The Odessa theme

My last post was on the ubiquitous Le Grand theme which features a reversal of threat and variation.  The Odessa theme is named after the Ukrainian city because of the composers that cultivated the idea during the late 1960s.  Technically speaking the Odessa theme is a double threat version of the pseudo Le Grand, i.e., it has a pattern as follows:

1.Try? (>2.A,B)
   1...a 2.C
   1...b 2.D
1.Key! (>2.C,D)
   1...c 2.A
   1...d 2.B

Notice that the defenses do not need to be the same between phases.

Moen, Kabe
Problemas 2019

#2

8 + 4

Starting out with one of my own compositions.  I find this to be a beautiful Meredith with an open position and mirrored bK.  The mechanism is based on self blocks and dual avoidance with interference mates.  Notice that the wB on h6 is not doing anything.  Its two moves provide try and key.

1.Bg7? (>2.Rf5,e4)
​  1...Rc5 2.Rd8
  1...Bc5 2.Bc6
  1...Rxe2!

1.Bf8! (>2.Rd8,Bc6)
  1...Rd4 2.Rf5
  1...Bd4 2.e4
  1...Rb6 2.Rc5

The point is that the moves to the squares d4 and c5 defend against the threats because they cut off guard to c4.  I was really happy with this, but unfortunately this mechanism has been used several times for the Odessa.

Gvozdjak, Peter
FIDE world cup 2011

#2

13 + 10

Here is a heavy but nice Odessa that got second prize in the prestigious FIDE world cup tourney in 2011.  The excellent try and key each open a potential line for White and close a line for Black.  It is worth close study to figure out what makes the whole thing tick.  Moreover this problem accomplishes the double threat Le Grand where the defenses are the same -- really hard to pull off.

1.Bc3? (>2.Sc5,Qd5)
  1...Rxf5 2.Qxf3
  1...Kxf5 2.Sf6
  1...Sd4!

1.Sg6! (>2.Sf6,Qxf3)
  1...Rxf5 2.Qd5
  1...Kxf5 2.Sc5
  1...Qxf2 2.Qd3

Gordian, Yuri and Melnichenko, Viktor
Stella Polaris 1968

#2

11 + 8

Here is an early version of the theme that involves unpinning motifs.  

1.Rg7? (>2.d8=Q,dxc8=S)
  1...Qb7 2.Qc5
  1...Qxb8 2.Qf4
  1...Sb6!

1.Rg6! (>2.Qc5,Qd4)
  1...Se7 2.d8=Q
  1...Be7 2.dxc8=S
  1...Qxf5 2.Sxf5
  1...Qb5 2.Sxb5

Mansfield, Comins
Europe Echecs 1972

#2

7 + 5

Here is Mansfield composing at age 76 with a modern Meredith Odessa.  Beautiful royal battery and give and take keys.

1.Bd4? (>2.Qe5,Kc3)
  1...Kxd4 2.Qf4
  1...Bxd4 2.Kd2
  1...Rh2!

1.Be3! (>2.Qf4,Kd2)
  1...Kxe3 2.Qe5
  1...Bxe3 2.Kc3 

Gavrilovski, Zoran
Wola Gulowska 1997

#2

7 + 5

Here is an interesting double threat Le Grand.  I like this problem because it has a disappearing Novotny.  However, do you notice anything unusual? That's right, three white bishops!  Still pretty cool.  

1.Sd4? (>2.Rc2,Be2)
  1...Rxd4 2.Sb6
  1...Bxd4 2.b6
  1...e2!

1.Qxe3! (>2.Sb6,b5)
  1...Rd4 2.Rc2
  1...Bd4 2.Be2
  1...Rd6 2.Qc5
  1...Rxe3 2.Sxe3

Koryaka, Vladimir
Panorama 1999

#2

8 + 4

​Here is the Odessa theme with triple threats. 

1.Rb5? (>2.Re6,Re7,Re8)
  1...Rf3 2.Rf5
  1...Rg3 2.Rg5
  1...Rh3 2.Rh5
  1...Sc5!

1.Re2! (>2.Rf5,Rg5,Rh5)
  1...Rc6 2.Re6
  1...Rc7 2.Re7
  1...Rc8 2.Re8

A rather symmetric position and the wQ acts as a bishop, but none the less quite an achievement in Meredith.

Dombrowskis, Alfreds
Vechernaya Odessa 1974

#2

9 + 11

Here is the marvelous cyclic Odessa.  I have included the algebraic notation for clarity. The mechanism uses battery formations and an ingenious use of double checks. Dombrowskis really was one of the greatest twomove composers of all time.

​1.Qc8? (>2.Bb6 A, Bd6 B)
   1...Rxa6 2.Rc4 C
   1...Bxa6 2.Rd5 D
   1...Bc6!
​1.Qg1? (>2.Rc4 C, Rd5 D)
   1...e3 2.Sxd3 E
   1...Qe3 2.Sxd7 F
​   1...Qe6!
1.Qg5! (>2.Sxd3 E, Sxd7 F)
   1...Rb6 2.Bxb6 A
   1...Bxg5 2.Bd6 B
   1...Rxa6 2.Rc4 C
   1...Bxa6 2.Rd5 D
Note he also works in the mates C and D as variations post key.  Truly excellent!




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