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ARPA TOURNEY AWARD
(Accademia Romana Problema Artistico)
by A.Garofalo
from: Best Problems n.6 april-june 1998

This award has been quite peculiar. Two-move problems of any kind were required, with the condition that whenever in the course of the solution on the chessboard should appear a formation of pieces, whose Italian initials composed the word ARPA (that means Alfiere [Bishop], Re [King], Pedone [Pawn], Alfiere), in four adjacent squares, in any direction. After the following original idea first published:

Mario Velucchi - Pisa (Italy)
A.R.P.A. Bollettino, #5, Dec. 1994
- dedicated to ARPA -
 
1.Bh6-f8!
#2

The problems sharer have been 104, gotten from 3 italian authors and 39 from others countries; all the work of listing and control of the material have been made from Roberto Cassano, while Dr. Marco Crucioli did a first choice of the best works, and then put me in charge of taking the final decision and making the award list. Both of us based our judgment on the original use of ARPA, choosing, for instance, those problems that had more than one ARPA formations. Of course, all the pieces taking part in the formation had to be needed. For this reason, we had to rule out several problems that were interesting but had one piece in the formation that was unnecessary or replaceable (a Pawn in place of a Bishop). The final list I made is also based on other themes that were possibly added to the contest theme. And this is the result of my analysis:

111. A. Vasilenko, A. Frolkin,
S. Komarov - (Ukraine)
1st Prize
 
a) 1.Bc4 Bxb4 [+Bc1,Nb8] 
   2.Nxc6 [+Pc2,Ng8] Nd5#
b) 1.xc6 [+Pc2] Pxc7 [+Bc1,Rh8] 
   2.Bc4 Ne2#
H#2 - Zeroposition: a)Rc7 in d4 b)Pa5 in b7
Circe Kamikaze


112. M. Barth - (Germany)
2nd Prize
 
1...Sg5/Sf3  2.Sxg6/Sd3#
1.Sef7? thr. 2.Rf6# [a] 1...Rd4 [x] 2.Qxd4# [b] but 1...Rg5!
1.Sc4! thr. 2.Qd4# [b] 1...Sg5 [y] 2.Rf6# [a]   1...Sf3 2.Re4
(Pseudo-le Grand thema; more two variants on thema B II (Somov)
#2

2nd Prize to no.112. This beautiful direct problem shows the B II theme, also known as Somov theme, i.e. selfblocks that allow interference checkmates; changed checkmates in the set/actual play. Moreover, it shows the pseudo-Le Grand theme, which differs from Le Grand theme because the thematic checkmates are given after different Black moves, according to the following pattern: 1.~? Thr.(A)# 1... (x) 2.(B) 1.~! Thr.(B)# 1... (y) 2.(A) #

113. B. Horstmann - (Germany)
3rd Prize
 
a) 1.Kd5 Bf5 2.Bc4 e4#
b) 1.d5 Ba4 2.Bd3 exd3#
c) 1.Rg4 Bh4+ 2.Kf4 e3#
d) 1.g5 Ke3 2.Qh5 exf3#
Albino thema:
the 4 possible moves
of a White pawn from his start square.
H#2b)Ba6-b1 c)Kc4-g5 d)Kc4-g4.

3rd Prize to no.113. Here we have a starting ARPA whose Pawn shows the Albino theme. (There was another work with the same theme, but unfortunately it used two unnecessary Black Knights, that could have been replaced by Black Pawns). A remarkable work and it's acceptable that there are Black pieces in some of the twins, which amount to 4.

114. J.Buglos - (Hungary)
1st Honor. Mention
 
1.c5 Bd3+ 2.Kf3 Bf1=
1.c6 Bf3+ 2.Kxf3 [+Bf1] Kc5=
H=2Circe

1st Honorable Mention to no.114. Here we have a magnificent miniature. The ARPA formation is met in the final position. What I mostly liked was the first Black move: pushing the Pawn one or two steps forces the Bishop to move to d3 or f3.

115. A. Vasilenko - (Ukraine)
2nd Honor. Mention
 
1.d8S! Min. 2.Sf7#
1...Bxe6 2.Sc6#
1...fxe4 2.Rxd5#
1...Bxe3 2.Qxg7#
Two formations ARPA that mix.
#2

2nd Honorable Mention to no.115. This problem is funny. There are two ARPA formations, a vertical one and a horizontal one that get mixed during the solution. The Black pieces (except the King) capture their homologous White ones.

116. C.G.S. Narayanan - (India)
3rd Honor. Mention
 
1.Bf6 Bh1 2.Bf3 Bh4=
H=2Madrasi Chessb)Rd4-c7

3rd Honorable Mention to no.116. This problem has got only one solution, but the author managed, thanks to the Madrasi condition, to create two ARPA formations, both paralyzed.

117. C.G.S. Narayanan - (India)
1st Lode (Commend.)
 
1.Bxb7 [white B] Bf3 2.Be5 Se6#
1.Bxg7 [white B] Bf6 2.Be2 Rb4#
H#2Andernach Chess

1st Commendation to no.117. Because of the Andernach condition, this problem achieves a bicolor switchback. The two ARPA Bishops take turns in changing color, while the ARPA stands on its place. Practically, we have three ARPA formations on the same squares.

118. J.H. Verduin - (Netherland)
2nd Commend. Prize
 
1.g1B Kg2 2.Kh1 Bf3#
H#2Neutral King f2
Circe Kamikaze

2nd Commendation to no.118. I couldn't possibly refuse to give at least an appreciation to this charming little gem. An ARPA was required? This work only gives an ARPA! Of course in others concourses such a problem would be worthless, but in this particular contest it is undoubtedly valuable, since it's a task on the theme.

119. T. Steudel - (Germany)
3rd. Commend.
 
1.Bxg5+ Ke1 2.Kg2 Bf5=
H=2

3rd Commendation to no.119. Both the ARPA formations play in the solution and this result was achieved with a remarkable economy of pieces. The Rook in g5 is needed to avoid demolitions.

120. J.H. Verduin - (Netherland)
4th Commend.
 
Platzwechsel between  King and Pawn.
1.Kf3 e4 2.Ke3 Qf4#
H#2

4th Commendation to no.120. Amusing idea, but there is a disproportionate amount of pieces for the plan in display, even though, to be honest, I wasn't able to improve the position.

Of course, the problems not published remain to disposition of their authors. I would like to thank Marco Crucioli and Roberto Cassano both of Accademia Romana Problema Artistico (A.R.P.A.) for giving me the possibility to adjudicate this contest. It was also fun, as you might have noticed. This award will be final three months after the publishing date.

Antonio Garofalo

last revision:December 01, 1998
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