Weidisch, Sigmund
Deutsche Schachblätter, 1952
3rd Prize
Deutsche Schachblätter, 1952
3rd Prize
| #4 | 8 + 5 |
Show Solution
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
January 31st
Søren Anton Sørensen (31-01-1840 - 11-02-1896) Danish composer
According to Martin Møller, whose Skakjournal was quoted here in 2009:
Martin Møller then narrates a little anecdote which you may read on Rick Kennedy's Jerome Gambit blog. Anyway, S.A.S. was a talented chess player, whose games you may browse through on ChessGames.com.
He also wrote with A. Arnell an anthology of Nordic problems: "Nordiske Skakproblemer" (1879) that can be read on Anders Thulin website.
Sørensen won a tourney organised by the BCF in 1873. One of the problems of the set was the following:
Show Solution
 |
| Søren_Anton_Sørensen [Wikipedia.da] |
According to Martin Møller, whose Skakjournal was quoted here in 2009:
"Søren Anton Sørensen was taught chess at the age 11 (1851) by H.Møller, when he was a regular visitor at Sulsted præste-gård (vacarage) - (H.Møller was former chairman in the first Copenhagen chess club/Københavns skak forening 1844-1846)."
He also wrote with A. Arnell an anthology of Nordic problems: "Nordiske Skakproblemer" (1879) that can be read on Anders Thulin website.
Sørensen won a tourney organised by the BCF in 1873. One of the problems of the set was the following:
Sørensen, Søren Anton
British Chess Association, 1873
1st Prize, Set
British Chess Association, 1873
1st Prize, Set
| #4 | 7 + 11 |
Show Solution
Sunday, January 29, 2012
January 30th
Samuel Loyd (30-01-1841 - 10-04-1911) American composer
Does Sam Loyd need any introduction? Please refer to the Wikipedia webpage which also quotes the famous Excelsior problem that is reproduced below.
Show Solution
 |
| Samuel Loyd [Wikipedia] |
Does Sam Loyd need any introduction? Please refer to the Wikipedia webpage which also quotes the famous Excelsior problem that is reproduced below.
Loyd, Samuel
The Era (London) 13th Jan 1861 (337)
2nd Prize
The Era (London) 13th Jan 1861 (337)
2nd Prize
| #5 | 8 + 10 |
Show Solution
Saturday, January 28, 2012
January 29th
Miroslav Bílý (29-01-1945) Czech composer
Miroslav Bílý composes helpmates presenting (chameleon) echo mates and he even wrote a book about them.
Show Solution
Miroslav Bílý composes helpmates presenting (chameleon) echo mates and he even wrote a book about them.
Bílý, Miroslav
Problem Observer, 1997
1st Prize
Problem Observer, 1997
1st Prize
| h#3.5 | b) Move f7 d4 | 4 + 4 |
Show Solution
Friday, January 27, 2012
January 28th
John Poole (28-01-1882 - 1956) British composer
Show Solution
Poole, John
Norwich Mercury, 1911
Norwich Mercury, 1911
| #4 | 6 + 6 |
Show Solution
Thursday, January 26, 2012
January 27th
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, alias Lewis Carroll (27-01-1832 - 14-01-1898)
British mathematician, writer, chessplayer and composer
Many things could be said about Lewis Carroll, but here we focus on chess problems. Lewis Carroll's chess problem published in "Through the Looking Glass" is the following:
1.Sg3+! Kd3(d4) 2.Qc3# (short mate)
1....Ke5 2.Qc5+ Ke6 3.Qd6#
In fact, the stipulation is wrong. As the source says it should be "White Pawn to play and win in eleven moves." And as the printed solution indicates, the rules of chess are not very strictly adhered to...
Show the Solution intended by Lewis Caroll
British mathematician, writer, chessplayer and composer
 |
| Lewis Carroll [Wikipedia] |
Many things could be said about Lewis Carroll, but here we focus on chess problems. Lewis Carroll's chess problem published in "Through the Looking Glass" is the following:
Carroll, Lewis
Through The Looking Glass, 1871
Through The Looking Glass, 1871
| #3 | 5 + 3 |
1.Sg3+! Kd3(d4) 2.Qc3# (short mate)
1....Ke5 2.Qc5+ Ke6 3.Qd6#
In fact, the stipulation is wrong. As the source says it should be "White Pawn to play and win in eleven moves." And as the printed solution indicates, the rules of chess are not very strictly adhered to...
Show the Solution intended by Lewis Caroll
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January 26th
Сергій Миколайович Ткаченко (26-01-1963) Ukrainian composer and International Master (Sergey Mikolayovich Tkachenko)
Not to be confounded with Сергій Іванович Ткаченко.
Show Solution
Not to be confounded with Сергій Іванович Ткаченко.
 |
| Сережа Ткаченко |
Ткаченко, Сергій Миколайович
Фестиваль «Бровары-87» 1987
1st Prize, TT
Фестиваль «Бровары-87» 1987
1st Prize, TT
| + | 5 + 4 |
Show Solution
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
January 25th
Hans Theo Kuner (25-01-1929) German composer
Of Hans Theo Kuner (or Theo Kuner) many problems could be quoted. May the reader be satisfied with three:
Show Solution
 |
| Hans Theo Kuner [Kartothek A-K page 194] |
Of Hans Theo Kuner (or Theo Kuner) many problems could be quoted. May the reader be satisfied with three:
Kuner, Hans Theo
Die Schwalbe, 1959
1st Prize
Die Schwalbe, 1959
1st Prize
| #3 | 8 + 11 |
Show Solution
Monday, January 23, 2012
January 24th
Eeltje Visserman (24-01-1922 – 23-03-1978) Dutch composer, Grandmaster and International Judge
E. Visserman was a wonderful composer who deservedly won numerous composing tourneys. He composed problems of all types, but mostly two- and threemovers. He was also the editor of a column in magazines "Tijdschrift van de KNSB" and "Probleemblad".
An anthology of his problems was published after his death: "Schaakproblemen van E. Visserman" by Albertus Marinus Koldijk, 1986.
Show Solution
 |
| Eeltje Visserman [maxeuwe.nl] |
E. Visserman was a wonderful composer who deservedly won numerous composing tourneys. He composed problems of all types, but mostly two- and threemovers. He was also the editor of a column in magazines "Tijdschrift van de KNSB" and "Probleemblad".
An anthology of his problems was published after his death: "Schaakproblemen van E. Visserman" by Albertus Marinus Koldijk, 1986.
Visserman, Eeltje
Weenink MT, 1943
4th Prize
Weenink MT, 1943
4th Prize
| #3 | 11 + 13 |
Show Solution
Sunday, January 22, 2012
January 23rd
Victor Cioană (23-01-1939 - 07.01.2010) Romanian composer and player
Victor Cioană was the best solver in his hometown Suceava. Victor won several times the solving tourney organized by Romanian magazine "Revista Română de Şah”. It was only natural for him to publish his first problem in this same magazine. It was a helpmate in 4 with 2 solutions.
Show Solution
 |
| Victor (on the left) analyzing an endgame with Dieter Klosterman |
Victor Cioană was the best solver in his hometown Suceava. Victor won several times the solving tourney organized by Romanian magazine "Revista Română de Şah”. It was only natural for him to publish his first problem in this same magazine. It was a helpmate in 4 with 2 solutions.
Cioană, Victor
Revista Română de Şah, 1988
Revista Română de Şah, 1988
| h#4 | 4 + 5 |
Show Solution
Saturday, January 21, 2012
January 22nd
Jacob Bettmann (22-01-1865 - 22-04-1935) American composer
Jacob was the cousin of composer Henry Ward Bettmann.
Show Solution
 |
| FindAGrave |
Jacob was the cousin of composer Henry Ward Bettmann.
Bettmann, Jacob
Southern Trade Gazette, 1887
1st Prize
Southern Trade Gazette, 1887
1st Prize
| #2 | 11 + 5 |
Show Solution
Friday, January 20, 2012
January 21st
Theodor Nissl (21-01-1878 - 16-02-1972) German composer
He was also a chess player: the reader may discover his game against Siegbert Tarrasch (Munich 1933).
Show Solution
Show Solution
Theodor Nissl was an advocate of the chess composing school known under the name of "Neudeutscher Schule". He composed his first problems shortly before WWI and became friends with numerous chess composers through epistolary exchanges (J. Kohtz & C. Kockelkorn, F. Sackmann, etc).
He was also a chess player: the reader may discover his game against Siegbert Tarrasch (Munich 1933).
A short biography in German can be found on Wikipedia.de. Other information in German can be found in the article "Das Pfälzer Dreigestirn" written by Dr. Hermann Weissauer about three composers from the Palatinate region - P.A.Orlimont, Franz Sackmann and Theodor Nissl.
The Nissl theme is nowadays better known under the name of Phoenix theme.Nissl, Theodor
Main-Post, 14th Mar 1959
2nd Prize
Main-Post, 14th Mar 1959
2nd Prize
| #5 | 11 + 10 |
Show Solution
Nissl, Theodor
Deutsche Schachblätter, 1962 (21)
1st HM
Deutsche Schachblätter, 1962 (21)
1st HM
| #6 | 6 + 9 |
Show Solution
Thursday, January 19, 2012
January 20th
Harald Schmid (20-01-1932) Austrian composer
Schmid, Harald
2nd TT Klein Winsener Rochade 1987- 1989
1st HM
Show Solution2nd TT Klein Winsener Rochade 1987- 1989
1st HM
| h#5 | b) Move a2 h2 | 2 + 14 |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
January 19th
Roger Colas (19-01-1924 - 2003) French composer
Show Solution
Colas, Roger
Mémorial Camil SENECA Thèmes-64, 1978
2nd HM
Mémorial Camil SENECA Thèmes-64, 1978
2nd HM
| #6 | 14 + 12 |
Show Solution
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 18th
Jean de Villeneuve-Esclapon (18-01-1860 - 24-11-1943) French composer
Biographical details can be found on this French site, where the photograph comes from, or on the new French chess problem site Problemiste here and here.
His best know endgame study is the 1st prize in Schweizerische Schachzeitung 1923, but the following draw study is also stimulating for the solver:
Show Solution
 |
| Jean de Villeneuve-Esclapon [Heritage Echecs] |
Biographical details can be found on this French site, where the photograph comes from, or on the new French chess problem site Problemiste here and here.
His best know endgame study is the 1st prize in Schweizerische Schachzeitung 1923, but the following draw study is also stimulating for the solver:
De Villeneuve-Esclapon, Jean
Rigaer Tageblatt, 1909
4th Prize
Rigaer Tageblatt, 1909
4th Prize
| = | 4 + 3 |
Show Solution
Monday, January 16, 2012
January 17th
The menu is especially rich today: do not miss the problems by the last composer in this entry.
[Addendum 25th January: by the last two composers!]
Karel Peter Traxler (17-01-1866 - 15-05-1936) Czech composer and player... and Catholic priest
Let's quote ChessGames.com:
Karel Traxler "is famous for the Traxler Counterattack (also known as the Wilkes-Barre Variation) in the Two Knights (C57) : 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5. This line was introduced in the famous game J. Reinisch vs Traxler, 1890."
Show Solution
[Addendum 25th January: by the last two composers!]
Karel Peter Traxler (17-01-1866 - 15-05-1936) Czech composer and player... and Catholic priest
 |
| Karel Traxler [Wikipedia] |
Let's quote ChessGames.com:
Karel Traxler "is famous for the Traxler Counterattack (also known as the Wilkes-Barre Variation) in the Two Knights (C57) : 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5. This line was introduced in the famous game J. Reinisch vs Traxler, 1890."
Traxler, Karel Peter
Ces. spol. sach. 1895
2nd HM
Ces. spol. sach. 1895
2nd HM
| #4 | 7 + 13 |
Show Solution
Sunday, January 15, 2012
January 16th
Ilham Aliev (16-01-1967) Azerbaijani composer
Ilham Aliev is a successful endgame composer. One of his latest successes was 2nd special prize in the 2nd FIDE World Cup 2011.
Ilham Aliev is a successful endgame composer. One of his latest successes was 2nd special prize in the 2nd FIDE World Cup 2011.
Aliev, Ilham Olimpiya Dünyasi, 2008 3rd Prize 
| Show Solution |
Saturday, January 14, 2012
January 15th
Max A.K.S. Karstedt (15-01-1868 - 22-03-1945) German composer
Karstedt was also the discoverer of the K+B+S vs K+Q fortress (wKh1, Bg2, Se4) which is mentioned, for instance, in the June 2006 issue of BESN and is explained in details on Roberto Stelling's website.
Tom Morrell claimed to have discovered another K+B+S vs K+Q fortress (wKf2, Bf3, Sg2) but this claim is not sustained by the Nalimov database.
A charming endgame study by Karstedt was recently posted on ChicagoChess blog.
Karstedt was also the discoverer of the K+B+S vs K+Q fortress (wKh1, Bg2, Se4) which is mentioned, for instance, in the June 2006 issue of BESN and is explained in details on Roberto Stelling's website.
Tom Morrell claimed to have discovered another K+B+S vs K+Q fortress (wKf2, Bf3, Sg2) but this claim is not sustained by the Nalimov database.
A charming endgame study by Karstedt was recently posted on ChicagoChess blog.
Karstedt, Max Arn. K. S. A.Anderssen MT, 1919 2nd HM 
| Show Solution |
January 14th
Henry Wald Bettmann (14-01-1868 - 05-12-1935) American composer
| Henry Wald Bettmann [Source: The Chess Problem, H.G.M. Weenink ; scan by M. McDowell] |
Bettmann, Henry Wald Babson Task TT, 1926 1st Prize 
| Show Solution |
Thursday, January 12, 2012
January 13th
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
January 12th
Arnoldo Ellerman (12-01-1893 - 21-11-1969) Argentinian composer and International Master
 |
| Arnoldo Ellerman (Chess Pie 1922) [Chess History] |
Ellerman, Arnoldo Good Companion, May 1916 2nd Prize, ex aequo 
| Show Solution |
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
January 11th
Friedrich Hariuc (11-01-1937) Romanian composer living in Germany
Show Solution
Hariuc, Friedrich
9342 feenschach 01-08/2006
9342 feenschach 01-08/2006
| h#3 | 4 + 2 | |
| 2.1.1... |
Show Solution
January 10th
Espen Backe (10-01-1963) Norwegian composer
Show Solution
Backe, Espen
6448 Sakkelet 5.-6.1998
6448 Sakkelet 5.-6.1998
| h#3 | b) Move f4 g3 | 3 + 5 |
Show Solution
Monday, January 9, 2012
January 9th
Baruch Lender (09-01-1913 - 25-02-1994) Israeli composer
Biographical information about Baruch Lender can be found in "Lender combination: Baruch Lender and His Chess Problems" written by a trio of Israeli composers: Uri Avner, Paz Einat and Yoel Aloni and also on this webpage dedicated to Baruch Lender, the Lender combination and the book itself.
Show Solution
The Lender combination is a sort of mix of Salazar and (pseudo) le Grand:
Biographical information about Baruch Lender can be found in "Lender combination: Baruch Lender and His Chess Problems" written by a trio of Israeli composers: Uri Avner, Paz Einat and Yoel Aloni and also on this webpage dedicated to Baruch Lender, the Lender combination and the book itself.
Lender, Baruch
UV CSZTV, 1979
3rd HM
UV CSZTV, 1979
3rd HM
| #2* v | 10 + 9 |
Show Solution
The Lender combination is a sort of mix of Salazar and (pseudo) le Grand:
1. A? [2.B]
1...a(b) 2.C(D)#
1.C! [2.D]
1...a(b) 2.A(B)#
The curious reader may refer to the book "Lender combination: Baruch Lender and His Chess Problems" by Uri Avner, Paz Einat and Yoel Aloni.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
January 8th
Franz Pachl (08-01-1951) German composer and Grand Master
Show Solution
Pachl, Franz
2.pr Die Schwalbe, 1979
2.pr Die Schwalbe, 1979
| h#2 | b) Exchange e2 c4 | 9 + 13 |
Show Solution
January 7th
Friday, January 6, 2012
January 6th
Paul Răican (06-01-1957) Romanian composer and editor of French-speaking magazine Quartz.
Show Solution
Răican, Paul
Mat Plus, 2007 (27/781)
Special Prize
Mat Plus, 2007 (27/781)
Special Prize
| #7 | Maximummer KoeKo PWC (Circé échange) b) wKd4-->b5 s#7 | 2 + 2 |
Show Solution
Thursday, January 5, 2012
January 5th
Artur Mandler (05-01-1891 - 20-10-1971) Czech composer and Grandmaster
Show Solution
Mandler, Artur
Prager Presse, 1929
Prager Presse, 1929
| + | 3 + 2 |
Show Solution