Spišská Borovička 16th Theme Tourney
Judge: Peter Gvozdják (Slovakia)

Theme
All kinds of compositions in 2 moves (#2, =2, h#2, s#2, r=2, etc.) showing one of the CYCLONE themes. In addition, at least one "Pelle" move (by White or Black) is required. (Pelle move = The unit is pinned before, as well as, after playing the move.) Twins, more solutions, promoted pieces and any fairy pieces and/or conditions are allowed.

Prizes in bottles of Spišská Borovička and CYCLONE and other books.

As usual, you can participate with either of the two following ways:

  1. Send your entries via e-mail to Peter Gvozdják by 27th of August at the latest.
  2. Hand over your compositions to Bedrich Formánek during the congress by Friday morning, 10th of September, 9.30 AM.

The original example follows, there are many more to be found in the book CYCLONE itself (refer to Nos. 157, 378, 567, 649, 657, 686, 687, 898, 905, 906, 1033, 1034, 1035, 1036, 1325, 1326, 1327, 1328, 1329, 1330, 1339, 1488, 1623, 1633.)

The original announcement is in the Chess Composition Microweb, maintained by Juraj Lörinc.

Ludovít Lačný
Peter Gvozdják
1 HM Phénix 1994
No. 649 in Cyclone

 
1.Te4? (2.Sf3# A)
1...Txb5 a 2.Dxf6# B
1...De3 b 2.Sh3# C
but 1...Tg3!

1.Ld7! (2.Dxf6# B)
1...Tb5 a 2.Sh3# C
1...Dxe3 b 2.Sf3# A

Shedey cycle. Here, one defence in each phase is thematic for this tourney: the move 1...Tb5 is thematic after 1.Ld7, but not after 1.Te4, since Tf5 is not pinned before this move.
#2
(8+11)
  

Award
When I announced the theme of this tourney, Juraj Lörinc was quite sceptic about it. The theme looked very difficult even if given on Internet some weeks earlier. Actually, the day before I was leaving for Greece, it looked so. I had received only two thematic problems.

But then it turned completely different.

Some more positions came by e-mail, others handed to me their problems during the congress, and even one of the authors was sending me almost every day a new position or improvement via SMS. Thus, finally, I am glad to show you one of the strongest Spišská Borovička tourneys ever. (I am quite sure some of the positions will find their way into the FIDE Album.) Moreover, I feel that this is one of the best composing tourneys of this year's congress. 15 positions (versions included) came in, 12 of them do appear in the award (no Commend, no comment!)

For the first time, I decided to share the top prizes. (Fortunately only one of the persons was present at the congress, so no trouble who will drink the bottle!)

Reto Aschwanden
1-3 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004

 

1.Sf2? (2.VAd1#)
1...LEd7+ 2.LEe6# A (B?/C?/D?)
1...LEe6+ 2.LEd4# B (A?/C?/D?)
1...LEd8+ 2.LEc4# C (A?/B?/D?)
1...LEg8+ 2.LEd7# D (A?/B?/C?)
but 1...LEi8!

1.VAb3! (2.LEe6#)
1...LEd7 2.LEd4# B (A?/C?/D?)
1...LEe6 2.LEc4# C (A?/B?/D?)
1...LEd8 2.LEd7# D (A?/B?/C?)
1...LEg8 2.LEe6# A (B?/C?/D?)

4-fold Lačný cycle
#2
Ultra-Patrol Chess
(16+14)
  
2+1 Leo, 2+0 Pao, 3+3 Vao
10x10 Board
  
 

1st-3rd Prize ex aequo: Reto Aschwanden (Switzerland)
Something extraordinary on a 10x10 chessboard. A 4-fold Lačný cycle with complete anti-quadruple in all variations of all phases! All defences and all mates as a duel of two Leos! (To understand the mechanism: if Pa2 or Sd2 were patrolled, then the white king stays in check.)

Jean-Marc Loustau
1-3 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004		 Emanuel Navon
1-3 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
  #2
(7+15)
     #2
(13+10)
  
1+4 Rook-Lion, 0+5 Nightrider-Lion
    
 

1st-3rd Prize ex aequo: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
1.Kb6? (2.Sxd2# A) 1...D~ a 2.Db1# B, 1...Dd5! b 2.Sxc5# C, but 1...RLI(h)d5!
1.Ld6? (2.Db1# B) 1...D~ a 2.Sxc5# C, 1...Dd5! b 2.Sxd2# A, but 1...RLI(d)d5!
1.Lc3! (2.Sxc5# C) 1...D~ a 2.Sxd2# A, 1...Dd5! b 2.Db1# B
The complicated 3x3 Shedey cycle with random and correction defences. (Look at the mechanism with six black lines introduced.) Optimal construction – great!

1st-3rd Prize ex aequo: Emanuel Navon (Israel)
1.Sc4? (2.Sxf6# A, Sb6#, Se3#) 1...Df5! a
1.Lf2? (2.c4# C) 1...Df5 a 2.Dd6# B, but 1...Tg4!
1.Df2? (2.c4# C) 1...Df5! a
1.bxc5? (2.Sxf6# A) 1...Df5 a 2.Dd6# B, but 1...f5!
1.Dxf6? (2.Dd6# B) 1...Df5 a 2.c4# C, but 1...Tf1!
1.De3! (2.c4# C) 1...Df5 a 2.Sxf6# A, 1...c4 2.bxc4#
See what is still possible in an orthodox twomover: Ukrainian cycle after black Queen Pelle move! Very complicated, very well done. Still, there are some additional interesting tries leading to the le Grand theme (1.Lf2?), to the Dombrovskis paradox (1.Df2?), or to multiple threats (1.Sc4?). (I preferred this version, as the Queen is stronger than the Rook and there are less "half-thematic" elements here.)

Emil Klemanič
4 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Jean-Marc Loustau
 5 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Jean-Marc Loustau
 6 Pr Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(23+17)
#2
(10+7)
#2
(13+20)
Paralysing Units, see text!
3+3 Pao, 2+0 Vao
7+2 Rook-Lion
1+3 Bishop-Lion
0+3 Nightrider-Lion

4th Prize: Emil Klemanič (Slovakia)
1+1 Nightrider (h4, b7); 0+1 Leo (d5); 2+2 Pao (c8, d2, b1, d7); 2+0 Vao (a4, g3); 2+0 Nao (e1, h7); 0+1 Rao (h1); 1+2 Rook-Lion (e2, a8, e7); 3+2 Bishop-Lion (a5, c7, h8, f4, f8); 0+1 Nightrider-Lion (h3); pieces inside the red frames are paralysing units!
1.Db6? (2.Txb4# A) 1...LEe6+ a 2.Ld3# B, 1...Tc6 b 2.Se3# C, but 1...Kd4!
1.Dd6? (2.Ld3# B) 1...LEe6+ a 2.Se3# C, 1...Tc6 b 2.Txb4# A, but 1...RLIxa6!
1.Df6! (2.Se3# C) 1...LEe6 a 2.Txb4# A, 1...Tc6 b 2.Ld3# B
Very ambitious problem, but not the beautiful one. The 3x3 Shedey cycle tried to be combined with cycle of defending motives. For me, 40 units on an 8x8 board are in principle no problem. But here, we can see 9 types of units, moreover some of them are paralysing. That is not very attractive. There are also some unsoundness in the cyclic motives... A problem to be followed!

5th Prize: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
Set play: 1...Dd3 a 2.Sf4# A, 1...De4 b 2.PAhg4# B
1.Sf4+? 1...Kg5!, 1.PAhg4+? 1...Kh5!
1.Sc3? (2.Dxf5#) 1...Dd3 a 2.PAhg4# B, 1...De4 b 2.PAxg1# C, but 1...PAc4!
1.PAc4! (2.Dxf5#) 1...Dd3 a 2.PAxg1# C, 1...De4 b 2.Sf4# A
A difficult Rice cycle shown in a beautiful setting with two flights.

6th Prize: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
1.Sxb7? (2.Sd6#) 1...D~ 2.Sxe3# A, 2.RLIxc2# B, 2.Dxd5# C, but 1...De4!
1.BLIf3? (2.Sxe3# A) 1...D~ a 2.RLIxc2# B, 1...De4! b 2.Dxd5# C, but 1...BLIe4!
1.Se6? (2.RLIxc2# B) 1...D~ a 2.Dxd5# C, 1...De4! b 2.Sxe3# A, but 1...RLIe4!
1.Sd3! (2.Dxd5# C) 1...D~ a 2.Sxe3# A, 1...De4! b 2.RLIxc2# B
Complete 3x3 Shedey cycle with black correction! I do not mind the crowded position, but compare to the lighter 1-3 Prize by the same composer! (There is also a "half-thematic" try 1.Sxb7?)

Jean-Marc Loustau
1 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
James Quah
 2 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Jean-Marc Loustau
 3 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
(12+6)
#2
AMU
(11+7)
#2
(11+10)
1+0 Lion, 6+2 Rook-Lion
1+0 Bishop-Lion
1+1 Nightrider-Lion
2+1 Pao, 2+1 Vao
Super-Pao d3
2+0 Pao, 1+1 Vao
1+2 Leo, 1+0 Nao

1st Honourable Mention: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
1.BLIe6? B (2.Le4# C) 1...De5 a 2.Lg4# D, 1...Dc5 b 2.LIc8# A, but 1...RLIe5!
1.LIc8! A (2.BLIe6# B) 1...De5 a 2.Le4# C, 1...Dc5 b 2.Lg4# D
Djurašević cycle 4/1, based on different Lion-lines.

2nd Honourable Mention: James Quah (Singapore)
1.VAg2? B (2.VAe5# C) 1...PAd4 a 2.Se3# D, 1...SPd4 b 2.PAh2# A, but 1...Th6!
1.PAh2! A (2.VAg2#) 1...PAd4 a 2.VAe5# C, 1...SPd4 b 2.Se3# D
Clever Djurašević cycle 4/1, using the AMU condition.

3rd Honourable Mention: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
Set play: 1...LEcc3 a 2.Se5# A, 1...LEc4 b 2.Dxg6# B, 1...LEc5 c 2.LEe7# C
1.PAdd5! (2.LEe4#) 1...LEcc3 a 2.Dxg6# B, 1...LEc4 b 2.LEe7# C, 1...LEc5 c 2.Se5# A (1...LEe5 2.PAb5#)
3-fold Lačný cycle after Pelle defences of black Leo. Additional variation with pin-mate in the solution.

Jean-Marc Loustau
4 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Reto Aschwanden
 5 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
Menachem Witztum
Emanuel Navon
6 HM Spišská Borovička Ty
Halkidiki 2004
#2
1+1 Leo
4+3 Pao
2 solutions
(10+7)
#2
1+1 Sirene
0+2 Triton
3+0 Marine Nightrider
(11+7)
H#2
0.1.2.1
b) Ke5=>c6
(8+10)

4th Honourable Mention: Jean-Marc Loustau (France)
1.LEd3! A (2.Lh7#) 1...Dd6 a 2.PAe4# B, 1...De6 b 2.PAxc6# C
1.PAe4! B (2.Lh7#) 1...Dd6 a 2.PAxc6# C, 1...De6 b 2.LEd3# A
The Kiss cycle after two thematic Queen moves, perfect.

5th Honourable Mention: Reto Aschwanden (Switzerland)
1.SIh5? (2.MNd3# A) 1...SIg3 a 2.Sf3# B, 1...TRfg5 b 2.MNc4# C, but 1...SIg5!
1.SIh2! (2.Sf3# B) 1...SIg3 a 2.MNc4# C, 1...TRfg5 b 2.MNd3# A
The Shedey cycle with beautiful diagonal/orthogonal analogy. However, there are some common features with the example. Reto composed this immediately after knowing the theme, he even did not look at the official example! After that, he was a bit surprised...

6th Honourable Mention: Menachem Witztum & Emanuel Navon (Israel)
a) 1...Txf6 A 2.Dd5 a Lxf4# B, or 2.d5 b Sd7# C
b) 1...Lxf4 B 2.Dd5 a Sxd7# C, or 2.d5 b Txf6# A
Only one black move being thematic, but the Kiss cycle in a helpmate is not that easy.