JuliasFaries Announcement

Julia

28 April, 2012

Several announcements of the site:

  • Starting tomorrow, JuliasFairies will publish the series of articles “Block of the neutral battery-piece” by IGM Petko Petkov
  • Ready translation into Russian about Popeye: popeye installation,  cmd-commands and batch-scripts topics are fully translated into Russian now
  • About Russian version of the site:  most of the topics will be in 2 languages. Although,  they will appear first in  English, the Russian translation may come in 1-2 days.   I’d appreciate  comments about  the  terms in Russian – please let me know if I write anything wrong, or if there’s a better term.


RE: Kangaroo or Lion?

Julia

It’s a great pleasure for me to present the following comment to the post “Kangaroo or Lion?” from the 23rd of April, 2012, and to the further discussion, by IGM Petko Petkov


Kangaroo or Lion?


VARIATIONS OF ONE THEME

Igm PETKO PETKOV

Problem No. 4 is a very interesting work from Julia! My congratulations to her, about this nice h#2 whose mechanism is very rich and many modifications are possible here! Julia`s opus provokes also some important theoretical questions which deserve attention in practical aspect. (By the way, I accept Diyan`s proposal to change w.Pe5 with bl. Pe5).  

The author defines the thematic complex so: “Zilahi, Umnov, Critical KA-moves, cycle AB-BA of black self-block moves, creation of anti-batteries.

OK, but here is needed to add: “Line-opening for white Kangaroos after black S-moves”.  

The main theme of Julia`s problem is possible to define so: “A black piece “X” blocks square around the black King and simultaneously opens line for white piece “Y” (from Hoppers-type). “Y” makes a critical move and then White creates an anti-battery and gives mate”. 

This complex, which reminds a classical “Indian theme”, is sufficiently difficult and interesting and it can be an independent theme in many other problems.

Therefore, I recommend to the readers to apply this theme in theirs own compositions, using different fairy pieces from Hopper`s type! 

But let we return again to No. 4. Here the author marks also other motives: cycle AB-BA of black moves and theme “Zilahi”. A special attention deserves the question about “Zilahi”. In my opinion, here we have only “Half-Zilahi” (we can say also “Partial Zilahi”)! 

My argumentation: here the mates follow after play of anti-batteries. But every anti-battery is constructed from two pieces: forward battery-piece (every kind of piece can execute this function) and rear battery-piece (only Hopper-piece can execute this function). For example: in I solution: I. 1.Sxd2(A) KAe6 2.Se2(B) Be4# the forward piece is the white Bishop but the rear piece is the white Kangaroo. The joint play of these figures follow to mate.

But attention! Here Black captures only one of these pieces – white Kangaroo! Therefore there is only “half” Zilahi effect. A whole Zilahi-effect would be possible only if Black captured the both white battery-pieces!

This argumentation must be valid also for standard direct or indirect batteries.

Two Kangaroos, or only one?

According to Seetharaman`s proposal 

seetharaman says:

April 23, 2012 at 9:13 pm

With the experts joining, this discussion is proving to be very interesting and educative. I have one question for the experts:

Suppose in Version 4, we remove Kangaroo e2. Now the problem can be twin (a) Diagram. (b) Move d2 to e2. The theme, play and content are unchanged. Would you prefer the twin setting with one Kangaroo less, or use two white Kangaroos for “multi solution” form ?Similar twinning possible for version 4.1 also.

N 4 can be modify to the following version – 4A :

Here we have of course one Kangaroo less but there is in N 4A no “Half-Zilahi”. In my opinion here the choice between N 4 and N 4A can be a subjective estimate of author. 

Myself I think that the version with both Kangaroos and 2 solutions is better. Speaking for economy as the main principle in Chess composition, we cannot perceive this principle as a fanatic postulate which always should be interpreted as much as possible strictly. Between two Kangaroos in N4 exists a functional thematic subordination and it is not desirable to break this important effect which have also aesthetical value. 

Whether the Lion is better?

seetharaman says:

April 22, 2012 at 5:35 pm

Excellent imagination to show different effects with the similar settings of Nos.4 and 6. Can No.4 be more economical if Lions are used instead of Kangaroo.?

Julia`s answer:

About the Lions: Yes, I can take off the white pawns (e5, g5) in case of Lions, but at the same time I won’t need to block the squares e2/d2 on the blacks’ second move. So, have to find some other idea for this move.For now I’ve composed 2 versions of the problem No.4 – with Lions (4.1) and with neutrals: Bishop-Lion and Rook-Lion (4.2).Of course, some more motivations are possible to the black knights on the 2nd move.

I quite agree with Julia’s opinion that in this scheme the application of Lions instead of Kangaroo changes thematic complex. N 4.1 and N 4.2 are good problems of course but here exist also some important theoretical & practical questions.

At first it is possible, for example, to change the “Queen”-Lions in 4.1 with Rook-Lion and Bishop-Lion without any other thematic modifications – Version N 4B. 

A simple rule, which have also subjective character: We should use always Rook-Lion(s) and Bishop-Lion (s) if the use of Queen-Lion (s) is not needed!  

The same rule is valid also for Kangaroos! We can define therefore three kind of Kangaroos: Queen`s Kangaroo (the well known standard type) , Rook-Kanagoo (plays only on Rook-lines) and Bishop-Kangaroo (plays only on Bishop-Lines). 

Therefore, in N4 we can change both Queen`s Kangaroos with theirs modifications: N 4C

But what says the solver?

Changing Queen`s Lion or Queen`s Kangaroo with theirs slighter analogs, we submit an economy principle. OK. But this “thrift of power” has also negative effect.

As common conclusion we can say, that all pieces from type “Hoppers” are figures with rather limited mobility. Often on a diagram such pieces even cannot play, as Bishop-Kangaroo on the square “d2” in position 4C, for example. Here also Rook-Kangaroo on “e2” is almost immovable – it can play only on “e5”. In our basic problem – N 4 from Julia, every white Kangaroo has only one move: KAd2 – to g2, and KAe2 – to h5.

Such strong limited or full limited mobility of Hoppers in every case means an easy solution, of course, if the “move-distance” is short (2 moves) and the position is not heavy. Such compositions are a “facile drink” for the solvers, from other side, the strong limited mobility of Hoppers is obviously a negative fact in aesthetical attitude.

In my opinion, all these negative effects in one or in other degree exist in problems with short number of moves and especially – in help-genres. 

In this relation I can make the following general recommendation: if it is possible, compose Your problems in 2,5, 3 or more moves, in which yours Hopper –pieces have more possibilities for play. An interesting chance in this aspect is application of neutral or half-neutral pieces.  


Award of KoBulChess TT 2012

Julia
I’m happy to anounce the following event as of April, 23, 2012:


Kobulchess.com presents the

Award of the KoBulChess TT 2012 by Diyan Kostadinov

Visit Kobulchess.com to see the whole award!


Award of KoBulChess TT 2012

I was very pleased to receive a total of 74 problems by 17 authors from 11 countries for the 1st KoBulChess TT 2012. The level of the tourney is high with so many entries with original and interesting thematic complexes!

In the announcement of the tourney I was written that the tourney consist of 2 sections:

Section A: KoBul Kings problems without any other fairy pieces or conditions.

Section B: KoBul Kings problems with fairy pieces (no other fairy conditions were allowed).

I had received so many miniatures, so finally I’ve decided to split the first Section, to separate a section for the miniatures. So the award is split into the following sections:

   -section A1: direct #/=, H#/=, S#/=, HS#/= problems in 2-3 moves and 7+ pieces with white / black KoBul Kings without fairy pieces or another fairy conditions;

   -section A2: direct #/=, H#/=, S#/=, HS#/= miniatures in 2-3 moves with white / black KoBul Kings without fairy pieces or another fairy conditions

section B: direct #/=, H#/=, S#/=, HS#/= problems in 2-3 moves with white/black/neutral KoBul Kings with other fairy pieces, but other fairy conditions are not allowed.

   Definition: KoBul Kings – When a piece (not a pawn) of his own side is captured, a King transforms into a Royal piece of the same type as the captured one. When the King is in the form of any Royal piece and there is a capture of one of the pawns of his own side, he becomes a normal King again.

   Captures are illegal if they result in self-check by the transformed King. Castling is allowed only if the KoBul King is on his initial square in the form of a normal King and if he has not already moved; however he may already have been transformed. In the case of capture by a King in AntiCirce he is reborn on his initial square and may castle. If the capture is by a King which is in the form of some Royal piece, he is reborn on the initial square of that piece.

   Participants: Pierre Tritten, Petko Petkov, Velko Aleksandrov, Juraj Lorinc, Vlaicu Crisan, Eric Huber, Kostas Prentos, Emmanuel Manolas, Themis Argirakopoulos, Ioannis Garoufalidis, Manfred Rittirsch, Julia Vysotska, Luis Miguel Martin, Jacques Rotenberg, S.K.Balasubramanian, K.Seetharaman, Cornel Pacurar.

Visit Kobulchess.com to see the whole award!


Kangaroo or Lion ?

Julia

April 22, 2012

Kangaroo or Lion ?

This post is an anwer to the comment on The Main Accent: BATTERY-PLAY:

seetharaman says: April 22, 2012 at 5:35 pm Excellent imagination to show different effects with the similar settings of Nos.4 and 6. Can No.4 be more economical if Lions are used instead of Kangaroo.?

First of all – thank you very much for your deep analysis and your ideas! I appreciate your comments a lot! About the Lions: Yes, I can take off the white pawns (e5, g5) in case of Lions, but at the same time I won’t need to block the squares e2/d2 on the blacks’ second move. So, have to find some other idea for this move. For now I’ve composed 2 versions of the problem No.4 – with Lions (4.1) and with neutrals: Bishop-Lion and Rook-Lion (4.2). Of course, some more motivations are possible to the black knights on the 2nd move.
No.4
Julia Vysotska
Probleemblad- 2012

h#2 2 solutions (7+5)
Kangaroos: d2, e2
 
I. 1.Sxd2(A) KAe6 2.Se2(B) Be4#
II. 1.Sxe2(B) KAh6 2.Sd2 (A) f4#
 
Zilahi, Umnov, Critical KA-moves, cycle AB-BA of black self-block moves, creation of anti-batteries, Meredith.
 
 
 
 
2 variations of problem No.4 from the “Battery Play” post:

No.4.1
Julia Vysotska
Version 4.1
h#2 2 solutions (5+7)
Lions: d5,e5
I. 1.Sxd5 LIe8 2.Sd8 Be7 #
II. 1.Sxe5 LIg8 2.Sc8 f7 #
Here the black knights on the 2nd move don’t block the King (as in No.4), but close the line of Ra8. The other thematic is the same.
No.4.2
Julia Vysotska
Version 4.2
h#2 2 solutions (4+6+2)
Neutrals: Bishop-Lion e2, Rook-Lion f2
I. 1.Sxe2 nRLf5 2.Sf6 Bf4 #
II. 1.Sxf2 nBLh5 2.Sg6 g4 #
Here the black knights on the 2nd move don’t block the King (as in No.4), close the lines for neutral BL/RL so these pieces can’t go away on the mating move. The other thematic is the same.

The Main Accent: BATTERY-PLAY

Julia

April, 2012

The Main Accent: BATTERY-PLAY

I’d like to present you my another 7 problems, published at the end of 2011 – beginning of 2012. These problems are helpmates and fairies (h# and hs#) – my preferable genres for now. It’s possible to say, that the main accent of this seria is a battery-play, which is shown in all the problems in different modifications.

Some comments about the battery-play in the problems below

Helpmates:
No.1 – the indirect white battery, which plays along the 4th horizontal
No.2 – the creation and play of the white batteries B-R and R-B
Fairies:
No.3 – the black battery plays along the 8th horizontal and transforms
No.4-7 – the anti-batteries, which are possible only in the fairy problems
The interesting ideas in fairies:
No.6 – non-standard theme with the self-blocks of the neutral piece, which is used in the anti-battery creation;
No.7 – another rare theme – the preventive anti-battery, where the whites can’t prevent the mate as they can’t play on the thematic line – if they do, it would create a black anti-battery with the illegal self-check for whites.

In the future posts I’ll write more about these and some other non-standard themes and ideas which figure in my unobtrusive fairy-repertoire..

And now – to the problems…..

1. Helpmates

No.1
Julia Vysotska
The 14th Sabra TT – 2011
Commendation
h#2        2 solutions       (6+11)
I. 1.Sf3 Se3(1…Sxd2?) 2.Se1 Sf1#
II. 1.Bxc4 Bxd4 2.Bf7 Bf2#
ANI-problem: 2 solutions with anti-identical contents in thematic attitude; the both Knights (Sc4/Sd4) which are captured in the first phase, make all half-moves in the second phase; annihilation captures on c4/d4; Bivalve-theme realized by Be6/Sd4; a try with S-self-pin in the first solution; an additional line-opening for Rf8 executed by the wBf6 in the second solution.
This is really the 2nd my problem, composed during the nights of 22-23rd of August, 2011, for Sabra Tourney in Jesi.
No.2
Julia Vysotska
The Problemist Supplement – 2012
h#2         2 solutions        (5+5)
I. 1.Se2 Re4 2.Kc6 Rb4 #
II. 1.Se6 Be5 2.Kc5 Bc7 #
Bivalve with additional line-opening for the white forward piece which creates a battery. Aristokrat-problem.

2. Fairies

No.3
Julia Vysotska
Уральский Проблемист – 2012

hs#3         b) +bSb8         (7+4)
a) 1.Bb5 Bc7+ 2.e8=S Bd8 3.Sf6+ Bxf6#
b)1.Bc6 Sd7+ 2.e8=B Sf8 3.Bg6+ Sxg6#
Opening of a black battery-line, white under-promotions, transformation of black B/R battery through replacement of forward piece during battery-line, creation of a Dentist-mechanism. Meredith.
No.4
Julia Vysotska
Probleemblad- 2012

h#2          2 solutions         (7+5) Kangaroos: d2, e2
I.  1.Sxd2(A) KAe6   2.Se2(B)  Be4#
II. 1.Sxe2(B) KAh6   2.Sd2 (A)   f4#
Zilahi, Umnov, Critical KA-moves, cycle AB-BA of black self-block moves, creation of anti-batteries, Meredith.
No.5
Julia Vysotska
The Problemist – 2012

hs#2,5         2 solutions        (6+9) Lions b7, f3
I. 1… f1=B 2.LIb4 Be2 3.LIf4+ Bxf3#
II. 1… f1=LI 2.LIh3 LIb5 3.LId7+ LIxb7#
Creation of reciprocal white anti-batteries (Lion-Lion), black under-promotions, model mates.
No.6
Julia Vysotska
StrateGems – 2012

h#2      2 solutions          (5+5+2)
Neutral Grasshoppers: c5, f5
I.   1.Q×c5 Sc3(A) 2.Qf8 Sd3#(B)
II. 1.Q×f5 Sd3(B) 2.Qf2 Sc3#(A)
Creation of bi-color anti-batteries S/nG, Zilahi theme, distant self-blocks of the neutral Grasshoppers, cycle AB – BA of the white moves. Meredith.
No.7
Julia Vysotska
Tehtäväniekka – 2012

hs#3          2 solutions         (6+7)
Kangaroos: a8, e8
I. 1.Rd5 KAf3 2.gxf3 Ra6 3.Qe6+ Rxe6 # (not 4.Re5?? – illegal self-check from KAe8, because of creation of the preventive anti-battery on vertical “e” !)
II. 1.Re5 KAe3 2.dxe3 Ba4 3.Qc6+ Bxc6 # (not 4.Rd5?? – illegal self-check from KAа8, because of creation of the preventive anti-battery on  diagonal a8-h1!)
Specific mates using Q and KA on the one line, with the impossibility for white to prevent checks because of anti-batteries creation, double white self-block, change of functions of black pieces, reciprocal sacrifices of black KA, model mates.

My dear readers, I’d appreciate your comments! Also, I’d like to invite you to send your own ideas and problems for this topic – I’d include them into this post.

Sincerely,

Julia


The diagrams created at ankona – www.ankona.ch – prime site for organizing chess problems: diagram images, cataloging and solving interface.

The non-standard Chameleon

Julia

April, 2012

My start in composition

I want to dedicate the first post on my site to the very first fairy piece I’ve got to know – the Chameleon (type Q-S-B-R-Q). I’d call this piece – my start in composition, as the first problem I’ve composed and even got a Special Prize, was h#2 with Chameleons for The 2nd BULGARIAN WINE Tourney in Jesi, summer-2011.

The current year, 2012, is also a special year for the Chameleon piece, as this year it celebrates the 50 years anniversary (the first definition of Chameleon with contemporary rules is published in Feenschach, 1962 by Petko A.Petkov, who has developed an old idea). I’m happy to congratulate the inventor of this peace in a way we see it nowadays, famous composer IGM Petko Petkov, with this great date!

I like this piece, a long time known, but still not so much used and studied, as it gives some interesting and non-standard opportunities.

And now – to some of my published problems…. with Chameleons, of course!

Julia Vysotska
The 2nd Bulgarian Wine TT – 2011
Special Prize

h#2 2 solutions (6+9)
Chameleons: Bd6, Sf2, Bb8, Qe2
I. 1.CBc7=CR CBf8=CR 2.CRxc4=CQ CRxf6=CQ#
II. 1.CQa2=CS CSh3=CB 2.CSxc3=CB CBg4=CR#
The black Chameleons moves on the pin line and unpins the white mating pieces after its transformation. Selfblocks with paradoxical captures of the white pieces, exchange of functions between white thematic pieces, ODT.
Julia Vysotska

Strate Gems – 2011

h#2 b) Ga6->c1 (6+4)
Chameleons: Bd3,Sd6,Qg5,Sg6
a) 1.CBc4=CR CQg4=CS 2.CSe4=CB CSf2=CB#
b) 1.CSc4=CB CSf4=CB 2.CBe4=CR CBd2=CR#
Double black self-blocks on c4/e4 realized by the black Chameleons with interchange of functions between them; specific creation of batteries with forward piece Chameleon and rear piece Grasshopper. Interchange of functions between white Chameleons. Meredith.
Julia Vysotska

Uralsky Problemist – 2011

h#2,5* (1+3+2)
Chameleons: Qf8,Qh8
I. 1.CQd8=CS ng8=nCB 2.CSb7=CB nCBa2=nCR#
II. 1…ng8=ncQ 2.CQc8=CS nCQd8=nCS 3.CSa7=CB nCSc6=nCB#
Creation of specific Chameleon-batteries in two phases after nPg7 promotions; unpins of black CQ and black self-blocks on b7,a7; bi-color Bristol CQf8 – nQg8 in solution; model mates. Miniature.
Julia Vysotska

Uralsky Problemist – 2011

h#2 2 solutions (1+7+3)
Chameleons: Qd3,Qe3,Rh2
I. 1.Rg8 nCRf2=nCQ 2.Rc8 nCQa7=nCS#
II. 1.Rg6 nCRd2=nCQ 2.Re6 nCQd8=nCS#
Line-opening after black key-moves, Ambush moves of the nCRh2, black distant self-blocks on c8, e6, specific mates with neutral Chameleons in S-phase. Meredith.
Julia Vysotska

Strate Gems – 2012

hs#2 2 solutions (4+5)
Chameleons: Ba4,Sd4,Sc3
I. 1.CBe8=cR CSb3=CB (not CSe6?) 2.CRe4=CQ+ CS*e4=CB#
II. 1.CBb5=cR CSa2=cB (not CSd5?) 2.CRf5=CQ+ CS*f5=CB#
Chameleon half-battery play, dual avoidance with the interference of white chameleon by black chameleon, model mates, Meredith.
Julia Vysotska

Strate Gems – 2012

hs#3 2 solutions (6+6)
Chameleons: Bb1,Bg1
I. 1.g8=СQ СBh7=СR 2.СQe6=СS СRh1=СQ 3.СSd4=СB+ СBxd4=cR#
II. 1.g8=СR СBa7=СR 2.СRg6=СQ СRa1=СQ 3.СQd3=СS+ СBxd3=СR#
Creation of reciprocal batteries with 2 chameleons in Bishop phase, white promotions in CQ and CR, model mates.

The diagrams created at ankona – www.ankona.ch – prime site for organizing chess problems: diagram images, cataloging and solving interface.