Our cover study won the 1st Prize in the study award of our magazine during the years 2014–2016. See pp. 69–71 for the solution and the award by Ed van de Gevel.
The first pages of this issue focus on the ECSC, European Chess Solving Championship, held in Riga in May. The organisers did a smooth work both before and during the competition. In solving events, the Open was generally agreed to be much too difficult, which is reflected also in the solvers´ scores. In the ECSC, the final top ranking was not a surprising one, with Poland dominating once again. In the individual competition, the medallists were the same as in last year´s World Championship: Murdzia, Piorun and Kovaevi. The Finnish team consisted only of three solvers and this disadvantage was one reason to the team´s modest result.
Siegfried Brehmer, born in 1917, is remembered on pp. 71–74. Joose Norri has selected nine compositions, which are surely a pleasure to study. Brehmer´s output was not large, but it is safe to say that the quality outweighs the quantity.
The series of articles by Kari Valtonen discussing chess problem terminology and definitions continues, see pp. 75–87. This time Kari presents us a short history of one of the most famous themes, Zagoruiko. Kari illustrates the theme with 42 compositions, most of them two-movers. The earliest example is from the year 1858 and this theme is still going strong.
On the next two pages, we present new books on chess compositions, available on the internet. Modern technology has made it easy and affordable to create publications, which are free of charge.
Recently successful Finnish compositions are on pp. 91–93. Thanks to Neal Turner for compiling the material and congratulations to the composers of these ten compositions! There is only one orthodox mate, is it a sign of the time or something that Finnish composers should be worried or happy of?
The 10th WCCT retro theme inspired Olli Heimo and resulted in A on p. 94. Later he began to consider possibilities to show Platzwechsel with the stipulation ab. The results and a summary in English can be found on pp. 94–95. We wish you good luck, if you intend to improve on Olli´s achievements.
Paha Pähkinä, A Tough Nut to Crack, can be found on p. 95. Selected by Neal Turner to this year´s British Solving Championship, it proved to be anything but easy for the participants.
The spring meeting of our society took place in the second weekend in April. As usual, the program consisted of lectures, solving and composing events and discussions. In the solving event Kari Karhunen continued his winning streak and Hannu Harkola was again successful in the composing competition. The theme required for any kind of compositions in which pieces A and B capture each other. See p. 96 for the report.
On the next page, we have something special: a crossword compiled by Antti Parkkinen. Each square is numbered and numbers correspond to alphabets. There are 15 words with a grey background, each concealing a name of a Grandmaster. They should give enough information for the rest of the crossword. Unfortunately the language barrier may reduce the enjoyment of our foreign readers. The solution is on p. 101.
On p. 98 Henry Tanner writes about the 1st HM in the study award on pp. 69–71 and Teppo Mänttä presents a comparison composition for a h#5 by Jorma Pitkänen, which was ranked 2nd in the Finnish Chess Composition of the Year 2016.
The originals columns are on pp. 99–114. You are most welcome to send your brightest ideas in polished settings for our column editors. See the columns for contact information.
The next issue is due to appear in autumn, after the Dresden congress.
Published 15th June 2017