Mat Plus Informal Tourney: Helpmates 1998/99
Judge: Darko Šaljić
Out of 65 originals publushed during two years (32 h#2 and 31 h#n) I have selected for honours 11 from twomovers and 14 from moremovers section. My impression is that overall quality was very high.
HELPMATE TWOMOVERS
Mihajlo Stojnić 1.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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1st Prize: No.485 by Mihajlo Stojnic (Yugoslavia). A rich and subtle strategy on each move, harmony and geometrical analogy, are realized through a beautiful cooperation of and change of functions between the identical black and white units. Both Kings are very active, the white one as part of a pinning device, while the play of his black opponent leads to pin-models. It is almost incredible that all of this is realized in a brilliant Meredith position where author added only two black Pawns to his initial matrix. 1.Bc3 Bd4+ 2.Ka1: Rg1#, 1.Rc3 Rg3 2.Ka3 Bc5:#.
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Mihajlo Stojnić 2.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Prize: No.465 by Mihajlo Stojnic (Yugoslavia). Even more eventful problem than previous one. The ultimate artistic impression offered by harmonous and analogous play would only be spoiled if I try to enumerate all strategic elements involved. I would only like to pay your attention to a miraculous connection between events which take place on f3 and d4, as well as to an extremely beautiful "magnetic" WR and WB activity. 1.Kd6 Bc4 2.Rf3 Rd4#, 1.Kb7 Rg2 2.Bd4 Bf3#.
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Emil Klemanič 3.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Prize: No.539 by Emil Klemanic (Slovakia). Very elegant and artistic presentation of double unpin of white Knights. The unpinning interferences are by no means trivial and simple. One of interferences is made by the Black King, while another takes place on the mating move. Note the magical image drawn by the initial and two final locations of the pair of Knights. a) 1.Bg3 Se4+ 2.Kd5 Se3#, b) 1.Rf7 Se5 2.Ke3 Sd5#.
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Mircea Manolescu 4.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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4th Prize: No.542 by Mircea Manolescu (Romania). An extremely difficult and original triple-avoidance mechanism, motivated by the choice of the line along which the WQ controls c7. The witty and ingenious idea, which made this complex possible, was that one of thematic lines (h2-c7) is initially already closed and the play after 1.fg3 Qg3: is motivated by its clearence, rather than by avoidance of its interference as in other two solutions. After three previous "Mozartish" composition, this one "sounds" like a grandiose symphony by Mahler. 1.hg4 Qh7 2.Sc4(A) Rb5:# [2.Sf7?(B) Sc4+ 3.Kc7, 2.Ra5?(C) Sd7+ 3.Kc7], 1.fg3 Qg3: 2.Sf7(B) Sc4# [2.Ra5?(C) Sd7+ 3.Kc7, 2.Sc4?(A) Rb5:+ 3.Kc7], 1.c2 Qc2: 2.Ra5(C) Sed7# [2.Sc4?(A) Rb5:+ 3.Kc7, 2.Sf7?(B) Sc4+ 3.Kc7].
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Michal Dragoun 1.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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1st Hon. Mention: No.467 by Michal Dragoun (Chech Republic). I must admit that it was a surprise to find out that such a classic idea had not been realized earlier. Beautiful and important discovery. 1.Qe8: de8Q 2.Rf8: gf8Q#, 1.Qf8: gf8S 2.Re8: de8S#.
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Tode Ilievski 2.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Hon. Mention: No.466 by Tode Ilievski (Macedonia). On first moves Black Knights arrive to squares where they will be pinned, at the same time opening the way toward the self-pinning for their respective rear line piece. One must appreciate authors creative approach, dismissing the matrix with completely analogous solutions (e.g. with BSc6b6 and BBa8a7) which would make the whole thing look simple and mechanical. In this form the mechanism is still very harmonous, while the play gains an interesting reciprocal character. 1.Sd5: R8h4+ 2.Qd4 Rc1#, 1.Sd4 R1h4 2.Bd5: Rc8#.
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Michal Dragoun 3.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Hon. Mention: No. 477 by Michal Dragoun (Czech Republic). Black captures both White Knights in order determined by the construction of indirect white battery and the Black Kings exposure to their operation. During that process another Knight suffers, this time the black one. Author shows in original way that the use of more "rude" tactical elements also has its hidden aesthetics. a) 1.Be2: Ke5+ 2.Kc3: Kf5:#, b) 1.bc3 Kc4+ 2.Ke2: Kc5:#
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Jean Haymann 4.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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4th Hon. Mention: No.476 by Jean Haymann (Israel). Very attractive and difficult combination of mutual anticipatory unpins of black pieces. The tries, by themselves, underline the necessity of such black strategy. The contents is significantly enriched by a complex White-Black Goethart interference in first solution (1... Sd3!) and Schiffman-like dual avoidance in second (2... Sd5?). However, I would like much more if author suceeded for both anticipatory unpins to be also anticipatory selfpins, by using the pin of Black Rook for mate in first solution (as it is the case in twin position, 2... Sg6# utilizes the pin of Black Queen). a) 1.Rf3 (Rg3?) Sd3 (Se2?) 2.Qg6 Sf6#, b) 1.Qe6 (Qg6?) Sc7: 2.Rb2 Sg6# (Sd5?).
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Krzysztof Drazkowski 1.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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1st Com.: No.537 by Krzysztof Drazkowski (Poland). A very fine problem in which the paradoxical path of the White Monarch is determined by interference avoidance and by the Black Knight location. 1.Qd3+ Kd3:+ 2.Kf5 Kd2#, 1.Qd4+ Kd4:+ 2.Kf6 Kc5#.
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Stanko Milenković 2.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Com.: No455 by Stanko Milenkovic, (Yugoslavia). Classic duplex, masterly constructed. I especially like the way to avoid a tempo move by the Black Rook along the opened d-line: 1.Td8? would be a critical move after 1... Sd4. B *1... Sd4 2.Rd2 Rg1:#, 1.Rc3 Rg2 2.Rc1 Rd2#; W *1... Rd6 2.Sg5 Rh6#, 1.g5 Rf3: 2.Rg4 Rh3#.
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Anatoliy Stepochkin 3.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Com.: No.470 by Anatoliy Stepochkin (Russia). Another nice problem which contains many elements of a classic beauty: set play, capture of mating white piece and black castling... *1... Sf5 2.0-0-0 Sd6#, 1.Se7:+ g6 2.Rd8 Sc7#.
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HELPMATE MOREMOVERS
Borislav Stojanović 1.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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1st Prize: No.552 by Borislav Stojanovic (Yugoslavia). Convicingly the best achievement in the tourney. Excelsior march of the White Pawn taking five out of six available moves through extremely crowded a-line and sacrifice of the sole white officer make a phantastic impression. The whole manoeuvre is elegant and masterly defined. A helpmate for every anthology! 1.b5 Bb6 2.Kb4 a4 3.ab6 a5 4.Ka4 a6 5.Ka5 a7 6.Ka6 a8Q#.
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Jorma Paavilainen 2.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Prize: No.547 by Jorma Paavilainen (Finland). Another masterpiece! The Black Queen, although initially attacked by both white thematic units, will be captured only after it performs a clearence of the white line and sacrifices itself on a very precisely chosen square. On first and third move white occupies the square vacated previously by the Black Queen in the spirit of Umnov effect (which is once delayed). The idea is realized by use of a fine twinning, by minimal removal of the BK to adjacent square, in complete diagonal/orthogonal analogy. a) 1.Qf4: Bc7 2.Qf1 Rf1: 3.Bd3 Bf4#, b) 1.Qc3: Rc7 2.Qe1 Be1: 3.Rd4: Rc3#.
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Anatoliy Stepochkin 3.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Prize: No.488 by Anatoliy Stepochkin (Russia). An original and paradoxical Zilahi mechanism with plenty of fine details. The basic idea is the capture of white linemovers instead of potential unpins. The visual effect which leave Black Knights gallop from the corner toward their distant King remind on the Nightrider movement. Note that Black Rook and Black Bishop (b8) are not artifically added to fake the unpinning play. They are necessary for the determination of the play - White King must first fly from the attack from just formed black battery. a) 1.Sc6: Kd5+ 2.Se5 Bd8 3.Sg4 Bg5#, b) 1.Sc7: Ke7+ 2.Se6 Rc8 3.Sg7 Rh8#.
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Artur Garcer 4.Pr Mat Plus 1998/99
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4th Prize: No.487 by Artur Garcer (Russia). One of the most original helpmates I have seen recently. King and Pawn march towards each other in opposite directions, cleaning by the way white Pawns which determine the black pathes. The endings are selfblocks by the Black Pawn (one of which is remote!) and beautiful chameleon echo models. Reciprocal Bishop moves are in oposite corresponence to the black play, underlining the harmony of the composition as a whole. Excellent! a) 1.a6 Bf1 2.ab5 Bc4 3.ba4 Bd6:#, b) 1.Ka4: Bd6: 2.Kb5: Bc7 3.Ka6 Bf1#.
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Leonid Makaronez & Semion Shifrin 1.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
h#3 |
b) BRe7b4
c) BKc2b2 |
3+8 |
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1st Hon. Mention: No.546 by Leonid Makaronez & Semion Shifrin (Israel). All three minor promotions of the unpinned Black Pawn are attractively connected to the play of the White Bishop along the gradually shortened diagonal line. Very harmonous and unusal helpmate threemover. a) 1.Kd3 Bc8 2.e1B Re2 3.Bc3 Ba6:#, b) 1.Kc3 Bd7 2.e1S Ba4 3.Sd3 Rc2#, c) 1.Ka1 Be6 2.e1R Bd5: 3.Rb1 Ra2#.
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Albert Grigoryan 2.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Hon. Mention: No.498 by Albert Grigoryan (Armenia). Excellent moremover with the promotion of Black Bishops pair. It is wonderful to watch how in course of the solution the position is cleared from the pawns which would be sufficient in beautiful final idal mate position. 1.f1B Kg7 2.Bd3 Kf6 3.Bc2: Ke5 4.Bg6 Kf4 5.c2 Kg3: 6.c1B Kh3 7.Bg5 g4 #.
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Tode Ilievski 3.HM Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Hon. Mention: No.548 by Tode Ilievski (Macedonia). Fine Zilahi mechanism with Umnov effects in excellent twins, gained by an innocent removal of the White Pawn by one square. a) 1.Qa4: Bc6 2.Sf3 Be8 3.Qd4 Bg6#, b) 1.Qb7: Rc4 2.Sf4: Rc3: 3.Qd5 Re3#.
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Gαbor Cseh 1.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
h#4 W |
WK in check!
b) WSh2 |
6+12 |
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1st Com.: No.492 by Gabor Cseh (Hungary). If we disregard (usually) unforgivable drawback in check to White King in initial position, we would discover the work of a master. I am convinced that it is ectremely difficult to realize in a helpmate twomover the combination with idea on defered capture on the same square of promoted Rook and Bishop. Here the author succeeded to show it in by no means impersonal play (which is common in task-problems), with uniform and ingeniously determined manoeuvres. a) 1... fe8B 2.Qc8 g3 3.Kd8 Rc2: 4.Ke8: Rc8:#, b) 1... fe8R 2.Se5 g5 3.Kd7 Sg4 4.Ke8: Sf6#.
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Srećko Radović & Nebojša Joksimović 2.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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2nd Com.: No.544 by Srecko Radovic & Neboja Joksimovic (Yugoslavia). Not new, but skillfully constructed combination with double Indian. In both solutions Queen has a choice between two pathes, but she selectes the one which avoids the capture of the white piece. 1.Qf8 Bb1 2.Qf4 Rc2 3.Ke4 Rd2#, 1.Qa6 Rh4 2.Qd3 Bg4 3.Ke4 Be6#.
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Albert Grigoryan 3.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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3rd Com.: No.484 by Albert Grigoryan (Armenia). Two uniform solutions with black minor promotions and ideal mates. Interesting (or natural?) correspondence of promoted and mating pieces. 1.f1S Sb4 2.Sg3 Rd1 3.Se2 Sc2#, 1.f1R Sc5 2.Rd1 Sb3 3.Rd3: Re1#.
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Vladan Vučković 4.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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4th Com.: No.551 by Vladan Vuckovic (Yugoslavia). A pair of White Knights is a trademark of the author who has intensively explored this field. Here is, by addition of only one White Pawn, presented beautiful and surprising theme - Black Kings switchback from a remote square. 1.Ke1 Kc2 2.Kf2 Kb1 3.Ke1 Sf3+ 4.Kd1 Sc3#.
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Luigi Vitale 5.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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5th Com.: No.496 by Luigi Vitale (Italy). Problem with two solutions of equal weight, which will complement the collection "Kings and Pawns" by Tomislav Petrovic and Slobodan aletic, experts in this field. 1.g5 h4 2.Kh4 Ke6 3.h4 Ke4 4.Kh5 Kf5 5.d5 g4#, 1.Kg3: Kd5 2.Kh4 Ke6 3.Kg5 h4+ 4.Kh6: Kf6 5.g5 hg5#.
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Sergei Rumyantsew 6.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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6th Com: No.483 by Sergei Rumyantsew (Russia). Two beautiful chameleon echo ideal mates. I like the Q/S interference very much! 1.Sg2 Kc6 2.Qe3 Rd5 3.Sf4 Sg5#, 1.Ke5 Sf4 2.Qe4 Rd6 3.Sf5 Sg6#.
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Vladan Vučković 7.Com Mat Plus 1998/99
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7th Com.: No.549 by Vladan Vuckovic (Yugoslavia). Another successful discovery, this time with minimal material. A chess-problem touch this work gains from a paradoxical Black Kings journey to another edge of the board, although it seems that it is easier to construct the mate if he sticks to the initial edge. 1.Kb4 Ke3 2.Kc3 Sb3 3.Kc2 Kf2 4.Kd1 Se3#.
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Beograd, 05.06.2006.
Darko Šaljić
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