February 7th

Friedrich Capraez (07-02-1830 - 05-06-1890) Swiss composer

Friedrich Capraez [Chess History.com]

Friedrich Capraez was the first editor of the Schweizerische Schachzeitung. Biographical details can be found (in German) here, among other articles about Swiss chess history.

Here is an entertaining selfmate in 9:

Capraez, Friedrich
1083v Schachzeitung 01-02/1860

s#9		9 + 9

Show Solution

1. Qxe7+! Be6 2. Qxb4+ Bc4 3. Qxe1+ Be2 4. Qxh1+ Bf3 5. Qh4+ Bg4 6. Qxh7+ Bf5 7. Qe7+ Be6 8. Qxb7+ Bd5 9. Qc6 Bxc6#
A distractive Merry-go-round.

February 6th

Adolf Engerth (06-02-1860 - ?) Polish composer

Engerth, Adolf
The Chess Monthly, 1883

#4

10 + 11

Show Solution

1.Rh6 ! (2.Qc6+ Sxc6 3.Be6+ Kd4 4.Rh4#)

1...Sc3 2.Qxc3 (threatens 3.Rd6+ exd6 4.Sf6#; 3.Bf5 ~ 4.Be4#; and 3.Qb4 ~ 4.Qe4#)
1...Sd4/Sc7/Sd6 2.R(x)d6+ exd6 3.Sf6+
1...Kd4 2.Rh4 (3.Be6#) 2...Kd5 3.Qc4+ Kxc4 4.Be6# or 2...Sc3/Sd6 3.Be6+ Se4+ 4.Rxe4#
1...e6 2.Rh4 (3.Qc4+ Kxc4 4.Bxe6#)
2...Sc3 3.Qxc3 (4.Sf6#)
2...Sd4 3.Sf6+ Kxe5 4.Qc7#
2...Sd6 3.Sf6+ Kxe5, Kd4 4.Qa1/Qc3, Qc3#
2...Sc7 3.Bxh3/Bf5/Bh5

Many white sacrifices.

February 5th

We shall mention in passing Elias Stein, the Dutch master born in Lorraine on 5^th February 1748, who recommended the Dutch defence in his 1789 treaty "Nouvel essai sur le jeu des échecs, avec des réflexions militaires relatives à ce jeu" and we start today's list with:

Joseph William Abbott (05-02-1840 - 05-08-1923) British composer

J.W.Abbott [Wikipedia.it]

Joseph Abbott is known for his collection of problems: "121 Chess Problems" (1887) that can be downloaded here. You can see two of his games on Chessgames.

Abbott, Joseph William
The Chess Monthly, 1887
2^nd Prize, Set

#3

12 + 7

Show Solution

1.Qg3 ! (2.Qf4+ Kxd3 3.Se1#)

Main variation:
1...Bxd3 2.Re4+ Kxc5, Bxe4, Kxe4, dxe4 3.Qc7, Qc3, Qf4, Qd6#
Secondary variations:
1...Kc4 2.Re4+ Kb3 3.Sc1#
1...Qh7/Qxg7 2.Qe3+ Kc4 3.Bxd5#

February 4th

György János Andor von Spóner (04-02-1842 - 22-11-1917) Slovak composer

Andor von Spóner was also a politician and a writer. He translated poetry by Aranys, Madach or Petőfi in German and poetry by Byron, Goethe, Heine, Hugo in Hungarian.
One of his miniatures is quoted as no.337 in Oscar Blumenthal's "Schachminiaturen" (1902). Here is a charming work of his:

Spóner, Andor
Deutsches Wochenschach, 1907

#4

3 + 9

Show Solution

1.Rd3! ZZ

1...c3/cxd3 2.Qa2+ c4 3.Qa5+ c5 4.Qa8#
1...e3/exd3 2.Qh1+ e4 3.Qh6 (4.Qxe6#) Ke5 4.Qg5#

February 3rd

Karel Fiala (03-02-1864 - 02-01-1916) Czech composer

Karel Fiala belongs to the Bohemian school. If you still wonder what are the characteristics of this chess composition school, you may read this article by Thorsten Zirkwitz. One of Fiala's typical output is the following:

Fiala, Karel
Český spolek šachovní 1895
5^th Prize

#3

8 + 6

Show Solution

1.Be6 ! ZZ

1...Kxd6 2.Se8+ Ke5 3.Qe3#
1...g3 2.Qd5+ Kxf6 3.Qd4#
1...Rxa5 2.Sxg4+ Ke4 3.Qe3#
1...exf6 2.Qd3 (3.Qd4#) 2...Kf4, Rxd6 3.Qe3#

February 2nd

Nicolae A. Drăgan (02-02-1941) Romanian composer

Nicky Drăgan composed direct mates, helpmates, fairy problems and retro problems.

Here is an example of his art:

Drăgan, Nicolae A.
Romanian Championship 1969- 1970
1^st Place

#2

10 + 9

Show Solution

1.Bh3! (2.Sf2#)

1...Rxf4 2.Qc2#
1...Sdxf4 2.Se5#
1...Sexf4 2.Sxf6#
1...Qxf4 2.Sd6#
1...Ke4 2.Qc2#
1...Sxe3 2.Sxe3#

Give-and-take key, Schiffman defence (4 times).

February 1st

Sigmund Weidisch (01-02-1887 - 1955) German composer

Weidisch, Sigmund
Deutsche Schachblätter, 1952
3^rd Prize

#4

8 + 5

Show Solution

1.d4 ? exd3 e.p. 2.Sd2 Bd5!
1.Rf1 ! (2.Rc1 ~ 3.Rxc4)
1...Bxf1 2.d4 (3.Bc5/Bb8/dxe5#)

2...exd3 e.p. 3.Sd2 (4.Sc4/Se4# now 3...Bd5 is impossible) 3...e4, Bg2 4.Sc4#
2...exd4 3.Se5 (4.Sxf7#) 3...Bc4, Kxe5 4.Sxc4, Bb8#

A logical problem with sacrifices.