Problem 2

Here we see one of the oldest problems published by a Greek composer (Mr. Economopoulos E.) in the magazine "Nuova Rivista" in 1881, and it was republished in the magazine "To Mat" (No.26, 15/01/1984).



Composer : Economopoulos E.,

Publication Place, Year : Nuova Rivista, 1881

Stipulation : #3, White plays and mates in 3 moves

Notation Algebraic: White : Ka5 Ra8 Rf1 Bd5 Se6, Black : Ke7

Pieces : (5 + 1)

Solution :

Key: 1.Sd4!

if 1...Kd7 2.Sb5 Ke7 3.Rf7#

if 1...Kd6 2.Rd8+ Kc7 3.Se6#

or 2...Ke7 / Ke5 3.Sc6#

Let us read the solution, in favor of people who do not know the notation of the moves.

The stipulation states that white plays first and must mate in three moves.

The first move of the white is called key of the problem. ''The key is a unique move and is written with exclamation mark. Here the key is move of the knight, (symbol S), to square d4.''

Black possess only their king, (and problems with this characteristic are called Rex solus : king alone), thus the various series of moves after the key (which are called variations) start with a move of the king.

''If the black king, (symbol K), moves to d7, the second move of the white is knight to b5. The second move of the black king brings him to e7, where the third move of white, rook (symbol R) goes to f7, gives mate (symbol #).''

''If black plays Kd6, white moves the rook to d8 and gives check ( = threatening the king, symbol + ), the king moves to c7, where is mated by the white’s third move, knight to e6. If, after the move 2.Rd8+, the black king tries to escape to e7 or to e5, then the third move of the white, knight to c6, gives mate.''