March 30th

Leonard Nicolaas De Jong (30-03-1869 - 13-11-1937) Dutch composer

[Source : "Probleemcomponisten I : Dr. L.N. de Jong"]

Leonard Nicolaas De Jong was a very fine composer. A typical solver problem is:

De Jong, Leonard Nicolaas
Magyar Sakkvilág, 1930
1^st Prize

#3

4 + 6

Show Solution

1.Kh8 ! ZZ

1...Kxa2 2.Qg8+ Ka1/c4d5, Ka3 3.Qa8, Qb3#
1...b4 2.Sc4 (3.Qxb2#)
1...c4 2.Qg1+ Kxa2, b1~ 3.Qa7, Qxb1#
1...d5/d6 2.Qxh7 (3.Qb1#) Kxa2 3.Qa7#
1...h5/h6 2.Qg6 (3.Qb1#) Kxa2 3.Qa6#

Jacobus Haring (30-03-1913 - 25-02-1989) Dutch composer and Grandmaster

Jacobus Haring, 1941
[Wikipedia]

Jacobus Haring was IGM for chess composition (1990). He is the inventor of Haring theme (switchback of the thematic white pieces on the mating move, in try and real play).

Black correction and switchback are the main features of the following problem:

Haring, Jacobus
The Problemist, 1954
1^st Prize

#2

9 + 9

Show Solution

1.Rxg5! ZZ

1...Kf4+ 2.Rgc5#
1...Bf2 2.Rg3#
1...Sf4 2.Qb6#
1...Sg3 2.Rf5#
1...Sd4 2.Re5#
1...Sxc1 2.Rd5#

Edmond Bernard (30-03-1923 - 07-12-1981) Swiss composer

Edmond Bernard find his place in today selection due to the following Zagoruiko mutate which was also selected in the FIDE Album:

Bernard, Edmond
Themes 64, 1977
2^nd Prize

#2* v

10 + 8

Show Solution

Set play:

1...e3[a] 2.Bd5#[A]
1...Sg3[b]/Sg7[c]/Sh4[c]/Sh6[c]/Se3[d]/Se7[d]/Sd4[e]/Sfxd6[c] 2.Rd4#[B]
1...Sc5/Sbxd6/Sd8/Sa5 2.Qxc5#

1.Rb2? ZZ

1...e3[a] 2.Rb4#[E]
1...Sg3[b]/Sg7[c]/Sh4[c]/Sh6[c]/Se3[d]/Se7[d]/Sd4[e]/Sfxd6[c] 2.Qd4#[F]
1...Sc5/Sbxd6/Sd8/Sa5 2.Qxc5#
but 1...Kd5!

1.Rc2! ZZ

1...e3[a] 2.Sb2#[C]
1...Sg3[b]/Sg7[c]/Sh4[c]/Sh6[c]/Se3[d]/Se7[d]/Sd4[e]/Sfxd6[c] 2.Se3#[D]
1...Kd5 2.c4#
1...Sc5/Sbxd6/Sd8/Sa5 2.Qxc5#

Mutate, Zagoruiko.

ოთარ ტაბიძე (30-03-1925 - 1986) Georgian composer (Otar Tabidze)

Otar Tabidze
[Akobia]

Tabidse, Otar
1955
1^st Prize

#2

8 + 9

Show Solution

1.Bc6! (2.Sd5#)

1...Sf5 2.Qxf5#
1...Se6 2.fxe7#
1...Rxe3 2.Bxe3#
1...e6 2.fxg7#
1...Be6 2.Qxc7#

Classical Pickabish.

Daniel Novomeský (30-03-1952) Slovak composer and FIDE Master

Daniel Novomeský
|goja.sk]

Daniel Novomeský is a specialist in echo mates. We quote a h#5 similar to the top-placed composition that won 1st Prize in Jorma Pitkanen's 60 JT (P1002807):

Novomeský, Daniel
Mat Plus, 2009 (33/1280)

h#5

2.1...

2 + 6

Show Solution

1.Qd5+ Ke7 2.Bf5 Kf6 3.Bc3+ Kg5 4.Kd4 Kf4 5.Bd3 e3#
1.Kf5 Kd7 2.Rg4 Kd6 3.Rc6+ Kd5 4.Bf4 e3 5.Rf6 e4#
Chameleon echo mates.

Jaroslav Polášek (30-03-1957) Czech composer

Jaroslav Polášek is a successful endgame composer. Although mate endgames are not among his specialties, we quote here one:

Polášek, Jaroslav
Ceskoslovensky sach 09 2003 N84
2^nd Commendation

+ (Black to move)

4 + 3

Show Solution

1... e2 2. Be7+
{2. Kxc2 e1=S+ (2... e1=Q 3. Bb2+ Ka4 4. Bc6+ Ka5 5. Bc3+ )}
2... Kb3
{2... Ka4 3. Bxe2 (3. Bh4)}
3. Bd5+ Ka4 4. Bb4
{4.Bh4 $2 Rd2 5. Bf3 Rd1+ 6. Kb2 Ka5 }
4... Rxa2 5. Be1 Ra3 6. Kb2 Rh3 7.Bc6#

Сергей Геннадьевич Бурмистров (30-03-1960 - 29-05-1992) Russian composer (Sergey G. Burmistrov)

Sergey Burmistrov
[Thanks to Александр Никитин]

Sergey Burmistrov invented the so-called Burmistrov combination (double le Grand theme), which can be seen in the problem below. An obituary and homage was written by Evgeny Permyakov and can be read here (in Russian).

Бурмистров, Сергей Геннадьевич
Волгоградская правда 1987
1^st Prize

#2

9 + 11

Show Solution

1.Sb7? [2.Rd4(A)#]
1... dxe5(a) 2.Qxf7(B)#
but 1... е3!
1.Sxе4? [2.Rd4(A)#]
1... dxe5(a) 2.Qb7(C)#
but 1... Bе6!
1.f6! [2.Qxf7(B),Qb7(C)#]
1... dxe5(a) 2.Rd4(A)#