Definitions: (click to show/hide)
Nightrider(N): (1,2) Rider. Operates along straight lines with squares lying a Knight’s move away from each other.
NAO(NA): (1,2) Chinese. Chinese piece operating along the lines of Nightrider.
PAO(PA): (0,1) Chinese. Chinese piece operating along Rook lines: moves as Rook, but captures only by hopping over a hurdle to any square beyond.
VAO(VA): (1,1) Chinese. Chinese piece operating along Bishop lines: moves as Bishop, but captures only by hopping over a hurdle to any square beyond.
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No.1110 Jean-Marc Loustau
France
original – 10.08.2016
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Solution: (click to show/hide)
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white Kb8 Ba1 Na3 Sc2 Qe1 Bf7 Pf3
black Kd3 Na7 Bc6 PAc8 Rf6 Ng5 Bg7 Rh5 VAh6 NAh7
#2 (7+10)
Nightrider a3, a7, g5
NAO h7; PAO c7; VAO h6
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1.Bf7-b3 ! threat:
2.Na3-e5 #
1...Ng5-a2 {(Ng5~)}
2.Qe1-e3 # {A}
1...Ng5-c7 !
2.Bb3-c4 # {B ((2.Qe3+? Nxe3!)}
1...Bc6-a4 {(Bc6~)}
2.Bb3-c4 # {B}
1...Bc6-d5
2.Sc2-b4 # {C (2.Bc4+? Bxc4!)}
1...Rf6-f5 {(Rf6~)}
2.Sc2-b4 # {C}
1...Rf6-f4!
2.Qe1-e3 # {A (2.Sb4+? Rxb4!)
By-play:}
1...Bc6-b5 !
2.Qe1-d1 # {(2.Bc4+? Bxc4!)
(C+ by Popeye 4.75)}
Cyclic Feldman theme, with 3 black corrections (A-B, B-C, C-A)
This thematic achievement is far from being new, but what makes the point here is the echoed systems of black correction, each involving cyclically 4 black lines, orthogonal, diagonal, and Nightrider-kind; for example, in the 1 st correction we have:
- an orthogonal line for preventing the threat (h5-e5),
- a diagonal line for the 1st degree harmful effect (h6-e3),
- a curved Nighrider-line for correcting effect (g5-c7-e3)
- again an orthogonal line c8-c4 (which is also used in the second system) for the 2nd degree harmful effect.
This happens for each system, with a cycle on the kinds of lines.
Moreover the setting is neat and quite light, with very few white forces and all black pieces being thematic. A kind of ternary geometry which can be found in the fairy helpmates field (I believe that Franz would not disagree :)), but not so much in fairy direct mates. (Author)
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No.1110 
Well done, Jean-Marc!
Nothing much for me to add, beyond what you’ve said.. except to say: “A Real Tour de RBN”!
But here’s an alternative analysis:
R~ opens a B line, but “uncloses” a chinese N line, allowing mate on b4
Rf4! guards b4, but closes a chinese B line, allowing mate on e3
B~ opens a N line, but “uncloses” a chinese R line, allowing mate on c4
Bd5! guards c4, but closes a chinese N line, allowing mate on b4
N~ opens a R line, but “uncloses” a chinese B line, allowing mate on e3
Nc7! guards e3, but closes a chinese R line, allowing mate on c4
Cycle in random moves: RBN/BNR/NRB
Cycle in correction moves: RB/BN/NR
Thanks Shankar for your kind comments!
Always a pleasure to read you!
Sure, there is no “hypercube” here 🙂 just some restful geometry…
The value of the problem is increased enormously by the wonderfully artistic setting. It is so beautiful!
I second this opinion.
Single-phase orthodox twomovers are close to extinct now, but in the fairy chess it is still possible to compose original and beautiful single-phase twomovers, helpmate-like analogy of variations being one of the most natural directions.
Hi Juraj! Warm thanks to you for this message.
I fully support what you write about fairies in classical style; Kjell and I have also exchanged by mail on this topic some months ago: the direct fairies had not its “good companion era”, and I believe that many fairy masterpieces remain to be composed in the manner of the great Mansfield, Ellerman, Guidelli, and other great masters of the old times… I don’t think such pieces would be necessarily seen as “old-fashioned”, on the contrary they could initiate a renewal of the genre, with various specific aesthetics enjoyable by everyone (far from some modern tasks and abstracts) and could enlighten many beauties still unexploited…
Right! The orthodox two mover passed through various phases. All of these have not been replicated by the fairy two mover. In addition to the GC phase, there is also the “white line play” period. Here too, a lot of nice things can be done.
Thank you so much, Kjell, for this so warm comment!