Helpmates in 2

featuring
Black and White halfpins
Compiled by Dr Ian Shanahan.

From the late 1970s (when I was very much a novice problemist) I have intermittently been
enchanted by this structure, and soon began to collect published examples of it that I
came across by chance within chess-problem magazines and books mainly so that I
could check for any anticipations of positions I myself might compose. I have not
attempted to tabulate the problems herein according to any kind of logical taxonomy (such
as by thematic content, or in relation to the types of halfpinned men themselves); rather,
they are listed pretty much as I encountered them! Historically, the H2 with Black and
White halfpin had its heyday during the 1960s and early 1970s, primarily at the hands of
Hungarian and Yugoslav problemists; and yet one sees that new examples still continue to
appear from time to time. Please understand that this small collection in no way purports to
be comprehensive indeed, I ceased to note down examples roughly 10 years ago, when
my fascination waned just a little! and undoubtedly the recent on-line database (to which,
alas, I do not have ready access at present) will bring many further settings to light. Finally,
I have included some brief notes at the end of this document, mostly in regard to versions
or corrections of cooked problems that I have made. Now to the problems...
Dr Ian Shanahan, Sydney, 7/ii/2004.

~1~

1. W. A. Whyatt (v. I. Shanahan)

The Problemist 1965.

2. G. Paros
1 Pr Tipografia T.E. 1962.

3. A. Karpati
1 Pr Dunauj. Test. T.T. 1963.

________
[kdwdbgw!]
[dwdwdw0p]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdw0r]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdR]
[wdwdwdw$]
[dwdwdwdK]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdNdwdwd]
[0wdpdwdp]
[Rgbdkdw0]
[4BGwdwdK]
[PdwdwdPd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdpdpdrd]
[dNiwdbgR]
[w4wdwdwd]
[dPdnhwdw]
[pdwdwdwd]
[1wdwdBGK]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Fd7 Gb3 2.Fh3 Ga2.
1.Fd6 Gb2 2.Fh2 Ga3.

H2 set play (C+)

1...Ed2 2.Fc3 Ec2.
1.Lf4 Ec2 2.Fb3 Ed2.

H2 (b) Lc5d5 (C+)

1.Db2 Ec4 2.Fb1 Ee3.
1.Dg4 Ed4 2.Fc1 Eg2.

4. C. P. King-Farlow
2 Pr Olympic Tourney 1964.

5. C. Goumondy
2 Pr The Problemist 1984.

6. Z. Hernitz
2 Pr feenschach 1975.

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[w0p0pdwd]
[dwiwdnhR]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dw)wdPdw]
[Kdw)Pdr4]
[dwdwdBdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdb0wdw]
[wdqiwhn$]
[dwHwdPdw]
[wdwgwdwd]
[dwGwdwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwIwdwdw]
--------

________
[wGwdrdwd]
[IwdRdQdr]
[wdpdw)Rd]
[dwdwhwhp]
[w0wdw1bd]
[dwdwdwiP]
[wdwdwdNg]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

H2 (b) Lc5d5 (C+)

1.Dh3 Ae4 2.Df2 Ad4.
1.De3 Ad4 2.Dc2 Ae4.

H2 (b) +Hd5 (C+)

1.Dd5 Cd3 2.Fc5 Ee5.
1.De5 Ea5 2.Fc3 Ce4.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.De4 Ia2 2.Df7 Gd3.
1.Jd2 Gd2 2.Fd7 Ib3.

7. Z. Zilahi
1 HM British Chess Magazine 1964.

8. I. Shanahan ~ Horseplay ~
Chess in Australia 1988.

9. M. Persson
Probleemblad 1985.

________
[Bdwdwdwg]
[dwdwdwdb]
[wdwdw1wd]
[dwdwHwhw]
[wdwHwiPd]
[0wdpdrdP]
[wdwdp4wh]
[IwdwdRdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdbd]
[dwdwdwdp]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdNdwdw]
[w0wdwdwG]
[0Ndwdwdw]
[Kdpdwdwd]
[$ndndk4w]
--------

________
[wdwGwdwd]
[dwdpdn0w]
[wgqir4w$]
[dwHwdw0w]
[wdwHwdwd]
[dwhwdwdp]
[wdwdwdbd]
[dwdwdwIw]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Bd2 Cc4 2.Hc3 Ce2.
1.Be1F Cf5 2.Hb2 Cd3.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Dd2 Cd4 2.Db3 Ce3.
1.De3 Cf4 2.Dd5 Cd2.

H2 (b) Ed8g8 (C+)

1.Hf2 Cf3 2.Dd5 Ce4.
1.He3 Ca6 2.De5 Cf5.

10. J. Korponai (corr. I. Shanahan)

1 Pr Schach Echo 1972/II.

11. G Paros
1 Pr Schach Echo 1962.

12. A. Kundrats
1 Pl Latvian T.T. 1985.

________
[rGwdwdwd]
[$wdwdwdw]
[BdPdwdwd]
[Iwdwdw0p]
[Qhwgkhb$]
[4pdwdw0q]
[pdpdpdNd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdBdpdwd]
[dw0wdpdw]
[Rhwhwibd]
[dwdwdw4w]
[wdw)wdw0]
[IwdwHwHr]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[0wdwdwdw]
[rGBdwdK0]
[0wdwdwdP]
[pdwdpdw0]
[$bgwdwiw]
[wdwdw0wd]
[dwdwHwdw]
--------

H2 (b) Cg2e3 (C+)

1.Ff3 Gd7 2.Fa7 Ed3.
1.Dg2 Ee2 2.Da6 Ge7.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.De2 gCf3 2.Dg1 Cd3.
1.Dd3 eCf3 2.De1 Ce2.

H2 (b) Lg3h3 (C+)

1.Fd5 Ed7 2.Fc6 Ec7.
1.Fd4 Ec7 2.Fb6 Ed7.

~2~

13. T. Szab
1 Pr Magyar Sakklet 1981.

14. M. Shorek
5 Pr The Problemist 1987.

15. M. Persson
The Problemist 1989.

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dKdRdqgk]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdNdrdw]
[wdw0wdwd]
[dwdrdwdw]
[wdwdwdRd]
[dBdwdwdb]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dw4wdwdw]
[wdwdw0wd]
[$wGngk0w]
[w0NdwHwd]
[dpdwhwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwIwdwdw]
--------

________
[ndw4wdwd]
[dwdwdwdB]
[KdRdNdr1]
[dw0wdb0w]
[wdwdkdwd]
[gPdw)whw]
[wdpdpdwd]
[dwdNdwdw]
--------

H2 (b) +Bg5 (C+)

1.Fh6 Gg8 2.dHf3 Cf6.
1.Jg8 Cf4 2.Hd5 Gh2.

H2 (b) De3d6 (C+)

1.Dg4 Ee3 2.Dc3 Cd6.
1.De4 Ed6 2.Fc3 Ce3.

H2 (b/c) Cd1d7/g7 (C+)

1.Ld3 Cg5 2.Fd7 Gd6.
1.Fg4 eCc5+ 2.Lf5 Gf6.
1.Fg4 Cf4 2.Ff3 Ge6.

16. A. Zarur
Comm Macleod-Zappas Jub.T. 1989.

17. V. Zheltonozhko
The Problemist Supplement 1993.

18. P. Wong
British Chess Magazine 1992.

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwGwdwdw]
[wdpHp0wd]
[dwdkgbdR]
[wdwdwdp1]
[dw)wdw0w]
[wdr)PdKd]
[dw4wdwdw]
--------

________
[k1bdwdR4]
[dwdwdwdB]
[wdwdw0wd]
[dpdwdwhw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdR]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdK]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwg]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdpdwHpd]
[dpindndR]
[wdpHPdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[Iwdwdwdw]
--------

H2 (b) Ld5c5 (C+)

1.Ff4 Ad4 2.Fd2 Ae4.
1.Fd3 Ae4 2.Fe2 Ad4.

H2 (b) Dc8 (C+)

1.Fb7+ Ee4 2.Dh7 Ga3.
1.Da7 Ga3 2.Dh3 Ee4.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Dg7 Cf5 2.Db4 Cd7.
1.Dc3 Cd5 2.Dd6 Ce6.

19. J. Kiss
2 Pr Dunaujvrosi Hirlap T.T. 1962.

20. M. Velimirovi
2 Pr British Chess Magazine 1976.

21. . Janevski
4 HM Olympic Tourney 1976.

________
[wdwdwdKd]
[dw0wdpdw]
[wdNdBdwd]
[hPiw4qHR]
[Pdwdwdwd]
[dwgwdwGw]
[wdbdwdwd]
[dw$wdw4w]
--------

________
[wdwdwdkd]
[dwdpdqdp]
[wdw0rdbh]
[dwdBdwgw]
[K!Rdwdw4]
[dpdwdwdw]
[wdwdp0Rd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdw0ndp]
[wdpdkgb$]
[dpdwdw)p]
[wdndwdwd]
[4r!wdwdw]
[B$wdwdwd]
[Iwdwdwdw]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.He4 Ec7 2.Fg7 Ce4.
1.Jf2 Cf7 2.Fg6 Ef2.

H2 (b) Bd7c7 (C+)

1.He3 Ic3 2.Fe4 Gc8.
1.Jf3 Gc7 2.Ff4 Ib8.

H2 (b) Df7 (C+)

1.Fe5 Gd2 2.Db2 Ih3.
1.Ff7 Id3 2.Hc3 Ge2.

22. T. Garai
2 Pr Buletin Problemistic 1977.

23. J. Haymann
Problem Observer 1982.

24. B. Zappas
U.S. Problem Bulletin 1991.

________
[wdwdwdBd]
[dw1w)Niw]
[pdrdwdw0]
[dw0whwdw]
[w0pdwdbd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[w4w$w$wI]
[Gndwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwg]
[db0phwdw]
[pdkhw0w$]
[dp)wdwdq]
[w0w0rdNd]
[dwdwdw)w]
[wdwdQdrd]
[dwdKdwdB]
--------

________
[wdwdwdKd]
[dwdwdwGw]
[wdwdpdwd]
[$wdwdwdP]
[wdwdpdkd]
[dwdwdndw]
[wdwdwgNd]
[dwdwdR4w]
--------

H2 (b) Fg4e3 (C+)

1.Fc8 Gd6 2.Dd7 fGg2.
1.Hb6 Gf4 2.Dc6 dGg2.

H2 (b) Ac5a5 (C+)

1.dDf5 Ic4 2.gHe2 Ce5.
1.Bf5 Ce3 2.Hg4 Ic2.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Dg5 Ee5 2.Lf5 Ce3.
1.Fg3 Ce3+ 2.Lf4 Eh6.

~3~

25. I. Shanahan
v. U.S. Problem Bulletin 1994.

26. A. Visintin
3 Pr Sinfonie Scacchistiche 1967.

27. M. Vukcevich
5 HM Schach Echo 1976.

________
[wdwhwdwd]
[Iw)wdNdr]
[wdwdngR4]
[dwdkdpdw]
[wdw)wdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdNdwdw]
[wdpdrdwd]
[dwgbdRdw]
[piwdBdwd]
[dwdwGwdw]
[wdwdKdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dkgpdwdb]
[whrdwdwd]
[dpdw$pdw]
[wdwdBdwd]
[dwdwdw$w]
[wdwdwdwI]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Fg7 Ce5 2.Ld6 Ad8I.
1.Dg7 Ad8I+ 2.Le6 Cg5.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.La5 Ed3 2.Fe4 Ed2.
1.Lb5 Ed2 2.Fe3 Ed3.

H2 (b) Dc6 (C+)

1.Lc8 Gc3 2.Hd6 Ge8.
1.La6 Ge6 2.De5 Ga3.

28. C. P. King-Farlow (corr. I. Shanahan)

British Chess Magazine 1965.

29. J. Haymann
4 Pr Israel Ring Tourney 1982.

30. Dr L. Talaber
The Problemist 1975.

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdqdw]
[w4kdNHwI]
[dwdbgRdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dw)Pdwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wgqdwdwd]
[dRdwdwdB]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdw$wd]
[0ndr0w!w]
[PhrdwdPI]
[dkdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdndwdbd]
[dwdk0pdR]
[wdphwdwd]
[4wdNdwHK]
[wdwgwdwd]
[dBdwdwdw]
[w1wdwdwd]
[dwdw4wdw]
--------

H2 (b) Lc6d6 (C+)

1.Fd6 Cd4+ 2.Lc5 Ce4.
1.Fc6 Ce4+ 2.Ld5 Cf4.

H2 (b) Ag2, +Bf2 (C+)

1.Hd6 Ig8 2.Dd4 Gf1.
1.Hc7 Gf2 2.Dc4 Ig1.

H2 (b) Gb3 (C+)

1.Bf5 Ce6 2.He5 Cf6.
1.Be5 Cf6+ 2.Lc7 Ce6.

31. T. Garai
1/2 Comm Problem Observer 1990.

32. P. Petkov
The Problemist 1993.

33. B. Koludrovi
Die Schwalbe 1993.

________
[bdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdKhB]
[wdwdw$wd]
[dwgwdRdw]
[wdwiwdwd]
[dw0w4w0w]
[wdwdw4Pd]
[dwdqdwGw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdpdwdw]
[wdkdwdw0]
[dwdr)wdK]
[wdwdndR)]
[dPdwdRdw]
[wdpdwdwd]
[dwdbdwdB]
--------

________
[wdwdwdRd]
[GK!Rdwdr]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdb1]
[0wdw4wgp]
[wdwdwhw0]
[dwdwdwin]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.He5 Ge6 2.Hd5 Gf4.
1.eHe2 Gd5+ 2.Le3 Gf3.

H2 duplex (C+)
1.Df2 Gb4 2.Dg4 Gc3.
1.Gd3 Hd6 2.Gd5 Dg3.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Hc3 Ic6 2.Fc7 Gd1.
1.De4 Gd2 2.Fd7 Ic1.

34. A. and V. Semenenko

feenschach 1992.

35. V. Vladimirov and I. Soroka

The Problemist 1994.

36. H. P. Rehm
Die Schwalbe 1968.

________
[wdwdwgBd]
[dwdwdndb]
[wdwdndwd]
[dwdwdqdw]
[wdw4Ndwd]
[0kdNdwdw]
[wdwdwdw0]
[dKdwGwdr]
--------

________
[wdwdBdwd]
[dpdrdwdw]
[whr0pdKd]
[dwdPdNdw]
[kGwdNdwd]
[dw)wdwdw]
[wdqdwdwd]
[dbdwdwdw]
--------

________
[wdwdwdwI]
[dwdwdpGw]
[wdw0kdwd]
[dwdwdn0w]
[wdw$w)rd]
[dwdpdwdB]
[wdwdwdPd]
[gwdwdwdw]
--------

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Dd6 Ce5 2.Hd3 Cc5.
1.De5 Cd6 2.He4 Cc5.

H2 (b) La4b5 (C+)

1.Hf7 fCd6 2.Hf5 Cc5.
1.Hc4 Cc5 2.He4 Cd6.

H2 duplex (C+)
1.Hg2 Ef8 2.Hb2 Gd6.
1.Gd5 De7 2.Gf5 Hh4.

~4~

37. V. Schneider
3 Pr Tipografia 1967/II.

38. I. Shanahan
ORIGINAL for The Problemist 2004.

39. I. Shanahan
ORIGINAL March 2004.

________
[wdwdwdr1]
[dw$wdwdB]
[wdwiwdwG]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdwd]
[dwdbdwdK]
[wdwgwdwd]
[dwdRdwdw]
--------

________
[wIwdwdwd]
[dw$qdBdw]
[wdw$wdwd]
[dwdrdwdw]
[wdrdwdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[kdwdwdwg]
[dwdwdwdw]
--------

________
[bdBdwdwd]
[dRdrdwdw]
[wdRdrdwd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdkd]
[dwdwdwdw]
[wdwdwdKd]
[dqdwdwdw]
--------

H2 (b) Gc7c8 (C+)

1.Hg7 Eg8 2.Fh7 Ef4.
1.Ld7 Ef8 2.Fh6 Ef5.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Jf5 Gb7 2.Hc7 Ga6.
1.Jg4 Gb6 2.Hd6 Ga7.

H2 2 solutions (C+)
1.Jb4 Gc5 2.Hc6 Gb4.
1.Jb5 Gb5 2.Hb7 Gc4.

Notes
1. Whyatts original setting, inspired by a problem of A. Putti, was a twin: 7k / 16 / 7b / 4p1pb / 6p1 / 7Q /
KRR1r3, H2 (b) Be4e3.
3. Presumably Black-and-White halfpin in H2 was the theme of the tourney? (This problems full source is:
Dunaujvrosi Testevelesi es Sport Tanacs Theme Tourney.)
6. Two Black halfpin-lines; FIDE Album 1974-1976, No.583.
10. Two Black halfpin-lines; FIDE Album 1971-1973, No.576. Note that the Cg2 was originally sited on d1,
thus causing the diagrammed position to be cooked by 1.Da6 Gd7 2.Ld3 Gd4.
12. Presumably Black-and-White halfpin in H2 was the theme of the tourney?
13. Two Black halfpin-lines; amazing economy!
15. As one solver remarked: W pins R which mates along pin-line: unusual; such a manoeuvre constitutes
the Ianovcic theme.
18. The Black halfpin is optical: although it ensures accuracy of play, White immediately unpins Black!
19, 20, 21, 23, 29 & 33. Two Black halfpin-lines.
22 & 31. White moves each G along the pin-line: the Ianovcic theme again.
24. Anticipatory/indirect Black halfpin, with masked (by the L) White halfpin beautifully done!
25. My original setting (as published) was: 4s1r1 / K2P1S1r / 4sb1R / 3k1p2 / 3P4 / 24, H2 2 solutions; but
here, the strategic effects between the two solutions are somewhat imbalanced. Note that the Black halfpin
is anticipatory/indirect as in 24, but that in 25s second solution the L occupies the square just vacated by
the D a rather novel feature in anticipatory halfpinning, perhaps? (I also strove for originality by having a A
on the 7th rank, about to promote, as one of the White halfpinned units.)
26. Again, as with 24 and 25, the Black halfpin is anticipatory/indirect.
27. There are actually two indirect Black halfpin-lines that share the piece on c6 (by no means obvious from
the diagram), and each halfpinned G becomes a pinner of the remaining Black unit on those halfpin-lines!
28. King-Farlows original published position was cooked: was it ever corrected by him? (I would appreciate
finding out!) Here we have masked White halfpin as in 24, but each B1 is both an anticipatory unpin and an
anticipatory self-block: alas, impurity of motivation.
30. The White halfpin is quite incidental in the first solution!
34. Fine Umnov (follow-my-leader) effects, but unfortunately the Black halfpin is incomplete.
38. This aristocratic problem (devoid of Pawns) I assume sets a new economy record for the Black-andWhite halfpin theme in H2 9 men, every one of them thematic!
39. This problem equals the economy record of 38 deploying identical force. Note that the J here can
instead start from c7, the two solutions then beginning 1.Jd8 and 1.Ja5 respectively; Im not sure which
alternative is best...
~5~