KoBulChess Twomovers 2016 Award |
![]() KoBulchess Twomovers 2016 Award
Many thanks go to Diyan Kostadinov who invited me to judge this tournament. Only nine problems were published in 2016, but it was a joy nevertheless: with a small pool of problems, one can take more time to enjoy the analysis.
Three of the problems featured the current WCCT theme. As this tournament is concurrent with WCCT, neither tournament’s problems anticipate the other. The problems in this tourney must be judged on over all quality as it is an informal tourney and not a theme tourney.
Once again, thanks go to Wieland Bruch who checked the leading problems for anticipation. I’m grateful that all survived! Two problems lead the pack, but separating them proved difficult as they were both top-notch.
![]() First Prize, 734: Vyacheslav Pilchenko & Valery Shanshin.
1.Bxe5? (2.Sc3# A, Sd6# B, Sg3# C)
1...Sd~ 2.Qf4# (2.Sc3, Sd6, Sg3? – pin), 1...Se3!
1.Qc6! (2.Qe6#)
1...Sd~ 2.Sc3# A, 1...Sf6 2. Sd6# B, 1...Sf4 2.Sg3# C
A fireworks display! The construction is heavy but absolutely necessary for the idea. Any time white interference and Somov mates are involved, expect more men on the board ;-D. Three mates threatened in the try return as variation mates in the form of a black correction set. The try puts an extra guard on f6, releasing the knight for two double checks or a shut off, while removing a guard of f4 in preparation for a mate after 1…S~. The key is an anticipatory unpin, moving away its guard of f4. 1…S~ is now a line-opening stopping the threat on e6 and bring back the shutoff mate. Black’s two corrections guard the battery and lead to the Somovs.
![]() Second Prize, 710: Valery Shanshin.
1.Sc2? A (2.Sb2# B)
(2.Sc~? Kd3!, 2.Se5? Kxf5! – Tertiary Correction Threatening move)
1…Bxc2 2.Qxc2#, 1…Be5!
1.Sb2? B (2.Sc2# A)
(2.Sb~? Kxe3!, 2.Sd5? Ke5/xf5! – Tertiary Correction Threatening move)
1…Be5 2.Rxe5#, 1…Bd3!
1.Se5! (2.Qxf3#) (2.Sc2?)
1…Rxf5 2.Sc2# A (2.Sb~? Kxe3! – Correction mating move)
1…Kxe3 2.Sd5#, 1…Kxf5 2.Qg4#, 1…Be5 2.Rxe5#
A twist on tertiary threat correction: Here there is (what seems to me) a novel “white correction dual avoidance on the 2nd move as a threat” shown in the first two tries. This idea is seen again in a related way, when the alternative W random move fails in an important variation during the solution. Couple this with fine construction, a superb double flight-giving key, Urania and reversal, and you have one fine prize-winner. I wondered whether this modern idea could’ve appeared before in one of the numerous examples of the 50-year old half battery theme, but Wieland’s search did not turn up any predecessors. Excellent use of white men, the only minor blemish relegating this problem to runner-up status is the non-use of the wB in the first try.
![]() Honorable Mention, 744: Nikola Stolev.
1.Qe7? (2.Qe4#), 1...Sg ~ 2.Qf6#, 1...Se5 2.Sfd6#
(1... Se6 2.Qxe6#), 1...Be5!
1.b4! (2.Qd3#), 1...Sg ~ 2.Se3#, 1...Se5 2.Scd6#
Changed black correction is not new, but this is a fine setting, and indeed elegant as our co-editor keenly observed. That it is another WCCT example is immaterial: the problem firmly stands on its own merits.
![]() Commendation, 750: Francesco Simoni.
1.c4? [2.f4# A], 1...Qe5 (a) 2.Rxe5#, 1...Qf5 (b) 2.Rxf5#
1...Rxc4 2.Be7#, 1...gxh3 /xf3 2.Qg1#, 1...Qd5! (c) 1.Be4? [2.f4# A], 1...Qf5 (b) 2.Rxf5# 1...Rxe4 2.Be7#, 1...gxh3/f3 2.Qg1#, 1...Qe5! (a) 1.Re4? [2.f4# A], 1...Qe5 (a) 2.Rxe5# 1...Rxe4 2.Be7#, 1...gxh3 /xf3 2.Qg1#, 1...Qf5! (b) 1.Qc4! [2.f4# A], 1...Qd5 (c) 2.Qxd5#
1...Qe5 2.Rxe5#, 1...Qf5 2.Rxf5# 1...Rxc4 2.Be7#, 1...gxh3/xf3 2.Rg1# All the elements of the White Grimshaw have been shown before, but not in this combination. The mating moves by rooks on the 5th rank raise a smile and the changed mate on g1 is pretty. Very fine pairs of first moves on two squares add unity. Excellent try refutations.
Eugene Rosner,
International Judge of the FIDE for Chess Compositions
Havertown, PA. January 2017 |
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