Наши конкурсы - 2022 | Our Tourneys - 2022

Tourney name: "All on Black!"
Stipulation: h#2-n
Theme: in each phase of a helpmate-problem, all moves are performed on Black squares. Herewith in diagram position there may be any quantity of pieces on White squares, and in solution there may be any quantity of captures.
A castling is non-thematic because after it either a King or a Rook appears on White square.
A en-passant-capture is thematic only if it opens a solution.

Conditions:
- twins and multisolutions are allowed if its are fully thematic;
- zero-positions are not allowed;
- fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed;
- phases with repeated mates (i. e. with the same position of both White mating piece (the same kind) and Black King) are not allowed;
- attacked King (under a check) in the diagram position is not allowed;
- repeated moves in different phases are not allowed (moves of the same piece from different initial squares to the same final square are considered as different moves; moves of the same piece from the same initial square to the same final square with capture and without capture are considered as repeated moves);
- set play is not considered.

Scoring:
- the problem with h#n stipulation and with m phases (twins, solutions), that satisfies all above specified conditions, will be evaluated in n*m points.

Joint problems are allowed. Each participant may submit no more than three entries (including joint works).

The winning problem will be the one with the highest score among all entries. In the case of equality of points number, an advantage will get those problems which have less number of units. The second criterion (if the first criterion was useless to differentiate the competing problem) is a less number of White units. The third criterion is a time of sending.
As extra, there will be mentioned the problems anyhow related to New Year.

Closing date: December 30, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru.
Download the announcement (pdf, 105 KB)

Tourney name: "Bicolor interferences on the same square"
Stipulation: h#2
Theme: in first (second) phase, a thematic White (Black) piece closes a line of piece А by a move on a square X and a thematic Black (White) piece closes a line of piece В by a move on a square Y.
А and В may be linear pieces and Pawns of the same or different colors.
Multi-solutions-form and any kinds of twins (except duplex) are allowed. Zero-positions are not allowed.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Judge: Valery Kirillov.
Closing date: November 24, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 162 KB)

Tourney name: "Paradox, foresight, choice"
Stipulation: h#2-6
Theme: it is required that each phase (or two phases – in case of Zilahi) will demonstrate judge’s favourite combination of three elements - paradox, foresight, and choice (see the judge's article):
1) paradox - one of:
- capture of White officer (not Pawn);
- Zilahi (including Pawn and passive)
- tempo-move;
- tempo-try;
- switchback;
- White underpromotion;
- check to White King;
- phoenix;
2) foresight - one of:
- a move in the solution with an effect that is not immediately clear. For example: the White/Black moves to a closed line which will be opened later (ambush); the White/Black closes a line which will be active later; a sacrifice which will be captured but not immediately; etc;
- a try that becomes evident not immediately but later. For example: underpromotion which will be understood after few moves; etc;
3) choice - one of:
- try;
- dual avoidance. there are two or more choices with the same positive effect, but only one works;
- hideaway. The White/Black wants to get rid of one of his pieces. The piece has only one good possibility out of more than one. If the move could be removing the piece from the board, then the same solution works.
Comments:
- White underpromotion to Bishop/Rook is considered as paradox and choice – because the White choose not to promote to Queen;
- tries which fail due to something that happens not immediately are considered as foresight and choice;
- a tempo-try is considered as paradox and choice.
Zero-positions are allowed but not recommended by the judge.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Judge: Ofer Comay.
Closing date: October 27, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 203 KB)

The judge dedicates this TT to all the citizens who died due to the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

Tourney name: "Four corners – penalty!" *
Stipulation: #3-N, h#3-N, s#3-N, hs#3-N
Theme: in the same phase, White or Black thematic piece (Rook or Queen) visits all four corners and leaves the board (immediately, or after performing one or more moves). It is allowable if initially this piece stands in one of corners and visits three rest corners in thematic phase.
At least one of thematic moves from corner to corner must be perform without a capture.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Depending on quantity and quality of sent problems, the judge can divided an award into several subsections or, vice versa, can combine several sections into the one.
Judge: Aleksey Oganesjan.
Closing date: October 6, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 303 KB)

* an allusion to the rule "Three corners – penalty" (from “backyard” football), according to which a team that has performed three corner kicks in a row is entitled to a penalty kick. In the theme of this TT, another meaning of the word "penalty" is played up – "removal", “deletion”.

Tourney name: "One finger in three pies"
Stipulation: #2-N
Theme: in diagram position or during a play, three Black linear pieces somehow hinder the White. On any move (including on mating) White piece or Pawn goes to the point of intersection of the lines of action of these three Black pieces that allows to create a threat (or to immediately checkmate). A presence of variations/branches with a capture of the thematic White piece or pawn is not necessary. The theme can be realized in the solution (example 1) or in the try (example 2).
One of the three black thematic pieces can be a pawn (example 2).
Any kinds of twins are allowed if its are thematic.
Promoted pieces, fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Depending on quantity and quality of sent problems, the judge can divide an award into several subsections or, vice versa, can combine several sections into the one.
Judge: Aleksey Oganesjan.
Closing date: August 11, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 166 KB)
Please send earlier published thematic problems (except examples in this announcement) to the judge.

Tourney name: "Hofmann theme and tries"
Stipulation: s#2-N
Theme: first moves of at least two tries appear in solution in response to its refutations and first move of solution appears in one or several of these tries. At that, these first moves of tries (of solution) can appear in solution (in tries) on the same move as well as on different moves.
[ More about strict (Hofmann theme) and non-strict (Hofmann tries) kinds of the theme – see pages 1-2 of the Valery Kopyl's article "Hofmann theme - reciprocal change of white moves in tries and in solution". ]
Any kinds of twins are allowed if its are thematic.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Judge: Valery Kirillov.
Closing date: June 16, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 178 KB)

Tourney name: "Upside-down switchbacks"
Stipulation: ser-h#6-n
Theme: at least three thematic Black pieces execute one or several moves and then – in reverse order by any routes – return to squares on which these pieces were located in diagram position. In other words, “usual” switchbacks are thematic as well as switchback maneuvers on the same fields "trace to trace" and as well as rundlaufs. Notes:
1) Black-Black FML-effects (follow-my-leader, come-and-go) are thematic but not required;
2) a castling as a part of thematic maneuvers of King and Rook is thematic if at first Rook returns on corner square and only then – King on e8;
3) promoting Pawn can be thematic piece, i. e. a switchback of promoted piece on initial Pawn’s square is thematic (for example, a2-a1R-Ra2 or d3xc2-c1S-Sd3);
4) additional (non-thematic) switchbacks of any Black pieces are allowed only before beginning or after ending of all thematic play.
Any kinds of twins are allowed if its are thematic. Promoted pieces, fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Each author can send no more than five problems (including joint).
Judge: Dragan Stojnić.
Closing date: June 9, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 278 KB)

Tourney name: "Bohemia-2"
Stipulation: #3-N
Theme: required to compose a three- or moremover with at least three different model mates, i. e. with different locations of Black King or White mating piece. So echo-mates are thematic.
Any kinds of twins are allowed. Zero-positions are not allowed.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Depending on quantity and quality of sent problems, the judge can divided an award into two sections or, vice versa, can combine two sections into the one.
Judge: Yury Gorbatenko.
Closing date: April 28, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 91 KB)

Tourney name: "Pawn batteries"
Stipulation: s#2-5
Theme: thematic variations ends with at least two different Pawn batteries. A threat counts as a thematic variation.
Any kinds of twins are allowed if its are thematic.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Judge: Sergey Borodavkin.
Closing date: March 31, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 121 KB)

Tourney name: "April Fool’s Check"
Stipulation: #2-3
Theme: in actual play, the key is a check to Black King.
An ideological play can be anything but with at least two variations of actual solution.
Any kinds of twins are allowed if its are thematic.
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
No more than three problems from one author, including joint.
Depending on quantity and quality of sent problems, the arbitrator can divided an award into several subsections or, vice versa, can combine several sections into the one.
Arbitrator: Igor Agapov.
Closing date: March 10, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published at April, 1 on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 193 KB)

Tourney name: "The Cherished Outcast"
Stipulation: PG (exact proof games), SPG (shortest proof games)
Theme: in a diagram position, White pieces are located between 1st and 3rd ranks, Black pieces – between 6th and 8th ranks. The only exception is one “visitor” – an officer on the last rank (either a White officer on 8th rank or a Black one on 1st rank).
For this TT, both exact PG (example 1) and SPG (examples 2-5) are allowed.
The diagram position must have at least 20 pieces (non-thematic example 6) and should have only pieces from a single box, i. e. without extra-set promoted pieces of the same color (for example, without two White Queens or three Black Rooks / Knights / Bishops and etc. – see non-thematic example 7) or more than one “visitor” (non-thematic example 8).
Any kind of multiple phases is allowed, provided each phase is thematic (non-thematic example 9) and a play of the “visitor” is distinctive in each phase (non-thematic example 10).
Fairy pieces and conditions are not allowed.
Judge: Michel Caillaud.
Closing date: February 28, 2022
Entries to Aleksey Oganesjan via e-mail: alexeioganesyan@gmail.com
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru
Download the announcement (pdf, 306 KB)

Editorial board of international web project SuperProblem announces a formal composing tourney to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the permanent selfmates director of SuperProblem informal tourneys, IGM for composing and International Judge Anatoly Stepochkin.

Sections:

• #3 - Threemovers
• #N - Moremovers
• H# - Helpmates (may be divided into 2 or 3 subsections)
• S# - Selfmates
• HS#2-4 - Helpselfmates in 2-4 moves (without fairy pieces/conditions)

Themes are free for all the sections.
The tourney judge is Anatoly Stepochkin.
Prizes, honorable mentions and commendations will be awarded.
Send entries (no limits) to the tourney judge via e-mail anatoly.alfa@gmail.com before 17th August 2022.
Awards will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru before the end of 2022.

Editorial board of international web project SuperProblem http://superproblem.ru announces an informal composing tourney for current 2022 year in the following sections:

• A - twomovers Director: Evgeny Permyakov - permyakov63@mail.ru
• B - threemovers Director: Aleksandr Sygurov - sygurov@bk.ru
• C - moremovers Director: Aleksandr Sygurov - sygurov@bk.ru
• E - helpmates Director: Vitaly Medintsev - vitalymedintsev@gmail.com
• F - selfmates Director: Anatoly Stepochkin - anatoly.alfa@gmail.com
• G - fairies Director: Mikhail Khramtsevich - xramcevich66@mail.ru

Judges:

• #2 - Anatoly Slesarenko
• #3 - Igor Agapov
• #N – Aleksandr Feoktistov
• H#2 - Harry Fougiaxis
• H#2.5 & 3 - Valery Gurov
• H#3.5-N - Bosko Miloseski
• S# - Aleksandr Azhusin
• Fairies - Igor Kochulov

In all the sections (in all three subsections in helpmates), there is the following limitation: not more than 3 originals per author (including joint works) may be published. Versions are unlimited.
Themes are free for all the sections.
Traditional distinctions for informal tourneys are stated.
Send entries to the directors (via e-mail) not later than 1st December 2022.
Awards will be published on the website http://superproblem.ru