Mat Plus


MORE  ABOUT  THEME  VLADIMIROV

by Milan Velimirovic

(From Mat Plus No.16, Winter 1997, p.150) 
(Supplement to article "20 years of theme Vladimirov") 


I am pleased with many positive reactions to my article "20 Years of Theme Vladimirov" (Mat Plus 15). I am also grateful to Mr. Thomas Maeder and, not surprisingly, Mr. Udo Degener for sending me the examples from their collection, and which are all (except those which already found their place in the first article) quoted here, even those which are to my opinion actually not real "Vladimirovs". For practical reasons I will continue numbering, so all references lower than 25 are to examples from the preceding article.

First nine problems satisfy the condition of the same departure square for thematic moves in all phases. I left No.25 intentionally out because I don't find it successful at all. Anyway, here it is and readers can judge themselves. It is pity I didn't know of No.26, and excellent example that would have been a good introduction to the Ideal-form No.21. No.27 was omitted simply because of much improved version No.16.

25. A. Dombrovskis
Schachmaty 1977
2B9p12R4P1R2BP1pk4P1SS2Q4K






#2 11+3
1.e5? ~ 2.Qh7#, 1... gh3!
1.g6? ~ 2.Rh5#, 1... e5!
1.Bf6? (~), 1... ef6!, 1... gh3,e5 2.e5,g6#
  (1.Qc7! (~) 1... gh3,e7~ 2.Qf4,Qh7#)
26. V. Sitnikov
Sahs (Riga) 1979
14p7B10Q2p4pP3P1bkP1KB1Rb5R






#2 9+6
1.Ke3? (~), 1... Kc2:!
1.c4? (~), 1... e3!, 1... Kc2: 2.Qd2#
1.Bd4! (~), 1... Kc2:,e3 2.Ke3,c4#
27. R. Aliovsadzade
& M. Vagidov
& I. Liokumovich

Sahs (Riga) 1977
3s1QBr1P3pP1b1PppkpqRr5p5B1Pp3PSS2b4K6R






#2 13+13
1.Se5? ~ 2.Sd7#, 1... g5!
1.Sg5? ~ 2.S5e4#, 1... e5!
1.Bd6:! ~ 2.Be7#
  1... e5,g5 2.Sg5,Se5#

Next three examples use zugzwang mechanism using two black pawns (like Nos.12–15), which are slightly more spread in No.28, and in No.30 brought up to what is a technically perfect form.

28. H. Prins
Suomen Shakki 1986
17p1S1p1B6r1b1P1P4pR1p1pQ1P1kBpP1S4K






#2 11+9
1.Sb5? (~), 1... f5!
1.Sf5? (~), 1... b5!
1.Qd7! (~), 1... b5,f5 2.Sf5,Sb5#
29. M. Zalewski
Szachy 1979
19p1p4p3p3Q1B1b1p1PPk1S1q2sP3sSB2R1K






#2 10+10
1.Bd5? ~ 2.Qe4#,1... f5!
1.Bf5? ~ 2.Qe4#, 1... d5!
1.Qe6! (~), 1... f5,d5 2.Bd5,Bf5#
30. W. Bruch
Idee & form 1991
18p1p8r4RBp3b2kS1Q4p1p3s1S1K






#2 6+9
1.Bc5? ~ 2.Rd4#, 1... e5!
1.Be5? ~ 2.Rd4#, 1... c5!
1.Qd6! (~), 1... c5,e5 2.Be5,Bc5#

No.31 has ugly flight-taking first moves in all phases, while Nos.32 and 33 present a cruel method of mutual captures – such opportunistic way neglects the paradox which is in the essence of theme Vladimirov.

31. I. Kisis
Schach 1981
5k1B3p1S1pR10S4Q9p3rb6R1K






#2 7+6
1.Sd6? ~ 2.Ra8#, 1... Re3!
1.Sh6? ~ 2.Ra8#, 1... d6!
1.Rf6! ~ 2.Qa8#
  1... Re3,d6 2.Sd6,Sh6#
32. R. Aliovsadzade
& M. Vagidov
& I. Liokumovich

Buletin Problemistic 1982
13ppq1Qb3rRp1Pk1S3p1S1Ps2P7p1K3p1B1R






#2 10+11
1.Sb5? ~ 2.Sc7#, 1... Bb5:!
1.Se6? ~ 2.Sc7#, 1... Re6:!
1.Ke2! ~ 2.Se7#
  1... Bb5+,Re6+ 2.Sb5:,Se6:#
33. M. Banaszek
Idee & form 1994
3R4kS8R7K7s26B






#2 5+2
1.Sa5? (~), 1... Sa5:!, 1... Sd6 2.Ra6#
1.Sd6? (~), 1... Sd6:!, 1... Sa5 2.Ra6#
1.Rc7! (~)
  1... Sa5,Sd6 2.Sa5:,Sd6:#
  (1... S~ 2.dual)

Not less opportunistic is battery creation key by arrival of the front piece, which moreover results with different mating moves and only with the help shortened notation gives the desired letter combination to satisfy thematic requirement. The most demanding and intriguing question which composer must answer in theme Vladimirov is: how to prevent key move to be a mate in tries? In all examples that follow, as will be seen, the key move is the capture of black pawn which is guarded by another black pawn. Thus, the danger of mate by firing piece is never present. Some paradox, isn't it? The same as in two popular themes, Banny and Hannelius, which are often considered paradoxical: what didn't work – will never work!

To make it clear, I don't criticize the compositions quoted here – the majority of which are undoubtedly very good chess problems. I am only insisting on thematic purity. In Nos.34–47 thematic piece is WR with diagonal battery creation key, in Nos.48–53 it is WB with lateral battery. In Nos.54 and 55 number of thematic tries is increased to three.

34. R. Fedorovitsch
2.pr Šachove umenie 1977
B10p3K1SpB5S4pp1r2k1p2p2p1R1r9R2Q






#2 8+10
1.Rc3? ~ 2.Qd3/Rc(g)e3:#, 1... Re2!
1.Rc5? ~ 2.Qf5/Re5#, 1... Rf2!
1.Rc6:! ~ 2.Rc4#
  1... Re2,Rf2 2.Rc3,Rc5#
35. V. Melnichenko
& V. F. Rudenko

Sahs (Riga) 1977
bS3Q2r5p2pP1p1B5k1P2pP6Sp4R5pK1B4s






#2 10+10
1.Rf3? ~ 2.Qf4#, 1... Rf7!
1.Rd3? ~ 2.Qd6#, 1... Re7!
1.Rc3:! ~ 2.Re3#
  1... Re7,Rf7 2.Rd3,Rf3#
36. R. Fedorovitsch
& E. Gavrilov

diagrammes 1978
11Sp1B2p2Pp5b3r3kP7pRb2KQ10s1B






#2 8+9
1.Rf4? ~ 2.Qc3#, 1... Rh2!
  1... Be1 2.ed5#
1.Rf5? ~ 2.Qc3#, 1... Be1!
  1... Rh2 2.Rd5:#
1.Rf6:! ~ 2.Qc3#
  1... Rh2,Be1 2.Rf4,Rf5#
37. N. Sharkow
Buletin Problemistic 1978
1QsS4B15K2k1S2p2p7P3p2pR2p2r5B






#2 8+8
1.Rc2:? ~ 2.Rc5#, 1... Rb6!
1.Re2? ~ 2.R/Qe5#, 1... Rb8:!
1.Rg2:! ~ 2.Rg1#
  1... Rb6,Rb8: 2.Rc2:,Re2#
38. R. Fedorovich
Szachy 1978
K2R3Q4p10B5P1S2RSk4p8p1P4B4rb






#2 10+6
1.Rc5? ~ 2.R/Qe5#, 1... Rg7!
1.Rc3? ~ 2.Re3#, 1... Rg5!
1.Rc2:! ~ 2.Rc1#
  1... Rg3,Rg5 2.Sg3:,Rc3#
39. R. Fedorovitsch
& E. Gavrilov

Revista Romana de Sah 1979
7B7R2K1k2S7SpR2P4pp5B4r






#2 8+5
1.Rb5? ~ 2.Re5#, 1... Rf6!
1.Rbb7? ~ 2.Rb(h)e7#, 1... Rf7!
1.Rb3:! ~ 2.Rb2#
  1... Rf6,Rf7 2.Rb5,Rb7#
40. A. I. Jaroslavcev
Sahs (Riga) 1979
3R9p4p4Qr1S2k4p8pRP1K3P3p1B4rS






#2 9+8
1.Rd6? ~ 2.R/Qf6#, 1... Rg6!
1.Rd4? ~ 2.Rf4#, 1... Rg5!
1.Rdd3:! ~ 2.Rd5#
  1... Rg6,Rg5 2.Rd6,Rd4#
41. C. Wiedenhoff
1–2.pr Les Echecs Francais 1982
1sK4s2Q3P5k1p2P1pp1Pp1R4pSB6B4r4b3r






#2 9+11
(1.Rc4? ~ 2.Qe7#, 1... d4!)
1.Re4? ~ 2.Qe7#, 1... Rc1!
  1... Rc2 2.Re5:#
1.Rf4? ~ 2.Qd6/Qe7#, 1... Rc2!
  1... Rc1 2.Rf6#
1.Rg4:! ~ 2.Qe7#
  1... Rc1,Rc2,(d4) 2.Re4,Rf4,(Qc4)#
42. Z. Labai
Schach 1983
1rB10p6pKP11P1RSkPR9Q1P1S






#2 11+4
1.Ree3? ~ 2.Rg3#, 1... Rb3!
1.Re5? ~ 2.Rg5#, 1... Rb5!
1.Re6:! ~ 2.Qf5#
  1... Rb5,Rb3 2.Re5,Re3#
43. T. Maeder
3.pr Schweizer Schachmagazin 1985
5r3Q1p6pP11p3BkSB11R1S6K






#2 8+5
1.Rc3? ~ 2.Re3/Qb1#, 1... Rf4:!
1.Rc5? ~ 2.Re5/Qb1#, 1... hg4!
1.Rc6:? ~ 2.R~/Qb1#, 1... Rb8!
  1... hg4,Rf4: 2.Rc5,Rc3#
1.Qb1! ~ 2.R~#
  1... hg4,Rf4: 2.Rc3,Rc5#
44. R. Dragoescu
Revista Romana de Sah 1987
6K4pSpQs3bk4p2PS4p2R1s5b2B1pr3B






#2 8+11
1.Re4? ~ 2.Qf7:#, 1... Rg2!
  1... Bh5 2.ed6#
1.Rd4? ~ 2.Qf7:#, 1... Bh5!
1.Rg4? ~ 2.Qf7:#, 1... Rh2:!
1.Rc4:! ~ 2.Qf7:#
  1... Rg2/Rh2:,Bh5 2.Re4,Rd4#
45. A. Zidek
Europa-Rochade 1987
4S1BB1Q1p2p3pP5S4p1pP2k1P1Rp4P5P5R1K






#2 13+7
1.Rc3? (~), 1... g6!, 1... b2 2.Re3#
1.Rc5? (~), 1... b2!, 1... g6 2.Re5#
1.Rc6:! (~)
  1... b2,g6 2.Rc5,Rc3#
46. M. Danidalima
Europe Echecs 1987
4R5p5Q4p4k2S1r5p2K1PRp3p3P3Sr4B






#2 9+8
(1.Sd6? ~ 2.Se4#, 1... Re5!
  1... Rb5,Rb6 2.Qb5:.Qc4#)
1.Re6? ~ 2.Q/Rc6#, 1... Rb6!
1.Re4? ~ 2.Rc4#, 1... Rb5!
1.Ree3:! ~ 2.Re5#
  1... Rb5,Rb6 2.Re4,Re6#
47. T. Maeder
cm Boyer MT 1988
11QKp6pP1p6pR2p2SkP1pP5bP2R1P2BB2S






#2 2 Sol. 13+8
1.Re4? (~), 1... Bb1:!, 1... gf4 2.Qd1#
1.Re5? ~ 2.Qd1#, 1... gf4!
1.Re6:! ~ 2.R~/Qd1#
  1... Bb1:,gf4 2.Re4,Ree5#
1.Qd1! ~ 2.R~#
  1... Bb1:,gf4 2.Re5,Re4#
48. R. Aliovsadzade
& M. Vagidov

Shakhmaty v SSSR 1977
2Q2q1s1p2P4RppP11p4P1BS1k8R6K4B






#2 10+7
1.Be4? ~ 2.Rd3#, 1... Qf4:!
1.Bd5? ~ 2.Sb1#, 1... Qf5!
1.Bc6:! ~ 2.Be8#
  1... Qf4:,Qf5 2.Be4,Bd5#
49. F. Davidenko
6.cm Sahs (Riga) 1978
3r8R3b3B1Q9p3PS2Rp3kPP3p4K2S






#2 10+6
1.Bd5? ~ 2.Qg4#, 1... Bc8!
  1... Rg8 2.e5#
1.Bc4? ~ 2.Qg4#, 1... Rg8!
  1... Bc8 2.Be2#
1.Bb3:! ~ 2.Qg4#
  1... Bc8,Rg8 2.Bd5,Bc4#
50. M. A. Travasoni
Scacco! 1984
R7B5q3r8S4pP3p2k3pR2PpB6K2S






#2 9+7
1.Bc5? ~ 2.Ra4:#, 1... Qa7!
  1... Ra6 2.b5#
1.Bd4? ~ 2.Ra4:#, 1... Ra6!
  1... Qa7 2.Bb2:#
1.Be3:! ~ 2.Ra4:#
  1... Qa7,Ra6 2.Bc5,Bd4#
51. A. I. Jaroslavcev
”64“ 1986
2Bs5SK8P1S4p4p2k3pR4Pp3Q9Rb






#2 9+7
1.Bd7? ~ 2.Bb5#, 1... Bb4!
1.Bf5? ~ 2.Bd3#, 1... Bd2!
1.Bg4:! ~ 2.Be6#
  1... Bb4,Bd2 2.Bd7,Bf5#
52. V. Kopayev
Chess Life 1989
5q2p5R5pp5B1Pp17Q1P2R1pK1B3kS






#2 9+7
1.Be3? ~ 2.Qb1/Rf4#, 1... Qa3!
1.Bf4? ~ 2.Qb1/Bh2:#, 1... Qb8!
1.Bg5:! ~ 2.Qb1#
  1... Qa3,Qb8 2.Be3,Bf4#
53. W. Bruch
Probleemblad 1991
S2K1R4P6Q7P1ks1R1S5p2P1PppP11q4B






#2 12+6
1.Rf6? ~ 2.Q/Rd6#, 1... Qc6!
  1... Qc5 2.Qc5:#
1.Rf4? ~ 2.Rd4#, 1... Qc5!
  1... Qc6 2.Qc6:#
1.Rf3:! ~ 2.Rf1#
  1... Qc5,Qc6 2.Rf4,Rf6#
54. A. Zygalov
& S. Chagamurov

1.pr Konkurs Gazety Baku 1978
5B1r1p1B3p1Kp13kP1SPPq7R1S2p6R4Q






#2 11+7
1.Rcc3? ~ 2.Ra3#, 1... Qf3!
1.Rc4? ~ 2.b5#, 1... Qe2!
1.Rc5? ~ 2.Ra5#, 1... Qh5!
1.Rc6:! ~ 2.Re6#
  1... Qf3,Qe2,Qh5 2.Rc3,Rc4,Rc5#
55. V. Kopayev
Suomen Shakki 1988
bS1K4pk3B4RB1p10p8pp7Pp5Q1qs2R






#2 8+10
1.Be6? ~ 2.Rh7/Bc8#, 1... Qg4!
1.Bd5? ~ 2.Rh7/Ra6#, 1... Qh5!
1.Bc4? ~ 2.Rh7/Ba6#, 1... Qe2!
1.Bb3:! ~ 2.Rh7#
  1... Qg4,Qh5,Qe2 2.Bc4,Bd5,Bc4#

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