A problem with unusual twinning. Duplex means that both White and Black
fulfil the stipulation, hence in each part the sequences are BWBW and
WBWB.
a) Black begins 1.d1R a8Q 2.Rd3 Qa4; White begins 1.f8S h1B 2.Sg6 Bf3
b) Black begins 1.b1B e8S 2.Bg6 Sxf6; White begins 1.b8R b1Q 2.Rb4 Qc2
Allumwandlung (all four types of promotion) doubled.
Richard Stein: This turned out to be one of the easier helpmates that’s been presented here, though a pretty neat achievement and theme. I’m sure Myllyniemi would have preferred to have the f2 pawn involved instead of b2 twice, and I’m also sure he tried. (The f2 pawn is needed to force 1...h1B in a) otherwise there are dual mates by promotion on d1 – MM)
Jacob Hoover: This was a nice display of a double AUW, but as much as I liked the problem — which is immensely — the fact that the b2-pawn in part (b) promotes in both sequences while both white pawns on the seventh rank promote once each kind of detracted from my enjoyment of it. (In part (a) both almost-promoted pawns of each color promote once each across the two sequences.)
Ravi Shankar: Only 6th commendation? I would like to see the prize winners! An observation.
The second part of the problem can be solved without changing the colours of the pieces. Just assume that black pawns are going up the board and white pawns are going down! But I am not sure.
You are quite right, and the judge, Toma Garai, drew attention to the fact that the twin could be a 180° rotation of the board. However in that case each side would be making the same two promotions in each part, which may have influenced the composer. The low placing was due to the existence of an earlier example of double AUW in a helpmate (in which twinning by colour change is unsound), but Garai felt that Myllyniemi achieved better white economy. Myllyniemi’s problem was considered good enough to be selected for the FIDE Album.
Zvonimir Hernitz & Fadil Abdurahmanović
1st Prize, Feenschach, 1965
Helpmate in 2 Duplex
b) Rotate the board 180 degrees
a) Black begins 1.g1B f8S 2.Be3 Se6; White begins 1.f8R gxh1Q 2.Rf6 Qe4
b) Black begins 1.f1R f8Q 2.Rf4 Qe7; White begins 1.f8B f1S 2.Bc5 Sd2