April 20th

Thomas King-Parks (20-04-1884 - 23-11-1918) Irish composer

Thomas King-Parks was a direct mate and endgame study composer. Here is a hard nut to crack:

King-Parks, Thomas
Football-Field, 1908
1^st Prize

#2

13 + 8

Show Solution

1.Qa3! ZZ

1...Sc1 2.Qf3#
1...Sc5 2.Sf6#
1...Sd2 2.Qd3#
1...Sd4 2.e4#
1...Bf5/Bg4/Bf7/Bg8/Bxd7 2.Re5#
1...Bb6/Bc7/Bd8 2.Qa8#
1...h2 2.Bg2#
1...bxa3 2.c4#
1...Sxc2 2.Qxb3#

The key is a delight and the correction of the unpinned bSb3 is interesting as well.

Oskar Strýček (20-04-1947) Czech composer

Strýček, Oskar
Problemista, 1969 (2070)
1^st Comm.

#6

4 + 7

Show Solution

1. Rc2! ZZ
1. ... Kxg6 2. Rf2+ Kh5 3. Rf5 Kg6 4. Rf8+ Kh5 5. Rg8 g6 6. Bxg6#
Old-fashioned but pleasant longmover.

Eduardo Daniel Kelly (20-04-1914 - 27-06-1987) Argentinian composer

Eduardo Daniel Kelly was a helpmate and series composer. His series double stalemate from feenschach 1972 is worth a look.

Kelly, Eduardo Daniel
Ajedrez Mágico, Jul 1971 (28/annex sheet)
1^st Prize, ex aequo

ser-h=16

12 + 7

Show Solution

1.Ra1 2.Rxa6 3.Ra4 4.Rxg4 5.Rd4 6.Rd8 7.Bh7 8.Be4 9.Qxe5 10.Qxc3 11.Bxc6 12.Bd5 13.Bg8 14.Rd7 15.Rxg7 16.Qb2+ Bxb2=
Long series with double pin stalemate.

Henry Hannes Tanner (20-04-1955) Finnish composer

Henry Tanner
[© Hannu Harkola]

Henry Tanner is a regular contributor of Tehtäväniekka, the Finnish chess problem magazine. He has been an International Master in solving since 2002. He composes in all genres
Readers can discover the award of the Henry Tanner 50 Jubilee Tourney online.

Tanner, Henry Hannes
Ideal-Mate Review, 1994
Prize

h#6.5

b) bKe5

2 + 3

Show Solution

a) 1. ... Kg7 2. Kd7 Kf6 3. Sb4 Ke5 4. Sa5 Kd4 5. Kc6 Kc3 6. Kb5 Kb2 7. Ka4 Sc3#
b) 1. ... Kf7 2. Ke4 Ke6 3. Ke3 Kd5 4. Kd2 Kc4 5. Kd1 Kc3 6. Se1 Kb2 7. Sd2 Sc3#
Echo mates.

Χαράλαμπος (Χάρης) Φουγιαξής (20-04-1966) Greek composer and International Master (Harry Fougiaxis)

Harry Fougiaxis is a helpmate specialist, International Judge and International Master, but also the President of the World Federation for Chess Composition.
Emmanuel Manolas quoted Harry's autobiographical pamphlet in his two-parts article dedicated to Harry and it is a highly recommended read, with finely chosen problems.

Fougiaxis, Charalampos Harry
Probleemblad, 1987
1^st Prize

h#3

b) bPd6-->e3

3 + 14

Show Solution

a) 1.Qg1 Kxf6 2.Bf2 Re3 3.Rb3 Bxd6#
b) 1.Qd8 Kg4 2.Rd7 Bd6 3.Bb4 Rxe3#
Black Bristol, varied unpins and pinning, pin mate.

Fougiaxis, Charalampos Harry
Springaren, 1992

h#2

2.1.1.1

4 + 10

Show Solution

1.Bf4-d2 Qe6-a2 2.Rc5-d5 Qa2-c4#
1.Rc5-c2 Qe6-e1 2.Bf4-e5 Qe1-e3#
Beautiful critical move by wQ.

And finally a helpmate with Chinese pieces, one of Harry's specialties:

Fougiaxis, Charalampos Harry
Springaren, 1992
1^st Prize

h#2

b8: Leo e8, h8, d3, c2: Vao a6, c6: Pao b) LEO b8->e1

6 + 10

Show Solution

a) 1.Sc7-b5+ Sd6-f7+ 2.PAc6-c7+ Se4-d6#
b) 1.Se2-c3+ Se4-g5+ 2.VAd3-e2+ Sd6-e4#
Let's hope you're not tired of cross-checks. Notice the motivation of the first black move, an anticipatory interference: a) 1.Sc7-a8+? Sd6-f7+ 2.PAc6-c7+ Se4-d6+ 3.VAd3xA6! or b) 1.Se2-~+ Se4-g5+ 2.VAd3-e2+ Sd6-e4+ 3.PAc6xc2!

Gustav Henry Källgren(20-04-1915) Swedish composer

Gustav Henry Källgren
Problem, September 1969
[Thanks to Александр Никитин ]

Gustav Källgren composed direct mates and helpmates. Here is an example of what he could compose at only 17:

Källgren, Gustav Henry
Swedish Chess Federation, 1932
1^st Prize

#2

13 + 11

Show Solution

1.Rd2! (2.c3#)

1…Se4 2.dxe4#
1…Sd5 2.Qxc4#
1…Sf7 2.Qd5#
1…Sg6 2.Qe4#
1…Sxd3 2.Bxf6#
1…Bxd3 2.Sf5#
1…Sxc6 2.Sxc6#
1…Sxf3 2.Sxf3#
1…c3 2.Qxc3#

Halfpin, Dombrovskis paradox.