March 17th

Frank Richter (17-03-1966) German composer and International master

Frank Richter
[lsvmv.de]

Undoubtedly Frank Richter is the best known composer in today selection. He masters many genres with amazing success. He composes direct mates and selfmates, with incursions into the fairy domain.
Since 1996 he has also been editing the German chess problem magazine Harmonie.
You may read an interview about him and problem chess in German in two parts : here and here.

Let's admire the German master in action in a splendid long selfmate, in which the unexpected ending will amaze everybody:

Richter, Frank
Probleemblad, 2003 (Z222)
1^st-2^nd Prize

s#10

12 + 11

Show Solution

1. Rf8? (2. Qh6+ Rxh6#) but 1...Rh6+!
1. Rd6? c4 2. Rc6 b4! 3. Rb6 too slow
1. Se1! (2. Rxf5+ Bxf5 3. Qh6+ Rxh6#)
1... Ba2 2. Rd6 (3. Rd4+) c4 3. Rc6 (4. Rc4+) b4,bxa4 4. Rb6 (5. Sd3+ cxd3 6. Rxb4+) Bb1 5. Sd3+ Bxd3 6. Rf6 (7. Rxf5+) Bxe2 7. Qh6+ Kxf3 8. Qe3+ Sxe3 9. Rxf5+ Sxf5 10. Rf4+ Kxf4#