Some Problems by Marjan Kovačević

Some people just operate at a higher level with their craft. The Serbian grandmaster is one of my favorite two-move composers.  If I could only use one word can be used to describe his creations it would be artistic.  His problems are spread throughout this blog, but I wanted to make a special post.  It was difficult to pick favorites, but here is my attempt at the impossible.

Kovačević, Marjan
BJMC-80 Tourney 2018

#2

8 + 9

We start with a recent 2nd prize winner from the "Newotny" theme tourney for the 80th birthdays of Barry Barnes, John Rice, Michael Lipton, and Colin Sydenham.  I liked this problem better than all of the entries because of how artistic it was.  On face value there are 3 Novotny cutting points: e5, e2, g7.  The try 1.Se5? (2.Qd4,Be6) falls to the line cutting defense 1...Sc3! The point is that refutation cuts the wB's guard on d4 and e5 which are both already covered.   The threat 2.Be6 cuts the wRe8's line of guard on e5 and hence will not work. Such a defense is known as a Theme A defense. So White now moves on to the other Novotny squares. However, play to these squares picks up an extra threat from the previous e5 try along with the natural threats.  This extra threat is enforced by other theme A defenses.

1.Re2? (>2.Qc4,Se3,Be6)
   1...Rxe2 2.Qc4
   1...Bxe2 2.Se3
   1...Bc3 2.Be6 
   1...Qd4 2.Qxd4
   1...c5!

1.Bg7! (>2.Sc7,Sf6,Qd4)
  1...Bxg7 2.Sc7
  1...Rxg7 2.Sf6
  1...Re7 2.Qd4
​  1...c5 2.Qb7

Who doesn't love theme A line cutting defenses? Beautiful open position and idea.  ​

Kovačević, Marjan
6th FIDE WCCC 2018

#2

10 + 8

Here is a traditional problem with the 6th WCCC theme of 3 pairs of related variations. 

1.Rf4! (>2.Rd5)
   1...Rxe5 2.Se6
   1...Bxe5 2.Qd6
   1...Rxe4 2.Qe3
   1...Bxe4 2.Sf3
   1...Bd8+ 2.Re7
​   1...Rg1+ 2.Bg2

Kovačević, Marjan
Mat (Beograd) 1988

#2

8 + 7

A wonderful combination of the half-battery and Dombrowski paradox.  In the Dombrowski paradox a try that threatens mate (A) has refutation (a).  Meanwhile after the key the same defense (a) allows the mate (A).  Here we have the full on theme in threefold form.

1.Be3? (>2.Sh2)
  1...Rxe3 2.Sc8
  1...Rd8 2.Sd2
  1...Rxh1 2.Sc6
  1...Rd6!

1.Bh2? (>2.Se3)
  1...Re1 2.Sc8
  1...Rd6 2.Sd2
  1...Rxh2 2.Sc6
  1...Rd8!

1.Bb6? (>2.Sc8)
  1...Rxb6 2.Sh2
  1...Rxa8 2.Se3
  1...Re4!

What remains is to form a third battery!

1.Bd4! (>2.c4)
  1...Rd6 2.Sh2
  1...Rd8 2.Se3
  1...Re4 2.Sc8

Kovačević, Marjan
Diagrammes 1992

#2

11 + 12

This problem features one of my favorite two-move themes: the French-Russian.  The idea is that several tries are defeated because of the specific errors they cause.  However, the key compounds the errors, but compensates for them in some way.

1...Qxf3 2.Rxf3
1...Bxe7 2.Bd4
1...Sxe7 2.Qf4

1.Rg5? (>2.Sf5)
    1...Sd6 2.Sxd5
    1...Qxf3!
1.Rf6? (>2.Sf5)
    1...Bxe7!
1.Rf4? (>2.Sf5)
    1...Sxe7!

The tries fail because they unguard f3, block the wQs line to f4, and block the wBs line to d4 respectively.  The key does all of these things!  It provides for these defenses by pinning the bS.

1.Re5! (>2.Sf5)
   1...Qxf3 2.Qc3
   1...Bxe7 2.Rc4
   1...Sxe7 2.Bh6

Kovačević, Marjan
Moscow Tourney 2006

#2

5 + 6

Here is a delicious Meredith featuring a doubling of the so-called anti-switchback.  I love this author's switchbacks (see the March 2018 post) and here he adds a new wrinkle.  The double pawn push separates two different mates, one of which is a switchback.

1.Qd4? (>2.Bxa5)
   1...e6 2.Qf6 (switchback)
   1...e5 2.Qh4 (anti-switchback, Gamage unpin)
   1...Bxc3 2.Qb6
   1...Bc7!

1.Qc6! (>2.Qc8)
   1...e6 2.Bf6 (anti-switchback)
   1...e5 2.Qf6 (switchback)
   1...Rc5 2.Qd7
   1...Bc7 2.Qxc7
   1...Be6 2.Qe8

​Neat idea and perfect execution.

Kovačević, Marjan
Pat a Mat 2010

#2

11 + 11

Another blockbuster.  The wQ is pinned and the wRf8 is ambushed behind the bBf7.  If the bB opens the line (e.g. 1...Be6) there are three mates 2.Bxf2,Bf4,Rxf3.  Moreover, if the wQ is unpinned there are three mates 2.Qd4,Qd3,Qd2.  The wRb2,wSc1,wPc3 can unpin the wQ but this cyclically forces only two of the mates.  Moreover, these moves separate the set dual.

1.Sb3? (>2.Qd2,Qd4 [Qd3?])
   1...Bxd5 2.Rxf3
   1...Sd~ 2.Sf5
   1...fxg2!

1.Rb3? (>2.Qd4,Qd3 [Qd2?])
   1...Bxd5 2.Bf4
   1...Rxc3!

1.c4 (>2.Qd3,Qd2 [Qd4?])
   1...Bxd5 2.Bxf2
  

Kovačević, Marjan
Diagrammes 2004

#2

10 + 5

A beautiful idea with tries that feature the same error.  The wSb4 looks to be the key piece but where should it go?  Don't miss the set checks handled by the battery play.

1...Be8+ 2.Sd7
1...Qf5+ 2.Bd5
1...Qf1+ 2.Bd3

1.Sc6? (>2.Sd8)
  1...Be8!
1.Sd5? (>2.Sc7)
  1...Qf5

These tries fail because they obstruct the batteries in some way and allow Black to pin the threat piece.  However, the key does the same thing, this time changing the set mate.

1.Sd3! (>2.Sc5)
   1...Qf1 2.Bg6
   1...Qf5+ 2.Bd5
   1...Be8+ 2.Sd7

Kovačević, Marjan and Subotić, Miroslav
The Problemist 1992

#2

4 + 3

Even his miniatures have depth.  In this problem we have a nice little try problem featuring a showdown between the wQ and bR.  At first glance one wants to move the wQ to threaten mates and there are lots of ways to do this. The most threatening move is 

1.Qg8? (>2.Qxg7,Qd5,Qg2,Qg1)
    1...Rh8 2.Qxh8
    1...Rg7!
1.Qf8? (>2.Qf3,Qf1)
    1...Rf7 2.Qh6
    1...Rg7!
1.Qe8? (>2.Qe4,Qe1)
    1...Re7 2.Qh5
    1...Rf7!
1.Qd8? (2.Qd5,Qd1)
    1...Rd7 2.Qh4
    1...Re7!

Now we have figured out that moving the wQ doesn't work, but moving the wB opens the line for the wQ.

 1.B~(Bb7)? (>2.Qc1)
     1...Rd7!

Finally White can handle this defense with

1.Bd4! (>2.Qc1)
    1...Rh8 2.Qxh8
    1...Rg7 2.Qh3

A wonderful duel between the wQ and bR.

Kovačević, Marjan
The Problemist 1992

#2

10 + 8

Another experiment with the switchback and a fantastic one at that.  Not only a pair of switchbacks but a beautiful Zagouriko.

1...Qxg8 2.Bxe4
1...d3 2.Qxe4

1.Rxe4? (>2.Qe2)
   1...Qxg8 2.Re6 (switchback)
   1...d3 2.Re3 
   1...Sd3+ 2.Qxd3
   1...Sc3!

1.Sxe4 (>2.Qf1)
   1...Qxg8 2.Sf2 (switchback)
   1...d3 2.Sd2
   1...Sd3+ 2.Qxd3

​

Kovačević, Marjan
Moscow Tourney 2017

#2

7 + 7

Here is an outstanding achievement.  The try makes a triple threat and these mates return after a triple flight giving key as variations after the bK moves.  
​
1.Sg3? (>2.Qe4,Qxh6,Qc7)
   1...Sf5 2.Qxf5
   1...Sf3 2.Se2
   1...c3!

1.Sc3! (>2.Sd5)
   1...Ke5 2.Qe4
   1...Ke3 2.Qxh6
   1...Kg3 2.Qc7
​   1...Sf3 2.Se2