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The Problemist, January 2004 |
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Written by Michael McDowell
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The January issue featured a lecture report by John Rice on the problems
of the late Norwegian composer Nils van Dijk, and an article by the
eminent Ukrainian duo Viktor Melnichenko and Valentin Rudenko on the
Schiffmann theme in three-movers. Historian Chris Ravilious recounted
attempts in the newspapers of a century ago to identify the favourite
composers of the day. George Jelliss recalled his fairy magazine
Chessics for “In the Library”, and the awards for
moremovers of 2001 and threemovers of 2002 were published. In the
Supplement Geoff Foster examined the role of luck in composition.
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Nils G. G. van Dijk
American Chess Bulletin, 1958
Mate in 2
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One of van Dijk’s most famous problems, showing eight different
mates after the moves of two pawns - the Pickaninny theme
doubled.
1.b3 Waiting. The main variations are
1...bxa6 2.Rxa5
1...b6 2.Sc7
1...b5 2.Rc5
1...bxc6 2.Rd4
1...exd6 2.Qxe4
1...e6 2.Bxe4
1...e5 2.Qd2
1...exf6 2.Sxf6
and the by-play variations 1…e3 2.Qd4 and 1…Qb6 2.Sxb6 round off an
excellent task achievement.
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Lev Loshinsky & Evgeny Umnov
Tijdschrift vd NSB, 1934
Mate in 3
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An early example of a three-mover featuring Schiffmann strategy. After the
key 1.g5 there appear to be three ways of creating a threat; however
2.Qc6?, threatening 3.Rf5, fails to the Schiffmann defence 2...Rxg6! 3.Rf5?
Rxc6!, and 2.Qg4?, threatening 3.f5, fails to 2...Sxg6! 3.f5? Sf4!. The
correct threat is 2.Rf5!, threatening 3.Qc6 or d5. Now after defences on
g6 White exploits the mutual obstruction: 1...Rxg6 2.Qg4! and 3.f5
(2...Sxg6??), and 1...Sxg6 2.Qc6! and 3.Rf5 (2...Rxg6??). The by-play defence
1...g2 prevents a potential check for 2.Re5+ Kxf4 3.Qg4.
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Jean-Marc Loustau
4th Prize, The Problemist, 2002
Mate in 3
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In the words of the judge, Franz Pachl: “A problem of classical
beauty and unity.” The checking tries 1.Se4+? and 1.Re5+? fail
simply to captures. After the key 1.Qb8, threatening 2.Qxc7+ Sxc7 3.b4,
Grimshaw defences on f4 lead paradoxically to Nowotnys on the square on
which Black has just placed an additional guard. 1…Rf4 2.Se4+ Bxe4 / Rxe4
3.Rc1 / Sxd3 and 1…Bf4 2.Re5+ Rxe5 / Bxe5 2.Qf8 / Rd5.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 12:34 |
2004 