2026 French Championship

Championship from Cannes

A chess problem enthusiast could have been cut off from the world for two decades and returned to us now: nothing has changed in this new championship. Still no new French talent, a vulnerable super-champion in the 3#s, a study that doesn’t quite fit the bill, interesting but inappropriate fairy problems, and so on. Nothing to say about the (witty) first 2#. The second one may be confusing with its two tries on the same square. I was familiar with it and had enjoyed it.

Click in the right part of the chessboard to move forward, left to move backward...
or directly on the move in the solution

1

Ahues 1 Give the key.

Ahues, Herbert Siegfried Oskar
Europa-Rochade
1984, 4th Prize

white Bc6h6 Rd6f1 Pf5e2 Sf3 Ka2 black Qa8 Pd7f7a5c3 Sb6h3 Rg5 Kc2 Bb2
#2(8+10)

Solution

2

fleck f Give the key.

Fleck, Ferenc
Chess Life,
1968-1969, 2nd HM

white Rd8c1 Bg8 Ph7c5 Se5f4 Qe2 Kf1 black Bh8 Pc7b7h5h3f2b3 Qd6 Kd4 Sh4 Rb4a4
#2(9+12)

Solution

The 19th-century 3# problem that stumped Michel doesn’t strike me as difficult; you just need to spot one or two model mates. On that note, we’ll be doing some practice on this in the last lesson before summer. In the meantime, say hello to Mr Knotek here: https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/en/pages/lessons/cat-2025/may-6-2025.html

3

kondelik Give the key with the threat and variations
up to last white move before mate.

Kondelík, Karel
Deutsche Schachzeitung
1889

white Qa1 Ra2 Se1 Pf2f4b5c6 Kg5 Bg8 black Bb1c3 Pc2d4f3g4 Ke4
#3(9+7)

Solution

4

Labai Give the key with the threat and variations
up to last white move before mate.

Labai, Zoltán
PZR Zagreb,
6.6.2013

white Pf7g2g3e2c5 Rf8d6 Kh2 Bh4 Sd4c3 black Bc8 Ra7e7 Ph6e6a2 Ke5 Sa5
#3(11+8)

Solution

I am surprised that Johann Nepomuk’s 4# was only fully solved by a Romanian competitor. The presence of these pawns on the kingside, however, suggested at least one model mate on that side, hence a sacrifice inviting the black king on a journey. I had seen it a long time ago, thought it excellent, and included it in my collection, but without marking it to indicate the difficulty. The 6#, pleasant and easy, was nevertheless solved by only three Frenchmen.

5

Popov g Give solution up to white move before mate.

Berger, Johann Nepomuk
Deutscher Schachbund Nürnberg,
1883, 1st Prize

white Ka2 Bc4 Rd3 Pd2e2f3g5 Qf8 black Pa3a4b5d6 Kb4 Rb6
#4(8+6)

Solution

6

schoenholzer Give main line up to penultimate white move

Schönholzer, Andreas
1st WCCT1972-1975,
20th Place

white Kc2 Pc3e3h5a4 Bc6 Sa7f2 black Bc1h1 Kc4 Pc5e6e4g7 Rg8h7
#6(8+9)

Solution

The study isn’t particularly difficult, but as it’s not clear where the solution ends, you’re tempted to give up too soon. The helpmates are of moderate difficulty – nothing to get your head around.

7

rusinek Give complete solutions.

Rusinek, Jan
L'Italia Scacchistica 1976,
1st Prize

white Sb1 Rd3 Pe3 Kh4 black Rb6 Bc2 Se2 Kh6
=4+4

Solution

8

maslar Give complete solutions.

Zdravko Maslar,
1st Prize The Problemist
1989 (v)

white Bd6g2 Se4 Pb4 Kh4 black Rb7g7 Pd7g3 Bh1 Kd5 Se6h2 Qf5
h#3 3sol.(5+9)

Solution

The selfmate (2#!) of our favourite ‘fairy-tale’ composer is just cute – even a frail person could find it.

9

Give complete solutions.

Constantinos Paizis,
Commendation, L’Italia Scacchistica
1999-2000

white Ba8 Rg8 Pf2 Kg1 black Bc6 Kb8 Sf8
h#4(4+3) b) Rb8-->c8

Solution

10

Gockel Give variations up to white last move.

Gockel, Hubert
Sakkélet,
1996

white Bb8g8 Rc7h2 Pb5h4d4 Sg3f2 Qf1 Kc1 black Pb6g7c2c3d3 Rc6g6 Kf6 Bh6 Sg5e1
s#2(11+11)

Solution
: It is forbidden to check if the move does not result in checkmate

11

quah Give the key.

James Quah,
2nd HM T.T. Paisley
1996 (v)

white Rh3e8 Pg2d4c2 Bf1a7 Se2b1 Qa8 Ke6 black Bf3g3 Sh2h1 Pf2d6 Ke3
#2 checkless chess(11+7)

Solution

12

quah Give solution up to the third white move.

Gerald Ettl,
Problemkiste
2005

white Pa4b3c2c5d6e4 Ke6 Qf6 Bd4 black Sa8 Pa6b4e3g5 Ka5 Qf4 Bg6 Rh3
#4 checkless chess(9+9)

Solution

In conclusion, an interesting selection, though the study was poorly chosen and there were too many fairy compositions. Admittedly, I’m repeating myself, and yet I’m not usually one to ramble on!

The PDFs:

https://solving.wfcc.ch/tourneys/2026/2026-05-23-967F3D/2026-05-23-FRA-Maisons-Laffitte-Champ-Results.html
https://solving.wfcc.ch/tourneys/2026/2026-05-23-967F3D/2026-05-23-FRA-Maisons-Laffitte-Champ-Problems.pdf
https://solving.wfcc.ch/tourneys/2026/2026-05-23-967F3D/2026-05-23-FRA-Maisons-Laffitte-Champ-Solutions.pdf

Add a comment

Anti-spam