May 14th

William Meredith (14-05-1835 - 10-08-1903) American composer

William Meredith
[source: Cleveland Public Library]

William Meredith composed 200 problems. His specialty was problems of at most 12 pieces. Hence the name of "Meredith" given to this sort of problems, after a Good Companion tourney dedicated to him in 1916. 100 of his direct mates, each with commentary by one of the "Good Companion" club, can be found in the A.C.White Christmas Series "100 Chess Problems" (1916).

Let's start with a not so easy Meredith:

Meredith, William
Dubuque Chess Journal, 1872
5^th Prize

#3

5 + 1

Show Solution

1.Sd7! Kd2 2.Sc5! and mate follows on all three flights:

2...Ke3 3.Sc4#
2...Ke1 3.Bc3#
2...Kc1 3.Sb3#

This one may be easier to solve. Since Black obviously threatens direct checks by the Qg6 and discovery checks by the Bc5, some drastic measures must be taken:

Meredith, William
Chess Journal, 1871
2^nd Prize

#3

8 + 7

Show Solution

1.Qd8-d6 ! (2.Qd6-f4 / Sd3-f2 / Sd3xc5#)

1...Bb1xc2 2.Qd6-f4+ Ke4xd3 3.Qf4-c4#
1...Bc5xd6+ 2.Sd3-c5+ Ke4-e5 3.Sc5-d7#
1...Qg6x6 2.Sd3-f2+ Ke4-e5 3.Sf2-g4#

The key sacrifice offers the white Queen to two black pieces, with check to the white King after bB moves. The white Siers battery enables two very clean variations.