Gerard Smits

3rd Prize, Rhodes 5-Days Long Composing Ty., 2007

Mate in 3

1.Sd7! [2.Kc6       (3.Sc5#)
              Rxd5  3.Qxd5#]
       
1...f6 2.b4         (3.Qe2#)
              Rxd5+ 3.Qxd5#
              Sd1   3.Qg2#
1...f5 2.b3         (3.Qe2#)
              Bxd4+ 3.Rxd4#
              Sd1   3.Qg2#
			

The awards of 12 composing tourneys are published in the Rhodes bulletin (comprising: #2 (1), #3 (1), H# (5), Retro (including fairy) (1), S# (2), HS#/= (1), Fairy (1) and even the Fairy tourney was for helpmates) which no doubt reflects the modern preference for helpmates. Despite this, there were some excellent directmates composed in the #3 tourney. The theme requirement for this was "In a #3, Black closes with his first move a black line. Then White closes with his second move a white line." Both the first prize and the second prize were ambitious compositions showing both black and white Grimshaws, but this problem (the winner of the third prize) which achieves its unity in a different way, appeals.

Notice in the diagram position that Black, if it were he to move, has two checks, both answered by immediate mate - 1...Bxd4+ 2.Rxd4# and 1...Rxd5+ 2.Qxd5#. This means that for the moment White cannot move his b-pawn to threaten mate on e2 because he would cut off either his queen or rook from being able to play those mates. However, if Black could be persuaded to move his f-pawn, interfering with one or other of his checking pieces, White could afford to destroy his provision for the appropriate answering mate. This explains the key. Black defends by threatening to capture the white knight on d7.

The judges (Henk and Piet le Grand) commented "White has to decide carefully which line can be closed. Beautiful realisation with quiet continuations. Black pawn moves are answered by white pawn moves."