Mat Plus
Reconstruction Exercise #1

Report by Milan Velimirovic

It was required to (re)construct the two-move problem with following solution:

1.Qe6! threat 2.Sf6#

Required variations:
  1... de6:+ 2.Se7#
  1... dc6:+ 2.Bc7#
  1... d6+ 2.Bg7#
Optional by-play:
  1... Re3 2.Re3:#
  1... Bf3 2.Qg6:#
  1... Be5: 2.Qe5:#

R e s u l t s

A prototype for this reconstruction was a 16-men Good Companion classic by Mansfield & Chandler.
 
Position 1. - Prototype
  C. Mansfield & G. W. Chandler

  Good Companions 1914







#2 8+8
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... Bf3,Re3,Be5: 2.Qg6:,Re3:,Qe5:#)
Practically the same position is sent by Theodor Tauber(*), Pascal Wassong, Joza Tucakov and Ivan Denkovski. Interestingly, everybody preferred BR on e1 instead of e2.

(*) Tauber sent another, better position.

Position 1a.
  Milomir Babic;
  Yves Cheylan








#2 8+8
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... Bf3,Re3,Be5: 2.Qg6:,Re3:,Qe5:#)
Sent by Milomir Babic (*) and Yves Cheylan. Yves points that Rb7->a7 & +BPc2 introduces the try1.Bb5? c1S! with a changed mate after 1... Bf3 Q:f3#. Opened f-line makes the WQ more active and, consequently, the position looks more attractive.

(*) Babic sent another, better position.

Position 2.
  Juraj Lorinc








#2 8+7
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... Bf3,Qe3,Be5: 2.Qg6:,Re3:,Qe5:#)
Juraj Lorinc used BQ instead of BR as the fireing black unit and saved one piece preserving all original variations, but the economy could have been improved even more...

 
First let's see the attempts for the extreme reduction of the material, but at expense of the overall quality.
 
Position 3.
  Mirko Miljanic
  Miomir Nedeljkovic








#2 8+5
1.Qd6! ~ 2.Se6#
  1... cd6+,cb6+,c6+ 2.Sd7,Bb7,Bf7#
  1... Se3,Qd3,Bd5: 2.Qf6,Rd3:,Qd5:#
Reversing the direction of black fireing piece gave the almost-Meredith setting. Unpleasantely, WQ is en prise before the key.

(Note: Nedeljkovic preferred position shifted one row down).

Position 4.
  Miodrag Mladenovic








#2 7+5
1.Qe3! ~ 2.Sf3#
  1... de3+,dc3+,d3+ 2.Se4,Bc4,Bg4#)
For further reduction of the material even bigger price has to be payed: a flight taking key. This position with only three required variations was sent by Misha only as an illustration...
Position 5.
  Milos Tomasevic








#2 7+5
1.Qe3! ~ 2.Sf3#
  1... de3+,dc3+,d3+ 2.Se4,Bc4,Bg4#
  (1... Be2: 2.Qg3#)
... and this position illustrates how even then it can be refined (note the masked guard of e2 by Rc2) and enriched (one by-variation)...
Position 6.
  Milos Tomasevic








#2 7+4
1.Qe3! ~ 2.Sf3#
  1... de3+,dc3+,d3+ 2.Se4,Bc4,Bg4#
 (1... Be2: 2.Qg3#)
... and with further breaking the principles ("introducing" an unprovided check) even more reduced - to eleven men!
 
Anyway, it seems that 14 pieces is the optimal number, as proved with following three positions.
 
Position 7.
  Milos Tomasevic & Radovan Tomasevic








#2 7+7
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... d3,Be5: 2.Rb4,Qe5:#)
This setting has only two by-variations, but the self-blocking one looks very nice.
Position 8.
  Theodor Tauber;
  Miodrag Mladenovic








#2 8+6
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... Sf3,Qe3,Be5: 2.Qg6,Re3:,Qe5:#)
This position defers from the Mansfield & Chandler problem mainly in the introduction of BQ taking over the role of two BRs. All by-variations are preserved.
Position 9.
  Thomas Maeder;
  Milomir Babic;
  Milos & Radovan Tomasevic;
  Miomir Nedeljkovic








#2 8+6
1.Qe6! ~ 2.Sf6#
  1... de6+,dc6+,d6+ 2.Se7,Bc7,Bg7#
  (1... Sf3,Se3,Be5: 2.Qg6,Re3:,Qe5:#)
Although there is almost no difference between this and previous position, the opened f-file seems to be the final touch. To my opinion the best setting!

(Note: Nedeljkovic again preferred position shifted one row down).

Milomir Babic also declares following tries: 1.c4? Be5:!, 1.Rf3? dc6! and 1.Bb5? b5:! and suggests, as Yves Cheylan for 1a, an alternative with BRb7->a7 and addition of BPc2 for better defeat of the latter try.


Additional example:
  Milan Velimirovic







#2 8+7
1.Qe3! ~ 2.Rd1#
  1... fg3+,fe3+,f3+ 2.Bg4,f4,Bc4#
  (1... Bd2:,Be2: 2.Qd2:,Qe2:#)
It was not difficult to figure out the basic scheme since the dualled WS battery opening could have been avoided only by possible BK flight square. It seems that the only alternative for this is to use the WP on initial square, as illustrated on the diagram.

 
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