Ski Pieces

This was my first published chess problem.

The text accompanying the problem reads: “A Ski Piece is derived from any Rider by omitting the first step of the ride, i.e. it first does a little ski-jump. The first square may be occupied. In F239 (eponymous problem) SRd4 can capture SBd1, but BK is not in check.”. The pieces shown are thus Ski-Queen, Ski-Rook and Ski-Bishop.

Among the solvers' comments A. J. Sobey described the problem as a “Jolly introduction to the nursery slopes”.

Solution: (a) Black: 1. SBa4 SQe6 2.SBc2 SR×d6‡
(b) White: 1. SQf4 SBh5 2. SQ×d6 SBf3‡

The original problem had no Pd6, allowing a cook in (b) by 1.SRd8 Ke3 2.SRd6 SBf3‡.

The next ski-piece problems I composed were two in my article on "Stalematemates" (where the aim is to mate black and "stalemate" white - apart from the move to capture the BK, which is never made).

Solution:1.SQa5 Kb7 2.SQc7 SRa5 3.Kd8 Ka6 4.Kc8 SRa8.

The last ski-rook move is irreversible.

Solution:1.Bf1+ Kf3 2.Ke1 g3 3.Qd1+ Ke3 4.Qg4 SQg1.

The last ski-queen move is irreversible.