Let's Go Nalimov Surfing!

In my most recent surfing session, I came up with half a dozen which I thought were fairly good. Naturally the ideal Nalimov Problem is much as composed problems have always been: the solution being devilishly hard to spot, with only one series of moves which works (and fairly peppered with elegant variations throughout). Okay, I can't really claim such aesthetic heights for any of these (although the continuations are for the most part unique). But one thing that fiddling around like this can acquaint you with (even only marginally) is the relative power of the pieces. For instance, you find out how worthless knights generally are (at least for mating quickly on an open board). :)

(Incidentally, I'll be including the solutions and related material is that forum-link thingie that accompanies this blog. And btw sorry about there being only links to the positions rather than embedded diagrams; try as I might, I've never quite figured out how to post positions here.) :(

1. Surprisingly, the very first position I set up turned out to be bona fide Problem Material! Okay, it's nothing that's likely to make Rinck burn with envy--but it is slightly cute anyway and there is indeed only one MATE IN THREE (for either move of the Black king):

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/bytub2hw2jhp.png[/img]

2. The next one features a MATE IN FOUR as the longest solution (although there are an abundance of mates in three). Hopefully though this flabbiness is made up for by some rather graceful mates. It also demonstrates what those oldtime composers no doubt grasped instinctively: if you want to keep alternate solutions down to a minimum, be sure to post the white king and queen on goofy squares: :)

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/14oum4d2wa7lw.png[/img]

3. This one is admittedly pretty mickey mouse...but it is interesting to note that there is only one MATE IN FOUR here (and after all, a lot of endgames in real life can be pretty mickey mouse as well):

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/2qs6o1tci8ys4.png[/img]

4. The following MATE IN THREE is odd in that the key move is by far the fastest (any other choice will take at least six moves):

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/1cfev00p1xoi.png[/img]

5. Another rather mickey mouse idea...which again proves to be the only MATE IN THREE:

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/3epniusmll6os.png[/img]

6. And finally, a MATE IN TWO with at least one nimble-footed var:

[img]http://www.chessvideos.tv/bimg/2rqekbaoizea.png[/img]