Mat Plus

"BLACK  INTELLIGENCE"

by Ian Shanahan, Australia

(From Mat Plus No.16, Winter 1997, p.154


(This interesting text came after the exchange of few e-mail messages between Ian and the editor)

I decided to accept your suggestion that I submit an original problem (a #2) to Mat Plus. But first a preamble on its theme.

For some time now, I've been interested in the Combinative Separation [c.s.] structure - and in developing it further. In particular, I have come to realise that Black Correction and c.s. (of White mates) really belong to a broader concept that I have called "Black Intelligence"; it is a progression that chess players would actually find quite natural. Anyway, the following examples should make this all clear:

Ian Shanahan
8444. Die Schwalbe
April 1994
Dedicated to
Gerhard Maleika

s1b6S1p1p2BS6rs5pp2k1P2P4P4PB1K1Q






#2 10+9
1.Qh5:! (2.Qc5[A],Qd5[B],Qe5[C])
I   1... Ra6:  2.ABC
II  1... f6    2.AB
    1... Sac7  2.A C
    1... d5    2. BC 
III 1... Sb6:  2.A
    1... d6    2. B
    1... Bb7:  2.  C
Total primary c.s.
IV  1... f5    2.Qh8
    1... Sb~   2.c3 
Fleck-Karlstrom
V   1... Sc3!? 2.Be3
Black Correction
I-V = 5 levels of progressive Black Intelligence. (The pioneer?)
 
Ian Shanahan
C8700. The Problemist
September 1994
Dedicated to
Barry Barnes

2b1S3pp1sp5k2pQ1s4p2P1SPP10K






#2 7+9
Set: 1...fe4/Sb6 2.Qe4:/Se5
 
1.Qf5:! (2.Qb5[A],Qd5[B],Qe6[C])
I   1... Sb3   2.ABC
II  1... b5    2.AB
    1... e6    2.A C
    1... a6    2. BC 
III 1... Sc4:  2.A
    1... b6    2. B
    1... e5    2.  C
Total primary c.s.
IV  1... Sd~   2.Qc8:
V   1... Sb6!? 2.Sa5:
Black Correction
I-V = 5 levels of progressive Black Intelligence. (The second setting?)

I then had the idea of weaving in the Dalton theme as well (White unpins a Black unit which then pins the unpinner!) - a nice mixture of 'new(ish)' and 'old'. However, Gerhard Maleika had independently beaten me to it (primary+secondary total c.s. + Dalton theme: 1st Pr "Probleemblad" 1992; quoted in "The Problemist" March 1995). At least I seem to have pioneered the triple blend of total c.s. + Black Correction + Dalton theme **in the original I'm sending you for Mat Plus!** ... which I've been sitting on for a few years, due to the glut of c.s. problems in my usual outlets.

Meanwhile, here is another problem, composed immediately after the abovementioned original, and published in 1995. It is my favourite 2er! ... (admittedly somewhat better than the original I'm sending you).

Ian Shanahan
C8872. The Problemist
November 1995
Dedicated to
A. C. Reeves

18QPp1B1K1ps1q6k7pp6S2B1s2S






#2 7+8
Set: 1...c4 2.Qc4:
 
1.Qb5? (2.Qd3[A],Qb1:[B],Qc4[C])
I   1... e5    2.ABC
II  1... Qg6:  2.AB
    1... fe2   2.A C 
    1... c4    2. BC
Partial primary c.s., incomplete ('imperfect'): no 2. B
III 1... Sd2   2.A
    1... Sb4   2.  C
 
IV  1...Sf4!
1.Qc5:!* (2.Qc4[C],Qc2[D],Qd4[E])
I   1... f2     2.CDE
II  1... e5     2.CD
    1... Sbc3   2.C E
    1... Sd2    2. DE
Total primary c.s., complete ('perfect'); changed c.s.
III 1... fe2    2.C
    1... Qg6:   2. D
    1... Sa3    2.  E
 
IV  1...Sd~*    2.Qe5
 
V   1...Sf4!?* 2.Sg3
Black Correction (Somov mate)
I-V = 5 levels of progressive Black Intelligence.
* = Dalton theme.

Here at last, Milan, is the original - predecessor to the above, and pioneer of the 'triple blend':

Ian Shanahan
original
4B5Q1Kp2p2pS3r1s4Rpbk4Pp1qS4P1R1P3s






#2 10+11
Set: 1...d5 2.Se5
 
1.Qd6:!* (2.Qd4[A],Qd5[B],Se5[C])
I   1... Rb5     2.ABC
II  1... f6      2.AB
    1... f5      2.A C
    1... Sab3    2. BC
Total primary c.s.
III 1... Qc2:    2.A
    1... Sc2:    2. B
    1... fe6     2.  C
 
IV  1...Sc~*    2.Qb4
 
V   1...Sd3:!?* 2.ed3
Black Correction
I-V = 5 levels of progressive Black Intelligence.
* = Dalton theme.

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