December 17th

Willy Roscher (17-12-1900 – 23-12-1957) German composer

Willy Roscher learnt the game of chess during WWI as a soldier.
He was a chess historian and had a large collection of chess books and knowledge about the history of chess literature and chess composition. He was the editor of the “Arbeiter-Schachzeitung” and composed direct mates.

Roscher, Willy
Schach (magazine) 1954 (1867)
3^rd Prize

#2

12 + 11

Show Solution

1.a7! (2.a8Q/B#)

1...Bxa7 2.Qa8#
1...Sd4 2.Sce3#
1...Sed8/Sc5/Sc7 2.Rg5#
1...axb4 2.Sxb4#
1...Se5 2.Sge3#
1...Sfd8 2.Rd2#

Sacrifice, Somov B2.