Grasshopper + Grid Chess

© 2002 by G. P. Jelliss, solutions concealed 2010

Back to: Grasshopper Chess Index
Sections on this page: Introduction — Helpmates in 2 — Helmate in 3 — Helmate in 6 — Maximummer Selfmates — Seriesmate

é Introduction

The following few problems combine Grasshopper Chess and Grid Chess. The examples come from the first Grid tourney. I hope to add further examples in due course. The moves of the Grasshopper itself, like those of the knight, are unaffected by the grid, since they are always longer than one step laterally or diagonally.

There is a separate articleon Grid Chess in the Variant Chess section of this website.

To read the solutions and comments hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor across the blank area.

é Helpmates in 2

C. E. Kemp
Fairy Chess Review August 1953 (#9624)
Helpmate in 2
Motto: “On Parade”

Solution: 1.Rd8 Kc7 2.Qd7 Gc8‡

Comment: Group-movement in effect.

P. C. Taylor
Fairy Chess Review December 1954 (#10081)
Helpmate in 2

Solution: 1.a4 Rd6 2.K×d5 Gf3‡
Comment: Asymmetry.

Variations on this scheme by the same composer are:
(#10079): White: Kd1, Pd7, Rd8, Gc3, e3; Black: Kd4, Gc4, e4, Pa4, b4, f4, g4. HM2½ (i.e. white first move).
Solution: 1.Gcc5 Gc6 2.Ga3 Ge8 3.P×e8=G‡
(#10080): White: Kd1, Pd5, Rd8, Gc3, e3; Black: Kd4, Gc4, d2, e4, Pa4, b4, f4, g4. HM2½.
Solution: 1.Gb3 Gg5 2.Ge5 G×d5 3.R×d5‡

é Helpmate in 3

C. E. Kemp
Fairy Chess Review August 1953 (#9626)
Helpmate in 3
Motto: “The New Drill”

Solution: 1.c5 Kb6 2.000 Kc7 3.Rd6 G×c5‡

Comment: Difficult to see, since contrary to orthodox habits.

é Helpmate in 6

H. Ternblad
Fairy Chess Review February 1954 (#9799)
Helpmate in 6

Solution: 1.Re5 e4 2.Rd5 e5 3.Gd6 e×Gd6 4.Re5 d7 5.Re8 d×Re8=G 6.Ke1 Ke2‡

Comment: Excelsior theme (promotion of pawn from home square).
The presence of a black G in the given position justifies later reappearance of the genus by promotion of the white pawn to G in a position with no Gs on the board.

é Maximummer Selfmates

G. Brogi
Fairy Chess Review June 1954 (#9919)
Maximummer Selfmate in 20

Solution: 1.Kf2 Qh3 2.Kg3 Qc8 3.Kf4 Qh3 4.Ke5 Qc8 5.Kd4! Qh3 6.Kc5 Qc8† 7.Kb6 Qh3 8.Kc7 Gb8 8.Kd6 Qc8 10.Kd7 Qc1 11.Ke6 Qh6 12.Kf7 Qc1 13.K×g6 Qh6 14.Kf5 Qc1 15.Ke4 Qh6 16.Kd3 Qc1 17.Kc2 Qh6 18.Kb1 Qc1† 19.K×Q g5 20.Kb1 Kb2‡

Comments: “Sensational Queen sacrifice.” BG-over-BK mate. Kings adjacent.

G. Brogi
Fairy Chess Review June 1954 (#9920)
Maximummer Selfmate in 19

Solution: 1.Kd2 Bd1 2.Kd3! Bh5 3-13.Ke4-d5-e6-d7-c6-×Nb7-c6-d7-e6-d5-d4! Bd1 14.Ke3 Gd2 15.Kf2 Rh5 16.Kf3 Ra5 17.Kg4 Rh5 18.K×h5 g5 19.Kg4 Gh5‡ In moves 3-13 the B oscillates between h5 and d1 while the K makes his journey.

Comments: Rook sacrifice. BG-over-WK-battery-opening mate. The knight has to be taken so that the pawn move 18...g5 is later the maximum.

é Seriesmate

W. Stead
Fairy Chess Review August 1953 (#9628)
Seriesmate in 9

Solution: 1-9.Kf3-g4-f5-×e4-d5-e6-d7-×c6-b7‡

Comment: Asymmetry.