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Chess Problem 2020e4e601

BDS

The Problemist, 2020 (Dedicated to David Friedgood)

#3
VAOs a4, f8
NAOs f2, h5; h1 

1.VAb4!  ()

1...c6    2.Bd8 & 3.Rf6#
1...c5    2.Ke3 & 3.Re4#
1...NAxb4 2.Rf5 & 3.Re5#

d7 is guarded by wNAh5 over wBf6 and d6 is guarded by wNAf2 over wKe4. 1...c6 puts another guard on d7, allowing White to play 2.Bd8 and then mate with 3.Rf6, re-imposing the wNAh5’s guard of d7. 1...c5 puts another guard on d6, allowing White to play 2.Ke3 and then mate with 3.Re4, re-imposing the wNAf2’s guard of d6. These two variations show a theme I have called CHANGE OF HURDLE. I was very happy when I noticed that the construction allows the try 1.VAa3?, which is refuted by 1...c5!, as, after 2.Ke3?, Black is stalemated. At least one solver fell for this.

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