The cover problem is a brand new record: it shows 14 successive discovered
checks in a legal position, with promoted pieces allowed. The composer is surely
a Finn, but we know nothing of him. The problem was published in the beginning
of July in Open Chess Diary, an excellent web site of Tim Krabbé. The
previous record of 13 checks was held by A. Lapierre with a problem published
76 years ago.
Other topics in this issue include the European Championship in solving, convincingly
won again by the strong Serbian team. Three medal teams were won by same countries
as in 2006. Finland improved from fifth to fourth place, but at some stage we
had higher hopes.. Serbia´s Bojan Vuckovic won the individual competition
ahead of Andrei Selivanov and Piotr Murdzia. The best Finn was Harri Hurme,
who performed strongly and finished eight.
It is noteworthy that three top teams had strong young solvers - a good example
to follow!
Risto Pohjonen MT was a national composing competition for problems showing
.... The award by Kauko Virtanen on p. 84 reveals that there were only four
problems, but the two top problems by GM Unto Heinonen compensate amply for
the lack of quantity.
Neal Turner continues stubbornly his Paha Pähkinä, A Hard Nut to Crack.
Paha Pähkinä 27, proposed by Pauli Perkonoja, proved to be an exceptionally
difficult problem. The solution and a new nut to crack are on p. 85, along with
a photo documenting a joint solving effort.
In issue 2/2007 we announced Pentti Sola 100 MT
in two groups. Joose Norri discusses the group requiring Finnish Novotny or
Finnish Plachutta. Joose presents two problems by Petkov, falsely classified
as Finnish Novotnys, see p. 86. Finnish Novotny requires a try, which is refuted
by a move by the pawn or piece, which is captured in the solution. At first
it seemed difficult for Joose to present the theme in a helpmate, but he is
happy with his original problem C, in which a random wS move makes the mates
2.-Bf6/Bf2 possible. 2.b1~! defeats, therefore the correct solution is 1.-Sxb2
2.Rxb2 Bf6# or 2.Bxb2 Bf2#. In part b), with wR on b3 and a black pawn added
on a3, there is also a solution 1.-Sxb2 2.axb2 Bf6/Bf2#.
On the following page we introduce Meson, Brian Stephenson´s problem database,
to our readers. Of course, it should be studied in the Internet, and we hope
that many readers will have this opportunity.
Dedication problems, Errata to ST 2/2007 and composing competition announcements
fill the page 88, followed by problems from the Rumanian Solving Championship
of 2007. It is enviable that even in the ladies´category there were 14
participants!
The originals columns start from p. 90, offering something for every taste,
we hope. Please, contribute to our columns with your problems!
Christopher Jones has been a familiar name during the past decade, especially
in the field of three-move helpmate. Marko Ylijoki presents this successful
and active composer on pp. 97-99 with 15 helpmates.
The next issue is due to appear in autumn.
Published 28th July 2007