Congress 5-days Long Composing Tourney
Judge: Byron Zappas (Greece)

Theme
Two black pieces change reciprocally their defence motives against the same threat between try and solution. (No changed mates are required, as in the example II, but if so, this will increase the value of the composition.)

Byron Zappas
Original - Example I
Halkidiki 2004		 Byron Zappas
Original - Example II
Halkidiki 2004
  #2  
(9+12)
     #2  
(8+12)
  

Example I: Byron Zappas (Greece)
Thematic try: 1.Se7? (2.Se6#)
1...Lxe7 (capture) 2.Dh6#, 1...De4 (unpin) 2.fxg3#, but 1...Se4!
Try: 1.Sh6?! (2.Se6#) 1...Se4 2.Dxg4#, but 1...Lb4!
Try: 1.Sxg3?! (2.Se6#) 1...Se4 2.Sh5#, but 1...De4!
Solution: 1.Se3! (2.Se6#) 1...Lb4 (unpin) 2.Dh6#, 1...Dxe3 (capture) 2.fxe3#,
1...Sc5 2.Dxf6#, 1...Se4 2.Dxg4#

Example II: Byron Zappas (Greece)
Thematic try: 1.Lg5? (2.Sf2#)
1...Lg6 (line opening) 2.Dxe6#, 1...dxc3 (unblock) 2.Dc4#, but 1...d5!
Solution: 1.Sd5! (2.Sf2#) 1...Lg6 (unblock) 2.Lxg6#, 1...dxc3 (line opening) 2.Sxc3#,
1...g3 2.Lf3#, 1...Dxf6 2.Sxf6#, 1...exd5 2.Dxd5#

In the judging process, among other factors, the quality of the defence motives was the most important to be considered. Motives as black line opening, black unpinning, for example, are more strategic than capture of a white piece or check.

Paz Einat
Aharon Hirschenson
1 Pr 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Vasyl Dyachuk
 2 Pr 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Yosi Retter
3 Pr 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(14+8)
#2
(11+8)
#2
(12+8)

1st Prize: Paz Einat & Aharon Hirschenson (Israel)
1.Sd5? (2.Dxc7#) 1...Lxe4 (unguard) 2.Dxb3#, 1...Dxe6 (direct guard) 2.Se3#, but 1...Lxe7!
1.Ld6! (2.Dxc7#) 1...Lxe4 (direct guard) 2.Tc3#, 1...Dxe6 (unguard) 2.Lxe6#
The squares d5 and d4, which Black unguards, are in the diagram position guarded twice by White. Good line openings.

2nd Prize: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine)
1.Sxc5? (2.Db3#) 1...Sxd4 (Nietvelt) 2.a8=D#, 1...Dd3 (direct guard) 2.Le6#, but 1...Sa5!
1.Lxc5! (2.Db3#) 1...Sd4 (direct guard) 2.Se7#, 1...Dxd3 (Nietvelt) 2.e4#
1...Dxf4 2.Sxf4#, 1...De4 2.fxe4#
A combination of Nietvelt and direct guard defence motives, not easily achieved.

3rd Prize: Yosi Retter (Israel)
1.Sc5? (2.Sxe6#) 1...Txf2+ (check) 2.Df4#, 1...Lxb4 (pin) 2.Dxd2#, but 1...Te2!
1.Sf4! (2.Sxe6#) 1...Txf2 (pin) 2.Sc2#, 1...Lxb4+ (check) 2.Dc5#, 1...Sxf2 2.Dxc3#
Nice construction with pin-mates in the thematic play.

Yakov Rossomakho
1-2 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Vasyl Dyachuk
1-2 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Vasyl Dyachuk
Yakov Rossomakho
3 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(5+12)
#2
(8+12)
#2
(12+9)

1st-2nd Honourable Mention ex aequo: Yakov Rossomakho (Russia)
1.Kg6? (2.Df5#) 1...e5 (pin) 2.Txe5#, 1...Ld4 (line opening) 2.Txd4#, but 1...Ld6!
1.Td5! (2.Df5#) 1...e5 (line opening) 2.Txe5#, 1...Ld4 (pin) 2.Txd4#, 1...Tf3/Kxd5 2.De5#
No changed mates here, but highly strategic defence motives.

1st-2nd Honourable Mention ex aequo: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine)
1.Tg5? (2.Txf5#) 1...Te4+ (check) 2.Txe4#, 1...De7 (pin) 2.Sxc4#, but 1...Dd6!
1.Tgf4! (2.Txf5#) 1...Te4 (pin) 2.Sxf3#, 1...De7+ (check) 2.Dxe7#, 1...Dd6 2.Sxc4#
As the 3rd prize in motives, but with brutal mates.

3rd Honourable Mention: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine) & Yakov Rossomakho (Russia)
1.Le5? (2.Lxd4#) 1...Dxd6 (pin) 2.Lxd6#, 1...Txc2+ (check) 2.Dxc2#, but 1...Txe5!
1.Lf2! (2.Lxd4#) 1...Dxd6+ (check) 2.Dxd6#, 1...Txc2 (pin) 2.b4#
Again check and pin motives with mates capturing black pieces.

Emil Klemanič
4 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004		 Juraj Brabec
5 HM 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
  #2   (10+7)     #2   (9+8)  

4th Honourable Mention: Emil Klemanič (Slovakia)
1.f3? (2.Dg4#) 1...Dxe2+ (check) 2.Sxe2#, 1...Sf2 (direct guard) 2.Dg3#,
1...Dg8 2.e3#, but 1...Dxf5!
1.Kh3! (2.Dg4#) 1...Dxe2 (direct guard) 2.Sxe7#, 1...Sxf2+ (check) 2.Txf2#,
1...Dg8 2.Sxe7#, 1...De3+ 2.fxe3#
Changed, but not nice mates.

5th Honourable Mention: Juraj Brabec (Slovakia)
1.f6? (2.Ta8#) 1...d5 (line closing) 2.Lb4#, 1...e2 (line opening) 2.Dd2#, but 1...c5!
1.d4! (2.Ta8#) 1...d5 (line opening) 2.Lb4#, 1...e2 (line closing) 2.Dd2#
Nice defence motives, but no changed mates.

R. Chris Handloser
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004		 Piet le Grand
Comm 5-Days Long Ty
Halkidiki 2004
  #2   (14+6)     #2   (9+8)  

Commendation: R. Chris Handloser (Switzerland)
1.Sc4? (2.Sc3#) 1...exf4 (pin) 2.Td4#, 1...Dxg4 (unblock) 2.Txg4#, but 1...Te3!
1.Kc4! (2.Sc3#) 1...exf4 (unblock) 2.Dd4#, 1...Dxe6 (pin) 2.Txe6#, 1...Txe3 2.Dxe3#

Commendation: Piet le Grand (Netherlands)
1.Kxc3? (2.Dxd5#) 1...Tc8 (pin) 2.Lf4#, 1...Le1+ (check) 2.Txe1#, but 1...b4+!
1.Kb4! (2.Dxd5#) 1...Tf4+ (check) 2.Lxf4#, 1...Le7 (pin) 2.Te1#