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BDS

British Chess Magazine, 1977

#2
MAOs e6; a5
PAO f3, h5; a2, b2
VAOs a4, g1; g5

1.Kxc3! (2.MAd4#)

1...Kb6  2.PAe3#
1...Kc5  2.PAf2#
1...PAf2 2.Rb6#
1...VAe3 2.MAd8#

My first problem with Chinese Pieces, inspired by an article in BCM by John Driver. The key, by removing the hurdle over which the VAg1 guards b6 and c5, gives two flights on those squares, which, when taken, lead to anti-battery mates by moves onto the line of the VAg1. The threat would occupy the square just vacated and thus re-guard b6 and c5. As 1...Kb6 pins the PAb2 and 1...Kc5 pins the VAg5, both of which pieces guard the mating line from g1, each mating move must carefully block the other guard by occupying the square on which it would have interposed. These two variations constitute a Chinese version of the Foschini Theme, complete with a thematic key, as intended by the composer at the time, though not noticed by anybody on publication. The second pair of variations defend by moving onto the line of the VAg1, leading to one open-gate mate and one simple unguard. The huge flaw is the VAa4, which merely prevents 1...PAb5, which would otherwise refute. From a distance of nearly 36 years, instinct tells me that it could be improved.

Shortly after writing the paragraph above, I did manage an improvement, shown in the next diagram.

BDS

British Chess Magazine, 1977 (v)

#2
LEO a4
MAO e6
PAOs f3, h5; a2, b2
VAOs g1; g5

1.Kxc3   (2.MAd4#)

1...Kb6  2.PAe3#
1...Kc5  2.PAf2#
1...PAf2 2.LEc2#
1...VAe3 2.MAd8#

The Lea4 stops the nuisance defence 1...PAb5, but also guards a6 after 1...Kb6 and provides one of the mates. The piece on a4 is a dud no longer! Sometimes, chess problems take many years to get right!