The BDS Website

At last Friday's BCPS committee meeting, the webmaster reported on the updates he had made to the website. One of them was to change the section editor of the three- and more-movers from Jim Grevatt to Steven Dowd. This was the first I had heard of it. Despite the fact that I had distributed the pdfs of our May issue a couple of weeks earlier, I hadn't actually opened it myself to read it, so I was surprised. As far as I can remember, the matter had not been raised at any earlier meetings. In the magazine, it featured in two sentences – one by the acting editor and one by Jim himself. At the meeting, there was no further discussion of the issue even though Jim himself had been present for the early part of the meeting, and the minutes made no mention of the change. I am ashamed that nobody, not even myself, suggested a vote of thanks for Jim’s thirty-four years of service as section editor.

I don't know when Jim joined the BCPS, but the BCPS Centenary Review (1918-2018) records that he was Synthetics section editor from 1971-1986, that he began his stint as three-and more movers editor in 1991 and that he was our President from 1991-1993. It is safe to conclude that Jim has been a true stalwart of the BCPS, with a service record going back 54 years! This post is a small tribute, and continues with two of Jim's own compositions.

Jim Grevatt was not a prolific composer – WinChloe records just 41 problems by him, 36 of them orthodox three-and more movers. Several of them were composed jointly with his good friend, the late Tony Lewis. The first problem below is some way from Jim's best, but it holds a special place in my memory as the first ever three-mover that my then nineteen year old self managed to solve.

Jim Grevatt

The Problemist, 1973

1.Re4!  (2.Rd4+  Kc3   3.Qe1#
                 Sxd4  3.Qxd4#)

1...fxe4 2.Qxe4+ Kxe4  3.Bc2#
1...Bxg7 2.Re3+  fxe3  3.Qxe3#
1...Sc3+ 2.Qxc3+ Kxe4  3.Sd2,Bc2,Qd4,Qc2#
1...Rxc4 2.Rxc4       (3.Bc2#)
                 Sc3+  3.Rxc3,Qxc3#
                 Bxc4  3.Qxf5#
                 Sd4   3.Qxd4#
1...Se2  2.Rxe2       (3.Bc2,Rd2#)
                 Sc3+  3.Qxc3#
                 fxe2  3.Qxe2#
                 Sd4   3.Qxd4#
1...f2   2.Re2        (3.Bc2,Rd2#)
                 Sc3+  3.Qxc3#
                 Sxe2  3.Qxe2#
                 Sd4   3.Qxd4#

In the diagram position 1...Sc3+ leads to 2.Qxc3#. Fifty-two years ago I was very keen not to spoil this and it was a very long time before I accepted that it had to be given up. The initial rook sacrifice followed by the queen sacrifice is the core of this problem, but there is also a rook sacrifice after 1...Bxg7. The remaining variations are just by-play but still have to be seen.

The second problem I wish to show is a lot better and deservedly won a prize.

Jim Grevatt

3rd Prize, diagrammes, 1996-1997

1.Rf3! (2.c3+   Sxc3 3.bxc3+ bxc3 4.Sb3+ Ke4 5.Sxc3#
                bxc3 3.bxc3+ Sxc3 4.Sb3+ Ke4 5.Sxc3#)

1...Qg7 2.Sxe6+ Ke4  3.Sac5+ Bxc5 4.Sg5+ Kd4 5.e3#
1...Qf6 2.Sb3+  Ke4  3.Bb7+  Rd5  4.Sd2+ Kd4 5.Rd3#

The key guards f4 to enable the threat. Black can guard c3 in two ways, once from g7 and once from f6. These each lead to variations where White plays a checking sequence to decoy a black piece to the other side of the black king followed by the forcing of the black king back to d4, which closes off the guard that the black piece previously had, allowing White to mate.

I must finish this post with a welcome to Steven Dowd. I am in no doubt that the three-and more move section will be in good hands. I wish him well for the future.