxf6 and Qxf4+ Bxf4 motivated me to find the mates that would exploit the withdrawal of both line pieces from lines in question: Qf2 and Be3, Rd6 and Rd8. Rb3+ and Ra3+ lead to mates of this kind. That was good and I knew I am on good way. For a while I was thinking about 1.Rxf5 but defences by black queen looked very strong. Then I once again started thinking about out-of-play piece, this time ph6 - and I found key with threat that was just suitable with only two appropriate defences 1...Rh8 and 1...Qh2. I got it.

+++ Composition In the Spotlight (CIS) No. 17 +++

Spotlight comment by Juraj Lörinc:

For some time now I am devoting a lot of my chess time to study of orthodox threemovers and moremovers. As a composer brought up by twomovers I still find it difficult to construct longer plans, but also I like more and more good works in these genres. And when I manage to solve it, the pleasure is immense.

As can be seen from the original comment, the present fourmover was successfully solved by me at Czech solving championship in 2000 (see summary page). If I had to reword by solver's description in the judge's tone, I would point double guard of mating moves with royal battery in defences, in echo diagonal-orthogonal fashion:

1.Ra3+? Kxc4! 2.Bd3+ R6xd3!
1.Rb3+? Kxc4! 2.Rc5+ Bxc5!

1.Qf6+? Rxf6! 2.Ra3+ Kxc4 3.Bd3+ R8xd3!
1.Qxf4+? Bxf4! 2.Rb3+ Kxc4 3.Rc5+ Qxc5!

Preparatory manoeuvre for two strategically analogous variations is fairly basic, promotion and rough eating the way to checkmate, yet it is admirable how the author managed to set up full-length threat with adding as little material as possible, single pawn. Oh, well, he is grandmaster in composing...









#4 (10+12)

Vladimir Rychkov
3rd HM Uralskije skazy 1991

1.Se7? th. 2.Sc6#, 1...Sb4!

1.Be7? th. 2.Bxd6#, 1...Bb4!

1.Bg5! th. 2.Bf4#
1...Rf2 2.Be7! Bb4 3.Bf6+ gxf6 4.Se7! ~ 5.Sc6#
1...Rf1 2.Se7! Sb4 3.Sg6+ Bxg6 4.Be7! ~ 5.Bxd6#

Logical construction of this problem was quickly clear - 1.Be7? Bb4! was simple, but I didn't see 1.Se7?, I saw only 1.Sf6? threating 2.Sd7+ Ke6 3.Sb8+ Ke5 4.Sc6#. A kind of blindness, I know, then I found the role of rooks a1, c2 - black pieces defending immediate threats open files of these rooks. Key 1.Bg5! was strong move that led to two defences with rooks (I felt I'm going to have it soon), then my tries almost worked. Almost. Thanks to Sf6 try it was everyting too long. And then I got it! 1.Se7?, it is the idea!









#5 (7+13)

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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