Obstruction in more-movers

Narayanan's Problem corner

Obstruction in more-movers

Obstruction of black pieces either by white or black has been used in varied ways in the problems of extended length. In the two-mover such obstructions are restricted to self-blocks near the king's field which deny the king the escape square. In certain varieties of obstruction in more-movers the element of a stalemate which is normally associated with the king is extended to a particular black move. This black move which guards a critical square is forced to lose control of it in a sequence of moves cramping the black piece through obstruction and is termed Seeberger obstruction. The four-mover below is a neat illustration of the idea.

The key 1.Bd2! prepares to shut down black bishop's control of the a1-h8 diagonal for the white knight mate. Black bishop pre-empts with 1.Bh8 so that if now 2.Bc3 is played then black can have his turn to shut down white's line with 2.f6!. But white does play 2.Bc3 followed by the black move 2.f6 a Seeberger obstruction which allows 3.Ba5!! and now black is in zugzwang. He has to lose control of g7 and white knight mates at g7.

White: Kd3, Bc1, Bf5, Nf3, Ne8 Black: Kh5, Ba1, Pa6, Pf7, Ph6

A. Kraemer
Hamburger Correspondent 1924

Mate in FOUR moves

The second problem below, a miniature four mover, is more artistic. After the key 1.Rh4!! white threatens 2.Ra4 followed by 2.Ba7 3.Rxa7 4.Ra8 mate. The checks to the white king will not work 1.Bd4+ 2.Kxd4 and if 1.Bh2+ 2.Rxh2 followed by 3.Rh8. The only defence 1.Ba7 and white plays 2.Nb6 threatening Rh8. Now black has two options leading to two distinct blocks, the second one a Seeberger. 1.Bxb6 2.Rh8+ Ka7 3.Ra8 mate. 1.cxb6 2.Kd6, any 3.Rh8 mate. Bishop at a7 is incapacitated and the white king is forced to c8 in the second variation.

C.Wachenhausen
I HM, A.Klopp Ty 1938

Mate in FOUR moves

White: Ke5, Rh7, Bc6, Nc8 (4 pieces) Black: Kb8, Bg1, Pc7 (3 Pieces)

The third example shows the theme with white obstruction in a five-mover. 1.Nc6!! threatens immediate 2.Ng8 which is defeated by 1.Rh8+ 2.Kc7(now threatening 2.Rxa7) , Ra8 3.f5, f6 ( Not 3.Rb8? f5! And now white is in zugzwang and has to free the BR) 4.Rb8!! and here the white obstruction forces black to lose control of b8.

White: Kc8, Rb7, Nd8, Pb4, Pf4 (5 pieces) Black: Ka6, Rh4, Pa7, Pb5, Pf7 (5 pieces)

A.Popandopulo
2 HM, Main Post 1974/75

Mate in FIVE moves

The problem for solving has a powerful queen stationed near the king but yet black has sufficient resources to extend the eventual mate. How does white force black men into a tangle through a Seeberger?

A.Kraemer
2 HM, Die Welt 1949

Mate in FOUR moves.

White: Ke7, Qg6, Pc5 (3 pieces) Black: Kh8, Rh3, Bc1, Pc4, Pd6, Pe5, Pf6, Pg3, Pg7 (9 pieces)

Solutions to the two movers in The Miniature Marvels:

Sam Loyd: 1.Ng4 ch! Wurzburg: 1.Ra2!

- 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, 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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