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| Edward Dunsany [Wikipedia] |
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany was a famous fantasy writer who inspired H.P. Lovecraft or J.R.R. Tolkien, but he was also a chess player and chess composer interested in retro problems.
He invented a fairy variant called Dunsany's Chess.
Dunsany, Edward
The Week-End Problems Book, 1932
The Week-End Problems Book, 1932
| #4 | 8 + 16 |
This problem is not what it seems...
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Alfred Kniest (24-07-1913 - 09-03-1966) German composer
Albert H. Kniest, Alfred Kniest (aka Fred) and Peter Kniest were brothers. Alfred composed fairy problems, of course.
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Lars Holger Persson (24-07-1913 - ?) Swedish composer
Lars Holger Persson was a twomover composer.
Persson, Lars Holger
Vart Hem, 1934
1st Prize
Vart Hem, 1934
1st Prize
| #2 | 10 + 8 |
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Fadil Abdurahmanović (24-07-1939) Bosnian composer and Grandmaster
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| Fadil Abdurahmanović, 2012 [© Nikola Stolev] |
Fadil Abdurahmanović has specialized in helpmates and he is also an International Judge for helpmates.
Mike Prcic has dedicated a book to Fadil Abdurahmanović's works: "The Wizard from Sarajevo - Fadil Abdurahmanović - Selected Compositions".
A short portrait in French was made by Abdelaziz Onkoud on maroc-echecs.com [broken link].
One of Fadil Abdurahmanović's specialties, as a theoretician and as a practician, is the Anticipatory Self-Pin (ASP).
A fine example was his 1st place in the 1st WCCT 1972-75:
Abdurahmanović, Fadil
WCCT, 1975
1st Place, 1972-1975
WCCT, 1975
1st Place, 1972-1975
| h#2 | 2 solutions | 7 + 8 |
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Some might prefer the threefold presentation of his 1st prize, British Chess Magazine 1975 which had however an awkward twinning.
Another speciality of his is showing tasks of various natures. The following example is sufficient:
Abdurahmanović, Fadil
The Problemist, 2003 (H2676)
2nd Prize
The Problemist, 2003 (H2676)
2nd Prize
| h#6 | 4 solutions | 2 + 12 |
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Another, technically as exacting task, is this h#2 showing fourfold pin mates.
Finally, another part of his problems belongs to the realm of elegance.
Abdurahmanović, Fadil
Schach-Echo, 1975
1st Prize
Schach-Echo, 1975
1st Prize
| h#3 | b) Shift b1 a1 | 5 + 14 |
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Ernst Bruno Evald Breider (24-07-1907 - 13-04-1995) Finnish composer
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| Bruno Breider [arves.org] |
Bruno Breider edited several chess columns and was the co-author, together with Aarne Dunder and Osmo Kaila, of two compilations of Finnish chess problems: "123 suomalaista lopputehtävää. Kokoelma valiotehtäviä vuosilta 1946-71" and "Toiset 123 suomalaista lopputehtävää. Kokoelma valiotehtäviä vuosilta 1946-71".
He composed mostly studies. More information about him on Wikipedia.
You can find a selection of his best studies on arves.org. Let's show a direct mate:
Breider, Ernst Bruno Evald
Helsingin Sanomat, 19 Feb 1933
Helsingin Sanomat, 19 Feb 1933
| #3 | 2 solutions | 12 + 13 |
Show Solution
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeletethe problem Kb7/Kd5 is from Albert H. Kniest, not from Alfred Kniest! For example this problem is in "Caissas Schlossbewohner" with Albert Kniest. Alfred Kniest chess problems have always a grasshopper.
Thank you Gerald for this important information.
DeleteI have trusted the YACPDB source. The selfmate is absent from the PDB server database, although other Maximummer selfmates by Albert Kniest are registered in it.
To illustrate Alfred Kniest's talent, I have now chosen a helpmate in 4 with a Grasshopper.