aop 2021-12-24 19:56:00.412113

I make a version. 2 Sols. h#2, same solutions but no twins (+hideaways): 3K4/7R/3k4/4n3/1Pp1br2/2R5/7B/8 Solutions of my version (not diagram): 1.Bd5 Rd3 2.Re4 Rh6# (MM) 1.Rf6 Rxc4 2.Re6 Rd7#

Lovuschka 2021-12-25 05:03:49.929426

The b solution is obvious because of the piece change. I solved solution a afterwards, which also wasn't too difficult thanks to Pb4 hinting at what needed to be done. Still an enjoyable problem with a nice shift from rank to file. Easy to solve, well constructed. Of course, if Bh2 and Ne5 could be replaced by a single piece, that would be even better, but one can't have everything. I prefer this setting to the one by aop.

Laska 2022-01-05 02:34:56.579094

Thanks for the version, aop.
There's a kind of non-debate in MatPlus at the moment about the merits of twins versus two solutions. Basically questions of harmony, balance etc are more important drivers. To my mind, two solutions edges out twins to the same extent that unique promotion to queen edges out tolerated dual promotion. Other kinds of twinning (zero position, multiple changes to diagram) are intolerable to the same extent as dual promotion as a non-mating move.
I don't want to say more now at risk of spoiling.