Prize winning composition
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
For those of my readers interested in something other than the game of chess played according to classical rules and objectives, the world of compositions might interest you. I have already written several times on this blog of the talented French composer Guy Sobrecases and his specialty website anticirce. Today I present a prize winning work by Guy (collaboration with Jacques Rotenberg) which won a special prize at Messigny this year.
Help-mate in 3 moves (Black moves first)
Sobrecases and Rotenberg 2010
1 Prix Special
For those of you unaquainted with the rules for helpmate compositions, Black moves first. In this particular case, Black moves first and each of his moves helps White to deliver a mate on the 3rd move. There are two solutions, I give one of them as the main line and the other is given in the notes at the end. Enjoy!
1… Nd7 !
2. Rg1
2… O-O-O
3. Rg8
3… Re8
4. Rxe8#
Beautiful!
The alternate solution is [1… Na6 2. Ra1 O-O-O 3. Rxa6 Rd7 4. Ra8#]
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RETURNING TO THE INITIAL POSITION:
There is another type of chess composition that involves rotating the board 90 degrees (the pawns move sideways!). From this position there are 2 ways to help-mate in 3 moves:
1.g5 Kd1! 2.g4 Kc2 3.g5 Rh1‡
1.Kg5 Rd1! 2.Kf6 R×d4 3.Ng5 R×f4‡
Composing these studies is a time consuming process that requires a keen mind and vivid imagination. Often you have to go thru as many as 100 attempts before you get it right. This area is not for just anybody! Guy writes that going to the dentist is a much less taxing (and painful!) activity!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS