November 21st

Frederick E. Gamage (21-11-1882 - 24-12-1956) American composer

Frederick Gamage
[Source: Illustrated Western Weekly News, cca 1910
scan © Michael McDowell]

Frederick Gamage was specialized in two and three-movers and was one of the precursors of the American composition.
In 1941 Alan White published "Frederick Gamage. An artist in Chess problem" which contains 100 selected problems and can be downloaded and read from here.
In 2004 Mike Prcic published the anthology "Frederick Gamage".

His name was given to a problem theme.
Gamage theme: White can directly unpin a black piece because Black has just interfered with it.

Gamage, Frederick E.
The Brisbane Courier, 1915
1^st HM

#2

9 + 8

Show Solution

1.Rc1! (2.Rc4#)
1...Sd6 2.Qxe7#
1...Bc3 2.Qb1#
1...e6 2.Qh7#
Three Gamage variations (bRc6 is unpinned by the Queen move, because it was interfered by the previous black move Sd6, Bc3 or e6)
Secondary variations:
1...Bb6 2.Qxc6#
1...Se3 2.Sf2#
1...Sd2 2.Re1#

Gamage, Frederick E.
The Falkirk Herald, Keeble MT, 1940
1^st Prize

#2

10 + 7

Show Solution

1.Qb1! (2.Qc1#)

1...Rxa3 2.Sg6#
1...Rxg4+ 2.Sxg4#
1...Bc4 2.Sf7#
1...Bd7 2.Sc4#
Four battery mates by wSe5.
1...Sb3 2.Qxb3#
1...Sc4/Rac4/Rcc4/Bd3 2.Rd3#

Gamage, Frederick E.
The Pittsburgh Leader, 1910
1^st Prize

#3

11 + 10

Show Solution

1.Qc1-c2 !
(with two threats: 2.Be4-f3 [3.Bf3-g4#] 2...Rd3xf3 3.Qc2-e4# and 2.Se2xd4+ Rd3xd4 3.Be4-f5#)

1...Sa1xc2 2.Sf6-d7 [3.Sd7-c5#] 2...Ke6xd7 3.Be4-f5#
1...Rd2xc2 2.Be4-f3 [3.Bf3-g4#] 2...Rd3xf3 3.Qc2-e4#
1...Ba4xc2 2.Be4-c6 [3.Bc6-d7#] 2...Sa7xc6 3.c7-c8=Q/B#

Secondary variation:
1...Rd2xe2 2.Qc2xd3 [3.Be4-f5/Be4-d5/Qd3-c4/Qd3-h3#]