December 3rd

Walter Irving Kennard (03-12-1860 - 31-05-1936) American composer

According to A. C. White and Kenneth Howard, Walter Kennard composed problems without the chess board. He composed many problems that have solver-entertainment value.

Kennard, Walter Irving
Checkmate, Feb 1904

#2

8 + 11

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1.Qg1! (2.Bd4#)

1...Kxf6 2.Qg7# Nice switchback of the wQ
1...Rd5 2.Sd7#
1...Se3/Sxf2 2.Qa1#
1...Qxd6 2.Rf5#
1...Sxf6 2.Qh2#

Kennard, Walter Irving
Checkmate, 1904

#3

13 + 2

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1.Rf3-f4 ! (2.Rf4-b4/Rf4-d4 ~ 3.Rb1/Rd1#)

1...g5-g4 2.Rf4-b4 ~ 3.Rb4-b1#
1...g5xh4 2.Rf4-d4 (3.Rd4-d1#) 2...h4xg3+ 3.f2xg3#
1...g5xf4 2.Se6xf4 ZZ 2...Kf1xf2 3.Sf4-g2#

Karlström-Fleck.

And the most difficult one as a conclusion:

Kennard, Walter Irving
American Chess Bulletin, 1915

#4

7 + 6

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1.Rf1-c1 ! ZZ An amazing key, placing the wR behind tripled pawns.

1...b6-b5 2.c4-c5 b5-b4 3.c3xb4+ Ka5-b5 4.c2-c4#
1...c6-c5 2.Rc1-d1 ! b6-b5 3.Rd1-d5 b5xc4 4.Rd5xc5#