Azemmour 7 theme

In each phase, only two pieces play, one white and one black.

Two forms of the theme can be distinguished:

  1. If the same piece of some side plays in all phases, such form is called White or Black Monopoly.
  2. If pieces of some side are different in all phases, such form is called White or Black Anti-monopoly.

Mixed forms are also possible. At least two phases and two moves are required. This is the theme of the 7th Azemmour TT (Vilnius, 2019). In Helpmate Analyzer, helpmates in two moves require at least three phases for the theme.

Sonnenfeld, Felix Alexander

Schach-Echo, 1976

Example: Azemmour 7 theme
h#2 4.1... (8+13)

1.Rxg3 Rb1 2.Rxg5 Rf1#
1.Bxd2 Bf1 2.Bxg5 Bh3#
1.h6 d3 2.hxg5 dxe4#
1.Se6 Sg6 2.Sxg5 Sh4#

White anti-monopoly, black anti-monopoly.

View in Helpmate Analyzer

FEN: 4bnnN/3p2pp/1R3N2/b3pkPp/r1B1p3/r5P1/2KP4/8

External links:

Onkoud, Abdelaziz

M. Gafarov-80 MT, 2016

2nd Prize

Example: Azemmour 7 theme
h#2.5 4.1... (2+13)

1...Rb4 2.Rh1 Rxb6 3.Rh7 Rb8#
1...Rc4 2.Bc2 Rxc6 3.Bh7 Rc8#
1...Rd4 2.Qd3 Rxd6 3.Qh7 Rd8#
1...Re4 2.Rh3 Rxe6 3.Rh7 Re8#

White monopoly, black anti-monopoly.

View in Helpmate Analyzer

FEN: K5k1/p4pp1/1pppp3/6p1/b5R1/q3r3/8/1r6

External links:

Csák, János

idee & form, 1991

4th HM

Example: Azemmour 7 theme
h#3 3.1... (5+7)

1.Bb3 Sb2 2.Bc2+ Sd3 3.Bd1 Sf4#
1.Rh1 Se3 2.Rhg1+ Sg2 3.Rgf1 Sf4#
1.Kd3 Sb6 2.Ke3 Sd5+ 3.Ke2 Sf4#

White monopoly, black anti-monopoly

View in Helpmate Analyzer

FEN: 8/B7/6K1/4P3/p1N5/P4n2/3pk3/3brr2

External links:

Pachl, Franz

Barth, Michael

Azemmour TT-7, Vilnius, 2019

1st Prize

Example: Azemmour 7 theme
h#2 4.1... (10+5)

1.d5 Rh7 2.dxe4 Rd7#
1.d6 Bf4 2.dxe5 Be3#
1.dxe6 Se3 2.exf5 Sxf5#
1.dxc6 Sc3 2.c5 Sb5#

White anti-monopoly, black monopoly.

View in Helpmate Analyzer

FEN: 3K4/3p4/2P1P3/4PP2/N1rkP2R/3n1pB1/8/5N2

External links: