Prelude

 Most chess enthusiasts learn the rules and then spend years playing games without ever discovering the wonderful parallel world of chess composition.

 This is not merely about solving a puzzle that answers the question of how White can win, draw, or deliver a subtle, hidden checkmate in two or more moves. Over the course of chess history, a highly developed art form has emerged, in which deliberate, refined themes or even theoretical systems are presented as economically and aesthetically pleasing as possible. Both the solving of such problems and their composition have been cultivated just as much as over-the-board play, and even master, grandmaster, and world championship titles are awarded.

 For years, a mysterious little box sat in one of our cupboards – filled with curious light and dark pieces and a soft green cloth – far more intriguing than checkers, Chinese checkers, or mill game, in which I regularly defeated my patient aunts. When my father finally – after repeated urging – explained the game of chess to me, I knew instantly that the much deeper and more complex variety, with its different types of pieces, would henceforth hold me captive. Soon I had opportunities to play on rainy days with my father, my brother, my best school friend Wolfgang, and eventually also in a newly founded school chess club.

 Quite unusually, I was fascinated from the very start by the world of chess composition as well. As the administrative head of the Saarbergwerke, my father received a weekly supplement to the Saarbrücker Zeitung – a small magazine aptly titled Schacht und Heim (“Mine and Home”). It always contained a small chess problem whose solution was printed in the following week’s issue. These problems were more riddles than works of high art, but they caught my eye irresistibly: with relatively few pieces and usually only two or three moves to mate, they seemed easy in their stipulation, yet were often spiced with charming and sometimes astonishing key moves. I usually found the solutions relatively quickly, yet I waited eagerly for the confirmation in the next issue – or for hints about further hidden variants.

 In the post-war years, chess life in the Saarland still simmered on a rather small flame. All the problems came from a chess friend named Alban König from Fenne, a nearby district of my birthplace, Völklingen. In another suburb, Luisenthal, I lived only during my first two years, but later I would travel daily to the Völklingen State Secondary School – which much later would be renamed Albert Einstein Gymnasium.

 That I would one day move from the camp of competitive games to that of composition, and write many books and articles about it, was still written in the stars! But a special motivation had already taken root here – nourished by the great fascination and joy of discovering solutions. In addition, the cigarette smoke that was still allowed in tournament halls at the time soon became, considering my sensitive bronchia, a decisive reason  to switch permanently to the art of composed chess.

 Today, the works of good old Alban can only be found in the Saarbrücken city archives, in the bound annual volumes of Schacht und Heim. For many years, he brought great joy to the chess friends of the region – and, deep in my heart, he had already paved the way for one of my later main fields of publication. :-)

 Don't lose!

1

Hilmar Ebert

Heißener Schachpost 1979
Dedicated to Hans-Christoph Krumm

 Draw

1. Kf5? fails narrowly: 1... Bd1+! 2. Ke5 a4 3. Kd4 a3 4. Kc3 Ba4! 5. Kd2 a2 ...

1. Kf4! There's no use trying to push back the black king – White must immediately head for the saving square c1:

1... Bb3(!) 2. Ke3 a4 3. Kd3 a3 4. Kc1 Ba2(!) 5. Kc2 Ke6 6. Kc3 Bc4 7. Kc2 Ba2 8. Kc3 draw! (5.Kd2 dual minor).

 A temptation-oriented version of an old idea – There are very few endgame studies of this kind with White King alone (Rex Solus).

 Win!

2

Hilmar Ebert

Schweizerische Schachzeitung 1978

White wins(!)

1. Bh6! a2 (!) 2. Ba1!! a3 3. Kf6 Kh8 4. Kf7 mate (If 1... Kh8?! then 2. Kf7! followed by 3. Bg7#)

 Theoretical exception: Here, two white bishops on same-colored squares succeed in checkmating alone – even against several black pawns! This is possible due to double intersection clearance of square g7.

 An unexpected Indian theme: A momentary self-block is used deliberately to avoid stalemate and enable a powerful discovered mate.

2*

Hilmar Ebert

Weihnachts- und Neujahrsgruß 1994/95

White wins!
Position illegal, but funny! :-) (Christmas- und New Years greeting 1994/95)

 A variant of my “SPAsS” idea (Schwarze Partie-Anfangs-Stellung = Black Game Starting Position) combined with promotion pieces – here four white queens in paradoxical sacrificial mood:

1.Qf7+! Kxf7 2.Qf4+ Nf6 3.Qxf6+! Kg8(!) 4.Qh5! g6(!) 5.Qg2 g6xg6 6.Qh8#
Double queen sacrifice, unique dual-free solution. (4...g6 5.Qg2-g6:+; 4...h6 5.Qf6(h5)-f7+; 4...Qe8 5.Qf6-g7:+/Qh5-e8:; 3...Kf6:? 4.Qe2(g2)f3+). 

 If Black defends seriously, there is always exactly one dual-free winning line:

1.Qf7+! Kxf7 2.Nf4+ Nf6 3.Nxf6+! Kg8(!) 4.Nh5! g6(!) 5.Nxg6+! hxg6 6.Nh8#

 Three queen sacrifices! The second one is better declined, because after 3...Kf6? 4.Qe2/Qg2 f3+ etc. Of course, no claim to legality (over-the-board playability)!

 Such SPAsS positions were systematically studied by “he” (Hilmar Ebert) – feenschach 1976 and Die Schwalbe 1995. - This particular Christmas & New Year greeting received a humorous solution comment in Computerschach & Spiele (1995, p.44), when a certain Mr. Quack asked: “Where are those promotion queens supposed to have come from?” …and instantly suggested to rotate the board 180° for the trivial solution:

1.Qxc2+ Kxc2 2.Qe4+ followed by mate in 3!

1 To Mate or Not to Mate

Mate in 2 moves

3

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung I/1975

#2

1.N~? Kc4!; 1.Nf5?! Ke6! (2.Qd6+ Kf7!)
1.Rf6? Kc6! (1...Ke5?  2.Qc5#;  1...Kd4  2.Rf5#)

1.Nc8! Kc6  2.Qd6#,  1...Ke6  2.Qd6#,  1...Ke4  2.Qf3#,  1..Kc4  2.Nb6#

 Key of choice, star-flights of the black king – all white pieces are placed on the edge after the key move!

Mate in 3 moves

4

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung IX/1976

#3

1.Kb3?? Stalemate.
1.Kb4? Ka2  2.Dc2? Stalemate.
1.Qg2? (Ka2? 2.Qc2!) Kc1! or 1.Kc3? (Kc1? 2.Qh1#) Ka2!
1.Qe4+? (1..Ka2?  2.Qc2! ~ 3.Qb3#) 1...Kc1!

1.Kb5!! Ka2  2.Qc2! Ka3  3.Qa5#

 A distant key move with continued stalemate avoidance.

4*

Hilmar Ebert

leninske plemia, II 1988

 #6

1.Nc3+? Ka3! 2.c7? stalemate.
1.Na3!! Ka3:  2.c7 Ka2(!)  3.c8Q Kb1:  4.Kb5!! Ka2  5.Qc2 Ka3  6.Qa4# (4.Kb3?? or 4.Kb4? Ka2 5.Qc2 stalemate).

 Extension of the 5‑man problem: With an initial knight sacrifice, rook sacrifice, and stalemate avoidance.

5

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1972
Dedicated to Dr. Werner Speckmann

  #3

 And here comes my very first real composition ('Erstling' = Firstling): a three-mover that makes it clear why a certain theme keeps sneaking into my chess problems (as should become evident throughout this book as well …):

1.Rd1? But the pawn on c2 turns out to be quite a nuisance – hence:
1.0–0–0! c2  2.Rd5! Kg8  3.Rd8#

 Castling and Anderssen interference at the "threshold to the miniature," as Dr. Werner Speckmann called the eight-stone problems—the title of one of his booklets. His writings, along with A.H. Kniest’s “Diagrams and Figures,” were my first guideposts into the art of chess composition.

5*

Another kind or absolute Firstling - first published game:

White: h.e. (Altenkessel)
Black: Schorr (Emmersweiler)
(„Heim und Freizeit“ / 20.XII) („Home and Leisure“, Dec 20)
Saarbrücker Zeitung, 1969 (played on Nov 9, 1969)

 Position after Black's 13th move!

1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine Defense 2.e5 Nd5  3.c4 Nb6  4.d4 e6!?  5.Nc3 Bb4 6.f4 d5 – new and paradoxical, yet not easily refuted – 7.c5 N6d7  8.Nf3 b6!  9.cxb6 axb6  10.Be2 (10.Bd3!) c5!? – Long-term Saarland Champion Otto Benkner recommended 10...Ba6(!) 

11.0-0 0-0  12.Be3 Nc6  13.Bd3!! ... – a trap: seems like a tempo loss after the next move ...

13... Ba6!?  14.Bxh7+!? First sacrifice Kh8? – Black feared: 14...Kh7 15.Ng5+ Kg6(?) 16.Qd3+ f5 17.Qg3+  18.Bxf5+ Kxf5 19.Qg5+ Ke8(?)  20.Nd5! or  19...Kg8(!) 20.Nd5 Be6! 21.Rc1! But simply: 15...Ng5!! 16.fg5 Bf1 17.Kf1! cd4 18.Bd4 Bc5: and White still has a lot of work ahead if he wants to win ...!

15.Ng5! g6(!)  16.Nf7+!?  Second sacrifice! For the gallery ... (16.Be1! Kg7 17.Qh4(!) ... 18.f5!)

16... Rf7:  17.Bg6: Rg7(!) (17...Re7? 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Rf3! Bf8(!) 20.f5! )

18.Qh5+ Kg8  19.Rf3! Bf8(!) (19...Qe7? 20.Bh3 Kf8 (20...Tg6? 21.Bh8!) 21.f5! Tg8 22.Bg5!).

20.f5!? (also 20.Rg3(!) Qc7 21.dc5: )

20... cd4:? – The losing move... more resistance 20...Sg6:(!) 21.fxg6: De8! 22.Rf6(!) cd4: 23.Bh6! or  20...fxg5(!) 21.Bf5: 21...Se7!

21.Bh3 Sg6:  22.fxg6: Kf8 – Now everything is forced. 
23.Qh8+ Tg8  24.Qg7+ Ke8  25.Qg8+:  – Black resigned after a few more harmless moves... (The simplest win 25...Kd7 was: 26.Qd8+! Rd8 27.Rh3!!).

 With all the help from Black – an amusing "firstling"!

6

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach I-IX 1993

a) #3
b) 180°: #4

a) 1.Kd6? Kb5!
1.Kb6! Kd5 2.Lf6 Kd6 3.Td1#

b) 1.Kg3? f2!; 1.Lc3+? Kg4!
1.Ke3! Kg4 2.Tg8 Kf5 3.Le7 Ke5 4.Tg5#
1...f2 2.Ld8+! Kg4(!) 3.Tg8+ Kf5 4.Tg5#

 In both directions: Asymmetry.

7

Hilmar Ebert (mit A. Lehmkuhl)

Deutsche Schachzeitung IV/1975

#3

1.Kf4? f1Q+?  2.Nf3+! (2...Kg2  3.Rh2#), but 1...Ne6+!  2.Be6:+ Kh2!; 1.Nf3+? Kg3!

1.Kf6! Kg4  2.Nf5! Kh5:  3.Bf3# (2...Kf4  3.Rh4+)
1...Kh2  2.Nf5+ Kg1  3.Rh1#, 1..f1Q+  2.Nf5+ Kg4  3.Rh4#

 Choice of a distancing key move, which moreover leads to a model mate after a surprising rook sacrifice.

Mate in 4 moves

8

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung IV/1978

 #4

1. Kd7?, Kd8?, Kb7?? Kf7 2.c8=Q Ke7! – and the queen blocks the rook.
1. Kb8!! Kf7 2. c8=Q Ke7(!) 3. Qd7+! K-~ 4. Rc8#

 Choice of a distancing key move by withdrawal, presented in an airy four-piece setting. 

9

Hilmar Ebert

Die Schwalbe VI/1976

#4

1.Qg5? (1...Kh1:?  2.Qh4+ Kg1  3.Kd2:!; 1...Kf1?  2.Qf4+ Kg1  3.Nf2 Kf1  4.Nh3#)
1...Kh2!; 1.Kd2:? (1...Kf1?) 1...gh:1Q!; 1.Qg4,f2+? Kh2!
1.Qg3! Kh1:!  2.Qh4+!! Kg1  3.Kd2: Kf1  4.Qe1#

 Pure mass sacrifice! ... here as a logical foreplan with the switchback of the white Queen.

 At first, the moves look absurd – no solver would try them! Only by embracing the paradox of the mass sacrifice does the hidden logic and the queen’s elegant switchback appear! :-)

10

Hilmar Ebert

Welt am Sonntag, 6. VII. 1975

#4

1.Qg2? (1...b3?  2.Qd2!); 1.Qe4+? (1...Ka3?  2.Qc2); 1.Qc6? (1...b3?/Ka3?  2.Qc3!/2.Qc2!);
1.Qh8? (1...b3?/Kb2?  2.Qc3/Qd4!); 1.Qh7? (1...Ka3?/Kb3?  2.Qc2+) 1...b3!

1.Qg1!! The smallest possible approach...:
1...Ka3  2.Qd1 b3  3.Qd4 b4  4.Qa7#
1...b3  2.Qe1 b4  3.Qe5 Ka3  4.Qa5#
1...Kb3  2.Qd4! Ka3  3.Qb2:+ Ka4  4.Qa2#
2...Ka4 3.Kb2: Ka5  4.Qa7#

 Subtle key with quiet continuations in the 3 main variations.

11

Hilmar Ebert

Welt am Sonntag 5.X.1975

#4

1.Qa8? (threatens 2.Qe8#) 1...Rf4+?  2.Kf4:! Kg6  3.Qg8+ Kh5  4.Qg4#, 2...f5  3.Qg2! ... (2...Kh4  3.Qh1#) fails only because of: 1...Re4!! (threatens 2.Qf7#) 2.Qe4: stalemate!
1...Rf4?  2.Kf4:+! f5  3.Qf5:+ Kh4  4.Qg4#

Analog: 1...Rh1?!  2.Qh1:#; 1...Rh2?  2.Qf3+ Kh4  3.Qg4#; 1...Rh3?  2.Qe4(g2) etc.; 1...Ra4+  2.Qh1+! Rh4  3.Qf3+(d1+) and mate (Rb4,c4,d4,g4 analog) also fails only for:  1...Re4!

 Thus, the key move 1.Qa2!! (threatening 2.Qf7#) has the advantage of purity of aim, still keeping an arrow in its quiver even against 1...Re4?! 2.Qh2+ Rh4 3.Qe2+ Rg4 4.Qxg4#, while 1...Rf4+ is neatly handled by 2.Kxf4 Kg6 3.Qg8+ Kh5 4.Qxg4#.

1.Qa2!! Tf4+(!) 2.Kf4: Kg6 3.Qg8+ Kh5 4.Qg4# (2... f5 3.Kf5: Kh4 4.Qh2#)

1... Re4 2.Qh2+ Rh4 3.Qe2+ Rg4 4.Qg4:#

 Despite the abundance of mating pictures, a logical selection is made to avoid stalemate. Key selection, battery dismantling.

12

Hilmar Ebert (& A. Lehmkuhl)

Die Schwalbe VIII-IX/1975

Fide-Album 1974-76

#4

1.Rg2+? (1..Kh1?  2.Nf2#) 1...Kf1!
1.Kc1? (1...Kf1?  2.Rh2! Ke1/Kd3  3.Bf3/Kd2) 1...d3!

1.Nf2! Kh2  2.Ne4+! Kh3  3.Be6+ Kh4  4.Rh2#
2...Kg1  3.Ng3 d3  4.Rg2#
2...Kh1  3.Ng3+ Kg1  4.Rg2#
1...Kf1  2.Nd3! Kg1  3.Re2! Kf1  4.Re1#
1...d3  2.Nd3:+ Kf1  3.Rh2! Kg1  4.Rh1#

 A double self-obstruction by the white knight and tempo moves add spice to this "bouquet of Bohemian mates".

Mate in 5 moves

13

Hilmar Ebert

1061. Lüneburger Landeszeitung, 26.3.1988

 #5

1.Rh5! Kf4  2.Ne2+
 2...Kf3   3.Kd2! g3  4.Rh4 ~  5.Rf4# (3...Ke4?  4.Bg2#)
 2...Ke3/4  3.Bg2(+) ~  4.Rc5 ~ 5.Rc3#

 A small eye‑catcher: White “home base,” with a total of 9 variations, all completely dual‑free! Economical and concise.

14

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung XII/1975

#5

1.Kc3? Kg1: 2.?
1.Qf6! Kg1:  2.Kc3! Kh2(h1)  3.Qh4+! Kkg1  4.Kd2 Kf1  5.Qe1#

 Sacrifice for effect...  ('Wirkungsopfer') ...a deepening of a well-known four-piece idea by Sam Loyd.

Mate in 6 moves

15

Hilmar Ebert

111.diagrammes III-IV/1979 S.664

#6

1.Kc7?? Mate?! – Black has no possible last move in the diagram position, so it cannot be White to move (“Retroanalysis”), and Black first defends optimally with:

0... a5 (!) – (0... a6? #4)
1.Kc7+! Ka7 2.Kc6!! a4 3.Rh4! a3 4.Ra4+ Kb8 5.Rxa3 Kc8 6.Ra8#
1.Rh4? comes far too late: 1... Ka7 (!) 2.Kc7 Ka6 3.Kc6 Ka7 4.Ra4 Ka6.

 Probably the longest of the extremely rare retro compositions in a Wenigsteiner!

16

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach IV-V 1988, Sonderlösungsturnier: Andernach, 13.-14.5.1988

Dedicated to Garry Kasparov's 50^th birthday 2013 ("1.Nd5, right? - Nice!")

#6

1.Na2/a4/e2/e4? Kd1!; 1...Kb1?  2.Nd4! Ka1?  3.Kb3(4) ~ 4.Nc3+ short mates in 5.

1.Sd5!! Kd1(!) (1...Kb1? 2.Sd4! ...#5)  2.Kc3!! Ke2(!) (2...Ka1? 3.Kb3 ...#5) 3.Sd4+ Kf1 4.Ke3+ Kg1  5.Sf3+ Kh1  6.Sf2#

- Maximum distance to the mating corner: 5 squares instead of 2 on the wrong edge!
- Mate without the white king: only by the three white knights!

 Plus ornamentation: the 3 knights form, as in the diagram, a line after 3.Nd4+ and after 5.Nf3+ rotated by 90° and 180° compared to the initial position.

 Only one solver, Frank Visbeen from the Netherlands (amid the gathered world elite at the Andernach Solving Tourney), managed to solve it - still without computer assistance...!

    The final position:

Dedication:

 When I played in Kasparov’s fantastic 40‑board simultaneous exhibition in Frankfurt, 2000 – against some quite strong players! – I, of course, also could not beat him, like nobody could! (at the time of his then‑record ELO rating of 2851!) – but at least I was one of the last five players still standing. :-)

 After my for him new second (!) move, he stood at my board for over a minute, and immediately journalists hurried over to me… After his 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Trompowsky Attack I had replied 2…c6(!), with the simple but funny “trap” 3.e3?? Qa5+ when White loses the bishop! LOL!

 After his long thought over his third (!) move, Garry ended all fantasies about a quick piece loss with 3.Bxf6 – but nobody knows what moved the then GOAT to think so long; presumably he had never faced this reply on the board before…

Garry’s signature after the game.

 Later, I found in Wikipedia an actual game with the piece loss(!):

 “2…c6 is an offbeat line in which Black threatens a later …Qb6, forcing White to defend or sacrifice the b‑pawn. White can play the thematic 3.Bxf6 or 3.Nf3, but must avoid 3.e3?? Qa5+, when White resigned (in light of 4…Qxg5) in Djordjević – (Milorad) Kovačević, Bela Crkva 1984—‘the shortest ever loss by a master’ (Graham Burgess, The Quickest Chess Victories of All Time, p. 33)."

16*

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach I-IX 1991

 #9

1.Nac7? stalemate!
1.Ng7? Kd6! (<9#)
1.Nec7! Kd6  2.Kb6 Kd7  3.Kc5 Kc8  4.Kd6 Kb7  5.Ne7!
5... Kb8  6.Kc6 Ka7  7.Nb6 Kb8  8.Nd7+ Ka7 9.Nc8#
5... Ka7  6.Kc6 Kb8  7.Nb6 Ka7  8.Nc8+ Kb8  9.Na6#

 Unexpectedly back into the 'left corner of the gate' – a tough nut to crack!

16**

Hilmar Ebert (& Bernhard Walter)

Rochade Europa III/1995 S. 44-45
Dedicated to Garry Kasparov!

#13

1.Kc3! Kc1  2.Bg3 Kd1  3.Kd3 Kc1  4.Be5 Kd1 5.Bc3 Kc1  6.Na3 Kd1  7.Nc4 Kc1  8.Bd2+ Kb1  9.Kc3 Ka1  10.Kb3 Kb1  11.Kc2 Ka1  12.Na3+ Ka1  13.Bc3#

 Garry's favorite number (birthday April 13; World champion #13, Garry Kasparov = 13 letters and more!). For the first time, all white moves are dual-free - in all variations!

Mate in 7 moves

17

Hilmar Ebert
1464. Lüneburger Landeszeitung I 1996

 #7

1.Sd6? (Ka3? 2.Kc2!) 1...Kc3! (#9)

1.Sc7!! Kc3  2.Se6 Kb3  3.Sc5+ Kc3 (3...Ka3??  4.Ta4#)  4.Te4! Kd2  5.Kb2: Kd1  6.Kc3 Kc1  7.Te1# 

 Stalemate avoidance: distant key and surprising switch from the a‑file to the 1st rank!

Mate in 8 moves

18

Hilmar Ebert

Welt am Sonntag, 27.IV.1975
Version by Manfred Dobrowolski: 5325. Deutsche Schachzeitung VII/1988

#8

1.Be2! Rf8  2.Bg4 b3  3.Bd7 Rf6  4.Bc8 Rb6 5.Bf5! Rb4  6.Bh3 Rg4 7.Bg4 b2  8.Bf3#
(5.La3? Rb6!; 4.Rc7? 5.Bd6!; 2... Rc6? 3.Bf8! ... #7).

 Final version of a series of bishop/rook duels. Dobrowolski's version saves one pawn while keeping the same sequence of white moves.

 The bishop directs the rook to the check-free g-file: ein so-called 'Roman' in minimal form.

19

Hilmar Ebert

C 7461. The Problemist XI/1987

#8

1.e2? (d3 / f3? 2.Qb2+ / Qh2+) 1...e3!  2.g2?! d3! (2...e4? 3.Qc2+!) 3.b2+ e4! (3...d4? 4.Qb7!; (3.d3:? f3+! 4.f3: f4!)

1.Qb2!! e3(!) (1...f3 2.Qh2+... 4.Qh8#)
2.g2!e4(!) (2...f3+ 3.f3: f4 4.Qh2! f5 /15/~5.h8# / h5#/f4:#)
3.c2+ d3(!) (3...e5 4.13!)
4.a4+ d4(!)  5.Qc6+ e5(!)  6.f3! d2,e2  7.b5+ d5  8.Qb8#

 A change of pin compared to the diagram position, featuring a sophisticated try (1.Qe2?!), and a total of 6 different mating pictures.

Kegelschach

 We chess players are constantly in danger of neglecting physical exercise while training our little grey cells. The ancient Romans already knew that healthy software can only thrive in healthy hardware (mens sana in corpore sano), so let us kill two birds with one stone!

 The curious invention of the Kegel problem (“skittle problem”) is well over 100 years old. There were already more than 100 checkmate problems of this type when I wrote my book on the subject. As early as 1907, a dedicated composition tourney was held with positions in which White, apart from the king, had only the queen and one additional piece, while Black had the king and his eight pawns forming a typical “crown” around him.

 My book – written together with Friedrich Wolfenter at my suggestion, as he had pursued a similar idea for orthodox mates – soon expanded this sporting branch of problem chess to include white Kegel formations, diagonal Kegels, bowling setups, even helpmates and many more fairy problems with the ever‑popular skittle motif. In the end, it became a standard work on the extended Kegel landscape!

20

Hilmar Ebert

12.000v. Schach-Echo V/1987
Dedicated to Mephisto(!)

 #8

1.Qb1?! (Qa4,Qb3,Qa1,Qc1?) 1...e2+? 2.Re2:+! fe2:+ 3.Kf2 f3(!) 4.Qh1! e1Q+(!) 5.Qe1:+ Kf4 6.Qg1 d2(!) 7.Qg3+ e4 8.Qf3:# but 1...f2+!

1.Kg1!! provoking a fork?! f2+  2.Kg2 f:elQ+(!)  3.Qel: f3+  4.Kg3 f4+  5.Kg4 d2  6.Qb1+ d3  7.Qb4+ d4  8.Qb7#

 Novel ideas, pin-based keys and a subsequent rook sacrific- in the try fail  narrowly; in the solution, the king key initiates a rook sacrifice provoked by a fork, forming the starting point of a 'triad'  after a king's staircase.

Mate in 9 moves

21

Hilmar Ebert

3340. Dts. Schachblätter / Schach-Report VII 1987
4. Ehrende Erwähnung
Version Saarbrücker Zeitung / Heim und Freizeit 1993
C 118 FIDE-Album 1986-1988

 #9

1.Qh1? d2+!
1.Rd1? f2+! (1...d2+? 2.d2: f2+ 3.Kf2: d3!)
1.Ra2? d2+! 2.Rd2: f2+! 3.Rf2: d3! --- #10.

 A small but clever improvement on the original version: → 21*!

1.O-O-O! e2(!) (1...f2?? 2.Qh1+; 1...d2+? 2.Rxd2! e2(!) 3.Rxe2! ... #6)
2.Qf2... (2.Qg1? f2! 3.Qf2: e:d1:~4.d1: f3!)
2... d2+(!) (2... ed1:Q+? 3.Kd1: ...#8)
3.d2: d3 4.Qb2!!... "What?" :-) Even without a board edge, this move is unambiguous!

4...el~(+) 5.Qel:+ d4 6.f2+! e4(!)  7.b5! d2+ 8.d2: d4 9.Qe1#!  (6..c4?! 7.Qb6!!)

 So that was the very “poodle’s core”(!) (Goethe, Pudels Kern(!): → 7...d4 8.Qc6#, which would be missing after 4.a2??

4...d4 (4...d2+  5.d2: d4(!)  6.b5! d3  7.c5!)
5.b5 d2+  6.d2: d3  7.c5! e1~(+)  8.Qe1:+d4  9.Qe5:#

 Zugleich die einzigen Stücke mit 9 Zügen, Rochade als Lösung! Die ,Krönung" der eigenen Versuche des Autors ...  The crowning achievement of the author's own efforts...") 

21*

Hilmar Ebert

3340. Deutsche Schachblätter & Schach-Report VII 1987

 #9

  The original version was the only problem featuring a short castling as the key move. The solution here is mirrored. Also in Rochade Europa, IV 1994: "Curious – even for your computer? Analogous solution – with 4.h2! instead of the refined stop move 4.Qb2! near the board edge.

1.Qb1? f2+ 2.f1 f3! 1.f1? d2+! (1...f2+? 2.f2: d2+... 3.d2: f3! and analog the following try) 1.h2? f2+! 2.f2: d2+! 3.d2: f3! or 3.f1 f3! and again only mate in 10!

1.O-O! e2(!) (1...d2?? 2.Qb1+; 1...f2+? 2.Rf2:! e2(!) 3. Re2:! ...#6)
2.Qd2... (2.Qc1? d2! 3.Qd2: ef1:~ 4.Qf1: d3!)
2... f2+(!) (2... ef1:+? 3.f1: f2 ... #8)
3.Rf2: f3 4.h2!! ... 4...e1~(+) 5.Qe1:+ f4 6.d2+! Ke4(!) requires exactly 7.h5! f2+ 8.f2: f4 9.Qe1#!
6...g4?! requires exactly 7.h6!! 4...f4 (4...f2+ 5.12: f4(!) 6.h5! f3 7.Rg5!)
5.h5 f2+ 6.f2: f3 7.g5! e1~(+) 8.Qel:+ f4 9.Qe5:#

Mate in 10 moves

22

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung XII/1975

Chess Almanac 1976/77

#10

1.Ba8!! b4 2.Kb7! Kh1 3.Kc6 Kh2 (!) 4.Kd5 Kh1 5.Ke4 Kh2 (!) 6.Kf3 Kh1 7.Kf2+ Kh2 8.Rd5! Kh1 9.Td1+ Kh2 10.Rh1#

 Indian with a record number of intersections for miniatures (6!). Therefore also reprinted in the Chess Almanac 1976/77, kind of an award.

2 Together we are Strong

Helpmate in 3 moves

23 / 23*

Hilmar Ebert

Die Schwalbe 1972

153. Thematurnier, 2 Versionen   153rd Thematic Tourney, 2 versions

 h#3
 2 Versions:

 a) 1.Qh1! Qa1  2.Kb7 Qxh1  3.Ka6 Qa8#

b) 1.Qh1! Qh8  2.Kb7 Qh1  3.Kc8 Qa8#

 Modern Triangular run-round.  The foundational idea behind the theme “triangular run-round” was conceived by Albert Barbe (“Dreiecksrundlauf”) shortly after the mid-19th century. Nearly a hundred years later, the number of pieces required was reduced to just 8.

  "The psychologist Hilmar Ebert from Aachen (*1950) is without a doubt one of the most prolific authors in the field of chess composition. Just the five volumes „Top Helpmates“, „Moderne Kleinkunst“, „Kegelschach“, „Early Helpmates“ und „Minimalkunst im Schach“, ['HE-Chess'] which Ebert co-authored with Hans Gruber, Friedrich Wolfenter, Hans-Peter Reich, and Jörg Kuhlmann, are enough to fill an entire lifetime as a problemist.

 Today, Hilmar Ebert lives in the Philippines, where he has dedicated himself to completely different fields of research: e.g. Daoism." [and meanwhile many other non--fiction books and essays!].

24

Hilmar Ebert

Wenigsteiner im Hilfsmatt, 1977
Dedicated to Dr. John Niemann

h#3

1.Rh3!! Qc8! 2.Kg4 Kf6+  3.Kh5 Qh3#

 Dr. Niemann’s declared favourite in his book on helpmate Wenigsteiner compositions! – other rook moves always carry a decisive strategic disadvantage...: A preparatory sacrifice in the key move & ambush of the white queen behind the king! Asymmetry in White’s second move, ideal mate.

25

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach, 1977

Special Honorable Mention

h#3
a) Diagram
b) Bishop from e7 to b3

a) 1.d2! de7  2.d1=R! e8=Q!  3.Rd3 Qe5#
b) 1.b2! d7  2.b1=N! d8=B! 3.Nc3 Bb6#

 Allumwandlung (= „Total promotion“ by John Rice).

 In a), even compared to mere switchbacks (return moves) by the black king (with White to move), there is a tempo-loss trick involved. b) ends in an ideal mate in the center of the board.

26

Hilmar Ebert

Schach-Echo, 1987

h#3, 0.1.

a) Diagram
b) Bg4 to e4

a) 1. ... B:d3!!  2. Kf4 Ne2+  3. Kf3 0-0#
b) 1. ... B:h3!!  2. Kf4 Nf2+  3. Kf3 Rf1#

 The Home-Base theme with short castling in a helpmate: here in echo form, where the knight forms a piquant and "non-trivial" exception.

27

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach, 1977 (Version)

h#3, 0.2.1.

a) Diagram
b) Nc2 → c5

a) I) 1. … Na3!  2. Kb2 Ra2+  3. Kc1 Rc2#
II) 1. … O–O–O!  2. Kb3 Rd3+  3. Ka2 Ra3#

b) I) 1. … Rb1!  2. Kc2 Rb2+  3. Kc1 Nd3#
II) 1. … O–O–O!  2. Kb4 Rd4+  3. Ka3 Ra4#

 Four different ideal mating patterns, two castlings – arranged in another “Two-by-two design”!

28

Hilmar Ebert

Zeit-Magazin, 1977

Oster-Preisausschreiben ('Easter Puzzle Contest')

h#3

1.Qf5! Rc6  2.Nf4 Re6+  3.d5 exd6 e.p.!!#

 White’s en passant capture opens the maximum of 3 lines!

29

Hilmar Ebert (& A. Lehmkuhl)

feenschach, 1977

4. Preis

h#3*

* 1. … Bc6:  2. Qd5 Be1  3. Qe4 Nd4#

1. Bf1! Nd6  2. Bc4 Be1  3. Be2 Be4#

Try: Pin, Unpin, Switchback of the black queen, Cross mate

Solution: Change of Unpin, Block and Mate … quite a load for a three-mover!

30

Hilmar Ebert

Springaren 1982

h#3*

1. … Ba8!  2. Nd6 Rb7  3. Kd5 Rb5#
1. Kd6! Kb4  2. Ne5 Rf3  3. Kd5 Rd3#

 Ideal withdrawal mates as complete block echo – in the center of the board, in the strictest possible economy...
 “It is in self-limitation that a master shows himself.” (Goethe, "In der Beschränkung zeigt sich der Meister")

30*

Thug Catproof (a. Ebert)

CAT, 2025

h#3, 2.1.

1.Ne4 Bb8! 2.Nd4 Rc7 3.Ke5 Rc5#
1.Nd4 Re3 2.Ne4 Rg3 3.Ke5 Rg5#

 A double setting with and without critical move interference, thus a helpmate-Indian and a simple self-block with echo mates.

 For a newcomer, this is a promising take on an old idea from my early period. I was unable to find further compositions by this young man, an author of reviews for outstanding books and essays, as the source seems to originate from the American musical scene in the US.

  Th. Catproof

 Naturally, a change-of-play form – where the set and the solution differ and no waiting move is possible – is always more satisfying than two parallel solutions:

31

Hilmar Ebert

Stern, 1978

h#3

1.Bd7! cd7:  Re8! de8=N!  Rb8 Nc7# ideal mate.

 A witty puzzle piece: Minimal sacrifices with a knight underpromotion; after three consecutive black sacrifices, the blocking rook is switched – ending in an ideal mate! 

32

Hilmar Ebert

Schach-Echo, 1988

h#3, 0.3.1.

 The idea of a "quasi-cyclic" presentation also suggested itself: using each of the three thematic pieces alternately in pairs! The result is a sequence of three helpmate-Indians in a quasi-cyclic form (A = critical move, B = self-block!):

I) 1. … Ba8! (A) 2. e5 Kb7 (B) 3. Kd5 Kc7# (Bishop–King)
II) 1. … Ra8! (A) 2. Kd7 Kb8 (B) 3. Ke8 Kc7# (Rook–King)
III) 1. … Rh8! (A) 2. Kd7 Bg8 (B) 3. Ke8 Be6# (Rook–Bishop)

– giving the patterns Bishop–King, King–Rook, and Rook–Bishop! (quasi, because we get King–Rook instead of Rook-King).

 What better way to highlight the idea-driven artistic nature in contrast to historically 'just' puzzles? A top-level composer naturally dares to climb even higher into the alpine air — towards the quadruple quasi-cyclic helpmate-Indian - or some day even a fivefold Hilmalayan fun record...?! :-)

32*

Hilmar Ebert

Die Schwalbe II 1989

h#3, 0.4.1.

  Here now is the result of the fourfold quasi-cyclic helpmate-Indian: Rook and Bishop are used reciprocally – the full quasi-cyclic structure with King and two pieces as thematic units!

I) 1. … Ra8! (A) 2. Kb4 Ba7 (B) 3. Ka5 Bc5#
II) 1. … Ra1! (A) 2. Kb4 Ka2 (B) 3. Ka5 Kb3#
III) 1. … Ba1! (A) 2. c5 Kb2 (B) 3. Kd4 Kb3#
IV) 1. … Bg7! (A) 2. c5 Rf6 (B) 3. Kd4 Rf4#

 With RK, KR, BK, RB critical sequences — allowing even the  'Hilmalayan world-record' task version: a fun variant without the Bb7, but with two cheeky black bishops on a8 and e8(!), plus 1. … Ba7! etc.

Literature: Hilmar Ebert (# 140) Mehrfachsetzungen im Hilfsmatt-Inder.

33

Hilmar Ebert

Stern 1981

h#3, 3.1.*

*1. ... Qe5+  2. Kf2 Kh3  3. Kg1 Qe1#

I) 1. Nf2+ Kh4 2. Ke2 Kg3 3. Kf1 Qf2#
II) 1. Kd3 Qc7 2. Kd2 Kf3 3. Ke1 Qc1#
III) 1. Ng3 Qh5 2. Ke2 Kg3+ 3. Kf1 Qd1#

 Four mate pictures in a previously negligible material setting – featuring White tempo move, Black waiting move, Echo to set play, interference, and ideal mate by discovered check.

34

Hilmar Ebert

Rochade 1981

1. Preis

h#3*

a) 1. … Kc3 2. Nd6 Ba4 3. Nf5 Bc6#
b) 1. Kd5! Kc3 2. Kc6 Kd4 3. Bc7 Ba4#

 Two ideal mates in the form of a complete block echo, centered in the heart of the board! The transposition of the mating net around pivot square c4 results in an unusually charming structure – praised not only by the judge as an “unsurpassable final form.” (Letztform).

Helpmate in 4 moves

35

Hilmar Ebert

Stern, 29.VII.1976

h#4

1. Kd2 Qe7:! Im Hilfsmatt ein Opfer!
2. Kc3 Kd6 3. Kb4 Kc6+ 4. Ka5 Qa3#

 Helpmate-Indian introduced by a surprising self-pin and switchback of the critical piece.

36

Hilmar Ebert

Schach-Echo, 1977

h#4*

* 1... Qd5+ 2.Kc7 Kb3 3.Kb6 Kc4 4.Ka5 Qxb5#

1.Na7!! Qa8+ 2.Kc7 Kb3 3.Kb6 Kc4 4.Ka5 Qa7# (ideal mate)

 A second Mouse-trap ("Mausefalle") in a Wenigsteiner!: A passive knight sacrifice in the try, active in the solution, with a change in both move and mate.

36*

Hilmar Ebert (nach B. Snaider)
Stern, 1977

h#4

1.Bb8! Ta8  2.Ba7!! Kb3  3.Ka5 Kc4  4.Ka4 Ra7#

 The first mouse-trap depiction in orthodox helpmate-Wenigsteiner ...with ideal mate.

37

Hilmar Ebert

fairy chess, 1977

Honorable Mention

h#4, 0.1.

1.... Kh3! 2.Kb1 Kh4! 3.Ka1 Rh3 4.Rb1 Ra3#

 White and Black coordinate a King–Rook  (line-) clearance (Healey, Bristol) with only 5 pieces!

38

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach, 1987

Dedicated to Hanspeter Suwe

h#4
a) Diagram
b) Bh7 → d5
c) further Lf8  →  h7
d) further  Ke1  → g1

a) 1. Bd6! c5  2. Ne7 c6  3. 0–0! de7  4. Kh8 exf8Q#
c) 1. Ne7! cd5  2. 0–0! d6  3. Rf7 de7+  4. Rg7 exb8Q#
d) 1. Bg6! c5  2. Rh7 c6  3. Re7 c7  4. Lf7 c8Q#

 Pc4 might also have come straight from its original square… A quadruple echo on four adjacent squares! Home-base in a). Pawn c4 might also have come straight from its original square...

39

Hilmar Ebert

diagrammes 1979

LOB

h#4, 2.1.

I)1. Kf7! c7!  2. Rg8! c8Q  3. Kg7 Qf8+  4. Kh8 Qh6#
II) 1. 0–0–0! c7!  2. Kb7 Kc2!  3. Rb8! c8q+  4. Ka8 Qa6#

 The real highlight being the white tempo move 2...Kc2!!, which creates the necessary timing.

 This is an elegant presentation of the castling theme: The first solution works without castling, while the second employs 0–0–0 (long castling) and leads to a symmetrical echo finale.

40

Hilmar Klaus (mit Frederic Friedel)

Computerschach und Spiele IV-V 2002 (10.4.2002) - Rätselschach aus CSS 1/02, S. 54

 h#4

a) Diagram
b) sKc6 → a3
c) sKc6 → g5

a) 1.Te6! h6 2.Tc7 h7 3.Kd6 h8D 4.Tc6 Dd4#
b) 1.Tb6! h6 2.Thb7 h7 3.Tb3 h8D 4.Tfb4 Da1#
c) 1.Tf6! h6 2.Tg7 h7 3.Kg6 h8D 4.Kf7 De8#

 Orthogonal epaulette mate, edge epaulette mate (with slight clearance), diagonal epaulette mate!

41

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach, XI–XII/1976
2. ehrende Erwähnung

h#4

1.c6 Ba7: 2.Qb6+! Kb6: 3.Kd8 Kc5 4.Kc7 Bb6#

 "Schwarze Partieanfangsstellung" („SPass“!): A festive composition in the tradition of SPass positions (special black starting positions) purely for entertainment, not legally playable. Here very tricky due to two unexpected switchbacks! A minimal form and a genuine “Dark Doing” (against all 16 black men) – an automatic eye-catcher!

42

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1981
3. Preis Wenigsteiner 1981

h#4

a) Diagram
b) Kf1 → a1

a) 1. d1=N! Dg1! 2. Kf6 Kg2 3. Kg5 Kf3+ 4. Kh4 Dg4#
b) 1. Kd7! Db1! 2. Kc6 Kb2 3. Kb5 Kc3+ 4. Ka4 Db4#

 Parallelogram-decorated underpromotion for tempo(!): Only the remote knight remains irrelevant to the flow of the mating sequence … The twin features a quasi-echo maneuver.

43

Hilmar Ebert

The Problemist, 1984

h#4*

1. ... 0–0!! 2. 0–0! Rd1 3. Kh8 Rd5 4. Rg8 Rh5#
1. 0–0–0!! 1. ... Rh3! 2. Kb4 Rh4 3. Ka8 Rh5 4. Rb8 Ra5#

 In the set-play, both castlings are possible. In the actual solution, however, only long castling is legal – because White must have made the last move, which makes short castling illegal (a classic case of retroactive Zugwechsel (complete block).

44

Hilmar Ebert

MAT, 1983

h#4

 The helpmate Indian has often been doubled in parallel form with the same thematic play. More difficult is the connection of the theme for both White and Black:

1.Rg5!! Bh8! 2.Kf5 Ng7+ 3.Ke5 Kb5 4.Kd4+ Nf5#

 Here, both helpmate Indians are logically connected through cross-checks. This is probably the first presentation of a Black+White helpmate Indian with only three thematic pieces.

Helpmate in 5 moves

45

Hilmar Ebert

4138. Die Schwalbe, 1982

1. Preis

h#5, 2.1.

1) 1.Le1 d4 2.Dd2 d5 3.Da5 d6 4.Da6 d7 5.La5 dxc8=S#

2) 1.c3 d4 2.Lf1 d5 3.De2 d6 4.Da6 d7 5.Lb5 dxc8=S#

 Doubled clearance (Healey, Bristol)  with switchbacks by the black bishop.

46

Hilmar Ebert

Europe Echecs 1978 / correction

1. Honored Mention
FIDE-ALBUM 1977–79

h#5

1. bxa1=B!! h5  2. Bh8 h6  3. Ba1 h7  4. Kb2 h8=B+  5. Ka3 Ba1#

 A bishop promotion, followed by the removal of the obstructive white knight and the return of the black bishop to its final mating square. Along the way, square b2 is cleared, and the critical point is crossed three times!

 The black pawn truly assists its white counterpart with full artistic finesse – becoming a bishop and then sacrificing itself to create a sacrifice clearance (or 'target clearance').

47

Hilmar Ebert

Feenschach-Sonderheft 1984 / Korrektur

Dedicated to P. Kniest's 70^th birthday

h#5 0.1.

1. … Bd4!! 2. Ka5 Bd5!! 3. Ka6 c5 4. Ka7 c6+ 5. Ka8 c7#

 Phew! Unfortunately, the white king still has to be locked in (otherwise even the miniature form would have been achieved). In the corners h1 and h8, the computer eventually conjured up the wildest justifications for this... It gets even simpler only with king and bishop.

48

Hilmar Ebert (+ P. Orlik)

Die Schwalbe, 1982

h#5, 0.1.

1... Bh3!! 2. Nf7 Bh2!! 3. Kc5 g3! 4. Kd6 g4+ 5. Ke6 g5#

 The peculiarity lies in the consecutive double help‑mate theme, that is, two thematically connected self‑blocks and clearance mechanisms placed one after the other – clearly more difficult to present than the parallel double setting. Only a few pieces are possible for this, here they are pawn and two bishops.

 King and two bishops allowed my famous five‑man ideal form (with Maslar), and this composition continues in the same spirit of refined economy.

49

Hilmar Ebert & Zdravko Maslar

1010 diagrammes IX–X 1980

Spezialpreis

FIDE-Album

h#5

1.Ke7! Be1! 2.Kd6 Kd2 3.Kc5 Bd1! 4.Kb4 Kc2+ 5.Ka4 Kb2#

 Consecutive double implementation of the helpmate-Indian in economical final form, preliminary justification of the original helpmate-Indian.

 This composition emerged from a months-long collaboration with Zdravko Maslar, one of the leading helpmate experts ever. The core idea – a double Indian theme realized in the most economical form – was mine, but it was Maslar’s tireless work in eliminating all dual solutions that made the final version possible. The problem was awarded a special prize and was later included in the FIDE Album – a globally recognized anthology of the best chess compositions over several years. Although such honors were not my goal – I never pursued any composition title – for me it was pure art, not a hunt for points or titles, this work has become one of my most frequently cited creations in the field of chess.

 A combination of a fore-plan helpmate and a standard helpmate, logically connected via a bivalve mechanism! This final version is unsurpassable for all time, and on top of that, it's garnished with a grotesque try: (e.g.)

 1. Kg7? Kd3 2. Kh8 Ke4 3. Kg7 Kf5 4. Kh8 Kg6 threatening 5. … Bc3#, which, however, fails due to the only black move 5. b4 – a kind of zugzwang-based refutation!

 At the beginning of our tough and months-long collaboration – both direct and via correspondence – we would have been quite content with a sound 10-piece version. But a mighty kiss from Caïssa made the economical miracle possible! Das "Glück der Tüchtigen!" ('fortune favors the diligent'!).

Helpmate in 6 moves

50

Hilmar Ebert

Schach-Echo, 1981

h#6

1. Bh1!! Bh1!  2. O-O-O! Kf3  3. e4+ Ke4  4. Rd5 Kd5  5. Kb8 Kc6  6. Ka8 Kc7#

 Helpmate Indian by the white bishop, opening a clearance line for the black bishop (in German "Zielbahnöffnung"). Formally, even the black king clears the way for the white rook to reach b8 – in minimal form of the thematic sequence. 

3 Modern Art on the Board

Seriesmate

51

Hilmar Ebert (with A. Lehmkuhl)
Fairy Chess, 1976

s#11

 Another little „SPASS-“ Problem ("FUN-") problem with a direct series-move solution:

1.h4! 2.h5 3.h6 4. hxg7 5. gxh8=R! (5. gxh8=Q? – 12 moves!)

6.Rh7 7.Rf7 8.Kg6 9.Kh7 10.Rg8 11.Rf8#

 Excelsior march with a surprising rook promotion.

Helpstalemate

52

Hilmar Ebert (+ R. E. Rice)

Ideal-Mate Review, 1985 (Version of Das Patt im Wenigsteiner, 1978)
3. PREIS Wenigsteiner 1985

h=4, 0.4.1.

I) 1... Ba2! 2. Kf6 Ke4 3. Kg7 Kf5 4. Kh8 Kg6=
II) 1... Kc4! 2. Kf6 Kd5 3. Kg7 Ke6 4. Kh8 Kf7=
III) 1... Ke2! 2. Kf4 Be4 3. Kg3 Bg2 4. Kh2 Kf2=
IV) 1... Ke3! 2. Kf6 Bf5 3. Kg5 Bg4 4. Kh4 Kf4=

 Two echo pairs with three pieces – a novelty in help-stalemate compositions.

Selfmate

53

Hilmar Ebert

Deutsche Schachblätter 1981 / Korrektur

Dedicated to Anthony Dickins

s#9

1. Nd3! ab3: 2. Nb2!! ...  – the poor bishop in the corner now finds itself trapped as well!
3. ... d3  4. Rh3! – a rook awakens –
5. ... d4  6. Rh1  7. Rc1 d5  8. Rc1 d6 – the strange black pawn column stands one step lower, but just as rigid as before; now, at last, the theme begins to appear on the stage –
9. Rc5+! dc5  10. Nc4+! dc4  11. Bc3+! dc3  12. Qb4+! cb4# (Correction by H. Gruber: only Nc1!).

 Dynamic activation of the pawn column through total sacrifice (B, R, N, B, Q) - or, in the words of Heraclitus: “Nothing is as constant as change...!”

 This Selfmate – the only one I composed in many 15 years(!), since it is not my specialty... creates an eerie mechanical tower of black pawns, which can be set in motion only through a series of elegant sacrifices. Each white piece gives itself up, just to bring down the construction in a rhythmic cascade. It is a poetic study of inevitability and paradox: The immobile becomes unstoppable! :-)

 Dedicated to my wonderful friend in Chess and Daoism (!) Anthony Dickins – we visited each other in London and in the Hochsauerland/Germany for a full week while writing our book. He passed away far too early from an incurable illness.

 Anthony was one of the greatest connoisseurs and analysts in chess composition. Our joint book "100 Classics of the Chessboard" (1983 / 1995²) was a tribute to the timeless beauty of chess artistry – from elegant games and endgames to profound helpmates and magnificent examples of fairy chess.

Reflexmate

54

Hilmar Ebert

Jugendschach, 1981

2. Preis Wenigsteiner 1981

r#3
Reflex mate: 'White forces Black to check, and in the end, Black must deliver mate against their own will.'

a) Diagram
b) Pc4 → d4
c) Pc4 → e4
d) Pc4 → f4
e) Pc4 → g4

a) 1. Ke1 c3  2. Rbe2 c2  3. Rgf2 c1Q#
b) 1. Ke1 d3  2. Rbf2 d2+  3. Kf1 d1Q#
c) 1. Ke1 e3  2. Rge2 e2+  3. Kc1 e1Q#
d) 1. Kd1 f3  2. Rgd2 f2  3. Rbc2 f1Q#
e) 1. Ke1 g3  2. Rge2 g2  3. Rbd2 g1Q#

 Five elegant reflex mates in which a black pawn promotes to a queen and immediately mates – a textbook example of economic re-use through minimal change.

 Each version differs only by an ideal relocation of a white bishop, precisely shaping the path for the promotion on that file. The solutions unfold like choreographed miniatures – mechanically exact, yet full of life.

Retroanalysis

55

Hilmar Ebert

O–O!, 1981

h#2 1/4

 The first – and quite possibly only – partial Retroanalysis ever attempted in an orthodox Wenigsteiner.

 The last move by White – just half a move, i.e., a quarter of a full pair of (black  + white) move – could only have been Rook to d1 (as part of 0–0–0) or Rook to f1 (as part of 0–0). No one will ever know which move actually occurred... but it doesn't matter. The solution works in either case.

 "For cases like this, dear God introduced case distinction." :-)

If the last move was Tad1 (part of 0–0–0):

 1... Kc1!  2. Ke3 Kc2  3. Ke2 Rdl#
If the last move was Thf1 (part of 0–0):

 1... Kg1!  2. Ke3 Kg2 3. Ke2 Rfl#

 Twofold Mate in Half-Knowledge – Retroanalysis at Quarter-Move Scale.

 This problem draws its fascination from a kind of undecidability that stems not from vagueness, but from perfect symmetry. The final half-move by White has vanished somewhere into the shadow of castling. Yet whether it was short or long – the following moves logically adapt to that unknown origin. A composition that functions mathematically, philosophically, and aesthetically – all at once, and on every level.

55*

Hilmar Ebert

Das Patt im Wenigsteiner, 1978

=2 (Stalemate in 2 Moves)

Where is the Black King?!
 A little Retro idea mit only 3 pieces(!): the black King, before he obviously toppled off the board, was on square a8! So Black is to move:

Two solutions apply if Black’s king stands on a7 or b8, each involving a quiet sacrificial move (Rook or Knight). This serves as a subtle hint that the king must in fact be on a8.

If …Ka7, then: 1. Kc7! Ka8  2. Nc6= – with rook sacrifice!
If …Kb8, then: 1. Rc7! Ka8  2. Rb7= – with knight sacrifice! 

Fairy Pieces

56

Hilmar Ebert

Rex Multiplex 1982

h#2, 0.4.1.

h3 = Princess  (L+S)

I) 1. ... BNg2+! 2. Kd3 BNf1# (Wartezug!)
II) 1. ... Rc5! 2. Kd4 BNf2#
III) 1. ... Rc1! 2. Kd2 BNf4#
IV) 1. ... Rc2! 2. Kd3 BNf5#

 Three-piece helpmate with fourfold echo ideal mate!

57

Hilmar Ebert

Die Schwalbe, 1986
1. Preis Wenigsteiner!

Maria Mainka gewidmet

h#5, 0.1

e5 = Grasshopper (Ke8, Ge5, Be7 - Ke4)

a) Diagram
b) Ke8 → f8
c) Ke8 → a3
d) Ke8 → h3

a) 1. … Kd8!  2. Kd5 Ge8  3. Kc6 Bf6  4. Kb7 Bg8  5. Ka8 Kc7#
b) 1. … Bg6! 2. Kf5 Sc7 3. Kg6 Bf4 4. Kh7 Bh6 5. Kh8 Bg7#
c) 1. … Bc5! 2. Kd3 Gb5 3. Kc2 Be3 4. Kb1 Bc1 5. Ka1 Bb2#
d) 1. … Bg5! 2. Kf3 Gh5 3. Kf2 Bf4 4. Kg1 Bh2+ 5. Kh1 Bg3#

 Asymmetry in the diagram position, two pairs of ideal mates – in all four corners! First presentation of the theme (formerly 3 corners only). Especially satisfying: ideal transfer of the same piece in all versions.

 Among my ~1000 Wenigsteiners, this one of one of my top 5 personal favorites.

Fairy Conditions

58

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach, 1978

6. Preis

r#15, Schachzwang

'White forces Black to check, and in the end, Black must deliver mate against their own will.'

1. Ke3? e5! (2. Kf3 e4+!),
1. Ke4?! e5! (2. Kxf5 h5!) or 2. Kf3 e4+! 3. Kg4 h5+...8. ...e3+!).

 So the e-pawn is clearly not just a "bridging pawn".

1. Ke5!! e6(!) (1. ...h6 2. Kf4; 1. ...h5 2. Kf4 e5+ 3. Kg3....; 1. ...a3 ends shorter 13. Kb1!)
2. Kf4 e5+  3. Kg4 h5+  4. Kg3 h4+  5. Kf3 h3  6. Ke3 h2+  7. Kd3 g6+  8. Kc3 g4+  9. Kb3 e4+  10. Kc3 e3+  11. Kd2 e2  12. Kc2 a3+  13. Kb1 a2+  14. Kc1 a1D  15. Kc1 a1D#
 Parallelogram form, Knight and Queen promotions, key of choice.

59

Hilmar Ebert

2977. Die Schwalbe XII 1979

1. Preis Wenigsteiner-Jahrespreis

h#5 → Rex Multiplex

h2 = Royal Pawn, b2, f2 = Royal Equihoppers

1. h1=N? is insufficient, as is easily seen…
1. h1=E?! forces a draw!  (1... Kd1 2. E-d3 Kd2+ 3. E-h1 … etc.)
1. h1=R!! Kd3  2. Rh7!! Ke4  3. E-h6 Kf5  4. E-f8 Kf6  5. Rh8 Kg7#

 A fairy promotion trap and orthodox promotion key, combined with a symmetry switch (linear ↔ square form). Also present is a logical choice with purity of aim in White’s second move: Compared to 2. Rh8?, only 2. Rh7! achieves the tempo gain required for perfect timing! 

 “A kind of sadistic humor aimed at the poor solver, who, adrift on the open ocean, must discover the inconspicuous square h7 as the single saving island.” (h.e.).

60

Hilmar Ebert

Lüneburger Landeszeitung, 29.6.1991 (Version)

Remove one piece so that a correct h#4 by the white king (!) arises.

1.minus Pd7 → 1.Kd7! d4!  2.Ke6 Kd2!  3.Kf5 e4+  4.Kf4 Kd3#

 Discovered mate.

 (Vgl. 7177. Die Schwalbe, 1990/XII)

60*

Hilmar Ebert (a. N. Geissler)

Die Schwalbe IV 1997, S. 56 - 70 'White Magic'

Longest correct a) ser-#n b) ser-=n for which Black King's squares?

a) Kd4! → - 1.e4 2.Qh5 3.Qd5#
    Kh7! →  1.e3!  2.Qf3  3.Qf8  4.Bd3#

 Double and single step of the e-pawn as key moves!

b) Ke4! →  1.e3!  2.Qh5=
    Kg4! → - 1.d4!  2.Qd3  3.Qh7=

 The only dual-free king squares in a) and b)!

Literature: White Magic. (& Hans-Peter Reich) In: Die Schwalbe IV 1997, S. 56 – 70.

Chess Mathematics

61

Hilmar Ebert (mit R. Schwarzkopf)
Die Schwalbe, 1978 / Version

“In a
A) 4-dimensional chess space with edge length 6,
B) 5-dimensional chess space with edge length 5,
a Knight stands in one of the corner 'squares' of the hypercube.”

For each case, determine:

a) What is the maximum minimum number of moves required to reach any square?

b) How many squares require that maximum?

c) Which square(s) are those?

 Question a) can also be phrased as: “Starting from the corner of the hypercube (coordinates 1111 or 11111), in at most how many moves can the knight reach any square?
What is the maximum number of moves n, and which square(s) need it?”

A) 4D Cube (Edge length 6)

a) 8 moves, b) 1 square, c) Coordinates (6,6,6,6) – the opposite hypercube corner on the space diagonal

B) 5D Cube (Edge length 5)
a) 8 moves, b) 1 square, c) Coordinates (5,5,5,5,5)

 Conclusion: Thus, a complete echo in a), b), and c) (!) - again the opposite corner on the space diagonal.

Chess Humor

62

Hilmar Ebert

feenschach 1992

Dedicated to H. Gruber for the 1st to 4th Advent

Mate in exactly 1,2,3 and 4 moves!

1) 1.Re6#

2) 1.Nf3+! Kf5 2.Be4#

3) 1.Rc6! Kd5 2.Bb7! Ke5 3.Re6#

4) 1.Ne2! Kf5 2.Nf4 Ke5 3.Nd3+ Kf5 4.Be4#.

 Not 1.Rc6? Kd5 2.Bb7 Ke5 3.Nf3+? (3…Kf5? 4.Bc8#) because 3…Kd5! 4.??

 A quadruple-set problem with four exact mates in 1, 2, 3 and 4 moves - the solutions form two pairs, a/c and b/d, connected by subtle changes of play. There are self‑blocks, tempo maneuvers and changed mate, with a touch of gentle seduction.

 Ideally, one solves them week by week, like lighting the four Advent candles! By a small Christmas miracle, the position stubbornly refuses to yield a mate in five…  :-)

63

Hilmar Ebert

Tele-Tipp 1.1.2000
(...aus einem Artikel über 'Silvesterschach')

Mate in ¼ move (!) – Carnival Chess

 Since time is said to be moving ever faster, it seems logical to accelerate chess problems as well by radically reducing the number of moves required. Solving mates in three or more moves? A waste of time – leave that to computers!

 Computers need 4 full moves here, that is sixteen times the human move count – an unsurpassable record!

1.Qd5?/1.Qc7+? Ka5!
1.Qd4+? (Kb5?/Kc7?) but again 1…Ka5!
1.Kb8!? Ka5 2.Kc8! Kb6 3.Qb4 Ka7 4.Qa5#

1.Qd5?/1.Qc7+? Ka5!; 1.Qd4+? (Kb5:?/Kc7?) aber: 1...Ka5!

1.Kb8!? Ka5  2.Kc8! Kb6  3.Qb4 Ka7  4.Qa5# 

Human solution: Mate in ¼!

 We simply assume Black last played a7–a5 (allowed only at Carnival or on New Year’s Eve! The a5‑pawn is first captured enpassant (½ move), then the b‑pawn makes only half of its next half‑move (b5–a6 halfway), landing on the intersection of files a/b and ranks 5/6 = a quarter move, cheerfully delivering mate, supported by the queen.

Moreover, this is an ideal mate: all pieces participate, and each escape square is blocked or controlled for a unique reason – aesthetically perfect even in joke problem terms!

P.S.

 Inspired by an old 'Mate in 1/2 move' by 63*A. N. Onymous (Kb2 Bd4 Kf6 - Kh8)
N~ up, but not yet down! White already “started moving”: The knight is in mid‑air: check is given, and it still covers g8 and h7… so it’s mate! :-)

 In helpmate counting (where White’s mating move counts as part of a half‑move pair), our 63 / Version already achieves a h# in ⅛ move (!) - we promise a bottle of champagne for the first correct demonstration of mate in 1⁄16 move. :-)

Ultimate Fairy Chess

64(!) - The board is full.

A very strange Ultimate Fairy condition:
"White tries to win the game against best resistance of Black(!)"

'Free Game'

White: h.e. - Black: E.A.

Europa-Rochade / Version, 1987 (played in Germany, 1972!)

Position after Black’s 8^th move!

 The game proceeded as follows:

1. e4 e5  2. d4 exd4  3. c3 dxc3
4. Bc4 … – the well-known double gambit line: usually follows 4. … bxc2 5. Bxb2 –
4. … Bc5!? – a novelty!
5. Ne3 Qf6!? – Black declines the second pawn –
6. Nc3 c6(!) – or also 6. … Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5 …
7. Bg5 Qg6
8. Qd2!? … – a subtle trap! –
8. … h6 – just as planned … and now!?
9. Be3!! …

White now invites a feast on g2, evoking the theme of the 'Immortal Game' (Anderssen – Kieseritzky, Casual Game, London 1851)!

9. … Qxg2? – and the Queen bites - the black pieces were guided by a woman’s hand!) - 9... Bxe3!? – allowing dynamic chances for White and a series of sharp continuations, for example: 10. Qxe3 Nge7!

10. Bxc5!! … – the race is lost; even after 10. … d5(!) White’s attack can’t be stopped: 11. O-O-O Qxf3 12. exd5 Nbd7(?) 13. cxd6 bxc6(?) 14. Re1 Kd8 15. Nxb5! (or 10. … Qxf3? 11. Qxd6! – and Black has no answer to … Qd8# – similar to the real game!)

10. … Qxh1+ 11. Ke2 Qa1: 12. Qd6! Qxb2+ – the usual revenge checks –

13. Kd3! … – the checks are running out: the desperate: 13. … Qxc3+? would still be hopeless despite double rook capture, as Qf8# is threatened or, after the knight leaves g8, Qe7# analogously.

13. … Kd8(!) – but even this move was countered by White with a prepared mate!

14. Qf8+ Kc7  15. Bd6+ Kb6  16. Qd8#

Encores

Definitions

Check Compulsion:
If possible, Black must give check; otherwise, any move is allowed.

Exact:
The stipulation must be fulfilled in exactly the specified number of moves.

Grasshopper:
Jumps along a rook or bishop line over any single hurdle piece to the square immediately beyond in the same direction, which must either be empty or occupied by an enemy piece (captured in the latter case). The hurdle piece always remains in place and cannot be absent.
No other pieces may stand between the starting square and the hurdle. (T. R. Dawson, Cheltenham Examiner, 3 July 1913; idea 1912)

Helpmate (in n moves):
Black moves first and cooperates with White to checkmate the black king in at most n moves; both sides remain bound by the self-check prohibition. If White moves first for the same goal, this is symbolized by “0.1; 1.1 …”. N different solutions are indicated by “n.1; 1.1 …”. (M. Lange, “Zur Literatur”, Schachzeitung XII (1854), p. 453; S. Loyd, Chess Monthly XI (1860), p. 324)

Helpstalemate:
Like → Helpmate, but with stalemate instead of checkmate as the goal.

Mate (in n moves):
White moves first and checkmates Black against best defense in at most n moves.

Princess:
Combines the powers of the Bishop and the Knight. (T. R. Dawson, Cheltenham Examiner, 5 June 1913).

Reflexmate (Compulsory Selfmate):
As in → Selfmate, Black is forced by the first-moving White to checkmate the white king; but both sides must deliver an immediate mate whenever legally possible.

Selfmate (in n moves):
White moves first and forces Black to checkmate the white king in at most n moves, while both sides remain bound by the self-check prohibition.

Series-Mate (in n moves):
White plays a series of consecutive moves (→ Series Move) and checkmates Black in at most n moves.

Series-Stalemate:
Like → Series-Mate, but with stalemate instead of checkmate as the goal.

20 Awards

FIDE-Album: 12, 21, 46, 48

1.Prize: 34, 45, 49, 57, 59

Special Prize: 48

Chess Almanac: 22

Prize: 29, 42, 52, 54, 58

Honored Mention: 21, 37, 41, 46

Recommendation: 39

Chess Poetry

W. Finlayson

Chess in the Garden → Schachspiel im Garten
 

(After “ Miron.“), The British Chess Magazine  VIII 1913, (translated by Hilmar Alquiros)*

Chess in the garden when in summer heat

  The cooling shadows lie along the grass,

While pleasure-winged the happy moments fleet,

  And cares of business pass.

Lay trouble by, and seek the cool retreat,

  With pleasant plash of fountains on the lawn,

When twilight hours, long-lingering, haply meet

  The glory of the dawn.

Caïssa’s high delights will higher prove

  Where beechen green a leafy tent doth yield,

As Kings and Queens in gallant pageant move

  Across the chequered field.

Come one, come all, whate’er your rank or name,

  The neophyte, the veteran of the past ;

Whoever learns to love our royal game

  Will love it to the last.

Come when the limes their fragrant blossoms bear,

  Come when the thrush sings on the topmost bough,

Come when the roses flush the evening air

  And garland Summer’s brow.

Come when the peach is ripening on the wall,

  Come when the sun is westering in the skies,

Come when the night-wind wakes, and over all

  The gloaming glamour lies.

My Lady Nicotine shall add her meed

  Of incence, as the jewelled moments pass,

And juice of noblest vintages shall bead

  The brimming, ice-cooled glass.

Chess in the garden when in summer heat

  The deepening shadows lengthen on the lawn,

And twilight hours, long-lingering, haply meet

  The glory of the dawn. 

*

Schachspiel im Garten - wenn in Sommersglut

  Kühlende Schatten auf den Gräsern liegen,

Wo froh-beschwingt, derweil Geschäftssinn ruht,

  Glücksaugenblicke fliegen.

Zum kühlen Winkel, fort mit aller Last!

  Fontänen sprüh’n das Gras in frohem Tanz,

Wenn sehnend Dämmerstund’ zum Glück erfasst

  Des Morgengrauens Glanz.

Caïssa’s Hochgefühl mag höher steigen,

  Wo Buchengrün erwuchs zum Blätterzelt,

König und Dame sich galant verneigen

  Auf schwarz- und weißem Feld.

Ob Rang, ob Name, komm’, so kommt nur alle!

  Vom Neuling wie vom Veteran geschätzt -

Liebst Du das Königliche Spiel, verfalle

  Ihm ganz und bis zuletzt.

 Komm, von der Linden Blütenduft befallen,

  Wenn Du aus Wipfeln Drosselschlag erkennst,

Komm, wenn die Rosen Abendluft durchwallen,

  Der Duft den Sommer kränzt.

Kommt, wenn der Pfirsich reift an jedem Wall,

  Die Sonne westlich sich am Himmel neigt

Kommt, wenn der Nachtwind ruft und überall

  Sich Dämmerzauber zeigt.

Dazu des Tabaks Wohlgeruch als Gabe

  Juwelengleicher Augenblicke ... welch

Ein edler Saft nun randgefüllt als Labe

  Im eisgekühlten Kelch.

Schachspiel im Garten - und nach Sommersglut

  Legt tief’rer Schatten auf das Grün sich sacht,

Wenn Dämmerstundensehnen glücklich ruht

  In Morgengrauens Pracht.

  Eugen Roth

Die Meister

Ein Mensch sitzt da, ein schläfrig trüber,

Ein andrer döst ihm gegenüber.

Sie reden nichts, sie stieren stumm.

Mein Gott, denkst Du, sind die zwei dumm!

Der eine brummt, wie nebenbei

Ganz langsam: "Tc6 – c2."

Der andre wird allmählich wach

Und knurrt: "Da3 – g3 Schach!"

Der erste, weiter nicht erregt,

Starrt vor sich hin und überlegt.

Dann plötzlich, vor Erstaunen platt,

Seufzt er ein einzig Wörtlein: "Matt!"

Und die Du hieltst für niedre Geister,

Erkennst Du jetzt als hohe Meister!

*

Eugen Roth

The Masters

One man sits there asleep and dim,

One dozes opposite to him.

Both say no word, do quietly stare -

"My God," you think, "how dumb this pair!"

One mumbles casually, his view

Quite slowly "Rook c6–c2".

The other stirs from sleepy track

And growls: "Queen a3–g3: check!"

The first, unmoved, still as a sphinx,

He stares ahead and deeply thinks...

Then, suddenly, he sees his fate:

He sighs and says one word: "Checkmate!"

And those you thought were dumb disasters,

You recognize as very masters!

                                                                                                     (Transl. H. Alquiros)

 Club champion – ahead of the “old hands”! :-)

Literature

# 86: 200 Ausgewählte Schachaufgaben. * four men only # 2, 2., verbesserte und wesentlich erweiterte Aufl. Aachen: four men only, XI 1987, 173 + III Diagramme, 5 Register, 200 + VIII S.