Creation of hs#s for WCCT in cooperation

1.LE1h7 Bh1 2.LE×b8 LEg2 3.LEc2+ LE×c2‡
1.LEb2 Rh8 2.LE×b7 LEg8 3.LEa2+ LE×a2‡

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The hs# No. 1 was even published in our own magazine Pat a Mat and shows very attractive (at least for me) corner play of two white leos and black Bristol pairs. So I wanted to try something with corners…

1…LEe5 2.VAg8 Kc8 3.VAh7+ VAg8 4.VAf5+ LEe6‡
1.PAh6 LEd4 2.VAe6 Ka6 3.VAh3+ VAe6 4.VAf1+ LEc4‡

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It is important to realize that 3…VAg8 and 3…VAe6 are the moves thematical for the 9th WCCT – they cross intersection squares e6 and c4 respectively. These are later entered by bLE, activating bVA for checkmate.

1.LEg8 LEa2 2.LEa8 LE5a3 3.Sf8+ LE×a8‡
1.LEg7 LEa7 2.LEa1 LE4a6 3.Sf6+ LE×a1‡

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After WCCT closing date another corner-play hs# No. 3 was published, by another active JF reader. It has two WCCT thematical moves in each solution, B1 and W2. Specific play is shown also by pair of black leos, who make critical and intersection moves in Bristol style reciprocally. This feature was shown in my WCCT entry No. 4 in a cyclical fashion.

a) 1.LEc8 LEh5 2.LEca6 LEdg5 3.LEb6+ LE×b6‡
b) 1.LEg6 LEb8 2.LEc2 LEec7 3.LEcb3+ LE×b3‡
c) 1.LEg4 LEd3 2.LEe2 LE6d4 3.LEe1+ LE×e1‡

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Here the trio of black leos cyclically changes functions: the first makes critical move, the second follows it in Bristol fashion, the third then mates. In the meantime White just moves his LEg8. It is not very deep strategy, although the solo play of leos has some merit (again, just in my view). The twinning mechanism was quite lucky find after long struggle, with perfect use of rook guarding geometry. But there are only three thematical moves, so the low placement in WCCT was not so surprising.

1.LEd3 NAc3 2.LE×a6+ PAb5 3.Bd1+ Kd3 4.PAd8+ NAd5‡
1.LEe3 NAf3 2.LE×b6 PAc5 3.Be1 Ke3 4.PAe8+ NAe5‡
1.LEf3 NAe7 2.LE×c6 PAd5 3.Bd3+ Kf3 4.PAf8+ NAf5‡

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Actually I think another Slovak entry by Štefan Sovík & Ján Golha is a beautiful hs# with perfect geometry of moves, great use of force and echo play in the form of three solutions. Note the mechanism pinning black rear antibattery piece similar to the mechanism used in the No. 2. As section leader I know how many versions it had and how much the authors managed to improve the construction over time. But again only three thematical moves and it was placed very low in the award (even with no points for Slovakia as it was the lowest placed Slovak hs#).

1.Sg5 PAg1 2.LEh1 PAh3 3.Sf3+ PA×f3‡
1.Sd6 c4 2.LEa5 PAh5 3.Sb5+ PA×b5‡
1.Sd8 b×a6 2.LEa8 PAh6 3.Sc6+ PA×c6‡

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It shows some corner play by white leo, although it could be rather called edge play due to the presence of 1.Sd6 solution. The analogy of three solutions is good (although guarding of e5 is slightly altered in one solution), the number of pawns not so much. The line opening by the first black moves is a valuable thematical addition.

1.LEa1 Kf6 2.~ Ke5 3.Rd4+ LE×a1‡
1.LEh1 Kh5 2.~ Kh4 3.Bh3+ LE×h1‡

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The scheme works as follows. White leo makes corner-to-corner move along line later used by bK for two moves along. White then checks by antibattery (with reciprocal exchange of functions wR-wB) so that Black has to checkmate by corner-to-corner capture by bLE. Besides line play I liked dynamic nature of bK nets that could have been extended to wK nets.

1…d3 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.R×d3 Ke5 4.Rd4+ LE×a1‡
1…PAg1 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.Rf3 Kh4 4.Bh3+ LE×h1‡

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Let’s start with diagram No. 8. It was our first correct version, pointing to some properties of the scheme:

• one black pao is doing nothing in the solution (reciprocally);
• checking hurdle Rd4 has to be guarded, while Bh3 needn’t be;
• in this form Se2 guards d4, but does nothing in the other solution;
• PAc1/Pg1 prevent white defences to d1/f1.

a) 1…PAg2 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.Qf2+ Ke5 4.Rd4+ LE×a1‡
b) 1…PAc2 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.Rf3 Kh4 4.Bh3+ LE×h1‡

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This version is surely an improvement in spite of a twinning form. It improves some defects of the initial version:

• black paos now reciprocally exchange functions;
• mates are in fact models;
• all pieces play actively in both solutions,

but still – the strategy of some moves is different:

• 3.Qf2+ provides hurdle for PA, while 3.Rf3 provides hurdle for checking leo;
• Qf2 guards already guarded squares besides d4;
• d1 cannot be entered by Rd4, while f1 by Bh3 and Rf3.

a) 1…VAg5 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.PAc3 Kh4 4.Bh3+ LE×h1‡
b) 1…e4 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.PAc4 Ke5 4.PAd4+ LE×a1‡

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Ľudo, as usually, was not satisfied with the previous version and continued search for perfect position. He removed my queen and even one of two black paos on the first rank. First black moves now have similar content – both line opening for wLE and blocking. Well, 1…e4 unblocks square for bK while 1…VAg5 not. Also the play of wPA-wB pair is not well balanced. Is it possible to continue in this direction?

1…Bg4 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.PAb3 Kh4 4.PAh3+ Q×h1‡
1…f5 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.PAd7 Ke5 4.PAd4+ Q×a1‡

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This version differs more from the original concept. Black leo is replaced by bQ, pair of wB+wR by single white pao. Majority of potential bK flights are guarded statically by white knights. On the positive side there is unified strategy of all moves, including unblocking + line opening + blocking of the first black moves. Checkmates are not model and PAb7 opens bQ to h1. Unfortunately wPA cannot be on b8 due to cooks.

1…Bg4 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.PAb3 Kh4 4.PAh3+ Q×h1‡
1…f5 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.PAd8 Ke5 4.PAd4+ Q×a1‡

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Addition of static bPA removes the mentioned weaknesses. Personally I would use this version of two.

a) 1…PAg2 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.Bf2 Ke5 4.Rd4+ LE×a1‡ (5.Rd1?)
b) 1…PAc2 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.Bd2 Kh4 4.Bh3+ LE×h1‡ (5.Bf1?)

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Now there is grand finale. Trying many possibilities I have suddenly realized it is possible to cure deficiencies of No. 9 elegantly by changing the twinning mechanism (Pc2 is not removed, but rathe rmoved to c6) and replacing wQ by wB. This version is almost flawless with model cages around both kings.

a) 1.LEg7 PAg2 2.LEa1 Kf6 3.Bf2 Ke5 4.Rd4+ LE×a1‡ (5.Rd1??)
b) 1.LEh7 PAc2 2.LEh1 Kh5 3.Bd2 Kh4 4.Bh3+ LE×h1‡ (5.Bf1??)

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But Ľudo then did something unexpected. Without knowing No. 3 he suggested similar introductory moves by wLE. He has actually removed one of original virtues (corner-to-corner moves by wLE) and used two pawns more, but line play along line non-existent in the diagram position might be worth it.