Battery play is one of my favorite ideas. While it does not constitute a theme by itself it can make for striking effects. Here are some more of my favorite battery problems along with some of my recent problems. Let's start with the master of batteries.
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After three years of composing my problems have finally reached a level high enough to compete. Overall, I consider myself a traditionalist: I love old style type problems with a well hidden key, selfblocks, cross-checks, battery play, line play, pinning, unpinning and complex variations. I do love some modern try play problems. I do have respect for pattern play problems but they are in general not my cup of tea. This puts me at a disadvantage for awards because single phase two movers are viewed as out of fashion. However, I have been fortunate enough to compose some try play problems that have won some awards in major magazines.
A switchback happens when one piece departs from a square and later returns to that square via the same path. Switchbacks make for a striking visual effect.
Clearance moves are common place in chess composition. In the simplest form one piece will make way for another piece to land on or pass through the vacated square. The Bristol clearance is one of my favorite ideas in all of chess composition. A Bristol clearance happens when one line piece must clear the way for another line piece. The catch is that the clearing piece must travel along the same line to clear the way. In the pure form the clearing piece has no further function. We begin with a nice little example by Sam Loyd.
Reciprocal change is a difficult and paradoxical idea in chess composition. It happens when two mates are interchanged between the same two defenses between two phases. In algebraic terms: In one phase mate A follows defense X while mate B follows defense Y. In another phase mate B follows X and mate A is switched to defense Y. Even though I have not had much success at it, reciprocal change is one of my favorite themes. We begin with a crystal clear example by Barry Barnes.
In general two-movers with multiple solutions are not considered to be sound problems. However, sometimes multiple solution problems can be composed intentionally with wonderful effects. Here are some of my favorites.
Focal play happens when a black piece is overloaded with guard on at least two squares so that when it moves it relinquishes control to one of the squares.
In general the three move problems are out of my composing comfort zone (to date I have only composed 4 three movers). However, I have been fortunate enough to successfully compose 2 miniature three move problems. A miniature is a problem with at most seven pieces. In general not a lot of strategy can be accomplished in a miniature, but these problems may make you think otherwise. Here are my two problems are along with some of my all time favorite three move miniatures.
In a two mover, a self block is a move that restricts the black King's movement. The blocking of a square in the bK's field may allow white to relinquish guard on that square or interfere with guard on the square. We begin with arguably the most famous mate in two problem of all time.
A battery is where a front piece is blocking a rear line piece so that when the front piece moves it opens guard of the rear piece. In its simplest form battery play can be dull and boring, but when done just right the effects can be scintillating. I love battery play and most of my problems have some form of it. Here are some of my favorites starting with a modest composition by myself.
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Chess ProblemsOn the side I like to dabble in chess problem composition. I am mostly interested in two and three move direct mates. I hope to convey the beauty and logic of chess problems with this blog. In the entries are some of my favorite problems and my own problems. Before looking at the problems I suggest reading this introduction to the chess problem world by the British Chess Problem Society. Also, here is a list of terminology and themes. Here is a link to my problems on yacpdb. ARTICLES
1. "Choose wisely" The Problemist Supplement, Sept. 2016 2. "Double checking white in a two mover" StrateGems July 2016 3. "Double check without capture" The Problemist Supplement, January 2018 4. "The disappearing Nowotny: Part I" The Problemist Supplement, March 2018 5. "The disappearing Nowotny: Part II" The Problemist Supplement, May 2018 6. "The disappearing Nowotny: Part III" The Problemist Supplement, July 2018 7. "Castling with half-battery and Fleck themes" StrateGems, July 2018 8. "The Baku Nowotny" StrateGems, January 2019 9. "The Romanian Nowotny with Fleck" The Problemist, March 2019 10. "Mirror Image" The Problemist Supplement, May 2019 11. "White King in Check" Problemas, July 2019 12. "A Simple Mechanism", StrateGems, July 2019 13. "Miniatures with castling and (partial) Fleck" Problemist Supplement, September 2019 14. "Taking the Straitjacket off the Fleck" The Problemist Supplement, November 2019 15. "Unforced threats" The Problemist Supplement, May 2020 16. "Ojanen in Miniature" The Problemist Supplement, May 2020 17. "Developments in the Finnish Nowotny" The Problemist, July 2020 18. "Categorising the Fleck theme" The Problemist, January 2021 19. "Masking the Bristol" The Problemist Supplement, March 2021 20. "My love of the Novotny" StrateGems July 2021 21. "Masked Novotny" The Problemist Supplement, November 2021 Archives
August 2022
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