August 22nd

Antonin Novotný (22-08-1827 - 09-03-1871) Austrian-Czech problemist

Antonin Novotný collaborated with the "Illustrierte Zeitung" and the "Wiener Schachzeitung" and was one of the most notable problemists of the 19th century.
He gave his name to the Novotny theme : a white unit is sacrificed on a square where two lines of action of two long-range black pieces meet and thus interferes both of them simultaneously.

Novotný, Antonin
Leipziger Illustrierte Zeitung, 1855

#3

7 + 8

Show Solution

The try 1. Bg4? Rxc3! logically leads to the key:
1. Rc5 !(2.Rxh5#)
1...Bxc5, 2.Bg4 ! (3.Qh3#) 2...Rxg4/Bxg4,3. Qh2#/Qg3#
1...Rxg5, 2.Qf3+ Rg3 3.Qxg3#
1...Bf5 2.Qh1+ Bh3 3.Rxh5#
Two Consecutive Novotny themes, on c5 and g4.

February 9th

Valeriu Petrovici (09-02-1932 - 16-02-2026) Romanian composer and Honorary Master

Valeriu Petrovici, 2020
[Romanian Chess Federation]

Valeriu Petrovici was editor of Romanian magazine Buletin Problemistic (now defunct and replaced by a new magazine, "Componist"). He was the author of a selection of his best problems. He was also the captain of the Romanian team for WCCT8 and the president of the Romanian Chess Composition Committee. He was very keen on historical research about early Romanian composers and also on the Valladao task.

Petrovici, Valeriu
Jubilé Dmitrenko-55, 1998
3rd Prize

s#6

9 + 6

Show Solution

1.0-0 ! ZZ
1...g3 2.Ra1 g2 3.Bh2 f4 4.e8=B f3 5.Qd4+ c5 6.bxc6 e.p.+ Bxd4#
Valladao.

Petrovici, Valeriu
Cupa Federaţiei Române de Şah, 1988
1^st-2^nd Place

#2*

10 + 8

Show Solution

Set play:

1...Qxh2 2.Sxf3#
1...Bxh2 2.Qxf2#
1...Bg2/Bf1/Be6/Sg4 2.Se6#

1.Qxf3! (2.Rd5#)

1...Qxf3+ 2.Sxf3#
1...Se4 2.Qd3#
1...Sb4 2.c3#
1...Sc3 2.Bxc3#
1...Be6 2.Sxe6#
1...c6 2.Qe3#