Congress Quick Composing Tourney
Section A: Directmates in 2 moves
Judge: Byron Zappas (Greece)
Theme
In the set play or a try, two black defences lead to pin-mates of a black piece A. These mates re-appear in the solution, after defences of the black piece A. No changed mates are required, but if so, this will increase the value of the composition.

Byron Zappas
Original
Halkidiki 2004

 

Thematic try: 1.La2? (2.Dxd3#)
1...Le5 2.Txe5# (black Sd3 is pinned)
1...Sac5 2.Sb4# (black Sd3 is pinned)
but 1…Sb2!

Solution: 1.Dh6! (2.De6#)
1...Sf4 2.Te5# (transferred mate)
1...Sdc5 2.Sb4# (transferred mate)
1...Le5 2.Dh1#
1...Sac5 2.Sc3#
#2
(11+8)  

10 compositions participated in the tournament. The level of the problems was rather low, considering the possibilities offered by the theme. However, there were three entries which showed the theme in Ruchlis form.

Vasyl Dyachuk
1 Pr #2 Quick Composing Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Paz Einat, Gady Costeff
Ofer Comay, Noam Elkies
 2 Pr #2 Quick Composing Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Aleksandr Kuzovkov
3 Pr #2 Quick Composing Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(11+10)
#2
(11+8)
#2
(8+8)

1st Prize: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine)
Set play: 1...Lxd4 2.Sb4#, 1...d6 2.Sb6#
1.De1! (2.De5#) 1...Dxd4 2.Sb4# 1...Dd6 2.Sb6#, 1...Lxd4 2.Dh1#, 1...d6 2.Se7#
A clear presentation of the theme, with self-blocks in both phases, in spite of having some similarities with the example given.

2nd Prize: Paz Einat, Gady Costeff, Ofer Comay & Noam Elkies (Israel)
Set play: 1...Sxe3 2.d3#, 1...Dxd5 2.Lb1#
1.De6! (2.Txd4#) 1...Sxe6 2.d3# (Lb1?), 1...Sxe2 2.Lb1# (d3?), 1...Sxe3 2.Txf4#, 1...Dxd5 2.Sf6#. Also a good problem as the first prize, with self-blocks, pin-mates and dual avoidance.

[Webmaster's note] This is an improved version of the problem originally submitted and appearing in the bulletin, without the drawback of the out-of-play rook which was pointed out by the judge.

3rd Prize: Aleksandr Kuzovkov (Russia)
Set play: 1...Sxe4 2.Sxf3#, 1...Txd6 2.Txf5#
1.Dd2! (2.Dxc3#) 1...Tf~ 2.Txf5#, 1...Txe4 2.Sxf3#, 1...Sxe4 2.Dd5#, 1...Txd6 2.Dxd6#
Black correction play by the Tf4, but the defence 1...Sxe4 in the solution is "artificial".

Helmut Zajic
 1 HM #2 Quick Composing Ty Halkidiki 2004
Harri Hurme
2 HM #2 Quick Composing Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Vasyl Dyachuk
Comm #2 Quick Composing Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(7+6)
#2
(8+11)
#2
(11+10)

1st Honourable Mention: Helmut Zajic (Austria)
Set play: 1...Sd4 2.Sc3#, 1...Se5 2.Sf6#
1.Dc3! (2.Dxc6#) 1...Sxc3 2.Sxc3#, 1...Sc5 2.Sf6#, 1...Sc~ 2.Dd4#
This composition appears in the award because of its simplicity of construction, but it is in a low place because of its simplicity of mates.

2nd Honourable Mention: Harri Hurme (Finland)
1.Dd5? (2.Dxd4#) 1...Lh8 2.e3#, 1...La7 2.Dxd6#, but 1...Lc5!
1.Se1! (2.Sd3#) 1...S~ 2.e3#, 1...Se3! 2.Dxd6#, 1...Se5 2.Dh6#, 1...dxe1=~ 2.Txd4#
Pity for the unpleasant placement of Td1.

Commendation: Vasyl Dyachuk (Ukraine)
1.Dd3? (2.Dxd5#) 1...Sd~ 2.Dd7#, 1...Se~ 2.Df5#, but 1...Sd6!
1.c4? (2.cxd5#) 1...Sd~ 2.Sh5#, 1...Sdxf6 2.Txf6#, but 1...Se3!
1.Dc4! (2.Dxd5#) 1...Se~ 2.Sh5#, 1...Sexf6 2.Txf6#, 1...Dd1 2.Dxe4, 1...Lxc4 2.c8=D#