Good works! The first one could be presented in a Meredith position with Grimshaw: 8/p7/3k1P2/2pNR3/8/3R3p/3r3B/K4b2

Congratulations Thomas & Vitaly!
Here's a new opportunity (self-pins with 9 men):-)
White Pf5 Sd4 Re4 Bf3 Kb2 Rd2 (6)
Black Kd5 Pc4 Rc1 (3)
H#2 2 Sol.
1.Rc1-c3 Sd4-b3 + A 2.Rc3-d3 Re4-e6 # B
1.Rc1-e1 Re4-e6 + B 2.Re1-e4 Sd4-b3 # A

Thank you, Janos! Your version of No 316 (comment #3) has a good economy, but the content looks quite simple. Besides, two moves by BR in each phase look boring, on my taste.

Janos,
Quote:

Here's a new opportunity (self-pins with 9 men):-)

wPg4 clearly shows that the author was aware of that opportunity already in year 2005!
And he decided to avoid it as a cook.

Self-pin requires only 1 move and the other black move should be used for something more.
Vitaly said:".. two moves by BR in each phase look boring, on my taste."
He is right but it is not only a personal taste.

In your example, bR can be on e3 and h#1.5 would achieve the main content. Additional introductory moves in your example, 1.Rc1-c3/1.Rc1-e1, are not convincing reason for the extended stipulation. h#2 is too short for wasting moves on "technical" reasons.

Merely technical moves might be acceptable in longer stipulations, but it's also better to avoid them as much as possible.

One example (for your example) with the reciprocal critical hideaways:
W:Kf8,Pe5,Sc4,Rd4,Rc1,Bg1
B:Kc5,Pb4,Pa3,Rd3,Pg3,Qd2

Thank you Vitaly for the information in comment #6! When I received the file with (about 10) helpmates by Thomas he told me that they are not published yet. Of course problem n.316 will be excluded from the tourney.

Thanks Vitaly, there are various possibilities in that scheme.
I suggest the author to use the scheme for some enough different thematic content (as the example shows). That would be acceptable as original (at least as "after P1100392").

There is also my suggestion about no.317

Thank you, Diyan! Here we have another experience of joint creativity.
Your website is a convenient platform for this

I'll try to explain better my comment to no.317. A good scheme and thematic content could be realized more or less convincing. The functionality and economy of the MECHANISM is very important. Mechanism should be dynamic, static elements are not a genuine part of a mechanism, although they passively support its functioning.
bSf4 has no active function so why should it be on the diagram? It is a cookstopper in the first place and also gives an artificial reason for h#2. ser-h#2 would spare 7 pieces:
(I) W:Kc6,Bc5,Bf3,Rc2; B:Qb4,Pf4,Pb3,Kd3,Pd2,Pf2
The extension of this ser-h#2 is achieved with bSf4 and wQ which perform the pin. But bS+wQ make a completely independent additional (half-static) mechanism. The main mechanism can work without it, as (I) clearly shows. Therefore, the added introductory moves by wQ are only "technical" in their true nature, although they may look as thematic to someone. -Continued in the next comment-

It is the dynamics which unites all thematic pieces (parts) into one single mechanism. Activity of these pieces or the change of their static functions creates the dynamics.
W:Rg8,Bb5,Bg5,Qb4,Kh4
B:Bd8,Sf8,Kf7,Ph7,Pd6,Se6 ,Pc5,Pd5,Rf5,Pc4,Pd4,Pf4
H#2; 2.1.1.1.
1.Rf6 Qe1 2.Ke7 Rg7#; 1.Sg7 Qb1 2.Kg6 Be8#
Now, wQ must pin the different pieces, in each phase the piece which has a selfblock function. But that piece has the line-closing (+ different selfblock) function in the other phase. The reciprocally changed functions of bRf5/bSe6 involve wQ into the dynamics of the whole unified mechanism.
Transfer of the functions between the phases which links white pieces:
wQ=pin1-(bS)-pin2=wR=mate1-mate2=wBb5=guard1-guard2=Bc5=pin1-(bR)-pin2=wQ

Nikola, the mechanism (your version of n.317) would be perfect if there will be a clear function permutation of WRg8/WBg5. WRg8 is a static pinner in one phase and it mates in the other phase. WBg5 is a static pinner in one phase and it guards flights in the other phase. So, it is a slight imperfection, on my glance. But your understanding of a mechanism is perfect, I think