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The Problemist, November 2005 |
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Written by Michael McDowell
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The November issue contained various reports on events at the 48th World
Congress of Chess Composition, held at Eretria, Greece, where, in the
solving World Championship Great Britain won the team title, with Jonathan
Mestel and John Nunn taking silver and bronze respectively in the
individual event. The duo were also successful in the Open solving event,
Nunn winning gold and Mestel silver. Geoff Foster and Bob Meadley
presented an article on Australian composer Arthur Mosely and his column
in the Brisbane Courier, while In the Library reviewed the famous mid-19th
century work Collection des plus beaux problèmes d’échecs by Aaron
Alexandre.
In the Supplement Juraj Lörinc examined the fairy piece known as
the Lion, John Rice annotated a selection of the work of the late Alex
Casa, and Steve Giddins presented some studies with which to torment your
team-mates.
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Arthur Mosely
1st Prize, Northern Whig, 1912
Mate 2
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A famous problem, showing an eight-fold sacrifice of the white knight.
1.Se4 (>2.Re8)
1...Kxe4 2.Re8
1...dxe4 2.Bd4
1...Bxe4 2.d4
1...fxe4 2.Qe6
1...Scxe4 2.Rxd5
1...Sfxe4 2.Sxd3
1...Rxe4 2.Qxf5
1...Qxe4 2.Qh8
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Julius Mendheim
Taschenbuch für Schachfreunde, 1814
Mate in 5 with the pawn, without capturing the rook
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Not many problems from the early 19th century are still worth a diagram
today, but this conditional, with its superb second move, is one.
1.Qc8+ Rb8
2.Ke7!! Rxc8
3.Bg2+ Kb8
4.Ba7+ Kxc7
5.b6
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Alex Casa
2nd HM., Tidskrift för Schack, 1953
Mate in 2
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A problem showing selfblocks with dual avoidance, known as Stocchi blocks.
In the diagram, if a dummy piece blocked d4, White would have three mates,
2.Bd5, 2.Bd3 and 2.Qg2. Various effects contained in each black capture
ensure that only one mate works each time. After the key move the arrival
of a dummy piece on d4 would allow three new mates, 2.Sxf6, 2.Sxc3 and
2.Qf3, and again these are accurately separated.
Set play:
1…Sbxd4 2.Bd5
1…Scxd4 2.Bd3
1…Qxd4 2.Qg2
1.Sd5 (>2.Qh4)
1…Sbxd4 2.Sxf6
1…Scxd4 2.Sc3
1…Qxd4 2.Qf3
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:26 |
2005 