Friedgood: Solutions to the self-block problems

by ChessBase
2/28/2012 – The self-block occurs when Black (the defending side) is forced to block flight squares in the king's field and thus enable mate. David Friedgood explained this very important theme in problem chess and gave our readers two self-block problems to solve. In addition he challenged us to find an active self-block in actual tournament play. So far with modest results – so we must keep searching.
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David Friedgood: Problem Chess Solutions

The solutions to the two problems set for solving in Problem Chess: The Self-Block are as follows:

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1.Qf3 is the rather poor key, which brings the queen nearer to the black king without giving anything to Black. The threat is as below and Black can defend against it by removing the guard on e4: -- 1...Nxd3 2.Nf5# A self-block on a flight square (d3 is an unguarded square to which the king could move) potentially provides White with the opportunity for a number of mates. The composer uses 'dual avoidance' tactics to prevent a dual (i.e. an unwanted second mate). To fully appreciate the problem, you should examine why alternative mates are not possible for each of the self-blocks on d3. 1...Rxd3 2.Kf5# 1...cxd3 2.f5# 1...Kxd3 2.Bf5# In addition to the three self-blocks on d3, the taking of the d3 flight by the king leads to a parallel mate on the same square - f5! This is what makes the problem special. We also have a 'byplay' (non-thematic) variation 1...Bd5 2.Qxd5# ∆2.Qe4# Not only do we have the parallel mates on f5, but the author has given us a further parallel in that the block by the knight is met by mate by a knight, while the block by the pawn is met by mate by a pawn move. Altogether a very pleasing idea.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Y Rossomakho-Mate in 2-19933rd Place, Baltic Sea Tourney

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Clearly the idea is to provoke the f5 knight to open the line of the rook, so the key is 1.Bd3 with the threat as below. -- If Black makes a random move with the f5 knight, e.g. 1...Nh6 , then the queen can capture on e4 and defeat the threat by guarding against the follow-up 3.Bc4. However, the opening of the rook's line results in 2.Qc6+ 2.Nec6+? 2.Nxg6+? e5+! 2...Kd4 3.Bg1# as the bishop no longer needs to guard e5. Black has three 'corrections' to the random move of the knight, preventing the 2.Qc6+ and 3.Bg1# follow-up: 1...Ne3 2.Qd4+! Kxd4 3.Nec6# taking advantage of the self-block on e3 1...Nd4 2.Qc5+! Kxc5 3.Ned7# taking advantage of the self-block on d4 1...Ne7 2.Qd6+! Kxd6 3.Nc4# taking advantage of the self-block on e7. ∆2.e4+ Nxe4 3.Bc4# Three brilliant queen sacrifice variations are triggered by anticipatory ('prospective') self-blocks. A fine problem.
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V Kirillov & M Marandyuk-Mate in 3-20013rd Prize Uralsky Problemist

The Challenge to Readers has brought forth some interesting contributions and comments. However, very few of the examples submitted showed what I was hoping for. I am keeping the challenge open in the hope that I will receive examples showing either or both of the following features:

  1. A quiet move (non-checking and ideally non-capturing) that forces black to self-block
  2. An anticipatory self-block, i.e. the self-blocking move occurs a number of moves (the more, the better) before the mate that takes advantage of it.

An illustrative example was one of a number sent in by Joose Norri (Finland):

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Re1 Bg4 11.Qd3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nd7 13.b3 Bf6 14.Bb2 Re8 15.Rad1 Re6 16.Qh3 Qe8 17.f4 Rd8 18.Qe3 Nb6 19.e5 dxe5 20.f5 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Re7 22.Ne4 Rd7 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Re1 Qd8 25.Qe4 Nd5 26.Qg4+ Kh8 27.Bc1 Qf8 28.c4 Nb4 29.Qh4 Qd6 30.Qh6 Rd8 31.h3 c5?
Now comes the quiet move: 31...Rg8 was required. 32.Re4! and Black is strangely helpless against the threats of 33.Rh4/Rg4 Rg8 Hoping to hang on with 33... Rg7 33.Qxh7+! 33.Qxh7+ Kxh7 34.Rh4+ Kg7 35.Bh6+ Kh7 36.Bf8# 1–0
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John Nunn-Lajos Portisch-1–01988C73Reykjavik 46/427

This does not altogether meet the requirement of (1), because one of the threats is 33.Rg4, which would force 33...Rg8 anyway, and thus force the dénouement seen in the game. In other words, 32...Rg8 deals with only one of the two threats.

The example does meet the requirement (2) with a sequence four moves long, albeit impure, as the second move already takes advantage of the self-block. Of course it is also very much a stock combination.

Let’s see what you can come up with now! Please send PGNs to david.friedgood@gmail.com.

Copyright in this article David Friedgood 2012/ChessBase

The British Chess Problem Society (BCPS), founded in 1918, is the world's oldest chess problem society. It exists to promote the knowledge and enjoyment of chess compositions, and membership is open to chess enthusiasts in all countries.

The Society produces two bi-monthly magazines, The Problemist and The Problemist Supplement (the latter catering for beginners), which are issued to all members. Composers from all over the world send their problems and studies to compete in the tourneys run by the society.

The BCPS also organises the annual British Chess Solving Championship, and selects the Great Britain squad for the World Chess Solving Championship. The Society holds an annual residential weekend, with a full programme of solving and composing tourneys and lectures; this event attracts an international participation. Members are also entitled to use the resources of the BCPS library, and the Society book service, which can provide new and second-hand publications.

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