February 28th

Александр Фёдорович Феоктистов (28-02-1948) Russian composer and Grandmaster (Aleksandr Fyodorovich Feoktistov)

[Ofer Comay, Paz Einat and Alexander Feoktistov receiving prizes for the Moskovskaya Matreshka tourney, Dresden congress, 2017 Variantim 73]

Aleksandr Feoktistov is the Grandmaster of the day. He's an expert in many fields and many of his works are memorable. You are certainly waiting forward to see some examples and we won't disappoint you:

Феоктистов, Александр Фёдорович
WCCT, 2008
2^nd Place

s#3

9 + 13

Show Solution

1.Qa1! (2.Rd4+! cxd4 3.Qxd4+ Rxd4# [2.Qd4+?] )

1... Sxf6 2.Rd7+ Sxd7 3.Qa8+! Rc6# (3.Sb6+?)
1...gxf6 2.Re5+! fxe5 3.Sb6+! Rxb6# (3.Qa8+?) 2.Qe5+? fe 3.Sb6+ Rxb6+ 4.Rxh7
1... Bxf4 2.Sxe3+! Bxe3 3.c4+! Rxc4# (3.Qa2+?) 2.Rd7+? Bd6 3.Qd1+ Rd4+ 4.Qg4
1... Sxf4 2.Qd1+ Sd3 3.Qxd3+! Rd4# (3.Qf3+?)

The openings of black lines are exploited by White in 4 variations with dual avoidance.

One could also quote a #3 with a 3x3 Zagoruiko with 3 black promotions (1...a1=Q/B/S). But, since we are quite fond of batteries, we choose this one:

Феоктистов, Александр Фёдорович
Сельская жизнь 1969
1^st Prize

#3

10 + 10

Show Solution

1.Kh6 ! (2.Sf6+ Kf4 3.Sh5#)

1...Rd3 2.Sg6+ Kf3, Kxf5 3.Se3, Se5#
1...Rf3 2.Sc6+ Kd3, Kd5 3.Rxd4, Se5#
1...Bg4 2.Se7+ Kf4, Kxe5 3.Sg6, Sd5#

You have probably noticed the elegant S switchbacks.

Can Feoktistov compose non-direct mate problems? A possible answer is the following item:

Феоктистов, Александр Фёдорович
Всероссийский конкурс 1992
1^st Prize

h#3

4 solutions

6 + 12

Show Solution

1.Rc1 d4 2.Rg1 d5 3.Rg4 Bd3# & 1.Rc6 Bf1 2.d5 d3 3.Rg6 Bh3#
1.Kg4 Bxe7 2.Rh5 Bg5 3.Bb7 Bxd7# & 1.Ke4 Bf6 2.Rf5 Be5 3.d5 d3#
2 pairs of matched solutions.