Tags
bishop, Chess, Chess Compositions, Chess Problems, Fairy Chess, games, Giraffe Chess, Half-Neutral Chess, king, pawn
In my Publication Notice for “White Rhino Stew” earlier this year I mentioned that I’ve been composing chess problems again. I started last October, almost exactly 10 years since the last chess problem I composed. I also said in that post that there would be more information on that forthcoming… well here it is.
On this post I have 2 chess problems, the first one “Black Wheel” is a fairly simple orthodox problem, which is a good place to start for anyone new to the hobby, it will help you learn how to read and understand chess problems. The second problem “Half-White Giraffe Can’t Dance” is much more complicated with Fairy Pieces and Fairy Conditions.
But before we get into the problems I’d like to draw your attention to a new page on the blog. There is a new tab for a table of all my finished chess problems. With links to the published ones (that are still active). There are currently 26 problems on the list. The table dosn’t look great, im still trying to figure out how to manipulate it, I’m not great with technology.
For now, the initial compositions are presented in basic form, in the future I will attempt to figure out how to present it to where you can click on it and see the pieces move, like they have on Julia’s Fairies [link]. Hopefully in the next chess problem post I will have such an animation.
The First Problem: “Black Wheel”
White to Mate in 2
solution – hide
Solution
1. Qxc4!
… Ne6 2. Qg4#
… Ne4 2. Qf7#
… exf2 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… e2 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Nd7 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Nd3 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Nb3 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Na4 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Na6 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
… Nb7 2. Qf7# (or Qg4#)
If you’re not familiar with the code, here is the Wikipedia page for Algebraic Chess Notation [link]. The title of this problem comes from chess problem terminology, a Knight that makes all 8 possible moves in the solution is called a “Knight’s Wheel.”
In trying to figure out the problem there are several moves to try. Rg6 is countered by hxg6. Qh3 is countered by Rc1+, which is not the end of the game but it would add extra steps and taking longer to reach mate then our stipulation allows. Which is why we have to capture the c4 Rook in the first move (or key) of the problem. Black’s response is to move either the e Pawn, or move the Knight, which is free to travel to 8 different squares, but non of these moves will prevent checkmate by the Queen.
If you liked that problem, give this problem a try. It has a lot of unusual features.
The Second Problem: Half-White Giraffe Can’t Dance
Stipulation:
White to Mate in 2
[Composition]
Fairy Definitions:
KoBul Kings – When a piece (not a Pawn) is captured, the King of that color transforms into a Royal piece of the same type as the captured one. When the King is in the form of a Royal piece and there is a capture of one of the Transformed King’s pawns, the King becomes normal again.
Half-Neutral – Like a neutral piece that can be moved by either side during their turn, however when the piece is moved it becomes the color of the side that moved it, when it is moved again it returns to a neutral color. Half-Neutral pieces can exist as any 3 colors in the initial position. A3 and B2 are both half-neutral in the composition.
Giraffe – 4,1 leaper. Moves like a Knight, were as a Knight is defined as a 2,1 leaper. The Giraffe is shown as the sideways half-neutral Knight at a3.
Solution
1. hNBxa3+!
… K=Gaa8+ 2.Kh3 axb5 3.K=Bg2#
… K=Gaa8+ 2.Kh3 [any other defense] 3.Bc6#
… K=Gaa8+ 2.Kg4 axb5 3.K=Bf3#
… K=Gaa8+ 2.Kg4 [any other defense] 3.Bc6#
Some of the notation in the solution my be a bit confusing at first, but it’s simple enough to understand. First the Key “1.hNBxa3+!” – “1.” means its the first move, “hNB” means it is the Half-Neutral Bishop, “x” means that the piece captures an existing piece on the landing square, “a3” is the landing square, “+” means it put the opposite colored king in check, and finally “!” means that it’s a good move (it is typical with chess problem solutions). As for the response “… K=Gaa8+” – “…” means its the response, “K=Ga” means the King “K” becomes “=” a Giraffe “Ga,” a8 is the landing square, and “+” again means the opposite colored king is now in check.
How this problem works:
Because this is a KoBul Kings Problem, when the half-neutral Bishop at b2 captures the half-neutral Giraffe at a3, the Black King at e7 becomes a Royal Giraffe (“Royal” means that it can not put itself into check and/or has to move out of check), and in check from the Bishop that just moved. The Black Royal Giraffe’s flight squares are now: f3 which is protected by the Pawn at e2, d3 also covered by the e2 Pawn, a6 which is occupied by the Black Royal Giraffe’s own Pawn, or a8 which is in fact the only safe square he can leap to; and so that’s where he goes, only to received checkmate in 2 more moves, which will get to in a minute. Additionally this move puts the White King into check under threat of the Bishop at d8.
The White King could be blocked by the half neutral bishop, however this will lead to that bishop turning back into a neutral piece that threatens the white King. The White King has to move, he has a few options, however only 2 will lead to check in the next following move. H5 is protected by the Pawn at g6, g5 is covered by the threatening bishop, g3 is safe for the moment but black can respond with Bc7+ thus extending the solution beyond the limited number of moves for the problem. So our two good squares are g4 and h3.
Now black has several choices in response. The Giraffe-King still can’t move, because both flight squares are covered by the half-neutral and for now White Bishop at a3. From here Most black defenses are counter by moving the full white bishop to c6 to mate the black king.
The more interesing black defense is axb5. Because again this is a KoBul Kings game, the white king will now be a bishop, and he can move into the a8-h1 diagonal line to deliver the final checkmate.
I hope my explanation made sense. This is one of the most interesting problems I’ve composed, in my opinion.
If you didn’t enjoy this post about chess problems, well there are more publication notices and obscure reviews coming to keep you entertained.