In the last issue of The Macedonan Problemist we can find three nice symbolic (letter) problems dedicated to the jubilees of Petko Petkov (70) and Aleksandar Popovski (80). Here you can see and enjoy with them.

1) 1.Kc5 Qe3+ 2.Kd6 Qb6 3.Qg6+ R:g6=

The pattern of pieces changes from “80” (the age of Aleksandar Popovski) in the diagram to “AP” (his initials) in the final stalemate position. The doyen of Macedonian problem chess (composer, editor and publisher) and prominent novelist and poet celebrated his 80^th birthday on 28 April 2012.

 2)  1...Rc~ 2.S(:)d6# A 1...Bd8~ 2.S(:)e7# B

        1.B:f6! (2.Rg5#), 1...R:f6 2.Sd6# A, 1...B:f6 2.Se7# B, 1...Q:f6 2.g7# 

 This problem, in which the placement of the pieces on the chessboard symbolyses the initials of Petko Petkov and his jubilee (PP 70), shows triple sacrifice, three self-pins and three pin mates, of which two are transferred from the set to actual play.

3) 1.Qe1? 1...c:b3 2.S:c5 b2#, 1...c3!

    1.Qd2? 1...c3 2.Qb2+ c:b2#, 1...c:b3!

    1.Qc3! (zz) 1...c:b3 2.Qc4 b2#

   A letter problem with Petko Petkov's initial, dedicated to his 70th anniversary with two tries by the white Queen and change of white continuation.

   The next double problem was participated in Petko Petkov-70 JT 2012 organized by Strate Gems.

4)  PET:  1…Se~ 2.Sf4+ exf4 3.Be4+ Qxe4#, 1…Sf5!? 2.Se7+ Sxe7 3.Be4+ Qxe4# 

     1.Sd8! (2.Qc6+ Bxc6 3.Rb5+ Bxb5#)

1…Bc6 2.Qxd4+ exd4 3.Rb5+ Bxb5#, 1…Sc4 2.Sf4+ exf4 3.Be4+ Qxe4#

     KOV: 1.b7? (zz) c6 2.Qb5+ cxb5#, 1…c2!; 1.Rc2! (zz), 1…cxb6 2.Qc7 b5#, 1…c6 2.Qb5+ cxb5# 

   We finish with six twomovers by Diyan Kostadinov dedicated to Petko ("Петко" in bulgarian) Petkov 70 - 2012 which was published in KoBulChess.com early this year.