Solution: 1. Bd5 Sf7 2. Sce5 Kxd5 3. Rf3 Sg2 (b) 1. Sd4 Sf1 2. Re3 Kxd4 3. Bf3 Sg6

Reason for choice: I like helpmates with their clear-cut play free from duals and solutions in less than the required number of moves. I particularly like to see strategies which would never occur in a normal game of chess. In the problem by Vieira, Black starts by unpinning a White Knight in both settings, the White King could capture the Black unit which has allowed the unpin, but waits until the unpinned Knight has moved and been replaced by a Black unit. Difficult to solve, one can only marvel at the time and effort required to compose such a problem.

Solution: 1.h6 d8Q 2.h5 Qd5 3.Sxh4+ Qg2+ 4.Sxg2 e8B 5.h4 Bc6 6.Sf4+ Bg2 7.Sd5 b6 8.Sc7 b7 9.Sxa8 bxa8Q 10.Bxg2+ Qxg2

Reason for choice: I remember being thrilled to solve this, one of the first of a series of long helpmate extravaganzas by the late Gábor Cseh in which soundness is wittily guaranteed by the extreme difficulty of avoiding mating White, and every last detail, down to the apparent flaw of the unused white knight at a8, is beautifully resolved.

Solution: 1.h1R Kxf3 2.e1S+ Kg3 3.Bg4 f4 4.d1B f5 5.Bh6 f6 6.c1S f7 7.Qh7 f8Q 8.b1B Qf6

Reason for choice: A problem which combines difficulty, depth and artistry with a unique promotion task in which every one of Black's eight moves is an exercise in precision.

Solution: 1.Bb6! (threat 2.Qg6 for 3.e4/Se4 mate) 1...Rf5 2.Qf4! Rxf4+/R5~+ 3.e4/Be4 mate 1...Sf5 2.Qh4! Sxh4+/Sd4+ 3.e4/Rg6 mate 1...e5 2.Qf5 1...Qf5/Qg6 2.Qxf5/Qxg6 1...Rxf3 2.Rxf3+ Kxg2 3.Rf5 mate

Reason for choice: This is an amazing problem. It has a perfect threat and two wonderful variations. In both variations black unpins the white queen. The unpinned queen plays sacrificial moves and after that there are battery cross-checks. (Misha).

The judge for the award wrote: "A brilliant and outstanding masterpiece that speaks for itself. Highlights worth pointing out again are the fine quiet threat 2.Qg6, the elegant continuations 1...Rf5/Sf5 2.Qf4/Qh4 (and not the other way round!) and the interesting byplay 1...Pe5 2.Qf5!" (Michael Keller)

Hints: In the diagrammed position all possible moves of the black knights are set with mates: 1...Se-any 2.Rc3, 1..Sd-random 2.Rbb3 and 1...Sxb5 2.Qxe4. However, no mate is provided for 1...Kd5. Presumably the d8 knight will perform important guard duty in the extended black king field, so it is natural to turn to the h4 bishop as the likely key piece since it is very much out of play.

Solutions: 1.Bg3! Kd5 2.Qf7 (A), 1.Be7! Kd5 2.Rxc5 (B) and 1.Bf6 Kd5 2.Rxd4 (C) are the three solutions.

Reason for choice: Note how in A the d-rook pins and the queen mates, in B the queen pins and the b-rook mates, and in C the b-rook pins and the d-rook mates. This interchange of function between the d-rook, queen and b-rook is the core of the problem. The key bishop works intensively; in each solution it crucially guards two squares in the mating net. A superb construction in which the b6 pawn is only a small blemish, necessary to prevent unwanted moves of the rook up the b-file after 1..Sd-random.

Solution: (a) 1.Sc2 Sc3 2.Sd4 Rxf5 mate. (b) 1.Be1 Sd2 2.Bf2 Re4 mate. (c) 1.Rb2 Sa3 2.Re2 Sc4 mate.

Reason for choice.
A remarkable early helpmate by an outstanding but sadly little remembered Finnish composer. At the time of its publication only about half a dozen sound original helpmates had as yet appeared in the magazine. It is remarkable not only for its elegance but because it uses the twinning form, which only much later came into prominence. People are still publishing originals like this even nowadays.

Solution: 1.Sb1+ Kb3 2.Qd1+ Rc2 3.Bc1 axb6 4.Ra1 b5 5.Rh1 bxc4 6.Ke1 c3 7.Sg1 f3 8.Bf1 f2.

Reason for choice.
A severe case of homesickness! From the solving viewpoint, the black force must first be brought under control before White can think of setting up a mating position. When the rook returns to a1 to continue guarding the a-file, a pattern emerges... Highly thematic, humorous, skilfully composed, a wonderful gem which once seen is never forgotten!

Solution: (a) 1.Be2 Bd3 2.Bc5 Ba6 3.Bc4 Bb7 mate. (b) 1.Bf8 Be7 2.Bc4 Ba3 3.Bc5 Bb2 mate.

Reason for choice.
I became a member of the BCPS in the early 1970s. This is a problem whose solving pleasure I remember even now. My comment on it at the time was "Memorable episcopation!"