Problem-Echo 2000/2-2

1.Gc8-f5 Sc3-d5+ 2.Ke3-e4 Ne6-g5#

1.Gc8-c5 Ne6-g5 2.Gc5-f2 Sc3-d5#

-; -; -; -; -

Trivial interversion of white moves, fairy pieces are not necessary for such strategy and mating pictures.

The author has informed me that he had taken back this problems what could have been read under the table in the award. Sorry - I don't read much of German - I suppose it was written in German there (I do not have the materials by hand).

1...Nb8-h5 2.Gf3-f6 Nh5-d3#

1.Gf3-f6 Gc2-g6 2.Gf6-f4 Nb8-d7#

6; (2); 6,5; 3; 15,5

One mate with indirect antibattery and pleasant set play, but lack of more interesting strategy.

a) 1.c7-c5 Nf6-b8 2.Bg7-a1 Gh8-a8#

b) 1.f5xe4 Nf6-h5 2.Bg7-b2 Gh8-h4#

4; (6); 3; 2; 9

In a) are Nb8 and Gh2 are unused in mating picture, but the blocking of bG is at least something.

a) 1.Nb2-f4 Gg3-e5 2.b3-b2 Kc3xc4#

b) 1.Nb2-d1 Gg3-e1 2.Gb8-b2 Ge1xc1#

c) 1.Ga2-a4 Gg8-a8 2.a3-a2 Ga8-a3#

5; 5; 5; (6); 15

No deep strategy, but there are 3 (it should be said that reaching 3 phases is much more than 2 phases!) mates by grasshopper over various immobilized units. Nightrider is a bit underused, but let it be... A bit chaotic twinning.

1.Bb1xg6 h7-h8=N 2.Bg6-c2 Nh8-e2#

1.Ra2-c2 g6-g7 2.Ne8-b2 g7-g8=G#

4; 3; (7,5); 5; 12

I am not a friend of promotions of type "l'art pour l'art", here the Grimshaw at c2 is nice surprise, the rest is not unified.

a) 1.Be8-g6 Gc5-c8 2.Sc7-d5 Ng2-e6#

b) 1.Bh4-g5 Gc5-f2 2.Re3-e4 Ng2-f4#

(9); 7; 5,5; 7; 19,5

More personal comment (as I am the author): It took some time to arrange unpinnig moves to have also blocking as arrival effect and unguarding as departure effect. 2nd black move unguards too (unfortunately in two different ways, a slight drawback) and provides hurdle for white grasshopper. Other white grasshopper sets himself as a rear antibattery piece over piece making 2nd black move - it precises orders of both black and white moves. Twinning is delicate. The only one nightrider can be in mating pictures replaced by knight, but to reach these mates by the same unpinned piece on squares of different colour it is necessary to have nightrider.

1.Rd5-a5 Rf5xf6 2.Ra5-a4 Rf6-f3#

1.Gf6-f4 Rf5xd5 2.Gf4-a4 Rd5-d3#

7; 4; 7; (3); 18

Nightrider halfpin and known battery creation is nice, but grasshopper use isn't justified, e.g. scheme with bQf6 is easily possible too.

In an e-mail to me Klaus Funk has pointed that use of bQ instead of bG would cause the check to wK. Yes, I've seen that when writing the comment, that's why I have used the term "scheme" instead of "position". It would require a few more units on the board - but it would save one type of fairy piece, making the use of grasshopper dubious.

a) 1.Ne6-c2 Nh6-g4 2.Nc2-a6 Ng4-h2#

b) 1.Ge6-c4 Gh6-f4 2.Gc4-a6 Gf4-b8#

9,5; (1); 6,5; 4; 20

Pins are static and the moves are the only ways of thematic pieces to their destinations.

1.Gb1-e4 Nc4-g2 2.Nd2-b1 Nb3-f1#

1.Gb7-e4 Nc4-g6 2.Nc5-b7 Nb3-d7#

7,5; 8; 9,5; (6); 25

Loses in comparison with 00/2-2/10, main square scheme with nightriders and grasshoppers is the same, but I don't like the symmetry of first moves, it is better resolved in next problem by means of using two bishops, Umnov moves are a bit artificial, also the grasshoppers use no special grasshopperal power.

a) 1.Bd6-e5 Ge1-e6 2.Nd3-b2 Nf2-b4#

b) 1.Bg6-e4 Ge1-e5 2.Ng4-h2 Nf2-h6#

5; (0); 7; 9; 21

For me the best problem.Very good nightrider square scheme with bGs' column action is powered by echoed use of two bB, bG and wG for intercepting bNs and preventing bK from entering c7, c8 and e8. And the 1st black moves are other direct unguards. Problem full of analogic motivation.

1.Ng8-d2 Ne3-g7 2.Ga1-e5 Ng7-e6#

1.Ng8-f6 Nb6-d2 2.Gd8-d3 Nd2-b3#

8; 9; (6); 8; 25

Beautiful echo diagonal-orthogonal with crystal-clear diagram position and good use of fairy pieces possibilities. As it is necessary to allow bGs' blocking jumps, white nightriders must reach mating squares by the only ways. Use of bN isn't justified as it could have been bS starting at e4.

a) 1.Gd3-a6 Gd6xf4+ 2.Rd4-d6 Gf4-f1#

b) 1.Gf4-f1 Gd6xd3+ 2.Be5-d6 Gd3-a6#

8,5; (10); 8; 7; 23,5

Double-pin battery model mates, it sounds well, also the pins are executed by nightrider and grasshopper and rear piece of battery is another nightrider. But in fact the line play involves no special grasshopperal effects. I like the differentiation of black play by means of avoiding checks to white king.