December 29th

Joseph Alonzo Potter (29-12-1837 - 30-07-1859) American composer

Joseph Alonzo Potter, Scientific American Supplement, 1878.07.27
[Chess Archaeology]

According to these Proceedings:

[Joseph Alonzo Potter] was an invalid from early youth, and consequently did not engage much in the active duties of boyhood, but was induced to lead the life of a retired student. In 1856 he first played a game of chess, the study of which became his delight and hobby. In January 1857, he received the Chess Monthly, when he dates his chess life ; and from that time to his death he was absorbed in its history and science, whenever health would permit. He composed problems, corresponded extensively with chess scholars — edited for eight months a chess column in the American Union, and during his chess life wrote or received over 1000 letters on the subject and left over 100 original chess problems.

Potter, Joseph Alonzo
American Chess-Nuts, 1868 (3-moves / 664)

#3

5 + 5

Show Solution

1.Ra6-f6 ! (2.Qf2-g2+ Sg5-f3 3.Qg2xf3#)

1...Sh5-f4 2.Kb7-c6 (3.Qf2-e3#) 2...Sf4-g2/Sf4-d5 3.Qf2-f5#
1...Sh5xf6 2.Qf2xf6 ZZ Ke4-d5, Sg5~ 3.Qf6-c6, Qf6-f3#
1...Ke4-d5 2.Qf2-b6 (3.Qb6-c6#) 2...Kd5-c4 3.Sc2-e3# or 2...e5-e4 3.Qb6-d4/Qb6-b5#

Борис Григорьевич Маслов (29-12-1938 - 13-03-2011) Russian composer (Boris Grigoryevich Maslov)

Boris Maslov
[Grigory Popov]

Boris Maslov composed in varied genres. Some biographical information can be found in the announcement of the Maslov-75 MT.

Маслов, Борис Григорьевич
Матч на Кубок Дружбы между композиторами Беларуси и Ивановской области
1^st-3^rd Place

s#2 vv

7 + 16

Show Solution

Set play: 1...Rxc1 2.Qc4+ Kxc4#
Tries:
1.Rd1? (2.Qс4+ Kxc4#)
but 1...Bс3!
1.Rb1? (2.Qс4+ Kxc4#)
but 1...Rс3!
1.Rа1! (2.Qс4+ Kxc4#)
1...Bс3 2.Sxd3+ Kxd3#
1...Rс3 2.Qxb4+ Kxb4# Grimshaw.
Secondary variation: 1...Kd5 2.Sd6+ exd6#

Маслов, Борис Григорьевич
Шахматная композиция 1995 (12/508)

#3 vv

6 + 8

Show Solution

1. Qg5? ZZ

1... Sd4 2. Rxf1+ Kxf1 3. Qc1#
1... Sg3 2. Bxf2+ Kxf2 3. Qc5#
1... Sc1 2. Bf3! ~ 3.Qxg2#
1... Sc3 2.Sxc3 ~ 3.Se2#
But 1... Sf4!

1. Qg4? ZZ

1... Sd(f)4 2. Rxf1+ Kxf1 3. Qd1#
1... Sg3 2. Bxf2+ Kxf2 3. Qd4#
1... Sc3 2.Sxc3 ~ 3.Se2#
But 1... Sc1!

1. Qg6! ZZ

1... Sd(f)4 2. Rxf1+ Kxf1 3. Qb1#
1... Sg3 2. Bxf2+ Kxf2 3. Qb6#
1... Sc1 2. Bf3! ~ 3.Qxg2#
1... Sc3 2.Sxc3 ~ 3.Se2#

Štefan Sovík (29-12-1944) Slovak composer and International Master

Štefan Sovík
[rubriky.net]

Štefan Sovík composes mostly direct and selfmates in 2-3 moves and enjoys cyclic themes.
He has become an International Judge in 2017.

Sovík, Štefan
Rudenko JT, 1988
2^nd Prize

#3*v

8 + 10

Show Solution

Set play:

1...Rd3xe3 2.Sh3-f4+ Rf3xf4, Se2xf4 3.Sf1xe3, Qf6-d4#
1...Rf3xe3 2.Qf6-d4+ Rd3xd4, Se2xd4 3.Sf1xe3, Sh3-f4#

1.Be3-d4? (2.Re6-e5+ d6xe5 3.Qf6xe5#)

1...Se2xd4 2.Sf1-e3+ Rd3xe3, Rf3xe3 3.Qf6xd4, Sh3-f4#
1...Rd3xd4 2.Sh3-f4+ Se2xf4, Rf3xf4 3.Qf6xd4, Sf1-e3#
but 1...Qh1-h2!

1.Be3-f4 ! (2.Re7-e5+ d6xe5 3.Qf6xe5#)

1...Se2xf4 2.Sf1-e3+ Rd3xe3, Rf3xe3 3.Qf6-d4, Sh3xf4#
1...Rf3xf4 2.Qf6-d4+ Se2xd4, Rd3xd4 3.Sh3xf4, Sf1-e3#

Technically perfect (without white Pawn). Cyclical exchange of functions.

Sovík, Štefan
Pravda, 2005
1^st Prize

#3

14 + 9

Show Solution

1.Rb1-b5 ! (2.Sc5-d3+ Ke5xe4 3.Se2-g3#)

1...Sh6-f5 2.Be7-f6+ Ke5-d6 a, Ke5xf6 b 3.Bf6-e5 A, e4-e5 B#
1...Rc7xe7 2.Re8xe7+ Ke5-d6 a , Ke5-f6 b 3.Sc5-b7 C, Sc5-d7 D# (2...Bf7-e6 3.Re7xe6#)
1...Bf7xd5 2.Be7-d6+ Ke5xd6 a, Ke5-f6 b 3.e4-e5 B, Bd6-e5# A

Reciprocal and changed variations.

Béla Majoros (29-12-1955) Hungarian composer

Béla Majoros
[magyarsakkszerzok]

Béla Majoros composes direct mates and helpmates.

Majoros, Béla
Umenie 64, 1997 (85)
2^nd Prize

h#2

3.1...

7 + 10

Show Solution

1. Sxc3 Bc6+ 2. Ke5 Sd7#
1. Sxf6 e4+ 2. Kd6 Sxb7#
1. Sxc5 Bg4 2. Ke4 Bf3#
Annihilations by the same bS.