Grasshopper Chess: Mate in 2

W. E. Lester
Chess Amateur June 1926
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: set 1....Gg8 2.Qf6‡
play 1.Qh7 Gg8 2.Qe7‡
try: 1.Ke6? Gg8 2.Qf7 illegal selfcheck!

Comments: A similar setting with BP instead of G (WKb3, WQ6, BKa5, BPa7) has dual 1.Ka3 a6 2Qc5‡

P. H. Torngren
Chess Amateur May 1928
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: set 1....Gh5 2.Pb8(Q/R)‡ play 1.Pb8(B) Gh5/Ga8 2.Be5‡

Comments: Irreversible move from 8th rank (could be set with unorthodox BP e8).

T. R. Dawson
Chess Amateur June 1926
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: set 1....Gg8 2.Ra7‡
play 1.Rf5 Gg6 2.Rf1‡

Comments: Echo. Irreversible moves.

W. E. Lester
Chess Amateur June 1926
Mate in 2, with set play, (b) Sd2 to c3

Solution: set (in both) 1....a2 2.Ga4‡
(a) 1.Gd3 Pa2 2.Ga3‡
(b) 1.Kc2 Pa2 2.Sb1‡

Comments: Echo (a), Mutate (b).

A. Kniest
Essener Anzeiger July 1929
Mate in 2 (b) remove BGg1

Solution:
(a) 1.Gh1 Gb1 2.Kc2‡
(b) 1.Gc4 Gb5 2.Ga6‡

T. R. Dawson
Fairy Chess Review August 1934
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Kf5 Gd8/Gf8 2.dRe7/fRe7‡

Comments: Selfblocks. Careful key (f5 is only cell where K does not provide hurdle for G
or prevent mating move due to selfcheck)

T. R. Dawson
Essener Anzeiger 23 September 1928
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: set 1....Gg2 2.Gh1‡ play 1.Gc6 Gb7 2.Ga8‡

Comments: Leapfrog. Three-corner rattler

T. R. Dawson
Aachener Anzeiger 7 March 1931
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Sb5 Ga4/Gc4 2.Sc7/Pb7‡

Comments: Stalemate set. Antipins

W. Alaikow
Caissa's Froeliche Tiefgarage 1971
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Pe8(G) Kh6/Pg5 2.Q×g6/Qh3‡

Comments: WK moved from a1 so that the pin of Gf7 has point.

W. E. Lester
Chess Amateur June 1926
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: set 1....Pb2 2.Sb3‡ play 1.Gb4 Pb2 2.Sc2‡

Comments: Exact Echo. Reflection in diagonal.

T. R. Dawson
Chess Amateur June 1926
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: set 1....Pc2 2.Gb2‡ play 1.Rf7 Pc2/Kg8 2.Rf8‡

Comments: Give key

Z. Mach
Fairy Chess Review 1943
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gd1 Ka5/Ka3/Pa5 2.Sb3/Rb3/Rb3‡

Comments: Each white piece gives check in one of the mates.

J. J. Burbach
Probleemblad 1952
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Kc4 (threat 2.Qb4‡) 1... Gaa4 2.Qb5‡ 1... Gca4 2.Qc3‡

Comments: Queen cannot enter cells between BG and WK due to selfcheck (Nip, opposite of Pin).

C. P. Jarman & J. E. H. Creed
Fairy Chess Review 1948
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: Set: 1... Gb5 2.Ga6‡
Play: 1.Gc7 1... Gb5 2.b7‡ 1... Gb7 2.Ga5‡

J. Oudot
Le Probleme 1962-3
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Qa2 1... Ga3 2.Q×b1‡ 1... Gc1 2.Qe2‡ 1... Ge4 2.Q×a1‡ 1... Ge1 2.Qc2‡
1... Ke1 2.Qe2‡ 1... Pe2 2.Qd2‡ 1... Kc1 2.Qd2‡ (P×d2 would still be check, from Gh6).

Comments: Nip.

W. E. Lester
Chess Amateur Jun 1926
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: Set: 1... Gb3 2.Qc5‡ 1... Gb4 2.Qd3‡
Play: 1.Qb2 1... Gb3 2.Qd4‡ 1... Gb4 2.Qc2‡

Comments: Changed mates (mutate). BGs just block.

W. Pauly
Chess Amateur Jun 1926
Mate in 2, with set play

Solution: Set: 1... Kf5 2.Qe5‡ Play: 1.Qd3 Ge4 2.Qf1‡

Comments: BG not used in set play

C. E. Kemp
Pittsburh Sun Sep 1926
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Kh5 1... g6† 2.S×g6‡ 1... Gg6 2.Ge5‡ 1... Kh7 2.Sg6‡

Comments: Each white piece gives check in one of the mates.

G. C. Alvey
Chess Amateur Sep 1927
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Qb5 1... Kc7 2.b8=Q‡
1... Gb6 2.Qe5‡ (incidental pin of BG)
1... Gf8 2.Qc6‡ (discovered check by WG)

Comments: Compare similar problem with KRSGP by same composer.

L. Monvoisin
Chess Amateur Jun 1927
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Rb2 (threat Rb8‡) Rb6/Rf2† 2.R×b6/R×f2 ‡
1... Rf8/Relse 2.Rb8(with pin)/Rb8(with††) ‡

Comments: Stalemate set.

T. R. Dawson
Bottrop Volks Zeitung Oct 1935
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: Set: 1... e5 2.Qf3‡ 1... Gf5 2.Qd4‡
Play: 1.Qg5 1... e5 2.Qg4‡ 1... Gf5 2.Qe3‡

Comments: Changed mates. Pendulum key. BG merely selfblocks.
Said to have been composed "sans voir".

T. R. Dawson
Pittsburgh Post Dec 1926
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: Set: 1... Gf8 e7×f8(S)‡ Play: 1.Kd8 Ge8 2.d7×e8(G)‡

Comments:

T. R. Dawson
Fairy Chess Review 1951
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gd4 Ka1/Ka3 2.Qb2/Qa7 ‡

Comments: WG guards two flights and prevents c3xQb2 (antipin)

J. Stewart
Fairy Chess Review 1943
Mate in 2 (b) c6c7 - d6d7

Solution: (a) 1.e5 Gb4 2.Rbc3‡
(b)1.Rf3 1... Gd4 2.fRc3‡ 1... Kd4 2.Rb4‡

Comments: BG irrelevant in second (b) mate.

T. R. Dawson
Chess Amateur Jan 1926
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Kc8 Gc3/Ga8 2.b8(S)/b7×a8(G) ‡

Comments: BG irrelevant in first mate, and eliminated in second, but justifies promotion to G.

E. J. van den Berg
N. H. Dagblad Aug 1928
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: Set: 1... g5 Gh5‡ 1... d2 Hd1‡ Play: 1.Gd2 g5 2.Gh6‡

G. P. Bowell
Fairy Chess Review 1943
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Be4 Ge5 2.Bb1‡

Comments: Switchback. Irreversible G move. (WP added g2 since otherwise Qg1 is also mate.)

A. Zickermann
Bottrop Volks Zeitung Nov 1935
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: Set 1... Gd6/Gf6/Gf4 2.Qg5/Qh2/Qe6 ‡
Play: 1.Qf8 Gd6/Gf6/Gf4 2.Qf5/Qb8/Qe7 ‡

Comments: Pendulum key. dG merely blocks BK, while bG blocks dG.

G. C. Alvey
Chess Amateur Sep 1927
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Sd6 1... Ka7 2.b8(Q)‡ 1...G×b7/Ge7 2.Ra6‡

Comments: Masked battery.
See similar setting above with Q instead of R and S.

H. Albertz
Feenschach 1950
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gh4 1...Kd4 2.Rd2‡(set) 1...e4 2.Sf2‡

Comments: G4 does not feature in the first mate.

T. R. Dawson
Falkirk Herald Jun 1939
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gb8 b6/b5 2.Bb5/Bb3 ‡

Comments: Changing of the guard on Bb4 and checking B.

T. R. Dawson
Eskilstuna Kuriren 1925
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bc3 Sg5/Selse 2.Bg7/Bd2 ‡

Comments: Antipin.

W. E. Lester
Chess Amateur Sep 1927
Mate in 2 with set play

Solution: Set: 1... c5 2.Sb5‡ Play: 1.Gd6 c5 2.Bb4‡

Comments: Simultaneous guard and antipin.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Jan 1977 (11132)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gc1 b4/c5/c×d5/K×c5 2.Sdc3/Sec3/Bc3/Bb3 ‡

Comments: Flight-giving key. Three anti-battery mates.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Aug 1976 (11042)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bf4 1... a×b1/Kg1/Gf5/Ge4/Gb7 2.R×b1/Gh1/Gg6/Gf5/Gb8 ‡

Comments: BGg7 is not essential. "Didactic rather than problematic".

W.E.Lester
Fairy Chess Review October 1940 (#4606) *
Mate in 2 with set play.

Solution: Set: 1...d5/Gd5 2.Nf4‡
Play: 1.Ga8 d5/Gd5 2.G×g8/Ga6‡

Comment: Mutate. A sort of Grimshaw; but each piece is not merely interfered with by the other but totally immobilised so that WG can use it as a hurdle to give check.

* The position was corrected in the December issue, all pieces except Ra7, Ga5 being moved one file right to avoid a dual.

T.R.Dawson
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times 18 March 1915
Mate in 2 (11 men)

Solution: 1.Bh7 Ge8/Gf2/Gh8/Ga8/G×a2 2.Bb1/Gh8/G×h8/G×a8/Rb1‡

Comment: Corner-rattler

T.R.Dawson
Essener Anzeiger 1925
Mate in 2 (12 men)

Solution: 1.Gf4 K×f4/else 2.Ng-f5/Nd-f5‡

Comment: Key piece vacates a K flight square (impossible in orthodox chess).

G.Leathem
Deutsche Marchenschachzeitung 1932
Mate in 2 (12 men)

Solution: 1.Gb-d1 (threat 2.Qb1‡)
1...Qc3 2.Qb2‡
1...Qa3 2.Qa2‡
1...Q×Gd1 2.R×Qd1‡
1...Qc2 does not stop 2.Qb1‡ despite double attack on b1.

Comment: Three pins and antipins of BQ.

Jan Mortensen
Europe Echecs Oct 1964
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Qd8 (four threats) 1... B×g4 2.Qf8‡ 1... g×f5 2.e8(Q)‡ 1... e4 2.e8(G)‡ 1... Gd7 2.e8(S)‡

Comments: Fleck theme. Q|P battery.

Jan Mortensen
Skakbladet Jul 1957
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Qc2 threat 2.Bh3‡ 1... Bd2 2.Ga6‡ 1... Rd2 2.Gf6‡ 1... R×e2 2.Q×e2‡

Comments: Gamage theme. R/B mutual interference.

Jan Mortensen
Stella Polaris Mar 1971
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.a8(S) threat 2.Sb6‡ 1... Bb4 2.Gd7‡ 1... Qb4 2.Gc6‡

Comments: Dual avoidance.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Apr 1977 (11173)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bg5 (waiting) Rb1/Rc1/g3/Rd1/Re1†/R×f1 2.Kd3/Ke3/Kf3/K×d1/K×e1/K×f1‡

Comments: Task problem 6 G|K battery mates.

D. A. Smedley
British Chess Magazine Sep 1975 (10847)
Mate in 2

Solution: Set: 1... G~/Kf3 2.Gcf4/G1f4 Play: 1.Ke7 (threat 2.Gcf4) Kf3/Kd5/Ke5 2.G1f4/Gbf4/Gef4 ‡

Comments: A block-threat with two added flights. Each flight is answered by Gf4 but a different G each time.

Jan Mortensen
Mlad Borec 27 Feb 1964
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Se4 threat 2.Rd6‡ 1... R×e4 G2f5‡ 1... S×e4 2.G8f5‡
1... Rc3† 2.S×c3‡ 1... Bf8 2.Sf6‡

Comments: Dual Avoidance.

Jan Mortensen
Problem May 1967
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Kc2 threat 2.Rd3‡ 1... Sde5 2.Gf4‡ 1... Sge5 2.Ge6‡
1... Sf2 2.B×f2‡ 1... Bc3 2.B×c3‡

Comments: Dual avoidance.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Jul 1976 (11022)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Ke8 1... c5/c6 2.Qg7‡ 1... R×e2†/Q×e2‡
1... R×g6/Rg5/Rg4/Rg3/Rg1 2.Qf6/Qe5/Qd4/Qc3/Qc1‡

Comments: G battery.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Feb 1978 (11334)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Rc7 (threat 2.B×d5‡)
1...Rcc7/Rd7/Re7†/Rf6†/Rf5/R×f4 2.Kd6/K×d7/K×e7/K×f6/K×f5/Ke5‡

Comments: Task problem. Six openings of G|K battery.

G.C.Alvey
Chess Amateur 1925
Mate in 2 (16 men)

Solution: 1.c4 (threat 2.Qd5‡)
1...Kd6 2.Qd5‡
1...G×h8 2.Qe7‡
1...Gb3 2.Ne8‡
1...Gd6 2.Ne6‡
1...Gg5 2.Nf5‡
1...Gc3 2.Bb8‡

Comment: Remarkable variety of motives.

T.R.Dawson & J.E.H.Creed
British Chess Magazine 1943
Mate in 2 (16 men)

Solution: 1.Ne3 (unpin) Ge1/Gb8/Gf8 2.N3-g4/N5-g4/Bg4‡

Comment: The piece over which the BG could hop to block the check line moves to act as the hurdle for the check.

Jan Mortensen
Skakbladet Jul 1957
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bd1 threat (Bb2/Sd6) R×c3‡ 1... Belse/Selse 2.R×a2/Q×a3 ‡

Comments: "Schwalbe 117 Theme"

Jan Mortensen
Problemas Jan-Mar 1963
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Rd8 threat (Sd6/Sc5) 2.Bc6‡ 1... Sfelse/Sdelse Rd4/Re5‡

Comments: "Schwalbe 117 Theme"

Jan Mortensen
Boletim da UBP Sep-Oct 1963
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bd4 threat 2.Qe2‡ 1... Sdf4 2.Gf3‡ 1... Sgf4 2.Gf5‡
1...S×c3 2.Q×c3‡ 1... Ra2 2.G×d5‡

Comments: Dual avoidance.

R. Brain
British Chess Magazine Dec 1978 (11495)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Se3
1...K×e3 2.Qg3‡ 1... Kc3 2.Qa3‡
1... Gd4 2.S×c4‡(dual Qh2) 1...Rcd4 2.Qb4‡ 1... Red4 2.Qh2‡

Comments: Spoilt by dual.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Jan 1978 (11320)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Rf7 1...B×h4/Bf-else/Bf3/Bd-else 2.Gf5/Rff5/Shf5/B(×)e2‡
1...g5/g×h5/e4(or e×f4) 2.f5/Sgf5/Rbf5/‡

Comments: Task problem. G mate by interposition. Six men play to f5.

Jan Mortensen
Probleemblad Mar-Apr 1958
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Qf6 Threat (Sc6/Se4) 2.Qf7‡ 1... Seelse/Sfelse 2.Sb4/Q×f3 ‡

Comments: "Schwalbe 117 Theme"

Jan Mortensen
Die Schwalbe May 1062
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bg7 threat (Se3/Bd5) 2.B×f6‡ 1... Selse/Belse 2.Sc2/Ra4 ‡

Comments: "Schwalbe 117 Theme".

R. Brain
British Chess Magazine Oct 1978 (11459)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Sd8
1... c6 2.Sb7‡ 1... Bc6 2.B×d3‡ 1... Gc6 2.Q×a3‡
1... Bf5 2.Sf7‡ 1... Gd4 2.Sf7‡

Comments: Cyclic interferences at c6.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Feb 1977 (11144)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Bh4 (Threat 2.Q×f7‡) 1... f6 2.Qh7‡
1... Bb7/Bc6/Bd5/B×f3/B×d3†/B×f5 2.Q×b7/Q×c6/Q×d5/Qh7/Q×d3/Q×f5‡
1... Sa7/Sc7/Sd6/Sd4 2.Q×a7/Q×c7/Q×d6/Q×d4‡

Comments: Task problem, 11 G|Q battery mates.

Jan Mortensen
Skakbladet Feb 1962
Dedivcated to V. Røpke (70 years)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.Gg3 three threats 1... S×g6/Sc4/Sf7 2.Be5/Bb4/Qf8 ‡

Comments: Pseudo-Fleck. All other S moves are blocked.

C. G. Rains
British Chess Magazine Nov 1976 (11087)
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.h4 (threat 2.Gh2‡) Qg7 2.G×h8††‡
1... c3/d4/e5/f6† 2.Gd4/Ge5/Gf6/Gg7 1... d2/Se2/f2 2.Ge2/Gf2/G×g2

Comments: Task problem. Nine openings of R|G battery.

Jan Mortensen
Problemnoter Apr 1956
Mate in 2

Solution: 1.g7 threat (Se4/Be5) g8(Q)‡ 1... Sfelse/Belse 2.e4/Rd6 ‡

Comments: "Schwalbe 117 Theme"

Composer
Source Problem number and date
Stipulation

Solution: 1. ‡

Comments: