Christmas Contest, 2007
In the yesterday's issue of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" the traditional Christmas Contest was published in the chess column of Harald Keilhack.
You can find the German original here:
http://kaniaverlag.de/htm/Weihnachts2007.html
Here is my translation [by Jens Guballa]:
Send your solutions until 15th of Jan 2008 latest (post stamp) to
Stuttgarter Zeitung (Schach) Postfach 10 60 32 70049 Stuttgart Germany
Among the senders of correct solutions of A and B the following prices are drawn by lots: A cordless telephone, a micro wave and a color TV.
Please take care that after a retraction or the coloring of pieces a legal position arise, and check which side has the move.
In addition you should check whether more than one solution exists.
Have fun solving!
A - Werner Keym
Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12/2007 (Original)
6+4. What is the shortest mate?
[4N2R/5kpp/3P1B2/3PpK2/8/8/8/8]
Solution
B - Günther Weeth
5+6. Change the color of one chessman, then checkmate in one move.
[5Bnr/4pp1k/5P1P/5PpK/8/8/8/8]
Here are three more problems for our experts. All senders of correct solutions C - E will be mentioned when the solutions is published and they will receive a book price.
C - Bernd Schwarzkopf
Find a position with two white and two black chessmen where white can achieve a stalemate in one move. Thereby the squares of the chessmen (calculated from its midpoint) shall build a quadrangle of maximum size.
Example:
[R5n1/8/8/8/8/7K/8/7k]
D - Harald Keilhack, borrowed from a game
8+9. Is there a win for white, who has the move?
[k1n5/p1P2rp1/P3p1pp/p7/8/5NP1/P4R1P/1K6]
E - Günther Weeth/Werner Keym
10+9. White retracts two half moves, black retracts one half move. Can white then checkmate in one move? (Proca retractor)
[2b5/1p1pppp1/7p/R7/4PP2/4P3/1P1PPR1b/4KB1k]