In classical music, “variation” is a technique composers use to present material in an altered form. Oftentimes, this altered material is a variation on a theme. Similarly, chess composers use variation on a theme to create a companion piece by slightly altering the position to create a secondary puzzle.
In Chess Positions Worth Sharing 155, I presented the solution to a chess composition titled “The Amazon” by Gustavus Reichhelm. The composition featured the exquisite theme of white’s queen defeating the entire black army. Amazingly, Reichhelm also composed a variation on this theme by slightly altering the position of some of the black pieces on the chessboard.
Gustavus Reichhelm’s variation on a theme allows for greater appreciation of the power of the queen in chess. I consider it worthwhile to note the similarities and differences in the starting position of black’s pieces in his masterpiece “The Amazon” with that of its companion piece. Next, try to understand the structure and elements that allow this theme to work in two forms. Do this and I am confident that you will gain a deeper appreciation for these chess puzzles and the composer Gustavus Reichhelm.
Answer with variations of interest:
[SetUp “1”]
[FEN “6r1/p1p5/4r2p/3Q4/2K5/p1b1p1pn/kp3p2/q2b1n2 w – – 0 1”]
1. Kxc3+ $1 Bb3 2. Qxb3+ Kb1 3. Qd1+ Ka2 4. Qd5+ Kb1 5. Qf5+ Ka2 6. Qxe6+ Kb1 7.
Qf5+ Ka2 $1 8. Qf7+ Kb1 9. Qh7+ Ka2 10. Qxg8+ Kb1 11. Qg6+ Ka2 $1 12. Qe6+ Kb1 13.
Qe4+ Ka2 $1 14. Qc4+ Kb1 15. Qxf1+ Ka2 16. Qc4+ Kb1 17. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 18. Qe6+ Kb1 19.
Qxh3 Ka2 20. Qe6+ $1 Kb1 21. Qc4 a6 22. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 23. Qe6+ Kb1 24. Qc4 a5 25. Qe4+
Ka2 $1 26. Qe6+ Kb1 27. Qc4 a4 28. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 29. Qe6+ Kb1 30. Qc4 c6 31. Qe4+ Ka2 $1
32. Qe6+ Kb1 33. Qc4 g2 34. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 35. Qe6+ Kb1 36. Qg6+ Ka2 $1 37. Qg8+ Kb1
38. Qxg2 Ka2 39. Qg8+ $1 Kb1 40. Qc4 h5 41. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 42. Qe6+ Kb1 43. Qc4 h4 44.
Qe4+ Ka2 $1 45. Qe6+ Kb1 46. Qc4 h3 47. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 48. Qe6+ Kb1 49. Qxh3 Ka2 50.
Qe6+ $1 Kb1 51. Qc4 e2 (51… c5 52. Qe4+ Ka2 $1 53. Qe6+ Kb1 54. Qc4 f1=Q (54… e2
55. Qxe2 Ka2 56. Qc4+ Kb1 57. Kd2 $1 f1=Q 58. Qxf1+ Ka2 59. Qc4+ Kb1 60. Kc3 Qa2
61. Qf1#) 55. Qxf1+ Ka2 56. Qf7+ Kb1 57. Qc4 e2 58. Qxe2 Ka2 59. Qc4+ Kb1 60.
Kd2 Qa2 61. Qf1#) 52. Qxe2 Ka2 53. Qe6+ Kb1 54. Qc4 f1=Q 55. Qxf1+ Ka2 56. Qf7+
Kb1 57. Qc4 c5 58. Qe4+ Ka2 59. Qe6+ c4 60. Qxc4+ Kb1 61. Qe4+ Ka2 62. Qe6+ Kb1
63. Qc4 Qa2 64. Qf1# 1-0
