Leonid Yarosh

Leonid Yarosh (complete name Leonid Vladimirovič Jaroš) (born 1957) is a Russian chess composer.

Biography

Leonid Vladimirovich Yarosh
Born1957 (age 68–69)
Horycja, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine
Other names[1]
OccupationChess composer
Era20th–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.

Leonid Yarosh
Šachmaty v SSSR, 1983
1st Prize
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8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move and mate in 4
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

  1. ^ sometimes reported as Jarosch or Yarosh
  2. ^ "Do you know the Babson task? – Chess Forums". Chess.com. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. ^ "The perfect Babson". Chess News. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ "The Everest of chess problems". Chess News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ^ "De man die de Babson Task maakte". timkr.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Chess Guide > Babson Task". www.museum.am. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  • 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]
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