March 1st

Michal Dragoun (01-03-1974) Czech composer and Grandmaster

Michal Dragoun
between D.I.Nicula (left) and Vlaicu Crisan (right)
Antalya 2008

Michal Dragoun is a solving Grandmaster, an International Judge for helpmates and fairies, but also a very talented composer (GM in composing since Kobe 2012 WCCC). He published more than 1000 problems, of which 600 were awarded. He mostly composed helpmates, but a fair proportion of his works comprises fairy helpmates or helpselfmates. A quick search in a database shows he has won more than 220 prizes. He won the 2004-1006 Fairies WCCI and shared the 3rd place of the 2004-2006 Helpmates WCCI.

He was the editor of Šachová skladba. He was also the editor of the helpmate section of the Slovak magazine Pat a Mat, before Juraj Lörinc took over (by the way, the originals published in Pat a Mat can be seen on Jan Golha's site, along with their solutions).

A few of his helpmates will give an idea of his talent:

Dragoun, Michal
1.Pr. "F. Chlubna MT", 15.4.2006

h#2

3.1.1.1

9 + 11

Show Solution

1.Bxg6 Kxg6+ 2.Kxb3 Bxd5#
1.Rxg5 Kxg5+ 2.Kb4 Rxb7#
1.Qxe7+ Kxe7+ 2.Kc4 Rxe4#

Pin mates, white royal battery, reciprocal changes of functions for White and Black.

Dragoun, Michal
1.Pr. Šachove umeni  2005-2006

h#2

3.1.1.1

7 + 9

Show Solution

1.Qxd7 Bxc5 2.Kxh6 Bf8#
1.Qa8 Sxc5 2.Kxf6 Sd7#
1.Qe8 Qxc5+ 2.Kg6 Qc2#

Dual avoidance at first black move, switchback of white piece that captures at c5.

Dragoun, Michal
Jubile V. Nebotov-60, 1995
1^st Prize

h#2

Circe b) Condition MirrorCirce c) Condition PWC d) Condition SymmetryCirce e) Condition FileCirce

2 + 4

File-Circe: a captured unit is reborn on the file of the capture rather than on its normal game-array square.

Show Solution

a) Circe 1.Qc6 Kxh1 [+bBc8] 2.Be6 Qd4#
b) MirrorCirce 1.Qe4 Kxh1 [+bBf1] 2.Bc4 Qd6#
c) PWC 1.Qd6 Kxh1 [+bBg1] 2.Bc5 Qe4#
d) SymmetryCirce 1.Qe6 Kxh1 [+bBa8] 2.Bc6 Qd4#
e) FileCirce 1.Qd6 Kxh1 [+bBh8] 2.Be5 Qc4#

Comment by Juraj Lörinc: 4 echo mates, one of them (Qd4) reappears after reciprocal blocks of bQ a bB. All mates use circe selfguarding of wQ and the whole difference is attained by different Circe squares under various Circe modifications

Manfred Rittirsch (01-03-1961) German composer and Grandmaster

Manfred Rittirsch

Manfred Rittirsch composes amazing fairy problems, often in collaboration with other German problemists.
For instance Torsten Linß presented on his website his joint compositions with Manfred [broken link].

Manfred Rittirsch
Achim Schöneberg
Die Schwalbe 1987
1^st Prize

h#2

Madrasi b) wRe6->e5

4+3

Show Solution

a) 1. Qh3 g8=R 2. Rg3 d8=R#
b) 1. Ra3 g8=Q 2. Qb3 d8=Q#

Clearance in both senses (reciprocal) and matched promotions.
Achieving this with only 5 units on the board ensured this problem a place in the FIDE Album.

Manfred Rittirsch
Die Schwalbe 1988
Dedicated to Inka
1^st Prize

h=7

Circe    2.1.1...

11+14

Show Solution

1) 1. h1=S c8=B 2. Qxc8+[+wBf1] e8=Q 3. Bc1 b8=S 4.Qxb8[+wSg1] Sxh3[+bBc8] 5. Qxb5[+wBb2] dxc8=R 6. Qh5 Rxc1 7. g5 Qg6=
2) 1. Bf6 c8=R 2. Qxc8+[+wRh1] d8=S 3. Qxd8[+wSg1] exd8=B 4. f1=Q Sxh3[+bBc8] 5. Qxb5[+wBb2] bxc8=Q 6. Qh5 Qc4 7. Bg5 Bxg5=
This problem too was selected in the FIDE Album: the white Allumwandlung is repeated in each twin.

Rittirsch, Manfred
The Problemist, 1986
Dedicated to Walter Wittstock
1^st Prize

h#3.5

e7, h6: Neutral Knight f7, g7: Neutral Pawn g5: Neutral King f2: Neutral Bishop b1: Neutral Queen b) Move e3 f8

0 + 0  + 7n

Show Solution

a) 1...Sneg4 2.f5 Kng6+ 3.Knh7 Bnd4 4.g5 fxg6 e.p.#
b) 1...Qnb8 2.Knf6+ Kne7 3.g5 Bnh4 4.f5 gxf6 e.p.#

Two specific mates with en passant capture, Pelle moves, Zilahi.

Евгений Владимирович Харичёв (01-03-1952) Russian composer (Evgeni Vladimirovich Kharichev)

Kharichev composes in all genres.

Харичёв, Евгений Владимирович
Московский конкурс, Шахматная композиция 1992 (4/)
2^nd HM

h#3*

3 + 3

Show Solution

Set play: 1... Sb6 2. Sd7 Sc4 3. Kc8 Sd6#
1. Kc8 Sxc7 2. Kd7 Sd5 3. Ke8 Sxf6#

Харичёв, Евгений Владимирович
problem (Zagreb) 1974

s#9

4 + 2

Show Solution

1.Rg1 h4 2.Re1 Kg3 3.Re3+ Kf2 4.Sg4+ Kf1 5.Re4 h3 6.Sh2+ Kf2 7.Bd2 Kg3 8.Rg4+ Kf2 9.Rg2+ hxg2#

Рашид Гарифович Пономарёв (01-03-1919 - 14-12-1998) Russian composer (Rashid Garifovich Ponomariov)

Rashid Ponomaryov
[Wikipedia]

Rashid Ponomaryov was a design engineer who, it seems, was one of the developers of tank T-34. He was also a Kazan chess composer and was very enthusiastic about promoting chess and chess composition, often gave lectures, presentations and was generally very supportive to young problemists. He published his first problem in 1936 and made a 35-year break in his composing career.
He composed in all genres: direct mates, helpmates, selfmates, series problems,

Пономарёв, Рашид Гарифович
Шахматы в СССР 1939
1^st Prize

#3

12 + 8

Show Solution

1.Bh6 ! (2.Qf3+ e4, Se4 3.Qf5, Qxf7#)

1...Rb7 2.Sf3+ Kxc6, Ke6 3.Sxe5, Sg5#
1...Rd7 2.Sb3+ Kxc6, Ke6 3.Sa5, Sc5#
1...Rc7 2.Se3+ Kxd6 Sf5# / 2.Sa5+ Kxd6 3.Sf5#
1...Re7 2.Sa3+ Kxd6 3.Sb5# / 2.Sa5+ Kxd6 3.Sb5#
1...exd4 2.Qf5+ Kxc6 3.Qb5#
1...Sf6~ 2.Q(x)e4+ Kxe4 3.Sd2#
1...e4 2.Bf4 (3.Sc4~#)

Пономарёв, Рашид Гарифович
The Problemist, 1993

s#2

8 + 9

Show Solution

Set play:
1...d1=Q/B 2.Qe2+ Qxe2#
1...d1=S 2.Re3+ Sxe3#
1...dxe1=B 2.Qc3+ Bxc3#
1.Qe5 ! (2.Rxf2+ Bxf2#)

1...d1=S 2.Re3+ Sxe3#
1...dxe1=B 2.Qc3+ Bxc3#
1...fxe1=B 2.Qg3+ Bxg3#
1...Bb7 2.Sxd2+ Sxd2#

Gábor Koder (01-03-1948) Hungarian composer

Gábor Koder [magyarsakkszerzok]

Koder, Gábor
problem (Zagreb) 1975 (3646)
2^nd Prize

#2

11 + 9

Show Solution

1.Sd4? (2.Se6#) Bf5!
1.Sg7! (2.Se6#)

1...Re1 2.bxa8Q#/bxa8R#
1...Bf5 2.fxg8Q#/fxg8R#
1...Qa2 2.b8Q#/b8R#
1...Qc8 2.bxc8Q#/bxc8R#
1...Rxg7 2.f8Q#/f8R#
1...Re8 2.fxe8Q#/fxe8R#
1...Sd4 2.dxc7#
1...Bxg7 2.fxg7#

Promotion task.

Виктор Дедешин (01-03-1933) Russian composer (Viktor Dedeshin)

Viktor Dedeshin
Problem, May 1979
[Thanks to Александр Никитин ]

Dedeshin is a direct mate composer.

Дедешин, Виктор Фёдорович
Úv Čstv 1985 -Pachman,Fritz MT, 1985
4^th Prize

#4

8 + 11

Show Solution

1.Qe1 ! (2.Se4~#)

1...d3 2.Sd2+ Kd4 3.Qe5+ Kxe5 4.Sf3#
1...f3 2.Sf2+ Kf4 3.Qe5+ Kxe5 4.Sd3#
1...Sxb7 2.Sd2+ Kd6 3.Qe5+ Kxe5 4.Sc4#
1...hxg6 2.Sc5+ Kxf6 3.Qe5+ Kxe5 4.Sd7#
1...Sxb7 2.Sxg5+ Kd6 3.Qe5+ Ke5 4.Sf7#

Repeated wQ sacrifice, but varied battery play by the wS.

Daniël Stellwagen (01-03-1987) Dutch composer

Daniël Stellwagen
[Wikipedia]

Stellwagen is o.t.b. GM and composes studies.

Stellwagen, Daniel & Afek, Yochanan
Quiet Move ty EBUR, 2002

+

4 + 3

Show Solution

1. Bf3 Kc6 2. Sd3 c2
{2... Kd6 3. Sf7+ Ke6 4. Sf4+ Kf5 5. Bxd5 [5. Sxd5 c2 6. Sd6+ Kg5 7. Se4+ Kh4] 5... Kxf4 6. Bb3 Ke3 7. Se5}
3. Sf7 c1=Q 4. Sxc1 Kc5 5. Sb3+ Kc4 6. Kh8!
(6. Kf8 Rf5; 6. Kg7/Kh7 Rd7)
and the black Rook is dominated: 6... Rd7/Rd3 7. Se5+ or 6...Rb5/Rf5 7.Sd6+ 1-0

Arthur Klinke (01-03-1887 - 23-07-1942) German composer

Arthur Klinke
[Source: Задачи и этюды 3, page 24]

Arthur Klinke composed direct mates.

One of his contributions to chess problem theory was the Treffpunkt (junction point). A square (line) is guarded by Black more than once, but White eventually conquers it. Depending on the way White accomplishes this, there are 4 types. In the Klinke type, firstly, White attracts a black piece on the mating square and then drives away another piece from guarding it, and the roles of the black pieces are reversed in the other variation. His first realization of the theme in 1919 is shown in the problem quoted on Wikipedia. You can find another threemover with this theme here.

Klinke was a main participant of the Arbeiterschach movement. More details about his activity in this movement can be read in this "die Schwalbe" Personalia.
For other Arbeiterschach composers, see Paul Puchalla, Karl Kaiser and Emil Ramin.

Klinke, Arthur
Deutsches Wochenschach, 14 Sep 1919 (15297)
Dedicated to Eugen Reichert in Ubstadt

#4

6 + 9

Show Solution

1.♕a7! (2.♕×g1#)
1...♗×a7 2.♘d4 and two variations:
2...♖×d4 3.♗h4+ ♖×h4 4.♖a1#
2...♗×d4 3.♖a1+ ♗×a1 4.♗h4#
After the Queen sacrifice, we have a Brunner-Novotny: the Novotny interference on d4 is followed by a further decoy of the black capturing piece. For another example of this theme, see Erich Brunner, Münchner Neueste Nachrichten, 1912 on the blog.
Secundary variation:
1...♖d2+ 2.♘×d2 ♗d4 and 3.♖a1 / 3.♕×d4 / 3.♗h4+ all lead to mate.