py_20190528

{

} a) {
} 1.Bc2-a4[+bBa4] f2-f1=R[+wRf1] 2.Rf1-e1[+bRe1] {(unpins Rb4 on the line h4-g2-e1-c2-b4-c6-e7)} a7*b6[-a5] 3.Rb4*a4 + ROe8*a4[-e1] # {(via f6-e4-c3) unmasks battery.

} b) wPd6-->a6 {d6 --> a6
} 1.Rb4-e4[+bRe4] f2-f1=B[+wBf1] 2.Bf1-g2[+bBg2] {(unpins Bc2 on the line h4-g2-e1-c2-b4-c6-e7)} b7*a6[-d5] 3.Bc2*e4 + ROe8*e4[-g2] # {(Unmasks the battery) Specific Breton batteries.}

{

} 1.Qh5*h3-g7 + {the Queen who captured a Zebu made a Zebu (in this case Giraffe) move
} ZRd5*g7-g2 + {(makes a Queen's move)} 2.CHh6-d4 Se2*d4-b8 # {by double check.

} 1.Qh5*h6-f2 {(the Queen who captured a 2-4 Leaper has made a 2-4 Leaper move)
} ZRd5*f2-g2 + 2.Se2-d4 + ZEh3*d4-b3 # {: the Zebu has played like a Giraffe, captured a Knight of which he has taken a step, made finally check since it is a Camel!!!;
checkmate also by double check

} 1.Qh5*e2-g3 {(the Queen who captured a knight has made a knight move)} ZRd5*g3-g2 + 2.ZEh3-d4 CHh6*d4-e8 # {(a Giraffe step); mate also by double check)

. Cyclic captures of 3 neutral pieces in d4. Zilahi also cyclic. The "Noctamzebra" comes to checkmate on g2 in all three solutions, accompanied three solutions, accompanied successively by a nNb8, a nZub3 & a nBone8.}

{

Tries :
} 1.Se6-c5 + ? Kd3-c4 ! {
} 1.Se6-f4 + ? Kd3-e3 ! {
} 1.Kf6-f7 ? b3-b2 ! 2.Se6-c5 + Kd3-c4 ! { the g8 locust was intercepted on the diagonal
} 1.Kf6-e7 ? {(and there, the defence} 1...Bd1-c2 {doesn't work because of} 2.Lh8*d4-c3 # {car} Kd3-e4 {is impossible because of} 3.LSh1*e4-f6 {through f2, as well as} 2...Kd3*c3 {because of} 3.LSh1*c3-b1 {passing by g3 and e4.) but } 1...Be2*f1 ! 2.Se6-f4 + Kd3-e3 ! {Locust e8 is intercepted on the column e ;
} 1.Kf6-g5 ? {ou} 1.Kf6-g6 ? h5*g4 ! {as the Locust g8 is intercepted on the g-file, we do not have checkmate by } 2.Lg8*g4-g3 {

} 1.Kf6-f5 ! {
} 1...Bd1-c2 2.Lh8*d4-c3 # {(car} Kd3*c3 {est impossible à cause de} 3.LSh1*c3-b1 {passing through g3 and e4 as already seen.
Note that this was not a threat because of 2...Kc2! slipping between the two Locusts.)
} 1...b3-b2 2.Se6-c5 # {
} 1...Be2*f1 2.Se6-f4 # {
} 1...h5*g4 2.Lg8*g4-g3 # {
} 1...h5-h4 2.Lh8*h4-h3 # {

Three test rebuttals become three variants. The judges (Dupin & Kerhuel) point out that a Nereid (Sea Bishop) could have been placed in d1 instead of a second Bishop of white squares. "A matter of taste", they say.
We obviously prefer the author's choice.
This problem is also the 5th of a competition in which... the first four seemed undrinkable to us.
It is therefore the best that our modest constitution can offer.}

{

} 1.Kg4-h3 NAh1-b4 {making the modest b3 pawn a formidable Nightrider Mao... which remains a pawn all the same, able to promote itself !
} 2.b3-f1=R ! NAb4-d5+ 3.Kh3-h2 NAd5-h3 # ! {
NM, having acquired the King's moving way, attacks the bK which, having become a NM, cannot go anywhere: to f1, f3 and even less to g4 as h3 is occupied.

} 1.Kg4-g5 NAh1-e7 {(g4 square being freed)} 2.b3-b2 NAe7-g6 + {(NM having the moving way of a King, checks)
} 3.Kg5-a2 {(bK having the march of a NM)} NAg6-a3 # ! {
the bK is attacked by the NM who has become King; he himself, now NM, is completely immobilized because his rook steps are forbidden}

{

} a) {
} 1.Kc7-d6 WVe3-a7 2.PAc1-c7 WVa7-b8 # {
Pao and bK moves (other than ...Ke5, remaining under the attack of the Vao) are prohibited according to the Isardam effect.

} b) -wVAe3 +wPAe3 {Pao e3
} 1.Kc7-c6 PAe3-e8 2.BVg3-c7 PAe8-c8 # {
Vao and bK moves (other than ...Kc5, remaining under the attack of the Pao) are prohibited according to the Isardam effect}

{

} 1.Kb1-c2 2.Kc2-d3 3.Kd3-e4 4.Gh1-d5 5.Ke4-f4 6.NHb2-h5 {
} 7.Kf4-e5 8.Ke5-d6 9.Gd5-d7 10.Kd6-e7 11.Ke7-d8 12.Kd8-c8 {
} 13.Kc8-b8 14.Kb8-a8 15.NHh5-b8 16.Gd7-b5 17.Gb5-b7 c6*b7 # {

} 1.Gh1-a1 2.Kb1-a2 3.Ga1-a3 4.Ka2-b3 5.Kb3-c4 6.Kc4-d5 {
} 7.Kd5-d6 8.NHb2-e8 9.NHe8-c4 10.Kd6-e7 11.Ga3-f8 12.Ke7-d8 {
} 13.Kd8-c8 14.Kc8-b8 15.Gf8-a8 16.Ga8-c8 17.NHc4-a8 c6-c7 #

{

} 1.Qh8-f8 VAd5-b3 2.Bc6-g2 VAb3-d1 + 3.Qf8-f1 VAd1-h5 # {by double check, and not} 3...VAd1-f3+ {which also double check, but} 4.Kh1-h2 ! {saves itself honourably

} 1.Bc6-e8 PAb1-b3 2.Ra1-g1 PAb3-h3 + 3.Be8-h5 PAh3-f3 # {still double check

} 1.Ra1-a2 PAh6-f6 2.Qh8-h2 PAf6-f3 + 3.Ra2-g2 PAf3-f1 # {by double check too, and not} 3...PAf3-h3 {because of } 4.Kh1-g1 {

Anti-battery cycle.}

{

} 1.b2-b1=Q 2.Qb1-e4 3.Qe4*e7[bQe7->d8] f7*e8=Q[wQe8->d1] # {(it is indeed checkmate, because} 4.Kc4*d4-e8 {is prevented by the e3 Rook, the capture by Qf8 being illegal)
Rook promotion (} 3...f7*e8=R[wRe8->h1] {) would have allowed} 4.Kc4-d3 ! {,
Bishop promotion (} 3...f7*e8=B[wBe8->f1] {)} 4.Kc4-d5 ! {,
Knight promotion (} 3...f7*e8=S[wSe8->b1] {)} 4.Kc4-b5! {.

} 1.b2-b1=R 2.Rb1-d1 3.Rd1-d3 f7*e8=R[wRe8->h1] # {

} 1.b2-b1=B 2.Bb1-e4 3.Be4-d5 f7*e8=B[wBe8->f1] # {

} 1.b2-b1=S 2.Sb1-a3 3.Sa3-b5 f7*e8=S[wSe8->b1] # {

Babson Theme}

{

} 1.Rc5-c7 Sd7*e5-f4 + 2.Kd5-d6 Rc8*c7-c8 # {

} 1.Be5-c7 Sd7*c5-c3 + 2.Kd5-c6 Bb8*c7-b8 # {

Another placement of the Bishop or Rook on the last move would allow a black capture immediately replacing a unit on c7.

Reciprocal batteries and returns.}}

{

Tries :
} 1.Ra1-a4 ? Bf1-c4 ! 2.Kf3-e2 g6-g5 + 3.Ra4*c4 {
} 1.Ra1-a7 ? Bf1-a6 ! 2.Kf3-e2 g6-g5 + 3.Ra7*a6 {

} 1.Ra1-a6 ! {
} 1...g6-g5 2.Kf3-f4 Kh1-h2 # {(or K elsewhere, or B plays)
} 1...Bf1-e2 + 2.Kf3-g4 g6-g5 # {or Kh1 plays
} 1...Bf1-g2 + 2.Kf3-e4 g6-g5 # {or Kh1 plays
} 1...Bf1-h3 2.Kf3-g4 g6-g5 # {or Kh1 plays
} 1...Bf1*a6 {(or on b5, c4)} 2.Kf3-e2 g6-g5 # {or Kh1 plays
} 1...Kh1-g1 2.Kf3-f2 g6-g5 # {or Bf1 plays
} 1...Kh1-h2 2.Kf3-g3 g6-g5 # {or Bf1 plays

. The white King moves to 6 separate squares (of the 8 available).}

{

} 1.Sg3-e4 ? {is illegal

} 1.Sg7-e6 ! {threatening} 2.Se6-f4 # {giving 2 free squares for bK} 1...Qg2*g3 {(to parry} 2.Se6-f4 + ? {by} Sf2*g4 ! {)} 2.Se6-d4 # {because after} 2...Sf2*g4 {, the black King would have the square h5.
} 1...Sf2*g4 {(to parry} 2.Se6-f4 + ? {by} Qg2*g3 ! {)} 2.Se6-c7 # {because after} 2...Qg2*g3 {, the black King would have the square h5.}