Paz Einat & Ofer Comay 50 Jubilee Tourney

Award

Mate in 2 moves section

The theme asked for reciprocal changes and an additional theme or idea. Although this seemed to some composers as going through well known ground, there is still a lot of room for innovation, and the top problems in this award certainly prove this point.  We allowed promoted pieces and illegal positions to enhance the ability of composers to express novel ideas. We received 12 problems of good overall quality with two masterpieces obtaining the prizes. After some deliberation we decided to separate the two prize problems into 1st and 2nd prizes but to give the composer of the 2nd prize problem the prize money of € 150, as for the 1st prize, in recognition of the great achievement.

Photos were taken at the Jurmala 2008 WCCC during the Prize-Giving ceremony - by Roberto Stelling.

Marjan Kovacevic

1st Prize

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                 ( 10 + 12 )

Set:

1... Sd4 a,Sd6 b,Sc7c 2.Sd6 B#

Try:

1.c8Q? ~ 2.b:a5#

1... Sd4 a 2.b5 A# 

1... Sd6 b 2.b5 A# 

1... Sc7 c 2.Sd6# B

(1... Lc7,Q:f6,Sa~ 2.D:g8,Se3,Bb3#) 

   but: 1... Rc7!

Try:

1.Bd4? ~ 2.b:a5#

1... Sd4 a 2.Sd6 B# 

1... Sd6 b 2.b5 A# 

1... Sc7 c 2.b5 A#

   but: 1... Q:f6 !

Solution:

1.Qd6! ~ 2.b:a5#

1... Sd4 a 2.b5 A# 

1... Sd6 b 2.Sd6 B#

1... Sc7 c 2.b5 A#

                    Ofer                               Marjan Kovacevic             Paz

 

A highly original concept executed in a wonderful way. Any move by Black Knight b5 defends against the threats of the two tries and the solution but it has exactly 3 squares available which were carefully selected by the composer. In the set any move is followed by 2.Sd6#. Each of the tries provides a guard on c5, enabling the threat but also disabling 2.Sd6#. Amazingly, both effects are achieved in a different way in each phase. In the try 1.c8=Q? establishes a direct guard on c5 by the promoted Q and an opening of BBb8 to guard d6. In this phase both 1…Sd6 and 1…Sd4 act as random moves that allow 2.b5# while 1…Sc7 blocks the WQ guard on c5, preventing 2.b5#, but also the guard of BBb8 on d6 allowing 2.Sd6#. In the try 1.Bd4? c5 is guarded by the WB and 2.Sd6# is prevented by the need of the WS to guard d4. Now the moves 1…Sc7 and 1…Sd6 enable 2.b5# while 1…S:d4 corrects but removing the guard from c5 but provides a self block on d4 and the return of 2.Sd6#. Finally, in the solution the WQ directly guards c5 and d6 is blocked by the arrival of the W piece on this square. Thus, 1…Sc7 and 1…Sd4 are followed by 2.b5# and 1…S:d6 corrects but enables 2.Sd6#. The end result is an original cyclic play that is better visualized as follows relating to the three black defenses:

Phase I:   a & b – random; c – correction

Phase II:  b & c – random; a – correction

Phase III: c & a – random; b – correction

The reciprocal change can be located on defense a & c between the two tries, on defenses b & c between the 1st try and solution, and on defenses a & b between the 2nd try and the solution. A fantastic achievement presenting “cyclical reciprocal changes”.

 

 

 

Vasyl Dyachuk

2nd Prize

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                  ( 15 + 10 )

 

Set:

1... Qc7 2. Rd5#

1... Q:b5 2. Sa:b5#

Try:

1. Sc5? - 2. Sc2# A

1... R:c5 a 2. Sfe6# B

1... Rd6 b 2. Q:e4# C

1... Se:c5 c 2. f3# D

1... Sd6 d 2. f4# E

(1...Rc7 2.Qe4C,Qd5,Se6B# )

    but: 1... Qc7!

Solution:

1. Sd6! - 2. Sfe6# B

1... Rc5 a 2. Q:e4# C

1... R:d6 b 2. Sc2# A

1... Sec5 c 2. f4# E

1... S:d6 d 2. f3# D

(1... Q:b5 2. Sd:b5#)

 

Valery Kopyl on behalf of Vasyl Dyachuk                             Ofer                          Paz

 

A daring composition of immense magnitude combining the Shedey cycle with reciprocal changes. Amazingly, the same mechanism, based mainly on the lines of WRb5 and WBa8, is used to achieve both themes. The reciprocal changes are achieved by the need to guard squares e4 and e5. The defenses by BSe4 provide flights on these squares, alternating between the try and solution, and enable the use of the pawn battery. Defense by BRc6 do provide a flight on e5 (by 1…Rd6 in the try and 1…Rc5 in the solution) but only remove guard on e4 which is blocked by the presence of the BS. This enables the mates 2.Sfe6# (try) and 2.Sc2# (solution) following the captures of the WS. The defenses providing the flight on e5 keep the White guard on e4 and enable 2.Q:e4#.

The content poses rare harmony and unity stemming from the use of the same basic mechanism to present both Shedey and reciprocal changes, as well as subtle differences that differentiate between the cyclic and the reciprocal nature of the themes. The problem is not free of flaws. There is a dual after 1…Rc7 in the try and the WQ is remote from the play. In light of the fantastic achievement these flaws are negligible, but they do separate the two top problems.

 

 

 

 

Vasyl Dyachuk

1st HM

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                  ( 9 + 10 )

 Try:

1. Sc3? - 2. R:d5, Qe4 (A,B)#

        but: 1... Qh1!

 Try:

1. Sd6? - 2. Qe4, Q:f5 (B,C)#

1... Se7 a 2. Qd4# D

1... S:d6 b 2. d4# E

   But: 1... Qb1!

 Solution:

1. Se7! - 2. Q:f5, R:d5 (C,A)#

1... S:e7 a 2. d4# E

1... Sd6 b 2. Qd4# D

 

The reciprocal changes mechanism of this problem is the same as the one by the above Prize problem of the same composer. Here, the additional theme is cyclic double threats achieved by the addition try 1.Sc3? In addition, the thematic mates are on the same square, making this a different realization then the problem above.

 

 

Peter Gvozdjak

2nd HM

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                ( 11 + 10 )

Try:

1.R:e3? A (2.Rd3 #)

1...Q:c6 a 2.Qg7 # B

1...R:c5 b 2.R:f4 # C

1...Rc3 c 2.Re4 # D

1...K:c5 2.Re5 #

1...S:e3 2.Q:e3 #

   but: 1...f2!

 Solution:

1.Qg7! B (2.R:f5 #)

1...Q:c6 a 2.R:e3 # A

1...R:c5 b 2.Re4 # D

1...Rc3 c 2.R:f4 # C

1...Kc3 2.R:e3 #

 

A combination of key/mate reversal with reciprocal changes. The mechanism is based on interchange of self-block on flight with regular self-block combined with the different Q/R batteries. The switchbacks after the BK moves (one of them virtual) are a good addition. Surprisingly, I didn’t find any anticipation to this reciprocal changes mechanism in the WinChloe database.  The unprovided flight is a minor flaw.

 

 

 

Pavel Murashev

3rd HM

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                ( 10 + 2 )

Try:

1.Kd2,e2 ? 2.Sa4 A, R:d5 C #    

       but 1...K:e5  !

Try:

1.Re6 X ? 2.Qa7 Y#

1...Kc5 2.Sd3 #      

    but 1...Ke3  c !

Try:

1.Qa7 Y ? 2.Re6 X#

1...Kc5 2.R:d5 C #

1...Ke3 2.Rf6 D #       

    but 1...K:e5  b !

Try:

1.Bg6 ? zz.

1...Kc5 a 2.Sa4 A #

1...K:e5 b 2.Sd3 B #   

    but 1...Ke3  c !

Solution:

1.Rf6 D ! zz.

1...Kc5 a 2.Sd3 B #      

1...K:e5 b 2.Sa4 A #

1...Ke3 c 2.Qa7 Y#

 

The problem is rich in content, including themes like reversal, Rudenko, and Dombrovskis, but it has a strong artificial taste due to the use of black king flights. Still all is condensed into a Meredith and the reciprocal changes following the long moves of the bishop and rook are nice. 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations without order

 

 

Emil Klemanic

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                ( 12 + 8 )

 

Try:

1.Sg6 A ?  (2.Rd6#)

1...R:a2 2.Sf3 B #

1...S:a6 a 2.Q:b7 C #

1...S:d3 b 2.Qg8 D #

   but: 1...R:f6!

 Solution:

1.Sf3 B ! (2.Rd6#)

1...R:a2 2.Sg6 A #

1...S:a6 a 2.Qg8 D #

1...S:d3 b 2.Q:b7 C #

 

 

Key/mate reversal combined with a well-known reciprocal changes mechanism.

 

 

 

V.Dyachuk,V.Markovtsiy

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                  ( 8 + 8 )

Set:

1...Kd6 a 2.e5#

1...B:e4 b 2.Qh2#

 Try:

1.Qd1? ~ 2.Q:d5#.

1...Kd6 a 2.Sc4A#

1...B:e4 b 2.Bc7B#

         But: 1. ... Sd3!

Solution:

1.Db5! ~ 2.D:d5#.

1...Kd6 a 2.Bc7B#

1...B:e4 b 2.Sc4A#

 

 

A good Zaguroiko with flight giving key but with a well known mechanism (also used to show Zaguroiko) and an obvious refutation to the try.

 

 

 

Philippe Robert

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                              ( 10 + 11 )

Try:

1. S:a4 ? 2. Rd6  A  /S:c3 D #

1...R:f3  a  2.  Re5  B #

     but: 1...Bb4 !

Try:

1. Sa6 ?   2. Rd6  A#

1...R:f3  a,R:f1  2. Re5  B #

1...Re2 ! c

Try:

1. Sd3 !?  2. S:f4  C #

1...R:f3  a  2. Re5  B#

1...Bd2  b  2. Rd6  A#

     but: 1...g5 !

Solution:

1. Se2 !  2. S:f4  C /S:c3  D #

1...R:f3  a  /R:e2  c 2. Rd6  A#

1...Bd2  b /Be5 +   2. Re5  B #

 

A combination of white correction with reciprocal changes. We are still not certain whether Sc4 cannot be eliminated by some construction maneuvers.

 

 

 

Peter Gvozdjak

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                  ( 8 + 6 )

 

 

 Set:

1...e2 a 2.B×e6 A#

1...e4 b 2.Be2 B#

 

 Solution:

1.0-0 ! blocus

1...e2 a 2.B×e2 B#

1...e4 b 2.B×e6 A#

1...K×h5 2.Be2 #

1...Kh3 2.B×e6 #

 

A rare use of castling to drive this well known reciprocal changes mechanism.

 

 

 

Peter Gvozdjak

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                ( 11 + 6 )

 

 Try:

1.R:b5? A [2.c6 # B]

1...Ke5 a 2.Sc4 # C

1...Bg1 b 2.Sf4 # D

  but: 1...B:d6+!

 Solution:

1.c6! B [2.R:b5 # A]

1...Ke5 a 2.Sf4 # D

1...Bg1 b 2.Sc4 # C

1...B:d6+ 2.Q:d6 #

 

An original combination of reversal with reciprocal changes.

 

 

 

Harry Hurme

Com

Einat-Comay 50 JT 2008

#2                                 (  8 + 7 )

Set:

1...g2 a 2.Qf3 A#

1...b:c4 b 2.Q:f5 B#

 Try:    

1.Qg5 ? 2.Qf4 #

1...g2 a 2.Q:g2 #

1...b:c4 b 2.Q:f5 #       

    but 1...Kf3  !

 Solution:    

1.Sd4 ! 2.Qe8 #

1...g2 a 2.Q:f5 B#

1...b:c4 b 2.Qf3 A#

1...K-e5 2.Q:f5 #

1...Ke3 2.Qf3 #

 

A nice execution of this mechanism with a key providing 2 flights and a good try.