Pal Benko, twin problem, helpmate in 7

Sometimes a helpmate problem, especially in a longer move setting, need not be a serious affair. There is a pretty picture in this helpmate which is a twin (a nearly identical position), the stipulation being, to remove the bishop at h4 in the last diagram. Here, also, we have a pawn promoting all the way from second rank, under-promoting, else the black king scampering to h1 would be in check. The long journey undertaken by a promoting pawn in chess problems is called Excelsior.

Pal Benko, helpmate composer

Multi-time world champion Candidate, Pal Benko, not only composed studies, but also more-movers and problems in chess helpmates. From his book with Silman, the wonderful "My life, games and compositions" comes the first of two twins. Black moving first is to help White to mate him. See the dance of the under-prmoted black rook as it races to strangle his own monarch.

A twin is a second problem with the same stipulation but a slight change in one of the pieces. Here, remove the h4 bishop from the board, and again it is a helpmate in 7 with a different solution