The Ideal Rukhlis

Narayanan's Problem corner

The Ideal Rukhlis

Problem jargons are of two types-the first type such as interference, self-blocks which are frequently used to identify the nature of black defences and white mates and the second named more often after a composer who has worked on a theme fairly systematically and produced good examples. Rukhlis falls in the latter variety and cannot be strictly called a theme but as a combination of mate change and mate transference. The Ideal Rukhlis adds further refinement to the Rukhlis scheme in that the defences to which the set mates (after at least two particular defences) are transferred after the key are also provided mates in the set i.e., the diagram position. While hundreds of examples of Rukhlis exist, the Ideal Rukhlis problems are few and far between. Readers may once again recall that the 'set mates' are those mates which are provided after black moves in the diagram position.The notational representation of Ideal Rukhlis can be laid out as below: Set: 1..a,b,c,d 2.A,B,C,D mates. After the key 1. X !! 1.a,b,c,d 2.E,F, A,B (where the small letters indicate black defences and capital letters the white mates).

It may be seen that the mates for defences a,b are transferred to defences c,d after the key apart from providing changed mates E,F for a and b. Thus far it is Rukhlis. But providing mates C,D in the initial position for c and d complete an Ideal Rukhlis. Let us study a Rukhlis by one of the greatest two move composers of the last century .

Jan Hartong
First Prize, Szachy 1949
White: Kb6, Qb5, Ra4, Bc8, Be5, Nd6, Ng6, Pc5, Pf3, Pg5 (10) Black: Kd5, Qh6, Rd1, Re7, Bf1, Bf4, Na1, Nd8, Pb7, Pb3, Pf5 (11)

Mate in two moves
The set play : 1.Rxe5 2.Nxf4; 1.Bxe5 2.Nxe7 These two are self blocks on e5. Now the key pins the white knight at g6 1.Nc4!! threatening 2.Pc6. The mates after 1.Rxe5 and Bxe5 are changed to 2.Qd7 and 2.Ne3 and the original mates by WNg6 appear after unpin defences. 1.Nc6 ,1.Ne6 2.Nxf4 ,Nxe7. An excellent and clear presentation of the theme.

The second example is an Ideal Rukhlis. Look at the four defences and mates.1.Be5(a),Ne3(b), Rxe4(c), Bxe4(d) 2. Nf5(A), Qxg7(B), Nf3(C), Nb3(D) .The fine key which gives a flight and places the WN en prise totally changes the complexion. Key 1.Nc4 !! (2.Qxd5) 1..Be5(a), Ne3(b), Rxe4(c) and Bxe4(d) 2. Qxe5(E), Qxe3(F), Nf5(A), Qxg7 (B)

L.Swedowski
White: Ka1, Qg5, Rc8, Be2, Nd2, Nh6, Pe4 (7) Black: Kd4, Ra8, Rh4, Bc2, Bg7, Nf1, Pa6, Pb6, Pc3, Pd5, Ph5 (11)

The shifting of self-blocks (here from e5,e3 to e4) from one square to another is a familiar strategy employed many other examples. The composition is embellished with a long-shot mate 2.Qd8 after a fifth self-block 1.dxe4 which is called by play along with 1.dxc4 2.Rxc4. Very economical and open construction for a difficult theme.

Of the two problems given for solving the first one is a Rukhlis featuring battery play and the second one by the Indian master composer shows a brilliant ideal Rukhlis with self-blocks and dual avoidance galore.

Problems for solving:

Arnoldo Ellerman
I Prize, American Chess Bulletin 1951

M Parthasarathy
First prize, BCM, 1969

White: Kh5, Qf1, Ra4, Rb2, Bd1, Bb4, Na5, Pc5 (8) Black: Kb5, Rh7, Re2, Bh8, Ne1, Ng1, Pa6, Pd6, Pf7, Ph6, Ph3 (11)
Mate in two moves

White: Kb1, Qg3, Rc6, Rd1, Ba8, Be5,Nd6, Ne6, Pc2 (9) Black: Kd5, Qh8, Ra7, Rg6, Bh7, Bh2, Nf7, Ng5, Pa6, Pb2, Pd4 (11)
Mate in two moves

Solution to problem "Rukhlis, a combination theme" 1.Nd5! (Wertheim)
1.Ng2!(Kisis)

- C G S Narayanan

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Glossary

Symbol	Meaning
+	Check
#	Checkmate
x	Capture
!	Good Move
!!	Excellent Move
?	Bad move
??	Blunder
!?	Interesting Move
?!	Dubious Move
1-0	White Wins
0-1	Black Wins
1/2	Draw
Twoer	Mate in Two Moves

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About the author

C G S Narayanan C.G.S.Narayanan, an international composer of repute, has been composing Chess problems for the past thirty years. He has won several awards for his compositions in International composing tourneys and he has an output of over 300 problems to his credit. He is the second Indian to win the prestigious Brian Harley Award for the best two-mover composed by a subject of British Commonwealth twice in 1977 and 1991. He has been editing THE HINDU Chess problem column from 1982 onwards, after S.K.Narasimhan. He has captained the Indian team in the World Chess Compositions Tournaments held by FIDE.

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