Theme: In a H#2 the mating moves are made by white pawn(s). The thematic white pawn(s) must not promote nor capture en passant on the mating move; it is allowed that the mating moves are by white pawn(s) as a front piece of an indirect or masked white battery but not of a direct one. At least two phases are required (set play, twins, solutions, duplex) but Zeropositions are not allowed. No fairy pieces or conditions are permitted.
I received 11 problems of good quality.
In choosing the theme I wished to see what an "autarchic" pawn could be able to show without the help of more powerful pieces (in case it acts as the front piece of a direct white battery) or without special transformations (in case of its promotion).
I propose the following ranking:
Michal Dragoun 1st prize
Michel Caillaud 2nd prize
a)1.Rd3 Kg5 2.Bd4 exd3#
b) 1.Qf3 bxc3 2.Bf5 exf3#
c) 1.Kd4 Sxb2 2.Sd3 e3#
d) 1.Kf5 Kh5 2.Sd3 e4#
The only TF-h#2 of the tourney. In the first pair of solutions we see pin mates
and in the second one unpinnings of the bSe5 which has to open the wRe7 line and
at the same time close black lines at B2 (note that those black line closing are
purely motivated); the final result is an Albino. Although the crowded position
and not homogeneous twinning mechanisms, the problem deserves its place for the
difficult and ambitious idea.
The so-called "many ways theme" since it shows 4 different routes for the mates
on c4 by the white pawn and thus, as final result, we admire an Albino (by the way
the author has also submitted another similar problem but with "only" three solutions
which can be rated as a warm up for the present problem). The idea is not new (U.Wilk
1st Pr. East German Chess F.T. 1980 White Kc5 Rg6 pd2 e6 h6; Black Ke5 Rc1 Be4 Bg1 Sd4
pe7 h7 f5 c3 e3 h#2 4 sols.) but has been shown elegantly and with economy of means.
The need to control two squares (c5 and e5) leads to different black
sacrifices on d4 resulting therefore in the exchange of function between the two
halfpinned white pawns and, as a consequence, in the well integrated dual avoidance.
A very good strategical problem.
Another highly strategical problem. There is not only the exchange of function
between the two white pawns, hence the Zilahi, but also between the wQa1 and wBc3;
the final results are pin mates (admittedly the bPd5 is static) and the always
attractive mates on the same square
An interesting cycle of white moves in four solutions with the
unifying motif of the unpins of the wSe7 at b1. Of course the problem
is thematical only in two solutions, hence the special honourable mention.
An amusing one-two steps mates by the thematic pawn but what is visually
more attractive is the fact that when the wPd2 makes two steps its colleague
makes one and viceversa in the other solution; to note also the reciprocal
Follow-My-Leader effects between the bK and bB.
