2nd Prize, Macleod Whisky Tourney, Turku WCCC 1995
Helpmate in 2 b) Swap b7 and f5
The Whisky composing tourney, for many years a feature of the annual
World Congress, was originated in the mid-1980s by Norman Macleod, and
renamed in his honour after his death in 1991. The 1995 tourney asked
for two-move helpmates with twinning by swapping the kings. Slovak
composer Marek Kolčák produced this striking entry.
1.Reg4 Sf4 2.Bb8 d6 solves both parts! An original idea and a memorable problem.
Norman Macleod would have loved it.
Rauf Aliovsadzade: This is really striking! Same solution in twins!
Richard Stein: This one was a bit of a spiritual experience. I ended up solving the twin first,
since the visualization of the mate was easier. Returning to the original diagram, after several minutes
the grandiosity of the whole thing came together. Searching for a commentary that is fitting yet profound,
all I can come up with is “Wow. Just wow.”