The merry-go-round in problem chess

Narayanan's Problem corner

The merry-go-round in problem chess

Chess is very often compared to solid geometry. The player must change, build, move about mentally and use the board as a field for placement of chessmen according to a plan. But the problemist also uses the geometry of the board to control the paths traversed by different pieces and RUNDLAUF is one such conception. In the history of evolution of chess problems Rundlaufs have a special place and several great composers like E Brigfeld, Meyer and W Pauly have produced masterpieces at the turn of the century. Various types of Rundlaufs have been analyzed exhaustively covering geometric configurations like triangle, square, circle and the like and also in different genres of problems like more-movers, helpmates and studies.

In Rundlauf a piece has to describe a closed figure. In other words, the piece which commences the de tour must complete by arriving at the starting square. The five-mover below is an impressive example of a rectangular Rundlauf which can be shown only in a problem of such length. There is white strategy in forcing the bishop moves. The two white rooks are sacrificed en route and the little white pawn has the last laugh.

Dr E Zepler, Schwalbe 1937
White:Kc6 Rf5 Rh7 Pb2

Black: Ka6 Ba5 Ng1 Nh3 Pa7

White to mate in five moves

Solution:

1.R(h)h5, Be1 2.Rh4!, Bxh4 3.b4, Bd8 4.Ra5+!, Bxa5 5.b5 mate.

The next problem is a famous end game study featuring knight chase, probably the oldest study showing a Rundlauf. The black king and the white knights follow the same route and mating always await the black king when he goes off the track.

Mac Gleans Deutche Schachzeitung 1868

White: Kg1 Qg7 Bh1 Nd3 Ne3 Pa4
Black: Kd6 Rb8 Rg8 Be1 Na1 Nb1 Pb3 Pb4 Pd2 Ph3

White to play and draw

1.Nc4 ch, Ke6 2. Sc5ch, Kf5 3.Nd6 ch, Kf4 4.Ne6 ch, Ke3 5.Nf5+, Kd3 ( 5….Ke2 6.Nf4ch, Kd1 7. Ne3 ch, Kc1 8. Nd3 mate) 6.Nf4 ch, Kc4 ( 6…Kc2 7.Ne3 ch, Kc1 8.Nd3 mate) 7.Ne3, Kc5 8.Nd3 ch, Kd6 and draws by perpetual check.

The black king gets hounded by the knights while the hapless black men merely watch the proceedings.

Try problems for solving - A Rundlauf three mover :

White

Kc8 Qh1 Bb6 Pb5 Pc4 Pd6 Pg4

Black

Ka8 Re4 Bf2 Pa4 Pc5 Pd7 Pe6 Pf5 Pf7 Pg5

Dr F Palitzch, Deutche Wochenschach 1913 - Mate in three moves

Solutions to previous problems in Zagoruyko, the multi-phase concept

V.Macs 3 Pl, Pervensivo Latvijkoj

Set 1…N any 2.Qc1 and 1…Nc3 2.Qh6 Try: 1. Qf3? (threat 2. Qd3) 1…N any 2. Rd1 and 1… Nc3 2.Qf4 but 1…Ra3! Key: 1.Qb5!! (2.Qd3) 1…N any 2.Qb4 and 1…Nc3 2.Qg5 1…Rxa3 2.Qb2 ; 1…Kc3 2.Qb4

J. Beszczynski 1-2 Pr, Start 1955-56

Set: 1…Kf5 2.Qh5 and 1…Kd6 2. Ke4 Try: 1. Qb3? (2.Qd5) 1…Kf5 2.Rg5 and 1…Kd6 2.Qd5 but 1…c6! Try: 1.Qa4? (2.Qf4) 1…Kf5 2.Qe4 and 1…Kd6 2.Qd4 but 1…c6! Key: 1.Qc2!! (2.Qc5) 1…Kf5 2.Qd4 and 1…Kd6 2.Qc7

- 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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