C.J. FEATHER – 50

Tourney 1997-98 for Helpmates in two Theme: in a H#2 white first move is a capture and check Award by C.J.Feather (main judge) and F.Chlubna (assistant judge)

"There was a good entry of 174 problems from 84 composers. Some of the entries were unthematic and some unsounds (composers are being notified separately) but the vast majority of the remainder were interesting works in a wide variety of styles. It would have been possible to award twice as many commendations but it seemed fairer to give certain not strongly thematic problems a chance to do better in another tourney. My Thanks to all the composers and specially to those who sent accompanying messages.

I acted both as judge and as tourney controller; my co-judge, Friedrich Chlubna, preferred to study the problems without knowing the composers’ names. Nevertheless we found that we were in agreement more often than we expected!. Thank you, Friedrich, for your important contribution to this jubilee.

Finally a brief personal comment on the model mates which some composers seem to find valuable. Although I enjoy model mates I think them out of place in the modern H#2. They are so obvious and unparadoxical, whereas (if the problem is well constructed) clumsy mates tend to go with subtle and even elegant strategy. I have not, however, downgraded any problems in this tourney simply because they contain model mates. (CJF)"

1^st Prize Kjell WIDLERT H#2 2 soluz.	1.bd7 :e4+ 3.:e4 e3# 1.fd7 :c6+ 2.:c6 d6# We thing that this problem shows the most interesting reason for the tematic moves; avoidance of unpin on White’s second move. The dangers of symmetry have been skilfull avoided.
2^nd Prize Mario PARRINELLO H#2 2 soluz.	1.f3+ d:d3+ 2.:d3 c7# 1.d4+ a:d3+ 2.b2:d3 b4# The motivation of the thematic moves is again very iteresting: it appears so paradoxical to capture a piece which Black has just pinned. The tecnical difficulties have been overcome withut too much strain and the interchange of functions between the white Rooks is most pleasing.
3^rd Prize Mario PARRINELLO H#2 3 soluz.	1.:c3 :c3+ 2.d3 e3# 1.:e2+ :e2+ 2.e5 f4# 1.:d2 :d2+ 2.c5 a4# Although the arrangement of the thematic white pieces is well known the elegant construction and the unifying role of black Queen make this a most satisfying cyclic Zilahi
4^th Pize Arpad MOLNAR H#2 B) Ca4ð a3	A) 1.:e5+ :e5+ 2.d1-d2 f1# B) 1.:f5 :f5+ 2.d6-d2 d3# In addition to the thematic requirement there is a combination of well known motifs arranged with strategic intensity: mutual interferences between the two black Rooks, black halfpin and double pin mates. The best entry in which the thematic checks are given by a battery.
1^st H.M. Unto HEINONEN H#2 3 soluz.	1.e4 :f6+ 2.:f6 :e7# 1.h7 :e7+ 2.:e7 :g6# 1.e4 :g6+ 2.:g6 :f6# Cyclic Zilahi and cyclic white moves. The thematically required checks seem rather incidental in this context; that and the perfunctory nature of the first black moves just prevent this fine problem from winning a prize.
2^nd H.M. János CSAK H#2 B) h4ð f5	A) 1.:d2+ :d2+ 2.e8-e5 b6# B) 1.:b3+ :b3+ 2.e1-e5 e4# Reminiscent of the 4^th prize, with greater elegance and lesser intensity. Good construction.
3^rd H.M. Michael McDOWELL H#2 2 soluz.	1.e4 :e6+ 2.d3 h3# 1.d5 :g4+ 2.b5 e8# An interesting change of pinlines in the perfect construction one expects from this composer
4^th H.M. J. KAPROS, J. LOIS e J. PANCALDO H# 2 2 soluz.	1.e4 2.:e4+ 2.g2 h5# 1.h5 :h5+ 2.h2 e4# Active sacrifices by the black Queen, dual avoidance by pins, and double pin mates. Nothing novel, but exemplary construction.
5^th H.M.: György BAKCSI H# 2 2 soluz.	1.:f2 :d4+ 2.e:d4 f:e4# 1.:c5 f:e4+ 2.f:e4 :d4# This very heavy position has an offputting appearance but the logic of the play is impressive and the interchange of white moves between the solutions is most appropriate in this theme. With both White and Black working hard to get black pieces out of the way a crowed position is inevitable and the fact that it is at all to prevent cooks by the white Knight is a wonder in itself.
6^th H.M. Michael McDOWELL H#2 2 soluz.	1.:b1 :e4+ 2.b6 :b1# 1.e:f3 :b3+ 2.c6 :f3# The thematic moves find their ideal accompaniment in the square clearing first black moves and the subsequence capturing mating moves. The mates Themselves are attractive but the overall impression is one of clutter. We have been unable to improve the construction but cannot help regretting the many cookstoppers.
1^st Comm. S.K. BALASUBRAMANIAN H#2 2 soluz.	1.c5 :e4+ 2.d5 c2# 1.c5 :f5+ 2.e5 h5# Very elegant, with nice anticipatory interferences to shield the white King. The bSe4 and the bRe5 prevent a lot of cooks.
2^nd Comm. Horst BÖTTGER H#2 B) b3ð f6	A) 1.c2 :c5+ 2.:c5 g1# B) 1.g3 :d6+ 2.:d6 d1# Black anticipatory selfpins in fine economy.
3^rd Comm. Leopold SZWEDOWSKI H#2 B) d2ð d6	A) 1.c2 f:e3+ 2.d3 a3# B) 1.f5 f:g3+ 2.f3 e4# It is a great shame that this problem has tecnical flaws, for it contains some rich strategy. However, the interferences by the black Queen are spurious. The bBh7 stops cooks but the bRc1 can be replaced by a bPa4, when bPh3 becomes unnecessary. It is also regrettable that no useful function is performed by the white King.
4^th Comm. Helmut ZAJIC H#2 - 2 sol. B) h8ðc8 - 2.sol.	A) 1.:c4 :c4+ 2.:c4 c8# 1.:e5+ :e5+ 2.:d4 c4# B) 1.:d4 :d4+ 2.:d4 h8# 1.:c6 :c6+ 2.:c4 d4# Two good pairs of solutions with reciprocal strategies in a very crowded position.
5^th Comm. Arpád MOLNAR H#2 2 sol.	1.:d6+ :d6+ 2.b5 c6# 1.:d4+ :d4+ 2.b5 c7# A pleasant Zilahi with a nice touch in the crossing of the mating square or line at Black’s second move.
6^th Comm. Manne PERSSON H#2 B) g5ð f5	A) 1.e4 :b5+ 2.d5 :c6# B) 1.f4 :c3+ 2.d4 e6# Familiar but attractive double pin mates fitted to our theme with rather simple square-blocking motivations.
7^th Comm. Dieter MÜLLER H#2 B) a3ð e3; C) a3ð e2	A) 1.:d7 :d7+ 2.c4 a5# B) 1.:e7 :e7+ 2.e4 f5# C) 1.:c6 :c6+ 2.d4 e4# This stands very much in the shadow of the 3^rd Price winner. Its constructions is less successful and indeed the bRa1 appears to be unnecessary. Nevertheless it deserves a mention if only for its attractive mates with the black King on three squares in a line.

Several entries were intentional or unintentional reworks of Zivko Janevskis H#2 ("Probleemblad" 1982, FIDE-albun n.748) featturing three white pin lines pointed at the black king. The best of these were perhaps superior to their model so that although we decided that they could not be honoured in a touney of this kind, we hope they will soon be published, perhaps in "Probleemblad".

The award becomes final on March 24^th 1999 (claim to CJF at 10 Tinwell Road, GB-Stamford PE9 2QQ), after which the prizes will be distributed. A note of any alteration will be published in "The Problemist" during 1999,

CJF & FC, September 1998.

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