Tzuica 2013 Award
Tzuica 2013 Award
Theme: Help-selfmates (hs#n) or help-selfstalemates (hs=n) with at least two switchbacks in each
phase and at least two phases.
hs#3
( 6 + 5 ) C+
b) wKb3 wRc4
hs#3.5
( 10 + 9 ) C+
b) bPd3c5
=Vao ; =Lion ; =Pao
Thematic pieces:
wRc4 / bSd5 in twin A;
wRb3 / bSd5 in twin B.
Thematic pieces:
wVAg8 / bSe6 in twin A;
wPAh4 / bSf4 in twin B.
This award is dedicated to the memory of physicist Lon Foucault, on the occasion of his 194 th
birthday on September 18th, 2013. Lon Foucault is best known for the Foucault Pendulum, a
device demonstrating the effect of the Earths rotation.
Lon Foucault
(source: Wikipedia)
In the first place and according to our thematic requirement, the composition must show
at least 2 switchbacks. Only one problem competing in the fairy section showed 4 switchbacks
a technical achievement which we would not have believed possible. In the orthodox section,
the presence of three switchbacks virtually ensured a prize in the orthodox section.
HS#4.5
(6+8) C+
2 Solutions
1...Rxc6 2.e7 Sxf4 3.e8=Q Sd5 4.Qe5 Rd6
5.Qf4+ Sxf4#
1...Rxe6 2.c7 Sxe3 3.c8=Q Sd5 4.Qc1 Rd6
5.Qe3+ Sxe3#
HS#4
(10+10) C+
B: wQc8 h6
Kostas PRENTOS
2nd HM, Orthodox Section Tzuica 2013
HS#4
(8+7) C+
B: wPh5 h6
A: 1.Bh6 Kf2 2.Rg5 Ke3 3.Re5+ Kd4 4.Be3+
Sxe3#
B: 1.Rh5 Kg4 2.Bg5 Kf5 3.Be3+ Ke4 4.Re5+
Sxe5#
HS#4
(10+6) C+
B: bRe1 c1
capturing after performing a critical move and interference this is the only problem from the
tournament showing such a motivation. The paradoxical nature of the switchbacks is better
appreciated when trying to understand why wB or wR cannot turn back to their original squares
after performing for instance a four-moves Rundlauf. However, the rather poor black strategy
(i.e. only bK is playing in order to get into the mating net) prevents a higher classification.
2nd Honourable Mention: Kostas PRENTOS (United States)
A solid and convincing presentation, with many lines opened and closed. Three pairs of pieces
exchange their roles in a very satisfying diagonal-orthogonal correspondence. We liked a lot the
spectacular ending, with the cross-checks delivered by the batteries built during the solutions.
The repeated W2 is certainly a drawback, but is partly compensated by a second wK move. A
careful reader will certainly note some other disharmonic effects such as the B2 capture in the
twin, no Umnov mate in the first solution and the twinning involving the shift of the bR behind
the bK. However, the strong overall artistic impression more than compensates for these defects,
hence the distinction.
Francesco SIMONI
1st Comm, Orthodox Section Tzuica 2013
HS#3
(7+8) C+
2 Solutions
Manfred RITTIRSCH
2nd Comm, Orthodox Section Tzuica 2013
Dedicated to Eric Huber and Vlaicu Crisan
HS#2.5
(10+5) C+
2 Solutions
HS#4
(9+8) C+
B: bSc3 f3
2+1 Rook Locusts
2+1 Bishop Locusts
0+2 Nightriders
A: 1.Bb5 Nxb7+ 2.Kg3 Nf5+ 3.Kg4 Se2
4.Bd3+ Nb7#
B: 1.Sa5 Nxc7+ 2.Kh3 Ng5+ 3.Kg4 Sg1
4.Sc6+ Nc7#
HS#3.5
(7+10) C+
B: wKb6 b5
2+1 Paos
1+1 Vaos
A: 1...Bc8 2.VAxe3 PAxc5 3.VAh6 Bg3 4.Sg5+
PAxg5#
B: 1...Ra3 2.PAxf5 VAxc5 3.PAf1 Rgg3 4.Sf2+
VAxf2#
HS#4
(7+11) C+
Andernach
B: wBh8 c1
2+0 Nightriders
HS#3.5
(11+10) C+
B: wVAa4 g4
1+0 Leos
0+2 Paos
2+1 Vaos
A: 1...VAb5 2.VAxc6 VAe2 3.VAa4 Sd3
4.LEb5+ VAxb5#
B: 1...PAf5 2.VAxe6 PAf2 3.VAg4 Sf3
4.LEf5+ PAxf5#
HS#3
(9+9) C+
B: bSe2 c2
0+2 Sirenes
Francesco SIMONI
1st Comm, Orthodox Section Tzuica 2013
HS#2
(7+10) C+
3 Solutions
0+1 Camel
double pin mates. It is a pity the Sirene must capture twice in the first twin, while the bQ out of
play in the second twin mars the unity.
1st Commendation: Francesco SIMONI (Italy)
Two switchbacks in each solution, shown in three phases: White unpins a black officer and
captures bPb3 interfering wRa3 line, while the unpinned black piece captures wPg2 creating a
direct battery with bBh3. The whole play and motivation is well known from similar orthodox
problems, but the 6 switchbacks performed by 6 different pieces deserve recognition.
Dieter MLLER & Sven TROMMLER
2nd Commendation, Fairy Section Tzuica 2013
HS#4
(4+8) C+
2 Solutions
1+3 Grasshoppers
0+1 Nightriders
Themis ARGIRAKOPOULOS
3rd Commendation, Fairy Section Tzuica 2013
HS#3.5
(8+4) C+
B: wPg3 g6
2+0 Grasshoppers
0+1 Andernach Grasshoppers
a) 1...Rd1 2.Ge7 AGc2[c3=bQ] 3.Gc7 Qb2
4.Rg8+ AGc8[c7=bG]#
b) 1...Rg5 2.Gb7 AGxh3[g4=bR] 3.Gd7 Rh4
4.Qh8+ AGc8[d7=bG]#
solution is unfortunate, the exchange of functions between two pairs of white pieces is more than
satisfactory.
We conclude this award with our congratulations to the winners and our thanks to all participants
for the time spent studying their problems.
Vlaicu Crian & Eric Huber
26th September 2013, Cluj & Bucharest