THE AWARD of JULIA’S FAIRIES 2012
(April – December’ 2012)

Judge: N.Shankar Ram

 ⇒PDF version

At the outset, my apologies to Julia and all participating composers for the delay in completing this award. Lost some steam in between after starting.. My thanks to Julia for this opportunity.. and to Seetharaman for suggesting my name to her.

Some words about the Julia’s Fairies phenomenon.. Within a short span of time this website has evolved from being a novice composer’s space for publishing her own problems.. to a very professionally managed fairy chess problem resource. Along the way, Julia has also evolved .. as a composer and editor. Of course, her energy and passion is boundless.. and infectious.. as seen in the enthusiastic participation of so many composers.. not only in the originals, but also in the comments and discussion about the published problems. Something heartening is the support and encouragement offered to new composers. Indeed a “miraculously friendly garden” ( Marjan Kovačević )! 

Super GM Petkov has also played an important role.. with his high quality originals.. which he seems to be able to turn out in his sleep..! his detailed analysis and comments on the originals.. his suggested improvements to some of them.. his praise and encouragement for other composers..and his thoughtful and instructive articles.

Coming now to the problems.. For me, the “product mix”, as it were, was something very different from what I had been accustomed to seeing in other magazines, a couple of decades back! There was no neat breakup between directmates, helpmates, selfmates and the like. There was a preponderance of HS#s, neutral pieces as also multiple conditions in the same problem.. in all, quite a heady mix!

The problems of Peter Harris were a particular difficulty for me. I find his style of composition something unusual and new.. to put it lightly! Some of his problems elicited differing reactions from those viewers brave enough to plunge into the details. But, after the initial reaction to “run away screaming”(his own words!), a more careful second look uncovers quite a lot of content.

I had some discussion with Julia regarding options for breaking the whole into sections.. but in the end, decided to take it all together.. Of course, this was a challenging job. The quality of most of the problems was quite high and it was not an easy task for me to select and rank them. The subsequent decision from 2013, to split the year’s originals into 3 separate tourneys was wise.. and better for both the judges and the composers! To conclude, My congratulations to all the composers.. and apologies to those whose problems are not included here.

“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgement. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defence of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends…” (Anton Ego in Ratatouille)

N.Shankar Ram,

International master of FIDE
Bangalore, November, 2013.

 P RIZES

1^st-2^nd Prize: No.125, Jean-Marc Loustau, France.

A stunning combination of cross checks, white triple grimshaw and lacny themes.. along with rich by-play.. and a double flight giving key to top it off.
The set play shows triple avoidance by “theme A” effects: the black leo closures of the lines g4-d7, g2-d8 and g6-d6 prevent white from closing other lines b5-d7, b4-d8 and b6-d6 to the same squares.
The Key 1.NAg5 changes everything. The original white mates on c6 now return cyclically shifted after the same black leo moves, which are now corrections creating guards for 2 bk flights at a time: Leo-f4 creates guards by g2-d8 and h2-d6, Leo-f5 by g4-d7 and h2-d8 and Leo-f6 by g6-d6 and h5-d7.
The by-play includes 4 anti-battery mates on e6, one changed and one transferred mate and of course, the two bk flights. The construction is very light for so much content. The two white equihopppers are not used in the set play, but they are essential for the scheme to work.
Another addition to the list of cyclic masterpieces by the French virtuoso!

1^st-2^nd Prize: No.183, Balasubramanian & Crișan, India/Romania.

Something totally different.. After the wk vacates d6, the black pao/vao play through it, creating anticipatory batteries for each other. The rear piece then executes a long range dance with the white lion on f4/d2, landing up behind the black Se3 – also enabling the white lion to guard bk flights. Finally, the other white lion moves to d6, forcing the pao/vao battery to fire. All this is executed with exact orthogonal/diagonal correspondence of every move – something rare in a problem of this length. The economy is outstanding. Except for the black pawns, every piece is used in both solutions.

a) 1…Ka3 2.Kc5 PAd4 3.LIb8 VAg3 4.LIh2 VAf2 5.LId6+ PAb4 #; b) 1…Kg6 2.Ke6 VAe5 3.LId8 PAd2 4.LId1 PAe2 5.LId6+ VAf6 #

No.29.1 Julia Vysotska & Petko A. Petkov Latvia / Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 3rd Prize hs#4            2 solutions             (5+10) Nightrider d1 Leo g1

No.200 Petko A. Petkov Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 Christmas and New Year greetings! 4th Prize hs#4*                                          (6+6) Chameleons: Sd1, Re2, Bf6, Sg7

3^rd Prize: No.29.1, Vysotska & Petkov, Latvia/Bulgaria.

A complex mix of unpins, masked batteries and promotions on 1st rank, leading to a critical wn/wb grimshaw on b5. The initial ws/wq preamble and the masked indirect leo battery on 2nd rank with dual avoidance in the black leo moves add more flourish. A clear improvement of No.29. Some dissenting voices about the black leo and it’s unpins.. Well.. the effects are real.. and one shouldn’t look at Caissa’s gifts too closely..!

I. 1.Sa6 +! Kd7 2.Qf8 LEh2! (2…LENg2?) 3.Na7 d1=N 4.Bb5 + Nxb5 #; 
II. 1.Sc6 +! Kf7 2.Qh8 LEg2! (2.LEh2?) 3.Ba6 f1=B 4.Nb5 + Bxb5 #

4^th Prize: No.200, Petkov, Bulgaria.

Complex battery and chameleon play. An apparent battery on f6-h8 is transformed into batteries on the h file and 8th rank. All shown in a light position.

Set-play: 1…g5-g4 2.cSd1-e3=cB cBf6-h4=cR 3.cBe3xh6=cR cSg7-h5=cB 4.cRh6-g6=cQ + cBh5xg6=cR #;
Real play: 1.cRe2-f2=cQ cBf6-d8=cR + 2.cQf2-f8=cS cSg7-e8=cB 3.cSf8-e6=cB cRd8-b8=cQ!! 4.cBe6-d7=cR + cBe8xd7=cR # 

No.143 K. Seetharaman India Julia’sFairies – 2012 Wishing “Bon Voyage” on Julia’s family vacation ! 5th Prize ser-h#16                                   (7+10)

No.100 Julia Vysotska Latvia Julia’sFairies – 2012 Dedicated to all authors, visitors and commentators of this site! 6th Prize hs#3*                                          (4+8) Сhameleons: Qg4, Qh2, Qh7

5^th Prize: No.143, Seetharaman, India.

Typical SH# style switchbacks and BQ visits to all corners. Yes, maybe we could solve it faster..!

1.Bc8-d7 2.Sa7-c8 3.Sc8-b6 4.Bb8-a7 5.Qa8-h8 6.Qh8-h1 7.Qh1-a1 8.Qa1×a5 9.Qa5-a1 10.Qa1-h1 11.Qh1-h8 12.Qh8-a8 13.Ba7-b8 14.Sb6-c8 15.Sc8-a7 16.Bd7-c8 Sc4-a5 #

6^th Prize: No.100, Vysotska, Latvia.

Mutual anti bristol style interferences between the black chameleon Qs on the h-file with each converting to knights to create a battery for the other. And with chameleon echo models and other matching moves.

Set-play: 1…CQh7-h4=CS 2.Kh5 f6 3.CQf5=CS + CSxf5=CB# (try: 1…Ch2-h6? 2.Kh5 f6 3.CQf5+ CQxf5=CS! no mate!); 
Real-play: 1.CQe6=CS cQh2-h5=CS 2.Kh4 f5 3.CSf4=CB+ CSxf4=CB# (try: 1…CQh7-h3=CS? 2.Kh4 f5 3.CSf4+? CQxf4=CS! no mate!)

No.16 Petko A.Petkov Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 7th Prize hs#4,5          2 solutions            (3+3) KoBul Kings Black Royal Piece Rb3 Black Rook-Locust h4

No.39 Peter Harris South Africa Julia’sFairies – 2012 Special Prize hs#3             b) d6↔g3              (6+6) Anti-Circe Isardam

7^th Prize: No.16, Petkov, Bulgaria.

Aristocratic 6 piece miniature with monochrome echo of final ideal mate, fully utilising kobul condition and locust.

I. 1…Be3 2.Rg4 LRxg4-f4 [wrK=rR] 3.rRd1 Bc1 4.rRf1 rRb1 5.Sxf4 [brR=rLR] ! – zugzwang!→ 5…Bxf4 [wrR=rS] # (1…rRb1?); 
II. 1…rRb8 2.Re4 Ba7 3.rKc4 LRxe4-d4 [wrK=rR] + 4.rRa4 rRa8 5.Sxd4 [brR=rLR]! – zugzwang→ 5…Bxd4 [wrR=rS] # (1.rRa3?)

Special Prize: No.39, Harris, South Africa.

A complex combination of two different fairy conditions.. Anti-Circe and Isardam.. with many interesting effects.

a) 1.Ra5-g5 Rg1-h1 2.Sc7-b5 Rh1-h2 3.Kg2×f1 [wKf1->e1] + Ka8×b7 [bKb7->e8] #; 
b) 1.Bg3-f2 Sf4-e2 2.Qg8-b8 Bd6-f4 3.Kg2×g1 [wKg1->e1] + Ka8×b8 [bKb8->e8] #

 H ONORABLE MENTIONS

No.128 Petko A.Petkov Bulgaria Dedicated to Julia Vysotska on the occasion of her birthday Julia’sFairies – 2012 1st Honorable Mention hs#2,5          2 solutions             (6+9) Double Grasshoppers: h4, h5 Rook-Lion a1

No.153.1 Nikola Predrag Croatia Julia’sFairies – 2012 2nd Honorable Mention hs#3             2 solutions             (8+9) LEO g6 Bishop-Locust e5 Rook-Locust f3

1^st Honorable Mention: No.128, Petkov, Bulgaria.

Matched openings of the doubly masked half battery b1-b8 with the DGs being fully utilised in both solutions. The way c7 and c8 is guarded and WB-b7 is prevented is very interesting.

I. 1…QGh4-c4 2.Sb2-a4 b5xa4 3.Bb4-c5+ b6xc5‡; II. 1…QGh5-c3 2.Bb4-a5 b6xa5 3.Sb2-c4+ b5xc4‡

2^nd Honourable Mention: No.153.1, Predrag, Croatia.

Intricate Locust and Chinese line effects with orthogonal/diagonal echoes. I prefer this version over No.153, since the 3rd move tries here are better than the 1st move tries of 153.

I. 1.Qe3 LRxg3-h3 2.Kf3 LEg3 3.Qa3+ LExa3# (3.Qe1+? Lexe1+ 4.Be3!); 
II. 1.Qd4 LBxf6-g7 2.Ke5 LEf6 3.Qa1+ LExa1# (3.Qd8+? LExd8+ 4.Bd4!)

No.99 Peter Harris South Africa Julia’sFairies – 2012 3rd Honorable Mention h#2              b) Kb8→a4       (0+1+2n) Super-Circe Сhameleon Chess

No.26.1 Petko A.Petkov, S.K. Balasubramanian & Pierre Tritten Bulgaria / India / France Julia’sFairies – 2012 4th Honorable Mention h#2             2 solutions              (2+6) White Locust h8 KoBul Kings

3^rd Honourable Mention: No.99, Harris, South Africa.

Plenty of Neutral, Circe and Chameleon effects, leading to AUW with only 3 pieces. Reminiscent of Gandev’s works.

a) 1.nPh3×g2 [+nPa8=nB] nBa8×g2=nR [+nPe1=nS] 2.nSe1×g2=nB [+nRa7] nBg2-a8=nR #; 
b) 1.nPh3×g2 [+nPg8=nQ] nQg8×g2=nS [+nPe1=nR] 2.nSg2×e1=nB [+nRb5] nBe1-a5=nR #

4^th Honorable Mention: No.26.1, Tritten, Balasubramanian & Petkov, France/India/Bulgaria

France/India/Bulgaria. Harmonious and complex 4-corner play with outstanding economy.

I. 1.Rh2 Kxf6 (Ka8=rB) 2. rBg2 LOxh2-h1 (rB=rR) #; II. 1.Bb2 Kxh7 (Ka8=rR) 2.rRa2 LOxb2-a1 (rR=rB) #

No.150 Petko A.Petkov Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 5th Honorable Mention hs#3              2 solutions           (3+14) Anti-Andernach Сhameleons: Bc7,Bd7,Qe4

No.2 K. Seetharaman India Julia’sFairies – 2012 6th Honorable Mention hs#2,5          b) LEg8->g7         (4+8) LEOs: a4, a5, g8

5^th Honorable Mention: No.150, Petkov, Bulgaria.

Half battery openings with Chameleon and Anti-Andernach effects.

I. 1.Qxc7 Кf3 2.Qxh2 CQf4 =wCS 3.CSxh5 = CB+ CBg4 =wCR#! – because of illegal self-checks not possible are the moves:
4. wCRg7=bCQ??; 4.wCBf7=bCR??; 4. Re7=bR??; 4.Qc7=bQ?? ;  
II. 1.Qxd7 Kd4 2.Qxb5 CQg4 =wCS 3.CSxf6 = CB+ CBe5 =wCR#! – because of illegal self-checks not possible are the moves:
4. wCRe7=bCQ??; 4.wCBe7=bCR??; 4.wCBg7=bCR??;4. Re7=bR??; 4.Qd7=bQ??

6^th Honorable Mention: No.2, Seetharaman, India.

The Black Leos have to avoid blocking a1-h8 or a8-h8. This results in Bristol style critical moves and long range White Anti-Battery formations.

a) 1….LEa2 2. LEa8 LE5a3! 3. Sf8+ LExa8#; b) 1….LEa7 2. LEa1 LE4a6! 3. Sf6+ LEna1#

No.70.1 Valerio Agostini & Petko A.Petkov Italy / Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 7th Honorable Mention h#2,5              2 solutions            (5+6) Lions: b1, b5

No.118.1 Bosko Miloseski Macedonia Julia’sFairies – 2012 8th Honorable Mention hs#3              2 solutions             (5+9)

7^th Honorable Mention: No.70.1, Agostini & Petkov, Italy/Bulgaria.

A delicate dance between the BQ and the W Lions.. with Li/Li batteries and other echoed strategy.

I. 1…LIb1-h7 2.Qd2-b2 (2.Qb4?) LIb5-b1 3.Db2-e5 LIb1-g6#; II. 1…LIb5-h5 2.Dd2-b4 (2.Qb2?) LIb1-b5 3.Db4-e4 LIb5-g5#

8^th Honorable Mention: No.118.1, Miloseski, Macedonia.

Bi-colour Brunner-Turton with direct and masked pins of WB and WS.

I. 1.Rb1-g1 Rc6-h6 2.Rg1-g6 Re4-e8 3.Rg6-a6 + Rh6×a6 #; II. 1.Rb1-f1 Re4-g4 2.Rf1-f4 Rc6-c8 3.Rf4-a4 + Rg4×a4 #

No.176 Peter Harris South Africa Julia’sFairies – 2012 9th Honorable Mention hs=5                                               (1+1)  b) +Black Grasshopper h7 Maximummer Sentinelles Pion Advers

No.198 Ján Golha Slovakia Julia’sFairies – 2012 10th Honorable Mention h=3               4 solutions             (2+3) Take & Make Circe Parrain

9^th Honorable Mention: No.176, Harris, South Africa.

3 promotions in each twin with interesting final stalemates.

a) 1.Kh1-h2 Ka8-b7 2.Kh2-g2[+bPh2] Kb7-a6[+wPb7] 3.b7-b8=Q h2-h1=B + 4.Kg2-h2[+bPg2] g2-g1=S 5.Qb8-g3 Bh1-a8 =;
b) 1.Kh1-h2 Gh7-h1[+wPh7] 2.h7-h8=Q + Ka8-b7 3.Qh8-b2 + Kb7-a6[+wPb7] 4.Qb2-a1[+bPb2] + b2×a1=R 5.b7-b8=G Ra1-g1 =

10^th Honorable Mention: No.198, Golha, Slovakia.

4 fold stalemate echo with a fair amount of Take &Make and Circe-Parrain effects in each solution.

I. 1.Re4-e1 Ra6-a1 2.Kd5×e5-g6 Ra1×e1-b1 [+wSf5] 3.Kg6-h5 Rb1×f1-g3 =;
II. 1.Re4-a4 Ra6×a4-c4 2.Kd5×e5-f3 [+bRc2] Rc4×c2-e2 [+wSg3] 3.Kf3×e2-e1 Sg3×f1-e3 [+wRc2] =;
III. 1.Re4×e5-c6 Ra6×c6-c4 [+wSg3] 2.Kd5×c4-a4 Sg3-f5 [+wRb6] 3.Sf1-e3 Sf5×e3-c4 =;
IV. 1.Kd5×e5-f3 Ra6-a4 [+wSe3] 2.Kf3-f2 Se3×f1-g3 3.Kf2-g1 Ra4×e4-e2 =

No.144 Georgy Evseev & Lev Grolman Russia Julia’sFairies – 2012 11th Honorable Mention h#3               3 solutions      (1+0+3n) Circe Parrain Madrasi

No.213 Diyan Kostadinov Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 12th Honorable Mention h#2          b) nRa2->c4     (2+10+2n) Anti Take & Make Take & Make

11^th Honorable Mention: No.144, Evseev & Grolman, Russia.

3 fold echo with excellent Neutral, Circe-Parrain and Madrasi effects in a Wenigsteiner.

I. 1.cxd3 Knf8(Bc3) 2.d2 Kng7 3.d1=Sn Snxb2‡; 
II. 1.c3 Kng7 2.cxb2 Knh7(Bnc2) 3.b1=Qn Qnxc2‡; 
III. 1.Bnc3 Knh7+ 2.cxd3 Knh8(Bd4) 3.d2 dxc3‡

12^th Honorable Mention: No.213, Kostadinov, Bulgaria.

Complex combination of Neutral pieces and two varieties of Take & Make.. leading to mutual batteries and every move packing a punch.

a) 1.B×a2(nRf2, Be2) nB×d5(Rg5, nBf5)+ 2.nR×f5(nBb1, nRc2) nR×e2(Bh5, nRa6)#;
b) 1.B×c4(nRh4, Bg4) nR×g4(Bh5, nRe6)+ 2.nB×e6(nRb6, nBc6)+ nB×d5(Rg5, nBd3)#

 C OMMENDATIONS

No.20 Alex Levit Russia Julia’sFairies – 2012 1st Commendation hs#3,5           2 solutions            (3+4) KoBul Kings Locust c1 ; Lions: b7,d6

No.172 Julia Vysotska Latvia Julia’sFairies – 2012 2nd Commendation hs#3      b) nMAOe4->e3   (3+8+2n) MAO e4, MOA e2 Lion b3

1^st Commendation: No.20, Levit, Russia.

3 Kobul transforms in each solution plus tempo moves and orthogonal/diagonal echo in a miniature setting.

I. 1…Bb3-c4 2.Lc1×c4-c5 [brK=rB] rBe5-g7 3.Lc5×d6-e7 [brB=rLI] + Rf5-f7 4.rKb8-a7 ZZ rLIg7×e7 [wrK=rL] #
(5.Li×f7[brLI=rR]?? self-check); 
II. 1…Rf5-g5 2.Lc1×g5-h6 [brK=rR] rRe5-e4 3.Lh6×d6-c6 [brR=rLI] + Bb3-d5 4.rKb8-a8 ZZ rLIe4×c6 [wrK=rL] # (5.Li×d5[brLI=rB]?? self-check)

2^nd Commendation: No.172, Vysotska, Latvia.

Uncommon combination of Neutral Mao/Moa , each pinning the other while opening a battery.

a) 1.nMAe4-g5 LIb3-h3 2.nMOe2-f4 LIh3-h5 3.Qc3-f3 + nMAg5×f3 # (4.nMOf4xh5? – illegal self-check by nMAf3!);
b) 1.nMAe3-d5 Bh6-c1 2.nMOe2-d4 Bc1-b2 3.Qc3-c6 + nMOd4×c6 # (4.nMAd5-c3? – illegal self-check by nMOc6!)

No.116 Zoran Gavrilovski Macedonia   Julia’sFairies – 2012 3rd Commendation ser-h#7           b) Sf8→a6           (5+7)

No.67 K. Seetharaman India (After Julia Vysotska) Julia’sFairies – 2012 4th Commendation hs#3              2 solutions             (6+3) Nightrider d5

3^rd Commendation: No.116, Gavrilovski, Macedonia.

In each phase, the BK opens, closes and again opens lines through d6, before returning there finally. Typical SH# motifs along with interchange of the 2nd and 5th moves.

a) 1.Kd5! [1.Ke5? … 4.Kd7??] 2.Be5 A 3.Kd6 4.Kc7 5.d5 B 6.Kd6 7.Rc7 Sf5#; 
b) 1.Ke5! [1.Kd5? … 4.Kc7??] 2.d5 B 3.Kd6 4.Kd7 5.Be5 A 6.Kd6 7.Rd7 b:c5#

4^th Commendation: No.67, Seetharaman(after Vysotska), India.

Mutual BQ/BN batteries in a light and perfect setting.

I. 1. Rd4 Qd3 2. Rg1 Nb4 3. Re4+ Qxe4#; II. 1. Rg2 Nb1 2. Rd7 Qa1 3. Re7+ Nxe7#

No.108.1 Semion Shifrin Israel Julia’sFairies – 2012 5th Commendation #2*                    AMU                (15+9) LEOs: c6, c8  PAOs: b2, f2, g7 VAOs: a2, a7, b8, d2, f1, f6 NAOs: a6, e3, e8 Nightriders: h6, h8

No.87 Dieter Müller, Franz Pachl & Sven Trommler Germany Julia’sFairies – 2012 6th Commendation #2 v…                                       (10+9) Grasshoppers: c8, d8 Equihoppers: a1, a5, c1, c2, g8

5^th Commendation: No.108.1, Shifrin, Israel.

Combination of Dombrovskis and multiple anti-battery mates on c7.

6^th Commendation: No.87, Müller, Pachl & Trommler, Germany.

3-fold Dombrovskis using Equihopper specific effects.

No.119 Jean-Marc Loustau France Julia’sFairies – 2012 7th Commendation #2                                                (7+11) LEOs: LEg4, LEh3 PAOs: PAa6, PAb2, PAb5  VAOs: VAa4, VAc4, VAe2

No.133 Franz Pachl Germany Julia’sFairies – 2012 8th Commendation #2                                              (13+12) PWC Camel d6; Zebre e1; RAO h1 Double-Grasshopper a1,d3

7^th Commendation: No.119, Loustau, France.

Typical Chinese specific mechanism to get a 2 phase/3 mate Shedey theme, with all mates by a single W Leo.

8^th Commendation: No.133, Pachl, Germany.

4 mate Ukraine theme, using a known mechanism.

No.195 Peter Harris South Africa Julia’sFairies – 2012 9th Commendation h=3            b) white Bh8             (1+1) Anti-Super-Circe Circe ; Sentinels

No.157 Chris Feather England Julia’sFairies – 2012 10th Commendation h#3                   duplex          (1+1+2n) PWC Take & Make

9^th Commendation: No.195, Harris, South Africa.

A two piece setting leading to varied stalemate positions in different corners and all conditions being well used.

a) 1.Kf4-g3[+bPf4] Rh8-g8 + 2.Kg3-h2[+bPg3] Rg8×g3 [+bPg7][wRg3->f7] 3.Kh2-h1[+bPh2] Rf7×f4[wRf4->g6][+wPf7] =;
b) 1.Kf4-g5[+bPf4] Bh8-f6 + 2.Kg5×f6 [+wBc1][bKf6->h8][+bPg5] Bc1-e3 3.f4×e3 [+wBc1][bPe3->g8]
Bc1×g5 [+bPg7][wBg5->g6] =

10^th Commendation: No.157, Feather, England.

Gandev style AUW in a Wenigsteiner with Neutral pawns and a new twist with Take & Make.

Black plays first: 1.Ke7 nPc8=nS+ 2.Kd8 Kxc8-d6[nSb8] 3.nSd7 nPxd7-f8=nR[nSc6]#; 
White plays first: 1.nPc8=nB nBb7 2.nPxb7-g2[nBc6] nBa8 3.Kc8 nBxg2-g4[nPa8=nQ]#

No.134 Mario Parrinello Italy Julia’sFairies – 2012 11th Commendation h#2              b) bRe4->e3        (9+10) c) bRe4->f4 Chameleons: Qc7, Sc5, Sf5

No.151 Petko A. Petkov Bulgaria Julia’sFairies – 2012 12th Commendation hs#3,5            3 solutions            (4+5) Grasshopper c3 PAOs: e2,g8,h2

11^th Commendation: No.134, Parrinello, Italy.

Cyclic funktionwechsel(Zilahi) between 3 W Chameleons.

a) 1.gxf5 CSa6=CB 2.Ke3 CBd3=CR#; b) 1.Sxc7 CSg7=CB 2.Kf4 CBxf6=CR#; c) 1.Sxc5 CQb6=CS 2.Ke4 CSxd5=CB#

12^th Commendation: No.151, Petkov, Bulgaria.

3 matching solutions with Black Pao/G dance and White R/Pao Bristol.

I.1…PAc2 2.Rh6 Gc1 3.PAh5 PAc7 4.PAhg5+ Gxh6#; 
II.1…PAd2 2.Rh4 Ge1 3.PAh3 PAd7 4.PAhg3+ Gxh4#; 
III. 1…PAe3 2.Rh5 Gf3 3.PAh4 PAe7 4.PAhg4+ Gxh5#

No.161 C.G.S.Narayanan India Julia’sFairies – 2012 13th Commendation #2                                                 (9+5) Superguards

No.110.1 Mečislovas Rimkus & János Mikitovics Lithuania / Hungary Julia’sFairies – 2012 14th Commendation ser-h#10                                      (2+4) b) DGh3→e6; c) Kc7→c2; d) Kc7→g7 Double Grasshoppers h3,h4,d5,f7

13^th Commendation: No.161, Narayanan, India.

Superguards effects are used to produce a “Love Chase” reminiscent of Loyd’s famous example.

Key: 1. Be1 ! (2.Qe6 #) (2. Qd3, d4? Re7!)
1… Re7 2. Qe4 !# (2. Qe6? R:e6!)
1… Rb5! 2. Qc5! # (2.Qe4?)
1…Rb4! 2. Qd4!# (2. Qe4? Kd4!)
1…Rb2! 2. Qd2! #

14^th Commendation: No.110.1, Rimkus & Mikitovics, Lithuania/Hungary.

4 BK in corner mates with Double Grasshoppers.

a) 1.Kd4-e5 2.Ke5-f6 3.DGh4-g7 4.DGf7-e6 5.DGd5-b7 6.DGe6-g8 7.Kf6-g6 8.Kg6-h7 9.Kh7-h8 10.DGb7-h7 Kc7-d7 #; 
b) 1.DGh4-c8 2.Kd4-e4 3.DGd5-f8 4.Ke4-f3 5.DGf7-g2 6.DGf8-h2 7.Kf3-f2 8.Kf2-g1 9.Kg1-h1 10.DGc8-f6 Kc7-d6 #; 
c) 1.DGf7-e4 2.DGd5-f5 3.Kd4-c5 4.Kc5-b6 5.DGh4-a7 6.DGe4-b7 7.Kb6-c7 8.Kc7-b8 9.Kb8-a8 10.DGf5-b8 Kc2-b3 #; 
d) 1.Kd4-d3 2.DGf7-c2 3.DGd5-b2 4.Kd3-c4 5.DGc2-d5 6.DGd5-b1 7.Kc4-b3 8.Kb3-a2 9.Ka2-a1 10.DGh4-a2 Kg7-h7 #

No.117 Tibor Érsek  & János Mikitovics Hungary Julia’sFairies – 2012 15th Commendation ser-h=8                                        (8+6) Anti-Circe

No.123 János Mikitovics Hungary Julia’sFairies – 2012 16th Commendation hr#2,5           3 solutions             (7+2) b) Kb2 ↔ Rf1  4 sol. KoKo

15^th Commendation: No.117, Érsek, Mikitovics, Hungary.

3 BB promotions, BR Rundlauf and self pins by returning BBs.

1.c2×b1=B[bBb1->c8] 2.Ra1×g1[bRg1->h8] 3.g2-g1=B 4.Bg1×f2[bBf2->f8] 5.Kh1×h2[bKh2->e8] 6.Rh8-h1 7.Rh1-a1 8.b2-b1=B Kd3-c2 =

16^th Commendation: No.123, Mikitovics, Hungary.

7 fold echoes between the two twins.

a) I. 1…Rf1-a1 2.Kb2-a2 Rf6-c6 3.Ka2-b1 Rc6-c2 #; II. 1…Rf1-b1 2.Kb2-c2 Rf6-d6 3.Kc2-c1 Rd6-d2 #; 
III. 1…Rf1-c1 2.Kb2-c2 Rf6-e6 3.Kc2-d1 Re6-e2 #
b) I. 1…Rb2-e2 + 2.Kf1-e1 Rf6-c6 3.Ke1-d1 Rc6-c1 #; II. 1…Rb2-f2 2.Kf1-e2 Rf6-d6 3.Ke2-e1 Rd6-d1 #; 
III. 1…Rb2-g2 + 2.Kf1-g1 Rf6-e6 3.Kg1-f1 Re6-e1 #; IV. 1…Rf6-f2 2.Kf1-g2 Rf2-f1 + 3.Kg2-g1 Rb2-h2 #

No.114 Paul Răican Romania Julia’sFairies – 2012 17th Commendation hs#5,5**       2 solutions             (2+2) Circe Parrain Einstein Chess Republican Chess Type 2

No.136 Michael Grushko Israel Julia’sFairies – 2012 18th Commendation hs#9*                                          (2+1) PWC Einstein Chess Republican Chess Type 2

17^th Commendation: No.114, Răican, Romania.

A potent brew of 3 varied conditions produces surprisingly different mates on far edges of the board.

Set-plays: I. 1… … 2.f3-f4 Sd4-b5=P 3.f4-f5 Be4×f5=R 4.Rd5×b5=Q [+wPd5] Rf5-f8=B [+bPb8] 5.d5-d6 Bf8×d6=R 6.Qb5-a5=R [+wPc6][+wbKa8] + Rd6×c6=Q [+wKa6] #; 
II. 1… … 2.f3×e4=S Sd4-c2=P [+bBd2] 3.Se4×d2=B c2-c1 [+bBd1] 4.Bd2×c1=R Bd1-e2=S [+bPd2] 5.Rd5×d2=Q Se2×c1=B [+bPb1] 6.Qd2-h6=R [+wRg5][+wbKh3] + Bc1-f4=S [+wKh5] #;  
Real plays: I. 1…Sd4-c6=P 2.f3×e4=S c6-c5 [+bBe3] 3.Se4×c5=B Be3×c5=R [+bPa7] 4.Rd5×c5=Q [+wBb5] a7-a6 [+bRc4] 5.Bb5×a6=R Rc4-d4=B [+bPb6] 6.Qc5-b4=R [+bKa2] + Bd4-c3=S [+wKa4] #; 
II. 1…Be4×f3=R 2.Rd5×d4=Q [+wPf2] Rf3-g3=B [+bSe4] 3.Qd4-d6=R Bg3×d6=R 4.f2-f3 [+wRd7] Rd6×d7=Q 5.f3×e4=S [+wRc8] Qd7-f7=R [+bSg4] 6.Se4-f6=P [+bKf8] + Sg4×f6=B [+wKd8] #

18^th Commendation: No.136, Grushko, Israel.

Two echoed ideal mates with lengthy sequences.

Set-play: 1…Bd5×b7=R [+wPd5] 2.d5-d6 Rb7-e7=B 3.d6×e7=S [+bBd6] Bd6×e7=R [+wSd6] 4.Sd6-f7=P Re7-e8=B 5.f7×e8=S [+bBf7] Bf7-h5=S 6.Sf6×h5=B [+bSf6] Sf6×e8=B [+wSf6] 7.Bh5×e8=R [+bBh5] Bh5×e8=R [+wRh5] 8.Sf6×e8=B [+bRf6] Rf6- g6=B 9.Be8×g6=R [+bBe8][+bKh8] + Be8-f7=S [+wKh6] #; 
Real solution: 1.Sf6×d5=B [+bBf6] Bf6-e7=S 2.Bd5-e4=S Se7-c8=P 3.b7×c8=S [+bPb7] b7-b6 4.Sc8×b6=B [+bPc8] c8-c5 5.Bb6×c5=R [+bPb6] b6×c5=S [+wRb6] 6.Rb6- b1=B Sc5×e4=B [+wSc5] 7.Bb1×e4=R [+bBb1] Bb1×e4=R [+wRb1] 8.Sc5×e4=B [+bRc5] Rc5-c2=B 9.Be4×c2=R [+bBe4][+bKe1] + Be4-d3=S [+wKc1] #

Congratulations to the winners and to all participants!