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The Problemist, November 2003 |
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Written by Michael McDowell
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The November issue included an article by David Shire on the work of
our helpmate editor Christopher Jones, and a brief examination by John
Rice of the fairy condition Transmuting Kings. The deaths were recorded
of two friends of the Society; American composer Edgar Holladay and
chess historian Ken Whyld. Retrograde analysis featured prominently as
Belorussian composer Valery Liskovets presented a number of retros with
appropriate mottoes taken from Orwell’s 1984, while in the Supplement
Brian Stephenson contributed the first part of an article on how to
solve proof games. Brian Edwards examined the 1908 collection of 200
problems by 19th century giant Frank Healey.
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Christopher Jones
StrateGems, 2003
Helpmate in 3: 2 solutions
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1.Qf5 d6 2.cxd6 Se5 3.dxe5 Bd5
1.Qe5 g6 2.hxg6 Bf5+ 3.gxf5 Sg5
In each solution the queen would guard the mating square but for the
arrival of a black pawn on the relevant line. This determines the logic of
converting white guards into black selfblockers. A characteristic Jones
helpmate.
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Frank Healey
1st Prize Set, BCA Tourney (Bristol), 1861
Mate in 3
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1.Rh1! Be8 2.Qb1 (threat 3.Qb4) 2...Bb5 3.Qg1
Healey’s most famous problem, winner of the composing tourney run in
conjunction with the British Chess Association meeting at Bristol in 1861.
The idea of a piece moving along a line to allow a second piece to follow
(the first piece having no function after the clearance) became known as
the Bristol theme. For a note on the problem’s origins see the lecture by
B.G. Laws under British Chess Problemists.
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Anatoly Kuznetsov
Sp. HM., 64, 1996
Mate in 2
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1.Rg5. 1...Kxc6 2.a8Q; 1...Kxe6 2.Bh8; 1...Kxe4 2.Qh1; 1...Kc4 2.Sa1
The starflights are countered by mating moves to each corner of the board.
An amusing idea well worth quotation!
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 12:14 |
2003 