August 8th

Ferenc Herpai (08-08-1910 - 16-11-1994) Hungarian composer

Ferenc Herpai
[magyarsakkszerzok]

 
Ferenc Herpai was a twomover specialist.
He lent his name to a twomover theme:

Two dual avoidance variations close the two same black lines. One of the mates uses one of the closings, and the other mate the second closing.

A brillliant example by H.Ahues can be found here and an example by Herpai himself here.
He also composed helpmates.

Herpai, Ferenc
Die Schwalbe, 1936
1^st Prize

#2

9 + 9

Show Solution

1.Qh6! (2.Bxf4#)
1...Sg2 2.Qh3#
1...Sed3 2.Sxc4#
1...Sbd3 2.Sxf1#
1...Sd5 2.Qe6#
Four self-interferences.
1...Bxg5 2.Qxg5#

March 2nd

John Odin Howard Taylor (02-03-1837 - 15-05-1890) British composer

Taylor's Folly [Source]

Doesn't it look like a chess Rook?
The Pinebanks tower was built by John Odin Howard Taylor in Whitlingham. Here you may read that "the tower was climbed by Queen Kapiolani of Hawaii in 1887. She was in the country to celebrate Victoria’s Golden Jubilee". It must have been a special pleasure for Taylor to be able to welcome a Queen at his Rook.

Taylor was a chess player and direct mate composer who also wrote the book "Chess Skirmishes" (1889).

Taylor, John Odin Howard
The Chess Player's Chronicle, 1859

#2

6 + 6

Show Solution

1.Qg6! (2.Qh6#)

1...Rf8/Re8/Rd8/Rc8/Rb8/Ra8 2.Qxg7#
1...fxg6+ 2.Kxg6#
1...Bf5 2.Sxf7#
1...Bg4+ 2.Kxg4#