In Maximummer problems, Black is restricted to making only the longest legal moves.
If there are several equal length moves any of them may be taken.
A three-step diagonal move (length √18, where 18 = 3² + 3²) is longer than a four-step lateral move (4 = √16).
A six-step lateral move (6 = √36) is longer than a four-step diagonal move (length √32, where 32 = 4² + 4²).
A five-step diagonal move (length √50, where 50 = 5² + 5²) is longer than a seven-step lateral move (7 = √49).
To read the solutions and comments hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor across the blank area.
Maximummer Selfmate in 2
13 men 4 types (KQGP) 2G
|
|
Zvonimir Hernitz
Feenschach 1973 (889)
Maximummer Selfmate in 2 with set play
Solution: Set: 1... Qe8 2.Gd4 Qe2‡ Play: 1.Gc6 Q×f4 Ge4 Qd2‡
Comments: Longer moves prevented due to interposition check.
|
16 men 6 types (KQRSGP) 4G
|
|
P. C. Taylor
Fairy Chess Review 1942
Maximummer Selfmate in 2
Solution: 1.Sc4
1... Se3/Sc3 †† 2.Kc1/Ke1 Rd1‡
1... Sb4/Sf4 † 2.Scd6/Gbd5 Qf1/Qb1 ‡
1... S else 2.Sd2 R×d2‡
Comments: WS switchback. Five variations.
|
21 men 6 types (KRBSGP) 5G
|
|
T. Feldmann
Magyar Sakkvilag Dec 1937
Maximummer Selfmate in 2
Solution: 1.Sf5
1... Gg4 2.Be1 Gd1‡ 1... Gc8 2.Sd4 Gc3‡
1... G×c4 2.Bg1 Gf1‡ 1... Gf8 2.Bc2 Ga3‡
Comments: Hurdle blocks. Four variations.
|
21 men 6 types (KRBSGP) 5G
|
|
V. Zabunor
Probleemblad 1972
Maximummer Selfmate in 2 with set play
Solution: Set: 1... a×b1(Q/R/B/S/G) 2.Sd3/Gb4/Sd3/Gd2/Sd3 Q×b6/R×b4/B×d3/S×d2/Ge4 ‡
Play: 1.Gd1 e×d1(Q/R/B/S/G) 2.Sb3/G×d4/Sb3/Bb2†/Gb4 Q×b3/R×d4/B×b3/S×b2/Gg4 ‡
Comments: All the Promotions.
The same composer gave another setting of the theme in Schach Echo 1973.
|
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
7 men 4 types (KQGP) 2G
|
|
B. Rehm
Feenschach 1955 (2627)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3, with set mate
Solution: Set: 1... Qh3‡ Play: 1.Gf8 Qd1† 2.Gg4 Qd6! (not 7 or 8) 3.Kh4 Qh2‡
Comments: Nips.
|
7 men 5 types (KQSGP) 1G
|
|
T. Steudel
Feenschach 1959 (4313)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3 with set play
Solution: Set: 1... Qf8 2.Sc5 Qa8 3.Ge2 Qh1‡
Play: 1.Gg6 Qh4 2.Sf4 Qd8 3.Gg2 Qd1‡
Comments: Reflection Echo.
|
7 men 5 types (KQSGP) 1G
|
|
B. Rehm
Feenschach 1959 (4355)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3 with set play and try
Solution: Set: 1... Gc2 2.Qe2 Sg3‡
Play: 1.Qc2 Gb1 2.Qe4 Gf5† 3.Qf3 Sg3‡
Try: 1.Qc4?(†) Gb4 2.Qg4 Gh4 3.Qg3 S×g3‡
Comments: Pin of WQ in Play.
|
8 men 4 types (KQBG) 2G
|
|
B.Rehm
Feenschach 1957
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Qd4 (double unpin) Bh4 2.Kf4 Qh7 3.Be7† Qe4‡
Comment: Antipin (stops Q×Qe4)
|
8 men 4 types (KSGP) 2G
|
|
G.A.Ekestubbe
Eskilstuna Kuriren 1943
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Gh1 Qb6 2.Gb5 Qg1 3.Gb1 (pinning Q) Qc1‡
Comment: Queen move along pin line, stopping short before capture of hurdle.
|
10 men 4 types (KBGP) 3G
|
|
N. W. Velders
Fairy Chess Review 1949 (8142)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Be7 Gc3 2.Bc5 Gb4 3.g6 Gd2‡
Comments: Pattern Play.
|
12 men 3 types (KBG) 8G
|
|
P. C. Taylor
PFCS 1933 (977b)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Bc3† Gd4 2.Bb4† Ga1 3.Gb5 Gf6‡
Comments: "Not at all easy."
See Maxi-Selfmates in 4 for twin problem (977a).
|
12 men 4 types (KRGP) 2G
|
|
F. Hoffmann
Feenschach 1973
Maximummer Selfmate in 3 in two ways, with set mate
Solution: Set: 1... Rf1‡
Play: 1.Gbb6 Rc3 2.Gdb4† Rf3 3.Gbd4 Rf1‡
Or: 1.Gdb6 Rd3 2.G4d4† Rf3 3.Gbb4 Rf1‡
Comments: Interchange of WGs.
|
13 men 5 types (KQBGP) 4G
|
|
W. Alaikow
Themes 64 1971
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Bg5
1... Q×h7 2.Be3 Qh3 3.Gh4 Q×e3‡
1... Q×b7 2.Bf6 Qf3 3.Ge4 Q×f6 (but not ‡)
Comments: Unsound Possibly twinning missing?
|
13 men 6 types (KQBSGP) 1G
|
|
H. Doormann and W. Karsch
Feenschach 1949
Maximummer Selfmate in 3 with set play
Solution: Set: 1... Gg1 2.Qb6 Ga7 3.Qg1 Gh7‡
Play: 1.Qb5 Gh8† 2.Bg1 Gf6 3.Qb1! G×c6‡
Comments: One square to hide the WQ.
|
15 men 4 types (KRGP) 3G
|
|
W. H. Reilly
Feenschach 1965 (7308)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Re4
1... c5 2.Re6 Ga5 3.Rc6 Gd5‡
1... d5 2.Gc5 Gd4 3.Re5 Gh4‡
1... e5 2.Rc4 G×g5 3.Rc6 Gd5‡
1... Gd6 2.Rb4 Ga3 3.d4 Gh3‡
Comments: "Raindrop" theme.
|
15 men 7 types (KQRBSGP) 2G
|
|
W. H. Reilly
Feenschach 1961 (5495)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Bb4
1... Sf2 2.Rc6 Gg2 3.Qf5† Se4‡
1... Se2 2.Kc5 Gf2 3.Qd5† Sd4‡
Comments: Translation Echo.
|
16 men 6 types (KQBSGP) 2G
|
|
B. Rehm
Feenschach 1959 (4577)
Maximummer Selfmate in 3 with set play
Solution: Set: 1... Ga4 2.Qd4 Ge4 3.Qe5 Bg4‡
Play: 1.Qd6 Gc7 2.Qc5 Gc4 3.Qd5 Bg4‡
Comments: Modal change.
|
17 men 6 types (KRBSGP) 2G
|
|
P. A. Petkow
Feenschach 1969 (9093)
Maximmummer Selfmate in 3
Solution: 1.Ga1
1... b×a1(Q) 2.Sf1 Q×f1 3.Bb5 Q×b5‡
1... b×a1(R) 2.Bc8 Rh1 3.Ra1 R×a1‡
1... b×a1(B) 2.Ba4 Bd4 3.Rc3† B×c3‡
1... b×a1(S) 2.Se4† f×e4 3.Ra4 Sb3‡
1... b×a1(G) 2.R×e5† f×e5 3.Bb6† a×b6‡
Comments: All the Promotions.
|
Maximummer Selfmate in 4
5 men 3 types (KGP) 2G
|
|
C.M.Fox
Die Schwalbe 1934
Maximummer Selfmate in 4 (a) diagram (b) Gh1 - c7
Solution:
(a) 1.Bg2 Gf3 2.Bf1 Kb3 3.Bd3 Gc3 4.Bb1 Gb2‡
(b) 1.Bc6† Kb3 2.Bb5 Kc2 3.Bc4 Gc3 4.Ba2 Gb2‡
Comment: Exact echo. Some short maximum moves.
|
9 men 6 types (KRBSGP) 3G
|
|
P. Kniest
British Chess Magazine May 1979 (11571)
Maximummer Selfmate in 4, two solutions, set mate
Solution: Set: 1... Rd4‡
Play: 1.Bb3 Rg8 2.Gca4 Rg1 3.Gac4+ Rg4 4.Bc2 Rd4‡
and 1.Bd5 Rg8 2.Bf3 Rg1 3.Gec4+ Rg4 4.Be2 Rd4‡
Comments: Interchange of WB with WGc2 and WGe2. Theme known as Platzwechsel in German.
|
12 men 3 types (KBG) 8G
|
|
P. C. Taylor
PFCS 1933 (977a)
Maximummer Selfmate in 4
Solution: 1.Ga2 Ga1 2.Sc2 Ba4 3.Sb4 Be8 4.Gb5 Gf6‡
Comments:
See Maxi-Selfmates in 3 for twin problem (977b).
|
Maximummer Selfmate in 5
7 men 3 types (KRG) 4G
|
|
W. E. Lester
PFCS Aug 1933 (927)
Maximummer Selfmate in 5
Solution: 1.Rf2 Ge1 2.Rf3 Ge2 3.Re3 Gd2 4.Rg3 Gh4 5.Rg2 Gh2‡
Comments: "A very difficult but pleasing R-cycle."
|
Maximummer Selfmate in 8
11 men 3 types (KGP 4G
|
|
W. Pauly
The Problemist May 1927 (100)
Second Prize in Third Informal Tourney
Maximummer Selfmate in 8
Solution: 1.e4 1... Gb3 2.f3 Gg3 3.e5 Gd6 4.Kd7 Gd1 5.Kc6 Gxg4 6.Kb5 Gb4 7.Ka6 Ge1 8.Gb5 Ge6‡
1...Gh3 2.d3 Gc3 3.e5 Gf6 4.Kd6 Gf1 5.Kc6 Gxc4 6.Kb5 Gh4 7.Ka6 Ge1 8.Gb5 Ge6‡
Comments: Two BG star circuits of 8 moves!
Unfortunately cooked: 1.Gc4-f7 Gh3 2.d3 Gxd3 3.Kd6 Gd7 4.Kc6 Gh3 5.Kb5 Gd3 6.Ka6 Gf3 7.Gb5 Gf8 8.f3 Gf6‡
|
BLANK
|
|
Composer
Source Problem number and date
Stipulation
Solution: 1. ‡
Comments:
|
