A superb McLeod to follow
2 - #2 Circe
white Bd2d5 Ka8 Qa7 Pb2c6e3f4f5 Sh4d4 Rg2g8
black Qg1 Pa2b5h7 Kd1 Rh6h5
#2 Circé(13+7)
{}
1.c6-c7 ? threat:
2.Bd5-b3 #
but
1...Rh6-c6 !{}
1.f5-f6 ? threat:
2.Bd5-b3 #
but
1...Qg1*e3[+wPe2] !{}
1.Bd5-b3 + ?
but
1...Rh6*c6[+wPc2] !{}
1.Bd5-f3 + ?
but
1...Qg1*e3[+wPe2] !{}
1.Bd5-e4 ? threat:
2.Be4-c2 #
but
1...Rh6*c6[+wPc2] !{}
1.Sh4-g6 ? threat:
2.Bd5-b3 #
but
1...a2-a1=S !{
}
1.Rg8-g6 ! threat:
2.Bd5-b3 #{
}
1...Qg1*e3[+wPe2]
2.Rg2-g1 #{
}
1...a2-a1=S
2.Qa7*a1[+bSb8] #{
}
1...Rh6*g6[+wRh1]
2.Bd5-f3 #
Great art with a few false leads that seem to conclude
a #8 from the great HP Rehm
3 - #8 Circe
white Kh1 Bc1 Sd3
black Pb3a4c6d7f6g6h2f3 Ka3 Ra2d8 Sb2e7 Ba1b7
#8 Circé(3+15)
{Tries :}
1.Sd3-e1 ? Ka3-b4 {}
1.Bc1-d2 ? c6-c5 ! {}
1.Bc1-e3 ? d7-d6 ! {}
1.Bc1-f4 ! {threatens}
2.Bf4-d6 +
2...c6-c5
3.Bd6*c5[+bPc7] # {}
1...c6-c5 ? 2.Bf4-d6 f3-f2 + 3.Kh1*h2[+bPh7] f2-f1=S + 4.Kh2-g1 Se7-c6 {or>} 4...Se7-d5 5.Bd6*c5[+bPc7] + Sd5-b4 6.Bc5*b4[+bSb8] # {}
1...d7-d5 ? 2.Bf4-d2 c6-c5 3.Bd2-b4 + c5*b4[+wBc1] 4.Sd3-e1 threat: 5.Se1-c2 # {}
1...Se7-c8 ! 2.Bf4-d6 + Sc8*d6[+wBc1] 3.Bc1-e3 Sd6-e4 4.Be3-c5 + Se4*c5[+wBc1]
5.Bc1-d2 Sc5-a6 6.Bd2-b4 + Sa6*b4[+wBc1] 7.Sd3-e1 {followed by} 8.Se1-c2 #
A very nice pattern for the following problem
4 - h#2 Circe 5 solutions
white Pg2h2 Kb7 Be6 Sd1 Rh8
black Bb8 Ke1 Qb3 Pb4f7d2 Sc7f4 Rc6e5
h#2 Circe(6+10)5 solutions
To help you : Be6 is 5 times "en prise" and there is 5 solutions
{}
1.Qb3*e6[+wBf1] Rh8-h5 2.Sf4*h5[+wRh1] Bf1-d3 #{}
1.Sf4*e6[+wBf1] Rh8-h5 2.Re5*h5[+wRh1] Bf1-e2 #{}
1.Re5*e6[+wBf1] Rh8-e8 2.Sc7*e8[+wRh1] Bf1-b5 #{}
1.Rc6*e6[+wBf1] Rh8-h3 2.Qb3*h3[+wRh1] Bf1-c4 #{}
1.Sc7*e6[+wBf1] Rh8-c8 2.Rc6*c8[+wRh1] Bf1-a6 #
When you have one of the solutions, others will naturally follow.
A very nice exploitation of the Circe rule in the following problem
5 - h#2 Circe
white Pd7e3h5 Kc7 Rh6 Sd6b7 Bc8
black Bg3 Ka6 Qh1 Pb3e4f3h3 Sf5d8 Ra8a7
h#2 Circe(8+11)b) Nd8-->e7
{}
a) {}
1.Sd8*b7[+wSb1] Sb1-a3 2.Sf5*h6[+wRa1] Sa3-b1 #{}
b) bSd8-->e7{Nd8-e7}
1.Sf5*d6[+wSg1] Sg1-e2 2.Se7*c8[+wBf1] Se2-g1 #
{very nice !checkmate is given each time by return of the Knight on its square of rebirth}
2 problems from the same thematic tourney
the first one to begin
6 - h#2 2 solutions
AntiCirce : the capturing piece reborn on its original square if it is free, otherwise the move is illegal.
white Pa4c3d4g7 Ke4 Bb2
black Pe6b4d2d6f7 Kb3 Rg5e8 Sa5 Bh6h5
h#2(6+11)2 solutionsa) Circeb) AntiCirce
{}
a) {Circe}
1.Kb3*a4[+wPa2] g7-g8=B 2.Rg5*g8[+wBf1]
{moves the Bishop on the right diagonal and, incidentally, removes the control from the 5th rank.} Bf1-b5 #{}
1.Kb3-c4 g7-g8=S 2.Re8*g8[+wSb1]
{moves the Knight to the right square and leaves the pd2 unprotected.} Sb1*d2[+bPd7] #{
if } 2.Rg5*g8[+wSb1] {then } Sb1*d2[+bPd7] {doesn't mate}
b) {AntiCirce}
1.Kb3-c2 g7-g8=Q 2.Bh5-g6 + Qg8*g6[wQg6->d1] #{
Note that} 2...Qg8*e8[wQg6->d1] {allows} 3.Kc2*d1[bKd1->e8] }
1.Kb3-a2 g7-g8=R 2.b4-b3 {
the only weakness of this problem is that this move only blocks square b3} Rg8*g5[wRg5->a1] #{
an AUW anyway}
The second one for the main dish.
7 - h#2 2 solutions
white Pf3e4g4h7g7g6f6 Kd7 Bg2
black Bg5b3 Kf4 Qe5 Pd6b2e2 Se3c7 Rg3c4
h#2(9+11)2 solutionsa) Circeb) AntiCirce
{}
a) {Circe}
1.Rg3-h3 h7-h8=S 2.Rh3*h8[+wSg1] Sg1*e2[+bPe7] #{}
1.Qe5-d5 g7-g8=Q 2.Qd5*g8[+wQd1] Qd1*d6 #{}
b) {AntiCirce}
1.Se3*g2[bSg2->g8] h7*g8=Q[wQg8->d1] 2.Bb3-a2 Qd1-d2 #{}
1.Bg5*f6[bBf6->f8] g7*f8=S[wSf8->g1] 2.Sc7-a8 Sg1-h3 #
and now, to turn you (turnbull?) the neuron, a little TurnBull
8 - s#2 immun chess (a kind of Extreme Circe) with royal pawns and non-royal king (!)
selfmate : White plays and forces Black to mate them.
Immun chess (or Extreme Circe): a piece cannot be captured if its renaissance square is occupied.
white Bf3 Rg1 WEg7
white Royal Pf2
black Sf1
black Royal Pg2
s#2 Immun(4+2)f2, g2 : Royal Pawnsg7: non royal King
The royal pawn g2 is not taken by Bf3 because it can not be reborn on g7
{}
1.Rg1-h1 {}
1...Sf1-g3 2.WEg7-g8 + {(With the g7 square freeed, the g2 royal pawn is now in check)}
g2*h1=rS # {
this is the only way to ward off check, the Royal Knight cannot be taken because of its rebirth empossible on g8}
1...Sf1-e3 2.WEg7-f8 + {(same remark as above on the release of square g7)}
g2-g1=rB #
{only way to ward off check, the Royal Bishop cannot be taken because of its rebirth empossible on g8
limit to Immun rule
Perhaps by restricting the Immun rule to Black, we can reach an indisputable solution.
Or make an Immun Calvet and Cheylan, as in AntiCirce. !}}
A little walk with roses.
9 - #2 with Roses
Rose : Extended Knight in a circular way (don't be afraid, there will be an explanation after the énoncé).
white Bc7 Kb1 Qa3 Pd4d2f7 Sd6 Rf2h8 ROd1c2
black Bf8 Ke7 Qh1 Pe6a7g4 Sc6 Re1 ROf5
#2(11+9)d1, c2, f5: Rose
{}
1.Qa3-e3 ! {threatens}
2.Qe3-g5 #{}
1...Qh1*h8 {ou}
1...Qh1-h6 {ou}
1...Qh1-h5 {ou}
1...Qh1-h4
2.ROc2*c6 #{d7 is under control of Rose d1 (b2-a4-b6xd7)}
1...ROf5*e3
2.Sd6-c8 #{because c8 is no longer controlled by Rose f5}
1...ROf5-g3 +
2.Qe3*g3 #{by the Rose c2 which no longer has an obstacle in f5}
1...ROf5*d6 +
2.Qe3-a3 #{pinning Rose d6 and thus preventing its comeback in f5 which would block Rose c2}
1...e6-e5
2.Qe3*e5 #{An almost normal mat !
d7 is controlled by the Rose d1 and Black Knight is pinned by the Rose c2.}
1...Bf8-h6 {or}
1...Bf8-g7
2.Rh8-e8 #
The black move Rxd1+ or any other less spectacular move of the Re1 is illegal cause of ROc2-e1-g2-h4-g6xe7
A rule that does not receive too much consensus : Variable piece
A didactic example of C.Poisson from 1993 to start with
10 - #1 with Variable pieces
Variable Piece : piece of unknown nature ("prove it by doing it" R.Turnbull)
white Kg3 Ob2
black Kh1
#1(2+1)b) =1
{}
a){}
1.Ob2-b1=R # {or} 1.Ob2-b1=Q #{}
b) {}
1.Ob2-d4=B {stalemate or } 1.Ob2-d4=Q {stalemate}
a) Vb1 mat. Indeed, this move can only be played by a R or a Q.
b) Vd4 stalemate. This move is only playable by an B or a Q.
This is the ultimate problem with Variable Chess.
11 - ser-=7 Variable Pieces
series stalemate 7 moves : White plays 7 moves in a row after which Black is stalemated.
W.: Vc5, e1 et h1
B.: Va4, a7, b5, f4, g2 et g3
and now, to relax a little bit, a great task of Unto Heinonen
12 - h=4
white Pb7e7f7g7 Kh8
black Qa1 Kd7 Rc8 Sb8e8 Ba3
h=4(5+6)
{}
1.Rc8-d8 e7*d8=B {clears the way to f8}
2.Ba3-f8 {clears the way to a8} f7*e8=R 3.Qa1-a8 b7*a8=Q 4.Kd7-c8 g7*f8=S {=
AUW}
To help you, a little, there are 4 white pawns
A small incursion into sentinels and Chinese pieces
13 - h#2 sentinels with Pao and Vao
Sentinels : each move of a piece defecates a pawn on the starting square of the move
Vao : Bishop can only capture if he has a hurdle at his disposal
Pao : Rook can only capture if he has a hurdle at his disposal
white Pe4 Kf2 PAe7 VAc7
black Pf7d7g5 Ke5 Bd8
h#2 Sentinelles(4+5)b) pd7=Fe7: Paoc7: Vao
{}
a) {}
1.f7-f5 PAe7-e8[+wPe7] + 2.Ke5*e4[+bPe5] e7*d8=PA #{}
b) +bBd7 {}
1.g5-g4 VAc7-b8[+wPc7] + 2.Ke5-f4[+bPe5] c7*d8=VA #
In the restaurant part of the lesson, our friend Guy presented some of his compositions which, of course, are not yet in the public domain and which must therefore be removed from the report.
Finally, there are 2 problems presented by the Master
14 - hs#3 malefic Circe (or mirror)
self-helpmate : white plays and black helps him, and then, with their last move, white forces black to checkmate him.
malefic Circe (or mirror) : the captured piece reborn as if she have change color.
white Pa7g3f7 Kf2 Sf1
black Pg2d3d4e4 Kh8
hs#2 Circé mirroir(5+5)
{}
1.a7-a8=B g2-g1=R {} 2.Ba8*e4[+bPe2] e2-e1=S {} 3.f7-f8=Q + Rg1*f1[+wSg8] #
Un digestif très léger
15 - h#2,5 2 solutions with Royal Grasshopper
Grasshopper : Piece with the characteristics of the Q and needing a hurdle to move. It lands just behind the hurdle if the square is free or occupied by an opponent's piece.
Royal Grasshopper : piece with the Grasshopper march and royal attributes
white Pb2h3 Ka1
black Royal gh5
h#2,5(3+1)2 solutionsh5: Royal Grasshopper
{}
1...h3-h4 2.rGh5-h3 b2-b3 3.rGh3-a3 Ka1-b2 #{}
1...Ka1-b1 2.rGh5-h2 Kb1-c1 3.rGh2-a2 Kc1-b1 #
That's all for this session.
Good reading to all
There are certainly some typing problems, the greffier being a bit shaky in the hand.
See you soon.
Yours sincerely
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