21st November 2022

Selected by Michael McDowell

Norman Macleod

Commend, feenschach, 1983

1r2R2K/s2PbS1p/2P1k3/s6Q/4S2p/8/b2B4/1R6

Mate in 2
Madrasi

In Madrasi pieces (except kings) of the same type and opposite colour are paralysed when they attack each other, and cannot move, capture or give check, though they retain the power to paralyse. Here White cannot exploit the paralysis of the black rook to mate immediately by 1.Sd8 or 1.d8S, as Black would reply with a knight move to b7 or c6. The problem neatly combines two themes.