Problem 573.1: Kenan Velikhanov - Helpmate |
![]() Version 573.1. is included.
573. Kenan Velikhanov (Azerbaijan)
21.04.2015
![]() H#3 b) Kd3-f3 (4+12)
a) Sd4 Qc1 2.Rc2 Sxb7 3.Re2 Sc5#
b) Se4 Qh2 2.Qf4 Sxc6 3.Qe3 Se5#
Bristols, echo-model mates! (Author)
This version 573.1 was sent by the author in 2015 and he want it to replace the original n.573 for the Informal tourney 2015.
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Comments
A weak point of Kenan's problem is W2 since the white must spend two moves by Knight to deliver the mate - it is too much expansive, on my view. Also, the capture of thematic Sc6 is a shortcoming as well as the twin is.
By the way, there are no echo-mates since the mate positions are different.
I gave the Rotenberg & Loustau's h#3 for comparision since the both problems have similar motives on B1 (gate-opening) and W1-B2 (Bristol bicolor) but incoming effect of B1 is different. Rotenberg & Loustau's problem has a complete orthogonal-diagonal analogy of the play and beauty geometry in the play of WQ - it is one of the best h#3 in the whole history of the genre, on my view.
h#2 4+10
HTML code: Fougiaxis, Charalampos HarrySpringaren, 1992
Solution:
1.Bf4-d2 Qe6-a2 2.Rc5-d5 Qa2-c4 #
1.Rc5-c2 Qe6-e1 2.Bf4-e5 Qe1-e3 #
Really beautiful with so many lines involved. The W1 moves are critical moves letting black close the just opened line! Surprisingly it is also a tempo move!
"...it is one of the best h#3 in the whole history of the genre, on my view..."
I agree, but it's a dangerous statement, without mentioning the essential point.
There is a most banal and ugly motivation for a white move, annihilation of a black piece which prevents the mate.
Beginners might conclude that such captures are desirable as a thematic content.
But such captures are a terrible waste of time, deserving no place in an really good helpmate, IN PRINCIPLE. They reveal that the author couldn't find a subtle finer move for White.
However, this apparent "ugliness" makes here the most beautiful part of the idea, due to the perfectly convincing PARADOX.
Of course, a capture of a black piece is anything but paradoxical, but HOW and WHY only in the presented way, that's what governs this mechanism.
Nikola, I really don't like captures of black officers in helpmates but here we have the reduced Chumakov theme - reciprocal change of functions between Ba6/Re8 (being captured/self-bloks). As far as I know this theme is very popular in helpmates for recent years.
According to PDB the problem won 5th HM but it deserves a Prize distinction, undoubtedly!
Chumakov theme is very popular exactly because it's rather trivial.
Selfblock itself is trivial and annihilation in the other phase is even worse. And annihilation of a black guarding piece is an undignified white move, most trivial to motivate.
What we should expect from future h#?
Black plays for selfblocks and White captures around all "unfriendly" black pieces?
That's against the essence of h#, if a black piece is on the board, Black should help by moving it away if there is no subtler way (interference, pin etc.). Annihilation is for an enemy and not for a friend.
It's a complex, or logically deep, or paradoxical motivation, that makes a great problem.
Black does not help Qxa6 by opening the direct diagonal route by Sc4~, but by double closure Se5-d3!
However, Sc4 does play in the other phase (to e3), doubly closing e-file, helping wQ to reach e8, instead of opening the direct orthogonal route by Se5~ (but bSe5 does play in the 1st phase).
And the paradox is truly convincing. Someone says:
"Look at this h#3, Black will move away one or the other Knight to enable White to capture bBa6 or bRe8."
First guess about a one-move captures (diagonal of bB and orthogonal of bR) would have to be changed into a two-move actions, orthogonal on the bent line e2-e6-a6 and diagonal bent line e2-b5-e8.
This reciprocal change of logic, between the "delusive" and the "real" effects of the moves, creates a whole new dimension beyond the mere "geometrical" beauty and "Chumakov reciprocity".
And even more could be found in this masterpiece, with a bit more of fantasy.
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B1 is bi-valve, of course.
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Exactly!!!
No theme Chumakov in problem Rotenberg&Loustau. Because the mat at Furze captures field where the first move went horse. Horse plays a role as overlapping rather than blocking figure.
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