Australasian Chess (2008-2013)

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Australasian Chess
2008-2013
Problem Potpourri
Edited by Geoff Foster
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Problem Potpourri
Editor: Geoff Foster, 20 Allchin Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia; e-mail: problem.pot@gmail.com
Greetings! I know you dont usually look at the problems, but try your hand at 1 below and youll be hooked
for life. The E is well placed on f2, where it can set up mating threats on b4, b6, c7 or d8, but the D is also
very well placed on d5 and always seems to have an answer e.g. 1.Eg3 Df4 2.Eh4 (not 2.Ef4 stalemate)
De6. This is an ideal problem for learning about E vs D endings, so I recommend that you and a regular
opponent, instead of playing your usual game, play this position several times, taking turns at being White.
Youll have great fun and learn plenty in the process! This problem is a real challenge so you might like to
start by moving the K to c5 and solving the resultant 6 mover.
David Shires elegant two-mover 2 has eight variations, including three pairs of matching black errors. In the
three-mover 3 a waiting move will do, because if Black plays the F on b1 along the long diagonal then
White captures it, followed by mate next move. White seems to have plenty of waiting moves e.g. Ge7, Ge6
or Ef3. Is one of these the key? The author of 4 has played chess for many years, but now at the age of 91 he
has taken up composing helpmates! Note that in helpmates Black moves first and helps White to deliver
mate.
1.
Mate in 14
2. David Shire (England)

Mate in 2
3.
Mate in 3
4. Martin Moskowitz (USA)

Helpmate in 3 (3 solutions)
January/February 2008
The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in January at Cranbrook School in Sydney, and
once again there will be a problem solving competition. Much was learnt at last years inaugural event, so it
should be even better this year. I urge all players to have a go. A report will appear next issue.
Solutions to Problems 8790 (NovemberDecember 2007)

87. SIKDAR. Key: 1.Cf3! (threat 2.Ie5#) 1...Le3/Lf5/Ld5 2.Ih2/Ig3/Ic7 waiting 2...Le4 3.Ie5#. Mr Sikdar submitted this
problem with the K on e7, but that leads to a dual continuation 1...Ld5 2.Ic7 or Ib5+. Even after repair work (i.e. K to f7), 87 is
still marred somewhat by the short threat and repetition of 2...Le4 3.Ie5#. Thematically, the Ls geometric pattern of initial
moves is known as Y-flights {Ian Shanahan}. The give and take key allows a different waiting second move for each of the 3
flights {Andy Sag [S]}. A tick for Sik. I had to use the computer {Bob Meadley [M]}.
88. KOZHAKIN. Try: 1.Ce5? 1...Bb6! Try: 1.Cf4? 1...Ba6! Try: 1.Gc5? 1...Ba6! Key: 1.Ce7! (waiting) 1...Ba6 2.Gb8+ La7
3.Cc6#; 1...Bb6 2.Cd5 Lb7 3.Aa8I#. A classy mini for 2007 {M}.
89. SHIRE. (i) 1.Fe3 Ig3 2.Fd4 Ib3#; (ii) 1.Hd7 Ie8 2.Hd4 Ib5#; (iii) 1.Df5 Ge5 2.Dd4 Gc5#; (iv) 1.Be5 Ig7
2.Bd4 If7#. In each case a black unit captures the Ad4 and self blocks L on the second move {S}. Removing d4 is the chore!
{M}
90. WILLMOTT. 1.Ad4 Be5 2.Ae5 Bf5 3.Af5 e.p. Bd5 4.Ag7 Fg4 5.Ah8I Fe2 6.If6 Fd1 7.Id8 Fg4 8.Ib8 Fc8.
Black must play 2.. Bf7-f5 because a single step is illegal in monochrome chess. The resulting en passant capture is a popular
device in this type of problem {ed.}. When is a check not a check? L can safely stay on e8 because the promoted I cannot go to
any white square including e8! {S}. A check is a check but not in monochrome? {M}.
Problem Potpourri
Problem 5 is another example of a duel between two pieces, in this case bishop versus rook. At first sight
White appears to be in danger of losing, given that Black has a rook and a dangerous passed pawn. White's
only chance is to continually threaten mate, noting that Black's rook will be vulnerable whenever it can be
forced on to a white square.
The author of 6 has led a very interesting life in Egypt, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and now Canberra, where his
chief claim to fame is that he is my father's doctor! In 7 the black king will head for c5, so White must either
prevent this or prepare a mate. Christopher Jones is one of the world's leading composers of helpmates, so 8
is bound to be good. In this problem Black moves first and both sides cooperate, enabling White to deliver
mate on his third move.
5.
Mate in 8
6. Molham Hassan
Mate in 2
7.
Mate in 3
8. Christopher Jones (England)

March/April 2008
Solutions to Problems 1-4 (January-February 2008)

1 (Bruno Fargette, 2nd Prize, Themes-64, 1969) Not 1.Bh4? Nc7!, so 1.Bd4! Ne7+ 2.Kc5 Nd5! (the best
defensive square) 3.Be5 Nb6 4.Kc6 (otherwise Black can threaten a perpetual check starting with Nd7+) Nd5
5.Bb8 Nb6! (if 5...Ne7+ 6.Kc5 Nd5 7.Ba7, which is why the bishop played to b8 on move 5) 6.Bg3 Nd5
7.Bf2 (returning to the initial position, but now it's Black's turn to move) Ne7+ 8.Kc5 Nd5 9.Be1 Nc3 10.Bh4
Ne4+ 11.Kc6 Nf6 (if 11...Ng5 then 12.Bf2 followed by 13.Bb6 mate) 12.Bg5 Nd5 13.Bd8+ with mate next
move. Amazing that all White's moves are forced. Congratulations to Andy and Arthur on solving this
difficult problem - Bob also came close. {ed.} You were certainly correct this problem is a real challenge.
{Arthur Willmott [W]} White needs to lose a tempo. {Andy Sag [AS]} Life is too short for 14 movers of this
calibre ... The scheme of attacking the critical square the BN cannot defend is always good chess. {Bob
Meadley [M]} This one overwhelmed my solving patience, alas. {Ian Shanahan [IS]}
2 (Shire) 1.Qd7! waiting. 1...Nd5 2.N7d6. 1...Nxf5 2.Bxf5. 1...Ne else 2.Qc6. 1...Rf4 2.Ng5. 1...R else
2.Rg4. 1...Nh any 2.Ng3. 1...e1 2.Rxe1. 1...f2 2.Bg2. A wealth of mates in the Shire style. {W} Can Shire
reach higher? {M}
3 (T & J Warton, The Observer, 1949 (version)) 1.Rh6 waiting. 1...Bh7 2.Rhxh7 (instead of the set
2.Rdxh7). 1...Bg6 2.Rxg6. 1...Bf5 2.gxf5. 1...Be4 2.Bxe4. 1...Bd3 2.Kxd3. 1...Bc2 2.Nxc2. A class of
problem known as a mutate - a waiting move would solve the problem but none is available, so White makes
a move that changes some of the set play. Mutates are comparatively rare in 3-movers. There are many tries
e.g. 1.Re7? Bg6! 2.Rxg6 Rd8 and now the white bishop is pinned. Similarly 1.Re6? Bh7! 2.Rxh7 Rd8.
Another really excellent try is 1.Bf3? Bd3! 2.Kxd3 b4 and now the white king gets in the way of the intended
3.Be2. {ed.} A class of deviousness I've not seen. {M} An elegant problem, but a pity there are dual mates
3.Nb4 and Bxb7. {W} I found the key of this one entirely instinctively, first seeking the least-likely-looking
move before inspecting the position properly! Anyway, what might have been a thoroughly unremarkable
example of the Grab theme - itself rather tedious - is here lifted right out of the rut by the many tries, most of
which fail on account of the prospective third-pin on the d-file ... very entertaining indeed. [IS]
4 (Moskowitz) (i) 1.Kb4 Ba3+ 2.Kb3 Bb2 3.Bb4 Ba2 (ii) 1.c4 dxc4 2.a3 Bxd2+ 3.Ka4 Bxc2 (iii) 1.Bb4 Ba2
2.Ba3 Bc4 3.Kb4 Bd2. The BP on f4 is intriguing and a good decoy as I spent a lot of time trying to work it
but it is there to stop a cook 1.Bf4 Ba2 2.Bc7 Bc4 3.Bb6 Bd2. He's getting better as he gets older! {M} An
interesting problem, took me quite a while to find the reason for the pawn on c2. {W} The wB's tempo-move
in (i) is nice, despite the fact that wPd3 is unemployed in this phase ... it would have been better had the
composer sought a second solution (only) with another, analogous tempo-move. [IS]
86 (Hale, September-October 2007) Dennis Hale reports that his intended solution is correct. Andy Sag's
solution confirms Dennis's solution in all those aspects with which it deals, but Andy completely overlooked
the possibility of a pawn move discovering check from the bishop, which accounts for the difference.
March/April 2008
Problem Potpourri
In the Babson Task, a black pawn promotes to queen, rook, bishop or knight, and White responds with
matching promotions by a single pawn. That is, a promotion to queen is answered by a promotion to queen, a
promotion to rook by a promotion to rook, and so on. In 1960 a young Frenchman named Pierre Drumare
became aware of this elusive task and began an obsessive search for the impossible. In 1982 he finally
admitted defeat, saying "after 22 years of exhausting labour I now have the certainty that the quadruple echo
promotion will never be perfectly realised in a direct mate problem." Then in the following year an unknown
26-year-old football trainer from Kazan achieved the task with 11, which has since become regarded as the
chess problem of the twentieth century. Now that Ive divulged the theme you should be able to see the first
1.5 moves, but this shouldnt spoil your solving pleasure, because the real enjoyment comes in unravelling
the logic behind each promotion.
In helpstalemates Black usually moves first, but 12 has an extra half move, so White moves first, both sides
cooperating so that Black can inflict stalemate on his second move. There are 3 solutions to be found.
9. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster
Mate in 2

Mate in 2
11.
Mate in 4
12. Arthur Willmott

Helpstalemate in 2.5 (3 solutions)
May/June 2008
The ACF has invited nominations for the Whyatt Medal for chess problem composition. The setting out of
achievements should include a listing of published problems and of any awards received in competitions,
giving full publication details and a reproduction from the publication itself. Published commentary on the
problems may be attached, including the comments of competition judges and, if desired, also of editors and
solvers. No limit is placed on the number of problems that may be listed. A separate document or message
containing the following should be provided in respect of each nominee: (a) name in full (b) contact details
(phone, email, postal address) (c) description or list of relevant achievements suitable for reading at the time
of presentation (d) anything else relevant to the nomination. Nominations may be forwarded by email to
gwastell@netspace.net.au, or by post to Gary Wastell, 22 Bruarong Crescent, Frankston South, Vic 3199.
The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2008.
Solutions to Problems 5-8 (March-April 2008)
5 (Bo Lindgren, WCSC, 1995) 1.g5 Rf8 2.Bg6 Rf4 3.c5 Rc4 4.Bd3 Rb4 5.Be2! Rb3 6.Bc4, with mate
in two more moves. Whites fifth move decoys the rook onto a white square, from where it cannot prevent a
deadly check. (ed.} White threatens mate with each move and the black rook is kept busy for the first seven
moves. (Arthur Willmott [W]}
6 (Hassan) 1.Bd1! waiting. 1Kf5 2.e4. 1Kd4 2.Rc4. 1d4 2.Qe7. 1g4 2.Qf4. 1f5 2.Qe5. 1N
any 2.Qxd5. This one tricked Bob. Good work from Australias most enthusiastic composer! {ed} In setting
it up to claim no solution the computer showed me Bd1 which I never dreamed of! A scalp for Molham!
{Bob Meadley [M]} Key targets g4 and leaves 2 set flights which allow pin mates. {Andy Sag [AS]} The
queen mates on 4 different squares. {W} The theme of pin-mates after flights - an evergreen, as old as the
hills - remains forever attractive, but only when the key gives at least one of those flights. {Ian Shanahan
[IS]}
7 (Caldas Viana, Chess Monthly, 1882) 1.Kg8! waiting. 1Kd4 2.Rd2+ Kc5/Kc3/Ke4 3.Qf8/Qb2/Bc2.
1d4 2.Qb7 d3/Kd3 3.Qg7/Qxf3. 1Kd3 2.Qf4 c3/d4/Kc3 3.Bb5/Qxf3/Qd2. One of the best 3-ers Ive
ever seen. {M} A very elusive key move which took me ages to find. {W} Key gives queen necessary room
to manoeuvre. {AS} A fantastic (albeit provisional) key, the destination square being governed by the
queens need to reach both f8 and g7 (via b7). My only quibble is the relatively uneconomical knight, though
with the black king on c5 this knight at e6 delivers mate - a potential resource that distracted me for quite a
long time. Could everything be moved one square to the right, for the sake of appearance (and a King-to-thecorner key)? {IS}
8 (Jones) (i) 1.Bg3 e3 2.fxe3 Rxd5+ 3.Kf4 Bxg3. (ii) 1.Nb5 c4 2.dxc4 Bxf4+ 3.Kd5 Rxb5. It must be sound
I tried every move. {M} A classic problem and not easy to solve. {W} Took 4 days to find one solution,
then 4 seconds to find the second one! In each case a black piece unpins a blocked pawn which is then
invited to capture a pawn thereby pinning the first mentioned piece. The remaining pinned pawn is then
captured with a check, king moves and the first mentioned piece is captured by the mating piece. A neat
solution pair. {AS} I solved this one much quicker than expected, finding (i) in about 10 seconds flat, and (ii)
a millisecond later! The second solution 'drops out of the hat' straight away because one has come to expect
such perfect analogy from Mr Jones, together with his trademark ODT [orthogonal diagonal transformation
(ed.)] and model mates. A criticism, however: since one white pawn is idle in each phase, this could more
naturally be presented in twin form, minus one of the white pawns; and there is a fair amount of Black force
idle in each half. Even so, I failed to improve No.8's construction; all that ebony is needed to parry cooks...
{IS}
May/June 2008
Problem Potpourri
Your solving pleasure begins with 13, containing the usual collection of enjoyable mates that solvers are
coming to expect from Molham. Then move on to the tricky 14, where the only task is to provide a mate for
1Rxg4. 15 is a study, but dont worry, the solution is only a few moves deep and doesnt require a
knowledge of endgame theory. The play begins with 1.Bb4+ Kb3 (if 1Kxb4 then 1Nd3+ wins the pawn;
if 1Kd4 then 2.Bc5+ does the same). Now what can be done about Blacks threat to create a queen with
check? Things look hopeless! Finally, make sure your headache tablets are to hand before tackling 16, yet
another tough nut from the master of the 3-move helpmate. Black moves first and helps White to deliver
mate.
Mate in 2
14.
Mate in 3
15.
Draw

July/August 2008
Solutions to Problems 9-12 (May-June 2008)

9 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Nc5! (threat 2.Nb3) 1Kxc4 2.Ra4. 1Ke5 2.Nxe6. 1Bxc4 2.Nf3. 1Bd5
2.Qxd5. 1Rg3 2.Qe4. 1Rb8 2.Nxe6. Very nice flight-giving key. {Bob Meadley [M]} A splendid
flight-giving key (closing two lateral White lines) leads to a fine differentiation of interesting mates. And the
construction is really fine. {Ian Shanahan [IS]}
10 (Hassan & Foster) 1.e6! waiting. 1Kd4 2.Bd6! (instead of the set mate 2.Be3). 1Kf3 2.Nc3.
1Kxf5 2.Ne3. A solvers problem. Its not the queen but the pawn stupid! Took me a very long time. {M}
This one 'led me around the mulberry bush': once I had eliminated the tries, at first I thought that the key was
just another try; so I had to begin all over again. Only when I saw the well-hidden changed mate was I
convinced that 1.Pe6 is indeed the key. A deceptive, well-polished composition. {IS}
11 (L V Yarosh, 1st Prize, Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1983) 1.a7! (threat 2.axb8=Q,R,B or N) 1axb1=Q
2.axb8=Q Qxb2 3.Qxb3 Qxa1 4.Rxf4. 1axb1=R 2.axb8=R Rxb2 3.Rxb3 Kxc4 4.Qa4. 1axb1=B
2.axb8=B Be4 3.Bxf4 B any 4.Be3 or Be5. 1axb1=N 2.axb8=N Nxd2 3.Qc1 Ne4 4.Nc6. It could well be
the best problem of the twentieth century and perhaps the best problem EVER composed. {M} Just as
Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Messiaen's Chronochromie are absolute pinnacles of human creativity in the
field of music, so too is this such a milestone in chess composition. {IS}
12 (Willmott) (i) 1Ra3 2.Be6 Bc6+ 3.Kc4 Nxe6. (ii) 1Nf5 2.Kc5 Re4 3.Bd5 Re5. (iii) 1Ba6 2.Be6
Nxe6 3.Kc6 Rd4. A treble devil. Took me many hours. {M} It's refreshing to see that this is not yet another
triple echo: the stalemates are essentially distinct, which makes the solver's task a little more difficult. A
pretty problem indeed from Arthur; good 'value for money', slightly marred only by the repetition of 2.Be6 in
two of the solutions. Let's hope it escapes anticipation. {IS}
July/August 2008
Problem Potpourri
17.
White to play and draw
18. Ian Shanahan

White to play and mate in 2

20. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

21.
22. Ian Shanahan

Black to play and help White mate in 2 (2 solutions)
September/October 2008
Do you enjoy seeing your name in print? Well in this column we even print your opinions! Have a go at
solving 17 and send in your comments, even if you dont manage to crack it. To get you started, note that
Whites only hope is to stalemate himself. After 1.Bg1, Black must not play 1Kxb1? because after 2.Bd4
Kc2 3.Bxb2 axb2, White has achieved the desired stalemate. Therefore after 1.Bg1 Black plays his pawn to
a2 and now the stalemate is much harder to find!
Ians gorgeous 18 is a textbook example of a certain theme. What might that theme be? In 19 Molham has
laid some traps for the unwary solver. How can such a charming and gentle man be so devious? Leonids 20
has some interesting play involving the opening of white lines. At first glance 21 looks like a 2-mover,
because every Black move is provided with a mate, but White has no waiting move so Blacks suffering must
continue for an extra move. The white pawns in Ians helpmate 22 might lead the experienced solver to
expect a certain theme involving pawn promotions.
A problem solving competition was held at the 2008 Ergas Junior Training Squad in Melbourne. The winner
of the over 14 group was Yita Choong, with Sam Grigg and Ben Lazarus coming equal second. The winner
of the under 14 group was Laurence Matheson with Emma Guo coming second. Further information is
available on the Box Hill Chess Club web page.
Solutions to Problems 13-16 (July-August 2008)
13 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Bf4! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1Kxf4 2.Qh4; 1Nf3 2.Ng3; 1Rxf4 2.Re3; 1exf4
2.Qd4; 1Bb2,Bd6 2.Nd6; 1exf5 2.Qxf5. The try 1.Bd4 nearly got me. Nice. {Bob Meadley [M]} A
good key with double sacrifice. {Arthur Willmott [W]} Good play throughout. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
Sacrificial key gives a flight. Not difficult. {Andy Sag [AS]} As you say, a good collection of mates,
following a lovely sacrificial, flight-giving key. It's paradoxical that 1.Bf4 works whereas the ostensibly
stronger 1.Bd4 does not! Construction, however, is not quite ideal: remove Ba3 and Pc6; add a Black Knight
on c8, then shift everything two squares left; this saves a man with no loss of content. {Ian Shanahan [IS]}
14 (T & J Warton, The Observer, 1944 (version)) 1.Ra4! waiting. 1Rxg4 2.Ra3 Ra4+ 3.Rxa4; 1Rxe5
2.g5+ Re4 3.Rxe4; 1hxg4 2.Nf6 any 3.Rxg4. Who said rooks cant dance? Truly special. {M} I had no
difficulty with 1Rxg4 but it took ages to discover the waiting move after 1hxg4! {AS} It took me ages
to find the key: the Ka8 looks so innocent (tucked away in the corner, as if just a passive spectator - as in 16),
but his cunning placement dictates the key-Rook's destination, e.g. 1.Rb4? Rxg4 2.Rb3 Ra4+! Stylistically,
this smacks of the Wartons. {IS} Yes Ian, it is indeed by the Wartons! Michael McDowell has pointed out
that if the white king stood on b8 or c8 then the key would be 1.Rb4 or 1.Rc4 accordingly. {ed.}
15 (A A Troitzky, Zadachy i etyudy, 1928) 1.Bb4+ Kb3 2.Nf3 f1=Q+ 3.Be1. Now if 3Qxe2 then 4.Nd4+
wins the queen, if 3K any then 4.Kd2 traps the queen, and if 3Qg2 then 4.Bg3 Qf1+ 5.Be1. The black
queen is locked out, so it's a draw. This excellent study might well be difficult for computer programs,
materialistic as they tend to be. {N} Good to see a very tough ending. Too hard for me but not for Extreme
Chess though I did play 2.Nf3. {M}
16 (Jones) (i) 1.Rh4 gxh4 2.Qg3 Re7+ 3.Kf4 Nd5. (ii) 1.Rf5 exf5 2.Qe4 Nd3+ 3.Kd5 Rd7. The two
solutions are a matching pair with the rook first getting captured by different pawns, the queen then moving
to the square vacated by the pawn to block the king and the two white pieces taking turns to first check and
then mate. Not sure about the function of pawn on b3 as it doesnt appear to be necessary. {AS} Two
excellent solutions, typical of CJ. If the pawn on b3 were omitted there would be an additional solution
1.Kd4 Rxf3 2.Rc5 Re3 3.Ne5 Nc2. {W} Too good for me. I will keep looking but have reached the stage of
mental block. {M} Spotting the Black Queen's focus on the White Pawns' squares thence deducing the Black
Rook's sacrificial role led to my cracking it. The parity between solutions, as usual, is perfect; the
construction not so the pawn on g3 is idle in one solution, and the same is true of much of the Black force.
However, its mates are both models, and the reasoning behind the move-order is beautiful indeed! {IS}
Problem Potpourri
23.
24. Molham Hassan



27. Arthur Willmott


Helpmate in 3 (a) diagram (b) Pd4
November/December 2008
Congratulations are in order for Arthur Willmott, the deserving winner of the 2008 Whyatt Medal for chess
problem composition. 27 is an example of Arthurs skill, but you might like to warm up by tackling a few of
the easier problems first. In 23 White wants to reach a drawn position by sacrificing his bishop for the black
pawn, but an immediate 1.Bxa2 Rxa2+ leads to the loss of the white rook. Be on the lookout for stalemate
possibilities! In Molhams 24 the key must provide for some strong black defences, but the sparkling play is
more than adequate compensation. Keep an eye on the bishop on g8 when solving Leonids 25! There is
much to enjoy in 26, including an entertaining duel between the rooks. There are two problems for the price
of one in 28. First solve the position in the diagram (Black plays first and helps White to mate in 3 moves),
then remove the pawn on d4 and find a different solution!
Solutions to Problems 17-22 (September-October 2008)
17 (L Semisashenov, Chess in USSR, 1940) 1.Bg1 a2 (not 1Kxb1? 2.Bd4 Kc2 3.Bxb2 axb2 stalemate)
2.Bh7! b1=Q 3.Bd4+ Qb2 4.Bh8! Qxh8 stalemate. What came into my mind when I got the solution was a
real thrill and the good old Australian expression: "what a beauty"! {Nigel Nettheim [N]} What a clever boy!
{Bob Meadley [M]}
18 (Shanahan) 1.Qf5! (threat 2.Qe4) 1N~ 2.Re2; 1Nd2 2.Nc2; 1Nd4 2.Nd5; 1Ng1 2.Nxf1.
Defensive knight tour pins queen and allows 4 other mates {Andy Sag [AS]} A crystal clear example of
black correction. A random move of the black knight defeats the threat but allows mate by 2.Re2. The knight
can correct this general error in 3 ways, but each time a secondary error is committed, leading to new
mates.{ed.}
19 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Rb4! (threat 2.Nd4) 1Bxd3 2.Bxd3; 1Nc6 2.Bc8; 1Ng any 2.Ne3. The try
1.Rd8? is refuted by 1Ne5!, while 1.Rc4? and 1.Re4? fail against 1Bxd3! {ed.} Pawn on a5 makes key
sacrificial (a solvers clue!) but appears to be unnecessary. {AS} Whether the pawn on a5 is warranted I will
not presume to say. It enhances the key, though for an expert solver (which I'm not) it might have the
unintended reverse effect of actually pointing to the solution! {N}
20 (Makaronez) 1.d4! (threat 2.Ba6+ Rb5 3.Bxb5) 1exd3e.p. 2.Nxf5 Rxf5/exf5 3.Bf3/Rxe3; 1Rd6
2.Nf3 exf3 3.Bxf3; 1Rxd4 2.cxd4; 1Ra5 2.bxa5. The theme might be called "double line clearance,
doubled" or some such term, that is, two lines are each cleared of two impediments. {N}
21 (A Johandl, 1 Prize, Schweizerische Schachzeitung, 1967) Set: 1Na any 2.Nc2; 1Nh any 2.N4f5.
Solution: 1.Bb4! Kxd4 2.Kf4 and now 2Na any 3.N6b5 and 2Nh any 3.N6f5. The black king is
hemmed in, and the idea turns out to be shifting that hemming-in one square to the north-west. Thus 1.Bb4
Kxd4 2.Kf4. This is now similarly blocked, but now it's Black's move. Really good. {N} Very pretty. The
knight mates remind me of certain #2 mutates of the 1920s. {Ian Shanahan [IS]}
22 (Shanahan) (i) 1.Kxd7 exd8=R+ 2.Ke7 fxe8=Q. (ii) 1.f5 f8=B 2.Kf7 exd8=N. All 4 possible promotions
are used. {AS} The pick of the problems. {Arthur Willmott} Just beautiful. A simple setting shows how
skilful Ians allumwandlung {all 4 promotions (ed.)} is. {M} There are plenty of H#2 that show this theme,
but I dont know of any with black tempo play. {IS}
Problem Potpourri
29.
White to play and win
30.
31. Henryk Grudzinski (Poland)


33. Molham Hassan


Helpmate in 3.5 2 solutions
In 29 the plan is to lure the black queen off the long diagonal by sacrificing the white queen, after which the
pawn can promote and capture the black queen with a skewer check. 30 is only a 2-mover, but its a tough
one! It shouldnt take long to solve Henryks 31, once the theme is spotted. Leonids 32 has some very
interesting play and a tricky try! Molham continues to entertain with 33. In 34 White plays first and both
sides cooperate to enable White to mate on his fourth move (so Black only plays 3 moves).
The Lidums Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held at Saint Ignatius College in Adelaide from
2-13 January 2009. As in the previous two Championships a problem solving event will be held on one of the
rest days. The event has now been made official, so competitors will vie for the title of Australian Junior
Problem Solving Champion. The problem solving has been very popular in the past, and this year the parents
and coaches are invited to join in the fun. Further details are available on the web site at
http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009.
Solutions to Problems 23-28 (November-December 2008)
23 (M Liburkin, 5 Prize, Shakhmatny Listok, 1928) 1.Rh8+ Kg7 2.Rg8+ Kh7 3.Bxa2 Rxa2+ 4.Kb1! Nc3+
(4Rb2+ 5.Ka1 Kxg8 stalemate) 5.Kc1 Ra1+ 6.Kb2 Rb1+ 7.Ka3 Kxg8 stalemate. Very nice, but perhaps
relatively easy. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
24 (Hassan) 1.Qh8! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1B~+ 2.Be7; 1Bxd6+ 2.Qe5; 1Bxf4+ 2.Bxe4; 1Kxd4 2.Bb4;
1Qxd4 2.Qg8. Excellent play and a good-looking key. {N} Key sacrifices the queen. Pins and cross
checks galore! {Andy Sag [AS]} A first class solvers problem that was very difficult. Lots of good tries.
{Bob Meadley [M]}
25 (Makaronez) 1.Nd3! (threat 2.Rc5+ Ke4 3.Qg4) 1f6 2.Nb4+ Kxe5 3.Bg3; 1f5 2.Nf4+ Kxe5 3.Qg7;
1gxh5 2.Qe8 (threat 3.Nf4); 1Kxc4 2.Qxb5 mate. The flaw in 1gxh5 is that 2g5 is no longer
available really unexpected! difficult, complicated and surprising. {N} Give and take key holds pawn
but sacrifices rook. {AS} I got the key but not the gxh5 variation. {M}
26 (Makaronez) 1.Ke5! waiting. 1f6+ 2.Rxf6+ Kb8 3.Rxf8+ Kc7 4.Rc8; 1Rh8 2.Rh6+; 1Rg8
2.Rg6+; 1Re8+ 2.Re6+; 1Rd8 2.Rd6+; 1Ka8 2.Be4+. Excellent and elegant. The white king walks
into two checks, because there is such a huge advantage in guarding the potential flight square d6. {N} Key
allows two checks but rook cannot avoid exposure. {AS}
27 (Willmott) 1.Kg4 Ke5 2.Kg5 Ke4 3.Be2 Ke5 4.Bf4+ Ke4 5.Nc3+ Kd4 6.Ne6. Had to be a one-liner! The
pawn gives a clue (if it is to be involved in the mate then the black king must not be allowed to escape
towards h8), but still took ages to solve. Well done Arthur! {AS} Its all so simple when Extreme Chess
explains it in 2 minutes. Another victory for the Whyatt medallist. So much time for nil result. {M}
28 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxf7 exd5 2.Kf5 g4+ 3.Kf6 Bxe5. (b) 1.Bxc7 exf5 2.Ke5 Rxe7+ 3.Kd6 Re6. A well matched
twin. Hard to solve (a) but then (b) was easier once the theme became clear. {AS} Separate mates with rook
and bishop, the theme this composer loves. A great pair. {M}
Problem Potpourri
35.




40.
White to play and win (Losing Chess)
March/April 2009
In 35 White is willing to sacrifice his rook in order to ensure that the a-pawn promotes. The key move of 37
is unconventional, but the play is really splendid. In 39 Black moves first and helps White to mate in 3
moves. In Losing Chess the player losing all his men, or being stalemated, wins. Capturing, if possible, is
compulsory, including capture of the king (in 40 the black king has already been captured). A king has no
royal powers and may be moved next to the opposing king. There is neither check nor checkmate. Pawns
may promote to king.
The problem solving competition at the Lidums Australian Junior Chess Championships was a great success.
Many thanks are due to Nigel Nettheim for conducting the event, with assistance from Andy Sag. More
problems were set than in previous events (and there were some difficult ones), but Yita Choong of Western
Australia managed to solve everything correctly to win the under 18 Open section, a fine achievement!
Solutions to Problems 29-34 (January/February 2009)
29 (L van Vliet, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1888) 1.Qb4 Qh1 2.Qa3+ Kb6 3.Qb2+ Kc7 (3Kc5 4.Ka7)
4.Qh2+ wins. If 1Qd5 or Qf3 2.Qa4+ Kb6 3.Qb3+ wins. If 1Qg2 2.Qa3+ Kb6 3.Qb2+ wins.
30 (T Taverner, 1 Prize, Pen and Pencil, 1890) 1.Rh7! waiting. 1Ng3 2.Rh4; 1Nh else 2.Nf6;
1Qxd2+ 2.Nxd2; 1Q else 2.d3/Qxg6; 1dxc3+ 2.Nxc3. 1d3 2.Qc4; 1f2 2.Qe2; 1Nc2 2.d3;
1g5 2.Qg6. Everything is provided for except 1...Ng3, and the key prepares 2.Rh4. A well-hidden key.
{Nigel Nettheim [N]} Key must provide for 1Ng3 to complete the block, so not too hard to spot. {Andy
Sag [AS]}
31 (Grudzinski) 1.Rc6! (threats 2.Nf4/Rf4) 1Rxc6 2.Nf4 (threats 3.Qh4/Qg5); 1Bxc6 2.Rf4; 1Kh5
2.Rf4; The duplication of the rook/bishop interference is a fine idea. The symmetry would be enhanced by
shifting the Ba8 to b7. {N} Sequential blocking of intersecting defensive lines creating separable threats.
{AS}
32 (Makaronez) 1.Kf7! waiting. 1Ne7 2.Nb4 ~ 3.Rxa6; 1Nf6 2.Rb4 ~ 3.Rb5; 1a2 2.Nb2 ~ 3.b4;
1b5 2.b4+ Kxa4 3.Nc5; 1g5,gxh5 2.Rf5+ b5 3.Rxb5. The white king retreats so that after 1Ne7 or
1Nf6 the black rook can safely be unpinned. The try 1.c7? provides a mate for 1Nf6 (2.Ne5 ~ 3.Nc6) but
fails against 1Ne7! {ed.} Another excellent problem from this composer. {N} Cant find the try. The
solution was tough enough to find! {Bob Meadley [M]}
33 (Hassan) 1.Bg3+! Rf4/Nf4 2.Re1+ Be4 3.Qh5+ f5 4.Qh8+ Rf6 5.Qb8+ d6+ 6.Kc4+ Nd5 7.Qxb2 mate.
The queen circles before the kill! Need to spot that the rook check is safe to crack this one. {AS} At Lithgow
there is Hassans Walls and now Molham has his own! {M}
34 (Jones) (i) 1Ba2 2.Nb3 Re7 3.Kc4 Bxb3+ 4.Kb5 Rb7 (ii) 1Re1 2.Ne2 Bf7 3.Ke3 Rxe2+ 4.Kxf3 Bh5.
Doubtful if Chris can reach a higher plane. Heavenly! {M} Once again, a precise matching pair. Presume
pawn on f5 is a cook stopper? {AS} Yes, the pawn on f5 stops cooks such as 1Re1 2.Kd4 Rh1 3.Ke5 Kg7
4.Kf5 Rh5. Its a pity that the white king must be present! {ed.}
March/April 2009
Problem Potpourri
41. $50 PRIZE!
42. Molham Hassan

43.



Helpmate in 3 (b) BBb8
July/August 2009
A PRIZE OF $50 is offered for the best solution to 41 from a new solver. Entries will be judged on the
quality of the analysis and comments neatness is not important. Closing date is 30 July (address at top of
facing page). This column continues to receive world-class compositions. Leonids 44 has that rare and
elusive quality humour. Christopher Jones continues to achieve delightful results with his distinctive white
rook and bishop helpmates. In 46 first solve the position in the diagram, then replace the rook on b8 by a
black bishop. In each part Black moves first and helps White to mate in 3 moves.
The problems and solutions from the problem solving competition at the Australian Junior Chess
Championships are now available at http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009. The list of winners is at
http://www.sajuniorchess.org/AustJunior2009/Draws/draws.html.
Solutions to Problems 35-40 (May/June 2009)
35 (H Rinck, 1 Prize, Budapest Chess Club, 1911) 1.Rg7! Kc2 (1Re1 2.Rg1 Rxg1 3.a7) 2.Rg2+ Kb3
3.Ra2 Kxa2 4.a7 wins. Very nice, and I should think it could easily be missed in a game. {Nigel Nettheim
[N]}
36 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Qh8! (threat 2.Qd4) 1Kxd5 2.Qa8; 1Nf5 2.Qh1; 1e5 2.Nf6; 1Ne5 2.Qxe5;
1Bc3,Bc5 2.N(x)c3. The queen gives a flight, to mate on the white. {Bob Meadley [M]} Two corner-tocorner mates {ed.}
37 (Makaronez) 1.Nbxd6! (threat 2.Qe4+ Kc5 3.Qc4) 1c5+ 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Rd8; 1c6+ 2.Nb7 ~ 3.Ne7;
1cxb6+ 2.Kxb6 (threat 3.Qe4) Rh4 3.Bxf7; 1cxd6+ 2.Ne7+ Kc5 3.Rc8; 1Rh4 2.Bxf7+ Kc5,Kc6
3.Qb5. Four black checks by moving a particular pawn a wonderful conception. {N} Key is a capture but
allows discovered checks by the pawn. {Andy Sag [S]} A Mak attack. {M}
38 (Makaronez) 1.Nd7! (threat 2.f8=Q+ Ke6 3.Qf7) 1Qxd8+ 2.f8=N+ Ke8 3.Nd6; 1Ke6 2.Ng5+
Kd5/Kf5,Ke7 3.Nb6/f8=Q; 1Kxd8 2.f8=Q+ Kc7 3.Qxb8. Key gives a flight and allows a check. {S}
39 (Jones) (i) 1.Kd7 Bh4 2.Qc7 Bf6 3.Kd6 Rxd3. (ii) 1.Kc7 Re2 2.Rd7 Re3 3.Kd6 Bxf4. Once again, a
precise matching pair. Easy to solve once you learn his style. {S} Another R/B double act by the master.
{M}
40 (T R Dawson, Stratford Express, 1938) 1.Nd6 Bxd6 2.Kf3 Bxh2 3.Ng1 Bxg1 4.Bg2 Bxd4 5.Qf6 Bxf6
6.Bf1 Bxh4 7.Kf2 Bxf2 8.e3 Bxe3 9.Ba6 bxa6 and White has no move, which is a win in Losing Chess.
However, Bob Meadley has found the following cook! 1.a6 bxa6 2.Nd6 Bxd6 3.Kf3 Bxh2 4.Kg3 Bxg3 5.Qc2
Bxh4 6.Ng5 Bxg5 7.e3 Bxe3 8.Bc6 Bxd4 9.Qc3 Bxc3 10.a5 Bxa5 11.Bb5 axb5. The cook is very neat and
almost as good as the intention, but there is a dual as White could also play 3.Kf2.
July/August 2009
Problem Potpourri
47.
48. Molham Hassan

49.



The Australian chess problem community has suffered a grievous loss with the death of Denis Saunders.
Denis had been so ill for so long that he seemed indestructible, so his passing was a shock. Denis will be
sadly missed. Sincere condolences to his family.
In 47 White will lose after 1.Rxe7+ Kf6 2.Rc7 Rb8+ 3.Kd7 Rb7!, but is 1.Rc7 Rb8+ 2.Kxe7 Rb7 any better?
There is much to enjoy in the other problems, including some spectacular key moves. Have fun!
Solutions to Problems 41-46 (July/August 2009)
41 (V & M Platov, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1908) 1.a8=Q+! Kxa8 (1Rxa8 2.Bg2+) 2.h7 Re1+ 3.Kd7
Rd1+ 4.Kc7 Rc1+ 5.Bc4! Rxc4+ (5Rh1 6.Bd5+) 6.Kd7 Rd4+ 7.Ke7 Re4+ 8.Kf7 Rf4+ 9.Kg7 wins.
1.a8=Q+ provides one more file for the white king, which turns out to be enough. The vital move is 5.Bc4,
luring the black rook to the 4th rank where it will be blocked by its own pawn. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
42 (Hassan) 1.Qf6! (threat 2.Qxe5) 1Kxe4 2.Qf3; 1Bxf6 2.Nxf6; 1Bxc3 2.Nxc3; 1Be else 2.Qd4;
1Nc6,Nd7 2.Q(x)c6. The play involving moves of the bishop on e5 is very good. {N} The try 1.Kf3?,
threatening 2.Qxg8, is refuted by 1Bxc7! {Andy Sag [S]}
43 (Touw Hian Bwee, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 1970) 1.Ng4! (threat 2.Qd1) 1Rh6+ 2.Rh3; 1Be5+ 2.Rg3;
1Ne5 2.Rf3; 1Be4 2.Rd3; 1c3 2.Re4; 1Rxe3 2.Qxe3.
44 (Makaronez) 1.Bg8! (threat 2.Re moves & 3.Be6) 1Rxb2 2.Re7; 1Rc1 2.Rf6; 1Rxc3 2.Rd6;
1Rd2 2.Re5. The rooks join in a square-dance. {N} Key gives multiple threats neatly separated by four
black rook defences each artistically mirrored by a counter-cyclical white rook continuation. {S} The tit for
tat theme. {Bob Meadley [M]}
45 (Makaronez) 1.Qe2! (threat 2.Nf6+ Kd6 3.Qe5) 1Ke6 2.Ng5+ K~ 3.Qe5; 1Bxe4 2.Qc4+ Kd6 3.Ba3;
1d6 2.Qg4 (threat 3.Nc3) Bxe4/Bf5 3.Qxg8/Qxf5. Key gives a flight. Variations include a switchback.
{S} The pawn on h3 is a signpost but lovely play. {M}
46 (Jones) (a) 1.Na4 Bc6 2.Rb4 bxa4 3.Kc4 Be4. (b) 1.Bg4 Rc6 2.Be5 fxg4 3.Ke4 Rc3. Another precise
matching pair with well concealed lines. {S} How to open the awesome foursome. Jones is a gold medal
helpmate artist. {M}
Problem Potpourri
53.
54. Molham Hassan


56. Ian Shanahan

Mate in 5 (b) remove Pd5, Mate in 7

58. Ian Shanahan

Helpmate in 6
In 53 White can win, despite being behind in material. Its not difficult just start playing moves and you
should arrive at a surprising mate! Are you a good enough player to see a forced mate in two moves? In 54
White has a move after which Black is unable to prevent mate next move. Sounds simple? Have a go and
send your answer by email! In 56 first find a mate in 5 moves, then remove the pawn on d5 and find a mate
in 7 moves! In 58 Black plays first and both sides cooperate so that White can mate on the sixth move. Is
there any reason why Black should castle?
Solutions to Problems 47-52 (September/October 2009)
47 (G Zakhodyakin, 3 Prize, Chigorin Mem. 1949) 1.Rc7 Rb8+ 2.Kxe7 Rb7 3.Rxb7 c1=Q 4.Ke6+ Kg6 (to
avoid perpetual check) 5.h5+! Kxh5 6.Rg7, and the black king is trapped. The black queen on its own can
make no progress. As long as White is careful not to move the g pawn, even sacrificing queen for rook wont
work because Black cant capture Whites pawn without giving up his pawn. {Andy Sag [S]}
48 (Hassan) 1.Bc5! waiting. 1Kxd5 2.Bg2; 1Ng any 2.Ne7; 1Na any 2.Nb4; 1exd5 2.Bd7. A very
pleasing problem. Note the use made of the white knight on a3, which not only guards the squares b5 and c4,
but also prevents the cook 1.Ba3. The deceptive try 1.Bg2? claimed a distinguished victim! {ed.} Key gives
knight sacrifice on flight. The try 1.Bf8? fails against Nxe5. {S} One small step. {Bob Meadley [M]}
49 (Denis Saunders, 1HM, The Problemist, 1996/I, position reflected) Set play: 1d4 2.Bc6; 1Ra5
2.Qb1; 1Qb7,Qa8 2.Nxc5; 1Bc3 2.Qd3,Qb1; 1c4 2.Qxd5. Key 1.Qxc5! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1Kd3
2.Rxe3; 1Qxc5+ 2.Nxc5; 1d4 2.Qf5; 1Ra5 2.Qc2; 1Rd3 2.Qe7; 1Bb4 2.Rd4; 1Qb7,Qa8,Qxc7
2.Qd4; 1Ng6+ 2.Bxg6. One of the late maestros best two-movers. {ed.} Key adds a check, invites a pin
and gives a flight leading to a pin-mate. {S}
50 (Makaronez) 1.Ne5! (threat 2.Ng4+ Kxf4 3.Bh6) 1Kxe4 2.Nc4+ Kxf4/Kd5 3.Bh6/Ne3; 1Kxd4
2.Nd3+ Kc4/Ke3 3.Rc6/Rxg3; 1Kxf4 2.Nf3 any 3.Bh6. Key unprotects all 3 pawns on the 4th rank and
gives lots of play. {S} A fine 50th. The Charge of the Knight Brigade forsaking the foot soldiers. {M}
51 (Makaronez) 1.Bb2! (threat 2.Qc6+ Qxc6 3.Re5) 1Ba4 2.Qh7 (threat 3.Qh1); 1Re7 2.Kxg5 (threat
3.Re5); 1Rc7 2.Qxg5 (threat 3.Qf4). Each variation shows black interference the defence 1Ba4
prevents Black from later playing 2Ra1, while the defences 1Re7 and 1Rc7 prevent the black queen
from being able to guard g5 and f4 respectively. {ed.}
52 (Jones) 1.Ke6 Rxb5 2.Ne5 Bf5+ 3.Kd6 fxe5. 1.Kxf4 Bxg6 2.Bd3 Rf5+ 3.Ke4 exd3. A stylish twin with
pawn mate finishes. {S} The pawn on f4 kills and gets killed in this toughie. {M}
Problem Potpourri
59. Linden Lyons
60. Linden Lyons




64.
White to play and Win
A warm welcome to new composer Linden Lyons of Melbourne! Linden is 24 years of age and is a
postgraduate student in history at Monash University. Linden writes: I have been playing club chess
regularly since 2005. Since the beginning of this year Ive been working for Chess Ideas, who provide chess
coaching to schools, and just this year I have begun to discover the wonders of problem composition!.
Linden is a fast learner, as an examination of 59 and 60 will reveal! In Leonid's 62 White's plan is to open the
d-file, but what can be done about the defence Ra6? In 64 if the black queen is allowed to escape then Black
can draw by perpetual check.
The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in Hobart in January 2010. As usual a problem
solving competition will be held during the event. For more information see
http://www.chesstasmania.org.au/AJCC/index.html.
Solutions to Problems 53-58 (November/December 2009)
53 (S Gruber, Magyar Sakkvilag 1932) 1.Kf5 Qf8 2.Ng7+ Qxg7 3.Be8+ Qg6+ 4.Bxg6+ hxg6+ 5.Kxf6 g5
6.Kf5 g4 7.hxg4#.
54 (Hassan) 1.Nh4! waiting. 1Kxd6 2.Nd3; 1Kd4 2.Nf3; 1f3 2.Nxd7; 1Nd4 2.Ng6; 1N else
2.Nf3. Key gives two flights. The white knights do all the work. {Andy Sag [S]} I found this difficult to
solve. A well constructed problem with a deceptive key. {Dennis Hale}
55 (Makaronez) 1.Bg4! (threat 2.Nf6+ ~ 3.Qd4) 1Nc2 2.Qd3+ Kxd3/Kf4 3.Nc5/Qf5; 1Bxe5 2.Qd5+
Kxd5/Kf4 2.Nf6/Qf3. I used 1...Rxd7 as a test to determine possible keys and it was easy to rule out all
except 1.Bg4. The hard part was finding the two queen sacrifices although they were checks; however the
twin double check finales are a touch of brilliance. {S}
56 (Shanahan) (a) 1.Bb5! Kxb5 2.d6 Ka5 3.d7 Kb5 4.d8=R Ka5 5.Rd5# (b) 1.Kc7! Kxa6 2.b4 Ka7 3.Bb5
Ka8 4.Ba6 Ka7 5.b5 Ka8 6.Bb7+ Ka7 7.b6# In each case White initially gives up a minor piece and in (a)
underpromotes to avoid stalemate and then is able to use what is left to force a one liner win. {S} A beautiful
set of moves in (b) with the mate on b6. {Bob Meadley [M]}
57 (Jones) 1.Nxd4 Rxg6 2.Nf3 Rd6 3.Bf5 exf3#. 1.exd4 Rxc7 2.d3 Rd7 3.Be5 exd3#. Yet another stylish
twin with pawn mate finishes. The bPh5 prevents a cook but I cant quite see the purpose of bPh4? {S} Why
are h4 & h5 needed? Very nice black bishop clearances. {M} The bPh4 stops cooks e.g. 1.f3+ exf3+ 2.Kf4
Rxg6 3.h4 Rg4#. {ed.}
58 (Shanahan) 1.Nc6 Kxc5 2.Nb4 cxb4 3.O-O-O b5 4.Kb7 b6 5.Ka6 b7 6.Ra8 b*a8=Q#. Castling is
necessary to ensure that the black king can pass b7 in time to allow 5b7. {S} Another beautiful miniature
from Ian and it must be sound as Ive tried every move. {M}
Problem Potpourri
65. Linden Lyons
66. Molham Hassan

67. Molham Hassan



Helpmate in 3 (b) Nh3 > d6
70. Christian Poisson (France)

March/April 2010
Your solving pleasure begins with three entertaining problems by local composers, then some more difficult
work from a trio of overseas experts. It is a pleasure to publish an original problem from Christian Poisson,
developer of the famous WinChloe database, whose 70 might best be solved by approaching it as White to
play and win.
59 (Lyons) 1.Na3! (threat 2.Nc4) 1Kd6 2.Nc4; 1d3 2.Rb6; 1f3 2.Qh2; 1Nd6 2.Qh8.
Straightforward but nicely constructed. Key gives a flight but bishop on c7 blocks the kings escape. {Andy
Sag [S]} A good key giving a flight square. {Arthur Willmott [W]} The knight moves back to start its attack.
{Bob Meadley [M]}
60 (Lyons) 1.Ba2! waiting. 1Ne3 2.Bc3; 1N else 2.Qg1; 1c4 2.Qa7; 1Bd7 2.Qxd7; 1B else
2.N(x)e6; 1exf4,e4 2.f7; 1a5 2.Nb5. A bit more sophisticated; a sound waiter with a good crop of
variations. {S} Excellent key with lots of variations. This is a remarkable effort from a composer with less
than a years experience. I look forward to more problems from him. {Dennis Hale [H]} An excellent long
range key with a nice variety of mates. {W} g8 to a2 now its over to you. {M}
61 (Makaronez) 1.Bd5! (threat 2.Bb3 ~ 3.Qc4+ Ke5 4.Qf4; 2Ke5 3.Qe6+ Kd4 4.Qe3) 1Kd3 2.Qc4+
Kd2 3.Be4 ~ 4.Qc2; 1Ke5 2.Bf7 ~ 3.Qe6+ Kd4 4.Qe3; 2Kd4 3.Qc4+ Ke5 4.Qf4. A tricky miniature.
Key maintains symmetry creating much play. {S} There is a dual after 1Ke5 2.Bf7 Kf5 3.Qe6+ or 3.Qd6.
Andy Sag suggests moving the black pawn from h5 to h7, to stop mate by 4.Qg6, leaving only the very nice
1Ke5 2.Bf7 Kf5 3.Qd6 Ke4 4.Qd5. Well done Andy! {ed.}
62 (Makaronez) 1.Qc6! bxc6 2.d3 e3 3.d4 e4 4.d5 ~ 5.dxc6; 2Kd2 3.dxe4+ Ke3 4.Rd3+ Kxe4 5.Rc4.
Tough to solve but the clues given were helpful. Each white move must threaten a mate or a check to avoid
giving time for Rh7 then Rh1+. My first attempt was 1.a5? (2.Qa4#) c6! 2.d3 e3 3.d4 e4 4.d5 Bd6 5.Rxd6
which leads to a mate but one move too late. The queen looked expendable, so I then worked through queen
sacrifices that threatened mate. 1.Qxe5 (2.Qa1#) and 1.Qe6 (2.Qb3#) led nowhere leaving only 1.Qc6
(2.Rc1#). {S}
63 (Jones) 1.e5 Bd3 2.exd3 e4+ 3.Kd4 Rc4#. 1.Nd3 Rc3 2.bxc3 b4 3.Kc4 Bb3#. I classify this one as black
magic; the setting gives no clues at all as to a possible finale; took forever to find a solution but once found,
the second one was easier, knowing Joness twinning style. In each case one piece self destructs to allow
pawn and king manoeuvres so the remaining piece can mate. {S} Beauty and difficulty. CJs consistent high
quality mark him as one of the best. {M}
64 (A Gurvich, Soviet flot, 1960) 1.Rab6! Qa8 2.Rc8+! Qxc8 3.Rb3 Qa8 4.Re3+ Kd8 5.Kf8 wins. Hard to
believe but there it is. {M}
March/April 2010
Problem Potpourri
71. Linden Lyons
72. Molham Hassan


74. Arthur Willmott

75. Arthur Willmott

Helpstalemate in 2.5 (3 solutions)

Helpmate in 5
May/June 2010
Linden and Molham start things off with a couple of really excellent two-movers. In Arthurs 75, White plays
first and both sides co-operate to enable White to inflict stalemate on his third move. There are 3 solutions to
be found. Christophers 76 is longer than usual, but it may prove easier to solve.
Solutions to Problems 65-70 (March-April 2010)
65 (Lyons) 1.Kg3! waiting. 1e3,exd3 2.Qh1; 1c5 2.Qa8; 1Nxe5 2.Qxe5; 1Nc else 2.Ne3; 1Ne
any 2.Qd4. All set mates and the white king has only one square to go to which avoids messing them up. A
nice clean albeit easily solved waiter but Linden must now move up a notch and come up with a waiter with
at least one changed mate. {Andy Sag [S]} A nice key - this problem is constructionally related to Lindens
no.59. The queen mates are a lovely pair. {Dennis Hale [H]}
66 (Hassan) 1.Nh3! (threat 2.e4) 1gxh3 2.g4; 1Bf2 2.Rg5; 1dxe6 2.Qxh7; 1Bb1 2.Qxb1;
1Nd2,Nxe3,Ne5,Nd6 2.Re5. Sacrificial key and tricky variations. Try 1.d6? (2.Qe4) Rg7! {S} Clever
threat and variety. {Bob Meadley [M]} This one had me baffled for quite a while - for me the hardest of the
mates in two. {H}
67 (Hassan) 1.Bf4! (threat 2.Bxf5) 1Rf2,Re3 2.R(x)e3; 1R else 2.Be2; 1Bh3 2.Qxf3; 1Nc3
2.Qxc3; 1fxg4 2.Qe4; 1b4 2.Qc4. Another sacrificial key generating lots of play but the dual in
defensive play after 1Rf1 detracts. {S} I like the Be2 variation. {H}
68 (Makaronez) 1.Rg7! waiting. 1g5 2.Rxg5 (threat 3.Rg2 ~ 4.Ra2) h3 3.Rg3 ~ 4.Rxb3; 1h3 2.Rh7
(threat 3.Rxh3 ~ 4.Rxb3) h2 3.Rxh2 ~ 4.Ra2; 1Nc7 2.Rxc7 ~ 3.Rc2 ~ 4.Ra2; 1Nf7 2.Rxf7 ~ 3.Rf2 ~
4.Ra2. Technically a waiter with variations having single line and two line continuations due to limited
mobility of black pieces. Precise separation of the two possible mates gets a tick. {S}
69 (Jones) (a) 1.Kd4 Nxg5 2.Be4 Bd5 3.Bd3 Ne6#. (b) 1.Ke6 Nxb7 2.Bf6 Rd5 3.Ne7 Nd8#. Another high
class twin with well hidden finales. {S} Five pieces have been added to make it sound. Is bRa7 needed? {M}
The bRa7 stops a cook in (a) by 1.a2 Kb2 2.Ke4 Kxc3 3.Bf4 Bxb7#. {ed.}
70 (Poisson) 1.c8=Q h2 2.Qh3+ Kg1 3.Qg3+ Kh1 4.Qe3 Kg2 5.Nd5 h1=Q 6.Nf4+ Kf1 7.Qe2+ Kg1 8.Qe1+
Kh2 9.Qf2+ Qg2 10.Qxg2#. If the white pawn were moved to c4 and the black pawn to h6 then the result
would be mate in 13. {Arthur Willmott} One mans meat is anothers poisson? {M}
May/June 2010
Problem Potpourri
77. Molham Hassan & Geoff Foster
78. Molham Hassan




Helpmate in 3 (b) Pd4
82. Chris Feather (England)

Helpmate in 4 PWC (b) Pd5>e4 (c) Pf5>d4
July/August 2010
In 80, if the light-squared white bishop were on b1 then White would have a mate in 3, but 1.Bb1? is
stalemate! In 81, first solve the position in the diagram, then remove the white pawn d4 for a second
problem! Its an honour to publish an original from helpmate maestro Chris Feather, whose 82 uses a special
condition called Platzwechsel Circe (PWC). In PWC, captured units are not removed from the board, but
instead they reappear on the capturing units departure square. That is, the capturing and captured units
exchange places. When a captured black pawn is reborn on the first rank it instantly promotes, so look for
solutions in which a white piece moves to the bottom rank before capturing a black pawn!
71 (Lyons) 1.Kh7! waiting. 1Ndxe3 2.Qa8; 1Nd else 2.Nf6; 1Nfxe3 2.Qg6; 1Nf else 2.Ng3;
1dxe3 2.c3; 1d3 2.cxd3; 1exf4 2.Qxe6; 1f2 2.Qg2. Key allows not just a check but a royal fork! 8
variations, all set mates including 2 pin mates. {Andy Sag [S]} Very tricky. If 1.Qg7? exf4! or 1.Qg6? Nxe3!
{Bob Meadley [M]} Two delicious correction pins. {Ian Shanahan} A nice key with eight variations. Well
done, Linden. {Dennis Hale}
72 (Hassan) 1.Kxg7! (threat 2.Nf6) 1Kd4 2.Nc6; 1Bxe5+ 2.Nf6; 1Qa6,Qf1 2.Nxc3; 1Bxd5
2.Qxd5; 1Nxg4 2.Qxg4. The capture key switches pins, 1Kd4 unpins the white knight and 1Bxe5+
self pins the bishop making it ineffective against the threat. {S} If you want to win, switch the pin. Lovely.
{M}
73 (Makaronez) 1.Ne5! (threat 2.Qb4+ Kxe5 3.f4) 1Bc3 2.Qb6+ Kxe5 3.Qe3; 1Kc5 2.d4+ Bxd4/Kxd4
3.Nd3/Qe3; 1Ba6 2.Nc6+ Kc5 3.Qb4; 1Na6 2.Nf3+ Kc5 3.Qb5; 1Kxe5 2.Qb4 (3.f4) d4,Bd4 3.Qd6.
Key gives two flights including a knight sacrifice followed by a non-checking continuation. An economical
setting with lots of play, no duals, no short-mates. I tried to make it a Meredith (12 pieces) by removing the
e6 pawn but that allows 1..Kxe5 2.Qb4 Ne6 defending f4. {S}
74 (Willmott) 1.Qh2! (threat 2.Be2+ Ke4 3.Nd6) 1Ke4 2.Nd6+ Kf3 3.Be2; 1Kg4 2.Bc8+ Kf3 3.Ng5;
1d4 2.Be2+ Ke4 3.Qxe5. The key takes g3 flight. The threat becomes a short mate if 1e4. The three
variations are dual free but are all one liners starting with a check. Economy of pieces is a plus. The problem
still works if the e5 pawn is omitted to avoid the short mate but there would then be a dual after 1Be5
2.Be2+ or 2.Nxe5+. {S}
75 (Willmott) 1Bf1 2.Bf5 Nxf5 3.Kf3 Rd4. 1Ne6 2.Ke3 Rd5 3.Be4 Re5. 1Rc1 2.Bf5 Bf3+ 3.Kd3
Nxf5. It is clear that the black bishop must either be pinned or captured. I found the pin solution easily
enough and was amused by the finale with all pieces in a vertical line. The two capture solutions I found
incredibly difficult, not sure why, but I did. No cook stoppers, one of Arthurs best. {S} The Viagra
solution (all pieces in a line) was not too hard, but it took me a day to get the other solutions. A world class
problem. Well done AW! {M}
76 (Jones) 1.Rg7 (Rb2?) Ba8 2.f5+ Kc6 3.Ke4 Kb5+ 4.Rb7+ Kc4 5.e5 Bxb7. The checks (including a crosscheck) make it interesting as well as stopping cooks. {S} A joy to solve. {M}
July/August 2010
Problem Potpourri
83.
84. Molham Hassan (ded. to John Sharkey IV)

85. Linden Lyons


87.

In 83 White can win by repeating a certain manoeuvre. 84 is dedicated to Molhams newly arrived first
grandson! Lindens 85 is a combination of two earlier problems. Linden reports that he and Heidi were
recently married in New Zealand, where they had a wonderful time, and they are both very happy! 87 has the
set mate: 1g6 2.Bd2 Kd4 3.Bc3. Can this mate be preserved?
77 (Hassan & Foster) 1.Qh4! (threat 2.Ng6) 1Kxe5 2.Qe7; 1Nxf5 2.Nd5; 1Nh5 2.Nxh5; 1Ne6
2.Nxe6; 1d2 2.Re2. Key gives a flight capture with switchback and pin mate variations. {Andy Sag [S]} It
looks like a knight key! 1.Ne6 is a very good try. {Bob Meadley [M]}
78 (Hassan) 1.Rd4! (threat 2.Rd5) 1Kxd4 2.Nd7; 1Bxc4 2.Rxc4; 1Qe6 2.Nxe6; 1Qd7 2.Nxd7;
1Nxd4 2.axb4; 1Rxd3 2.Nexd3. Sacrificial flight-giving key and 6 variations. {S} Difficult key. {M}
79 (Makaronez) 1.Rb2! (threat 2.Bc7 ~ 3.Qxb8) 1a5 2.Ba7 Kxa7 3.Qxa5; 1Nxb2 2.Nc5 ~ 3.Qd5;
1Kxb7 2.Qd5+ Kc8 3.Qd7. Sacrificial key to put knight on the wrong square to stop Qd5. Sacrificial
continuation after 1a5 is quite subtle. {S}
80 (Makaronez) 1.Rc2! Kd3 2.Bb1 Kd4 3.Rc7 Ke5 4.Rd7+ Kf6 5.e5. A nice one-liner. Was helpful to first
solve the #3 with Bb1. Ph4 gives a strong clue that king must be forced to the f file. {S}
81 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxd5 Bxc2 2.Bb3 exd5 3.Ba4 Bd3. (b) 1.Bxd3 Rd4 2.Rc6 exd3 3.Kc5 Rd5. Another high
class twin requiring capture of a white piece to allow the other to deliver a switchback mate. {S} Very tough.
Another Jones javelin. {M}
82 (Feather) (a) 1.Bh2 Ba1 2.d4 Bxd4 [+bPa1=bR] 3.Rd1 Kf2 4.Rxd4 [+wBd1] Bf3. (b) 1.e3 Kf1 2.e2+
Kxe2 [+bPf1=bR] 3.Bh2 Kxf1 [+bRe2] 4.Rxe5 [+wBe2] Bf3. (c) 1.Bh4 Bh2 2.Kxh2 [+wBh1] Bxd5
[+bPh1=bR] 3.Kh3 Kf3 4.Rh2 Be6. Congratulations to the composer on this simple position that is so
maddening! {M}
Problem Potpourri
89. Molham Hassan
90. Linden Lyons

Mate in 2 (a) diagram (b) after key of (a)
91. Molham Hassan




In 90 there are two problems to solve: part (a) is the diagrammed position, while part (b) is the position after
the key move of the first part. The two helpmates make a fascinating comparison; 93 has analogous play
between solutions, while in 94 a certain strategy is performed first by one side, then the other.
83 (W Keym, Die Schwalbe, 1968) 1.Qa1+ Kg8 2.Qa2+ Kh8 3.Qb2+ Kg8 4.Qb3+ Kh8 5.Qc3+ Kg8 6.Qc4+
Kh8 7.Qd4+ Kg8 8.Qd5+ (8.Qd7? Qd6+!) Kh8 9.Qh1+ Bh4 10.Qa1+ Kg8 11.Qa2+ Kh8 12.Qb2+ Kg8
13.Qb3+ Kh8 14.Qc3+ Kg8 15.Qc4+ Kh8 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Qd7 wins. Nice placement of the Pg5 in fact
nice placement of everything! {Nigel Nettheim} A delightful study. {Dennis Hale [H]} Lovely. {Bob
Meadley [M]}
84 (Hassan) 1.Qc5! (threat 2.Rxd4) 1Nb5 2.Qxc6; 1Nb3 2.Qxc2; 1Ne6 2.Qe5; 1Ne2 2.Re3;
1Nf5 2.Nf6; 1Nf3 2.Nf2; 1Bxc5 2.Nxc5; 1cxd6 2.Nxd6. Sacrificial key and heaps of variations.
{Andy Sag [AS]} Lovely! The queen mates after Nb3 and Nb5 are superb. I await Molhams second
grandchild with alacrity. {H} One of Molhams best. {M} Well constructed, although the Nh8 can be
removed if the Rh3 is moved to g3 and the entire position then shifted to the right. There are six interferences
after moves of the knight; the record is seven. {Ian Shanahan [IS]}
85 (Lyons) 1.Ba1! waiting. 1Ndxe3 2.Qb7; 1Nd else 2.Nf6; 1Nfxe3 2.g7; 1Nf else 2.Ng3; 1dxe2
2.c3; 1dxc2 2.Qxc2; 1c3 2.cxd3; 1f2,fxe2 2.Qh1. Nice variations including mates on all 4 diagonals,
two of them pin mates. {AS} Not 1 Bc3? dxe2! I like the maximum move of the bishop. Best wishes to Heidi
and Linden. {H} Lindens best problem to date. I was initially deceived by the try 1.Ka7. {IS}
86 (Makaronez) 1.Qe8! (threat 2.Bxf6+ exf6 3.Nf3) 1b5+ 2.Bxf6+ exf6 3.Nf3; 1c3+ 2.Qb5 c4 3.Qxb6;
1Nh5 2.Qg6 c3+ 3.Qxd3. Very, very good. {M}
87 (W Eiche, Basler Nachrichten, 1948) 1.Ra1! waiting. 1g6 2.Ra4 Kd4 3.Bc3; 1Kd4 2.e5 g6 3.Rd1.
Well concealed flight-giving key changes the Bc3 mate from a double check to a pin mate and adds another
mate for good measure. A high class construction. {AS}
88 (Jones) 1.Kf5 Re4 2.Nd3+ cxd3 3.Nb6 Be6#. 1.Kd6 c3 2.Nb4 cxb4 3.Ng4 Re6#. In each case the black
king vacates e6, then one knight is captured by the pawn and the other knight clears a line for the mating
piece and blocks another line to make e6 available as a mating square. The white king is cleverly positioned
to prevent the cook 1.Kf5 Bd3+ 2.Kf4 Bxg6 3.Nf3+ Re4#. {AS} Too many hours on this one. {M}
Problem Potpourri
95. Linden Lyons
96. Molham Hassan




Helpmate in 3 (b) Pd2 > e2

Helpmate in 5 (b) Pc3
The two helpmates each have a twin. In 99 move the Pd2 to e2 for a new problem, while in 100 remove the
Pc3. The latter problem has a paradoxical relationship between the twinning and solutions.
A new Australian chess-problem website has opened at: http://www.ozproblems.com. Peter Wong is the
webmaster. The site includes profiles of various Australian problemists, explanatory articles for beginners
(all written by Peter) and many downloads of Australian chess-problem material, as well as many links.
Further articles will be added in future. The site is warmly recommended.
The Australian Junior Chess Championships will be held in Melbourne in January 2011. As usual a problem
solving competition will be held during the event. For more information see: http://www.ajcc2011.com.au.
89 (Hassan) 1.Bg5! waiting. 1Ke2 2.Qf1; 1Ke4 2.Qf5; 1Kc2 2.Qb3; 1Kc3 2.Qb3. Key provides
for 1Kc2, other mates are set but a nice miniature anyway. {Andy Sag [S]} An elegant little problem.
{Dennis Hale [H]}
90 (Lyons) (a) 1.Nc4! waiting. 1Kf5 2.Qxe4; 1Re any 2.Qxe4; 1N any 2.Qxe5; 1Rg any
2.Q(x)f3,Q(x)g4. (b) 1.Rc5! waiting. The diagram is a Meredith with a flight giving key and pin mate after
1Kf5. I would not have included (b) as it does not really add value. {S}
91 (Hassan) 1.Ne7! (threat 2.Nfg6) 1Ke5 2.Re6; 1Rxf5 2.Nxd3; 1Ne2 2.Nxe2; 1Bg3 2.Qxe3.
Give and take key with nice pin mate after 1Rxf5. {S} Not an easy problem to solve. {H}
92 (Makaronez) 1.Rb6! waiting. 1cxb6 2.Rc4 Ke2 3.Rc1; 1c6 2.Bc4 Kc1,Kc2 3.Be2; 1cxd6 2.Bd3 ~
3.Rb1. Best try is 1.Rc4? c5! A Meredith with sacrificial key and two great battery mates. {S}
93 (Jones) 1.Be4 Ra6 2.Kxd3 Bxe4+ 3.Kc4 Rc6#. 1.Ne4 Bh5 2.Kf4 Rxe4+ 3.Kf5 Bg4#. A typical Jones
style twin. In each case a piece moves to e4 to be captured with a check after the king moves to a newly
unguarded square. {S} I enjoyed this, though knowing how Christophers mind works I solved it quite
quickly. A pity about the d3 pawn. {Chris Feather}
94 (Feather) 1.Rh2 Rh5 2.Rah3 Rh4+ 3.Kg3 Rg4#. 1.Rg3 Bf3 2.Ke3 Bxd5 3.Rf3 Rxf3#. I do like the
solution in which the white rook shuffles up and down the h-file. I dont think Ive seen this cleverlymotivated manoeuvre before and its one of those that, even knowing its there now, I still find difficult to
see! {Christopher Jones}
Problem Potpourri
101. Roger Cook & Nigel Nettheim
102. Linden Lyons


104. Rauf Aliovsadzade (USA)

105. Georg Pongrac (Austria)

Helpmate in 3 (b) Pg4

Helpmate in 5 (b) Pb2 > c5
March/April 2011
Welcome to composers Roger Cook, Nigel Nettheim, Rauf Aliovsadzade and Georg Pongrac! 101 was used
in the recent solving competition at the Australian Junior Chess Championships, run by Nigel Nettheim. One
of the solvers was our own Linden Lyons, whose 102 is another promising effort. The two helpmates each
have a twin. In 105 remove the Pg4 for a new problem, while in 106 move the Pb2 to c5.
95 (Lyons) 1.Qb8! waiting. 1Kc6 2.Qc7; 1Kd8 2.Qxc8; 1B5 any 2.Qd6; 1B8 any 2.Qe8; 1N6
any 2.Qc7; 1N7 any 2.Qxc8. Key adds a second flight. Both flights lead to pin mates. {Andy Sag [S]}
1Kc6 and 1Kd8 are a neat self-pin pair. {Dennis Hale}
96 (Hassan) 1.Ne8! (threat 2.Nc7) 1Bxe4 2.fxe4; 1Bxf4 2.N4f6; 1Rxe8 2.Rxd7; 1d6 2.Rxd6. An
excellent pin mate setting. Tries 1.Nxc4? Bd3! pins the knight; 1.Nc8? Rf7! unpins the rook; 1.Nf5? gxf3!
undermines e4. {S} Which knight is right and where is the square? {Bob Meadley [M]}
97 (Makaronez) 1.Rg5! waiting. 1c4 2.Rg4; 1fxg5 2.Ne5; 1a2 2.Nb2; 1g2 2.Nf2. Waiter with
sacrificial key. Two short mates. Tries 1.Rh7,Rh8? c4! {S}
98 (Makaronez) 1.Bxe5! (threat 2.Bc7+) 1Bc5+ 2.Bd4 ~ 3.Qxc5; 1Kxb6 2.Qd8+ Ka7,Kb7/Kc5
3.Qb8/Qd4. Try 1.b7? (2.Qd8) Nf7! Key gives a flight and allows a bishop check. {S}
99 (Jones) (a) 1.g2 Rxc6 2.Kd5 d4 3.Kxc6 Bxg2# (b) 1.Nc3 Bxc6 2.Kc5 e4 3.Kxc6 Rxc3#. Another typical
Jones style twin. In each case Black blocks the line of the mating piece allowing the black king to move into
that line after the non-mating piece captures the c6 pawn sacrificing itself to the king allowing the remaining
piece to mate by capturing the original blocker. {S}
100 (Feather) (a) 1.Kg2 c4 2.Kf1 Nc3 3.Ke1 Nxa2 4.Kd1 Kb1 5.Qe1 Nc3# (b) 1.d1=B Nc3 2.Bxe2+ Nd1
3.Bf1 Nxe3 4.Bg2+ Nf1 5.Bc1 Ng3#. The diagram had me completely stumped so I solved (b) first, then
went back to (a) which I found exceedingly difficult due to the c3 pawns main purpose being to use up a
tempo (apart from preventing the (b) solution from happening of course). {S} A fitting no. 100 as Ive tried
100 ways with (a)! {M}
March/April 2011
Problem Potpourri
107. Ilham Aliev (Azerbaijan)
White to play and Draw
108. Molham Hassan

109. Linden Lyons & Geoff Foster



112. Ian Shanahan

Series-helpstalemate 19*
May/June 2011

Helpmate in 2 (b) Pb4>f3 (c) Kd5>e6

Welcome to composer Ilham Aliev! In Ians 112 Black plays a series of 19 moves (White not moving at all)
to reach a position in which White can deliver stalemate on the move. Note the set stalemate b4-b5.
Solutions to Problems 101-106 (March/April 2011)
101 (Cook & Nettheim) 1.Kb8 (1.e8=Q? Rd8+; 1.Nc8? Rd8! 2.Kb8 Rd7 for 3Rb7+ 4.Ka8 Rb8+) Rd7
2.Nd5 (2.Nc8? Rb7+ 3.Ka8 Rb8+) Rxd5 3.e8=R! (3.e8=Q? Rd8+ draw) Rd6 4.Kc7 wins. A real cat and
mouser this one! {Andy Sag [S]} 102 (Lyons) 1.Qe7! (threat 2.Qxc5) 1Bf4 2.Nf5; 1Rf4 2.Qxe5;
1Bg4 2.Nc2; 1cxb4 2.Qxb4. Three good defences unpin the Ne4. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} 103
(Makaronez) 1.Nd8! (threat 2.Qe6+ Kd4 3.Nc6) 1Nd4 2.Qd5+ Kxd5 3.Nxe3; 1Rd4 2.Qb5+ Kd5
3.Rxe5; 1b3 2.Qa4+ Kd5 3.Nc3; 1Kd4 2.Qe6 ~ 3.Nc6. Try 1.Bxe5? Nd4! 2.Bxd4 Rxe6 (pinning the
queen). The withdrawal key, queen sacrifice and two pin mates make this a high class problem. {S} 104
(Aliovsadzade) 1.Bc6! b4 2.Nb5 Ka6 3.Nf2 Ka5 4.Nd3 Ka6 5.Ka4 b3 6.Nb4. The BK is amusingly trapped
in a cage. {N} A nice one-liner. {S} 105 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Re4+ Nde3 2.Kf4 Nd4 3.Qe5 Ng2# (b) 1.Ng4+
Nd6 2.Kd4 Nf6 3.Ne5 Nb5#. A knight self-pin followed by a knight self-unpin, in each of the twins. {N}
Well constructed twin. White must keep the checking line blocked. Knights do all the work except in (b)
where the king guards c5. {S} 106 (Feather) (a) 1.e5 Bc2 2.b1=Q+ Bd1 3.Qh7 Bb3 4.Qc7 bxc7 5.b6 c8=Q#
(b) 1.Kd5 Be4+ 2.Kc4 Bxb7 3.Bd7 Ba8 4.Kb5 b7 5.Kc6 b8=Q#. Typically witty play in both solutions, and,
again typically, a very fine capture-free round trip of the black king in (b). The two white units exchange
mating/guarding functions in the two mate positions. {Christopher Jones} The (b) mating configuration is
well hidden, and the efficiency of Blacks round-about is to be admired. {N} Once again, very hard to spot
the solution, particularly in (b) where the king goes around a circle back to its original square to receive a
discovered mate. {S} Terrific variety. A Feather in his cap! {Bob Meadley}
May/June 2011
Problem Potpourri
115. Ilham Aliev (Azerbaijan)
116. Linden Lyons

117. Molham Hassan



Helpmate in 3.5*

Helpmate in 5
July/August 2011
Ilhams 115 has some similarities to No.107 from last issue, which should help solvers. There is more good
work from local composers in 116 and 117. In 119 look for set play, in which Black moves first and mate
occurs on Whites third move. In the solution White has an extra move and cannot avoid destroying the set
play.
107 (Aliev) 1.Bd1 main line 1Ka5 2.Ke7 Kb4 3.Bxa4! Kxc4 (3Kxa4 loses to 4.Kd6 etc.) and the bishop
is able to prevent promotion of the remaining pawn. If 2a3 3.Bb3 Kb4 4.Ba2 Kc3 5.Kd6 Kb2 6.Kxc5 Kxa2
7.Kd6! (not 7.Kb6 which loses to 7Kb3 8.c5 a2 9.c6 a1=Q 10.Kb7 Qh1 or 10.c7 Qa8) 7Kb3 8.c5 a2 9.c6
a1=Q 10.c7 draw. 1a3 2.Bb3 transposes to the same line. Precise play is needed as is knowledge of the
classic queen v advanced bishop pawn ending in which king can move to a8 resulting in stalemate if Qxc7.
{Andy Sag [S]} Endgame studies may be practical or artistic, or anything between those extremes. As I see
it, this one lies near the practical end. Depth and accuracy are required. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
108 (Hassan) 1.Nc3! (threat 2.Nd7) 1Kd6 2.Bf4; 1dxc3 2.Qe3; 1Qxg4 2.Nxg4; 1Nxc7+ 2.Qxc7;
1Nc5,Nab8 2.Q(x)c5; 1Ncb8 2.Qxd4. The key move gives the black king a flight square, leading to a
pin-mate. The mate on e3 after 1dxc3 is a real surprise. A random try by the knight (e.g. 1.Nf2?) is refuted
by Rxc4!, while the correction try 1.Nd6? fails against Nxc7+! {ed.}
109 (Lyons & Foster) 1.Qc1! (threat 2.Qc4) 1Bd6,Rc6 2.N(x)c6; 1Rd6 2.Qf4; 1Ne3 2.Qxe3; 1Nd2
2.Qg1; 1Ba2,Bc2 2.Qxa1; 1Bxd3 2.Rxd3; 1Qa2,Qc3 2.Q(x)c3; 1b5 2.Qc5; 1Re6+ 2.Nxe6. Good
range of variation play including a Grimshaw when Pd5 is unpinned. {S} Both queen mates on the blacksquare diagonals come into play. The Rh6 and Bb8 mutually interfere (Grimshaw). {N}
110 (Makaronez) 1.Kd3! (threat 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Qc6) 1Nf5 2.Re5+ fxe5 3.e4; 1Ng6 2.Rd4+ cxd4
3.Qe4; 1c4+ 2.bxc4+ Kc5 3.Qb5; 1Na5,Nd8 2.Ne7+ Kxd6 3.Q(x)d8. The key move pins the WRe4
which is then twice unpinned by the BNh4. After 1Ng6 2.Rd4+ cxd4, 3.e4? would not be mate because of
the en passant capture. Note the try 1.Rcc4? Ng6! {ed.}
111 (Makaronez) 1.Kc5! (threat 2.Nb2+ Ke5 3.Nc4) 1Be2,Bd1 2.Nf2+ Ke5 3.Nc6; 1Bg2,Bh1 2.Nf2+
Ke5 3.Nxg4; 1Rh5+ 2.Ne5+ Kxe5 3.Nxf3; 1Rg5+ 2.Nf5+ Kxf5 3.Rxf4; 1cxb6+ 2.Kd6. Key adds 3
checks. {S} The defence 1Be2 forfeits masked control of c6, which only becomes apparent once the BK
moves. {ed.}
112 (Shanahan) Set: 1b5. Solution: 1.axb4 2.Ka5 3.Ka6 4.Ka7 5.Kb8 6.Kc8 7.Kd8 8.Ke7 9.Ke6 10.Kf5
11.Ke4 12.Ke3 13.Kd2 14.Kc2 15.Kb1 16.Kxa2 17.Kb3 18.Ka4 19.b3, Kb6. King does a very long circuit to
remove a pawn and end up where he started. {S} An aerobic clockwise effort by the BK. {Bob Meadley
[M]}
113 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Bc3 Re7 2.Kd4 Rd1# (b) 1.Nd4 Ra6 2.Ke5 Rg5# (c) 1.Ne5 Rag1 2.Kf6 R1g6#.
Diagonal pins of each of the 3 active Black pieces; very nice. The first was hard to find, then the pattern
became more apparent. {N}
114 (Jones) 1.Ke5 Bc2 2.Rd3 exd3 3.Kf5 d4#. 1.e5 Bh7 2.Rg6 Rxg6 3.Ke4 Rxd6#. Rook and pawn take it
in turns to capture a rook and then unleash a battery mate. Hard to visualise that the rook could possibly end
up on d6! {S} Opposite Indian retreats by the bishop. {N} All class this twin. {M}
July/August 2011
Problem Potpourri
121. Ian Shanahan
122. Linden Lyons

123. Molham Hassan

124. Linden Lyons & Geoff Foster



127. Christer Jonsson (Sweden)

Helpmate in 2.5 (3 solutions)

Helpmate in 3.5
Ians 121 is a beautiful example of a classic theme. Welcome to new composer Christer Jonsson! Both
helpmates have an extra half move, meaning that White plays first.
115 (Aliev) 1.Bd3! Kb6 2.Kf7 main line 2Ka5 3.Ke6 Kb4 4.Kd5 Kc3 5.Bb1 Kb4 6.Bc2 a3 (6Kc3
7.Bxa4) 7.Bb1 Kc3 8.Kxc5 Kb2 9.Kb4 wins. If 2Kc6 3.Ke6 Kc7 4.Kd5 Kb6 5.Bb1 a3 6.Kd6 wins. Other
lines are possible but in all cases White can force his pawn through and stop the black a-pawn. {Andy Sag
[A]}
116 (Lyons) 1.Rh3! (threat 2.Ng3) 1Bc6,Qxf5 2.Nxc3; 1Bd5 2.Nd4; 1Be4 2.Re3; 1Bh5 2.Qxh5;
1Bg4 2.Qxg4. The bishop must vacate f3, but its 5 squares are all fatal. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
117 (Hassan) 1.Qd6! waiting. 1Kf5 2.e4; 1Kd4 2.Rc4; 1B any 2.exf3; 1g4 2.Qf4; 1Nf any
2.Qe5; 1Ne any 2.Qxd5. Key gives 2 flights leading to pin mates whereas bishop moves remove the flights
allowing a battery mate. Tries 1.Bc2? (2.N~,exf3) 1Nf5! 1.Rxd5? (2.Qxf3) 1g4! 1.Qxf3+? 1Kd4!
pinning queen to stop 2.Qe3#. {S}
118 (Makaronez) 1.Nc3! (threat 2.Nxa4+ bxa4 3.Ba5) 1Nc4 2.Nd5+ Kc5 3.Bb4; 1dxc3 2.Be3+ Ka5
3.Nc6; 1Ka5 2.Ne4+ Kb6 3.R5f6. Sacrificial key gives a flight. {S}
119 (Feather) Set: 1.O-O-O h8=Q 2.c1=R Qa1 3.Rc7 Qa8#. Solution: 1h8=N 2.Ke7 Nf7 3.Kf6 Nd6
4.Kg5 Ne4#. The set play is surprising, and hard to find, although the Pc2 was likely to take part somehow;
the BK apparently heads into open space. The actual play is humorous because it is completely changed. {N}
120 (Jones) 1.Be4 Bf3 2.Bh7! Bh5 3.Ke4 Ke2 4.Kf5+ Kf3 5.Bg6 Bg4#. Not too hard, for once, because the
mating square f5 was inviting. Each bishop moves one square beyond its destination. The Pf7 prevents dual
black-bishop paths d5-f7-g6, c6-e8-g6. {N} A very amusing problem in which White exactly mimics every
black move! {S}
Problem Potpourri
130. Molham Hassan





Helpmate in 3 (b)Pd3>b3
Welcome back to David Shire! Note the set mate 1dxc5 2.Nc3 in Davids 129 and be prepared for this
mating move to reappear during the play. Molhams 130 also has some tricky tries. In 134 move the Pd3 to
b3 to give a second problem to solve.
121 (Shanahan) 1.Ra6! (threat 2.Qd5) 1Bd6 2.Qa2; 1Nd6 2.Qh6; 1Re8 2.Qxd7. Black must unpin
his P, but that unpins the WQ at the same time. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
122 (Lyons) 1.Ba1! (threat 2.Nb2) 1Re4 2.Qxd5; 1Rf4 2.Ne5; 1.Rg4 2.Qc8; 1Rxd3 2.exd3;
1Nc3+,Nxb4 2.R(x)c3. A well-hidden key. The R must vacate d4 but, apart from 1...Rxd3 2.exd3, its 3
other squares all interfere with a diagonal. {N} Horizontal rook defences cause inferences on different
diagonals. {Andy Sag [S]} Nice retreating key. {Bob Meadley [M]}
123 (Hassan) 1.Nd3! (threat 2.Nf4) 1Kxd4 2.Qc5; 1Ke6 2.Nf4; 1Rxb3 2.Qxb3; 1Rxd3 2.Nc7;
1e3,exd3 2.Nc7; 1f4 2.Nb4; 1e5 2.Qd6. Very intricate, with some excellent play and almost a wheel
of tries with the Nc5. {N} Key allows a flight capture followed by a pin mate. {S} Lovely flight-giving key.
{M}
124 (Lyons & Foster) 1.Qf7! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1Nb6 2.Nxc5; 1Ne3 2.d3; 1Nf4 2.Qxf5; 1Nd else
2.Qc4; 1Ne6 2.Qxe6; 1Rd3,Rg3 2.Qxf5. The main play involves an attractive Nd5 wheel. {N}
125 (Makaronez) 1.Rd4! (threat 2.Bd6+ Kb6/Kxd4 3.Qa6/Qd3) 1Nf5 2.Na6+ Kc6/Kxd4 3.Qf3/Qd3;
1Rxb4 2.Qa7+ Kc6 3.Qb6; 1Rxd4 2.Qc3+ Rc4 3.d4; 1Kxd4 2.Qd3+ Kc5 3.Qd6; 1Ra8 2.Na6+
Kc6/Kxd4 3.bxa8=Q/Qd3. Key allows flight capture and great variety. {S} Terrific problem and too good for
me. [M}
126 (Makaronez) 1.Re6! (threat 2.Nb4+ Kc5 3.Bd6) 1b5 2.Rxc6! Kxc6 3.Qxb5; 1Rb1 2.Qxa2+ Rb3
3.Qxb3; 1g2 2.Bxh2 ~ 3.Rd6; 1c5 2.Nb4+ cxb4 3.Qb5. The second move non-checking double sacrifice
is the highlight of this problem. {S}
127 (Jonsson) 1 Rxb5 2.Kxb5 Bd5 3.Ka6 Bc4#. 1 Nxc5 2.Kxc5 Rc7+ 3.Kb6 Rc6#. 1 Bd5+ 2.Kxd5
Rd7+ 3.Ke6 Nxc5#. Wonderful! Each piece is sacrificed in turn. {N} The three pieces take turns to sacrifice,
assist and mate. {S} Lovely treble. [M}
128 (Feather) 1 Nb6 2.Rf7+ gxf7 3.Qg3 f8=Q 4.Qxa3 Qxa3#. White must lose a move, but only 1Nb6
does not spoil the scheme. Ingenious! {N}
Problem Potpourri
135. A.Troitsky, Novoe vremya 1897
136. Linden Lyons

137. Molham Hassan




Helpmate in 3 (b)Kd5>b4
The 2012 Australian Junior Chess Championships will be run in the inner Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill
between 14-22 January 2012 (http://www.2012ausjuniorchamps.com/). The popular problem/studies solving
competition will be held on 17 January and members of the public are welcome to participate. 135, by one of
the most famous of all endgame study composers, is an example of the kind of task to expect, although the
younger competitors will not be given anything this difficult!
Molhams 137 has two close tries. Christophers 140 has a twin (i.e. another problem for solving) in which
the black king is placed on b4.
129 (Shire) Set: 1dxc5 2.Nc3. Try: 1.Ne6? (threat 2.Nc3) 1Bd2 2.Nd4; 1Nd5 2.Bc6; but 1Rd3!
Try: 1.Nb7? (threat 2.Ra5) 1Bd2 2.Nxd6; 1Nc6 2.Nc3; 1Nc4 2.Qxc4; but 1Bxc2! Key: 1.Nb3!
(threat 2.Ra5) 1Bd2 2.Nd4; 1Nc6 2.Bxc6; 1Nc4 2.Nc3; 1Bxb3 2.Qxb3. Great key shutting in the
WQ. {Bob Meadley [M]} The mate 2.Nc3 occurs after different self-blocks over three phases of play. It also
occurs as the threat of the introductory try 1.Ne6. {ed.}
130 (Hassan) Try: 1.Na6? (threat 2.Nc5) but 1Qxd2! Try: 1.Nb5? (threats 2.Nc3,Rd4,Rxe2) but
1Nhxf5! Key: 1.Ne6! (threats 2.Nc5,Rd4,Rxe2) 1Bxe6 2.dxe6; 1Nd any + 2.d6; 1Qxg4,Qf2,Qd3
2.Q(x)d3; 1Qxc4,Qe3 2.Q(x)e3; 1Qxd2 2.Nxd2; 1Bg1 2.Nxd6. A difficult problem to solve.
131 (Makaronez) 1.Rh5! (threat 2.Kd5 ~ 3.Qe6) 1d2 2.Kxf6 ~ 3.Qe6; 1g5,gxh5 2.Kf5 ~ 3.Qe6.
Sacrificial key prevents 1h5 2h6 3Kh7. {Andy Sag [S]}
132 (Makaronez) 1.Kf7! (threat 2.Qc5+ Kxe5 3.Ng6) 1Nb3 2.Nfg2 (threats 3.Nxc2,Re4); 1Nxb4
2.Neg2 (threats 3.Ne2,Re4). The two defences allow alternate Nowotnys on g2. {S}
133 (Feather) 1.Be6 Rf8 2.Ke4 Qxf3#. 1.Bf5 Re8 2.f2 Qe2#. 1.Bg4 Rd8+ 2.Kc4 Qd5#. Triplet with queen
mates on 3 different files. {S}
134 (Jones) (a) 1.Ng5 Bxd5 2.Ke5 Kxg5 3.Kxd5 Kf6#. (b) 1.Nf3 Rxd5 2.Ke4 exf3+ 3.Kxd5 f4#. King
captures one piece on d5 by 2 different routes helping White to set up and execute a battery mate by the other
piece. {S} Classic treble: Jones + WR + WB. {M}
Problem Potpourri
141. Molham Hassan


144. Abdelaziz Onkoud (Morocco)



March/April 2012
Welcome to Abdelaziz Onkoud of Morocco! His 144 is dedicated to Mina Onkoud of Melbourne.
This month there are helpmates from three well known composers. If youve never solved a helpmate before,
why not have a go? In helpmates both sides cooperate to enable White to mate. Black plays first, so in 145
the order of moves is BWBWBW. In this problem the kings are well apart, so how is it possible for White to
mate after just three moves, even with Black helping? The helpmates each have two solutions, with the
solutions being related in some way.
135 (Troitsky) 1.Bc6! Rb1+ (1Rb2 2.Bg2+ Rxg2 3.Nf4+ Kh4 4.Nxg2+ Kg5 5.Qf1 wins) 2.Ke2 Rxh1
3.Bg2+ Kxg2 4.Nf4+ Kg1 5.Ke1 g2 6.Ne2 mate.
136 (Lyons) 1.Bb8! (threat 2.Nc7) 1Rd4 2.Qxe5; 1Rd5 2.Qf5; 1Rd7 2.Bf7; 1Rd8 2.exd8=N;
1Ra6,Rb6 2.Qc4; 1Rc6 2.Qxc6; 1Nf8+ 2.exf8=N. Six variations when rook defends by vacating d6
provide a great theme. {Andy Sag [S]} In composing, catering for the seven R-moves is very impressive.
{Nigel Nettheim}
137 (Hassan) Try: 1.N5xe4? (threats 2.d4,Bxf6) but 1Qd7! Try: 1.N3xe4? (threats 2.d4,Bxf6) but 1f4!
Key: 1.Bxe4! (threat 2.d4) 1fxe4 2.Bxf6; 1c5 2.Rxd5; 1Nxe6 2.Rxf5; 1Ba7 2.Qxc7; 1Qa4 2.Nf7.
Tries and key capture the Pe4 to deprive Black of an en passant defence. {ed.}
138 (Makaronez) 1.Bg8! (threat 2.Rd5+ Kf4 3.Rxf5) 1gxh3 2.Rc4 (waiting) f4/b5/N~ 3.Re4/Qxc5/Qe7;
1cxd4 2.Rb5+ Kf4 3.Rxf5; 1Kxd4 2.Qxf6+ Kd3 3.Qc3; 1Nd6,Ne7 2.Q(x)e7+ Kxd4 3.Qe3. When
Black creates an escape to g4, White replaces the threat by a surprise waiter! {S}
139 (Jonsson) 1.f4 Nb3+ 2.Ke3 Rh3#. 1.Re6 Re2 2.Ke5 Nc6#. Double pin mate in both cases. {S} Lovely.
{Bob Meadley [M]}
140 (Jones) (a) 1.Ba3 Ba4 2.Kc5 b3 3.Kb4 Rxc4#. (b) 1.Re5 Ba2 2.Kc5 b4+ 3.Kd5 Bxc4#. In (b) the path of
the black king is reversed as well as the rooks and bishops swapping roles. {S} Im hung up on this after
many hours The BK changes place in (a) and (b). I cant recall a more beautiful Jones 3 move helpmate.
{M}
March/April 2012
Problem Potpourri
148. Molham Hassan




Helpmate in 2 (b)Pc6>e5
152. Abdelaziz Onkoud (France)

Helpmate in 2 (b)Ng5>h6
May/June 2012

154. Andras Toth

Helpmate in 4
Welcome to new composer Andras Toth! Andras is originally from Hungary but is now living in Canberra.
He is an IM and was twice Hungarian junior champion, as well as U16 World Team Youth medalist.
141 (Hassan) 1.Qh8! waiting. 1Ng any 2.Qe5; 1Qxh6 2.Nxh6; 1Q else 2.Bxg6; 1Ne any 2.Rcf6;
1B any 2.Rhf6; 1d3 2.Ne3. A compact waiter with 6 variations. Key must provide for 1Nxh5 which
creates an escape square for BK on f4; the remaining 5 variations are set play. The Bh4 could be replaced by
a P. {Andy Sag [S]} A sociable WQ who likes crowds. {Bob Meadley [M]}
142 (Makaronez) 1.Qf1! (threat 2.Qf5+ Kc4 3.Nd2) 1d6 2.Nc3+ bxc3 3.e4; 1Nd6 2.Nxf6+ Nxf6 3.Re5;
1b3 2.Nc3+ Kd6 3.Qf4; 1Nc5 2.dxc5 ~ 3.Qd3. The Q switchback in the 1Nc5 variation is a nice
touch. {S}
143 (Makaronez) 1.Nb4! waiting 1Kxc5 2.Qe6 Kd4 3.Qf5! Ke3/e3,Kc4 4.Qf2/Qd5; 1Ke5 2.Qg5+
Kd4/Ke6 3.c6!/Qg4+; 1Ke3 2.Qg3+ Ke2 3.Qf2+ Kd1 4.Qd2. The secondary waiter 3.c6 in the 1Ke5
variation is a complete surprise. {S}
144 (Onkoud) 1.Nd7 Nf3 2.Be5 Qg6#; 1.Ba7 Bb3 2.Nc5 Qd6#.
intersecting defensive lines in each case. {S}
Blacks second move closes two
145 (Jonsson) 1.axb1=R Nd4 2.Rg1 Ne6 3.Rg6 Rh1#; 1.bxc2 Rxa2 2.c1=B Ra7 3.Bg5 Rh7#. In each case a
black P captures and promotes and the promoted piece self blocks a K flight to allow a different R mate on
the h-file assisted by the uncaptured piece. {S}
146 (Jones) 1.d3 Rc6 2.Qf4+ exf4+ 3.Kd4 Rc4#; 1.Qf5+ exf5 2.c5 Re6+ 3.Kd5 e4#. It looked as if Pg5
deserved a direct role but it is only there to stop cooks e.g. 1.Qg5 Kf3 2.c5 Rc6 3.Qf4+ exf4 and similar. That
threw me off the track for a long time! {S}
May/June 2012
Problem Potpourri
155. Molham Hassan





July/August 2012
Some chess players might find helpmates to be counter-intuitive, but try a few and you could well become
addicted! The idea is that Black cooperates with White, playing helpful moves to enable White to mate.
Black plays first, so in 158 the order of moves is BWBW. There are two solutions but they are related, so
once you have found one the other should immediately be apparent. If you need a clue then consider the
white rook on h6 and ask yourself what its purpose might be.
147 (Shire) Try: 1.Rd6? (threat 2.Nd4) but 1Bb6! Try: 1.Rd2? (threat 2.Rf2) 1fxe3 2.Nd4; 1Kxe3
2.Rf2; but 1Be2! Key: 1.Rxe4! (threat 2.Nd2) 1fxe4 2.Nd4; 1fxe3 2.Rxe3; 1Ba5 2.Rxf4; 1Kxe4
2.Ng5. Sacrificial key gives flight capture. {Andy Sag [S]} Threat correction. The try 1.Rd6? threatens
2.Nd4, but 1Bb6! is an adequate defence so White must find another threat. The original threat of 2.Nd4
then returns in the variation play. {ed.}
148 (Hassan) 1.Qc7! waiting 1Kxd4 2.Rb4; 1exd4 2.Qf4; 1Nxd4 2.Ng5; 1Nf else 2.Qxe5; 1B
any 2.Rxe3; 1Ne any 2.Bf5. Key allows flight capture giving rise to a double pin mate. {S} The set mate
1Nf any 2.Ng5 is changed by the key. {ed.}
149 (Makaronez) 1.Nc5! (threat 2.Nf5+ Kd5 3.Qe4) 1Ke5 2.Qh2+ Kd4 3.Qf4; 1e6 2.Nxc4 (threat
2.Qd3,Qe4); 1Be6 2.Nc2+ Kd5 3.Qxe6; 1c2 2.Nf5+ Kc3 3.Qe1. A give-and-take key and good range of
queen mates. {S}
150 (Makaronez) 1.Qa1! (threat 2.Nc3+ Bxc3/dxc3 3.Qa8/Qd1) 1e3 2.Qh1+ e4 3.Qh5; 1Be1,Bd2
2.Nb4+ any 3.Qa8; 1b4 2.Ne3+ dxe3 3.Qd1. Retraction key is good but set short mates detract. {S} One
of the best 3-er keys Ive seen. {Bob Meadley [M]}
151 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Nxf5 f4+ 2.Kd6 Nxf5#. (b) 1.Nxe7 f3+ 2.Kd5 Nxe7#. Well constructed twin. {S} In
each part a black knight captures a white knight, enabling the remaining white knight to recapture and give
mate. {ed.}
152 (Onkoud) (a) 1.Rxe3 dxe3 2.Qxd4 e4#. (b) 1.Bxd3 c4+ 2.Kxe6 d5#. Compact twin with queen self-pins
and pawn mates. {S}
153 (Jonsson) 1.b6 Ba6 2.Qc4 Nc5 3.bxc5 Bb7#; 1.Qc5+ Kd7 2.b5 Bc4+ 3.bxc4 Nc3#. In each case a black
pawn moves and then captures one piece, self blocks a king flight and also obstructs the queen to allow the
remaining piece to mate. {S} Classy problem. {M}
154 (Toth) 1.Bxe4 Bxc4 2.Bd5 Ba2 3.Bb3 cxb3 4.Kd5 b4#. It is clear that the king must go to d5 but the
task is how to stop it escaping back to c5. Blocking with a black pawn doesnt work so using the white c-file
pawn is the only other realistic possibility. Not hard to solve once that has been determined. {S} Took a long
time to see this. More from Toth! {M}
July/August 2012
Problem Potpourri
161. Molham Hassan
162. Linden Lyons




Helpmate in 4 (b)Helpmate in 4.5

Helpmate in 4 (b)Pd3>d5
We start with two simple but neat local contributions. Lindens 162 has a tempting try. Chriss 165 has two
parts. It should first be solved as a helpmate in 4 moves (with Black playing first), then as a helpmate in 4.5
moves (with White playing an introductory move). In 166 Christopher has added a second solution to a
problem by Bror Larsson (1HM Arbejder Skak 1950). This also has two parts: first solve the diagram
position, then move the Pd3 to d5 for a new problem to solve.
155 (Hassan) 1.Nf4! (threat 2.Qd5) 1Nc6 2.b3; 1Nxf3 2.Bf7; 1Be2,Rxf3 2.Nd2; 1Bg2 2.Qd3;
1Nc3,Nxb4 2.Q(x)c3; 1Q any 2.Rxd4; 1Rb any 2.Rxc5.
156 (Makaronez) 1.Ng3! (threat 2.Qd8+ Kg7/Kxe5 3.Nf5/Qd6) 1Kg5 2.Qf5+ Kh6/Kh4 3.Qf6/Qg4;
1Kg7 2.Nh5+ Kh8 3.Qd8; 1h6,h5 2.Qg6+ Ke7,Kxe5 3.Qd6.
157 (Makaronez) 1.Qxg5! (threat 2.Bd7#) 1e5 2.Rc8+ Kd5 3.Qd8; 1e6 2.Be4+ Bxe4 3.Rd6; 1Kxc5
2.Qxe7+ Kc6 3.Qc7; 1bxc5 2.Qxg2+ Kb6 3.Qb7.
158 (Jonsson) 1.Bxg6 Nxe4 2.Bf5 Nc5#; 1.Nxf6 Bxf5 2.Ne4 Bc8#.
159 (Onkoud) 1.Rxd3 Re3 2.Rxd4 cxd4#; 1.Rxb6 Be6 2.Rb5 cxb5#.
160 (Jones) 1.Ne7 Kxb7 2.Nc8 a8=Q 3.Nxb6 Kxb6+ 4.Kc4 Qxe4#; 1.Nb8 axb8=N 2.Kd6 Nc6 3.bxc6 b7
4.Kc7 b8=Q#.
Problem Potpourri
167. Molham Hassan
168. K.R.Chandrasekaran (India)





Helpmate in 3.5 (2 solutions)
Molhams 167 is dedicated to his second grandchild, Iris Sharkey, who was born in Canberra in August.
Welcome to Dr K.R. Chandrasekaran of Vaniyambadi, India! He was an active composer in the period 196580 but is now retired from work and back to composition. 168 shows that he has lost none of his skill! In
Leonids 170 White continually threatens mate. Black usually plays first in helpmates, but 172 has an extra
half-move, the order of moves being White-Black-White-Black-White-Black-White. You might expect the
two white pieces to take turns in giving mate, but appearances can be deceptive!
161 (Hassan) Set: 1Be8 2.Rd4. Key: 1.Bc6! (threat 2.Ba4) 1Nxb4 2.Rc3; 1Nxb2 2.Qxe3; 1Nc5
2.Bc1; 1Be8 2.Re4. The pawnless setting and required double-check and pin mate in the first two
variations are the main attributes. {Andy Sag [S]} An excellent problem and not simple for me. {Bob
Meadley [M]}
162 (Lyons) Try: 1.Qc2? (threat 2.Qxe4) 1Kd4 2.Rd7; 1N~ 2.Qa2; 1Nc4! Key: 1.Qb4! (threat
2.Qxe4) 1Nc4 2.Qb7; 1Nc6 2.Rd7; 1Nf3 2.Nxe3; 1N else 2.Qd4. Three excellent correction moves
by the black knight. {ed.}
163 (Makaronez) 1.Bf7! (threat 2.Rf3 ~ 3.Bb2) 1Nb3 2.Re4+ Kc3 3.Rc4; 1Rxf6 2.Rd3+ Ke5 3.Rd5;
1Nc6 2.Bd2 ~ 3.Re4. Withdrawal key with innocuous threat is hard to see. {S} Very tough for me. {M}
164 (Jonsson) 1.Bxh5 Nac4 2.Nb4 Nb3#; 1.Qxh5 Nc2 2.Nb6 Ne4#. In each case the leading black piece
unguards the mating square and unpins the knight, allowing it to create a self block. {S}
165 (Feather) (a) 1.Be5 fxe5 2.d6 exd6 3.Qc7+ dxc7 4.Kxa8 c8=Q#; (b) 1Rxg8 2.e5 fxe5 3.Qxg8 e6
4.Ka8 exd7 5.Qc8+ dxc8=Q#. Promoted queen gives the same mate by two different paths. Took me ages to
find the (b) solution. {S} For once he didnt knock me over with a feather. {M}
166 (Jones) (a) 1.Rxf2+ Ke1 2.Rfh2 Rg2 3.Kc3 Rb2 4.Rc2 Rb3#; (b) 1.Rxf4 a4 2.Rfh4 Rg4+ 3.Kc5 Rb4
4.Rc4 Rb5#. In each case a black rook switches back after capturing a pawn thus clearing a rank for the
white rook. The black rook then follows to create a self block. Nice twin. {S} A really superb find. {M}
Problem Potpourri
173. Molham Hassan

175. Michael McDowell (England)




Helpmate in 6
Did the wall of black pawns in Molhams 173 catch your eye? You should find the wall easy to crack, but
watch out for some tempting tries! Welcome to new composer Michael McDowell. In his 175 the knight is
well placed to deliver mate, but getting there requires some subtlety.
167 (Hassan) 1.Qe1! waiting 1Kxd7 2.Qxe6; 1N any 2.Qxe6; 1Rc8+ 2.bxc8=N; 1R else 2.Qe5;
1e5 2.Rxd5; 1Qd4 2.Rxd4; 1Qd3 2.Rxd3; 1Qxd2 2.Qxd2. Waiter with many variations and a
brilliant triple pin mate after the flight capture. {Andy Sag [S]}
168 (Chandrasekaran) Set: 1Bxe4 2.Rf5; 1Rhxe4 2.Ng4. Key: 1.Be3! (threat 2.Qxd5) 1Kxe4
2.Bxf2; 1Bxe4 2.Nf7; 1Rhxe4 2.Bf4; 1Rbxe4 2.Bd4; 1Nxe4 2.Nf3. Good use of pin mates. {S}
Two changed mates after a flight-giving key. {ed.}
169 (Makaronez) 1.Qd1! (threat 2.N6d7+ Ka4 3.Nxc5) 1Rc1 2.Nc4+ Ka4 3.Nxb2; 1Bf2 2.Nd5+ Ka4
3.Nc3; 1N~ 2.Nc6+ Kxa6 3.a8=Q; 1Qe6+ N6d7+ Qb6 3.Bxb6; 1Ra2,Raa1 2.Qxb3. Cheeky
sacrificial key vacates d7 for N and allows a check also. Play includes double checks and pin mates. {S}
170 (Makaronez) 1.Bg3! fxg3 2.c3 dxc3 3.Bd3 Kxd5 4.Qc4+ Kc6 5.Be4+ d5 6.Bxd5.
171 (Jonsson) 1.Nxb4 Ng3 2.Na2 Nb4 3.hxg3 Nc2#; 1.Nxd2 Nf4 2.Nb1 Nd2 3.gxf4 Nb3#. Knight ballet
twin. In each case the leading black knight removes a pawn to clear a path for a white knight to deliver a pin
mate while the leading white knight allows a pawn capture to use up a black tempo. Note the h2 pawn is
needed to stop cooks involving the move Kh2. {S}
172 (Jones) 1Ra3 2.Bc4 Rc3 3.dxc3 dxc3 4.Bd5 d4#; 1Ra4 2.Re4 dxe4 3.d3 Be2 4.dxe2 d4#. Pawn
ballet twin. The white pieces take turns to sacrifice to the d pawn (not to mate), leaving the remaining white
piece to guard c4 and one other square allowing different pawns to mate on d4. {S}
Problem Potpourri
179. Molham Hassan
180. Ian Shanahan




Helpmate in 2 (b) bRa4 (c) bNc4

Helpmate in 4 (b) Ph3 > h5
March/April 2013
Molhams 179 is a real solvers problem, with plenty of excellent play. Ians 180 has a try showing the same
theme as the solution. Christophers 184 has a twin (a second problem to solve) formed by moving the white
Ph3 to h5. Christers 183 has two twins, each formed by changing the colour of a piece. In the first twin the
Ra4 becomes black, while in the second twin it is the Nc4!
173 (Hassan) Try: 1.Ne5? (threat 2.Nxg6) 1dxe5 2.Qc5; 1f any 2.Bg5; but 1Bxe8! Key: 1.Ne3!
waiting 1c5 2.Nd5; 1d5 2.Qc5; 1e5 2.Qf7; 1f5 2.Bg5; 1g5 2.Nf5; 1Bxe8 2.Qxe6; 1Bc8
2.bxc8=N. A novelty waiter with 7 variations. {Andy Sag [S]} Very good, symmetry being one of the main
features. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
174 (Makaronez) 1.Rd3! (threat 2.Qg6+ f5/Kf3 3.Qxf5/Qxg4) 1Qxe6+ 2.Nec4+ Kd5/Kf5 3.Nb6/Qh5;
1Qd5+ 2.Nxd5+ Kxd5/Kf5 3.Qd7/Ne7; 1Qc4+ 2.Nexc4+ Kf5 3.Nd6; 1Qe8 2.Nec4+ Kd5/Kf5
3.Nb6/Nd6; 1Kf3 2.Nd5+ Kg2 3.Nf4. Key takes a flight but gives 3 checks. Great variety of moves for the
Ne3. One dual and one short mate probably unavoidable. {S}
175 (McDowell) Try: 1. Re8? Bd3! 2.Bd7 Bf5! Key: 1.Bd7! Be2 2.Re8 Bf3 3.Bc8 ~ 4.Ne4,Ng4. One liner
with zugzwang finale. {S} A lovely thing. {Bob Meadley [M]} Very nice miniature scheme. The edge of the
board makes everything work out just right. {N}
176 (Onkoud) 1.Rc6 Re6 2.Rg1 Rh6#; 1.Qc6 Rc5 2.Rh2 Rc1. In each case Black switches the pinned piece.
{S} The clear the decks theme. {M}
177 (Jones) 1.Kd7 e6+ 2.Kc8 Bd6 3.Rd8 Ne7#; 1.fxe5 Nxe5 0-0-0+ Nd7 3.Bd4 Nb6#. Knight mates in
similar configurations with and without queen side castling. {S} Pseudo-castling with the wrong rook! {N}
178 (Jonsson) 1.Re3 Bc6 2.d5 Bxa4 3.Ke4 Kb3 4.d4+ Kc2 5.Bc4 Kd1 6.Kd3 Bc2#. Precise line with truly
amazing economy. {S} The mating configuration is fairly clear because Black has to occupy 3 black squares
in his K-field. The move order is forced mainly to allow the white kings passage. Good fun to solve. {N}
March/April 2013
Problem Potpourri
185. Molham Hassan



Helpmate in 2 (b) Pb3 > f3


May/June 2013

Helpmate in 3 (b) Pc5 > e3
192. Michael McDowell (England)

Helpstalemate in 4
There is a feast for helpmate enthusiasts this month! Recall that in helpmates both sides cooperate to enable
White to mate, with Black playing first e.g. in 189 the order of play is Black-White-Black-White. Two of the
helpmates have a twin (a second problem to solve): in 188 move the Pb3 to f3, while in 191 move the Pc5 to
e3. Note that in 192 White is to stalemate Black.
179 (Hassan) 1.Bc3! (threat 2.Re5) 1Bf3 2.Qe5; 1Bf4 2.Qd3; 1Qf5 2.Rd4; 1exd5 2.Bxc2; 1Rd2
2.Qe3; 1Rxc3 2.Nf2; 1bxc3 2.Ra4; 1f6 2.Rxe6. A fine solvers task with threat plus 8 variations.
{Andy Sag [S]} Lots of excellent play. {Nigel Nettheim [N]}
180 (Shanahan) Try 1.Bxc6? (threat 2.Bd7) 1Bxb5 2.Bd5; 1exf4 2.Rxe2; 1Nf8 2.gxf8=N; but
1Rxa6! Key 1.Nxe2 (threat 2.Nd4) 1Rxf4 2.Nxf4; 1c5 2.Rxb6; 1e4 2.Nc7; 1fxg6 2.g8=Q. An
ambitious task. {N} The try and solution each show masked battery formation with subsequent pin mates.
{ed.}
181 (Makaronez) 1.Rc4! (threat 2.Rd6#) 1Bb3 2.Qb1+ Kxc4/Bc2 3.Qe4/Qxc2; 1Rf4 2.Rxe3+ Kxe3
3.Qd2; 1Bf4 2.Rc3+ Kd4 3.Nf5; 1bxc4 2.Qb2 ~ 3.Qc3. Key is a rook sacrifice and one of the
continuations also loses a rook but unfortunately the threat is a short mate. {S} A lovely mixture of selfblocks and black interferences. {ed.}
182 (Onkoud) 1.Nd7 Bc3 2.f4 Kd4#; 1.f4 Bd3 2.Nd7 Ke4#. Choice of which bishop to move to the 3rd rank
depends on the order of Blacks moves. In each case, the king must occupy the 4th rank square that the
bishop has traversed. {S}
183 (Jonsson) (a) 1.Qe3+ Rg5 2.Ke4 Nd2; (b) 1.Nc3 Nd2 2.Rc4 Nxf3; (c) 1.d2 Raa5 2.Qc3 Rad5. Precision
with economy. {S} All parts far from obvious, the pawn move in (c) surprising. Great variety with limited
resources. {N}
184 (Jones) (a) 1.Ne4 d3 2.Ke3 Kg7 3.Kf4 Rxe4+ 4.Kf5 hxg4#; (b) 1.Ne5 Kg8 2.Ke4 d4 3.Kf5 Rxe5+ 4.Kf6
hxg5#. The twin gives a clue that the black king must move to top right quadrant and it is probably easier to
tackle part (b) first. The one was the most difficult of the set. {S} A chameleon echo (same mate but on
differently coloured squares). {ed.}
May/June 2013
Problem Potpourri
193. Molham Hassan


196. Andras Toth

Helpmate in 2.5 (b) Re4<>Kf5

Helpmate in 3 (b) Ng2>f3
198. J.Lois, J.Kapros & C.Jonsson

Helpmate in 3 (b) Kb4>h4 (c) Kb4>h8
July/August 2013
Welcome to Jorge Lois and Jorge Kapros of Argentina! Their 198 has twins in which the black king is
positioned on h4 and h8. The three solutions show cyclic play of the white pieces, but the problem can be
enjoyed without knowing that! The other helpmates also have twins: in 196 the pieces on e4 and f5 are
switched, while in 197 the knight is moved from g2 to f3.
185 (Hassan) 1.Re2! waiting 1Ne5 2.Be3; 1N4 else 2.Bf6; 1N1 any 2.Nf3; 1a3 2.Nb3; 1f4 2.c3;
1Be6,Bc8 2.Nxb5; 1Bc6,Be8 2.Nxf5. Tries e.g. 1.Bh7? Be8+! 1.Bd8? Ne2! Waiter with sacrificial key.
{Andy Sag [S]}
186 (Shire) Try: 1.Rf6? (threat 2.d6) 1Rxe5 2.Nfd6; 1Nd4 2.Nbd6; 1Nf4 2.Rxf4; 1Qa2 2.Qxc2; but
1Qd1! Key: 1.Re6! (threat 2.Nfd6) 1Rf5 2.d6; 1Kf5 2.Nbd6; 1Qf1 2.Qxc2. Mates on the same
square (d6). When the try fails, a flight-giving key with a new threat is required. The original threat then
returns after 1Rf5. {ed.}
187 (Makaronez) 1.Rd8! (threat 2.Qe5+ dxe5 3.Nc5) 1Qd5 2.Qf6+ exf6 3.Re8; 1Qe4 2.Bg8+ Kf5
3.Rf8; 1Kd5 2.Qc5+ Ke6 3.Bg8. Threat and one defence involve queen sacrifices. {S}
188 (Pongrac) (a) 1.Nf6 Re5 2.Bd3 Bb2#; (b) Nd3 Bb4 2.Rf6 Re4. In each case the rook is unpinned. {S}
189 (Onkoud) 1.Bxd6 Qc1 2.Qe5 Nf4#; 1.Bh3 Kxc7 2.Qf5 Qxg8#. In each case the pinned queen moves to
restrict a bishop from defending the mate. {S} Marvellous play by the black queen and bishops. {Bob
Meadley [M]}
190 (Jonsson) 1.Rc3 Ne3 2.dxe3 Nd7+ 3.Kd4 Rg4#; 1.Rc4 Nc3 2.dxc3 Re2 3.Kd4 Ne6#. The d4 pawn
makes different captures to vacate that square for the king. {S} I was stuck for many hours. A very fine
problem. {M}
191 (Jones) (a) 1.Ba4 Rf7 2.Kd5 bxa4 3.Kc4 Rf3; (b) 1.Bh3 Bf7 2.Kf4 gxh3 3.Kf3 Bc4#. Pawn captures
unguard the final king position and restrict one escape. Bishop and rook take turns in giving discovered
check while the moving piece makes it a mate by cutting off the remaining king escape. {S} The master of
the rook/bishop helpmate. {M}
192 (McDowell) 1.f1=R d8=R 2.Rf7 exf7 3.b1=R f8=R 4.Rb3+ Bxb3=. A welcome respite after troubles
with numbers 189 and 190. {M}
July/August 2013
Problem Potpourri
199. Michael Lipton (after G.Guidelli)
200. Molham Hassan





Welcome to chess problem luminary Michael Lipton of England! His 199 adds some important set play to a
problem by G.Guidelli (Good Companions, Aug 1924, 1K1R4/7B/7B/1pP5/2p1SP2/2p1kSbR/4rp1p/5r2).
Leonids 202 might be tough to solve, but the arrangement of the rooks should give a clue.
193 (Hassan) Set: 1Kxd5 2.Bc6. Key: 1.Rf5! (threat 2.Qd3) 1Kxd5 2.Qc4; 1Kxf5 2.Bg6; 1Qxd5
2.Rf4; 1Bd4 2.Qf3; 1Nxf5 2.Nf6; 1dxe5 2.Rxe5. Sacrificial key adds a second flight capture. Other
variations provide a variety of self blocks. {Andy Sag [S]} Tricky changed mate after 1Kxd5. {ed.}
194 (Makaronez) 1.Ne4! (threat 2.Qc5+ Kxe4 3.Qe5) 1fxe4+ 2.Nxf4+ Kd4 3.e3; 1Rxe4 2.Nxe7+ Kd4
3.Qd6; 1Bxf2 2.Nxc3+ Kd4 3.Qe5; 1Kxe4 2.Qe5#. Sacrificial key adds a flight and a check but the
flight capture allows a short mate which detracts from an otherwise perfect problem. {S}
195 (Makaronez) 1.Nc4! (threat 2.Qd3+ Bd4 3.Qf3) 1Kd4 2.Nxb6+ c4 3.Rxc4; 1Ke4 2.Bc6+
Kxf5/Kd4 3.Qg4/Rd7; 1Bxf5 2.Qd6+ Ke4 3.Bc6. Key adds two flights. Too many short mates, one being
a dual, make the problem a bit untidy. {S}
196 (Toth) (a) 1 Rxg4 2.Qg6 Re4 3.g4 Rf4#; (b) 1Rxd5 2.Bd3 Rf5 2.d5 Re5#. An accurate twin. In
each case the rook captures a pawn then vacates that square to allow a pawn move to unguard the mating
square. {S}
197 (Pongrac) (a) 1.b6 Re3 2.Ba6 Re6 3.Bc4 Nf4#; (b) 1.b5 Ng5 2.Rb6 Rc3 3.Rd6 Rc5#. In each case the
pawn on b7 moves to clear the path for a black piece to reach the self block position in time. {S}
198 (Lois, Kapros & Jonsson) (a) 1.dxc1=N Rd4+ 2.Ka3 Rb4 3.Na2 Nc2#; (b) 1.dxe1=R Bxe3 2.Rg1 Bf4
3.Rg4 Rh1#; (c) 1.exd1=B Nf3 2.Bb3 Ng5 3.Bg8 Bb2#. A neat triplet. In each case a different promoted
piece moves to a self block position leaving the uncaptured white pieces to do the business. Note that in each
case the mating piece is the same as the promoted one. {S} The captured pieces and the promoted pieces,
together with Whites first-moved piece, are arranged cyclically (BNR, NRB, RBN). All the pieces moved
later also take part in the cycle (apart from the K-move). I am only surprised that the three composers initials
are not also cyclical! {Nigel Nettheim} Cyclic maybe, classic mai oui! {Bob Meadley)
Problem Potpourri
205. M.Kovaevi, 1 Prize Serbian Ch. 2003/06



Christers 208 is a really special way to bring this column to an end. The solutions to the above problems are
on the bottom of the opposite page. I wish to thank Brian Jones for his willingness to host a problem column
in this magazine. Thanks also to my loyal composers, and solvers Andy Sag, Bob Meadley and Nigel
Nettheim.
199 (Lipton) Set: 1Bxd5+ 2.Nc6; 1Bf5,Bg6 2.N(x)f5; 1Bg2 2.Nf3; 1Bb1 2.Nc2. Key: 1.Rc8!
(threat 2.Ncb3) 1Bxd5+ 2.Nb7; 1Bf5 2.Nd7; 1Kb4 2.Nd3; 1Kxd4 2.Rxe4. A fine flight-giving key
by one of the best. {Bob Meadley [M]} Changed battery mates. This setting has three more set shut-offs
(mousetraps) than Guidellis original. {ed.}
200 (Hassan) 1.Nxd4! (threat 2.Re4) 1dxe5 2.Nh5 (not 2.Nxd5); 1Nxe5 2.Nxd5 (not 2.Nh5); 1Kxe5
2.Qe3; 1g4 2.Rf5; 1Bxd4 2.Qxd4; 1Nxf6 2.Qe3; 1g2 2.Qh2. Immensely complicated and I found it
very hard to solve. {Nigel Nettheim [N]} Dual avoidance after the captures on e5. {ed.}
201 (Makaronez) 1.Qe3! (threat 2.Rxh6+ Kf5 3.Be6) 1Rd1+ 2.Kxd1 ~ 3.Qc3; 1Rd6 2.Re6+ Kd5,Kf5
3.Qxe4; 1Nc7 2.Qxd4+ Kxd4 3.Rf3. Key adds a check. One variation involves a queen sacrifice followed
by a battery mate. {Andy Sag [S]} I just could not see the threat. Clever. {M}
202 (Makaronez) 1.e3! (threat 2.exd4#) dxe3 2.Nd4 Kxd4 3.c5+ Ke5 4.Re4+ Kxd5 5.Ne7. Two mate
threats followed by two checks make this a one liner but the three sacrifices along the way make it hard to
spot the solution. {S}
203 (Jonsson) 1.Rg4 Be8 2.Rd8 Re6#; 1.Rg2 Rh6 2.Rd7 Nc6#. I admire the hidden resources the composer
found. {N} The white king is cleverly placed to prevent solutions such as 1.Rd8 Rd6 2.Rg4 Nf5, because the
white knight is pinned! {ed.}
204 (Onkoud) 1.Rxe3 Nef3 2.Bf4 Bf5#; 1.Nxe3 Bf5+ 2.Kxd4 Nf3#. The white move sequence is reversed
and in each case Blacks first move pins the mating piece and Whites first move unpins it. {S}
Solutions to Problems 205-208 (this issue)
205 (Kovaevi) 1.Kb5! (threat 2.Rc4) 1Qxe2+ Ncd3; 1Qe8+ 2.Nd7; 1Qxc5+ Bxc5; 1Qd5 2.Nc6;
1Bc3 2.Nc2; 1Bxc1 2.Nd5; 1Be3 2.Nbd3; 1Ne4 2.Rxe4.
206 (Makaronez) 1.Rba3! (threat 2.R3a4+ Kxc3 3.Rc5) 1Nd7 2.Nf3 ~ 3.Nd2; 1Ne6 2.Nxc2 ~ 3.Ne3;
1Qg8 2.Kxc2 ~ 3.R3a4. Anticipatory interferences by the black knight. {ed.}
207 (Onkoud) 1.Kd7 Ba4 2.Re6 Rd8#; 1.Kf5 Rb5 2.Be6 Bc2#. The white bishop and rook exchange pinning
and mating duties. {ed.}
208 (Jonsson) 1.Rh6 gxh6 2.Qd2 h7 3.Kc1 h8=Q 4.Rc2 Qa1#; 1.Rf6 gxf6 2.Kd1 f7 3.Rd2 f8=Q 4.Qc2 Qf1#;
1.Re6 dxe6 2.Kc3 e7 3.Rc2 e8=Q 4.Qb2 Qe3#; 1.Rc6 dxc6 2.Kb3 c7 3.Ka4 c8=Q 4.Rb3 Qa6#. Four
sacrifices of the black rook, promotions to queen on four different squares, with the black king being mated
on four different squares. Remarkable! {ed.}

Australasian Chess (2008-2013)

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Qb

2. David Shire (England)

4. Martin Moskowitz (USA)

Solutions to Problems 8790 (NovemberDecember 2007)

8. Christopher Jones (England)

Solutions to Problems 1-4 (January-February 2008)

10. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster

12. Arthur Willmott

16. Christopher Jones (England)

Solutions to Problems 9-12 (May-June 2008)

18. Ian Shanahan

19. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster

20. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

22. Ian Shanahan

24. Molham Hassan

25. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

26. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

27. Arthur Willmott

28. Christopher Jones (England)

31. Henryk Grudzinski (Poland)

32. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

33. Molham Hassan

34. Christopher Jones (England)

36. Molham Hassan and Geoff Foster

37. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

38. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

39. Christopher Jones (England)

42. Molham Hassan

44. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

45. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

46. Christopher Jones (England)

48. Molham Hassan

50. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

51. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

52. Christopher Jones (England)

54. Molham Hassan

55. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

56. Ian Shanahan

57. Christopher Jones (England)

58. Ian Shanahan

60. Linden Lyons

61. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

62. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

63. Christopher Jones (England)

66. Molham Hassan

67. Molham Hassan

68. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

69. Christopher Jones (England)

70. Christian Poisson (France)

72. Molham Hassan

73. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

74. Arthur Willmott

75. Arthur Willmott

76. Christopher Jones (England)

78. Molham Hassan

79. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

80. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

81. Christopher Jones (England)

82. Chris Feather (England)

84. Molham Hassan (ded. to John Sharkey IV)

85. Linden Lyons

86. Leonid Makaronez (Israel)

88. Christopher Jones (England)

90. Linden Lyons