My Oldest "Water-Ski" Problem

Giuseppe Lucchesini

"Best Problems", 2004, VIII, 31, p. 206, n. 1190

h#6

Circe

 1.Ba1-c3 a2-a3 2.Bc3-b4 a3*b4[+bBf8] 3.Bf8-c5 b4*c5[+bBf8] 4.Bf8-d6 c5*d6[+bBf8] 5.Bf8-e7 d6*e7[+bBf8] 6.Bf8*e7[+wPe2] e2-e3 #

The Water-Ski Theme

h=4

Circe

Without White King

 1.Ba3-b4 a2-a3 2.Kf6-g7 a3*b4[+bBf8] 3.Bf8-c5 b4*c5[+bBf8] 4.Bf8-d6 c5*d6[+bBf8] 5.Bf8-e7 d6*e7[+bBf8] 6.Kg7-h7 e7*f8=Q =

Bothered and Bewildered

h=3

Circe

 1.b3-b2 Bc1*e3[+bPe7] 2.e7-e5 Be3-d4 3.e5*d4[+wBc1] Bc1-d2 =

Ballet on Four Squares

h#3
Anti-Andernach*
Transmuting King**
No White King

1.Kg7-h8 b2-b3=b 2.b3*a2 Se2*d4 3.a2-a1=B=w Sd4*c2 #

* The pieces, except Kings, change colour after non-captures, but stay the same colour after a capture.

* The Kings move, when checked, like the checking piece.

The Bishops' Plot

h=4

Circe

 1.f2-f1=B Ke5-f4 2.Bf1*a6[+wBf1] Bf1*a6[+bBc8] 3.Kh2-h3 Ba6*c8 + 4.Kh3-h4 Bc8-g4 =

Mars Attacks!

h#3

Mars-Circe*

 1.Kd5-e4 b5-b6 2.Ke4-e3 b6-b7 3.e5-e4 b7-b8=B #

* In order to capture, any unit (including kings) is first be replaced on its re-birth square (as for captured units in circe) and then captures from this square.

When a Wazir-King Leaves behind Wazir-King-Sentinelles

Ser=3

White Gasshopper h8

Black Wazir-King-Sentinelles-Maker Wazir-King*

1. Kb2 2. Ga1 3. h8=G

* The Wazir is a fairy chess piece that moves like a Rook, but can go only one square. The Wazir-King is a King that moves like a Wazir. Black Wazir-King-Sentinelles-Maker Wazir-King is a Wazir-King that, on moving, leaves behind a Wazir-King.

When a Ferz-King Leaves behind Ferz-King-Sentinelles

Ser-h=3

Black Ferz-King-Sentinelles-Maker Ferz-King* (FzS) in e2

No White King

1. FzSe2xd3 [bFzSe2] 2. Fzsd3-e4 [bFzSd3] 3. FzSe4-f3 [bFzSe4] = ***

* The Ferz moves and takes one square diagonally. The Ferz-King is a King that moves like a Ferz. A Ferz-King-Sentinelles-Maker Ferz-King is a Ferz-King that, on moving, leaves behind a Ferz-King.

** Of course, I could not verify my solution.

A Wazir in a Billiard Room

h=3

Bouncing Bishop* in g3

Wazir** King in g4
No White King

1. BBb8, a6 2. WKg3, a7 3. WKg2, axb8=BB = ***

* A Bouncing Bishop can bounce off from all sides of the chessboard.

** A Wazir is a fairy chess piece that moves like a Rook, but can go only one square.

*** I could not verify my solution.

Three's a Crowd

h=3

Sentinelles*

No White King

1.Kh4-h5[+bPh4] Se1-f3 2.h4-h3 Sf3-h2[+wPf3] 3.Kh5-h4[+bPh5] Sh2-f1[+wPh2] =

* When a piece (not a Pawn) moves, a Pawn of the same colour appears on the vacated square, if it is not the first or the last rank, and if there are less than 8 Pawns of that colour on the board.

Une sentinelle régicide

Ser-h#5

Sentinelles*

  1.Kd1-e1 2.Ke1-f2 3.Kf2-g2[+bPf2] 4.Kg2-h3[+bPg2] 5.Kh3-g3[+bPh3] Sh2-f3[+wPh2] #

* When a piece (not a Pawn) moves, a Pawn of the same colour appears on the vacated square, if it is not the first or the last rank, and if there are less than 8 Pawns of that colour on the board.

Ambitieuses sentinelles

Ser-h#7

Sentinelles*
No White King

1.Kf4-g4[+bPf4] 2.f4-f3 3.f3-f2 4.f2-f1=Q 5.Qf1-f4 6.Qf4-g5[+bPf4] 7.Qg5*h4[+bPg5] Bg2-f3[+wPg2] #

* When a piece (not a Pawn) moves, a Pawn of the same colour appears on the vacated square, if it is not the first or the last rank, and if there are less than 8 Pawns of that colour on the board.

A Tale of the Old Cage

h=3

Royal Pawn* h4

1. RPh3, h8=B 2. RPh2, Bf6 3. RPh1=RSh1, Bh4 =

* A royal piece is one which must not be allowed to be captured. If a royal piece is threatened with capture and cannot avoid capture the next move, then the game is lost.

Sentinelles et revenants II. Variatio.

ser-h#4

Circe

Sentinelles*

1.Kf1-g1 2.Kg1-h2 3.Kh2-g3[+bPh2] 4.Kg3*h3[+wBf1][+bPg3] Bf1*g2 #

* When a piece (not a Pawn) moves, a Pawn of the same colour appears on the vacated square, if it is not the first or the last rank, and if there are less than 8 Pawns of that colour on the board.

Sentinelles et revenants

h#2

Circe

Sentinelles*

No White King

  1.Bh1-f3 Rg1-g5 2.Kh3*h4[+wSg1][+bPh3] Sg1*f3[+bBc8] #

* When a piece (not a Pawn) moves, a Pawn of the same colour appears on the vacated square, if it is not the first or the last rank, and if there are less than 8 Pawns of that colour on the board.

A Simple Scheme

h#3

Circe

 1.Bg6-h5 Bh6*g7 2.Kf7-g6 Bg7-h6 3.Kg6*h6[+wBc1] f4-f5 #