The venue for Society meetings has changed and the directions to it given on p. 126 of the July 2017 issue are incorrect. Meetings are held at the Hall of St. Botolph’s Church, Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TL. The Hall is set in a small garden behind the church, less than 2 minutes’ walk from Liverpool St. mainline and underground stations.
A problem whose appeal lies in the combination of a crystal clear
logical theme with model mates.
There are two thematic tries. 1.Kd6? threat 2.Qe7 mate, is easily refuted by 1...c4+! 1.Qxh7? threat (1...Sxg1) 2.Qg8+ Ke7 3.Sd5, is refuted by 1...Bb3! The key, 1.Qd7, threatens an echo of the previous mate, 2.Qe8+ Kg7 3.Sxh5, which is again a model mate if Black removes the g1 knight. Black can defend by 1...Bd1, when 2.Se2 renews the threat and decoys the bishop. After 2...Bxe2 White reverts to 3.Qxh7 and Black must defend by 3...Bc4, blocking the pawn. 4.Kd6 threatens 5.Qe7, leaving only 4...Bf7 5.Qxh6 mate.
Strategically the problem shows two classic decoy themes where an effective defence is replaced by an ineffective one – the Roman theme, which involves one piece (the bishop’s good defence Bb3 is replaced by the bad defence Bc4) and the Dresden theme, which involves two pieces (the good defence c4 is replaced by the bad defence Bf7).
Dafydd Johnston: A recent survey of Dresden's contribution to problem chess claimed that this is the most beautiful logical problem of the 20th century, and I could well believe it. The decoy of the bishop, the mirroring of the two threats, and the final surprising model mate are all marvellous.
Peter Niehoff: One of the most beautiful combinations of Roman and Dresden. A memorable problem.
Any comments or questions on this problem should be addressed to
Michael McDowell using the ‘Contact’ item in the menu on the left.
2017 