December 23rd

Richard Teichmann (23-12-1868 - 12-06-1925) German composer

Richard Teichmann
[Wikipedia]

Richard Teichmann was a strong player at the beginning of the 20th century.
Edward Winter notices that his birthday was erroneously given as December 24th, but was corrected in various obituaries published in Germany, for example "Deutsches Wochenschach" 21 June 1925.
He also composed direct mates, sometimes in collaboration with Emanuel Lasker or with Maximilian Feigl.

Teichmann, Richard
Reprodukce, 1908

#3

10 + 9

Show Solution

1.Qf1-c1 ! (2.Bb1-a2+ Kd5-e4 3.Sb7-c5#)

1...Sf2-d3 2.Qc1-c4+ Kd5xc4 3.Bb1-a2#
1...Kd5-e6 2.Qc1-c6+ Ke6-f7 3.Qc6-f6# or 2...d7-d6/d7xc6 3.Bb1-a2#
Two wQ sacrifices.
1...Sf2xg4 2.Qc1-d1+ Rh2-d2 3.Qd1-b3# or 2...Kd5-e6 3.Qd1xd7#
1...Bg3-d6 2.Qc1-g5+ Sh4-f5/Kd5-e6/Kd5-c4/Bd6-e5 3.Qg5xg8#
(1...d7-d6 2.Qc1-c6+ Kd5-e6 3.Bb1-a2#)
Many variations, in the then fashionable style.

Thorleif Cammillo Henriksen (23-12-1881 - 03-02-1944) Norwegian composer

Thorleif Henriksen composed direct movers and studies. He was a Good Companion composer.

Henriksen, Thorleif Cammillo
The Brisbane Courier, 6^th Dec 1919 (2140)
2^nd Prize

#2

10 + 10

Show Solution

1.e6! (2.Qe5#)

1...Scd5 2.Qd4#
1...Bd5 2.Qxc7#
1...Sed5 2.Qf2#
Three indirect unpinnings are followed by three different mates by the wQ.
Secondary variation: 1...Sxg4 2.Sh5#

Henriksen, Thorleif Cammillo
De Maasbode, 1916
1^st Prize

#3

5 + 12

Show Solution

1.Se5-g4 ! (2.Qg7-e5+ Sg6xe5 3.Sg4-f6#)

1...d4-d3 2.Rc3xd3 (3.Qg7-d4/Sg4-f2#) 2...Ke4xd3 3.Bc8-f5#
1...d4xc3 2.Qg7xc3 (3.Sg4-f6#) 2...Ke4-d5, f4-f3 3.Qc3-d3, Qc3-c4#
1...f4-f3 2.Qg7-c7 (3.Sg4-f6#) 2...d4-d3/d4xc3 3.Qc7-c4# or 2...Sg6-e5 3.Qc7xe5#
1...Ke4-d5 2.Qg7-d7+ Kd5-e4 3.Qd7-f5# (2.Rc3-d3 dual)
Model mates.

Henriksen, Thorleif Cammillo
Svenska Dagbladet, 1929
2^nd Prize

=

4 + 5

Show Solution

1. Be1! dxe1=Q
{1... dxe1=R!? 2. Sg2 Sf2 3. Rxe3+ = }
{1... Kc2 2. Rxe3 d1=Q 3. Kxh1 =}
{1... Kd4 2. Bxd2 exd2 3. Rh8 and 4.Rd8 will win the Q back}
2. Rxe3+ Qxe3 3. Sd5+ Bxd5 stalemate.
The short and effectful solution is interesting also by its side variants.

László Lindner (23-12-1916 - 21-08-2004) Hungarian composer and International Master

László Lindner, 1999
[Wikipedia]

László Lindner was a great specialist of helpmates but also composed in other genres. He initiated the sub-commission for computer matters of the PCCC (now WFCC) - more about his chess computer activities on ChessProgramming Wiki.
He was an International Judge.

He wrote many books about chess composition, such as "Mattbilder eines Lebens" (2nd version Zoltan Laborczi 2002) which can be read here or "Mattbilder eines lebens Schachliche Selbstbiographie in drei Sätzen nicht nur für Könner - 66 Jahre Schachkomposition".
More about him on magyarsakkszerzok.

Lindner, László
Themes 64, 1984
1^st Prize

h#2

6 + 13

Show Solution

1.Ba5-c3 Qa7-a4+ 2.Bd5-c4 Re7-d7#
1.Ba5-b4 Qa7-a1 + 2.Re3-c3 Bh2-g1#
Self pins, pin mates, exchange of functions wR/wB.

Lindner, László
diagrammes, 1980

h#2 2 solutions

b) wSd1->h1

6 + 9

Show Solution

a)
1.Sg6-e5 Sf6-e4 2.Qg7xg3 Se4-d2#
1.Rb7-e7 Rb4-b3 2.Re7xe3 Rb3xe3#
b)
1.Qg7-h6 Sf6-g4 2.Qh6xe3 Sg4-h2#
1.Sd6-b5 Rb4-g4 2.Bb8xg3 Rg4xg3#
Two pairs of similar solutions (selfblock by bQ and mate by wS vs capture of wP and mate by wR)

Mečislovas Rimkus (23-12-1942 - 08-02-2019) Lithuanian composer

Mečislovas Rimkus composed in almost all genres but mainly helpmate moremovers.

Rimkus, Mečislovas
Probleemblad, 1976
2^nd Prize

h#3

3.1.1...

5 + 8

Show Solution

1. Rg6 Se6 2. Kf3 Kd6 3. Rg3 Sd4#
1. Rg5 Sf5 2. Kf3 Kxd5 3. Rg3 Sd4#
1. Qb8 Sb5 2. Kf3 Kb4 3. Qg3 Sd4#
The wS shields the wK so that he can play a tempo move, while the black piece manoeuvres in two moves to g3. An interesting problem, in spite of the repeated 2nd black move.