May 24th

Dirk Borst (24-05-1963) Dutch composer and FIDE Master

Dirk Borst, Cheltenham 2002
[© Franziska Iseli ]

Dirk Borst composes mostly proof games, sometimes with a fairy condition. For this reason he is a usual presence at the Andernach meeting. Here is a good example among so many other PG prowess:

Borst, Dirk
feenschach, 1997
Prize

PG 21.0

AndernachChess

16 + 12

Show Solution

1.d4 c5 2.d5 c4 3.d6 c3 4.Qd5 Qa5 5.Qc6 dxc6[=wP] 6.c7 Bg4 7. c8=S e6 8.Se7 Qf5 9.Sg6 hxg6[=wP] 10.d7+ Ke7 11.d8=B+ Kd6 12.Bdg5 Se7 13.Bh6 gxh6[=wP] 14.g7 Sg6 15.g8=Q Be7 16.Qd8+ Ke5 17.Qd1 Rc8 18.h7 Rc4 19.h8=R Sc6 20.Rd8 Rc8 21.Rd2 cxd2[=wP]
Allumwandlung, Ceriani-Frolkin, Pronkin

He also composes fairy problems, such as this memorable neutral King reflex mate:

Borst, Dirk
The Problemist, 1997
1^st Prize

r#2

a8: Neutral King

7 + 9 + 1

Show Solution

1.nKa8xb7 ! (2.nKb7-a8 Qa3-f3#)
1...nKb7-b6 2.nKb6-a5 nKa5xa4#
1...nKb7-c8 2.nKc8-d8+ nKd8xe8#
1...nKb7-c6 2.nKc6-d5 nKd5xe6#
These were the three main variations, where only the neutral King plays!
Secondary variations:
1...Qa3-e7 2.nKb7-c8 Sb5-d6#
1...Qa3-f3+ 2.nKb7-c8 Rf8xe8#

Alexander Zidek (24-05-1964) Austrian composer and FIDE Master

Frank Richter, Alexander Kostka, Klaus Wenda, Georg Pongrac and Alexander Zidek, Vienna 2016
[harmonie 130, March 2016 ]

Alexander Zidek composes direct mates and helpmates.

Zidek, Alexander
Die Schwalbe, 1988
1^st Prize

#3

10 + 9

Show Solution

1.c8=S ! (2.Bxf3 ~ 3.Bb6#)
1...fxe2 2.Qh1 (3.Bb6# A) 2...d5 3.Qc1# B
1...g4 2.Sb6 (3.Qc1# B) 2...d5 3.Sd3# C
1...Se6 2.Qxe6 (3.Sd3# C) 2...d5 3.Bb6# A
1...Sg7-e8 2.Qh6xg5+ d6-d5 3.Qg5-c1#
Cycle of threats and mates (Ukrainian cycle).

Arno Gerhard Wilhelm Horst Zude (24-05-1964) German composer

Arno Zude, 2009
[Wikipedia]

Arno Zude is a Solving Grandmaster, Solving World Champion in 1994 and 17 times German Solving Champion (last times in 2012, 2013 and 2014), o.t.b. International Master, who composed (at least) one series helpmate.

Zude, Arno Gerhard Wilhelm Horst
Rochade, 1982 (92)

ser-h#7

2 + 5

Show Solution

1. Qd6 2. Bc6 3. Bb6 4. Kc5 5. Bd5 6. Kc6 7. Rc5 Sd4#
Varied shielding on the c-file. All Black units move at least once.

Friedrich Bethge (24-05-1891 - 17-09-1963) German composer

Friedrich Bethge composed many miniature direct mates.
He was also a playwright and dramatist, member of the Nazi party and SS-Obersturmbannführer (biography on Wikipedia).

Bethge, Friedrich
Schach-Echo, 1941 (27)

#3

4 + 3

Show Solution

1.Sf3-g1 ! ZZ
1...Kh1xh2 2.Sg1-f3+ Kh2-h1 3.Qa4-h4# or 2...Kh2-h3 3.Qa4-h4/Qa4-d7#
1...Kh1xg1 2.Qa4-h4 ZZ Kg1-h1, Kg1-f2, g3xf2 3.Sh2-f3, Qh4-d4, Qh4-e1#
1...g3xh2 2.Qa4-h4 ZZ Kh1xg1 3.Qh4-e1#
Double sacrifice of the white Knights.