May 8th

Gijsbertus Jordan (08-05-1883 - 10-1956) Dutch composer

Gijsbertus Jordan was a member of the Good Companions and a twomover composer.

Jordan, Gijsbertus
De Schelde, 1924
Prize

#2

9 + 9

Show Solution

1.Qe3! (2.f4#)

1...Rf6+ 2.Bxf6#
1...Re6+ 2.f6#
1...Qxd6+ 2.Sf6#
1...Sg6/Se6 2.Rd5#

The problem presents the task of 3 moves on the same square f6 (which is not a record) but combines it with cross-check variations, which is original enough.

February 10th

Konrad Erlinger (10-02-1856 - 31-12-1944) Austrian composer

Konrad Erlinger published problems under the pseudonym of Konrad Erlin. He was a prolific composer, a lover of model mates and of sacrifices of white pieces, and a precursor of the Bohemian school.

Erlinger, Konrad
Good Companions, 1921
1^st Prize

#3

8 + 7

Show Solution

1.Qe7 ! (2.Qxd6+ Kxd6 3.Rd7# or 2...Kc4 3.Rxc6/Qc5#)

1...Bxd4 2.Qe6+ Kc5 3.Sd7#
1...Kc4 2.Rxc6+ Kxd4 3.Qd6# Kd5 3.Qxd6#
1...Sd4 2.Qe5+ Kxe5 3.Rc5#
1...Sxe7 2.Rc5+ Kxd4 3.Se6#
1...Se4 2.Qxe4+ Kd6 3.Rxc6/Rd7/Qxc6# or 2...Kc4 3.Rxc6#
1...Sb7 2.Rxc6 (3.Qe4#) 2...Kxc6, Sc5+, Sd6 3.Qd7, Qxc5, Qxd6#

Three of the four white pieces get to sacrifice themselves.

Erlinger, Konrad
Beobachter, 1889
1^st Prize

#3

7 + 7

Show Solution

1.Bc7 ! ZZ

1...Bf2 2.Rd3+ exd3 3.Qxd3#
1...Bh2 2.Bxb6 (3.R~#)
1...Kxd4 2.c3+ Kd5 3.Qf7# or 2...Ke3 3.Bf4#
1...Bd5 2.Bf4+ Kxd4 3.c3#
1...Be8/Bd7 2.Rxe4+ Kxe4 3.Qd3# or 2...Kd2 3.Re2#

The white Rook is sacrificed actively in two variations and passively in the third.

Erlinger, Konrad
Illustriertes Familien-Journal 1888
1^st Prize

#3......7 + 7

Show Solution

1.Qa6! (2.Qe6+)

1...Kxd5 2.Qb7+ Kxc4 3.b3#
1...Kf5 2.Qc8+ Ke4 3.Sf6#
1...Sf4 2.Sf6+ Kf5 3.e4#
1...Re5 2.Qxg6+ Kxd5, Rf5 3.b6, Sf6#

Sacrifices of wSs.