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The Problemist

July 2010

R424F - Alain Brobecker, Thierry le Gleuher

The Problemist, July 2010

8+12. On which square of the original board is the white king? (Shrink chess)

[pppp/P2n/pP1p/rP1r/PbPP/KBkn]

Solution

R425 - Dragan Stojnic

The Problemist, July 2010

13+10. Mate in 4 moves

[r3k1N1/1ppppNpp/8/B2Q4/8/3P2P1/PPPrPpP1/2K2B2]

Solution

F2831 - Vlaicu Crisan, Klaus Wenda

The Problemist, July 2010

7+6. -5 & s#1 Proca, Anticirce a) diagram b) Pc3->h2

[2n2n2/4RN1p/Q7/4Pk2/5b2/2P5/8/1b2KN2]

Solution

F2832 - Alain Brobecker

The Problemist, July 2010

Find unique Fincher Random Chess initial setup and games ending in
a) 4. Qc1xPc6
b) 4. Qb1xBf5

Solution

F2833 - Paul Raican

The Problemist, July 2010

9+12. Shortest proof game in 10.0 moves (Einstein)

[r1bqkbn1/3ppppp/p7/8/8/2K5/1PPPPPP1/R4B2]

Solution

Shrink chess:

When a file or row becomes empty as a result of the move, this file or row is removed from the board.

E.g. 1. Sa3 a6 2. Sb5 [Remove 3rd row, so black king is now on e7] a4 [Remove 5th row, so black king is now on e6].

Remarks by JdH:

Although it's not explicitly told in the definition, I assume (at least that's how I always played the game during my college years) that the pieces above or to the right of the row/file to be removed are moved downwards/left.

Alain Brobecker told me that the definition of Shrink chess used for the
composition in The Problemist is different. The intended Shrink Chess definition is:

An *EDGE* file or rank disappears if unoccupied (eg: 1.a4 b5 2.axb5 Nc6 3.Rxa7 Rb8 4.Rb7 a-file disappears).