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Mat Plus Informal Tourney: Threemovers 1995
Judge: Judge: Yakov Vladimirov

In issues 5, 6-7 and 8-9 there were 12 original threemovers, one of which (No.70) have been subsequently corrected by the author. The number of problems was small, but this can be understandable because the magazine was still making its first steps. Nevertheless, it was not difficult to make the decision.

129. A. Kuzovkov
1-2. Prize Mat Plus 1995







#3 9+14
131. A. Grinblat
1-2. Prize Mat Plus 1995







#3 12+12
70v. S. Radovic
3. Prize Mat Plus 1995







#3 7+9
1-2. Prize: No.129 by A. Kuzovkov. Set play is based on self-blocks on d2 and defined by squares vacated by black Rooks: 1... Rcd2 2.Sc6:+ Kd3 3.Sb4#, 1... Red2 2.Sg6+ Kd3 3.Sf4:#. The solution starts with excellent key 1.f6! unexpectedly destroying the battery. Threat is 2.Sf5+ Ke5: 3.f7#! - battery plays again, but another one this time. Now Rook moves defend the threat by checks, and the weakness is obstruction on the square d2 for black Knight, while variations are motivated by potential unblocks by black Pawns moves: 1... Rcd2 2.Qg8! ~ 3.Qc4#, 1... Red2 2.Qh7! ~ 3.Qe4:#, 2... ef3 3.Sf3:#. The idea is completed, but not sufficiently to give a clear winner for two reasons: after 1... Rcd2 2.Qg8 black has no further defence, unlike in the other variation; similar change of tactical motives (self-block to obstruction) have already been seen earlier with three variations, with try instead of set play.

1-2. Prize: No.131 by A. Grinblat. Here, the set play is based on arrival of black pieces to mating squares: 1... Bd5 2.Sf2+! (2.Sc5+?) Bf2: 3.Qd5:#, 1... Sf3 2.Sc5+! (2.Sf2+?) dc5 3.ef3#. After again successfull key 1.Sg4!, threatening 2.Qc4+ Kf5: 3.Sh6#, the replies to above defences are reciprocally changed, motivated by masked interferences of black Rooks: 1... Bd5 2.Sc5+! (2.Sf2+?) 2... dc5 3.Bd3#, 1... Sf3 2.Sf2+! (2.Sc5+?) 2... Bf2: 3.Bd3# (unfortunately, there are duals after 2... Kf5:). Complex and clear mechanism for recoprocal change, but according to moddern requirements different mates would be desirable instead of the same 3.Bd3#.

3. Prize: No.70v by S. Radovic. Beautifully realized battery mechanism with white Rook's cross, motivated by remote self-blocks. Contents is decorated by a witty try 1.Sb5? defeated only by 1... Qd3!. Certainly, a great creative success by the young and talented problemist. 1.Sc8! ~ 2.Rc5+ Ke6 3.Qd5#, 1... Qd3 2.Rb6:+ Kc4 3.Qc6#, 1... Qf5 2.Rc7+ Ke6 3.Qc6#, 1... Bb3 2.Rd6+ Kc4 3.Qc6#, 1... Bf3 2.Qd7+ Ke4 3.Rc4#, 1... Sf6 2.Rc5+ Ke6 3.Re5#, 1... Qa2 2.Rc7+ Ke6 3.Qe4#, 1... Ke4 2.Rc4+ Kd3 3.Qe4#, 2... Kf5 3.Qd5#.

Special Prize: No.71 by M. Velimirovic. [Ke8 Qg8 Rc5 g5 Bb1 Se1 e4 Pb2 b3 h2 h3 (11) - Ke5 Rd3 f2 Pb5 c6 d5 e3 f5 g6 h5 (10), #3]. Paradoxical key 1.Qe6+! (1... Ke6: 2.Sd3:) leads to two sets of variations with mates changed in the spirit of Lacny theme: 1... Kd4 2,Rc3! ~ 3.Rd3:#, 2... Rd~ 3.Qf6# (but after 1... Rc3: also 3.bc3# is possible), 2... de4 3.Qd6#, 2... fe4 3.Qe5# (2... Rfd2 3.Sf3#) and 1... Kf4 2.Rg3! ~ 3.Sd3:#, 2... Rd~ 3.Qd6#, 2... de4 3.Qe5#, 2... fe4 3.Qf6# (2... Rfd2 3.Rf3#). Strictly talking, these are two positions of twomover twins, built by the removal of black King, and two-move character is underlined by the possibility of different black defenses in the second move. Author founded tricky solution to connect two positions with the checking first move, but such approach must provoke considerable doubts.

1. Hon. Mention: No.92 by M. S. Nesic. [Ka4 Rc6 e8 Bf6 h5 Sd2 Pb3 b5 f3 f5 (10) - Kd5 Rg2 g7 Pd6 e3 f7 (6), #3*]. Set play is easily spotable due to the checking defences: 1... R2g4+ 2.Se4! ~ 3.Rd6:#, 2... Re4:+ 3.fe4#, 1... R7g4+ 2.Re4! ~ 3.Bf7:#, 2... Rg7 3.Rd4#. A good key 1.Rec8!, with withdrawal of white Rook from e-file, creates likable threat 2.Rc5+ dc5 3.Rd8# and changes replies to the checks: 1... R2g4+ 2.Sc4! ~ 3.Rd6:#, 2... Rc4:+ 3.bc4#, 1... R7g4+ 2.Rc4! ~ 3.Bf7:#, 2... Rg7 3.Rd4#.

2. Hon. Mention: No.127 by Z. Gavrilovski. [Kh2 Rb5 h5 Bh6 Se1 e6 Pd2 e7 f2 g4 (10) - Ke4 Qb2 Rb8 Bd8 e2 Sa2 h8 Pb3 b7 c7 (10), #3]. In two thematic tries white attempts the hidden unpins along 2nd rank: 1.Kg1? ~ 2.d3+/f3+, .1... Qd4!, 1.Kg3? ~ 2.d3+/f3+, 1... Qf6!. In the solution 1.Rhc5! ~ 2.Rc4+ Bc4: 3.f3#, 2... Qd4 3.Rd4:#, the refutations become thematic defences. Since Queen vacates 2nd rank, a hidden unpin reapears and thematic threats are alternatively effective: 1... Qd4 2.d3+! Qd3: 3.Re5#, 2... Bd3: 3.f3#, 1... Qf6 2.f3+! Qf3: 3.Re5#, 2... Bf3: 3.d3#. Modern, but not quite convincing method of developing two-move ideas of changed functions of thematic moves.

3. Hon. Mention: No.126 by A. Popovski. [Ka3 Rf5 h1 Sg3 Pc6 d2 (6) - Kc2 Pc7 d3 d4 e4 h2 (6), #3]. In inital position everything is ready: 1... Kd2: 2.Rh2:+ Ke3 3.Sf1#, 2... Rc3 3.Rc5#, 2... K~ 3.Rf1#, 1... e3 2.Se4 ~ 3.Rc5#. There is no waiting move and play is to be changed: 1.Rff1! Kd2: 2.Rh2:+ Ke3 3.Sf5#, 2... Kc3 3.Rc1# (second move is unfortunately the same, but mates are changed), 1... e3 2.Rc1+ Kd2: 3.Rhd1#. A lovely mutate in Meredith form.

1. Commendition: No.124. by B. Stojanovic. [Kb8 Qh8 Rc6 Bf6 g4 Pc5 f7 (7) - Kd5 Ba4 Sa8 (3), #3]. The goal is reached by the "Bristol" key 1.Ba1! (I would prefer white Bishop on f6, giving more freedom to white Queen and making key move less obvious) with three forced variations: 1... ~ 2.Qd4+ Kc6: 3.Bd7#, 1... Kc6: 2.Bd7+! Kd7: 3.Qe8#, 2... Kc5: 3.Qd4# (model mate), 1... Kc4 2.Be2+ Kd5 3.Qh1#! - beautiful mate, though not pure one, 2... Kb3 3.Qb2#, 2... Kb4 3.Qc3#. A colourful play and good key, though with no tactical finesses.

2. Commendition: No.127 by A. Onkound. (Kf7 Qb1 Ra6 b2 Bf5 Sg7 h3 Pb5 c2 e2 e6 (11) - Kh6 Bg2 Sc5 Pa3 a7 e5 g3 g5 h4 (9), #3]. 1.Rb4! ~ 2.Rh4:+! gh4 3.Qc1#, 1... e4 2.Qa1 ~ 3.Qf6#, 2... Sd7 (2... Se4?) 3.ed7#, 1... Be4 2.Qc1 ~ 3.Qg5:#, 2... Bf5: (2... Se4?) 3.Rh4:#, 1... Se4 2.e7+ Sd(f)6 (2... Bc6?) 3.R:S#. Obstructions on e4 with quiet moves of white Queen. Idea is lacking the purity (move 2.Qa1 has sense only after the diagonal is opened).

Yakov Vladimirov, Russia
International judge


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