Memorable Mutates

Narayanan's Problem corner

Memorable Mutates

In complete block problems, all the possible black moves are provided with mates and white requires only a passive move as key to hold the position. In certain problems of this kind the set mates cannot be retained by white and he has to necessarily abandon one or more mates for new ones. Such block problems with changed mates are known as 'Mutates' which are very popular with solvers. In this type almost every white move other than the key becomes a close try and it is always interesting to find as to which of the set mates is substituted.

The first problem below is a mutate which has only three mates in the set and the key makes these very mates reappear in a new order i.e. each mate is new to the particular defense. The three mates set mates are 1.Kc5 2.Bxe3 (A) ; 1.Ke5 2.d4(B) and 1.B any 2. Bf6 (C). The position cannot be held together by moves like 1.Pb6? (1.Kc5!) 1.Bf1? (1.e2!) 1.Qc1? (1.Ke5!) 1.Rh4? (1.B any!) and 1.Rc7? (1.Ke5!) as the guard to black king's field or the mate is affected by such moves.

A Pituk

White: Ke1, Qd1, Re7, Rh5, Be2, Bg5, Nc3, Ne8, a3, b2, b5, d3, e4, e6, h6
Black: Kd4, Bf5, a4, b3, e3, h7 (6)

Mate in two moves

The key move 1. Nd5 cleverly disturbs and shifts the mates to the three defenses. To bring about this interesting shift the white knight shuts the line of white rook at h5, abandons guards for b5 and e4 and guards the squares b6, f4 and e3. Now after the key the mates are 1.Kc5 2.d4(B); 1.Ke5 2.Bf6 and 1.B any 2. Bxe3. It is worthwhile to analyze as to why the set mates cannot work now. A difficult theme known as 'Cyclic shift' rarely shown in mutate form. There are hundreds of mutates with a single changed mate and some with maximum of changed mates. In general it might be said that that problems with a one or two changes are justified only when the change is spectacular in nature, such as a cross-check, or where the key which introduces it is of a notable character. In the problem below six new mates replace the six apparent mates, an almost phenomenal task.

J K Heydon

Second prize, Good Companion Ty, 1921

White: Kd1, Qc7, Rf3, Rh4, Be3, Bf1, Ng3, Nh3, a5, c2, f5
Black: Kd5, Bc8, Be1, Nd7, a6, b4, c5, d2, e5, f2, g4, h5

Mate in two moves

Set: 1.b3 2.c4; 1.c4 2.Bxc4; 1.gxh3 2.Bc4; 1.e4 2.Nf4; 1.Bb7 2.Qxd7 and 1.N(d) any 2.Qxc5 Key: 1. Ne4!! 1.b3 2.Nc3; 1.c4 2.Qxc4; 1.gxh3 2.Qd6; 1.Bb7 2.Qxb7 and 1.N(d)any 2.Nf6

Solvers may try their hand at the two light mutates given below.

White: Kg2, Qc2, Nd5, Nf3 Black: Ke2, Be1, Nb5, Nh3, d2, f4

White: Kc3 , Qg2, Bd1, Nd3, h4 Black: Ke3, Nh1, d2, e4, f2, g3, h5

J Opdernoordt 4 prize, Fourth Meredith Ty, 1917
Mate in two moves

D Banny 1-2 Pr, Olympic Ty, 1981
Mate in two moves

Solution to the three-mover in 'Merry-go-round':
1.Qa1!! 1...Rxc4 2.Qh8, Bd4 3.Qh1

- 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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