Leonid Yarosh (complete name Leonid Vladimirovič Jaroš) (born 1957) is a Russian chess composer.
Biography
[edit]Leonid Vladimirovich Yarosh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957 (age 67–68) Horycja, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine |
| Other names | [1] |
| Occupation | Chess composer |
| Era | 20th–21st century |
Leonid Yarosh was born in the village of Horycja in Ukraine. As a young man, he moved to Russia, settling in Kazan, where he graduated from the State Institute of Physical Culture. He initially pursued a career as a football coach.[2]
He is best known for composing the first complete chess problem featuring the Babson task in 1983:[3][4][5] a four-move checkmate problem with multiple promotions to four different pieces. In such a problem, White can achieve mate by promoting to the same piece chosen by Black for promotion; any other promotion fails to deliver checkmate in the prescribed number of moves. Unlike conditional or heterodox chess, White is not forced to replicate Black's promotion – success comes naturally through the Babson theme.
Šachmaty v SSSR, 1983
1st Prize
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |            | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
with the Babson theme
Solution:
1. a7!
If 1... axb1=Q 2. axb8=Q Qxb2 (or 2... Qe4 3. Qxf4 Qxf4 4. Rxf4#) 3. Qxb3 Qc3 4. Qxc3# If 1... axb1=R 2. axb8=R Rxb2 3. Rxb3 Rxc4 4. Qa4#
If 1... axb1=B 2. axb8=B Be4 3. Bxf4 Bxa8 4. Be3#
If 1... axb1=N 2. axb8=N Nxd2 3. Nc1 Ne4 4. Nc6#
Afterward, both Yarosh and other composers created additional problems incorporating the complete Babson theme.[6]
Yarosh was a member of the Russian team that won the World Chess Composition Team Championships in 1992 and 2004. He also won the Soviet Individual Composition Championship in 1992.
References
[edit]- ^ sometimes reported as Jarosch or Yarosh
- ^ "Do you know the Babson task? – Chess Forums". Chess.com. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "The perfect Babson". Chess News. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "The Everest of chess problems". Chess News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "De man die de Babson Task maakte". timkr.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Chess Guide > Babson Task". www.museum.am. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
External links
[edit]- Tim Krabbé article with extensive analysis of Yarosh's problem The Babson Task
- Photo of Leonid Yarosh (right) with Tim Krabbé in Kazan, 2002 [1]
![[1]](https://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/admag/kazan9g.JPG){kind=link}