Our cover problem commemorates Friedrich Chlubna, who passed away in the beginning
of this year. He became internationally known as a competent composer and judge,
then as an editor of an excellent column in Schach-Aktiv and as an author and
publisher of chess problem books. Many of his books are essential reading for
enthusiastic problemists, for example Das Matt des Weissen Königs and Versunkene
Schätze. It is sad that two of the three great Austrian problemists presented
in Dreiklang, Alois Johandl and Friedrich Chlubna, have left us within a few
past months. See p. 4 for the solution of the cover problem and another example
of his problems.
The first international solving competition (ISC) was held on Sunday, January
23, in more than 20 countries and locations. The Finnish results are on p. 5
and the problems with solutions on p. 6-7. Kari Karhunen had a great 100% score
with time to spare. The official overall results will be announced later.
Kari Valtonen has for a long time studied the problem chess themes and terminology
used in the Finnish language. The results will be published in ST in a series
of articles, starting with this issue by a way of introduction on pp. 8-13.The
articles deal with themes and terms in alphabetical order, concentrating each
time on one main theme or term.
The reconstruction column, edited by Harri Hurme, is on p. 14. The previous
problem was a 2# by Matti Myllyniemi, 1st Prize The Problemist 1978.
The originals columns on pp. 15-23 have a new outlook: each section is separate
from others and the home towns of foreign composers are no longer mentioned.
We hope that you are happy with the changes, comments on the new format are
welcome!
On the next pages we have several awards of both informal and formal competitions.
The ST competitions are self-explanatory, and the Teppo Mänttä 50
JT was for economising published problems. In the award by the jubilee - who
turned 50 in the end of November, not October as we claimed in ST 6/2004 - on
pp. 34-36 the original problem and the more economical version are diagrammed
for easy comparison.
The column Small Is Beautiful by Henry Tanner sees the light of day after a
break of more than a year, pp. 42-45. We hope that the composers have been patient
enough to wait for their problems to be published!
Starting with this issue, we publish titbits from the history of ST. This time
we turn the clock 30 years backwards and admire, once again, a 3# by Erkki Heinonen,
which won a 1st Prize in a national competition three decades ago, see pp. 46-47.
On the same pages we glance at other chess problem magazines, which have recently
published interesting material.
In Selected Helpmates, Marko Ylijoki entertains us with problems presenting
cyclic Zilahi of a special kind, see pp. 48-50.
Drago Bišcan, a versatile Croatian composer, passed away in the end of
2004. A short obituary with an example of his skill is on p. 50.
Paha pähkinä, A Hard Nut to Crack, selected by Neal Turner is on p.
51. This time the nut to be cracked is a h#2 with two solutions - such problems
cannot be too difficult to solve, or perhaps they can? The official list of
solvers' ratings is on p. 51 with the top 40 solvers listed.
The next issue of ST is due to appear in spring. Please, do remember to renew
your subscriptions!
Published 7th Februaryl 2005