The current Series-Movers and Stalemates (S&S) section has a bit of a history.  At first, both these genres were lumped in with "Fairies", as is done in of every other chess problem magazine.  In mid-1999, the SG editors decided to isolate orthodox stalemates (due to their lack of 'fairy' relevance) and give them a separate forum.  In 2002, we removed orthodox series problems from the "Fairies" to establish another unique platform.  Thus, S&S was born! 

Series-Movers require one side to make a specified number of consecutive moves.  The object may be checkmate (eg. ser.#14, ser.s#9,  ser.h#8) or stalemate (eg. ser.=7, ser.s=5, ser.h=21).  For series-directmates (ser.#n, ser.=n), White makes n moves leading to mate/stalemate.  In series-selfmates (ser.s#n, ser.s=n), White's initial n moves forces Black to mate/stalemate in one.  With series-helpmates (ser.h#n, ser.h=n), Black starts with n moves allowing White to mate or checkmate at the end. 

Stalemates are like their 'checkmate' counterparts, except that the goal is stalemate.  Thus, a direct-stalemate (=n) requires White to force a stalemate of Black on White's nth move.  Similarly, a self-stalemate (s=n) obliges White to force Black to stalemate White on Black's nth move.  Finally, a help-stalemate (h=n) means that Black begins and, with both sides cooperating, White stalemates Black on White's nth move. 

8/4Q2K/pp3P2/P1pP1k2/4S3/3SBP2/8/8

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.Bxc5[A]? (2.Bxb6=) 1...bxc5[x] 2.Qxc5[B]=
  1...b5  2.Bb4=, but 1...bxa5!

1.Qxc5![B] (2.Qxb6=) 1...bxc5[x] 2.Bxc5[A]=
  1...b5/bxa5 2.Qb4/Qxa5=
1.Sdxc5[C]? (zz) 1...bxc5[x] 2.Sxc5[D]=
  1...bxa5 2.Sa4=, but 1...b5!

1.Sexc5![D] (zz) 1...bxc5[x] 2.Sxc5[C]=
  1...b5/bxa5 2.Sb4=/Sa4=

"A really fresh and modern approach that I like very much.  Here is proof that a tiny idea, freezing a minor cluster of bPs, can produce dynamic and thematic play that rivals more high-powered schemes." (Judge: David L. Brown)

Mark Kirtley
1st Prize
StrateGems 1999
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s=19  (14+9)  C-

r6S/PPPPPPPP/4bkSK/2p3R1/RQ3b2/5s1s/7q/3r4

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.g8S+! Rxg8 2.fxg8S Bxg8 3.hxg8S+ Ke6 4.Sf8+ Kd6 5.e8S+ Kc6 6.d8S+ Rxd8 7.b8S+ Rxb8 8.cxb8S+ Bxb8 9.axb8S+ Qxb8 10.Qxc5+ Kb7 11.Qb5+ Kc8 12.Se7+ Kd8 13.Qxb8+ Kxe7 14.Qd6+ Kxe8 15.Qd7+ Kxf8 16.Rf4+ Sxf4 17.Rg8+ Kxg8 18.Qf7+ Kxh8 19.Qg8+ Kxg8=

"Eight white promotions to Knight with 8 pawns: Is this conception new or not?  My answer is: Kirtley's problem demonstrates an original interpretation -- not direct-mate, not self-mate, but... self-stalemate.  This is very non-standard and difficult, typical of Kirtley's monumental style!  (The question is: Are there other old s= problem(s) with 8 wS promotions?  There are no analogous examples in my card-index!)  The construction with 'only' 23 pieces is probably optimal, as I analyzed this position for a long time." 

Edgar Holladay
2nd Prize
StrateGems 1999
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h=2½*  (3+3)  C+
4 solutions

3qr3/2PkPK2/8/8/8/8/8/8

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

Here, you are asked to find 1 "set" (ie. h=2) line, and 4 full-length (ie. h=2½) solutions.  Refer to the Helpmates dialogue for a more thorough explanation.

1.Qb8 cxb8Q 2.Rd8 exd8S=
1...exd8Q+ 2.Kc6 Qd4 3.Rb8 cxb8Q=
1...c8R 2.Rf8+ exf8Q 3.Qf6+ Kxf6=
1...cxd8S 2.Rf8+ exf8Q 3.Kc8 Qd6=
1...exd8B 2.Rg8 Kxg8 3.Ke8 c8Q=

György Bakcsi & Laszlo Zoltán
StrateGems 2002
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ser.#8  (3+9)  C+
b) Kd8ÉKb8

1kBK4/2p4p/8/R3pp2/8/2p2p2/8/r6r

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

a) 1.Rxe5 2.Rxf5 3.Rxf3 4.Rxc3 5.Rxc7 6.Rxh7 7.Rxh1 8.Rxa1=
b) 1.Rxa1 2.Rxh1 3.Rxh7 4.Rxc7 5.Rxc3 6.Rxf3 7.Rxf5 8.Rxe5= 

A humorous bit where the Kings' orientation determines the vortex rotation.

8/8/4p3/8/BBK4p/3sp3/PPP2P1R/3s1k2

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

Try: 4.Kg4 6.Bxh4 8.Bh5 9.Rh3 12.fxe6 17.a8B 22.b8Q 27.c8S 29.e8R 30.Bf3 31.Qg3 33.Rg5 36.Sxe3+ Sxe3#

Solution: 5.f8S 7.Sxh4 8.Sf3 10.Rxe6 11.Kd5 16.c8S 18.Sce4 19.Bd6 24.b8S 26.Sbd4 27.Bc6 32.a8S 34.Sac4 35.Sxe3+ Sxe3#

8/8/1K5Q/1S6/8/8/ppp2pp1/1k1B4

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.g8Q 2.Qg7 3.f1S 4.Sd2 5.Kc1 6.b1R 7.Qa1 8.Kb2 9.c1B Qh2=

"The captureless AUW is attractive in that its story is evident in the final position.  Three ser.h= examples appeared during the year, and this beautiful setting with 9 moves and 10 men is surely the Letztform." (Judge: Jeremy Morse)