chess proble gemm s...chess problem gems by eight eminent american composers is a new work firs,...

CHESS PROBLEM GEMS BY EIGHT EMINENT AMERICAN COMPOSERS

Kenneth S. Howard

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC. NEW YORK

Copyright © 1972 by Dover Publications, Inc. Al l rights reserved under Pan American and Inter-

national Copyright Conventions.

Published in Canada by General Publishing Com-pany, Ltd . , 30 Lesmill R o a d , Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario.

Published in the United K i n g d o m by Constable and Company , Ltd. , 10 Orange Street, London W C 2 .

Chess Problem Gems by Eight Eminent American Composers is a new work, first published by Dover Publications, Inc. , in 1972.

International Standard Book Number: 0-486-22166-0 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: Jg-i8g348

Manufactured in the United States of America Dover Publications, Inc.

180 Var ick Street New York, N . Y . 1 0 0 1 4

Contents

p a g e

E i g h t E m i n e n t C o m p o s e r s i

T h e P r o b l e m i s t ' s V o c a b u l a r y 4

N o t a t i o n 9

E u g e n e B. C o o k 11

S a m u e l L o y d 16

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h 3 2

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r 4 1

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n 4 8

D . J . D e n s m o r e 6 4

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n 7 2

O t t o W u r z b u r g 8 5

V

Eight Eminent Composers

FEW chess en thus i a s t s t o d a y m a y b e f a m i l i a r w i t h m u c h o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g w o r k o f t h e ea r ly A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m compose r s . T h i s p r i m a r i l y i s b e c a u s e no col lec t ions o f t he i r p r o b l e m s a r e c u r r e n t l y i n p r i n t a n d t h e y a r e o n l y t o b e f o u n d i n books t h a t occas iona l ly m a y be s ecu red i n t h e s e c o n d h a n d m a r k e t . A single e x c e p t i o n i s t h a t o f s o m e o f S a m L o y d ' s c o m p o s i t -ions.

S o t h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e r e p r o d u c e s t yp i ca l e x a m p l e s o f t h e w o r k o f e i gh t o f t h e m o s t e m i n e n t o f these p rob l emis t s w h o s e c o m p o s i n g ca ree r s d a t e d f r o m t h e last c e n t u r y .

W h i l e E u g e n e B . C o o k a n d S a m u e l L o y d w e r e t h e ear l ies t o f t h e m o r e p r o m i n e n t p ioneers , t h e y w e r e fo l lowed closely b y G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r a n d W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n . A l t h o u g h W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h was b o r n b e f o r e L o y d , his p r o b l e m s o n l y b e g a n t o b e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e e igh teen- seven t i e s a n d his w o r k d i d n o t a t t r a c t a n y w i d e s p r e a d a t t e n t i o n un t i l yea r s a f t e r w a r d . D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e b e c a m e n o t e d fo r his s t r a t eg ic p r o b l e m s , especia l ly fo r those f e a t u r i n g b l a c k in t e r f e rences . T h e c o m p o s i n g act ivi t ies o f H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n a n d o f O t t o W u r z b u r g c o n -t i n u e d f a r i n t o t h e p r e s e n t c e n t u r y . W h i l e o t h e r ea r ly c o m p o s e r s p u b l i s h e d m a n y f i n e p r o b l e m s , t h e y d i d n o t b e c o m e a s p r o m i -n e n t .

P r i o r to t h e m i d d l e o f t h e last c e n t u r y t h e r e was on ly a m i n i -m u m o f chess ac t iv i ty i n this c o u n t r y a n d a s t h e r e w e r e n o chess m a g a z i n e s , n o r chess c o l u m n s i n n e w s p a p e r s , t h e r e w a s l i t t le i n c e n t i v e for p r o b l e m c o m p o s i t i o n , s ince i t was on ly in f o r e i g n pe r iod ica l s t h a t p r o b l e m s m i g h t b e p u b l i s h e d .

T h e ear l ies t A m e r i c a n chess c o l u m n was o n e e d i t e d b y C h a r l e s H e n r y S t a n l e y in The Spirit of the Times, in N e w York , t he f i r s t p r o b l e m p u b l i s h e d b e i n g o n e o f S t an l ey ' s o w n t h a t w a s p r i n t e d in n o t a t i o n in the M a r c h 1 , 1845 issue. T h e f i r s t m a g a -zine, The Chess Palladium, was issued by N a p o l e o n M a r a c h e in

14° Chess Problem. Gems

1846, a n d a second , t h e American Chess Magazine, a p p e a r e d in 1847. Bo th , h o w e v e r , h a d shor t lives.

A g r e a t chess a w a k e n i n g in this c o u n t r y c a m e w i t h t h e a d v e n t o f P a u l M o r p h y ' s exploi ts , w h i c h b e g a n i n t h e l a t e r e i gh t een -f i f t i e s a n d a r o u s e d s o m u c h n a t i o n a l e n t h u s i a s m t h a t m a n y n e w s p a p e r s b e g a n t o c a r r y chess c o l u m n s . T h i s n a t u r a l l y led t o a s tead i ly i n c r e a s i n g in te res t in p r o b l e m s .

T h e b i r t h o f A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m - b o o k l i t e r a t u r e da t e s f r o m t h e fo l lowing d e c a d e . I n 1859 C o o k a n d L o y d p l a n n e d t o issue a co l lec t ion of a t h o u s a n d p r o b l e m s by A m e r i c a n compose r s . I t was n o t u n t i l 1868, h o w e v e r , t h a t w i t h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f W i l l i a m R . H e n r y a n d C h a r l e s A . G i l b e r g , t h e b o o k was p u b -l ished u n d e r t h e t i t le of American Chess Nuts, c o n t a i n i n g 2406 p r o b l e m s , o f w h i c h 353 w e r e b y L o y d , 326 b y C o o k a n d 6 4 b y C a r p e n t e r .

In 1881 L o y d p u b l i s h e d his Chess Strategy, "a t rea t i se on chess p r o b l e m s , " i l l u s t r a t ed w i t h m a n y o f his compos i t ions . T h e second sec t ion o f t h e s ix teen th v o l u m e of A l a i n W h i t e ' s Christmas Series, en t i t l ed Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems, issued in 1913, is a rev is ion of t h e Strategy, b a s e d on m a t e r i a l lef t by L o y d a t his d e a t h , a n d h a s ove r 500 o f his p r o b l e m s . T h i s v o l u m e f o r t u n a t e l y i s n o w a v a i l a b l e in a p a p e r b a c k re -p r i n t .

In 1916 100 Chess Problems by William Meredith was p u b l i s h e d as t h e t w e n t y - s e c o n d v o l u m e of t h e Christmas Series, a n d in 1920 A Memorial to D, J. Densmore, c o n t a i n i n g a co l lec t ion of D e n s -m o r e ' s p r o b l e m s , as t h e twen ty - s ix th v o l u m e . T h e n The Golden Argosy, a co l lec t ion of 600 of S h i n k m a n ' s p r o b l e m s , t h e t h i r t y -seven th v o l u m e of t h e Christmas Series, a p p e a r e d in 1929.

Ores t e s A . B r o w n s o n , J r . , w h o f o u n d e d a n d ed i t ed t h e Dubuque Chess Journal, p u b l i s h e d a co l lec t ion of 200 of C a r p e n t e r ' s p r o b l e m s i n 1875, w i t h t h r e e l a t e r ed i t ions . N u m a P re t i o f Pa r i s also b r o u g h t o u t a co l lec t ion of 200 of C a r p e n t e r ' s p r o b l e m s in 1901. In 1926 D r . H. K e i d a n z p u b l i s h e d a co l lec t ion of all o f Cook ' s k n o w n compos i t ions , some 650 posi t ions .

All o f these books w e r e issued in c o m p a r a t i v e l y l imi t ed ed i t ions a n d , as p rev ious ly m e n t i o n e d , on ly a select ion of L o y d ' s p r o b l e m s i s r e a d i l y o b t a i n a b l e a t p r e sen t . No col lect ions o f t h e p r o b l e m s o f D r . H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n o r o f O t t o W u r z b u r g h a v e a s y e t b e e n p u b l i s h e d .

Eight Eminent Composers 3

So t h e a u t h o r bel ieves t h a t t h e select ions in this v o l u m e wil l b e w e l c o m e d b y all w h o m a y b e i n t e r e s t ed i n ear ly o u t s t a n d i n g compos i t i ons i n t h e A m e r i c a n chess p r o b l e m field.

S ince s o m e r e a d e r s m a y n o t b e f a m i l i a r w i t h va r ious t e r m s used b y p rob lemis t s , m a n y o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n ones a r e ex-p l a i n e d i n t h e n e x t sect ion.

The Problemist's Vocabulary

THE BASIC d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a c o m p o s e d endgame a n d a prob-lem i s t h a t i n t h e f o r m e r W h i t e h a s an i n d e f i n i t e n u m b e r o f m o v e s i n w h i c h t o w i n — o r d r a w — a g a i n s t a s u p e r i o r o r e q u a l b l a c k fo rce , w h e r e a s in a p r o b l e m W h i t e m u s t m a t e Black in a de f in i t e n u m b e r o f m o v e s .

I n a c o n v e n t i o n a l chess p r o b l e m W h i t e m o v e s f i r s t a n d m a t e s Black in a s t i p u l a t e d n u m b e r o f moves , t h e c o r r e c t f i r s t m o v e fo r W h i t e b e i n g t e r m e d t h e keymove o r key. T h e r e a r e o n l y t w o c o n v e n t i o n s t h a t m u s t b e o b s e r v e d i n c o m p o s i n g a p r o b l e m . T h e f i r s t i s t h a t t h e pos i t ion m u s t b e o n e w h i c h c o u l d b e r e a c h e d i n a c t u a l p l a y h o w e v e r u n n a t u r a l i t m a y a p p e a r . I n f ac t , t h e pos i t ions in p r o b l e m s n e v e r w o u l d be l ikely to o c c u r in a g a m e . T h e s e c o n d c o n v e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e r e m u s t b e o n l y o n e f i r s t m o v e t h a t wi l l solve t h e p r o b l e m . S h o u l d i t be d i s cove red t h a t a p r o b -l e m m a y b e so lved b y m o r e t h a n o n e f i r s t m o v e i t i s sa id t o b e unsound a n d is va lue less . T h e u n i n t e n d e d f i rs t m o v e is c a l l e d a cook.

W h i l e a n y m o v e m a y b e e m p l o y e d a s a key , i n m o d e r n p r o b -l ems a c h e c k , c a p t u r e of a b l a c k m a n , m o v e of a w h i t e p i ece f r o m an o u t - o f - p l a y to a m o r e ac t ive pos i t i on , a m o v e t h a t r e -str icts B lack ' s p l a y , o r a n y o t h e r aggress ive m o v e , i s c o n s i d e r e d o b j e c t i o n a b l e as a k e y m o v e . A p l a u s i b l e - a p p e a r i n g f i rs t m o v e a g a i n s t w h i c h B lack m a y d e f e n d b y p e r h a p s o n l y a s ingle d e f e n -sive m o v e is ca l l ed a try.

W h e n t h e k e y m o v e d i r ec t ly t h r e a t e n s m a t e i n t h e s t i p u l a t e d n u m b e r of m o v e s t h e p r o b l e m is a threat problem. L i n e s of p l a y w h e r e de fens ive m o v e s b y Black d e f e a t t h e t h r e a t b u t a l l ow W h i t e t o m a t e i n o t h e r ways a r e t e r m e d variations.

In a waiting-move problem m a t e is n o t t h r e a t e n e d by t h e key-m o v e w h i c h , h o w e v e r , sets u p a pos i t ion w h e r e a n y b l a c k m o v e wil l w e a k e n t h e de fense a n d a l l ow W h i t e t o m a t e — B l a c k i s i n zugzwang. W a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m s a r e s u b d i v i d e d i n t o complete

4

The Problemist's Vocabulary 5

block a n d incomplete block pos i t ions . In t h e in i t ia l pos i t ion of a c o m p l e t e b lock a m a t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n i s p rov ided— se t b e i n g the t e c h n i c a l t e r m — f o r a n y m o v e t h a t Black c a n m a k e a n d W h i t e ha s on ly to m a k e a m o v e w h i c h will no t a l t e r such an a r r a n g e m e n t . I n a n i n c o m p l e t e b lock t h e r e m a y b e o n e o r severa l possible moves by Black for w h i c h m a t e s a re n o t set a n d t h e key m u s t p r o v i d e m a t e s fo r such moves .

W h e r e t h e k e y m o v e i n a c o m p l e t e b lock p r o b l e m c h a n g e s some of t h e set m a t e s to o t h e r m a t e s t h e p r o b l e m is t e r m e d a mutate. W h e r e t h e k e y m o v e p e r m i t s Black to m a k e defens ive moves t h a t l ead t o m o r e m a t i n g pos i t ions t h a n those i n t h e in i t ia l s e t t ing it is an added mate p r o b l e m .

T h e n t h e r e a r e c o m p l e t e b lock posi t ions w h i c h c a n n o t b e solved by a w a i t i n g - m o v e key, b u t i n w h i c h W h i t e m u s t m a k e a k e y m o v e t h a t t h r e a t e n s m a t e d i r ec t ly . S u c h a p r o b l e m is a block-threat.

T h e s q u a r e u p o n w h i c h a k ing s t a n d s a n d those i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to i t cons t i t u t e t he king's f ie ld; n i n e squa res i f t h e k i n g i s n o t a t an e d g e of t h e b o a r d .

I f w h e n t h e b l ack k ing i s m a t e d e a c h o f t h e s q u a r e s in t h e k ing ' s f ie ld a r e g u a r d e d by on ly o n e w h i t e m a n o r b locked by a b l ack m a n it is a pure mate. T h e o n l y excep t ion to this is w h e r e a b l a c k m a n t h a t occup ies an a d j a c e n t s q u a r e i s p i n n e d a n d c o u l d p r e v e n t t h e m a t e i f i t w e r e n o t p i n n e d . S u c h a m a t e m i g h t a lso be c o n s i d e r e d p u r e . In such a s i t u a t i o n t h e m a t e i s also t e r m e d a pin-mate.

A model mate is a p u r e m a t e w h e r e all t he w h i t e m e n on t h e b o a r d , w i t h t h e o p t i o n a l e x c e p t i o n o f t h e k ing a n d p a w n s , t a k e p a r t . S o m e pur is t s , h o w e v e r , h o l d t h a t a n y w h i t e p a w n e m -p loyed m u s t g u a r d o n e o f t h e s q u a r e s i n t h e b l ack k ing ' s f i e l d for t h e m a t e to be a m o d e l .

W h e r e t h e b l ack k ing w h e n m a t e d i s n o t a t a n e d g e o f t h e b o a r d a n d t h e r e a re n o o t h e r m e n o n t h e e igh t a d j a c e n t s q u a r e s in t h e k ing ' s f ie ld i t is a mirror mate. T h e t e r m is c o m m o n l y a p p l i e d on ly w h e n t h e m a t e is also a p u r e one . A l t h o u g h a f ew p r o b l e m i s t s h a v e c o m p o s e d pos i t ions p r i m a r i l y t o f e a t u r e m i r r o r m a t e s , t h e y a re o f i n f r e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e .

T h e i d e a or m a n e u v e r w h i c h a p r o b l e m i s expressly c o m p o s e d to i l lus t ra te is t e r m e d the mainplay or thematic play. All o t h e r con -t i n u a t i o n s , b r o u g h t a b o u t b y v a r i o u s b l ack defens ive moves , a r c


t e r m e d byplay o r va r i a t i ons . W h e r e b e c a u s e o f some b lack m o v e W h i t e h a s a cho ice of m a t i n g moves i t is a dual a n d in t h e case of t h r e e - m o v e or f o u r - m o v e p r o b l e m s a cho ice of m a t i n g con -t i n u a t i o n s is t e r m e d a dual continuation.

A major dual is o n e w h e r e W h i t e h a s a cho ice of l ines of p l a y o r m a t i n g m o v e s n o n e o f w h i c h he i s f o r c e d to a d o p t by a n y o f Black ' s de fens ive moves . S u c h d u a l s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y o b j e c t i o n -a b l e i f t h e y o c c u r in the t h e m a t i c o r m a i n p l a y o f t h e p r o b -l em.

In a minor dual W h i t e has a choice of c o n t i n u a t i o n s fo l lowing i n d i f f e r e n t b l a c k moves wh i l e Black m a y m a k e ce r t a in m o v e s w h i c h c o m p e l W h i t e to m a k e a s ingle de f in i t e c o n t i n u a t i o n . D u a l s o c c u r r i n g i n u n t h e m a t i c o r s e c o n d a r y lines o f p l a y a r e also s o m e t i m e s ca l led m i n o r dua l s . In s o m e cases such a d u a l m i g h t be a v o i d e d m e r e l y by t h e a d d i t i o n o f a b l ack p a w n , w h i c h m a n y composers , h o w e v e r , w o u l d p r e f e r n o t t o a d d t o e l i m i n a t e a n ins ign i f i can t d u a l .

T h e r e p e t i t i o n of a s imi la r t y p e of pos i t ion in t w o or m o r e m a t e s i s k n o w n as an echo. W h e r e t h e b l a c k k i n g s t a n d s on s q u a r e s of t h e s a m e color w h e n m a t e d it is a monochrome echo. If he s t a n d s on a w h i t e s q u a r e in o n e m a t e a n d on a b l ack s q u a r e in a n o t h e r it is a chameleon echo.

Likewise w h e r e t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s i n t w o o r m o r e lines o f p l a y i n t h r e e - m o v e , f o u r - m o v e o r l o n g e r p r o b l e m s a r e s imi la r t h e y a r e sa id t o e c h o e a c h o t h e r .

W h e r e t h e r e i s a s q u a r e in t h e b l ack k ing ' s field o n t o w h i c h he c a n m o v e , b e c a u s e i t i s n o t g u a r d e d by a w h i t e m a n n o r o c c u p i e d by a b l ack one , i t is ca l led a f l ight square. W h e r e t h e r e i s an u n g u a r d e d w h i t e m a n on such a s q u a r e t h e b l ack k ing ' s m o v e o n t o it is t e r m e d a flight capture.

W h i l e in a g a m e a m a n is said to be p i n n e d n o t on ly i f its r e m o v a l w o u l d l eave its k ing in check , b u t i f i t w o u l d l eave a m o r e i m p o r t a n t p iece u n d e r a t t a c k , in a p r o b l e m the w o r d pin i s used on ly w h e r e t h e o p p o s i n g k ing i s on t h e l ine of p in .

I f t h e p i n n e d m a n c a n m o v e a l o n g t h e l ine o f p i n n i n g i t i s said to be line-pinned. T h u s a q u e e n c a n on ly be l i n e - p i n n e d w h i l e a k n i g h t i s a lways abso lu te ly p i n n e d . Both p i n n i n g a n d u n p i n n i n g p l a y p r o m i n e n t roles i n m o d e r n p r o b l e m s .

W h e n t w o b l ack m e n a re on a l ine b e t w e e n the b l ack k ing a n d a l o n g - r a n g e w h i t e piece, w i t h no o t h e r i n t e r v e n i n g m e n ,

The Problemist's Vocabulary 7

i t is t e r m e d a half-pin, s ince if e i t he r b l ack m a n moves off t h e l ine its fe l low b e c o m e s p i n n e d .

A battery i s an a r r a n g e m e n t of t w o m e n of t h e s a m e co lor a l o n g a file, r a n k or d i a g o n a l , w h e r e t h e r a n g e of a r e a r p i e c e — q u e e n , rook or b i shop—is o b s t r u c t e d by a f r o n t or f ir ing piece, a m o v e o f w h i c h off t h e l ine m a k e s t h e p o w e r o f t h e r e a r p i ece ef fec t ive . A b i shop , as a f r o n t p iece , m a y o b s t r u c t a rook ' s a c t i o n a l o n g a f i le or r a n k , w h i l e a r o o k m a y o b s t r u c t t h a t of a b i s h o p on a d i a g o n a l . A k n i g h t or k i n g m a y serve as t h e f i r i ng p iece , a s a lso m a y a p a w n in c e r t a i n posi t ions . T h e q u e e n , h o w -ever , m a y o n l y be e m p l o y e d as t h e r e a r p iece o f a b a t t e r y .

W h e r e t h e r e a r p iece i s on a l ine w i t h t h e b l ack k i n g i t i s ca l l ed a direct battery; w h e r e it is on a l ine w i t h a s q u a r e t h a t is a d j a c e n t to t h e o n e on w h i c h t h e b l ack k i n g s t a n d s i t i s an in-direct battery. W h e n an i n d i r e c t b a t t e r y f i r e s , t h e f i r ing p iece m a y c h e c k t h e b l ack k ing, wh i l e t h e r e a r p i ece g u a r d s o n e o r m o r e s q u a r e s i n t h e k ing ' s f i e l d . W h e r e t h e f i r i n g p iece i s t h e w h i t e k i n g it is t e r m e d a royal battery.

W h e n a l o n g - r a n g e p iece i s m o v e d o n t o a l ine b e h i n d a n o t h e r m a n — e s p e c i a l l y w h e r e t h e f o r m e r i s a w h i t e p iece a n d t h e l a t t e r a b l ack m a n — s o t h a t i t m a y m o v e a long , o r h a v e its g u a r d i n g p o w e r b e c o m e effec t ive , o n t h a t l ine i f t h e m a n i n f r o n t m o v e s off t h e l ine, t h e m a n e u v e r i s t e r m e d an ambush.

In a p r o b l e m in w h i c h Black i s a l l owed to check t h e w h i t e k i n g by a l o n g - r a n g e p i e c e — q u e e n , r o o k o r b i s h o p — a n d W h i t e c o u n t e r s by m o v i n g a m a n o n t o t h e l ine o f check a n d s imu l -t a n e o u s l y checks t h e b l ack k i n g e i t he r d i r ec t ly o r by d i scovery , i t i s a cross-check. W h e r e t h e w h i t e k i n g m o v e s o u t of t h e l ine of check a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e d iscovers check o n t h e b l a c k k i n g f r o m a w h i t e p iece b e h i n d h i m it is a royal battery counter-check.

W h e r e t h e p o t e n t i a l m o v e s o f t w o l o n g - r a n g e pieces in t e r sec t t h e s q u a r e on w h i c h t h e i n t e r sec t ion occurs is ca l led a critical square a n d w h e n e i the r p iece m o v e s o n t o t h a t s q u a r e i t c rea tes an interference w i t h t h e o t h e r p iece . W h e n a w h i t e p iece , such as a b i shop , r e t r e a t s a l o n g a l ine across a c r i t ica l s q u a r e to p e r m i t a n o t h e r p iece , such as a q u e e n , to m o v e o n t o the l ine a h e a d of i t , i t is an anticritical move. W h e r e a p iece moves a r o u n d a n o t h e r l o n g - r a n g e p iece to s u p p o r t i t f r o m b e h i n d i t is a pericritical m a n e u v e r .

W h e r e a p r o b l e m i s c o m p o s e d to show the m a x i m u m possi-

IO IO Chess Problem Gems

bili t ies of some m a n e u v e r , such as a w h i t e k n i g h t p l a y i n g to e igh t d i f f e r e n t squares , a c c o r d i n g to Black 's de fens ive moves , t o d i scover m a t e , it is ca l l ed a task problem.

A p r o b l e m w i t h a t o t a l of seven or f ewer m e n is a miniature, w h i l e o n e of twelve or less is ca l l ed a Meredith, a l t h o u g h this t e r m o r d i n a r i l y i s on ly a p p l i e d to t w o - m o v e p r o b l e m s .

In a self-mate problem, or a suimate as it is also t e r m e d , i n s t ead o f W h i t e m a t i n g Black t h e p r o c e d u r e i s r eversed a n d W h i t e forces Black t o m a t e t h e w h i t e k ing .

Notation

THE chess n o t a t i o n in t h e fo l lowing text a n d so lu t ion pages i s t e r m e d t h e algebraic, s o m e t i m e s also ca l led t h e Continental be -cause of its use in c o n t i n e n t a l E u r o p e a n coun t r i e s . S ince i t i s m o r e precise t h a n t h e English n o t a t i o n i t i s m o r e g e n e r a l l y used i n books on p r o b l e m s , such a s the m a n y v o l u m e s i n A l a i n W h i t e ' s Christmas Series a n d also in the series of p r o b l e m books t h a t F r a n k Al t schu l p r i n t e d a t his p r i v a t e O v e r b r o o k Press .

a b c d e f g h

I n t h e a l g e b r a i c n o t a t i o n the l oca t i on a n d m o v e s o f t h e m e n a r e a lways r e a d f r o m t h e w h i t e s ide o f t h e b o a r d , o r t h e lower s ide o f t h e d i a g r a m . T h e files a r e d e s i g n a t e d " a " t o " h " f r o m lef t t o r igh t a n d t h e r a n k s a r e n u m b e r e d " 1 " t o " 8 " r e a d i n g u p w a r d .

I n t h e ensu ing sect ions t h e s a m e le t ters a r e e m p l o y e d t o d e n o t e t h e m e n a s i n t h e Engl i sh n o t a t i o n , w i t h t h e excep t ion of S ( G e r m a n Springer) fo r kn igh t . T h e s y m b o l x is used for a c a p t u r e a n d the s y m b o l ( ) for t h e p r o m o t i o n of a p a w n to a p iece , w i t h a le t ter w i t h i n the p a r e n t h e s i s d e n o t i n g t h e p iece

9

IO Chess Problem Gems

t h a t i s chosen . T h e s y m b o l V (vers ion) , be fo re t h e n a m e of a p u b l i c a t i o n a b o v e a d i a g r a m , i nd i ca t e s t h a t t he pos i t ion is a revis ion of a p r o b l e m as o r ig ina l ly p u b l i s h e d ; t h e s y m b o l ( q u o t e d ) i nd i ca t e s t h a t t h e p r o b l e m in i t i a l ly a p p e a r e d i n s o m e o t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n .

Eugene B. Cook

EUGENE BEAUHARNAIS COOK ( 1 8 3 0 - 1 9 1 5 ) , b o r n a d e c a d e b e f o r e L o y d , s u b m i t t e d a p r o b l e m fo r p u b l i c a t i o n i n 1850 a n d c o m -posed his last p r o b l e m in M a r c h , 1915, t h e y e a r o f his d e a t h . I n 1851 he h a d t h r e e p r o b l e m s p u b l i s h e d in t h e New York Albion, a n t e d a t i n g L o y d ' s d e b u t b y f o u r yea r s . O f his t o t a l o f six h u n d r e d f i f ty c o m p o s i t i o n s m a n y r e m a i n e d u n p u b l i s h e d a t t h e t i m e o f his d e a t h .

M o s t o f his ea r l i e r p r o b l e m s w e r e c o m p o s e d a l o n g o l d -f a s h i o n e d l ines, m a n y o f t h e m w i t h aggress ive keys, checks , c a p -tu re s o f b l a c k m e n , c u t t i n g of f f l igh t s q u a r e s o r b r i n g i n g t h e k e y p iece f r o m a n o u t - o f - p l a y pos i t ion . T h e n , f ew o f his p r o b l e m s i l l u s t r a t ed a n y c o m p l e x s t r a t e g y a n d w h e r e t h e y d i d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s o f t e n c u m b e r s o m e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e c o m p o s e d s o m e l i g h t w e i g h t p r o b l e m s w i t h exce l l en t keys, a s s h o w n i n t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g se lec t ions .

I n N o . 1 , o n e o f his m o r e s t r a t e g i c compos i t i ons , t h e k e y s u b -mi t s t h e w h i t e k i n g t o a d o u b l e c h e c k , w i t h a n o t h e r c h e c k o n Black ' s s e c o n d m o v e . T h i s p r o b l e m s h o u l d b e c o m p a r e d w i t h L o y d ' s " S t e i n i t z G a m b i t " (No . 32) , c o m p o s e d n e a r l y h a l f a c e n t u r y l a t e r . In t h e in i t ia l pos i t i on o f N o . 1 , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a n u n p r o v i d e d check , 1 R x R ck, t h a t w o u l d b e f o l l o w e d by a s e c o n d - m o v e check .

T h e b r i l l i a n t key in N o . 2 , a l t h o u g h i t t h r e a t e n s a s h o r t m a t e , l eads t o q u i e t m o v e s i n t w o c o n t i n u a t i o n s .

P r o b l e m N o . 3 is de f in i t e ly a s t r a t e g i c c o n c e p t i o n . W h i t e m a k e s a w i t h d r a w a l w a i t i n g m o v e to l e a d to a b lock pos i t i on a n d t h e n m a k e s a s w e e p i n g second m o v e f r o m o n e e n d o f a d i a g o n a l t o t h e o t h e r , a n o t h e r w a i t i n g m o v e t h a t forces Black to m o v e his k n i g h t .

T h e t h r e a t l ine in N o . 4 , m a d e poss ib le by a s u r p r i s i n g key , i s s u p p l e m e n t e d by a q u e e n sacr i f ice v a r i a t i o n w h e n B lack p lays 1 Sf4 , t h e e n s u i n g m a t e b e i n g a m o d e l .

11

12 Chess Problem Gems

1

E u g e n e B . C o o k New Tork Albion October 20, 1855

White mates in four moves

3 E u g e n e B . Cook New Tork Albion

July 19, 1856

White self-mates in three moves

E u g e n e B . C o o k The Illustrated London News

January 5, 1856

White mates in three moves

4

E u g e n e B . C o o k Winona Republican September 3, 1858


Eugene B. Cook

E u g e n e B. C o o k Boston Saturday Evening

Gazette September 11, 1858


7

E u g e n e B . Cook V American Chess Nuts

December 25, 1868


6

E u g e n e B . C o o k Philadelphia Daily Evening

Bulletin April 12, 1862


8

E u g e n e B. C o o k The Compositions of E. B. Cook

[Dr. H. Keidanz) 1927



In t h e m i n i a t u r e , N o . 5 , fo l lowing a g o o d k e y — 1 P a 4 looks m o r e p r o m i s i n g a t first g l a n c e — t h e r e i s an echo of a f a m i l i a r m a t i n g pos i t ion . T h e p o i n t o f t h e k e y m o v e a p p e a r s w h e n Black p lays 1 K b 5 .

T h e w e l l - h i d d e n w a i t i n g - m o v e key in N o . 6 i s fo l lowed by f u r t h e r w a i t i n g moves o n W h i t e ' s t h i r d t u r n , b u t a s i n s o m a n y of C o o k ' s l i g h t w e i g h t compos i t i ons Black has a p a u c i t y of de fens ive p l a y .

W h e n N o . 7 was p r i n t e d in American Chess Nuts W h i t e ' s q u e e n ' s rook was p l a c e d on t h e c3 s q u a r e , w h i c h a l l owed a cook by 1 R f 3 - e 3 , P e 4 ; 2 R b 3 , K c 4 ; 3 K e 5 a n d 4 R e 3 - c 3 , or 2 K c 5 ; 3 R x P , K c 6 ; 4 R c 4 .

W h i l e as D r . K e i d a n z c o m m e n t e d in The Chess Compositions of E. B. Cook, t h e key to N o . 8 is " o b v i o u s , " t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s a r e a t t r a c t i v e , t w o o f t h e m e n d i n g i n m o d e l m a t e s .

S O L U T I O N S

No. 1 1 K e 2 threat 2 Bf4 ck, K x B f 4 ; 3 Q d 2 ck, K e 5 ; 4 Q d 6

R x Q , d b l ck; 2 K f 3 , Be2 ck; 3 Ke3, any ; 4 Bf4 R b 4 dis ck; 2 K f 3 , Be2 ck; 3 Q x B , R x S ; 4 Bf4 R b 7 dis ck; 2 Ke3, R x S ; 3 Pc4 dis ck, KxB; 4 Q x P f 6

No. 2 1 Q h 6 , PxQ. ; 2 BxP ck, B f 6 ; 3 BxB

B x Q ; 2 BxP, any ; 3 BxP Bf6 ; 2 Be7, PxQ,; 3 BxB

B a n y ; 3 Q x P g 7

No. 3 1 Bb8, P h 6 ; 2 Bh2, S any ; 3 Sg3(x) ck, K e 5 ; 4 Se2 dis ck,

K f 5 ; 5 Sd4 K f 4 ; 4 Sfl dis ck,

K f 5 ; 5 Se3

No. 4 1 K h 2 threat 2 Q g l ( x ) , any ; 3 Q a l

S f 4 ; 2 Q x S e 3 ck, K x Q ; 3 Rc2

Eugene B. Cook r5

No. 5 1 Pa3, K d 6 ; 2 Sb8, P d 2 ; 3 Q e 5

Kc5 , d5 ; 3 Q c 6 K d 5 ; 2 Q e 5 ck etc. K c 7 ; 2 Sb8 etc. K b 5 ; 2 Sd7-e5 dis ck, K a 5 ; 3 Sc4

No. 6 1 Pb5, P b 6 ; 2 Sc6 ck, K d 5 ; 3 Bg8, K c 4 ; 4BxP

K f 5 ; 3 K f 3 , Pe5 ; 4 Se7

No. 7 1 Rc8 , K e 4 ; 2 Rg3, K f 4 ; 3 Rc8-g8, a n y ; 4 Rg8-g4

K d 4 ; 3 Rg3-c3, a n y ; 4 Rc8-c4 Pe4 ; 2 R f 3 - c 3 etc.

No. 8 1 Se5, K x R ; 2 KxPg6, Ph5 ; 3 K h 6 , PxB; 4 Sg6

K f 4 ; 2 BxPe6 dis ck, K x S ; 3 Ke7 , a n y ; 4 Pd4 Ph5 ; 2 Bf3, K x R ; 3 K f 6 , Pg5 ; 4 Sg6

K h 6 ; 3 SxP, a n y ; 4 R x P h 5 K f 5 ; 3 SxP, any; 4 R x P h 5

Samuel Loyd

SAMUEL LOYD ( 1 8 4 1 - 1 9 1 1 ) w a s an o u t s t a n d i n g p i o n e e r in i l l u s t r a t i n g p r o b l e m t h e m e s , a n d t h e u n u s u a l se t t ings , spec-t a c u l a r keys a n d s u b t l e c o n t i n u a t i o n s o f s o m a n y o f his c o m -pos i t ions g a v e h i m w o r l d w i d e f a m e a n d m a d e h i m o n e o f t h e m o s t u n i v e r s a l l y f a v o r i t e c o m p o s e r s i n chess p r o b l e m h i s to ry .

H e b e g a n c o m p o s i n g w h e n o n l y f o u r t e e n , his f irst p u b l i s h e d p r o b l e m a p p e a r i n g in The New York Saturday Courier on A p r i l 14, 1855. T h e n e x t h a l f - d o z e n years , d u r i n g w h i c h m a n y o f his m o s t n o t a b l e p r o b l e m s w e r e p u b l i s h e d , w a s his m o s t p ro l i f i c p e r i o d . T h e n a f t e r a c o m p a r a t i v e lul l fo r a c o u p l e of d e c a d e s , d u r i n g w h i c h h e c o m p o s e d i n f r e q u e n t l y , h e a g a i n b e c a m e a c t i v e i n t h e p r o b l e m f ie ld fo r a s h o r t t i m e in t h e l a t t e r e igh teen - seven t i e s , a f t e r w h i c h h e c o m p o s e d o n l y occas iona l ly , N o . 3 2 b e i n g o n e o f his las t m a j o r p r o d u c t i o n s .

S a m L o y d , a s h e i s p o p u l a r l y k n o w n , w a s t h e p i o n e e r i n t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e m e s w h i c h i n s o m e cases b e a r t h e n a m e s o f o t h e r p r o b l e m i s t s . H e c o m p o s e d t h e f i r s t e x a m p l e o f w h a t c a m e to be k n o w n as t h e Plachutta interference, n a m e d a f t e r a p r o b l e m b y J o s e p h P l a c h u t t a (d . 1883) t h a t w a s p u b l i s h e d s o m e t i m e l a t e r . H e also p u b l i s h e d i n O c t o b e r , 1856, t h e f i r s t s o u n d v e r -s ion of w h a t i s n o w t e r m e d Turton doubling, w h i c h H e n r y T u r t o n h a d s h o w n a f ew m o n t h s p r e v i o u s l y in a p r o b l e m in The Illustrated London News t h a t w a s f o u n d to be u n s o u n d .

I n c o m p o s i n g t h e f a m o u s N o . 9 , t h e q u e e n sacr i f ice u n d o u b t -e d l y w a s L o y d ' s ke rne l i dea , b u t t h e q u i e t c o n t i n u a t i o n s a f t e r 1 K h 3 a n d 1 K f 3 a r e exce l l en t . I n ea r l i e r d a y s c h e c k i n g keys, i f t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s w e r e suf f ic ien t ly sub t l e , w e r e n o t c o n -s ide red o b j e c t i o n a b l e , a s t h e y a r e t o d a y .

N o . 1 0 i s a n e a r l y e x a m p l e o f w h a t H . G . M . W e e n i n k (1892— 1921) t e r m e d C o u n t e r - B r i s t o l in his Het Schaakprobleem: Ideen en Scholen (The Chess Problem, p a g e 178), b e c a u s e its c l e a r a n c e m o v e i s i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n to t h a t o f t h e key p i e c e in t h e

16

Samuel Loyd 27

S a m u e l L o y d First Prize

Chess Monthly 1857

10

S a m u e l L o y d Cincinnati Dispatch September 5, 1858

White mates in three moves White mates in three moves

11 12

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Chess Monthly

1858 April, 1859



f a m o u s first p r i z e w i n n e r b y F r a n k H e a l e y ( 1 8 2 8 - 1 9 0 6 ) i n t h e Bris tol t o u r n e y of 1861, w h i c h g a v e t h e n a m e of t h e Bristol theme t o t h a t t y p e o f c l ea r ance . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f N o . 10 a c t u a l l y a n t e d a t e d t h a t o f H e a l e y ' s p r o b l e m b y ove r two yea r s . H e r e a g a i n L o y d w a s t h e p i o n e e r in i l l u s t r a t i n g a t h e m e .

T h e w a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m N o . 11 is in i t ia l ly a b e a u t i f u l e x a m p l e o f a m b u s h i n g , t h e w h i t e q u e e n a m b u s h i n g herse l f b e h i n d t w o b l a c k pieces. A f t e r t h e k e y m o v e the p r o b l e m il lus-t r a t e s focal action, d o u b l e d . T h e b l ack q u e e n g u a r d s b6 a n d h i , a n d t h e b l ack rook p ro tec t s a8 a n d e3. S u c h pa i r s o f s q u a r e s w e r e t e r m e d foci b y t h e c o m p o s e r B a r o n W a l t h e r v o n H o l z -h a u s e n ( 1 8 7 6 - 1 9 3 5 ) in a book le t en t i t l ed Brennpunktprobleme, f i r s t p u b l i s h e d in 1908 a n d t h e n a g a i n in 1926 in an e n l a r g e d e d i t i o n . A n y m o v e o f t h e d e f e n d i n g b l ack p iece takes t h e g u a r d off of o n e or t h e o t h e r of these foca l squa re s . In N o . 11 i f t h e b l ack q u e e n moves u p t h e f i l e a n d c lears t h e f i r s t r a n k , W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 Q h l ; i f she moves a l o n g t h e r a n k W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 S x P b 6 . I f t h e rook moves a l o n g t h e r a n k a n d o p e n s t h e a-f i le W h i t e m a t e s by 2 Q a 8 ; i f t h e rook m o v e s a l o n g t h e f i l e W h i t e m a t e s by 2 S x P e 3 . As W e e n i n k states , this t h e m e was f i r s t s h o w n in a p r o b l e m by C . S t an l ey , o f t h e B r i g h t o n Chess C l u b , t h a t w a s p u b l i s h e d in The Illustrated London News on O c t o b e r 6, 1849, in w h a t i s k n o w n as t h e Eng l i sh T r a n s i t i o n P e r i o d .

P r o b l e m N o . 12, w h e r e on ly t h e k i n g a n d rooks a r e t h e w h i t e p ro t agon i s t s , is a one- l ine a f f a i r in w h i c h Black is fo rced to c o m m i t su ic ide .

T h e q u a d r u p l i n g of t he Grimshaw interference, t h e m u t u a l in-t e r f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a b l ack rook a n d a b l a c k b i shop , n a m e d a f t e r its i l l u s t r a t ion in a p r o b l e m by W a l t e r G r i m s h a w ( 1 8 3 2 - 1 8 9 0 ) p u b l i s h e d in The Illustrated London News in 1850, was first s h o w n b y L o y d w h e n h e was s ix teen a n d w a s a n o t h e r o f his p i o n e e r a c h i e v e m e n t s . I t was d u b b e d b y a G e r m a n c o m m e n t a t o r t h e " O r g a n P i p e s , " because o f t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e b i shops a n d t h e rooks . L o y d s h o w e d i t f i rs t in a t h r e e - m o v e se t t ing , b u t i t i s essent ia l ly a t w o - m o v e t h e m e . So L o y d l a t e r l o p p e d off t h e u n -t h e m a t i c f i r s t m o v e a n d p r e s e n t e d i t as a t w o - m o v e r in N o . 13.

In N o . 14 t h e w h i t e k ing s teps o n t o a s q u a r e w h e r e he i s sub -j e c t to a d i scovered check . C o m p a r e th is w i t h p r o b l e m N o . 32 in w h i c h t h e w h i t e k ing s u b m i t s h imse l f to a d o u b l e check .

In p r o b l e m N o . 15 a d u e l b e t w e e n t h e b l ack rook a n d t h e

Samuel Loyd 27

13 14

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d V Boston Globe Frere's Problem Tournament

1859 Frank Leslie's February 12, 1859

White mates in two moves White mates in three moves

15 16

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Chess Monthly V Lynn News

April, 1859 July 6, 1859



two w h i t e ones, w i t h w a i t i n g - m o v e p l a y a n d a n o n e too a p -p a r e n t key, i s s h o w n in a m i n i a t u r e se t t ing . I f Black h a d to m o v e first t h e r e w o u l d be a m a t e in o n e o r in t w o moves .

N o . 16 i s an in t e res t ing s t u d y in p a w n p r o m o t i o n s , w h e r e on t h e second o r on the m a t i n g m o v e W h i t e chooses a q u e e n in f o u r l ines o f p l a y a n d a k n i g h t in f o u r l ines. T h e i m m e d i a t e p r o -m o t i o n o f t h e p a w n on t h e e-fi le w o u l d seem a m u c h m o r e l ikely key t h a n t h e a d v a n c e o f t h e rook ' s p a w n .

In N o . 17 t h e b i shop on h5 in te r fe res w i t h e a c h o f t h e b l a c k rooks in t u r n , fo l lowing t h e t h e m a t i c d e c o y o f o n e o r t h e o t h e r rook to t h e f2 s q u a r e t o c a p t u r e t h e w h i t e q u e e n . A b e a u t i f u l f e a t u r e o f t h e p r o b l e m i s t h e s y m m e t r i c a l p l a y o f t h e W h i t e kn igh t s i n t h e t w o t h e m a t i c l ines.

N o . 18 i s t h e f a m o u s " E x c e l s i o r P r o b l e m , " o n e o f L o y d ' s m o s t f a n t a s t i c compos i t ions , w i t h a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y m a i n p l a y i n w h i c h Black ' s series of d e f e n d i n g moves l eads to a s u r p r i s i n g d e n o u e m e n t . A c c o r d i n g to L o y d " i t was c o m p o s e d in a spi r i t o f f u n a n d i s a j o k e f r o m b e g i n n i n g t o e n d . " H e m a d e t h e p r o b l e m i n 1858 a t t h e M o r p h y Chess R o o m s a n d desc r ibed h o w i t c a m e t o b e c o m p o s e d i n a le t te r t o A l a i n W h i t e s t a t i n g : " I t w a s q u i t e a n i m p r o m p t u t o c a t c h old D e n n i s J u l i e n , t h e p r o b l e m i s t , w i t h . He used to w a g e r t h a t he c o u l d ana lyse a n y pos i t ion , so a s t o tell w h i c h p iece t h e p r i n c i p a l m a t e was a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h . S o I o f f e r e d to m a k e a p r o b l e m , w h i c h he was to ana lyse a n d tel l w h i c h p i ece d i d n o t give t h e m a t e . H e a t once se lec ted t h e Q u e e n ' s K n i g h t ' s P a w n a s t h e m o s t i m p r o b a b l e p iece , b u t t h e so lu t ion wil l show y o u w h i c h o f u s p a i d for t h e d i n n e r . "

A s W h i t e re la tes , t h e i d e a h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s h o w n b y R o b e r t B . W o r m a l d (1834 -1876 ) a c o u p l e o f yea rs ear l ie r . " W o r m a l d c la ims a K n i g h t , w h i c h is p e r h a p s even m o r e of a t r i ck ; b u t i t is also m o r e ev iden t , a s i t r e q u i r e s t h e p r e sence o f t h e Black K i n g a t closer r a n g e . L o y d ' s p r o b l e m r e m a i n s t o this d a y t h e m o s t s u r p r i s i n g r e n d e r i n g o f t h e t h e m e , b e c a u s e Black i s r e q u i r e d to m a k e such u n e x p e c t e d m o v e s t o d e f e a t t h e series o f t h r e a t s a n d s o b r i n g a b o u t t h e m a i n p l a y . " O f course t h e n a m e o f t h e t h e m e was sugges ted b y Longfe l low ' s f a m o u s p o e m .

As j u s t s h o w n in N o . 18, L o y d d e l i g h t e d in c o m p o s i n g p r o b -lems w i t h the mos t seeming ly un l ike ly keys, of w h i c h N o . 19 is a s p a r k l i n g e x a m p l e . In The Theory of Pawn Promotion A l a i n W h i t e c o m m e n t s : " L o y d has h e r e s h o w n w h a t i s t o m e t h e m o s t

Samuel Loyd 27

17

S a m u e l L o y d V Cincinnati Gazette November 24, 1859


19

S a m u e l L o y d La Strategic

June 15, 1867


18

S a m u e l L o y d London Era

January 13, 1861

White mates in five moves

20

S a m u e l L o y d Second Prize Set

Paris Tourney 1867



u n e x p e c t e d p r o m o t i o n key i n t h e w h o l e book . T h e P a w n a p -p a r e n t l y bo t t l es itself u p , losing all o p p o r t u n i t y t o m o v e . T h e w h o l e se t t ing i s m a s t e r l y . "

Un le s s a solver h a s t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y z e d t h e pos i t ion , t h e key o f N o . 2 0 — d i s r u p t i n g the r o o k - b i s h o p b a t t e r y , a p p a r e n t l y p u t -t i ng t h e k ing ' s b i s h o p o u t o f p l a y a n d a l l owing a n i m m e d i a t e d i scove red check , to be fo l lowed by a s econd c h e c k — w o u l d s eem to be t h e m o s t p r e p o s t e r o u s se same to l ead to a so lu t ion in f o u r moves . U n q u e s t i o n a b l y i t r a n k s a s o n e o f t h e m o s t u n u s u a l keys eve r conce ived .

Q u o t i n g W e e n i n k , N o . 20 " f o r m e d one o f a t o u r n e y set. T h i s sys tem of t o u r n e y c o m p e t i t i o n h a d its g o o d side in t h a t i t m a d e c o m p o s e r s e n t e r a n u m b e r of p r o b l e m s of d i f f e r e n t l eng ths , en -c o u r a g i n g h i g h a v e r a g e excel lence . B u t t h e bes t i n d i v i d u a l p r o b -lems o f t e n su f fe red , a n d f ine sets w e r e o f t e n d i squa l i f i ed be-cause of t h e u n s o u n d n e s s of a s ingle m e m b e r . " T h i s p r a c t i c e has l o n g s ince b e e n gene ra l l y a b a n d o n e d , p r o b l e m s b e i n g e n t e r e d o n a n i n d i v i d u a l basis i n m o s t m o d e r n t ou rneys .

C o m p o s e d i n D r e s d e n , w h e n L o y d was a b r o a d i n 1869, N o . 2 1 w o n h i g h p ra i se f r o m E u r o p e a n p r o b l e m i s t s a n d b e c a m e o n e of his m o s t f a m o u s p r o b l e m s . I t s bas ic i d e a i s t he s t r a t eg ic d u e l b e t w e e n t h e w h i t e q u e e n a n d t h e b l ack b i shop , b u t t h e g r a c e f u l se t t ing h a s o t h e r po in t s o f in te res t . I f B lack h a d t o m o v e f i r s t W h i t e w o u l d b e ab le t o m a t e i n t w o moves fo l lowing a n y m o v e of t h e b i shop , o t h e r t h a n to f 6 ; a f t e r 1 P g 3 a n d also a f t e r 1 P h 6 ; 2 Sg6 ck, K h 7 ; 3 P f 8 ( S !). T h e key c h a n g e s W h i t e ' s s e c o n d - m o v e c o n t i n u a t i o n s a f t e r such moves by Black.

T h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 22 i s an a m u s i n g e x a m p l e o f L o y d ' s in -g e n u i t y . F o l l o w i n g t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e k ing ' s p a w n to a k n i g h t as t h e k e y m o v e , in e a c h o f t h e t h r e e succeed ing l ines o f p l a y W h i t e ' s second m o v e m u s t also b e t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e q u e e n ' s p a w n to a k n i g h t .

N o . 23 is n o t a b l e for its f ine key in so l igh t a se t t ing, s ince at f i r s t g l a n c e t h e r e w o u l d seem to be m o r e ef fec t ive moves for t h e q u e e n . T h e m o s t in t e res t ing c o n t i n u a t i o n follows 1 B f 3 .

In N o . 24 a n o t h e r w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , w h i c h sets up a m a s k e d b a t t e r y , l eads to t h e p i n n i n g o f t h e b l ack k n i g h t i f t h e b l ack k i n g moves .

L o y d was f o n d o f l o n g - r a n g e keymoves , especial ly w h e r e t h e y seem aimless , as in N o . 25. T h e so lu t ion of this p r o b l e m is m o s t

Samuel Loyd 27

21 22

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Leipziger Illustrirte Boston Globe

Zeitung August 16, 1876 October 23, 1869


23 24

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Detroit Free Press Centennial Problem Tourney

1877 New York Clipper 1877


2 4 Chess Problem Gems

obscu re , s ince i n t h e t h r e a t l ine b o t h W h i t e ' s second a n d t h i r d moves a r e quiet ones , a t e r m a p p l i e d to a m o v e t h a t is n o t a c h e c k or a c a p t u r e . T h e on ly second c h e c k i n g m o v e i s w h e n Black p lays 1 K x B .

A g a i n i n N o . 2 6 L o y d e m p l o y s a n a s ton i sh ing key t h a t s eem-ing ly locks up the w h i t e q u e e n . I t i s a w a i t i n g - m o v e c o m p o s i -t ion a n d t h e m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r c o n t i n u a t i o n i s w h e r e t h e b l a c k k ing c a p t u r e s t h e k n i g h t , w h e n W h i t e a g a i n m o v e s t h e r o o k i n t h e reverse d i r ec t i on t o a l , a Br i s to l - type c l e a r a n c e m o v e . T h e p o i n t o f t h e k e y m o v e a p p e a r s w h e r e Black p lays 1 K f 5 , w h e n t h e rook i s n e e d e d o n g l t o s u p p o r t t h e k n i g h t ' s p a w n a f t e r 2 S f2 , P x S ; 3 Pg4 . I t i s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e r o o k on b5 i s r e q u i r e d on ly w h e n Black p lays 1 K x S a n d 2 - - K x P .

L o y d ' s skill i n c o m p o s i n g p r o b l e m s w i t h a m i n i m a l n u m b e r o f m e n i s s h o w n in the m a n e u v e r i n g o f t h e pieces in t h e d a i n t y N o . 27 .

W h i l e in his Chess Strategy L o y d stressed t h e i m p o r t a n c e of w h a t h e t e r m e d " n e a t n e s s o f p o s i t i o n , " h e e n j o y e d c r e a t i n g a n occas iona l e x t r a v a g a n z a such a s N o . 28, w h i c h h e d u b b e d " T h e A m e r i c a n I n d i a n , " a p p a r e n t l y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e I n d i a n ' s w a r p a t h t ac t i c o f a m b u s h i n g his e n e m y . A s A l a i n W h i t e ex-p la ins in Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems, t h e p r o b l e m " w a s p u r -posely posed t o b e puzz l ing , a n d t h e e x t r a m e n p u t o n t h e b o a r d w e r e i n t e n d e d t o m a k e the pos i t ion m o r e l ike o n e i n a c t u a l p l a y , so a s t o en t i ce p l aye r s (to w h o m t h e key w o u l d be even m o r e i m -p r o b a b l e t h a n t o solvers) t o t ry i t . " W h i t e also r e m a r k s : " T h e l ong key m o v e r e q u i r e d t o g ive t h e m a t e , w h e n Black m a k e s a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y long m o v e in t h e oppos i t e d i r ec t ion , h a s b e -c o m e f a m i l i a r t o solvers n o w - a - d a y s , a n d I do n o t t h i n k L o y d ' s p r o b l e m w o u l d p r o v e n e a r l y a s d i f f icu l t t o - d a y a s w h e n i t w a s c o m p o s e d . "

T h e idea , h o w e v e r , was n o t o r i g i n a l w i t h L o y d s ince B . G . L a w s ( 1 8 6 1 - 1 9 3 1 ) h a d a l r e a d y s h o w n t h e t h e m e i n a n o r t h o g -o n a l se t t ing a n d c o n v e n t i o n a l f o r m in a p r o b l e m p u b l i s h e d in 1885. In 1892, t h r e e yea rs a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f N o . 28, L o y d also s h o w e d t h e t h e m e in an o r t h o g o n a l se t t ing in N o . 29, c o m -posed for a m e e t i n g of t he N e w Y o r k S t a t e Chess Assoc ia t ion , as w a s his f r e q u e n t l y q u o t e d N o . 30, w i t h its a t t r a c t i v e w i t h -d r a w a l key.

i

Samuel Loyd 25

25

S a m u e l L o y d First Prize Set

American Chess and Problem Association

1878


26

S a m u e l L o y d V Holyoke Transcript

1878


S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Milwaukee Telegram New York Sunday Herald

circa 1885 1889

27

White mates in four moves White mates in two moves


N o . 31 i s t yp i ca l of m a n y of t h e t w o - m o v e r s of t h e e r a in w h i c h i t was c o m p o s e d . I t does n o t h a v e a n y specific t h e m e o t h e r t h a n a v a r i e t y of b a t t e r y ma te s , c o m b i n e d w i t h b l ack se l f -p inn ing m o v e s in two va r i a t ions .

A g a i n q u o t i n g A l a i n W h i t e : " F e w events d u r i n g t h e last t en yea r s o f L o y d ' s life gave h i m as m u c h p l ea su re as his w i n n i n g t h e f irst p r i ze in the N o v e l t y T o u r n e y o f t he l i t t le C a n a d i a n m a g a z i n e Checkmate." T h e m o t t o u n d e r w h i c h L o y d e n t e r e d N o . 32, " T h e S te in i tz G a m b i t , " was sugges ted b y t h e d i s t inc -t ive m o v e in t h a t chess o p e n i n g , 5 K e 2 , a n d the p r o b l e m has c o m e t o b e un ive r sa l ly k n o w n b y t h a t m o t t o . I n 1855 C o o k p u b l i s h e d a f o u r - m o v e r , N o . 1 , w h e r e t h e w h i t e k ing m a k e s a k e y m o v e t h a t p e r m i t s Black to g ive a d o u b l e check , b u t in t h e in i t i a l pos i t ion o f Cook ' s p r o b l e m t h e w h i t e k ing w o u l d b e t h r e a t e n e d by a series of checks w e r e Black to h a v e t h e f i r s t m o v e . In N o . 32 t h e k ing moves f r o m a safe pos i t ion i n t o a p -p a r e n t per i l .

A h a l f c e n t u r y ago , in his Memories of my Chess-Board, A l a i n W h i t e w r o t e : " S a m L o y d has n o w b e e n a n a m e to c o n j u r e w i t h for wel l u p w a r d of f i f ty yea r s . . . . He w a s t h e first r e a l c o m -poser I k n e w ; a n d he r e m a i n s t h e g rea t e s t I h a v e ever k n o w n . " T h e n in Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems W h i t e s t a t e d : " T h e fa tes h a d g iven h i m i n l a r g e m e a s u r e t h e e n d o w m e n t o f gen ius . He c o u l d see a t a g l a n c e w h a t o t h e r p e o p l e cou ld see, o r a t leas t c o u l d be m a d e t o see, ve ry s lowly. H i s gen ius was n o t t h e p r o -v e r b i a l in f in i t e c a p a c i t y for t a k i n g pa ins . I t was r a t h e r a n in -f in i te c a p a c i t y o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n . I d e a s c a m e t o h i m w i t h g r e a t f e c u n d i t y , o f t en too r a p i d l y for h i m t o a n a l y z e t h e m c o m p l e t e l y . Y e t his p o w e r s for r a p i d analys is w e r e a lmos t u n r i v a l l e d . H e cou ld see a n i d e a f r o m m a n y sides a t o n c e ; f i r s t a lways f r o m the p o i n t o f v i ew of a puzz le , t h e n f r o m t h e h u m o r o u s s t a n d -p o i n t , f i n a l l y f r o m t h e ar t i s t ic a s p e c t . "

Samuel Loyd 27

29

S a m u e l L o y d New York State Chess

Association February 22, 1892

30

S a m u e l L o y d New York State Chess

Association February 22, 1892

White mates in two moves White mates in two moves

31 32

S a m u e l L o y d New York Commercial

Advertiser 1897

S a m u e l L o y d First Prize

Novelty Tourney Checkmate

1903



S O L U T I O N S

No. 9 1 Sg4 dis ck, K h l ; 2 Q h 2 ck, P x Q ; 3 Sf2

K h 3 ; 2 Sh2 threat 3 R h 8 SP a n y ; 3 Q h 8

K f 3 ; 2 Q c 2 , Pg2; 3 Q d 3 K f l ; 2 Ra8 , a n y ; 3 R a l

No. 10 1 Ba8 threat 2 Q b 7 and 3 Q h l

S any ; 2 Q b 6 ( x ) , a n y ; 3 Q g l P f 4 ; 2 Q g 6 , any ; 3 Q g l K f l ; 2 Q x P ck, K e l ; 3 Q f 2

No. 11 1 Q a l waiting

Q x Q ; 2 SxPb6 1 - - R x Q ; 2 SxPe3 Q b 2 , b5 ; 2 Q h l Rb3 , d3 ; 2 Q a 8

No. 12 1 Ra2- f2 , Pa4 ; 2 Kd2 , Pa3 ; 3 R a l , Pa2 ; 4 K e l , BxR ck; 5 KxB

No. 13 1 Q a 5 waiting

Bd7; 2 Q d 5 Be6; 2 Q e 5 Bb7, f 5 ; 2 Sf5(x) R d 7 ; 2 Sf5 R d 6 ; 2 Q x P b 4 R d 5 ; 2 Q x R

1 - - R e 7 ; 2 Q x P b 4 R e 6 ; 2 Sf5 R e 5 ; 2 Q x R e 5 Be7; 2 Q e 5 Bd6; 2 Q d 5 Bc5; 2 Q a l

No. 14 1 Kc2 , K x P dis ck; 2 Sc3, K c 4 ; 3 Q f 4

K else; 3 Q x R K b 5 dis ck; 2 K b 3 , Rc3 ck; 3 SxR

Rc2, c l ; 3 Q b 8 R d 5 ; 2 Sb2 ck, K d 4 ; 3 Q f 4 R else; 2 Sb2 ck, K b 5 ; 3 Q b 8

Samuel Loyd 29 No. 15

1 Rg5, R h l ; 2 Rg2, R h 3 ; 3 R x P R else; 3 Rh2(x)

Rg2, a2 ; 2 R x P h 5 ck, K x R ; 3 R h 3

No. 16 1 Pa7, P x P ; 2 Pa8(S) , Sc5; 3 Sb3xP

Sd6; 3 Sc4xPa5 Sd8; 3 PxS(S) Pd6, d5 ; 3 P e 8 ( Q )

Sc5; 2 P a 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 Pe8(S) Sb7 ; 3 Q c 8

Sd6; 2 P a 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 PxS Pd6, d5 ; 2 P e 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 Pa8(S)

No . 17 1 Q f 2 threat 2 Q x R f 4

R f 4 x Q ; 2 Se7 threat 3 Sc6 Bf3 ; 3 Sf5

R d 2 x Q ; 2 Sa3 threat 3 Sb5 Be2; 3 Sc2

Bf3 or S f3 ; 2 Sa3

No . 18 1 Pb4 threats 2 R d 5 a n d 2 R f 5

Rc5 ck; 2 PxR, P a 2 ; 3 Pc6, Bc7; 4 PxP, a n y ; 5 P x S ( Q ) R c 6 ; 2 Rd5, R h 6 ck; 3 K x R , Bg5 ck; 4 SxB, a n y ; 5 R d l Bg5; 2 R f 5 , Bf4 ; 3 RxB, Rc5 ck; 4 PxR, any ; 5 R f l

No . 19 1 Pa8(B) K f 8 ; 2 P b 8 ( Q ) ck, K f 7 ; 3 Bd5

K e 8 ; 2 Ke6 K g 8 ; 2 Kg6

No. 20 1 BxP threat 2 BxP threat 3 Q c 8 ck, Q x Q ; 4 B x Q

Q x B ck; 3 K x Q PxB dis ck; 2 Pb7, Q e 6 ; 3 Q c 8 Q c 5 ; 2 Q e 8 , Q c 6 ; 3 Q x Q . Q c 2 ; 2 Be2, Q x B ; 3 Q c 8 ck


No. 21 1 Q f l , Ph6, h 5 ; 2 Q b l threat Q h 7

Pg6; 3 Q x B Bb2; 2 Q b l Bc3, d4 ; 2 Q d 3 Be5, f 6 ; 2 Q f 5 Pg3; 2 Sg6 ck, PxS; 3 Q h 3

No. 22 1 Pe8(S) ck, K f 8 ; 2 Pd8(S) , a n y ; 3 Sg6

K h 6 ; 2 Pd8(S) , S a n y ; 3 Sd8-f7 KxSh8, 2 Pd8(S) , S a n y ; 3 Sf7

No. 23 1 Q g 3 threat 2 Q g 8 threat 3 Q a 8

K a 6 ; 2 Q x P K a 4 ; 2 Q c 3 Bb3, a4 ; 2 Q x P ck Bf3; 2 Q g 8

No. 24 1 Q a 6 waiting

K f 6 ; 2 Bd8 1 - - K g 4 ; 2 R g 7 K h 6 ; 2 Be3 S moves; 2 Bd8 or Be3

No. 25 1 Q f 8 threat 2 SxP threat 3 SxP, K x S ; 4 Q b 4

K c 4 ; 2 SxP, K x P ; 3 SxP K x S ; 3 Q c 5 ck

K x B ; 2 Sb4-c2 ck, K a 2 , b2, b 3 ; 3 Q a 3 ck

No. 26 1 R g l waiting

K x S ; 2 R a l , K e 4 ; 3 Q b l K x P ; 3 Q f l K else; 3 Q d l

K f 5 ; 2 Sf2, PxS; 3 Pg4 P x R ( S ) ; 3 Q h 5

P x R ( S ) ; 2 Sd3-c5 ck, K f 5 ; 3 Q h 5

No. 27 1 R d 2 , Sgl ck; 2 Kg3, Sh3; 3 Re2 , S g l ; 4 R x P

else; 4 R e l S f 3 ; 3 K x S Se2 ck; 3 R x S

Sc3; 2 Rc2, Sa2, e2; 3 R x S S d l ; 3 R c l

Samuel Loyd 29 31

No. 28 1 Bf8 threat 2 Q a l

B x R ; 2 B x Q

No. 29 1 R a 6 threat 2 Q f l

R x B ; 2 R x R K x B ; 2 R f 6 SxB or PxB; 2 Bg5

N o . 30 1 Q a l threat 2 Q e l

K e 4 ; 2 Q d 4 K else; 2 Rg2

No . 31 1 Q h 7 waiting

S x Q ; 2 SxS 1 - - S x S ck; 2 K x S S x R ; 2 K g 5 Se7 ck; 2 Q x S K x S ; 2 Sd3 K e 5 ; 2 Sd3

N o . 32 1 Ke2 , P f l ( Q ) dbl ck; 2 Ke3 , Q, B or R checks; 3 B or R

captures the checking piece P f l ( S ) dis ck; 2 R f 2 dis ck; K x S ; 3 Bd3 or P d 3 K d 4 ; R f 4 dis ck, Pe5 ; 3 SxB K x S ; 2 Bd3 ck, K d 4 ; 3 R f 4 Scl ck; 2 K e 3 R e 7 ; 2 R f 7 dis ck

William Meredith

WILLIAM MEREDITH ( 1 8 3 5 - 1 9 0 3 ) , a l t h o u g h b o r n s o m e y e a r s b e f o r e L o y d a n d C a r p e n t e r , a p p a r e n t l y d i d n o t b e g i n t o c o m -pose u n t i l his m i d d l e twen t i e s , his f irst p u b l i s h e d p r o b l e m o f w h i c h t h e r e i s a n y r e c o r d a p p e a r i n g i n t h e O c t o b e r 7 , 1870, issue of The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

H e d i d n o t b e c o m e p r o m i n e n t a s a c o m p o s e r d u r i n g his life-t i m e , p r i m a r i l y b e c a u s e a m a j o r i t y o f h is t o t a l o f less t h a n t w o h u n d r e d p r o b l e m s w e r e c o n t r i b u t e d t o a s ingle p u b l i c a t i o n , O r e s t e s A. B r o w n s o n ' s Dubuque Chess Journal.

I t w a s n o t u n t i l t h e e r a o f t h e G o o d C o m p a n i o n Ches s P r o b -l e m C l u b , yea r s a f t e r M e r e d i t h ' s d e a t h , t h a t his o u t s t a n d i n g a b i l i t y b e c a m e fu l ly r e c o g n i z e d . T h e G o o d C o m p a n i o n s m a d e a sor t o f p a t r o n s a in t o f h i m a n d , b e c a u s e o f t h e e c o n o m y w i t h w h i c h s o m a n y o f his p r o b l e m s w e r e c o n s t r u c t e d , t e r m e d t w o -m o v e r s w i t h a t o t a l o f t w e l v e o r less m e n M e r e d i t h s a n d c o n -d u c t e d spec ia l t o u r n e y s fo r s u c h p r o b l e m s .

W h i l e M e r e d i t h ' s r e p u t a t i o n h a s b e e n b a s e d l a r g e l y o n t h e exce l l ence o f his t w o - m o v e r s , . h e c o m p o s e d n o t a b l e t h r e e , f o u r a n d f i v e - m o v e p r o b l e m s , a s s h o w n i n t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g selec-t ions .

N o . 3 3 i s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e b e e n t h e f i rs t p r o b l e m b y M e r e d i t h p u b l i s h e d in t h e Dubuque Chess Journal. T h e r e is li t t le, v a r i e t y in t h e p l a y , b u t t h e key i s o b s c u r e a n d t h e g u a r d i n g o f t h e e 5 a n d g 5 s q u a r e s i n t h e m a t i n g pos i t i ons i n t w o d i f f e r e n t w a y s i n t h e t w o m a j o r l ines h a s a p l e a s i n g e c h o i n g e f fec t .

A g a i n i n N o . 3 4 t h e r e i s sma l l v a r i e t y i n t h e p l a y , b u t t h e r e a r e e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s i n t w o o f t h e t h r e e v a r i a t i o n s , o n e o f t h e m b e i n g a m i r r o r m o d e l .

A t t h e t i m e N o . 3 5 a p p e a r e d m u c h a t t e n t i o n w a s b e i n g p a i d , b e c a u s e o f Eng l i sh in f luences , t o p u r e m a t e s a n d all t h e m a t e s i n this p r o b l e m w h e n Black m a k e s e f fec t ive de fens ive m o v e s a r e p u r e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e n u m e r o u s d u a l m a t e s w h i c h

32

William Meredith 37

33

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Dubuque Chess Journal

August, 1871


35


August, 1873

White mates in two moves

34

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Fifth Prize, Fourth Tourney

Dubuque Chess Journal January, 1872


36

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Maryland Chess Review

March, 1875



37

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h V Westminster Papers

June, 1877


39

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Brooklyn Chess Chronicle

August 15, 1885


38

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Westminster Papers

July, 1877


40


November, 1886


William Meredith 35

fo l low i n d i f f e r e n t b l a c k m o v e s a p p a r e n t l y d i d n o t d i s t u r b M e r e d i t h , a l t h o u g h Eng l i sh compose r s w e n t t o g r e a t l eng th s t o a v o i d a n y such d u a l m a t e s .

I n N o . 3 6 i t m a y p r o v e s o m e w h a t p u z z l i n g t o t h e solver t o d i scover t h e z igzag r o u t e t h e w h i t e b i s h o p m u s t t a k e t o t h r e a t e n m a t e f r o m t h e d 6 s q u a r e .

P r o b l e m 37 is a h i g h l y s t r a t eg i c compos i t i on , t h e s u r p r i s i n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , l e a d i n g t o t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e k n i g h t -b i s h o p b a t t e r y , b e i n g a n u n i q u e c o n c e p t i o n . T h e s e c o n d a r y l ine o f p l a y , i n w h i c h the w h i t e k i n g s u b m i t s to a check by t h e p r o -m o t i o n of a b l ack p a w n to a k n i g h t , a d d s to t h e c h a r m of t h e p r o b l e m . I t shou ld be n o t e d t h a t t h e in i t ia l pos i t ion i s a c o m -p l e t e b lock . I f Black h a d t o m o v e f i r s t a n d p l a y e d Pc4 , p r e v e n t -i n g Sc4, W h i t e c o u l d c o n t i n u e w i t h Sd7 , K g 4 ; Be6 ck, K f 3 ; Se5 !

In N o . 38, a s in N o . 37, a w i t h d r a w a l key l eads to t h e f o r m a -t i o n of a b a t t e r y , in this case a c o m b i n e d d i r ec t a n d i n d i r e c t o n e , to m e e t Black ' s 1 Pe4 .

A n o t h e r s t r ik ing w i t h d r a w a l key, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f so m a n y o f M e r e d i t h ' s compos i t ions , m a k e s N o . 39 a n o t a b l e m i n i a t u r e , de -sp i te t h e lack o f a n y v a r i e t y i n t h e p l ay .

T h e key o f N o . 40 i s r e m a r k a b l e s t ra teg ica l ly b e c a u s e o f its s ixfold ef fec t . P r i m a r i l y i t h a s t h e twofo ld ef fec t of i n d u c i n g a Nowotny interference b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k r o o k a n d b i s h o p a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e i t v a c a t e s t h e f 4 s q u a r e t o a l low t h e k n i g h t t o m o v e t h e r e to m a t e . A N o w o t n y i n t e r f e r ence , n a m e d f r o m a p r o b l e m p u b l i s h e d i n 1854 b y A n t o n N o w o t n y ( 1 8 2 9 - 1 8 7 1 ) , d i f fe r s f r o m a G r i m s h a w i n t e r f e r e n c e in t h a t in t h e N o w o t n y a w h i t e m a n m o v e s o n t o t h e s q u a r e w h e r e t h e p o t e n t i a l m o v e s o f a b l a c k r o o k a n d a b l a c k b i s h o p in te r sec t . W h i c h e v e r b l a c k p i ece c a p t u r e s t h e o b s t r u c t i n g w h i t e m a n in te r fe res w i t h t h e m o v e -m e n t o f t h e o t h e r b l ack p iece . T h e k e y m o v e o f N o . 40 also y ie lds a f l igh t c a p t u r e to t h e b l a c k k ing , g u a r d s e7 a n d f8 i f t h e k ing m a k e s t h e c a p t u r e a n d t h e n p r e v e n t s t h e b l ack q u e e n f r o m c a p t u r i n g t h e c h e c k i n g b i s h o p .

I n c o m m e n t i n g u p o n N o . 41, O t t o W u r z b u r g n o t e d t h a t " T h e r e a r e no less t h a n twen ty - s ix ' t r i e s ' t h a t a r e d e f e a t e d e a c h by o n l y o n e m o v e of Black . . . . T h i s is p r o b a b l y a r e c o r d sel-d o m a p p r o a c h e d . " T h e p r o b l e m i s a c o m p l e t e b lock w i t h t w o a d d e d m a t e s m a d e poss ib le b y t h e s t a r t l i ng k e y m o v e .


41


December, 1886

42


March, 1887

White mates in two moves White mates in five moves

43


April, 1887

44


August, 1887


William Meredith 37

45


August, 1888

46


August, 1889

White mates in three moves White mates in two moves

47

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h First Prize, Ninth Tourney

Dubuque Chess Journal December, 1889

48


June, 1890



Still a n o t h e r long w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , o f w h i c h M e r e d i t h was so f o n d , leads in N o . 42 to a su rp r i s ing d e n o u e m e n t — a m o d e l m a t e b y a p a w n .

O n c e a g a i n a b r i l l i an t l o n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e in N o . 43 p e r m i t s t h e q u e e n to g u a r d t h e c3 a n d c4 squa res so a s t o a l low t h e t h r e a t m a t e , 2 Se6. T h e d u a l m a t e s fo l lowing i n d i f f e r e n t m o v e s o f t h e b l ack q u e e n a r e too ins ign i f ican t t o a f f e c t t h e b e a u t y o f t h e p r o b l e m .

I n t h e t h e m a t i c m a i n p l a y o f N o . 4 4 t h e w h i t e q u e e n sweeps across t h e r a n k for t h e k e y m o v e a n d t h e n d o w n t h e d i a g o n a l t o t h e b i s h o p ' s s q u a r e t o m a t e , a f t e r h e r p a t h has b e e n c l e a r e d b y t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e w h i t e a n d b l a c k p a w n s . T h e v a r i a t i o n fol-l o w i n g Black ' s defense by 1 Q h 4 , i n w h i c h t h e w h i t e q u e e n first checks by 2 Q e 3 a n d t h e n goes on to m a t e by 3 Q a 3 , a d d s to t h e a t t r ac t iveness o f t h e p r o b l e m a n d he lps t o offset t h e de -m e r i t of t h e sho r t t h r e a t , 2 Q e 3 .

I n t h e t w o t h e m a t i c l ines i n N o . 4 5 the w h i t e rook a n d w h i t e b i s h o p , e a c h i n t u r n , m a k e an t i c r i t i c a l moves , w i t h d r a w a l s across t h e cr i t ica l s q u a r e w h e r e t h e lines o f m o v e m e n t o f t h e t w o pieces in te rsec t . N o . 45 i s an e x a m p l e , w i t h a m i n i m a l w h i t e force , o f such s t ra teg ic p l a y . I f Black c a p t u r e s t h e w h i t e p a w n t h e e n s u i n g m a t i n g posi t ions a r e m o d e l m a t e s .

I n N o . 4 6 t h e solver a g a i n wil l e n c o u n t e r M e r e d i t h ' s f a v o r i t e t y p e o f key, a sweep ing m o v e o f t h e q u e e n f r o m t h e t o p to t h e b o t t o m of a f i le , l e a d i n g to p i n - m a t e s fo l lowing e i t he r m o v e of t h e b l a c k k ing .

T h e p r i z e - w i n n i n g N o . 4 7 — r e p r o d u c e d a s t h e n i n t h p r o b l e m in A Century of Two-Movers, t h e first v o l u m e in t h e series of p r o b -l e m books p r i n t e d a t F r a n k Al t schu l ' s p r i v a t e O v e r b r o o k P r e s s — p r o b a b l y b e c a m e M e r e d i t h ' s m o s t w ide ly k n o w n two-m o v e r . T h e m a t i n g t h r e a t i s n o t t oo a p p a r e n t a t f i r s t g l a n c e .

N o . 48, o p e n i n g w i t h a n o t h e r l o n g - r a n g e k e y m o v e , c o m b i n e s in its t w o t h e m a t i c lines a Turton doubling a n d Herlin pericritical play, t h e l a t t e r be ing a m a n e u v e r n a m e d f r o m a p r o b l e m p u b -l ished i n 1845 b y T h . H e r l i n , u n d e r his p s e u d o n y m " T h e A n o n y m o u s C o m p o s e r o f L i l l e . "

William Meredith 35

S O L U T I O N S

No. 33 1 R d 7 threat 2 Sd2 ck, K e 5 ; 3 P f 4 ck, K x R ; 4 R f 7

Bf3 ; 2 Sd2 ck, K e 5 ; 3 SxB ck, K x R ; 4 R f 7 K e 4 ; 4 R d 4

K e 5 ; 2 Sd2 etc.

No . 34 No. 35 1 Sd7, K d 2 ; 2 Sc5, K e l ; 3 Sb3 1 Q,g4 threat 2 Se6

K e 3 ; 3 Sc4 QxQ, ; 2 Sb3 K e l ; 2 Bc3 K x S ; 2 Bb6

S x S ; 2 P b 4 No. 36

1 Ba3 threat 2 Pb5 Bgl any ; 2 Se7, K c 7 ; 3 Sc6 dis ck, K a n y ; 4 Pb5

K x P ; 3 Sc6 dis ck, K x S ; 4 Pb5 K a 8 ; 4 R a 7 K c 8 ; 4 Be6

P d 3 ; 2 Pb5, Bb6 ck; 3 KxB, a n y ; 4 Bd6 S f 4 ; 2 Pb5, Sd5, e6; 3 BxS, a n y ; 4 Bd6

No. 37 1 Bb7, Pc4; 2 Sd7, K g 4 ; 3 Bc8, K f 5 ; 4 Q h 3

else; 4 Se5 Pc2; 2 BxSd2, Pc l (S ) ck; 3 K x P , any ; 4 BxS

No. 38 1 Q d 6 , Pe4; 2 Sf4, a n y ; 3 Sg2

Sc3; 2 Q_b4, a n y ; 3 QxS

No. 39 1 Q c 8 , K e 2 ; 2 Q,g4 ck, K d 3 ; 3 Q c 4

K f l ; 3 Se3

No. 40 No. 41 1 Q b 4 threats 2 Se7 a n d S f4 1 Q h 5 waiting

BxQ,; 2 S f4 PxQ,; 2 Sf5 RxQ,; 2 Se7 Sal a n y ; 2 Sc2(x) Q x Q , ; 2 S h 8 K x S ; 2 Bc5 Q x P c k ; 2 S x Q . Se5; 2 Bc5 K x S ; 2 Sf4 Sd3 else; 2 Q h 8


N o . 42 1 Ba2, P b 3 ; 2 P f7 , PxB ck ; 3 K x P a 2 , P b l ( Q ) ck ; 4 K x Q ,

B g 7 ; 5 PxB 4 - - e l s e ; 5 P f 8 ( Q )

N o . 4 3 1 Q c 8 threat 2 Se6 1 - - Q x S ; 2 Q x S

K x S ; 2 Sb5 Q b 3 ; 2 Q x S Q x Q ; 2 Sc7-b5 BxS; 2 Q g 4

N o . 44 1 Q h 6 threat 2 Q e 3 m a t e

Q x B ; 2 P d 4 ck, P x P e p ; 3 Q c l P e 5 x P ; 3 BxPd4

Q h 4 ; 2 Q e 3 ck, Q d 4 ; 3 Q a 3 Q , g l ; 2 Q f 8 ck, Sc8 a n y ; 3 Q.xS Sc6 ck ; 2 Q.xS ck, B x Q ; 3 Sa6

N o . 45 1 Sd5 threats 2 R b l a n d Ba7

P f 5 ; 2 R b l , P x P ; 3 Sb6 Bh7 ; 2 Ba7, B x P ; 3 Se3

N o . 46 N o . 47 1 Q a l waiting 1 Q,d2 threat 2 Q.h2

K e 4 ; 2 Q ,b l Q x Q , ; 2 Sc4 K f 6 ; 2 R x S f 7 Q d 4 ; 2 Q x Q S f 7 a n y ; 2 Q x S Q e 4 , f 5 ; 2 Sd7 SxB; 2 Q f l Pg4 ; 2 Q f 4 Se5 else; 2 Bd3(x)

N o . 48 1 Bh7, K x P ; 2 Bg8, K e 5 ; 3 Q f 4

K c 5 ; 3 Q d 5 K c 3 ; 3 Q x P c 4 P c 3 ; 3 Q d 5

K b 3 ; 2 Q b 7 ck, K a 4 ; 3 Q b 4 K else; 3 Q b 2

B f 5 ; 2 Q x B , K b 3 ; 3 Q c 2

George E. Carpenter

GEORGE EDWARD CARPENTER ( 1 8 4 4 - 1 9 2 4 ) l e a r n e d to p l a y chess w h e n t h i r t e e n , s t a r t e d t o c o m p o s e p r o b l e m s a y e a r o r t w o l a t e r a n d c o n t i n u e d t o d o s o fo r n e a r l y s ixty-f ive yea r s . F o l l o w i n g L o y d ' s ea r ly p e r i o d o f a c t i v i t y a n d be fo re S h i n k m a n b e c a m e p r o m i n e n t , C a r p e n t e r f o r a t i m e was t h e m o s t d i s t i n g u i s h e d a c t i v e A m e r i c a n c o m p o s e r .

A l t h o u g h , l ike C o o k , s o m e o f his p r o b l e m s a p p e a r o ld -f a s h i o n e d i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h m o d e r n s t a n d a r d s o f c o m p o s i t i o n , a n u m b e r o f C a r p e n t e r ' s w e r e de f in i t e ly s t r a t e g i c a n d m a n y o f t h e m h a d s p a r k l i n g keys .

S o m e w h a t h e a v i l y set s ince i t e m p l o y s a l l t h e w h i t e p ieces , N o . 49, C a r p e n t e r ' s bes t k n o w n t w o - m o v e r , h a s a n exce l l en t k e y t h a t gives t h e b l a c k k i n g f o u r a d d i t i o n a l f l igh t s q u a r e s , w i t h f o u r d i f f e r e n t m a t i n g m o v e s b y t h e d 5 k n i g h t .

N o . 5 0 i s a n e a r l y e x a m p l e o f a n a d d e d - m a t e b l o c k . T h e h 4 w h i t e p a w n p r e v e n t s a c o o k ; w i t h o u t i t W h i t e c o u l d p l a y 1 R h 4 ck.

In A Sketchbook of American Chess Problematists, A l a i n W h i t e c o m m e n t e d t h a t N o . 5 1 w a s " c o n s i d e r e d i n its d a y a s o f p r e -e m i n e n t c o n s t r u c t i o n , w i t h e i g h t v a r i a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g f o u r m a t e s b y t h e W h i t e K n i g h t b a t t e r y . " W h i l e t h e k e y t h r e a t e n s d u a l m a t e s , e a c h c a n b e f o r c e d i n t u r n b y a b l a c k de fens ive m o v e .

W i t h o n e v a r i a t i o n i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t h r e a t , N o . 5 2 i s a n e a t i l l u s t r a t i o n o f w h i t e r o o k p l a y .

C a r p e n t e r w a s espec ia l ly i n t e r e s t e d i n p a w n p r o m o t i o n ef fec ts . I n N o . 5 3 t h e solver , a t f i r s t g l a n c e , n a t u r a l l y w o u l d c l a i m a q u e e n r a t h e r t h a n m a k i n g t h e less o b v i o u s p a w n p r o m o t i o n t o a k n i g h t ; b u t i f 1 P e 8 ( Q , ) , K a 7 ; 2 Q b 5 , S c 4 !

F o l l o w i n g a w a i t i n g - m o v e key in N o . 54, a n o t h e r w h i t e r o o k p r o b l e m , W h i t e m a k e s f u r t h e r w a i t i n g m o v e s i n e a c h o f t h e t w o l ines o f p l ay , l e a d i n g t o e c h o e d m a t i n g pos i t ions .

41


49

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r First Prize

Dubuque Chess Journal 1871

50

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r Chess Record

September, 1874


51 52

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r Carpenter's Chess Problems Q, The White Rooks

(•Orestes A. Brownson) 1876 1876

White self-mates in three moves White mates in four moves

George E. Carpenter 43

53 54

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r Westen und Daheim The Falkirk Herald

1907 February 15, 1911


55 56

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r The Philadelphia Item Westen und Daheim

1911 1911



57 58

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times The White King

May 26, 1912 1914

White mates in four moves White mates in three moves

59 60

G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r Second Honorable Mention Densmore Memorial Tourney Fourth Meredith Tourney 1918

Good Companions February, 1917


George E. Carpenter 45 A l t h o u g h t h e k e y m o v e o f N o . 55 dep r ives t h e b l a c k k i n g o f

o n e of his f l igh t s , t h e r e i s c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i e t y in t h e p l a y , t h r e e o f W h i t e ' s second m o v e s b e i n g q u i e t ones a n d t h e u n u s u a l e c h o i n g lines fo l lowing t h e c a p t u r e o f e i the r k n i g h t b e i n g espec ia l ly a t t r a c t i v e . N o t e t h a t t h e w h i t e k ing also takes a p a r t i n o n e o f t h e m a t i n g pos i t ions .

I n a n o t h e r o f C a r p e n t e r ' s s tud ies i n p a w n p r o m o t i o n , N o . 56, t h e cho ice o f m i n o r p ieces i n s t e a d of a q u e e n on b o t h W h i t e ' s f irst a n d second moves i s necessa ry to avo id s t a l e m a t e .

A l o n g - r a n g e i l lus t r a t ion o f w h a t ha s f anc i fu l ly b e e n t e r m e d t h e Durbar theme, in w h i c h eve ry w h i t e m o v e is m a d e by t h e k ing , i s s h o w n in N o . 57. In th is e x a m p l e t h e r e i s on ly o n e l ine o f p l a y . C a r p e n t e r c o m p o s e d a n e l e v e n - m o v e p r o b l e m i n w h i c h t h e w h i t e k ing m a d e t e n consecu t ive moves a n d t w o o f t h e f o u r m a t i n g moves , t h e o t h e r t w o b e i n g m a d e b y kn igh t s .

I n N o . 58, a n o t h e r D u r b a r , t h e w h i t e k ing m a k e s t h e f irst a n d second moves , a n d t h e n d iscovers m a t e o n t h e t h i r d m o v e e i t he r ve r t i ca l ly o r d i a g o n a l l y a c c o r d i n g to t h e loca t ion o f t h e b l ack k ing . D i scove red m a t e s by t h e w h i t e k ing , b o t h a l o n g a file a n d a d i a g o n a l , h a d b e e n s h o w n p rev ious ly by M. L a n s q u e n e t in a t w o - m o v e D u r b a r p u b l i s h e d in t h e A u g u s t , 1880, issue of La Strategie.

P r o b l e m 59 is a c o m p l e t e b lock , m a t e s b e i n g set in t h e in i t i a l pos i t ion fo r a n y m o v e by Black . N o n e o f t h e f o u r m a t e s i s c h a n g e d b y W h i t e ' s w a i t i n g m o v e key.

T h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 60 i s o f a d i f f e r e n t t y p e t h a n m o s t o f C a r p e n t e r ' s ear l ie r p r o b l e m s . T h e key gives t h e b l a c k k i n g t w o f l igh t c a p t u r e s , a l t h o u g h t h e solver will soon n o t e t h a t a m a t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n m u s t be p r o v i d e d to m e e t 1 K c 7 .


S O L U T I O N S

N o . 49 No. 51 1 Q d 6 waiting

Kc2, c4; 2 SxP K d 2 ; 2 Sd5-b4

Bc8 threats 2 Sc5 and SxPg5 Q x R or R x P ; 2 SxPg5 S x Q ; 2 Sc5 K e 5 ; 2 SxS K x S ; 2 Sd4 Q x S e 6 ; 2 R d 4 SxS; 2 Q x Q R x S ; 2 Q x R S x R ; 2 Q x Q

K d 4 ; 2 Sb6 K e 4 ; 2 Se7 P e l ; 2 Sb6

N o . 50 1 R h l waiting

K g 3 ; 2 Q h 2 K e 3 ; 2 Sd5 P e 3 ; 2 Sd5 K f 5 ; 2 Q f 7 P f 2 ; 2 Q x P

No. 52 1 R h l threat 2 R h l - e l threat 3 Re3-e2

K x R ; 2 Kg3, a n y ; 3 R e l

No . 53 1 Pe8(S) , any ; 2 Sc6(ck), a n y ; 3 Sc7

N o . 54 1 Pc5, K x R a 6 ; 2 Rc7, K a 5 ; 3 R a 7

K x R c 8 ; 2 Rb6 , K d 8 ; 3 R b 8

No. 55 1 Q g l , KxSc7 ; 2 Q a 7 , a n y ; 3 P b 8 ( Q )

KxSe7 ; 2 Q g 7 , a n y ; 3 P f 8 ( Q ) K d 7 ; 2 Qc5 , K d 8 ; 3 Q d 6 K e 5 ; 2 Q g 3 ck, K d 4 ; 3 Se6

K f 6 ; 3 P f 8 ( Q )

N o . 56 1 Pb8(B), K e 7 ; 2 Ph8(B), K d 8 ; 3 Bf6

K f 8 ; 3 Bd6

George E. Carpenter 45 No. 57

1 Ke4 , K a 8 ; 2 Kd5 , K b 8 ; 3 Kc6 , K a 8 ; 4 Kc7

No . 58 1 K f 4 , K d 5 ; 2 Ke3, K e 6 ; 3 K d 4

P d 5 ; 2 K f 5 , K x S ; 3 K e 5

M . L a n s q u e n e t La Strategie

August, 1880

White mates in t w o moves

1 K d 3 , K b 5 ; 2 K d 4 K d 6 ; 2 K c 4 K d 5 ; 2 Q e 5

No . 59 1 Q e 3 waiting

B a n y ; 2 Q x P Sd5 a n y ; 2 Sc3(x) Se2; 2 Q b 3 Sgl else; 2 Q f 3

No . 60 1 Se7, KxSe7 ; 2 Q c 6 , K d 8 ; 3 Q d 7

P a n y ; 3 Bh4 KxSe5 ; 2 Q d 5 ck, K f 4 ; 3 Q f 5 K c 7 ; 2 Q c 6 ck, K b 8 ; 3 Sd7

K d 8 ; 3 Q d 7 K e 6 ; 2 Q d 5 ck, KxSe7 ; 3 Q d 7 PxS; 2 Q c 6 ck, K e 7 ; 3 Bh4 P f 5 ; 2 Q c 6 ck, K x S e 5 ; 3 Sg6

K x S e 7 ; 3 Bh4

William A. Shinkman

WILLIAM A. SHINKMAN ( 1 8 4 7 - 1 9 3 3 ) w a s t h e m o s t p ro l i f i c of A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m i s t s , c o m p o s i n g s o m e th i r t y - f i ve h u n d r e d p r o b l e m s . H i s style o f c o m p o s i t i o n w a s s imi l a r t o L o y d ' s , b u t w h e r e a s L o y d f r e q u e n t l y w a s c o n t e n t w i t h s h o w i n g a s ingle e x a m p l e o f a t h e m e , S h i n k m a n w o u l d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h v a r i o u s i l l u s t r a t i ons of i t . As A l a i n W h i t e w r o t e in Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems, " L o y d t o y e d w i t h t h e m e s , S h i n k m a n m a s t e r s t h e m . "

In t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n to The Golden Argosy t h a t w a s w r i t t e n by O t t o W u r z b u r g , S h i n k m a n ' s n e p h e w , h e s t a t e d t h a t " L o y d i s r e p o r t e d t o h a v e a d m i r e d S h i n k m a n ' s w o r k b e y o n d all o t h e r s a n d w i t h o u t q u a l i f i c a t i o n , a n d o f al l c o m p o s e r s o f a l l t i m e s S h i n k m a n ho lds L o y d a s h is f a v o r i t e . "

S i n c e i t was a b o u t 1870, a c c o r d i n g t o W u r z b u r g , t h a t S h i n k -m a n ac t ive ly s t a r t e d o n his c o m p o s i n g c a r e e r , N o . 6 1 w a s o n e o f his ear l ies t c o m p o s i t i o n s a n d r e m a i n e d o n e o f his f a v o r i t e t w o - m o v e r s . T h e e x a c t s q u a r e t o w h i c h t h e key b i s h o p m u s t m o v e i s d e t e r m i n e d by Black ' s poss ib le m o v e 1 Q b 2 .

S h i n k m a n a lways w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n p a w n p r o m o t i o n p l a y , e spec ia l ly w h e r e t h e p r o m o t i o n w a s to a p i ece o t h e r t h a n a q u e e n , a n d t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 6 2 i s a n e a r l y a n d exce l l en t e x a m p l e .

I n t r o d u c e d by a s u b t l e key , t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n in N o . 63 fol-l o w i n g 1 P d 3 i l lus t r a t e s Indian strategy, t h e s h u t - o f f of a w h i t e p i ece t o a v o i d a s t a l e m a t e pos i t ion , n a m e d f r o m t h e f a m o u s p r o b l e m b y t h e R e v . H e n r y A u g u s t u s L o v e d a y o f B e n g a l , I n d i a , p u b l i s h e d a n o n y m o u s l y F e b r u a r y , 1845, i n t h e Chess Player's Chronicle. N o . 63 is e n r i c h e d by a s e c o n d v a r i a t i o n , l e a d i n g to a p i n - m a t e .

F o l l o w i n g a s u r p r i s i n g key , t h e m a i n p l a y in p r o b l e m 64 e n d s i n a m o d e l m a t e . I n a s e c o n d a r y c o n t i n u a t i o n , t h e q u e e n m o v e s t o e a c h o f t h e b l a c k c o r n e r s q u a r e s t o m a t e .

48

William A. Shinkman 49

61 W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Dubuque Chess Journal

December, 1870


63

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Western Advertiser

1872


W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Western Advertiser

1872


64

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Deutsche Schachzeitung

March, 1875



S h i n k m a n ' s in te res t i n se l f -mates , o f w h i c h he b e c a m e o n e o f t h e m o s t e m i n e n t e x p o n e n t s , b e g a n ea r ly i n his c o m p o s i n g c a r e e r . In m a n y o f his s e l f -ma te p r o b l e m s t h e w h i t e k i n g i s p l a c e d in i t ia l ly f a r f r o m a n y a p p a r e n t m a t i n g p o s i t i o n ; i n p r o b -l e m N o . 6 5 h e w a n d e r s t o w a r d his d o o m .

N o . 66 i s t h e f a m o u s S h i n k m a n - C a r p e n t e r c o i n c i d e n c e . A p r o b l e m b y C a r p e n t e r w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e O c t o b e r 20, 1877, issue of t h e Detroit Free Press i d e n t i c a l in se t t ing w i t h N o . 66, e x c e p t for a n u n n e c e s s a r y b l a c k p a w n o n e 7 i n C a r p e n t e r ' s p r o b l e m . S u c h co inc idences , o r an t i c i pa t i ons , w e r e n o t s o c o m -m o n o r n o t e d in those d a y s a s t h e y h a v e b e e n l a t e r a n d so this c o i n c i d e n t a l a p p e a r a n c e a t t r a c t e d a n u n u s u a l a m o u n t o f a t t e n -t i on . N o . 6 6 ac tua l l y h a d b e e n c o m p o s e d two o r t h r e e m o n t h s p rev ious ly , b e i n g one of a set of t h r e e p r o b l e m s e n t e r e d in a t o u r n e y .

N o . 67 is a r e m a r k a b l e s t r a t eg i c c o n c e p t i o n , espec ia l ly no t e -w o r t h y because o f t h e sma l l n u m b e r o f m e n e m p l o y e d . I t b l e n d s t w o m a n e u v e r s : one l ine i s a n e x a m p l e o f T u r t o n d o u b l i n g a n d a s econd l ine o f H e r l i n pe r i c r i t i ca l p l ay . T h i s m a y be c o m p a r e d w i t h M e r e d i t h ' s N o . 48, w h i c h was p u b l i s h e d twe lve y e a r s l a t e r .

F o l l o w i n g t h e defens ive m o v e s o f t h e b l ack r o o k in N o . 68, t h e r e a r e t w o pa i r s o f e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s i n w h i c h t h e k n i g h t s a l t e r n a t e in t he i r roles. A r a n d o m m o v e o f t h e b l a c k r o o k l eads to a f i f t h m o d e l m a t e .

A l a i n W h i t e s t a t ed t h a t t h e o r ig ina l vers ion o f N o . 69 was " t h e ear l ies t e x a m p l e o f u n p i n n i n g t h r e e w h i t e pieces . F o r m a n y yea r s t h e p r o b l e m r a n k e d a s t h e c h a m p i o n a l l - r o u n d p i n p r o b l e m . " S h i n k m a n l a t e r m a d e a s l ight revis ion, s h o w n in t h e p r e s e n t d i a g r a m , p r o v i d i n g a m o r e s t r ik ing key.

In v i e w o f t h e m i n i m a l b l a c k force i n t h e se l f -ma te N o . 70 a n d t h e a p p a r e n t f r e e d o m of m o v e m e n t o f t h e b l ack q u e e n , i t i s r e m a r k a b l e t h a t she c a n b e f o r c e d t o c h e c k m a t e t h e w h i t e k ing i n f o u r moves .

N o . 71 was c o m p o s e d t o show f o u r d i f f e r e n t m a t e s fo l lowing t h e m o v e s of a single b l a c k p a w n , t h r e e of its moves r e su l t i ng in self-blocks. S h i n k m a n was especia l ly e x p e r t i n c o n s t r u c t i n g w a i t i n g - m o v e posi t ions w i t h exce l len t keys.

A c c o r d i n g to Black 's moves in N o . 72 W h i t e sets up va r i ous b a t t e r i e s o n his t h i r d m o v e t o d iscover m a t e o n t h e f o u r t h m o v e .

I n t h e pa i r s o f e c h o i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n s i n p r o b l e m 73 Black


65

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n La Strategic

August 15, 1877

66

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n First Prize

Huddersfield College Magazine October, 1877

White self-mates in three moves White mates in two moves

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Detroit Free Press

circa 1878

68

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Huddersfield College Magazine

1880



self-blocks his k ing i n t w o o f t h e m a t i n g posi t ions a n d t h e r e a r e p i n - m a t e s i n t h e o t h e r two . T h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 74, w i t h t h e t w o q u e e n sacrif ices l e a d i n g t o c h a m e l e o n e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s , was o n e o f S h i n k m a n ' s f avo r i t e compos i t i ons . N o . 75 w a s t h e p i o n e e r e x a m p l e of a se l f -ma te in w h i c h a w h i t e p a w n p r o m o t e s to f o u r d i f f e r e n t pieces a c c o r d i n g to Black ' s p l ay .

T h e s p e c t a c u l a r key in t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 76 i s fo l lowed by a sub t l e s econd m o v e w h e n Black p l ays 1 P h 3 a n d t w o o f t h e e n s u i n g m a t e s a r e mode l s . O n N o . 7 7 A l a i n W h i t e c o m m e n t e d : " I t i s cu r i ous t h a t , a l t h o u g h W h i t e c a n a t t h e ou t se t p l a y 1 Q e 6 , h e d a r e n o t m a k e t h a t m o v e un t i l t h e b l a c k p a w n has a d v a n c e d . "

S h i n k m a n c o m p o s e d se l f -mates i n va r i ous n u m b e r s o f moves , i n c l u d i n g his a s t o u n d i n g o n e of 418 moves . N o . 78 is a t y p i c a l e x a m p l e o f o n e o f his t w o - m o v e se l f -mates . T h e n e x t pos i t ion , N o . 79, i l lus t ra tes s t r a t eg ic m a n e u v e r i n g w i t h a m i n i m a l force .

T h e k e y m o v e in p r o b l e m 80 gives t h e b l ack k ing a fu l l r a n g e of e i gh t f l igh t squares , f ive m o r e t h a n in the in i t i a l pos i t ion , a de f i n i t e task a c h i e v e m e n t in a m i n i a t u r e se t t ing . M a n y o f S h i n k m a n ' s t w o - m o v e r s w e r e w a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m s w i t h s p a r k l i n g keys, o f w h i c h N o . 81, an a d d e d m a t e b lock , i s t yp ica l .

N o . 82, w i t h its series of e c h o e d s y m m e t r i c a l m a t e s , h a s a s u r p r i s i n g a m o u n t o f p l a y for a p r o b l e m w i t h o n l y f ive m e n . W i t h a n o t h e r o f t h e f ine keys w h i c h S h i n k m a n w a s s o a d r o i t in devis ing , p r o b l e m 83 h a s a v a r i e t y of i n t e r e s t ing p l a y , t h e m a t e fo l lowing 1 K e 4 b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t a b l e . T h e pe r i -c r i t i ca l m a n e u v e r i n N o . 8 4 i s o n e t h a t S h i n k m a n f e a t u r e d i n severa l o f his p r o b l e m s . T h e key a n d t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n i n t h e m a i n p l a y a r e especia l ly sub t l e .

N o . 85, w h i c h S h i n k m a n ca l l ed " o n e o f m y f a v o r i t e p r o b -l e m s , " i s a n o t h e r o f his s tudies in p a w n p r o m o t i o n t h e m e s . N o . 86 m a y be c o m p a r e d w i t h N o . 80. I t i s a b l o c k - t h r e a t , a t y p e of p r o b l e m o f w h i c h S h i n k m a n w a s a m a s t e r i n c o m p o s i n g . In th is i n s t a n c e t h e k e y m o v e gives t h e b l ack k i n g f i ve f l i gh t squa re s . N o . 87 is a n o t h e r b l o c k - t h r e a t , w i t h a s u r p r i s i n g key u n p i n n i n g t h e b l ack q u e e n .

I n t r o d u c e d w i t h a w a i t i n g - m o v e key, all t he m a t e s in N o . 88 a r e g iven by a roya l b a t t e r y , t h e moves of t he w h i t e k i n g dis-c o v e r i n g m a t e s f r o m t h e b i s h o p . A l a i n W h i t e in The Golden Argosy c o m m e n t e d o n N o . 8 9 : " A n u n u s u a l a n d o r i g i n a l p a i r


69

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n V First Prize

Southern Trade Gazette 1883

70

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Chess Player's Chronicle

October 10, 1883

White mates in two moves White self-mates in four moves

71

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Detroit Free Press

1885

72

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n V Columbia Chess Chronicle

1888



73

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n V Dubuque Chess Journal

November, 1890


75

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Second Prize Sunny South 1890-1891


74

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Dubuque Chess Journal

November, 1890


76


September, 1893



77

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Ceske Listy Sachove

March, 1896


79

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Tiffin Tribune

circa 1898


W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n British Chess Magazine

July, 1896

White self-mates in t w o moves

80

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Checkmate

December, 1901



81

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Q, American Chess World

April, 1902


83

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n St. Louis Globe Democrat

1903


82

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n V Wiener Schachzeitung

October, 1905


84


February, 1907



85

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Bauernumwandlungaufgaben

1907


87

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n V Westen und Daheim

1910

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n American Chess Bulletin

October, 1910


88

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Deutsches Wochenschach

1912



89

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n American Chess Bulletin

December, 1913


91

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times

November 19, 1916

90

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n Tasks and Echoes

1915


92

W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n a n d O t t o W u r z b u r g First Prize — Class B

Three-Move Section Densmore Memorial Tourney

1918-1920

White mates in two moves White self-mates in three moves

William A. Shinkman 59 o f v a r i a t i o n s . T h e w h i t e p a w n a d o p t s t w o s e p a r a t e r o u t e s t o r e a c h t h e s a m e t w o s q u a r e s i n e a c h case. T h e p r o b l e m was d e d i c a t e d t o t h e m e m o r y o f S a m L o y d w h o d ied A p r i l 10, 1911 . " I n t r o d u c e d by a f l ight-yie lding key, N o . 90 is p r a c t i c a l l y t w o t w o - m o v e p r o b l e m s , t h e m a t i n g pos i t ions i n e a c h b e i n g c h a m e l e o n echoes o f t h e m a t e s i n t h e o the r , t h e b i shops a l t e r -n a t i n g t he i r roles.

A s p rev ious ly m e n t i o n e d , L o y d p u b l i s h e d t h e f irst e x a m p l e o f w h a t c a m e t o b e k n o w n a s t h e P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e : t h e m u t u a l i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t w o b l a c k pieces o f s imi la r m o v e m e n t , o n e b l a c k r o o k m o v i n g a l o n g a f i l e a n d t h e o t h e r a l o n g a r a n k , o r t h e i n t e r f e r e n c e o f a b i s h o p a n d t h e q u e e n m o v i n g on in t e r -s ec t i ng d i agona l s . W h i c h e v e r p iece occup ies t h e i n t e r s e c t i n g s q u a r e in t e r fe res w i t h t h e m o v e m e n t o f its fe l low. I n t h e o r i g i n a l t y p e o f P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e a w h i t e m a n f i r s t m o v e s o n t o t h e i n t e r s e c t i n g (cri t ical) s q u a r e , o b s t r u c t i n g the m o v e m e n t o f b o t h b l a c k pieces . E i t h e r m a y c a p t u r e t h e w h i t e m a n , b u t i t t h e n i n t e r f e r e s w i t h t h e o t h e r b l a c k p iece . T h e P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e is essent ia l ly a t h r e e - m o v e m a n e u v e r .

I n N o . 9 1 S h i n k m a n shows a P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h o n l y e i g h t w h i t e a n d b l a c k p ieces , a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f h is o u t -s t a n d i n g ab i l i ty to i l l u s t r a t e a s t r a t eg ic t h e m e w i t h a m i n i m u m n u m b e r o f m e n , fo r w h i c h h e b e c a m e r e n o w n e d a s " T h e W i z a r d o f G r a n d R a p i d s . "

O t t o W u r z b u r g i n 1909 h a d s h o w n — i n t h e classic N o . 133 — t h a t t h e m u t u a l i n t e r f e r e n c e c o u l d b e b r o u g h t a b o u t w i t h -o u t m o v i n g a w h i t e m a n o n t o t h e cr i t ica l s q u a r e a n d s u c h a n i n t e r f e r e n c e is t e r m e d a Wurzburg-Plachutta.

A c c o r d i n g t o Black 's defenses t h e w h i t e k ing m o v e s t o e igh t d i f f e r e n t s q u a r e s in t h e w a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m N o . 92, a task a c h i e v e m e n t . T h e exce l l en t key i s to p r o v i d e a m a t i n g c o n t i n u -a t i o n fo l lowing 1 — Q b 5 . I f t h e b i s h o p shou ld m o v e e l sewhere B lack w o u l d h a v e an e f fec t ive defense by 1 — Q b 5 ; 2 K c 3 , Q b l ! T h e solver s h o u l d n o t ove r look t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n fo l low-i n g 1 - - Q e l .

60° 14° Chess Problem. Gems

No. 61 1 Bc3 waiting

K x S ; 2 Pb4 P x R ; 2 Pe4

S O L U T I O N S

No. 62 1 Pe8(R) , K x P ; 2 Pa8(S) , K b 5 ; 3 R e 5

K c 5 ; 2 P a 8 ( Q ) , K d 6 ; 3 Q c 5

N o . 63 1 R b l , P d 3 ; 2 B a l , Pe5 ; 3 R b 2 , K d 4 ; 4 R b 4

Pe5; 2 Bd8, P d 3 ; 3 Bb6, K d 4 ; 4 R b 4

No . 64 1 Q d 4 , P x Q ; 2 R f 7 , a n y ; 3 R c 7

K b 7 ; 2 R f 7 ck, K a 6 ; 3 Q a l K a 8 ; 3 Q h 8

K d 7 ; 2 Q g 4 ck, K d 8 ; 3 R f 8 K else; 3 Q c 8

No . 65 1 Q g 7 , R x P ; 2 Ke5 dis ck, K a n y ; 3 K d 6 dis ck, R x Q

BxP; 2 K f 6 dis ck, K a n y ; 3 Ke7 dis ck, Be5

No . 66 No . 67 1 Ba4 waiting 1 Ba2 threat 2 Q b 3 , a n y ; 3 Q g 8

P d 6 ; 2 Sb5-c7 Bf8 ; 2 B b l , a n y ; 3 Q h 7 ( x )

1 Pe3, R x P ; 2 Q b l ck, K e 2 ; 3 Sd4 R d 2 ; 2 Q f 5 ck, K e 2 ; 3 Sc3 R d 4 ; 2 SxR, a n y ; 3 Q b l R c 3 ; 2 SxR, a n y ; 3 Q f 5 R else; 2 Q x P ck, R d 3 ; 3 Q x R K e 2 ; 2 Q h 5 ck, K f l ; 3 Q f 3 Ph3 ; 2 Sg3 ck, K f 2 ; 3 Q f 5

No . 69 1 Ba7 waiting

P d 5 ; 2 Sf3-d4 1 B f 2 ; 2 SxPc3 Bd2; 2 Se2-d4 Bg3; 2 Q c 4

N o . 70 1 Bh3, Q a 8 , e8; 2 Q d 4 ck, Q e 4 ; 3 Q f 6 ck, Q f 5 ; 4 Q g 5 ck,

Q x Q Q e l s e ; 2 Q b 4 , c 4 , d 4 ck, Q x Q ; 3 Pg3 ck, K f 3 dis ck;

4 Bg4 ck, Q x B

N o . 68


No. 71 1 Q h l waiting

PxPc6; 2 Q h 5 P d 6 ; 2 Bf2

1 P d 5 ; 2 Q c l P x P e 6 ; 2 SxP

No. 72 1 R x P , S x R ; 2 BxS, K a 5 ; 3 R d 4 , K b 6 ; 4 R x P

P a 5 ; 3 Re3 , K c 5 ; 4 R b 3 Sg3; 2 RxS, K a 5 ; 3 R f 4 , K b 4 ; 4 Bb6

Pa5 ; 3 Be3, K a n y ; 4 Bc5 K a 5 ; 2 Rc2, S a n y ; 3 R c 5 ck, K b 6 ; 4 Rc5-b5

K b 4 ; 4 Sc2

No. 73 1 Q h 6 , K e 2 ; 2 RxP , K d 2 ; 3 R f 2 1 P f 3 ; 2 Q a 6 ,

1 Be2, K b 7 ; 2 Q c 8 ck, K x Q ; 3 Ba6 K b 6 ; 3 Q c 7

K b 6 ; 2 Q a 5 ck, K x Q ; 3 Bc7 K b 7 ; 3 Q a 6

No. 75 1 R h 8 threat 2 PxS(B) ck, K x S ; 3 Q b 7 ck, B x Q

Sc6; 2 Pe8(S) ck, K x S ; 3 Q x S ck, B x Q K x S ; 2 PxS(R) ck, K c 7 ; 3 Q b 7 ck, B x Q P x Q ; 2 P x S ( Q ) ck, K c 6 ; 3 SxP ck, Q x S SxP; 2 Be5 ck, K x S ; 3 Q b 7 ck, B x Q B f l ; 2 Q x S ck, K c 6 ; 3 SxP ck, Q x S

No. 76 1 B h l , Ph3 ; 2 Bg2, PxB; 3 S f3 ck, K f l ; 4 Sh2

K h l ; 4 Sf2 P h 2 ; 2 Se5, P h i ; 4 Se5-f3

K x B ; 2 K f 2 , P h 3 ; 3 K f l , P h 2 ; 4 Sf2

No. 77 1 Q c 4 , Ph3 ; 2 Q e 6 , Bg3; 3 Q x P ck, S x Q ; 4 Sf3

B e l ; 3 Q x B , S any ; 4 Sf3(x) Bh4; 3 KxB, S a n y ; 4 Sf3(x)

Bel , g3; 2 Q x P ck, B x Q ; 3 KxB, S a n y ; 4 Sf3(x)

P d 2 ; 3 Q a 6 P h 2 ; 3 Q x P

P h 2 ; 2 Q x P h 2 ck, Pe2 ; 3 Q x P f 4

K e 2 ; 3 R c 2 Pe2 ; 3 Q h 6 else; 3 Q a 2

No . 74


No. 78 1 Q c 5 , PxQ,; 2 Bg5, Pc4 or Bg8

Pg5; 2 Q c 2 ck, B x Q Bg8 ck; 2 Q d 5 ck, B x Q

No. 79 1 R g l , K h 6 ; 2 K f 5 , K h 5 ; 3 R h l

P h 6 ; 2 Rg2, K h 4 ; 3 R h 2

No . 80 No. 81 1 Rc2 , Pg l ( Q ) ; 2 Q x Q ck etc. 1 Q a 3 waiting

else; 2 R x P etc.

N o . 82 1 Be l , K x B ; 2 Ke3 , K d l ; 3 Rc8 , K e l ; 4 R c l

K f l ; 2 Rg8 , K e l ; 4 R g l K d l ; 2 K d 3 , K e l ; 3 R b 8 , K d l ; 4 R b l

K x B ; 3 R f 8 , K d l ; 4 R f l K f l ; 2 K f 3 , K g l ; 3 R h 8 , K f l : 4 R h l

K x B ; 3 R d 8 , K f 1; 4 R d l

N o . 83 1 Sg2 threat 2 Sel 1

PxS; 2 Q h 7 K e 4 ; 2 Sd5-e3

No . 84 1 R b 7 , Ph6 ; 2 Q a 2 , P h 5 ; 3 Q a 8 , K x P ; 4 Rb7-b2

Ph5 ; 2 R b l - b 2 , S x Q ; 3 RxS, K g l ; 4 R b l S else; 3 PxS, PxP, 4 R b l

N o . 85 1 Kc3 , K e 7 ; 2 Pd8(S) , K x S ; 3 P f 8 ( Q ) , K c 8 ; 4 Bc6

K f 8 ; 3 Se5 ck, K e 7 ; 4 P f 8 ( Q ) K d 6 ; 3 P f 8 ( Q ) ck, K x P ; 4 Bc6

N o . 86 No . 87 1 Pg7 threat 2 Pg8 ( Q ) 1 Q c l threat 2 K a 4

No . 88 1 P f 5 waiting

K c 6 ; 2 Q e 7 , K d 5 ; 3 K e 3 K e 5 ; 2 Q b 6 , K d 5 ; 3 K f 4 K d 6 ; 2 Ke4, K c 6 ; 3 K e 5

- - SxB; 2 Sd5-f4 S else; 2 Sg2-f4 R x B ; 2 Sb4


No. 89 1 Q e 4 , R x Q ; 2 Pd7 threat 3 P d 8 (S)

R e 8 ; 3 P x R ( Q ) PxQ,; 2 P x R threat 3 P e 8 ( Q )

R d 8 ; 3 PxR(S)

No . 90 1 Be l , K x P ; 2 Be3, K d 5 ; 3 Bc6

K f 5 ; 3 Bg6 K c 5 ; 2 Bc6, K b 4 ; 3 Ba3

K d 4 ; 3 Be3

No. 91 1 Sd7-c5 threats 2 Sa4 or Q b 4

Rc8xS; 2 Sb2 threat 3 Sa4 R a 5 ; 3 Q c 4

R h 5 x S ; 2 S f4 threat 3 Se2 R c 4 ; 3 Sd5

No . 92 1 Bc6 waiting

Q c 3 , e5 ck; 2 K x Q Q c 5 , d5 ck; 2 K x Q dis ck Q b 4 , b6 ck; 2 K d 5 dis ck Q d 2 , d8 ck; 2 K c 5 dis ck S a n y ; 2 Ke3(x) dis ck

1 Bd3, c4; 2 K x B dis ck P f 4 ; 2 K e 4 dis ck Q b 5 ; 2 B x Q Q e l ; 2 Q h 6 ck

D. J. Densmore

DARSO JAMES DENSMORE ( 1 8 6 7 - 1 9 1 7 ) , son i n - l a w of S a m L o y d , l e a r n e d t o p l a y chess i n his b o y h o o d d a y s a n d b e c a m e c h a m p i o n o f t h e B r o o k l y n Chess C l u b i n his teens . L a t e r h e b e c a m e in -t e r e s t e d i n p r o b l e m c o m p o s i t i o n , his e f for t s b e i n g d i v i d e d i n t o t w o s h o r t pe r iods .

P r i o r t o 1890 h e c o m p o s e d s o m e seven ty- f ive p r o b l e m s . T h e n a f t e r a l o n g p e r i o d o f i n a c t i v i t y i n t h e p r o b l e m f ie ld he r e s u m e d c o m p o s i t i o n i n 1914 a n d c o m p o s e d n e a r l y t w o h u n d r e d f i f ty m o r e p r o b l e m s d u r i n g t h e fo l l owing t h r e e yea r s .

W h i l e he was i n t e r e s t e d i n s tud ies o f v a r i o u s s t r a t e g i c t h e m e s , his m o s t n o t a b l e w o r k i n his s e c o n d p e r i o d o f a c t i v i t y w a s i n t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n of b l a c k i n t e r f e r e n c e s , i n c l u d i n g a r e m a r k a b l e series o f P l a c h u t t a s .

W i t h an exce l l en t key , N o . 93 i s a n e a t e x a m p l e of a pe r i -c r i t i ca l m a n e u v e r w h e r e a r o o k m a k e s a r o u n d a b o u t j o u r n e y to s u p p o r t t h e q u e e n . T h e l o n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e a n d s u b -s e q u e n t p a w n p r o m o t i o n to a r o o k to a v o i d t h e poss ib i l i ty of a s t a l e m a t e pos i t ion , a c t u a l l y a n I n d i a n - t y p e m a n e u v e r , m a k e N o . 94 a de f in i t e ly t h e m a t i c c o m p o s i t i o n .

B lack ' s de fens ive m o v e s in N o . 95 d o u b l e a W u r z b u r g -P l a c h u t t a — o n e i n w h i c h t h e r e i s n o w h i t e m a n o n t h e c r i t i ca l s q u a r e — t h e b l a c k q u e e n f u n c t i o n i n g h e r e a s a t h i r d b l a c k r o o k .

A g a i n i n p r o b l e m 9 6 D e n s m o r e e m p l o y s a r e m a r k a b l e k e y m o v e , fo l lowed b y q u i e t s e c o n d moves , w h e r e B lack ' s m o v e s i n c l u d e a c o m p l e t e b l a c k k n i g h t whee l . D e s p i t e t h a t t h e key-m o v e t h r e a t e n s a s h o r t m a t e , N o . 97 i s an i n g e n i o u s c o m p o s i -t i o n : a c h a m e l e o n d o u b l i n g of a d i a g o n a l P l a c h u t t a , t h e q u e e n a n d e a c h b i s h o p i n t u r n m a k i n g m u t u a l i n t e r f e r e n c e s i n t h e t h e m a t i c de fens ive p l a y .

P r o b l e m 9 8 m a y b e d e s c r i b e d a s a t h r e e - p h r a s e N o w o t n y i n t e r f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k r o o k a n d b i s h o p , d e p e n d i n g u p o n the i r r e l a t i o n t o t h e c r i t i ca l s q u a r e d 5 , o n t o w h i c h t h e

6 4

D. J. Densmore 65

93

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e First Prize

Brooklyn Chess Club Tourney 1913-1914


95

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e V Third Prize

The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times March 19, 1916

94

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e British Chess Magazine

September, 1915

White mates in five moves

96

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e Honorable Mention

The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times March 26, 1916



97

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e V The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

December 31, 1916


99

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e V The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

December 3, 1916


98

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e Fourth Prize

Seventh Quarterly Tourney The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

October 25, 1916


1 0 0

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

December 3, 1916


D. J. Densmore 67

101 102

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times

December 13, 1916 April 1, 1917

White mates in four moves White mates in three moves

103 104

D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e Honorable Mention The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times

The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times June 17, 1917 June 10, 1917



w h i t e b i s h o p moves i n e a c h o f t h e t h r e e t h e m a t i c l ines o f p l a y . I n N o . 9 9 a n o t h e r b i s h o p w i t h d r a w a l m o v e , i n th is case t h r e a t e n i n g a shor t m a t e , l eads to P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e s on t w o d i f f e r e n t squa res , d 3 a n d f 3 .

A g a i n D e n s m o r e e m p l o y s a l ong w i t h d r a w a l m o v e by a b i s h o p as a key in N o . 100, w h e r e t h e r e is a d o u b l i n g of a d i a g o n a l P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e w h e n Black m o v e s t h e b i s h o p t o f 7 o r t o g 6 t o d e f e a t t h e t h r e a t e n e d shor t m a t e — e 6 a n d f 5 t h e n b e c o m i n g t h e c r i t i ca l s q u a r e s w h e r e t h e b l a c k q u e e n a n d b i s h o p m u t u a l l y i n t e r f e r e .

I n N o . 101, a c c o r d i n g t o Black ' s p l a y t o p r e v e n t t h e sho r t t h r e a t of 2 R c 2 m a t e , W h i t e m o v e s a p iece to o n e of f ive d i f f e r e n t s q u a r e s on t h e e-fi le, w h i c h t h e n b e c o m e c r i t i ca l s q u a r e s in a P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r ence , m a k i n g t h e c o m p o s i t i o n a f ive-fold P l a c h u t t a .

A s q u a r e - v a c a t i n g key in N o . 102 l eads to t w o c ross -check ing v a r i a t i o n s . T h e k e y m o v e i n p r o b l e m 103 p e r m i t s B lack t o g ive consecu t ive d o u b l e - c h e c k s on t h e first a n d second m o v e s i n t h e m a j o r defens ive l ines o f p l ay , besides checks in o t h e r v a r i a t i o n s . In N o . 104, a task c o m p o s i t i o n , Black in d e f e n d i n g a g a i n s t t h e t h r e a t o f m a t e by 2 Q e l self-blocks his k i n g in f ive d i f f e r e n t ways .

S O L U T I O N S No. 93

1 R a l , Pg5; 2 Ra4 , B a n y ; 3 Q x P 1 K g 5 ; 2 S f3 ck, Pg2 ; 3 Q e l 2 - - K f 5 ; 3 Q f 4

Pg2; 2 Q f 4 , Pg5 ; 3 Q h 2 2 - - K f 6 , h 6 ; 3 Q f 8

No. 94 1 Ba8, R x S ; 2 Pe8(R) , R h 6 ; 3 Rb8 , R b 6 ; 4 R x R , P g l ( Q , ) ;

5 R b l R x P h 7 ; 3 Rb8 , R b 7 ; 4 R x R , P g l ( Q , ) ;

5 R b l R x P g 5 ; 3 Rd8 , R d 5 ; 4 R x R , P g l ( Q . ) ;

5 R d l R h 4 ; 3 R d 8 , R d 4 ; 4 R x R , K g l ; 5 R d l

Re3 ; 2 Ph8(Q.) , K g l ; 3 BxR ck, K f l ; 4 Sg3 ck, K e l ; 5 Q a l

Rc3 ; 2 P h 8 ( Q J , R x P ck; 3 Kb3 , R b 2 ck; 4 Q x R , P x Q ; 5 S g 3

D. J. Densmore 6 9

N o . 95 1 Bb3 threat 2 S x R ck, SxS ; 3 Q e 6

R f 8 - f 6 ; 2 Sc6 ck, R x S c 6 ; 3 Q f 4 R g 6 - f 6 ; 2 S f 3 ck, R x S ; 3 Q e 6 Q d 6 ; 2 Sc6 ck, Q x S ; 3 Q d 4 R d 6 ; 2 Q d 4 ck, R x Q ; 3 Sc6

N o . 96 1 K e l , SxB; 2 Q f 7 , S d 5 ; 3 Q f l

else; 3 Q x P Sb4 ; 2 K d 2 , S d 5 ; 3 P b 3

else; 3 Q x P SxPb6 ; 2 Q x P ck, S d 5 ; 3 Q a 6 Sc3; 2 P b 3 ck, K d 5 ; 3 Q x P Sc7; 2 PxS, K d 5 ; 3 Q x P SxPe3 ; 2 Q x P ck, S d 5 ; 3 Q e 2 Se7; 2 BxS, K d 5 ; 3 Q x P S f 4 ; 2 PxS, K d 5 ; 3 Q x P Pe5; 2 R d 8 , P a n y ; 3 Q x S

N o . 97 1 R c 7 threat 2 R f 7

Q a 2 ; 2 Sd5, Q x S ; 3 Pe4 ck, Q x P e 4 ; 4 R f 7 BxS ; 3 R f 7 ck, B x R ; 4 P e 4

P b l ( Q ) ; 2 Pd4 , Q x P ; 3 Se3 ck, Q x S ; 4 R f 7 B x P d 4 ; 3 R f 7 ck, B f 6 ; 4 Se3

N o . 98 1 Bf7 threat 2 Bd5, R x B ; 3 Sc6

BxB; 3 Sd7 R d 6 ; 2 Bd5, R x B ; 3 Sc6

BxB; 3 Sd3 Bb7 ; 2 Bd5, R x B ; 3 S f 3

B x B ; 3 Sd7 R d 4 ; 2 Q g 5 ck, K e 4 ; 3 Bg6 Be4; 2 Q g 7 ck, K a n y ; 3 Q g 5

N o . 99 1 Bh6 threat 2 B f 8

R f 2 ; 2 Sf3 , R f 2 x S ; 3 R x P ck, R x R ; 4 Bf8 R h 3 x S ; 3 B f 8 ck, R x B ; 4 R x P

R d 2 ; 2 Sd3, R d 2 x S ; 3 R x P ck, R x R ; 4 B f 8 R h 3 x S ; 3 Bf8 ck, R d 6 ; 4 R x P

R g 8 ; 2 R d l , R x B ; 3 Sd3 etc. R g 6 ; 2 S x R etc.


No. 100 1 Ba8 threat 2 Pd4

Bf7 ; 2 Pe6, Q x P e 6 ; 3 Pd4 dis ck, Q x R ; 4 R x P BxP; 3 R x P ck, B x R ; 4 Pd4

Bg6; 2 Pf5 , Q x P f 5 ; 3 Pd4 dis ck, Q d 3 ; 4 R x P BxP; 3 R x P ck, BxR; 4 Pd4

No . 101 1 R a 2 threat 2 R c 2

R f 2 ; 2 Be2, R e l x B ; 3 Rc2 ck, R x R ; 4 R e 8 R f 2 x B ; 3 R e 8 ck, R x R ; 4 R c 2

Q f l ; 2 Be2, R e l x B ; 3 Rc2 ck, R x R ; 4 R e 8 Q x B ; 3 R e 8 ck, Q x R e 8 ; 4 R c 2

Q g l , h3 ; 2 Se3, R x S ; 3 R c 2 ck, R c 3 ; 4 R e 8 Q x R ; 3 R e 8 ck, Q x R ; 4 R c 2

Q h 7 ; 2 Se4, R x S ; 3 R c 2 ck, R c 4 ; 4 R e 8 Q x S ; 3 R e 8 ck, Q x R ; 4 R c 2

R f 4 or S f4 ; 2 Se4 etc. R f 5 ; 2 Se5, R e l x S ; 3 Rc2 ck, R c 5 ; 4 R e 8

R f 5 x S ; 3 R e 8 ck, R x R ; 4 R c 2 Pd5 ; 2 Se6, R e l x S ; 3 Rc2 ck, R c 6 ; 4 R e 8

R f 6 x S ; 3 R e 8 ck, R x R ; 4 R c 2

No . 102 1 K g 4 threat 2 Sg5 dis ck, P x R ; 3 Sf3

P x R ; 2 Q e 5 , Q g 8 ck; 3 Sg6 Ph5 ck; 3 SxP R x P ; 3 S x R R g l a n y ; 3 Se2

Q g 8 ; 2 Q e 5 , P x P dis ck; 3 Sg5

N o . 103 1 Bd6 threat 2 Sc5

BxS dbl ck; 2 KxB, RxB db l ck; 3 K x R R x P db l ck; 3 K x R S b 3 ; 3 PxS Sc3, d 4 ; 3 Sc3(x) else; 3 K d 8

Bb7 dbl ck; 2 K b 8 , a n y ; 3 Sc5 Bb5 dis ck; 2 Sc5 ck, K b 4 ; 3 Q x B R e 6 any ; 2 R x Q ck, a n y ; 3 Sc5

D. J. Densmore 77

No. 104 1 Q c l threat 2 Q e l

Bd3; 2 R e 2 Be4 ck; 2 Sd5 Sd3; 2 Re2 S f 3 ; 2 Sc2 P f 3 ; 2 Se2 B f 2 ; 2 R d l

Henry Wald Bettmann

HENRY WALD BETTMANN ( 1 8 6 8 - 1 9 3 5 ) , w i t h his b r o t h e r E d g a r B e t t m a n ( 1 8 6 6 - 1 9 4 5 ) a n d his cous in J a c o b B e t t m a n n ( 1 8 6 5 -1935) , b e g a n c o m p o s i n g p r o b l e m s w h e n i n t h e i r t eens , w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r , a n d i t i s n o t poss ib le t o tel l w h a t p a r t e a c h p l a y e d i n t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t i v e e f fo r t s . I n l a t e r y e a r s o n l y H e n r y c o n t i n u e d t o c o m p o s e . H e b e c a m e a p r o m i n e n t p h y s i c i a n a n d s u r g e o n i n C i n c i n n a t i a n d his p ro fe s s iona l ac t iv i t ies l i m i t e d his p r o b -l emis t i c w o r k .

H e w a s espec ia l ly i n t e r e s t e d i n task c o m p o s i t i o n s i n w h i c h s o m e p a r t i c u l a r f e a t u r e i s p r e s e n t e d i n m a x i m u m o r m a n i f o l d r e p e t i t i o n s , l ike t h e f o u r d i s c o v e r e d m a t e s by a p a w n , d o u b l e d in p r o b l e m 113; t h e q u a d r u p l e d e c h o o f a m a t i n g p o s i t i o n in N o . 116 ; t h e m u l t i p l e u n p i n n i n g s o f t h e w h i t e q u e e n i n N o s . 122 a n d 123; a n d t h e m u l t i p l e p a w n p r o m o t i o n s i n p r o b l e m s 114, 115, 127 a n d 128.

O t h e r A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m i s t s h a v e b e e n i n t e r e s t e d i n c e r t a i n t y p e o f tasks, b u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e v a r i e t y o f t h e tasks o f w h i c h D r . B e t t m a n n c o m p o s e d n o t a b l e i l lus t ra t ions , h e m a y wel l b e r e g a r d e d a s t h e m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g A m e r i c a n t a sk c o m -pose r .

A t o n e t i m e i t w a s n o t t h o u g h t poss ible t o c o n s t r u c t a t w o -m o v e r i n w h i c h i f t h e w h i t e k i n g was s u b m i t t e d t o a d o u b l e c h e c k t h e m a t i n g m o v e w o u l d n o t r e q u i r e t h e c a p t u r e o f o n e o f t h e c h e c k i n g pieces . B u t t h e B e t t m a n n boys i n N o . 105 s h o w e d t h a t a c a p t u r e w a s n o t neces sa ry . I n t h e s p a r k l i n g m u t a t e N o . 106 t h e sub t l e key c h a n g e s t h r e e set m a t e s f r o m c o m m o n p l a c e t o m u c h m o r e a t t r a c t i v e ones .

P r o b l e m 107 i s a s t u d y in p a w n p l ay , i n w h i c h t h e p a w n key -m o v e sets u p a w a i t i n g pos i t i on . T h e n i n e a c h o f t h e t w o e n -s u i n g t h e m a t i c l ines a c a p t u r e by a b l a c k p a w n i s c o u n t e r e d by a c a p t u r e by a w h i t e p a w n t h a t o p e n s l ines for t w o w h i t e p ieces , s o a s t o d i scover m a t e f r o m o n e p i ece a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y g u a r d

72

Henry Wald Bettmann 73

105

E d g a r , H e n r y W a l d a n d J a c o b B e t t m a n n

Quebec Chronicle 1882


107

E d g a r , H e n r y W a l d a n d J a c o b B e t t m a n

First Prize Southern Trade Gazette

1884


1 0 6

E d g a r a n d H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n

South Australian Chronicle 1883


1 0 8

E d g a r , H e n r y W a l d a n d J a c o b B e t t m a n n

St. John Globe 1885



t h e k n i g h t b y a n o t h e r p iece . T h u s all t h e m o v e s i n t h e t h e m a t i c p l a y a r e m a d e b y p a w n s .

T h e w a i t i n g - m o v e key in N o . 108 sets up a pos i t ion to m e e t t h e t h r e a t e n e d check , 1 Q e 7 ck, a n d a n y o t h e r m o v e s by t h e b l ack q u e e n , 1 Q h 8 ; 2 K f 4 b e i n g t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n .

N o . 109, a n i n c o m p l e t e b lock , n o m a t e b e i n g p r o v i d e d i n t h e in i t i a l pos i t ion for 1 Pf 3 or 1 P x P , is t y p i c a l of t h e style o f t h e B e t t m a n n s ' t w o - m o v e r s , t h e w h i t e k ing m o v i n g t o w h e r e h e m a y b e checked i n t h r e e ways , b u t a l lowing t h e b i s h o p ' s p a w n t o m o v e t o t h r e e d i f f e r e n t s q u a r e s t o d iscover m a t e a c c o r d i n g to Black ' s defens ive moves . T h e m a t e s fo l l owing 1 S b 5 a n d 1 S f 5 shou ld n o t b e ove r looked a n d t h e r e a r e n o dua l s .

F r o m t h e in i t ia l pos i t ion o f t h e w h i t e k ing i n N o . 110 a n d t h e i m m o b i l i t y o f all b u t o n e o f t h e b l ack m e n i t w o u l d s eem in-c red ib l e , a t first g l ance , t o be l ieve t h a t Black c a n be f o r c e d to m a t e W h i t e i n t h r e e m o v e s ! T h e k e y m o v e i s a s p e c t a c u l a r one a n d t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s a r e sub t l e .

T h e B e t t m a n n boys r e g a r d e d a wel l -d isguised key o f p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e a n d a g a i n i n N o . I l l t h e key a n d e n s u i n g t h r e a t a r e o f a n o r ig ina l n a t u r e . T h e solver shou ld n o t e h o w t h e b l ack b i s h o p ' s i n t e r f e r e n c e o n t h e q u e e n leads t o t w o d i s t i nc t m a t e s , a c c o r d i n g t o w h e t h e r t h e b i s h o p moves t o e 3 o r t o e5. T h e n t h e m a t e fo l lowing t h e f l i g h t - o p e n i n g a n d se l f -b lock ing defense 1 R d 6 shou ld be n o t e d .

A n o t h e r w a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m b y t h e B e t t m a n n b r o t h e r s , N o . 112, shows m u t u a l i n t e r f e r ences b e t w e e n a b l a c k r o o k a n d t w o b ishops , c o m b i n e d w i t h a w h i t e roya l b a t t e r y . T h e t h e m e o f f o u r l a t e r a l m a t e s by d i scovery by t h e m o v e s o f a w h i t e p a w n is d o u b l e d in p r o b l e m 113.

I n t h e m a i n p l a y o f p r o b l e m 114 t h e r e a r e t h r e e successive p r o m o t i o n s of a p a w n to a r o o k a n d also a s econd p r o m o t i o n of a p a w n to a rook a f t e r 1 S d 5 c k ; 2 PxS, K d 7 . D r . B e t t m a n n took a n especial in te res t i n p a w n p r o m o t i o n t h e m e s a n d N o . 115 f e a t u r e s p r o m o t i o n s t o d i f f e r e n t w h i t e pieces fo l l owing d i f f e r e n t p r o m o t i o n s o f a b l ack p a w n . T h i s p r o b l e m m a y be r e g a r d e d a s a f o r e r u n n e r to his Babsontask p r i ze w i n n e r N o . 128.

N o . 116 has a q u a d r u p l e d e c h o of a m a t i n g pos i t ion , b r o u g h t a b o u t by the se l f -b locking m o v e s o f t he d e f e n d i n g b l a c k b i shop . I n t r o d u c e d b y a n exce l l en t key, t h e r e a re N o w o t n y in t e r -


109


Second Prize La Strategic

1886

110


Jamaica Gleaner 1887

White mates in t w o moves White self-mates in three moves

111 112

E d g a r a n d H e n r y W a l d E d g a r a n d H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n B e t t m a n n

Second Prize First Prize Nashville American St. John Globe

1887 1888



113

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n 1910


115

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n The Theory of Pawn Promotion

1912


114

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n More White Rooks

1911


116

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times

September 22, 1912



117

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Schachblatter

June 7, 1914


119

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

1916

118

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Tasks and Echoes

1915


1 2 0

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n First Prize

Good Companions February 22, 1918



f e rences on five d i f f e r e n t s q u a r e s in the e c o n o m i c a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d N o . 117. P r o b l e m 118 i s p r o b a b l y t h e first p u b l i s h e d e x a m p l e o f t h e d o u b l i n g of a W u r z b u r g - P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e . C o m -p a r e th is c o m p o s i t i o n w i t h W u r z b u r g ' s N o . 133.

I n N o . 119 Black ' s c a p t u r e o f t h e k n i g h t b y t h e p a w n leads t o f o u r d i s t inc t c o n t i n u a t i o n s , d e p e n d i n g o n w h i c h o n e o f f o u r d i f f e r e n t pieces Black elects t o p r o m o t e t h e p a w n to . I n t w o o f t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s t h e r e a r e also p a w n p r o m o t i o n s b y W h i t e . P r o b l e m 120 has a nove l key, c h a n g i n g t h e m a t e a f t e r 1 R x S c k a n d p e r m i t t i n g t h e p a w n t o d iscover a n o t h e r m a t e w h e n B lack p lays 1 R x P . T h e r e a r e t w o pa i r s o f s y m m e t r i c a l l y e c h o e d m a t e s i n N o . 121, o n e p a i r b e i n g m o d e l m a t e s .

A f t e r t h e se l f -p inn ing key in p r o b l e m 122, s e t t i ng up a b lock pos i t ion , f ive o f Black ' s m o v e s a r e w i t h d r a w a l u n p i n s o f t h e w h i t e q u e e n , wh i l e a s ix th m o v e i s an i n t e r f e r e n c e u n p i n . A g a i n in N o . 123 a f t e r a t h e m a t i c se l f -p inn ing k e y m o v e , t h e r e a r e seven w i t h d r a w a l u n p i n s o f t h e w h i t e q u e e n p e r m i t t i n g h e r t o m a t e .

I n N o . 124 t h e r e a r e s q u a r e obs t ruc t i ons on a b l a c k k n i g h t w h e n t h e b l ack b i s h o p m o v e s t o d2 , f 2 o r g 5 a n d i n t e r f e r ences b y a k n i g h t o n t h e b i s h o p w h e n t h e b i s h o p m o v e s b e y o n d these s q u a r e s — a n u n u s u a l t h e m e , i n w h i c h t h e t h e m a t i c p l a y i s t r i p l e d . T h e shor t t h r e a t i s a m i n o r d e m e r i t .

N o . 125 is a b e a u t i f u l e x a m p l e of a b l o c k - t h r e a t p r o b l e m , w i t h a f ine key a n d m a t i n g t h r e a t . N o t e t h e c h a n g e d m a t e a f t e r 1 Q.f'5 ck a n d also t h e t r y 1 Q f 4 d e f e a t e d by 1 Q x R .

T h e s t r ik ing k e y m o v e i n N o . 126 obs t ruc t s t h e w h i t e b i s h o p a n d gives t h e b l ack k i n g a f l ight , fo l lowed by a s u r p r i s i n g m a t e i f t h e k i n g moves t o e5. T h e n t h e solver shou ld n o t miss t h e m a t e a f t e r Black ' s se l f -b locking m o v e 1 R e 5 to d e f e a t t h e t h r e a t 2 S f6 .

A c c o r d i n g to Black ' s p l a y in p r o b l e m 127 t h e r e a r e six dif-f e r e n t p r o m o t i o n s o f t h e w h i t e p a w n , w h i c h p r o m o t e s to a q u e e n t h r e e t imes on b8 , c8 o r d8 , o r to a k n i g h t on t h e s a m e s q u a r e s . W i t h a t o t a l o f on ly e leven w h i t e a n d b l a c k m e n this c o m p o s i t i o n is t r u l y a m a s t e r p i e c e .

N o . 128 is t he f a m o u s Babsontask first p r i z e w i n n e r in w h i c h , fo l lowing W h i t e ' s p a w n p r o m o t i o n key, t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e b l a c k p a w n by 1 P x B to a n y o n e of f o u r d i f f e r e n t pieces i s c o u n t e r e d b y t h e p r o m o t i o n o f W h i t e ' s k ing ' s b i s h o p ' s p a w n t o a s imi l a r p iece .


1 2 1

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Densmore Memorial Tourney

1918-1920

1 2 2

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n V Good Companions

November, 1919

White mates in three moves White mates in t w o moves

123

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Good Companions November, 1919

124

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Second Prize, Class B

Densmore Memorial Tourney 1918-1920



125

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n V Good Companions

April, 1921


127

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Good Companions

January, 1923


1 2 6

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n Second Prize

Good Companions May, 1921


1 2 8

H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n First Prize

Babson Task Contest 1925-1926



S O L U T I O N S

No. 105 1 Q h 5 , SxS d b l ck; 2 K c 3

No. 106 1 Q e l waiting

K e 4 ; 2 Q h l Pe4; 2 Q x P P d 3 ; 2 P d 4 S a n y ; 2 SxB B a n y ; 2 BxP

No. 107 1 PxPe4 waiting

PxPe4 ; 2 PxP P x P d 4 ; 2 PxP K x S ; 2 R f 3 P x R ; 2 Q h 3

No. 108 1 Bh4 waiting

Q e 7 ck; 2 R e 6 Q g 5 ck; 2 R f 5 Q g 3 ck; 2 R f 4 dis ck Q h 8 ; 2 K f 4

No . 109 1 K d 2 waiting

Pb3 dis ck ; 2 Pc3 B x Q ; 2 Pc4 B b 3 ; 2 PxB B x P ; 2 BxB Sc4 ck; 2 Q x S S b 5 ; 2 Pd6 S f5 ; 2 Sg5 PxP ck; 2 R x P e 3

No. I l l 1 Re2-c2 threat 2 R d 3

Be3; 2 K e 2 Be5; 2 K e 3 S f 2 ; 2 K x S Pg4; ck KxB S f 5 ; 2 K g 4 R d 6 ; 2 Se7

No. 110 1 S h i , Bb6, c5; 2 Sb3 ck, K d 3 ; 3 Sf2 ck, BxS

Bb8; 2 Q f 6 ck, Be5; 3 Pg6, B x Q

No. 112 1 Sa3 waiting

R d 2 ; 2 Bb2 R e 2 ; 2 R d 3 R f 2 ; 2 K x P g 3 R g 2 ; 2 K x P h 3 B e 2 ; 2 SxS Bd2, f 2 ; 2 SxS Bel else; 2 K x P g 3

No. 113 1 R h 2 threat 2 Pg3 or g4

S h 3 ; 2 PxS R a n y ; 2 Pg3 B h 5 ; 2 Pg4 S f 3 ; 2 PxS Q x P ; 2 P x Q Q f 5 ; 2 Pc3 P x P ; 2 Pc4 Q b 3 ck; 2 P x Q


No. 114 1 Pc8(R) , S x R ; 2 PxS(R) , K d 7 ; 3 P f8 (R) , K d 6 ; 4 R f 8 - d 8

Sd5 ck; 2 PxS, K d 7 ; 3 P f8 (R) , K d 6 ; 4 R f 8 - d 8 K x P ; 3 Pb8(Q,) , K a n y ; 4 Q e 5

No. 115 1 PxP, Pa 1(Q,); 2 Pb8(Q,) , a n y ; 3 Bd7

P a l ( S ) ; 2 Kc4 , a n y ; 3 Pb8(S) P a l ( B ) ; 2 P b 8 ( R ) , K d 6 ; 3 R b 6 K b 5 , b6 ; 2 Pb8(Q,) ck

No. 116 1 Q b 3 , Be3; 2 Q c 3 threat 3 Q x P e 5

Bd4; 3 Q f 3 B f 4 ; 3 Q d 3

K f 5 ; 2 Q,g3 threat 3 Q x P Bf6 ; 3 Q g 4 B f 4 ; 3 Q g 6

No . 117 1 Sb6 threat 2 Bg3 ck, K a 7 ; 3 Sc8

R c l or R c 2 ; 2 Bc6 R d l , R d 2 or R a 5 ; 2 Bd5 R e l , Re2 or R a 4 ; 2 Be4 R f l or R f 2 ; 2 Bf3 R g l ; 2 B g 2

No . 118 1 Sd8 threat 2 P x R dis ck

Rc4-c5; 2 SxP ck, R x S ; 3 Sc6 Rd5-c5 ; 2 Sc6 ck, R x S ; 3 SxP Q g 4 ; 2 Se2 ck, Q x S ; 3 Se6 Bg4; 2 Se6 ck, BxS; 3 Se2

No . 119 1 Sh5, P x S ( Q ) ; 2 P d 8 ( Q ) , Q.f5 ck; 3 Ke7

P x S ( R ) ; 2 Pd8(S) , R f 5 ; 3 Sf7 PxS(B); 2 Ke5, BxP; 3 R g l x B ck PxS(S) ; 2 R h 3 , Se3; 3 Sf6 ck

Sg3; 2 K e 5 P e l ( Q ) ; 2 P d 8 ( Q . )

Henry Wald Bettmann 8 3

No. 120 1 Pe6 threat 2 Be5

RxS ck; 2 BxR R x P ; 2 P x R Bd4; 2 Bd2 S f 2 ; 2 Sd5 S f 4 ; 2 Sg4

No. 121 1 Q e 3 , SxRd6 ; 2 Sc6 ck, K x R ; 3 Q h 6

S x R f 6 ; 2 Sg6 ck, K x R ; 3 Q b 6 K x R d 6 ; 2 Q b 6 ck, K x S ; 3 R f 7

K e 5 ; 3 R f 5 K x R f 6 ; 2 Q h 6 ck, K x S ; 3 R d 7

K e 5 ; 3 R d 5

No. 122 No. 123 1 Q x P waiting 1 Pc4 waiting

Q x Q ; 2 S x Q Q d 4 ; 2 Q x Q or Q a 3 Q f 2 ; 2 Q x Q Q d 5 ; 2 Q x Q Q g l ; 2 Bc2 Q x R ; 2 Q d 5 Q f 3 ; 2 Q d 7 Q x P e 5 ; 2 Q a 3 Q x B g 3 ; 2 Q d 4 Q x S ; 2 Q a 3 Q x S ; 2 Q d 3 Q x P c 4 ; 2 Q x Q Q f 4 ; 2 Q x Q Q x B ; 2 Q d 6 Q x P ; 2 Q x Q Q x Q ck; 2 S x Q Sb6; 2 Q g 4

No. 124 1 Q f 3 , B e l ; 2 Sa5, Sd2 ; 3 Q e 3

Bh6; 2 Sd8, Sg5; 3 Q e 3 B g l ; 2 Sa2xPb4, S f 2 ; 3 Q e 3 B d 2 ; 2 Sa5 B g 5 ; 2 Sg8 Bf2 ; 2 Sa2xPb4

No. 125 1 Q e 3 threat 2 Pc4

No. 126 No . 127 1 K c 3 threat 2 S f6 1 Rd7 , S x R ; 2 P x R ( Q )

K e 5 ; 2 K c 4 Se6; 2 P c 8 ( Q ) Q e 5 ck; 2 R d 4 K c 8 ; 2 P x S ( Q ) Re5 ; 2 Q c 4 K x R ; 2 PxR(S)

KxB; 2 Pc8(S) R c 8 ; 2 PxS(S)

8 4 Chess Problem Gems

No. 128 1 Pa8(B), P x B ( Q ) ; 2 P f 8 ( Q ) , Q g 8 ; 3 Q x Q . , R x R

Q x P ck; 3 P b 5 ck, Q x P b 5 Q x S ; 3 Pb5 ck, Q x P b 5 Q else; 3 W h i t e x Q, R x R

PxB ( R ) ; 2 P f 8 ( R ) , R x S ; 3 R x R f l , R x R PxB(S) ; 2 Pf8(S) , S x Q ; 3 RxS, R x R

S f 3 ; 3 Q x S , R x R PxB(B); 2 Pf8(B), B a n y ; 3 Whi t e x B, R x R

Otto Wurzburg

OTTO WURZBURG ( 1 8 7 5 - 1 9 5 1 ) d i s p l a y e d o u t s t a n d i n g skill i n c o n s t r u c t i o n o f b o t h s t r a t e g i c a n d m o d e l m a t e c o m p o s i t i o n s a n d w a s u n d o u b t e d l y i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e i d e a l s o f t h e B o h e m i a n S c h o o l .

T h e B o h e m i a n c o m p o s e r i s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a e s t h e t i c e l e m e n t s t h a n i n s t r a t e g i c a l m a n e u v e r s . T h u s t h e t y p i c a l i d e a l B o h e m i a n c o m p o s i t i o n h a s a n a t t r a c t i v e i n i t i a l s e t t i ng , i s e c o n o m i c a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h m u c h m o b i l i t y o f t h e p i eces e m p l o y e d a n d h a s a v a r i e t y o f b e a u t i f u l m a t i n g pos i t i ons , i n -c l u d i n g s e v e r a l m o d e l m a t e s . N a t u r a l l y s u c h i d e a l s a r e m o r e a p p l i c a b l e t o t h r e e - m o v e a n d f o u r - m o v e p r o b l e m s t h a n t o t w o -m o v e r s .

W u r z b u r g , h o w e v e r , w a s a m a s t e r i n t h e b l e n d i n g o f e l e g a n c e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h s t r a t e g i c a l i deas . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e h o w s p a r i n g h e w a s i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t o f w h i t e p a w n s ; o n l y i n six o f t h e s e t h i r t y - t w o se l ec t ions o f his p r o b l e m s a r e t h e r e a n y w h i t e p a w n s .

N o . 129, a p r o b l e m d o m classic , f e a t u r e s T u r t o n d o u b l i n g i n a m i n i a t u r e s e t t i n g , p r e v i o u s l y s h o w n i n S h i n k m a n ' s N o . 6 7 a n d i n M e r e d i t h ' s N o . 48 . I t i s e n r i c h e d b y a s e c o n d a r y v a r i -a t i o n w h e r e a q u e e n sac r i f i ce l e a d s t o a m o d e l m a t e , w h i c h m a y b e c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e t w o q u e e n sac r i f i ce l ines o f p l a y i n p r o b l e m 74.

W i t h its u n u s u a l reflected m o d e l m a t e e c h o , p l u s a t h i r d m o d e l m a t e , N o . 130 i s t y p i c a l o f W u r z b u r g ' s skill i n c o m p o s i n g B o h e m i a n t y p e p r o b l e m s . E a c h o f t h e f o u r m o d e l m a t e s i n N o . 131 i s o f a d i f f e r e n t t y p e , t w o of t h e m f o l l o w i n g s e l f - b l o c k i n g m o v e s b y B l a c k ' s k i n g ' s b i s h o p .

S h o u l d W h i t e p l a y S c 3 o n t h e f i rs t m o v e i n N o . 132, B l a c k ' s o n l y m o v e w o u l d be 1 P c 5 , p r o d u c i n g a s t a l e m a t e p o s i t i o n un le s s W h i t e f r e e d t h e b l a c k k i n g . S o t h e k e y m o v e a v o i d i n g th i s poss ib i l i t y i s a f o r m o f I n d i a n s t r a t e g y , a s e x p l a i n e d in c o n -

85


n e c t i o n w i t h p r o b l e m 63. T o i l lus t ra te this m a n e u v e r w i t h on ly six m e n is a c o n s t r u c t i o n a l f ea t .

N o . 133 i s t h e p i o n e e r e x a m p l e o f t h e W u r z b u r g - P l a c h u t t a , a P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e w h e r e a w h i t e m a n i s n o t m o v e d o n t o t h e cr i t ica l s q u a r e . As p rev ious ly m e n t i o n e d , six y e a r s l a t e r in N o . 118 D r . B e t t m a n p u b l i s h e d t h e first d o u b l i n g o f a W u r z -b u r g - P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e .

All seven o f t h e b l a c k k n i g h t ' s m o v e s in N o . 134, v a c a t i n g t h e d4 s q u a r e t o d e f e a t t h e t h r e a t 2 R e 5 , a r e i n t e r f e r e n c e s on o t h e r b l a c k m e n . I n t h e b a t t l e b e t w e e n t h e w h i t e a n d b l a c k kn igh t s i n t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 135 t h e s t a r v a r i a t i o n i s t h e o n e w h e r e t h e q u e e n is sacr i f iced a f t e r 1 Sa2 , l e a d i n g to a s econd self-block by a b l ack k n i g h t a n d e n d i n g in a m o d e l m a t e .

N o . 136 m a y be r e g a r d e d as a task p r o b l e m in w h i c h , ac -c o r d i n g to Black 's p l ay , t h e w h i t e q u e e n i s sac r i f i ced on t h e s econd m o v e on five d i f f e r e n t squa res . W h i l e i n N o . 137 t h e r e a r e o n l y f o u r w h i t e pieces, t h e r e i s a w i d e v a r i e t y of s t r a t eg i c p l a y , i n c l u d i n g f o u r b l a c k u n b l o c k i n g defenses, seven self-blocks a n d t h r e e b l ack i n t e r f e r ences . T w o o f t h e v a r i a t i o n s e n d i n m o d e l m a t e s .

I n t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 138 t h e w h i t e k ing m o v e s i n t o a n ex-p o s e d pos i t ion a n d m u c h o f t h e ensu ing p l a y i s a d u e l b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k rook a n d t h e w h i t e q u e e n ' s b i s h o p . A f t e r t h e self-b l o c k i n g 1 R a l t h e m o d e l m a t e i s s p e c t a c u l a r . I n N o . 139 t h e w h i t e k ing m o v e s t o w h e r e he i s exposed to consecu t ive c h e c k s ; b u t i n f o u r v a r i a t i o n s t h e moves o f t h e b l a c k k n i g h t s o b s t r u c t those o f t h e b l a c k rook .

T h e w i t h d r a w a l key in p r o b l e m 140 l eads to a w a i t i n g - m o v e pos i t ion w i t h m u l t i p l e I n d i a n - t y p e p l a y fo l lowing t h e m o v e s o f t h e b l a c k b i shop . O p e n i n g w i t h a sacr if ic ial k e y m o v e , N o . 141 has a cu r ious series o f m o d e l m a t e s , essent ia l ly t h e s a m e m a t i n g pos i t ion b e i n g r e p e a t e d w i t h s l ight v a r i a t i o n s i n f ive d i f f e r e n t l ines of p l a y .

I n N o . 142 t h e b l ack rooks , m o v i n g a l o n g t h e s a m e l ine in -s t ead of on i n t e r s ec t i ng l ines as in a P l a c h u t t a i n t e r f e r e n c e , i n t e r f e r e w i t h e a c h o t h e r w h e n e i the r o f t h e m m o v e s t o e2 t o d e f e n d aga ins t t h e t h r e a t e n e d i m m e d i a t e m a t e . W h e r e a l o n g - r a n g e piece , e i t he r w h i t e o r b l ack , i n s t e a d o f c l e a r i n g a l ine for a s imi la r fe l low piece , m o v e s in t h e o p p o s i t e d i rec -t i o n — t o w a r d its f e l l ow—i t is ca l led an anti-Bristol m o v e , s ince

Otto Wurzburg 87

129

O t t o W u r z b u r g V Bahn Frei

1895


130

O t t o W u r z b u r g Tijdschrift van den Nederland

Schaakbond May, 1900


132

O t t o W u r z b u r g Lasher's Chess Magazine

November, 1905

131

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Des Moines Leader

1902



133

O t t o W u r z b u r g V Zlata Praha June 25, 1909


135

O t t o W u r z b u r g Westen und Daheim September 10, 1911

134

O t t o W u r z b u r g Pittsburgh Leader Tourney

1909-1910


136

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times

February 25, 1912


Otto Wurzburg 8 9

137

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

March 9, 1912


139

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Problem

April 25, 1914


138

O t t o W u r z b u r g First Prize

Samuel Loyd Memorial Tourney 1913


140

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Problem

October 3, 1914



t h e m o v e is t h e oppos i t e of t h a t in a Bris tol c l e a r a n c e . So t h e p l a y of t h e rooks in N o . 142 m a y be t e r m e d a m u t u a l anti-Bristol interference.

N o . 143 echoes t h e p l a y of t h e f a m o u s Bonus Socius t w o - m o v e r t h a t was c o m p o s e d s o m e t i m e i n t h e t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y . T h e b l a c k p a w n i s r e q u i r e d to avo id a d u a l c o n t i n u a t i o n . W i t h o u t i t t h e p l a y cou ld also r u n 1 R h 7 , S d 4 ; 2 R b 7 , S e 6 ; 3 K h l , g l o r g 3 wa i t i ng .

N o . 144 shows m u l t i p l e echoes of a s i m p l e t y p e of m i r r o r m o d e l m a t e s . F r o m its d e c e p t i v e s impl ic i ty o f c o n s t r u c t i o n few solvers m a y a p p r e c i a t e t h e skill r e q u i r e d to c o m p o s e such a p r o b l e m . T h e f l igh t -y ie ld ing key o f p r o b l e m 145 l eads to five m o d e l m a t e d e n o u e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g t h r e e p i n - m o d e l s . I n t h e c o m p l e t e black knight wheel in N o . 146 six of t h e k n i g h t ' s moves a r e in t e r fe rences on o t h e r b l a c k pieces, t w o o f t h e m also b e i n g u n p i n s o f t h e w h i t e q u e e n .

A w a i t i n g - m o v e key in N o . 147 leads to a series of e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s . N o t o n l y does t h e w h i t e k ing m a k e t h e k e y m o v e i n N o . 148 b u t h e d iscovers m a t e i n t h r e e v a r i a t i o n s , t w o b e i n g c h a m e l e o n echoes .

O n c e aga in , i n t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 149, t h e k i n g m a k e s t h e k e y m o v e , this t i m e a s u r p r i s i n g r e t r e a t to v a c a t e a s q u a r e to e n a b l e a b i s h o p to m a k e a t h r e a t , l e a d i n g to e c h o e d c h a m e l e o n m o d e l m a t e s . F o l l o w i n g t h e f l igh t -y ie ld ing key i n N o . 150 t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s i n c l u d e t w o p a i r s o f e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s .

In p r o b l e m 151 an t i -Br i s to l p l a y i s c o m b i n e d w i t h Brede cross-check v a r i a t i ons , in w h i c h a w h i t e p i ece b e c o m e s p i n n e d w h e n i t in te rposes to d e f e n d aga ins t a c h e c k by Black a n d t h e n on a s u b s e q u e n t m o v e i s u n p i n n e d w h e n a b l a c k m a n m a k e s an i n t e r f e r e n c e o n t h e p i n n i n g l ine, r e leas ing t h e w h i t e p iece t o m a k e the m a t i n g m o v e . T h i s m a n e u v e r i s s o n a m e d f r o m b e i n g s h o w n in a p r o b l e m by J u l i u s B r e d e ( 1 8 0 0 - 1 8 4 9 ) , p u b l i s h e d in Schachaufgaben in 1844. In N o . 151 i t i s t h e k ing t h a t m a k e s Black 's m o v e i n t h e B r e d e va r i a t ions .

I t m a y surpr i se t h e solver w h e n he d iscovers t h a t N o . 152 i s a m u t a t e a n d t h a t n e i t h e r t h e w h i t e k ing n o r q u e e n i s a b l e t o m a k e a w a i t i n g m o v e . T h e key c h a n g e s t h r e e set m a t e s a n d a d d s a n o t h e r .

N o . 153, one o f W u r z b u r g ' s mas te rp i eces , m a y b e r e g a r d e d as a c o m b i n a t i o n of t w o t h r e e - m o v e p r o b l e m pos i t ions , d i f fe r -

Otto Wurzburg 97

141


December 5, 1915

142

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Pittsburgh Gazette- Times

April 22, 1917


143 144


February 17, 1918

O t t o W u r z b u r g First Prize—Class A

Densmore Memorial Tourney 1918-1920



145

O t t o W u r z b u r g Eskilstuna Kuriren

March 15, 1919


147

O t t o W u r z b u r g Good Companions

August, 1921


146

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Atlanta Journal

February, 1920


148

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Pittsburgh Post

February 1, 1925


Otto Wurzburg 93

149

O t t o W u r z b u r g Fourth Prize Prager Presse

1926


151

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Minneapolis Journal

January 21, 1934


150

O t t o W u r z b u r g V The Pittsburgh Post

April 30, 1927


152

O t t o W u r z b u r g American Chess Bulletin

January, 1936



153


Third Cheney Miniature Tourney

1937

154

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Atlanta Journal September 29, 1939


155


American Chess Bulletin 1939


156

O t t o W u r z b u r g First Honorable Mention American Chess Bulletin

1940


Otto Wurzburg 95

157

O t t o W u r z b u r g First Commended

American Chess Bulletin 1942


159

O t t o W u r z b u r g The Chess Correspondent

January, 1942


158


Sam Loyd Memorial Tourney Chess Review

1942


1 6 0

O t t o W u r z b u r g To Alain White

1945



e n t i a t e d by t h e f irst m o v e of t h e b l ack k ing , to f 1 or to f 3 . E a c h c o n t i n u a t i o n l eads t o t w o m o d e l m a t e s , w h i c h a r e c h a m e l e o n echoes o f t he m a t e s i n t h e o t h e r c o n t i n u a t i o n .

I n t h e m u t a t e N o . 154 t h e su rp r i s ing Br i s to l - type key c h a n g e s t h e m a t e set fo r 1 P f 3 to a m u c h m o r e a t t r a c t i v e one . Be-sides t h e t w o q u e e n sacrif ices in N o . 155, fo l lowed by m o d e l m a t e s , t h e r e i s a d d i t i o n a l i n t e r e s t ing p l a y . O p e n i n g w i t h a sub t l e w a i t i n g - m o v e key , N o . 156 has a p a i r of s y m m e t r i c a l l y e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s a n d also a p a i r o f e c h o e d p i n - m a t e s . N o . 157, a n o t h e r m i n i a t u r e , h a s a su rp r i s ing a m o u n t o f p l a y for t h e f e w pieces e m p l o y e d , w i t h severa l m o d e l m a t e s .

A d u e l b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k q u e e n a n d t h e w h i t e rooks i s i n t r o -d u c e d b y a n exce l l en t key i n t h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 158. T h e solver s h o u l d n o t e t h e seven tr ies by t h e k ing ' s rook , e a c h o f w h i c h i s on ly d e f e a t e d by a s ingle m o v e o f t h e q u e e n . A n o t h e r exce l len t key in N o . 159 l eads to a v a r i e t y of s t r a t eg ic p l a y .

P r o b l e m 160 is an e x a m p l e of t h e Roman theme in a m i n i a t u r e se t t ing . I n this t h e m e a n in i t ia l m a t i n g t h r e a t b y W h i t e i s de -f e a t e d by a s ingle b l a c k defens ive m o v e . W h i t e t h e r e f o r e decoys t h e b l ack d e f e n d i n g p i ece t o a n o t h e r s q u a r e f r o m w h i c h a n a n a l o g o u s d e f e n d i n g m o v e i s inef fec t ive . In th is p r o b l e m i f W h i t e p lays 1 K f 8 i m m e d i a t e l y , t h r e a t e n i n g m a t e b y 2 Q g 7 o r 2 Q f 6 , Black h a s an e f fec t ive defense in 1 R f 4 , p i n n i n g t h e q u e e n . T h e key, 1 K e 8 , l eads to t h e sub t l e t h r e a t o f 2 Bh7 . W h i l e Black c a n d e f e a t th is t h r e a t b y 1 R h 6 , W h i t e c a n n o w p r o -ceed w i t h 2 K f 8 a n d a l t h o u g h 2 R f 6 p i n s t h e q u e e n , W h i t e c a n m a t e b y 3 Q x R .

T h i s f ina l p r o b l e m w a s c o n t r i b u t e d b y W u r z b u r g fo r t h e v o l u m e To Alain White, e d i t e d by E d g a r W. A l l e n a n d Er i c M. H a s s b e r g , w h i c h F r a n k Al t s chu l h a d p r i n t e d a t his p r i v a t e O v e r b r o o k Press as a t r i b u t e to A l a i n W h i t e on his s ix ty-f i f th b i r t h d a y , M a r c h 3 , 1945.

Otto Wurzburg 97

S O L U T I O N S

No. 129 1 Bh3 threat 2 Q g 4

Pa5 ; 2 Q a 6 ck, K x Q ; 3 Bc8 else; 3 Q c 8

N o . 130 1 Bg4 threat 2 Sb3

P f 2 ; 2 Bf5 ck, K e 3 ; 3 Q h 6 K e 3 ; 2 SxP dis ck, K e 2 ; 3 Q a 6 K d 3 ; 2 Q f 4 , a n y ; 3 Bf5 Se2; 2 SxS, P x S ; 3 Q d 4 S e 6 ; 2 SxS, a n y ; 3 Sg5

No . 131 1 Q g 3 threat 2 Bc4 ck, K e 4 ; 3 Q e l

K x B ; 3 Q b 3 K c 6 ; 3 Q c 7

Be5; 2 Q b 3 ck, K d 6 ; 3 Sf5 K e 4 ; 3 Q f 3

BxS; 2 Sc7 ck, K e 4 ; 3 Bd3 K c 5 ; 3 Q a 3

Ba6; 2 Bc6 ck, K c 4 ; 3 Q b 3 K e 4 ; 2 Bc4

No . 132 1 B a l , Pc5; 2 Sc3, K d 4 ; 3 Q e 4

K d 5 ; 2 Q b 3 ck, K x S ; 3 Q f 3

No. 133 1 Se5 threat 2 Q b 2 , R c 4 - d 4 ; 3 Sd7

R d 3 - d 4 ; 3 SxPg4 Rc4-d4 ; 2 Q d 5 , RxQ, ; 3 SxPg4 R d 3 - d 4 ; 2 Q e 4 , R x Q ; 3 Sd7 Sa7 a n y ; 2 Q c 6 ( x ) ck Pg3; 2 Q f 3 c k

No. 134 1 Q c 7 threat 2 R e 5 1 Se6; 2 R h 5 x P

S b 3 ; 2 Sb4 S f 3 ; 2 Sh3xP Sb5; 2 Q b 7 Se2; 2 Q x P c 4 Sc6; 2 Q d 7 Sc2; 2 Sa2xP


No. 135 1 Sb3 waiting

Sa2; 2 Qb2 ck, SxQ,; 3 Sa3 Sd3; 2 Qa l ck, Kc2; 3 Sd4 Kc2; 2 Sd4 ck, Kb l ; 3 Sd2

Kdl ; 3 Qal Sc6; 2 Se3 Sd5;2 Sd4

No. 136 1 Pc7, R a 3 ; 2 Q e 3 ck (threat), K x Q ; 3 R e 6

QxQ; 3 Bc6 Pc2; 2 Qe5 ck, KxQ; 3Bd3 QxSe2; 2 Qd4 ck, KxQ; 3 Re6 QxSf4; 2 Qd5 ck, KxQ; 3 Bd3 Sg4; 2 Qf5 ck, KxQ; 3 Bd3

No. 137 1 Q g 8 threat 2 R g 7 ck, K d 6 ; 3 Q d 5

Kf6; 3 Qf7 Q e 4 ; 2 S d 5 threat 3 R f 6

QxS; 3 Qg6 Qf5; 2 Rf6 ck, KxR; 3 Sd5

KxS; 3 Qf8 Pe4; 2 Qg6 ck, Ke5; 3 Q f 6 Pd6; 2 Rg7 ck, Kd7; 3 Qc8 Pd5; 2 Sc8, Sf5; 3 Qg6

else; 3 Qe8 Qh7; 2 RxQ ck, Kf6; 3 Qg6 Kd6; 2 Rf6 ck, KxS; 3 Qf8 Q f l ; 2 Qg6 ck, Qf6; 3 Q x Q

No. 138 1 Ke2, Ral ; 2 Be4 ck, Ka2; 3 Qg8

Ra2 ck; 2 Bd2 dis ck, K any; 3 Qcl Re6 ck; 2 Be3 dis ck, K any; 3 Qcl Rf6; 2 Bf4 dis ck, K any; 3 Qcl Rg6; 2 Bg5 dis ck, K any; 3 Qcl Kc2; 2 Qdl ck, Kc3; 3 Qd2

Kbl ; 3 Ba3 Rc6; 2 Ba3 dis ck, Kc2; 3 Qcl Bb2; 2 Bd2 dis ck, Kc2; 3 Qdl

Bel; 3 QxB

Otto Wurzburg 99 No. 139

1 K d 5 , Sc3 ck; 2 Kc4 , R f 4 ck; 3 Be4 Se3 ck; 2 Kc5 , R f 5 ck; 3 Bd5 Sf6 ck, 2 Ke6 , R e 3 ck; 3 Be4 Sf4 ck; 2 K d 6 , R d 3 ck; 3 Bd5 R f 5 ck; 2 K d 4 , R c 5 ; 3 Bc6 R d 3 ck; 2 Ke5 , R c 3 ; 3 Bc6

No. 140 1 R h 5 waiting

Bh4; 2 Pd3, Bg5 ck; 3 BxB, S a n y ; 4 Bd2 B e l ; 3 Be3

Bg3; 2 Bg7, Be5; 3 BxB Bd6; 3 Bc3 ck, Bb4; 4 BxB

Bf2 ; 2 Bf8, Bc5; 3 BxB

No. 141 1 Q f l threat 2 S f6 ck, K x B ; 3 Sc4

K x S ; 2 Q f 3 ck, KxB; 3 Sc4 Pd3 ; 2 Q x P ck, K x B ; 3 Sc4 Bf5 ; 2 Q x S ck, K x B ; 3 Sc4 KxB; 2 Sc4 ck, K e 4 ; 3 Sf6 PxS; 2 Bg3 threat 3 Q d 3 ( x )

S e l ; 3 Q f 4 Se3, f4; 2 Q f 4 ( x ) ck

No . 142 1 Rc5 threat 2 R e 5

Rc2-e2; 2 R d 5 , R d 2 ; 3 Re5 Rh2-e2 ; 2 R f 5 , R f 2 ; 3 Re5 S f3 ; 2 R f 5 , a n y ; 3 R f 8 K e 7 ; 2 R c 6 dis ck, K e 8 ; 3 Re6 K f 8 ; 2 R g 5 dis ck, K e 8 ; 3 R g 8

No. 143 1 Rh7, Sd4; 2 R a 7 , Se6; 3 Ra7-b7

Sd6; 2 R a 7 , K d 8 ; 3 Rh7-g7

No. 144 1 Rb5-e5 waiting

K f 4 , g 4 ; 2 Re l - e3 , any ; 3 Q b 4 K f 2 , g 2 ; 2 Re5-e3, Pe5; 3 Q b 2 Ph5 ; 2 Rg5, Pe5; 3 Q f 8 Pa3 ; 2 Q b 3 ck, K g 4 ; 3 R e l - e 4 K g 3 ; 2 R g 5 d b l ck, any ; 3 Q g 3


No. 145 1 Q c l threat 2 SxS ck, K b 4 ; 3 Q b 2

Rb4; 2 Qc7 ck, Rb6; 3 Sc6 Pa3; 2 QxP ck, Ra4; 3 Se5-c4 Bc3; 2 QxB ck, Rb4; 3 Se5-c4 Kb4; 2 SxP ck, Ka5; 3 Qc7 SxS; 2 Qc5 ck, Sb5; 3 Sc6

No. 146 1 Bf2 threat 2 R d 4 1 S f 7 ; 2 Bd5

Q x Q ck; 2 SxQ Sg6; 2 Sg5 Sc4; 2 Qd4 Sg4; S Rf4 Sc6; 2 Qe3 Sf3; 2 PxS Sd7; 2 Bf5 Sd3; 2 PxS

No. 147 1 R b 7 waiting

Kd5; 2 Qa2 ck, Kc5; 3 Se4 Pd3; 2 Sf5, Pc5; 3 Se3 Pc5; 2 Qa6 ck, Kc3; 3 Se4 Kd3; 2 Q f l ck, Kc3; 3 Se4 Pcl(Q); 2 Q x Q ck, Kd3; 3 Rb3

Kd5; 3 Rd7 Kc5; 2 Se2 or Sf5

No. 148 1 Kb6, Ke3; 2 Kc5, Kf4; 3 Kd5, Kf3; 4 Ke5

Kd3; 3 Rf2, Ke3; 4 Kc4 Kd4; 2 Re2, Kd3; 3 Ba6 ck, Kd4; 4 Kc6

Kc4; 3 Ka5, Kb3; 4 Bd5 Kc4; 2 Rd2, K any; 3 Bd5(ck), any; 4 Rd4

No. 149 1 K a 8 threat 2 Ba7 threat 3 Q h 3

Kg3; 3 Qf2 Pe4; 2 Ba6, any; 3 Q f l K g 3 ; 2 Ba7 threat 3 Q f 2

Kg2; 3 Qh3 No. 150

1 Bel threat 2 Bb2 ck, K e 3 ; 3 Sd5 Pc4; 2 Qf5, Pc3; 3 Qd5

else; 3 Sb5 Pf2; 2 Qe2, Pc4; 3 Qe3 Ke5; 2 QxP ck, Kf6; 3 Qg5

Otto Wurzburg 101

No. 151 1 Rd3, Ra6-b6; 2 Ra3 threat 3 Ra2

Ra6; 3 Rb3 Rh6-b6; 2 RxP threat 3 Rg2

Rc6; 3 Rb3 KxSbl dis ck; 2 Rc3 dis ck, Kb2; 3 Rb3 Kc2 dis ck; 2 Rd4 dis ck, Kb2; 3 Rb4

No. 152 1 S d 4 waiting

Sa3 any; 2 Sd4-c2(x) 1 - - PxS; 2 QxS Se7 any; 2 Sc6(x) Pc2; 2 Qel

No. 153 1 Bf5, K f l ; 2 Bg4, Kf2; 3 Bd2, Kg3; 4 Bel

Kf 1; 4 Rf4 Kf3; 2 Kgl, Ke2; 3 Bc2, Kf3; 4 Bdl

Kel ; 4 Re4 Ke2; 2 Kg2, Kel ; 3 Bd3, Kdl ; 4 Ral

No. 154 1 R a 8 waiting

Pf3; 2 Qb8 1 - - R x Q ; 2 RxR Ph3; 2 Sf5 R else; 2 QxR S any; 2 Se2(x) Ph6, h5; 2 QxR

No. 155 1 Q b 6 threat 2 S f 2 dis ck, K g 5 ; 3 Q d 8

Ke4; 2 Qe3 ck, PxQ; 3 Pg4-e5 Pg5; 2 Qg6 ck, KxQ; 3 Sg4-e5 Qd3; 2 Se3 ck, Ke4; 3 Bg2 Qe4; 2 Sg4-e5 ck, Kg5; 3 Qd8 Kg5; 2 Qd8 ck, Kf5; 3 Sf2

No. 156 1 R f 5 waiting

Ba3; 2 Rf l ck, Ka2; 3 QxP Bel; 3 Qb2

Ka2; 2 Ra5 ck, Kb l ; 3 Qf5 Ba3; 2 Qb2

Kc2; 2 Rb5 etc.


N o . 157 1 Q e 5 , Ba3 ; 2 Bf7 , K d 7 ; 3 Q c 7

B d 6 ; 3 Q e 8 K d 7 ; 2 Bf7 , B d 8 ; 3 Q e 6

B d 6 ; 3 Q e 8 K c 6 ; 3 Q d 5

B d 6 , f 6 ; 2 Q d 6 ( x ) ck, K e 8 ; 3 Sc7 K e 8 ; 2 Sb6, K d 8 ; 3 Q b 8

K f 8 ; 3 Q h 8

N o . 158 1 R a 2 , Q c 7 , h 2 ; 2 R a 8 ck etc.

Q c 8 , g 8 ; 2 R h 2 ck etc.

N o . 159 1 Q f 3 threat 2 R x P c 6

P x Q ; 2 B h 3 Q x Q ; 2 B f 5 P e 4 ; 2 Q x B Se4 ; 2 Q d 3

N o . 160 1 K e 8 threat 2 Bh7 threat 3 Q g 8

R x B ; 3 Q f 8 R h 6 ; 2 K f 8 , R f 6 ; 3 Q x R

1 S a 7 ; 2 Q f 8 S e 7 ; 2 Bc7 Q c l ; 2 Q x P c 5

Paperbound unless otherwise indicated. Prices subject to change without notice. Avai lable at your book dealer or write for free catalogues to Dept. Chess. Dover Publications, Inc., 180 Varick Street, N e w York , N . Y . 10014. Please indicate field of interest. Each year Dover publishes over 200 books on fine art, music, crafts and needlework, antiques, languages, literature, children's books, chess, cookery, nature, anthropology, science, mathemat-ics, and other areas.

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

CHESS PROBLEM GEMS BY EIGHT EMINENT AMERICAN COMPOSERS KENNETH S.HOWARD This is a collection of profound and ingenious chess problems composed by eight of the most outstanding American composers—160 masterpieces in all, with commentary and solutions in ful l detail. Any chess enthusiast working through this treasury will discover one subtle and exciting master problem after another, and a thorough reading cannot fail to augment the skill and style of any player, no matter how advanced. In his presentation the author also goes a long way toward helping the relatively unskilled player to master these ingenious problems.

T h e work of these composers (with the single exception of Sam Loyd's) is currently unavailable in any other book, being either out of print or previ-ously uncollected. Loyd is well represented by 24 of his world-famous prob-lems, with their unusual settings, spectacular keys and subtle continuations. An equal number of problems displays the problemical skill of Henry Wald Bettmann, the prominent surgeon who was also the most outstanding American task composer in chess. There are 32 problems each by William Shinkman, "the wizard of Grand Rapids," showing his great ability to illus-trate a strategic theme with a minimum number of men, and by his nephew Otto Wurzburg, a master in the blending of elegance of construction with strategical ideas. Eugene Cook, the earliest of the American masters, is represented by 8 of his lightweight problems; 16 problems by William Meredith, including a number of the type now called "Merediths," display his masterful economy of construction; and finally, George Carpenter, with his varied and colorful style, and D. J. Densmore, known for his ingenious illustrations of black interferences, are represented by 12 problems each.

In a group of prefatory essays, the author—an internationally famous problemist, chess writer and editor, well-known as a judge in problem tourneys—provides a brief historical survey of chess problem composition in America, a detailed vocabulary of the specialized terms used in his com-mentaries and in discussing chess problems in general, and a short explana-tion of the notation used. This introductory material is especially helpful to those who wish to find an inroad of study to the expanding world of chess excitement that this book has to offer.

A Dover original, first published in 1973. 160 problems with ful l solutions, v -f- 102pp. 53/g x 8i/g. Paperbound.

A D O V E R E D I T I O N D E S I G N E D F O R Y E A R S OF USE!

We have made every effort to make this the best book possible. Our paper is opaque, with minimal show-through; it will not discolor or become brittle with age. Pages are sewn in signatures, in the method traditionally used for the best books, and will not drop out, as often happens with paperbacks held together with glue. Books open flat for easy reference. T h e binding will not crack or split. T h i s is a permanent book.

ISBN 0-486-22166-0 $2.50 in U.S.A.

chess proble gemm s...chess problem gems by eight eminent american composers is a new work firs,...

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