Chess Problem Gems (Gnv64)

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 shopis 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

White self-mates in three moves

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

White mates in two moves White mates in two moves

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

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

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

White mates in two moves

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


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

Southern Trade Gazette 1883

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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

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