Thursday, January 3, 2008

Problem 3: hdp 5.5

It's time for another heterodox chess problem. Our problemist, Zoltan Bodnar, has worked on the previous composition and come up with some improvements. The problem is, once again, a thematic one dedicated to this new blog. The layout of the pieces begins in the form of an exclamation mark or "exclam".

The start position has White pawns on b5, b6, and b7. The pawn on b7 is a royal pawn; it has the same properties as other pawns with the additional property that it can be checked. In this problem, the only Black piece that can "check" this pawn is the Black king. The royal pawn is indicated by an upside-down pawn. In addition, White has a double move rook hopper on b4. It is indicated by an upside-down rook. This piece is called a clam and it can be compared to a checker piece that must make two jumps and two jumps only. Such a piece could, for example, jump over an adjacent piece, or pawn, and jump right back to its original square, provided it wasn't temporarily blocking a check, etc. It is indicated with a "C". White has no king on the board.

Black has a king on b2.

The problem is a help double stalemate. The final position will have both players stalemated. By convention, Black moves first in this problem.

So, we have ....


White: pawns on b5, b6. royal pawn on b7. clam on b4.
Black: king on b2.

hdp 5.5
ZKBodnar

condition: black must not "check"

Given the lack of response to these heterodox problems so far, the solution will be provided in the comments section. Good luck!

3 comments:

Nigel Hanrahan said...

Here is the solution:

1... Kb3
2. Cb4 Kb4
3. b8=C Kc5
4. b7 Kd6
5. Cb4 Kc7
6. b6+ Kb8

"The clam is dead. Long live the clam!"

The final position, which will be posted later on, is as follows:
White: b6, b7, Cb4 Black: Kb8

Anonymous said...

jordN, gimme a time and a place for sunday man,

Anonymous said...

Good grief ! You have to be kidding !
With all due respect I thought this was a chess blog.