[Retros] Christmas Contest of Stuttgarter Zeitung

[Jens Guballa]

Dear retro friends,

In the yesterday's issue of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" the traditional
Christmas Contest was published in the chess column of Harald Keilhack.

Here is my translation:


<translation_start>

Among the senders of correct solutions of A and B the following prices
are drawn by lots: A cordless telephone, a micro wave and a color TV.

Please take care that after a retraction or the coloring of pieces a
legal position arise, and check which side has the move. 

In addition you should check whether more than one solution exists.

Have fun solving!

And here are the problems:


A: Werner Keym
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   | N |   |   | R |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   | k | p | p |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   | P |   | B |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   | P | p | K |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
[4N2R/5kpp/3P1B2/3PpK2/8/8/8/8]

What is the shortest mate?


B: Günther Weeth
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   | B | n | r |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   | p | p |   | k |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   | P |   | P |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   | P | p | K |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
[5Bnr/4pp1k/5P1P/5PpK/8/8/8/8]

Change the color of one chessman, then checkmate in one move.


Here are three more problems for our experts. All senders of correct
solutions C - E will be mentioned when the solutions is published and
they will receive a book price.


C: Bernd Schwarzkopf
Find a position with two white and two black chessmen where white can
achieve a stalemate in one move. Thereby the squares of the chessmen
(calculated from its midpoint) shall build a quadrangle of maximum size.

E.g: 

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| R |   |   |   |   |   | n |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   | K |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   | k |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

Here (1. Rxg8 statemate) the midpoints of the squares a8, g8, h3 and h1
are the corners of a quadrangle. But there exists a solution with a
greater quadrangle size. (Solution can be laterally reversed.)


D: Harald Keilhack, borrowed from a game
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| k |   | n |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| p |   | P |   |   | r | p |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| P |   |   |   | p |   | p | p |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| p |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   | N | P |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| P |   |   |   |   | R |   | P |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   | K |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
[k1n5/p1P2rp1/P3p1pp/p7/8/5NP1/P4R1P/1K6 w - - 0 1]

Is there a win for white, who has the move?


E: Günther Weeth/Werner Keym
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   | b |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   | p |   | p | p | p | p |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   |   |   |   | p |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

| R |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   | P | P |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   | P |   |   |   |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   | P |   | P | P | R |   | b |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

|   |   |   |   | K | B |   | k |

+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
[2b5/1p1pppp1/7p/R7/4PP2/4P3/1P1PPR1b/4KB1k]

White retracts two halfmoves, black retracts one halfmove (Proca
retractor). Can white then checkmate in one move?


Send your solutions til 15th of Jan 2008 latest (poststamp) to

Stuttgarter Zeitung (Schach)
Postfach 10 60 32
70049 Stuttgart
Germany

<translation_end>

I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you and your
family.


Enjoy the contest,
Jens