BPCF 2017 - XII Београдски фестивал проблемског шаха 2017.
Belgrade Internet Tournaments 2017
Group A – #2 ,
Mate in two moves
Judge: Marjan Kovačević, International Judge
The thematic condition asked for multiple gate opening by the key-move, a motive rarely explored. Both quality and quantity of 25 anonymous entries have pleasantly surprised me!
I paid special attention to subtlety of thematic black errors: from the less sophisticated ones, leading to recapture, unguard of mating field, white line opening, or capturing by the key-piece; to the more subtle motives, like self-block, black interference, or capturing by white unit other then the key one (usually asking for additional effects of the key-move).
After the award had been completed, it turned out that one composer was author of two different joint entries (No. 4 – P.N.& A.V. and No.18 – M.B. & A.V.), against the (often criticized) rules of BIT. So, with regrets, I had to exclude the somewhat lower placed No.18.
There were two entries (Nos. 19 & 21) equally impressive from my point of view. Since this is a thematic tourney, I gave priority to the most intensive presentation of the theme. If this was an informal tourney, the first two prizes would exchange their places in my award.
Thematic condition
Double White-Black gate-opening
Solution begins with simultaneous opening of two (or more) black lines. Black pieces use this effect as double gate-opening, to create variations by moving over critical field vacated by the white key-piece.
Example -(Scheme)
#2
Winners
S. Manikumar
C.G.S. Narayanan
Ivo Tominić
Aleksey Oganesjan
Evgeni Bourd
Participants
Suleyman Abdullayev (AZE)
Rauf Aliovsadzade (USA)
Mark Basisty* (UKR)
Dr Phani Bhushan (IND)
Evgeni Bourd (ISR)
Chandrasekaran K (IND)
Mykola Chernyavskyy (UKR)
Branislav
Djurašević (SRB)
Dan-Constantin Gurgui (ROM)
ichai
Fedir Kapustin (UKR)
Marko Klasinc
(SLO)
Ralf Krätschmer* (GER)
Robert Lincoln (USA)
Ingemar Lind (SWE)
Manikumar S. (IND)
Karol
Mlynka (SVK)
Narayanan CGS (IND)
Emanuel Navon (ISR)
Petro Novitsky* (UKR)
Aleksey
Oganesjan (RUS)
Franz Pachl* (GER)
Miodrag Radomirović (SRB)
Srećko Radović (SRB)
Yosi Retter
(ISR)
Seetharaman Kalyan (IND)
Ivo Tominić (CRO)
Anatoly Vasilenko** (UKR)
28 names
from 13 countries
BPCF2017A - Award
***
1.Qf6! ~ 2.Qf3#
1...Rxc5+ 2.Sxc5#
1...Rf5 2.Qd4#
1...Bxd2+ 2.Sxd2#
1...Be3 2.Rxe3#
1...Bf4 2.Qxf4#
1...Rxg3 2.Sxg3#
Not less than 6 thematic moves allowed by the key-move that opens 3 black lines. With 5 out of 6 variations created by two black pieces, some subtlety was needed. You may notice that mates by WRg3 were introduced thanks to additional guards of d4 and f3 flights, while Qd4# uses self/block on f5. All is thematic here, no repetition and no by-play in this wonderfully constructed problem, with black and white pieces artistically grouped on the board.
FEN: 8/5br1/7b/K1P3Qr/2B1k3/3N2R1/3P1B2/5N2
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1.Qe7? ~ 2.Qd6#
1...Ke5 2.Rb5#
1...Qxe6 2.Qc5#
1...Be5 2.Sb6#
1...Ke5 2.Rb5#
1...Qg3!
1.Qf4! ~ 2.Qd6#
1...Qxe6 2.Sb6#
1...Be5 2.Qc4#
1...Kxe6 2.Bb3#
1...Qg3 2.Qe4#
There is a 2x2 change of mates after thematic self-blocks in two equally beautiful phases, each giving a different flight to BK. The phases are not only matching, but also creating reciprocal relations, with a kind of ODT flavor. The composition reveals a hand of a master, with new mates after BK flights, and an excellent refutation that leads to additional mate in the solution. A problem that could get a Prize in any informal tourney.
FEN: 2N4b/8/2P1PQq1/K2k4/BR6/3PB3/2n5/8
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1.Se3? ~
2.Sxg4# A
2.Sf5# B
1...dxe6 a 2.Sxg4# A
1...Sf6 b 2.Sf5# B
1...Sxe3 d 2.Rxh2# D
1...Rxf4 2.Qf8#
1...Bxe6! (2.Qh3#??)
1.Sd6? ~
2.Sf5# B
2.Sxf7# C
1...Sh8 c 2.Sf5# B
1...dxe6 a 2.Sxf7# C
1...Sxd6 e 2.h8=Q# E
1...Bxe6 2.Qh3#
1...Rxf4!
1.Sxe5! ~
2.Sxf7# C
2.Sxg4# A
1...Bxe6 2.Qh3#
1...Rxf4 2.Qf8#
1...Sf6 b 2.Sxf7# C
1...Sh8 c 2.Sxg4# A
1...Sxe5 f 2.Rxh2# D
1...Sxe5 g 2.h8=Q# E
Astonishing line-play spread around the board. WSc4 opens
„gates” to BB&BR, and these black pieces in turn open „gates” to
WQ. Next, in both tries WS anticipatory closes the „gates” to Her
Majesty, motivating refutations. In my opinion, this composition,
involving cyclic threats too, has too much of the content...
Without insisting on so called „half-defences” (that appear
artificial to my taste), the position would be much lighter.
FEN: 1K4R1/3p1n1P/1p2N1Bk/4p3/1rN2Pn1/Qb6/2p2pRp/8
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1...Sxe5 a 2.Bc5# A
1...Se3 b 2.Sb5# B
1.Qe2! ~ 2.Qc4#
1...Sxe5 a 2.Bxe5# C- change
1...Se3 b 2.Qd3# D- change
1...Rc3 2.Bc5# A - transfer
1...Bd5 2.Sb5# B - transfer
Thematic selfblock crossing the critical f3
1...Kd5 2.Bc5# A - transfer 2
1...Kc3 2.Sb5# B - transfer2
King flights
1...Sxa3 2.Bc5# A - transfer 3
1...Rxd6 2.Sb5# B - transfer3
Line opening + Zilahi
Another very ambitious entry, presenting the Ruchlis change, and a kind of 1+3 transference, where solution contains 3 different pairs of defences leading to the same pair of mates. This complex content, offering two thematic flights to BK, overshadows the main theme, and would be more suitable for an informal tourney.
FEN: 6B1/2KRP3/2nBr3/p3Pp2/1P1k3q/Np3Qr1/1pnb1P2/2R1N2b
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1.Qa4? ~ 2.Qe4#
1...Bc4 2.Qxc4#
1...Sd6 2.Rxd6#
1...Bd5 2.Bxd5#
1...Bxa4 2.Bd5#
1...Qxc3!
1.Se4? ~ 2.Sg5#
1...Rxc5 2.Sxc5#
1...Qe5 2.Qxe5#
1...Qf6 2.Qxf6#
1...Qxg7!
1.Sd5? ~ 2.Sf4#
1...Bxd5 2.Bxd5#
1...Qd4 2.Sxd4#
1...Qe5 2.Qxe5#
1...Qf6 2.Qxf6#
1...Rc4!
1.Se2! ~ 2.Sf4#
1...Qd4 2.Sxd4#
1...Rc4 2.Bd5#
1...Qe5 2.Qxe5#
1...Qf6 2.Qxf6#
A very rich thematic content with 1+3 thematic variations in the solution, and additional thematic content in two tries executed by the key-piece: new variation 1…Rxc5 2.Sxc5#, changed mate after 1…Qd4 2.Scxd4#, as well as thematic refutations 1…Rc4! and 1…Q:g7! In comparison with the prizes, this content is only a bit less harmonized
FEN: n1nR1R2/5PB1/2N1k3/2P5/6P1/1bN2B1K/1qrp4/Q7
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1.Se5? ~ 2.Rxd7#
1...Bb5 2.Sf7# Anti-Lewman
1...Rg3 2.Qb4#
1...fxe5 2.fxe5#
1...Sxf5!
1.Sc5! ~ 2.Rxd7#
1...Bb5 2.Qe7#
1...Rg3 2.Sb7# Anti-Lewman
1...Rxc5 2.dxc5#
Two thematic variations are changed between solution and try, with a clear-cut exchange of Anti-Levman effects and gate-openings for the WQ. Simultaneously, each introductory move closes one of the lines for WQ.
FEN: B5K1/2bp2R1/3k1p2/3p1P2/3P1P1n/2rN4/4b3/2R1Q3
(C+ by Popeye)
***
1.Rd6! ~ 2.Sd2#
1...Rxd6 2.Qh4#
1...Rxg5 2.Qxe5#
1...Bh5 2.Qa8#
1.Qxe8?
1...d6 2.Qa4#
1...Re7!
1.Qxg7? ~ 2.Qxe5#
1...d6!
1.Qxh6? ~ 2.Qh4#
1...Rh7!
1.Rxh6? ~ 2.Rh4#
1...Rxg5 2.Qxe5#
1...Bh5!
Triple gate-opening for black pieces leads to triple gate-opening for WQ. The tries mentioned by the composer(s) are rude, but the refutations are precise and interesting, including the skilful use of BPd7.
FEN: 4b2Q/3p2r1/6Rr/4pPB1/4k3/4NN1p/4K3/8
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 1q5Q/3B4/1R2rb2/1PP1N1r1/k2P2b1/pNK1P3/8/R7
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: b7/3r1q2/1R3Bn1/1r1Q4/2BP1b2/Np2kPp1/4N1P1/4K3
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 2KR4/R1P5/8/p2p3p/P1kP1N1r/P2p4/1Qpq1r1b/1N6
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 1B2b1N1/1qp2B2/1rR2P2/1P1P3R/3pk3/4P3/3P4/4NK2
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 2brrb2/4Q1p1/6P1/2p4R/3kP1p1/3P2N1/2K1R3/8
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 8/6p1/3pp3/8/1KPkBBP1/2Np1bR1/2p1rP2/4NQ1q
(C+ by Popeye)
1.Sf6*d5 ? threat: 2.Sd5-c7 #
but 1...Se3*d5 !
1.Sf6*d7 ? threat: 2.Sd7-b8 #
but 1...Rh7-h8 !
1.Qh6-f4? threat: 2.Qf4-d6#
1...Se3-f5 2.Qf4-f1#
1...Qg6*f6 2.Qf4*f6#
but: 1...Sc4!
1.Sf6-e8! threat: 2.Se8-c7#
1...f7-f5 2.Qh6*g6#
1...f7-f6 2.Re4-e6#
1...Qg6-d6+ 2.Qh6*d6#
1...Qg6-c6+ 2.Qh6*c6#
1...a5-a4 2.Re4*a4#
Five thematic variations (3+2) bring this entry close to the record, but I don’t think the tries were worth using WQ instead of WR (WRb7=WBb8, Qh6=WRh6).
FEN: B7/1R3p1r/k4NqQ/p1Kp4/4R3/4n1p1/8/8
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: B1Qr4/5N2/R1b5/q2R1P1k/pp6/5PP1/6K1/8
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 8/2N5/2R1Bn2/1p2k2N/q1Q3pK/1bP3P1/2p5/8
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 8/3N2RK/p6p/r1BB1k2/5pp1/2r5/8/3Q2q1
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 5n2/3Q1Kp1/1N3R2/3R3r/1p1Nk1P1/q5B1/2P1BPn1/b2r4
(C+ by Popeye)
FEN: 1B3N2/5P2/2br4/3Nk1Kp/2qpP2Q/2pp4/6Pb/4r3
(C+ by Popeye)
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