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!

Thoughts at the end of 2007

2007 saw the beginning of a Chess Manitoba blog and then, in November, the beginning of this blog. I hope we can continue with this success. So far, I think it's fair to say that Jordan and I are having fun with this blog.

For myself, I played in 3 tournaments and gained 80 rating points in 2007. That's better than the 1 tournament I played in 2006. Given my break of almost 4 years from competitive chess between 2002 and 2006, I have to be happy with the results. Perhaps other observers or competitors in Manitoba chess circles would share some of their observations of Manitoba chess this year. Do you have a favourite game? What did 2007 mean for your chess? What was good? What was not so good?

Early in 2008, at the same time as the Kent Oliver Memorial tournament, the Manitoba Chess Association will hold its Annual General Meeting. At the AGM, a new Executive is elected and CFC Governors are chosen. I urge everyone to attend this important meeting if they are able.

Season's Greetings from Jordan and I and have a Happy New Year.

Nigel Hanrahan

Jordan's Attacking Game Of The Week *Holiday Edition*

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukuh, Festive Qwanzaa, and for the rest Joyous New Year!!!
This is my Christmas Edition of the segment and boy do I have a treat for all you guys!
I decided that I would include 3 of my personal favorite attacking games as it is the holidays and I am in a giving mood.
Firstly one of my all time favorite Tal games:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044107
Vintage Tal.
Next my favorite Radjabov attacking gem against no less than World Champion Vishy Anand in my favorite Sicilian crowned with a QUEEN SAC MATING ATTACK!!!(I love those 4 words!)
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1266078
And finally,
A more recent game of the talented young American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who recently won the very strong Casino de Barcelona tourny, in Spain Oct 18-26 2007. Hikaru was obviously in a "giving" mood as he unloaded a beautiful combination that the great Polish GM Krasenkow must have never seen coming!
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1477101

Enjoy all and have a safe and happy, and FUN holiday, ssee you in the new year when I will be feelin' GREAT in 2008!!!
Jordan Kwiatek

Jordan's Attacking Game Of The Week

Hello Manitoba Chess and welcome to another great installment of my favorite attacking game of the week. In light of what The Nige posted earlier regarding the great David Ionovich Bronstein of Bila Tserkva, U.S.S.R (now Central Ukraine), I have decided that this week's game will be a sweet Bronstein attacking gem. David Bronstein is one of my top five favorite players of all time because of his genius and his creativity.

He was certainly strong enough to become World Champion, but never did; link to Botvinnik vs Bronstein Moscow 1951~~~> (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=54195) where he drew the match 12-12, but FIDE rules kept the title with the current Champion in case of the drawn result.

David Bronstein did however win many great tournaments abroad and at home in the F.S.U. including 2 U.S.S.R Championships as well as the unforgettable Zurich 1953. *FLASHBACK* 1973 Petropolis, Brazil (as far as I can tell), our hero is playing White against none other than the also very brilliant Ljubomir Ljubojevic in a game that has become a classic for chess connoisseurs world wide. The guys come at each other full speed, both playng sharply for the win, and also very creatively. What results is a rich tacical/strategical opus with a powerful attack on Ljubo's king that is in my eyes strongly supported by the other front Bronstein was working on, the central pawn advance, supported in full- out middlegame by White's King!
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1034661

From Jonathan Speelman's "Best Chess Games 1970-80":
Y Gruenfeld vs Ljubojevic, 1979
~Apart from its theoretical interest and the sheer joy of the tactics, this game has historical interest in that following it Ljubojevic dropped right out of the running and ended half way down the tournament. If he had beaten Bronstein, or at least drawn with him, then Ljubojevic might well have stayed in serious contention for one of the qualifying places to the Candidates Tournament~

A highly interesting and entertaining game. Enjoy.

I had the pleasure of hanging out with the president of the famous Reykjavik chessclub "Hrokurinn" Hravn Jokkulson for a few days last year, and being an author and journalist he actually had the opportunity of interviewing David Bronstein in Iceland once. I asked many interesting questions about Dave, but what stands out in my mind was when Hravn recalled:

"I soon realized that I was talking to one of the world's great geniuses. He was a kind gentleman with a razor sharp wit and an equally sharp memory. He had an incredible mind."

By the way Lorne Gibbons has announced some sort of last kick at '07 tourney with weird prizes scheduled for this coming Tuesday (Dec.18th) with regestration being at 6:30. A Christmas tournament, how totally cool. Wish I could be there but am too busy, so good luck guys hope to see all that holiday cheer translated into attacking fury and good camaraderie. And Merry Christmas. :)

Jordan