December 12th

Friedrich Köhnlein (12.12.1879 – 5.7.1916) German composer

[Chess Notes]

Friedrich Köhnlein was a chess player who composed direct mates. First interested in echo mates, he privileged afterwards a more strategic neo-German style.
Walter Fentze wrote a book dedicated to him in 1984: "Friedrich Köhnlein: Schachmeister und Problemkomponist".

Köhnlein, Friedrich
Münchner Neueste Nachrichten, 1905

#4

4 + 4

Show Solution

1.Rd1-d8 ! ZZ

1...b4-b3 2.Rf4-a4 (3.Rd8-d4 ~ 4.Ra4-c4#)
1...h6-h5 2.Rf4-d4 b4-b3 3.Ka6-b7 ~ 4.Rd8-d5#
Aesthetically delightful.

Köhnlein, Friedrich
Münchner Neueste Nachrichten, 1909

#8

3 + 5

Show Solution

1. Rd8-d7 ! Bh7-g6 2. Rd7-d6 Bg6-f5 3. Rd6-d5 Bf5-e4 4. Rd5-d4 Be4-h7, Be4-g6, Be4-f5 5. Bd3-e4 Bh7xe4 6. Rd4xe4 Ka1-b1 7. Re4-c4 Kb1-a1 8. Rc4-c1#
A now classical manoeuvre.