[Retros] Christmas Contest by Chess Column of "Stuttgarter Zeitung"

[Jens Guballa]

Hi,

the resolution of the Christmas Contest was published last
Saturday. Here is the translation:


102 participants sent there solutions, 85 of them with the correct
answers for positin A and B. The following winner are drawn by lots:

1st price (micro stereo-system)    : Otto Stolz, Konstanz
2nd price (Philips video recorder) : Michael Engel, Leinfelden-Echterdingen
3rd price (espresso machine)       : Frithjof Foehl, Aalen

There was an unexpected incident: The solutions for A + B were
published on a web page for win contest cheater, but thanks to the
hint of Robert Miklos those emails (around hundred) were not taken
into account. 

55 people also took part in contest for the positions C-E, 21 of them
with correct solutions (bookprices):

Hans Bergmann, Norbert Geissler, Kurt Lorenz, Michael Engel, Norbert
Derksen, Martin Bauer, Horst Kiemele, Rudolf Eilenberger, Jens
Guballa, Ulrich Knoepp, Gabriele Bauers, Martin Both, Peter Erbacher,
Rainer Francke, Henrik Juel, Hannu Lehto, Peter Lau, Thomas Lutzius,
Nils Empacher, Lutz Stephan and Juergen Berthel.

Also correct solutions but with insufficient substantiations were
contributed by: B. Schuh, H. Poethig, Irma Maurer, H.-K. Nusser,
Maier/Sandau and B. Fauth.

Solutions:

A: B. Larsson, Feenschach 1954 (position mirrowed).
White retracts Kf7xNf8, then g6-g7#
Kf7-f8 is insufficient, because black would have no last move.

B: W. Hartston 1995
Only black figure is Kd8. 1. Nc6#
bKb8 and bRa8 (1. Nc6#) is not possible, because also here black would
have no last move.

Solutions C-E (short version):
C: a) only 1. Nb4#, b) only 1...h2xg1=Q#
D: +bPd6, 1. Bc7, black may not castle anymore
E: 1. 0-0! wins, because black castling is illegal

More details will follow in the next issue of the chess column.

Bye,
Jens