February 3rd

Karel Fiala (03-02-1864 - 02-01-1916) Czech composer

Karel Fiala belongs to the Bohemian school. If you still wonder what are the characteristics of this chess composition school, you may read this article by Thorsten Zirkwitz. One of Fiala's typical output is the following:

Fiala, Karel
Český spolek šachovní 1895
5^th Prize

#3

8 + 6

Show Solution

1.Be6 ! ZZ

1...Kxd6 2.Se8+ Ke5 3.Qe3#
1...g3 2.Qd5+ Kxf6 3.Qd4#
1...Rxa5 2.Sxg4+ Ke4 3.Qe3#
1...exf6 2.Qd3 (3.Qd4#) 2...Kf4, Rxd6 3.Qe3#

Mario Parrinello (03-02-1960) Italian composer and Grandmaster

Francesco Simoni and Mario Parrinello, 2001
[Source]

Mario Parrinello is a worldwide expert in help and helpself play. He won the 2nd place of the 2001-2003 WCCI. He received the title of GM at Kobe 2012 Congress.

Parrinello, Mario
Probleemblad, 1995
2^nd Prize

h#2

3.1.1.1

5 + 11

Show Solution

1.Bc5 Sxc5 2.Kxc5 Qd4#
1.Qb5 Bxb5 2.Kxb5 Qxb4#
1.Sc6+ Sxc6 2.Kxc6 Qxe6#

Tripled Zajic theme.

Parrinello, Mario
21^st TT Chess Composition Microweb 2006- 2007
1^st Prize

hs#3.5

2.1.1... Madrasi RexInclusiv

9 + 8

Show Solution

1...hxg5 2.Be7 Bc5 3.Kxd4 Sd2 4.Re6+ Rxe7#
1...axb3 2.Rb6 Re6 3.Kxe4 Sf3 4.Bc5+ Bxb6#

Battery, indirect self-pin, specific Madrasi play in diagonal-orthogonal correspondence.

Eugeniusz Iwanow (03-02-1933 - 28-06-2024) Polish composer and International Master

Eugeniusz Iwanow
[Thanks to Александр Никитин]

Iwanow enthusiastically and single-handedly edited the chess magazine Problemista. His obituary can be found here and the translation in English here.
He was a composer who excelled in more genres but who has been especially awarded for selfmates such as this one:

Iwanow, Eugeniusz
Buletin Problemistic, 1993
1^st Prize

s#2

10 + 10

Show Solution

1.Qc1? (2.Sxd4+ Rxd4#)

1...Sc2 2.Bxc6+ Bxc6#
1...Rxe8 2.Qxc6+ Bxc6#
but 1...Sf3!

1.Qa1 ! (2.Bxc6+ Bxc6#)

1...Rc3 2.Sxd4+ Qxd4#
1...Rxe8 2.Ra5+ Sxa5#

Le Grand.

Юрий Акимович Сушков (03-02-1938 - 31-03-2022) Russian composer and International Master (Yuri Akimovich Sushkov)

Yuri Sushkov
Problem, February 1968
[Thanks to Александр Никитин]

Sushkov was a prolific twomover composer and also an International Master in chess composition. He has given his name to a complex theme which can be described like this:
"White's moves in at least 2 phases have positive effects in common which seem to allow at least 2 threats. However, each of these white moves contains a harmful effect which prevents all but one threat from working." (Christian Poisson)
Some information about him on superproblem.ru.

Сушков, Юрий Акимович
Probleemblad, 1982 (8596)

#2* vv

13 + 7

Show Solution

Set play:

1...Rb3[a]/Rxa3 2.Qxc4#
1...Rd2/Rd1/Rf3[b]/Rxg3 2.Qe4#

1.Re1? (2.Sf6#[A]/Sb6#[B])

1...Rb3[a] 2.Sf6#[A]/Qxc4#
1...Rf3[b] 2.Sb6#[B]/Qe4#
1...Rxa3 2.Qxc4#
but 1...Re3!

1.Rh5? (2.Sf6#[A])

1...Rf3[b] 2.Sb6#[B]
1...Ke4 2.Bg2#
but 1...Rxa3!

1.Sxc4! (2.Sb6#[B])

1...Rb3[a] 2.Sf6#[A]
1...Kxc4 2.Qb3#
1...Rxc4+ 2.Qxc4#
1...Rxa3 2.Scb6#

Sushkov theme of course, but also Barnes, pseudo-Le Grand, Kniest and Bristol.

Сушков, Юрий Акимович
Revista Română de Şah, 1987
2^nd Prize

#2

10 + 10

Show Solution

1.Bf4? (2.Qd6#/Rd6#)

1...Qxf4 2.Sxf4#
1...Ra6 2.Qd6#
1...Rxc6 2.Qe5#
but 1...Qh6!

1.Sb8? (2.Qf7#)

1...Qh5/Qh6 2.Sf4#
1...Qxd6 2.Qxd6#
1...Rxc6 2.Qxc6#
but 1...Qe5!

1.Rc3! (2.Qc6#)

1...Rxc3 2.Sxc3#
1...Ra6/Rc5 2.Qc5#
1...Qxd6 2.Qc4#

Bristol and changed mates.

Вадим Моисеев (03-02-1937 - 31-03-1979) Russian composer (Vadim Moiseyev)

Моисеев, Вадим
Probleemblad, 1976 (7812)

#2

8 + 8

Show Solution

1.Qd6! (2.Bxe4#)

1...Be5/Qe5 2.Qxb6#
1...Qe6 2.Bxe6#
1...Qe7 2.Sxf5#
1...Qe8+ 2.Bc6#
1...Qf4 2.Qxf4#
1...Qxf3 2.Bxf3#
1...Qd3+ 2.Bc4#
1...Qb1+ 2.Bb3#
1...Qxd5+ 2.Qxd5#

Duel bQ/wB.