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No.696, 697 |
Original Problems, Julia’s Fairies – 2015 (I): January – June →Previous ; →Next ; →List 2015(I) Please send your original fairy problems to: julia@juliasfairies.com |
No.696, 697 by Chris Feather – Two elegant four-men problems, surprising neutral promotions and rich thematic effects! (JV)
Definitions:
Phantom Chess: Any unit except a king may move either normally (from its current square) or as though from its Circe rebirth square if the latter is vacant.
Circe: Captured units (not Ks) reappear on their game-array squares, of the same colour in the case of pieces, on the file of capture in the case of pawns, and on the promotion square of the file of capture in the case of fairy pieces. If the rebirth square is occupied the capture is normal.
Anti-Kings: A king is in check if he is not attacked. Mate occurs when a king is not attacked and his side has no move which exposes him to attack. (Of course kings may not be captured.)
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No.696 Chris Feather |
Solutions: (click to show/hide) |
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White Ka3
Black Ka4
Neutral Pd5 Pe2
h#3 (1+1+2n) |
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No.697 Chris Feather |
Solutions: (click to show/hide) |
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White Ka1
Black Kc6
Neutral Pc5 Pd4
h#4,5 duplex (1+1+2n) |
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In No.696 the Ks initially attack each other, so neither one is in check. In (a) Black promotes to nS which Black then moves to c6 via b8. The presence of nS on a white square allows the bK to move to a3, where the nS attacks it via b1. The wK then captures the nS, removing the attack on the bK, but the wK is now safely under attack from the nP via d7. In (b) Black promotes to nQ which White then moves to b3 via d1. The nQ attacks both Ks which are then able to move far apart. In the mate the nP captures the nQ via c2, removing the attack on the bK but attacking the wK. In (c) there are two promotions. Black promotes to nB, which will keep the wK safely under attack via f8. White promotes to nR and then moves it to h6 via h1, allowing the bK to move to a6. The nB then captures the nR via c1, removing the attack on the bK, but the nB still attacks the wK via f8. Note that 3.Kb6? would allow 4.nBe3!
It is suprising how an AUW magically appears! Note that the nPe2 cannot start on a2, c2 or g2 because of cooks in some parts.
Nice problems. Surprisingly varied play with only 4 men !