Christmas Contest, 2006
In the Dec. 23rd issue of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" the traditional Christmas Contest 2006 of Harald Keilhack's chess column was published.
The original version (in German) can be found here:
Translation by Jens Guballa:
As every year the readers of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" are invited to the contest. Among the senders of correct solutions for the problems A and B the following prices are drawn by lot: a cordless telephone, a microwave grill and a color TV.
Take care that after a retraction, the removal of a piece or after the exchange of pieces a legal position occurs. And take care which side has the move respectively may have the move! For studies and direct mate problems always white has the move. Exception: the opposite can be proven. In this case also black may possibly checkmate in retro problems.
In addition you may check whether more than one solution exists.
Send your solutions until Jan. 15th, 2007 latest (post stamp) to:
Stuttgarter Zeitung (Schach) Postfach 10 60 32 70049 Stuttgart Germany
Have fun solving!
A - Werner Keym Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2006 (Original)
Checkmate in one move. Justification!
[2K5/q3p3/1Nk5/R7/8/B2Q4/8/8]
B - Günther Weeth Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2006 (Original)
Remove a chessman. Then checkmate in one move.
[8/8/8/8/8/8/NPPPP3/rkBK4]
And here are three more problems for our experts. For D it is sufficient to give a relatively short main variant, the computer will possibly distract from the solution. For E a retro analysis must be given.
C - Bert Kölske Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2006 (Original)
Black retracts his last move. Then helpmate in two moves - it is black to move and he helps to be checkmated.
[8/8/8/8/4P2p/6kP/8/4K2n]
D - "Borrowed" from a game Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2006 (Original)
There is the thread to loose the queen and black is up a lot of pawns. Is there any hope for white who has the move?
[1k6/ppN5/6p1/6pp/4p3/2p1P1bP/2P1r1P1/1Q4K1]
E - Günther Weeth Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2006
Two chessmen are exchanging their places. Then checkmate in two moves.
[3R3R/1NKp1ppr/1p2pP1p/1P2P3/1N4Pk/4PP2/6pP/6bb]