Chess Problem Gems (Gnv64)

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Kenneth S. Howard

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.

NEW YORK

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Published in Canada by General Publishing Com-pany, Ltd., 30 Lesmill R o a d , Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario.

Published in the United K i n g d o m by Constable and C o m p a n y , Ltd., 10 Orange Street, London W C 2 .

Chess Problem Gems by Eight Eminent American Composers is a new work, first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 1972.

International Standard Book Number: 0-486-22166-0 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: Jg-i8g348

Manufactured in the United States of America Dover Publications, Inc.

180 Varick Street New York, N . Y . 1 0 0 1 4

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p a g e E i g h t E m i n e n t C o m p o s e r s i T h e P r o b l e m i s t ' s V o c a b u l a r y 4 N o t a t i o n 9 E u g e n e B. C o o k 11 S a m u e l L o y d 1 6 W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h 3 2 G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r 4 1 W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n 4 8 D . J . D e n s m o r e 6 4 H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n 7 2 O t t o W u r z b u r g 8 5 V

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FEW chess e n t h u s i a s t s t o d a y m a y b e f a m i l i a r w i t h m u c h o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g w o r k o f t h e e a r l y A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m c o m p o s e r s . T h i s p r i m a r i l y i s b e c a u s e n o collections o f t h e i r p r o b l e m s a r e c u r r e n t l y i n p r i n t a n d t h e y a r e o n l y t o b e f o u n d i n b o o k s t h a t o c c a s i o n a l l y m a y b e s e c u r e d i n t h e s e c o n d h a n d m a r k e t . A single e x c e p t i o n i s t h a t o f s o m e o f S a m L o y d ' s c o m p o s i t -ions. S o t h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e r e p r o d u c e s t y p i c a l e x a m p l e s o f t h e w o r k o f e i g h t o f t h e m o s t e m i n e n t o f t h e s e p r o b l e m i s t s w h o s e c o m p o s i n g c a r e e r s d a t e d f r o m t h e last c e n t u r y . W h i l e E u g e n e B . C o o k a n d S a m u e l L o y d w e r e t h e earliest o f t h e m o r e p r o m i n e n t p i o n e e r s , t h e y w e r e f o l l o w e d closely b y G e o r g e E . C a r p e n t e r a n d W i l l i a m A . S h i n k m a n . A l t h o u g h W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h w a s b o r n b e f o r e L o y d , his p r o b l e m s o n l y b e g a n t o b e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e e i g h t e e n - s e v e n t i e s a n d his w o r k d i d n o t a t t r a c t a n y w i d e s p r e a d a t t e n t i o n u n t i l y e a r s a f t e r w a r d . D a r s o J . D e n s m o r e b e c a m e n o t e d f o r his s t r a t e g i c p r o b l e m s , especially f o r t h o s e f e a t u r i n g b l a c k i n t e r f e r e n c e s . T h e c o m p o s i n g activities o f H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n a n d o f O t t o W u r z b u r g c o n -t i n u e d f a r i n -t o -t h e p r e s e n -t c e n -t u r y . W h i l e o -t h e r e a r l y c o m p o s e r s p u b l i s h e d m a n y f i n e p r o b l e m s , t h e y d i d n o t b e c o m e a s p r o m i -n e -n t . P r i o r t o t h e m i d d l e o f t h e last c e n t u r y t h e r e w a s o n l y a m i n i -m u -m o f chess a c t i v i t y i n this c o u n t r y a n d a s t h e r e w e r e n o chess m a g a z i n e s , n o r chess c o l u m n s i n n e w s p a p e r s , t h e r e w a s little i n c e n t i v e for p r o b l e m c o m p o s i t i o n , since i t w a s o n l y i n f o r e i g n p e r i o d i c a l s t h a t p r o b l e m s m i g h t b e p u b l i s h e d .

T h e earliest A m e r i c a n chess c o l u m n w a s o n e e d i t e d b y C h a r l e s H e n r y S t a n l e y in The Spirit of the Times, in N e w Y o r k , t h e f i r s t p r o b l e m p u b l i s h e d b e i n g o n e o f S t a n l e y ' s o w n t h a t w a s p r i n t e d i n n o t a t i o n i n t h e M a r c h 1 , 1845 issue. T h e f i r s t m a g a -zine, The Chess Palladium, w a s issued by N a p o l e o n M a r a c h e in

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Chess Problem. Gems

1846, a n d a s e c o n d , t h e American Chess Magazine, a p p e a r e d in 1847. B o t h , h o w e v e r , h a d s h o r t lives. A g r e a t chess a w a k e n i n g i n this c o u n t r y c a m e w i t h t h e a d v e n t o f P a u l M o r p h y ' s exploits, w h i c h b e g a n i n t h e l a t e r e i g h t e e n -f i -f t i e s a n d a r o u s e d s o m u c h n a t i o n a l e n t h u s i a s m t h a t m a n y n e w s p a p e r s b e g a n t o c a r r y chess c o l u m n s . T h i s n a t u r a l l y led t o a s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g i n t e r e s t in p r o b l e m s . T h e b i r t h o f A m e r i c a n p r o b l e m - b o o k l i t e r a t u r e d a t e s f r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g d e c a d e . I n 1859 C o o k a n d L o y d p l a n n e d t o issue a collection of a t h o u s a n d p r o b l e m s by A m e r i c a n c o m p o s e r s . It w a s n o t u n t i l 1868, h o w e v e r , t h a t w i t h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f W i l l i a m R . H e n r y a n d C h a r l e s A . G i l b e r g , t h e b o o k w a s p u b -lished u n d e r t h e title of American Chess Nuts, c o n t a i n i n g 2 4 0 6 p r o b l e m s , o f w h i c h 353 w e r e b y L o y d , 3 2 6 b y C o o k a n d 6 4 b y C a r p e n t e r .

I n 1881 L o y d p u b l i s h e d his Chess Strategy, " a t r e a t i s e o n chess p r o b l e m s , " i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h m a n y o f his c o m p o s i t i o n s . T h e s e c o n d section o f t h e s i x t e e n t h v o l u m e o f A l a i n W h i t e ' s Christmas Series, e n t i t l e d Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems, issued in 1913, is a revision of t h e Strategy, b a s e d on m a t e r i a l left by L o y d a t his d e a t h , a n d h a s o v e r 5 0 0 o f his p r o b l e m s . T h i s v o l u m e f o r t u n a t e l y is n o w a v a i l a b l e in a p a p e r b a c k r e -p r i n t .

In 1916 100 Chess Problems by William Meredith w a s p u b l i s h e d as t h e t w e n t y - s e c o n d v o l u m e of t h e Christmas Series, a n d in 1920 A Memorial to D, J. Densmore, c o n t a i n i n g a collection of D e n s -m o r e ' s p r o b l e -m s , as t h e t w e n t y - s i x t h v o l u -m e . T h e n The Golden Argosy, a collection of 600 of S h i n k m a n ' s p r o b l e m s , t h e t h i r t y -s e v e n t h v o l u m e of t h e Chri-stma-s Serie-s, a p p e a r e d in 1929.

O r e s t e s A . B r o w n s o n , J r . , w h o f o u n d e d a n d e d i t e d t h e Dubuque Chess Journal, p u b l i s h e d a collection of 200 of C a r p e n t e r ' s p r o b l e m s i n 1875, w i t h t h r e e l a t e r editions. N u m a P r e t i o f P a r i s also b r o u g h t o u t a collection of 200 of C a r p e n t e r ' s p r o b l e m s in 1901. In 1926 D r . H. K e i d a n z p u b l i s h e d a collection of all of C o o k ' s k n o w n c o m p o s i t i o n s , s o m e 6 5 0 positions.

All of these b o o k s w e r e issued in c o m p a r a t i v e l y l i m i t e d editions a n d , as p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , o n l y a selection of L o y d ' s p r o b l e m s i s r e a d i l y o b t a i n a b l e a t p r e s e n t . N o collections o f t h e p r o b l e m s o f D r . H e n r y W a l d B e t t m a n n o r o f O t t o W u r z b u r g h a v e a s y e t b e e n p u b l i s h e d .

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S i n c e s o m e r e a d e r s m a y n o t b e f a m i l i a r w i t h v a r i o u s t e r m s u s e d b y p r o b l e m i s t s , m a n y o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n ones a r e ex-p l a i n e d i n t h e n e x t section.

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The Problemist's Vocabulary

THE BASIC d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a c o m p o s e d endgame a n d a prob-lem i s t h a t i n t h e f o r m e r W h i t e h a s a n i n d e f i n i t e n u m b e r o f m o v e s i n w h i c h t o w i n — o r d r a w — a g a i n s t a s u p e r i o r o r e q u a l b l a c k f o r c e , w h e r e a s i n a p r o b l e m W h i t e m u s t m a t e Black i n a d e f i n i t e n u m b e r o f m o v e s . I n a c o n v e n t i o n a l chess p r o b l e m W h i t e m o v e s f i r s t a n d m a t e s B l a c k i n a s t i p u l a t e d n u m b e r o f m o v e s , t h e c o r r e c t f i r s t m o v e f o r W h i t e b e i n g t e r m e d t h e keymove o r key. T h e r e a r e o n l y t w o c o n v e n t i o n s t h a t m u s t b e o b s e r v e d i n c o m p o s i n g a p r o b l e m . T h e f i r s t i s t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n m u s t b e o n e w h i c h c o u l d b e r e a c h e d i n a c t u a l p l a y h o w e v e r u n n a t u r a l i t m a y a p p e a r . I n f a c t , t h e positions i n p r o b l e m s n e v e r w o u l d b e likely t o o c c u r i n a g a m e . T h e s e c o n d c o n v e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e r e m u s t b e o n l y o n e f i r s t m o v e t h a t will solve t h e p r o b l e m . S h o u l d i t b e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t a p r o b -l e m m a y b e so-lved b y m o r e t h a n o n e f i r s t m o v e i t i s said t o b e unsound a n d is valueless. T h e u n i n t e n d e d first m o v e is c a l l e d a cook. W h i l e a n y m o v e m a y b e e m p l o y e d a s a k e y , i n m o d e r n p r o b -l e m s a c h e c k , c a p t u r e of a b -l a c k m a n , m o v e of a w h i t e p i e c e f r o m a n o u t o f p l a y t o a m o r e a c t i v e p o s i t i o n , a m o v e t h a t r e -stricts B l a c k ' s p l a y , o r a n y o t h e r aggressive m o v e , i s c o n s i d e r e d o b j e c t i o n a b l e as a k e y m o v e . A p l a u s i b l e - a p p e a r i n g first m o v e a g a i n s t w h i c h B l a c k m a y d e f e n d b y p e r h a p s o n l y a single d e f e n -sive m o v e is c a l l e d a try. W h e n t h e k e y m o v e d i r e c t l y t h r e a t e n s m a t e i n t h e s t i p u l a t e d n u m b e r of m o v e s t h e p r o b l e m is a threat problem. L i n e s of p l a y w h e r e d e f e n s i v e m o v e s b y B l a c k d e f e a t t h e t h r e a t b u t a l l o w W h i t e t o m a t e i n o t h e r w a y s a r e t e r m e d variations.

In a waiting-move problem m a t e is n o t t h r e a t e n e d by t h e key-m o v e w h i c h , h o w e v e r , sets u p a p o s i t i o n w h e r e a n y b l a c k key-m o v e will w e a k e n t h e d e f e n s e a n d a l l o w W h i t e t o m a t e — B l a c k i s i n zugzwang. W a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m s a r e s u b d i v i d e d i n t o complete

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W h i t e h a s o n l y t o m a k e a m o v e w h i c h will n o t a l t e r s u c h a n a r r a n g e m e n t . I n a n i n c o m p l e t e b l o c k t h e r e m a y b e o n e o r several possible m o v e s b y Black for w h i c h m a t e s a r e n o t set a n d t h e k e y m u s t p r o v i d e m a t e s f o r s u c h m o v e s .

W h e r e t h e k e y m o v e i n a c o m p l e t e b l o c k p r o b l e m c h a n g e s s o m e of t h e set m a t e s to o t h e r m a t e s t h e p r o b l e m is t e r m e d a mutate. W h e r e t h e k e y m o v e p e r m i t s Black t o m a k e d e f e n s i v e m o v e s t h a t l e a d t o m o r e m a t i n g positions t h a n those i n t h e initial s e t t i n g it is an added mate p r o b l e m .

T h e n t h e r e a r e c o m p l e t e b l o c k positions w h i c h c a n n o t b e solved b y a w a i t i n g - m o v e key, b u t i n w h i c h W h i t e m u s t m a k e a k e y m o v e t h a t t h r e a t e n s m a t e d i r e c t l y . S u c h a p r o b l e m is a block-threat. T h e s q u a r e u p o n w h i c h a k i n g s t a n d s a n d those i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to it c o n s t i t u t e t h e king's field; n i n e s q u a r e s if t h e k i n g i s n o t a t a n e d g e o f t h e b o a r d . I f w h e n t h e b l a c k k i n g i s m a t e d e a c h o f t h e s q u a r e s i n t h e k i n g ' s field a r e g u a r d e d b y o n l y o n e w h i t e m a n o r b l o c k e d b y a b l a c k m a n it is a pure mate. T h e o n l y e x c e p t i o n to this is w h e r e a b l a c k m a n t h a t o c c u p i e s a n a d j a c e n t s q u a r e i s p i n n e d a n d c o u l d p r e v e n t t h e m a t e i f i t w e r e n o t p i n n e d . S u c h a m a t e m i g h t also be c o n s i d e r e d p u r e . In s u c h a s i t u a t i o n t h e m a t e is also t e r m e d a pin-mate.

A model mate is a p u r e m a t e w h e r e all t h e w h i t e m e n on t h e b o a r d , w i t h t h e o p t i o n a l e x c e p t i o n o f t h e k i n g a n d p a w n s , t a k e p a r t . S o m e purists, h o w e v e r , h o l d t h a t a n y w h i t e p a w n e m -p l o y e d m u s t g u a r d o n e o f t h e s q u a r e s i n t h e b l a c k k i n g ' s f i e l d for t h e m a t e to be a m o d e l . W h e r e t h e b l a c k k i n g w h e n m a t e d i s n o t a t a n e d g e o f t h e b o a r d a n d t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r m e n o n t h e e i g h t a d j a c e n t s q u a r e s in t h e k i n g ' s field it is a mirror mate. T h e t e r m is c o m m o n l y a p p l i e d o n l y w h e n t h e m a t e is also a p u r e o n e . A l t h o u g h a f e w p r o b l e m i s t s h a v e c o m p o s e d positions p r i m a r i l y t o f e a t u r e m i r r o r m a t e s , t h e y a r e o f i n f r e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e .

T h e i d e a o r m a n e u v e r w h i c h a p r o b l e m i s expressly c o m p o s e d to i l l u s t r a t e is t e r m e d t h e mainplay or thematic play. All o t h e r c o n -t i n u a -t i o n s , b r o u g h -t a b o u -t b y v a r i o u s b l a c k defensive m o v e s , a r c

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t e r m e d byplay o r v a r i a t i o n s . W h e r e b e c a u s e o f s o m e b l a c k m o v e W h i t e h a s a c h o i c e of m a t i n g m o v e s it is a dual a n d in t h e case of t h r e e m o v e or f o u r m o v e p r o b l e m s a c h o i c e of m a t i n g c o n -t i n u a -t i o n s is -t e r m e d a dual con-tinua-tion.

A major dual is o n e w h e r e W h i t e h a s a c h o i c e of lines of p l a y o r m a t i n g m o v e s n o n e o f w h i c h h e i s f o r c e d t o a d o p t b y a n y o f B l a c k ' s d e f e n s i v e m o v e s . S u c h d u a l s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y o b j e c t i o n a b l e i f t h e y o c c u r i n t h e t h e m a t i c o r m a i n p l a y o f t h e p r o b -l e m .

In a minor dual W h i t e h a s a choice of c o n t i n u a t i o n s f o l l o w i n g i n d i f f e r e n t b l a c k m o v e s w h i l e B l a c k m a y m a k e c e r t a i n m o v e s w h i c h c o m p e l W h i t e t o m a k e a single d e f i n i t e c o n t i n u a t i o n . D u a l s o c c u r r i n g i n u n t h e m a t i c o r s e c o n d a r y lines o f p l a y a r e also s o m e t i m e s called m i n o r d u a l s . I n s o m e cases s u c h a d u a l m i g h t b e a v o i d e d m e r e l y b y t h e a d d i t i o n o f a b l a c k p a w n , w h i c h m a n y c o m p o s e r s , h o w e v e r , w o u l d p r e f e r n o t t o a d d t o e l i m i n a t e a n i n s i g n i f i c a n t d u a l .

T h e r e p e t i t i o n o f a similar t y p e o f p o s i t i o n i n t w o o r m o r e m a t e s i s k n o w n a s a n echo. W h e r e t h e b l a c k k i n g s t a n d s o n s q u a r e s of t h e s a m e color w h e n m a t e d it is a monochrome echo. If h e s t a n d s o n a w h i t e s q u a r e i n o n e m a t e a n d o n a b l a c k s q u a r e in a n o t h e r it is a chameleon echo. Likewise w h e r e t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s i n t w o o r m o r e lines o f p l a y i n t h r e e - m o v e , f o u r - m o v e o r l o n g e r p r o b l e m s a r e s i m i l a r t h e y a r e said t o e c h o e a c h o t h e r . W h e r e t h e r e is a s q u a r e in t h e b l a c k k i n g ' s field o n t o w h i c h h e c a n m o v e , b e c a u s e i t i s n o t g u a r d e d b y a w h i t e m a n n o r o c c u p i e d by a b l a c k one, it is called a flight square. W h e r e t h e r e i s a n u n g u a r d e d w h i t e m a n o n s u c h a s q u a r e t h e b l a c k k i n g ' s m o v e o n t o it is t e r m e d a flight capture. W h i l e in a g a m e a m a n is said to be p i n n e d n o t o n l y if its r e m o v a l w o u l d l e a v e its k i n g in c h e c k , b u t if it w o u l d l e a v e a m o r e i m p o r t a n t p i e c e u n d e r a t t a c k , i n a p r o b l e m t h e w o r d pin is u s e d o n l y w h e r e t h e o p p o s i n g k i n g is on t h e line of p i n . I f t h e p i n n e d m a n c a n m o v e a l o n g t h e line o f p i n n i n g i t i s said to be line-pinned. T h u s a q u e e n c a n o n l y be l i n e - p i n n e d w h i l e a k n i g h t i s a l w a y s a b s o l u t e l y p i n n e d . B o t h p i n n i n g a n d u n p i n n i n g p l a y p r o m i n e n t roles i n m o d e r n p r o b l e m s . W h e n t w o b l a c k m e n a r e o n a line b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k k i n g a n d a l o n g - r a n g e w h i t e piece, w i t h n o o t h e r i n t e r v e n i n g m e n ,

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a l o n g a file, r a n k or d i a g o n a l , w h e r e t h e r a n g e of a r e a r p i e c e — q u e e n , r o o k or b i s h o p — i s o b s t r u c t e d by a f r o n t or firing piece, a m o v e o f w h i c h off t h e line m a k e s t h e p o w e r o f t h e r e a r p i e c e effective. A b i s h o p , as a f r o n t p i e c e , m a y o b s t r u c t a r o o k ' s a c t i o n a l o n g a file or r a n k , w h i l e a r o o k m a y o b s t r u c t t h a t of a b i s h o p on a d i a g o n a l . A k n i g h t or k i n g m a y serve as t h e f i r i n g piece, a s also m a y a p a w n i n c e r t a i n positions. T h e q u e e n , h o w -e v -e r , m a y o n l y b -e -e m p l o y -e d a s t h -e r -e a r p i -e c -e o f a b a t t -e r y .

W h e r e t h e r e a r piece is on a l i n e w i t h t h e b l a c k k i n g it is c a l l e d a direct battery; w h e r e it is on a line w i t h a s q u a r e t h a t is a d j a c e n t t o t h e o n e o n w h i c h t h e b l a c k k i n g s t a n d s i t i s a n in-direct battery. W h e n a n i n d i r e c t b a t t e r y f i r e s , t h e f i r i n g p i e c e m a y c h e c k t h e b l a c k king, w h i l e t h e r e a r p i e c e g u a r d s o n e o r m o r e s q u a r e s i n t h e k i n g ' s f i e l d . W h e r e t h e f i r i n g piece i s t h e w h i t e k i n g it is t e r m e d a royal battery. W h e n a l o n g - r a n g e piece is m o v e d o n t o a line b e h i n d a n o t h e r m a n — e s p e c i a l l y w h e r e t h e f o r m e r i s a w h i t e piece a n d t h e l a t t e r a b l a c k m a n — s o t h a t i t m a y m o v e a l o n g , o r h a v e its g u a r d i n g p o w e r b e c o m e effective, o n t h a t l i n e i f t h e m a n i n f r o n t m o v e s off t h e line, t h e m a n e u v e r is t e r m e d an ambush.

I n a p r o b l e m i n w h i c h Black i s a l l o w e d t o c h e c k t h e w h i t e k i n g b y a l o n g - r a n g e p i e c e — q u e e n , r o o k o r b i s h o p — a n d W h i t e c o u n t e r s b y m o v i n g a m a n o n t o t h e line o f c h e c k a n d s i m u l -t a n e o u s l y c h e c k s -t h e b l a c k k i n g e i -t h e r d i r e c -t l y o r b y d i s c o v e r y , it is a cross-check. W h e r e t h e w h i t e k i n g m o v e s o u t of t h e l i n e of c h e c k a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e discovers c h e c k o n t h e b l a c k k i n g f r o m a w h i t e p i e c e b e h i n d h i m it is a royal battery counter-check. W h e r e t h e p o t e n t i a l m o v e s o f t w o l o n g - r a n g e pieces i n t e r s e c t t h e s q u a r e on w h i c h t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o c c u r s is called a critical square a n d w h e n e i t h e r p i e c e m o v e s o n t o t h a t s q u a r e i t c r e a t e s an interference w i t h t h e o t h e r piece. W h e n a w h i t e piece, s u c h as a b i s h o p , r e t r e a t s a l o n g a l i n e across a critical s q u a r e to p e r m i t a n o t h e r piece, s u c h a s a q u e e n , t o m o v e o n t o t h e line a h e a d o f it, it is an anticritical move. W h e r e a p i e c e m o v e s a r o u n d a n o t h e r l o n g - r a n g e p i e c e to s u p p o r t it f r o m b e h i n d it is a pericritical m a n e u v e r .

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possi-IO

IO Chess Problem Gems

bilities of s o m e m a n e u v e r , s u c h as a w h i t e k n i g h t p l a y i n g to e i g h t d i f f e r e n t s q u a r e s , a c c o r d i n g t o Black's d e f e n s i v e m o v e s , t o d i s c o v e r m a t e , it is c a l l e d a task problem.

A p r o b l e m w i t h a t o t a l of seven or f e w e r m e n is a miniature, w h i l e o n e of twelve or less is c a l l e d a Meredith, a l t h o u g h this t e r m o r d i n a r i l y i s o n l y a p p l i e d t o t w o - m o v e p r o b l e m s .

In a self-mate problem, or a suimate as it is also t e r m e d , i n s t e a d o f W h i t e m a t i n g Black t h e p r o c e d u r e i s r e v e r s e d a n d W h i t e forces B l a c k t o m a t e t h e w h i t e k i n g .

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THE chess n o t a t i o n in t h e f o l l o w i n g text a n d s o l u t i o n p a g e s is t e r m e d t h e algebraic, s o m e t i m e s also called t h e Continental b e -c a u s e of its use in -c o n t i n e n t a l E u r o p e a n -c o u n t r i e s . S i n -c e it is m o r e precise t h a n t h e English n o t a t i o n it is m o r e g e n e r a l l y u s e d i n books o n p r o b l e m s , s u c h a s t h e m a n y v o l u m e s i n A l a i n W h i t e ' s Christmas Series a n d also in t h e series of p r o b l e m b o o k s t h a t F r a n k A l t s c h u l p r i n t e d a t his p r i v a t e O v e r b r o o k Press. a b c d e f g h I n t h e a l g e b r a i c n o t a t i o n t h e l o c a t i o n a n d m o v e s o f t h e m e n a r e a l w a y s r e a d f r o m t h e w h i t e side o f t h e b o a r d , o r t h e l o w e r side o f t h e d i a g r a m . T h e files a r e d e s i g n a t e d " a " t o " h " f r o m left t o r i g h t a n d t h e r a n k s a r e n u m b e r e d " 1 " t o " 8 " r e a d i n g u p w a r d . I n t h e e n s u i n g sections t h e s a m e letters a r e e m p l o y e d t o d e n o t e t h e m e n a s i n t h e English n o t a t i o n , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of S ( G e r m a n Springer) for k n i g h t . T h e s y m b o l x is used for a c a p t u r e a n d t h e s y m b o l ( ) for t h e p r o m o t i o n of a p a w n to a piece, w i t h a letter w i t h i n t h e p a r e n t h e s i s d e n o t i n g t h e piece

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IO Chess Problem Gems t h a t is c h o s e n . T h e s y m b o l V (version), b e f o r e t h e n a m e of a p u b l i c a t i o n a b o v e a d i a g r a m , i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n is a revision of a p r o b l e m as o r i g i n a l l y p u b l i s h e d ; t h e s y m b o l ( q u o t e d ) i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p r o b l e m i n i t i a l l y a p p e a r e d i n s o m e o t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n .

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EUGENE BEAUHARNAIS COOK ( 1 8 3 0 - 1 9 1 5 ) , b o r n a d e c a d e b e f o r e L o y d , s u b m i t t e d a p r o b l e m f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n 1850 a n d c o m -p o s e d his last -p r o b l e m i n M a r c h , 1915, t h e y e a r o f his d e a t h . I n

1851 he h a d t h r e e p r o b l e m s p u b l i s h e d in t h e New York Albion, a n t e d a t i n g L o y d ' s d e b u t b y f o u r y e a r s . O f his t o t a l o f six h u n d r e d fifty c o m p o s i t i o n s m a n y r e m a i n e d u n p u b l i s h e d a t t h e t i m e o f his d e a t h . M o s t o f his e a r l i e r p r o b l e m s w e r e c o m p o s e d a l o n g o l d f a s h i o n e d lines, m a n y o f t h e m w i t h a g g r e s s i v e keys, c h e c k s , c a p -t u r e s o f b l a c k m e n , c u -t -t i n g o f f f l i g h -t s q u a r e s o r b r i n g i n g -t h e k e y p i e c e f r o m a n o u t - o f - p l a y p o s i t i o n . T h e n , f e w o f his p r o b l e m s i l l u s t r a t e d a n y c o m p l e x s t r a t e g y a n d w h e r e t h e y d i d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s o f t e n c u m b e r s o m e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e c o m p o s e d s o m e l i g h t w e i g h t p r o b l e m s w i t h e x c e l l e n t keys, a s s h o w n i n t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g selections. I n N o . 1 , o n e o f his m o r e s t r a t e g i c c o m p o s i t i o n s , t h e k e y s u b -m i t s t h e w h i t e k i n g t o a d o u b l e c h e c k , w i t h a n o t h e r c h e c k o n B l a c k ' s s e c o n d m o v e . T h i s p r o b l e m s h o u l d b e c o m p a r e d w i t h L o y d ' s " S t e i n i t z G a m b i t " ( N o . 3 2 ) , c o m p o s e d n e a r l y h a l f a c e n t u r y l a t e r . I n t h e initial p o s i t i o n o f N o . 1 , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a n u n p r o v i d e d c h e c k , 1 R x R ck, t h a t w o u l d b e f o l l o w e d by a s e c o n d - m o v e c h e c k . T h e b r i l l i a n t key i n N o . 2 , a l t h o u g h i t t h r e a t e n s a s h o r t m a t e , l e a d s t o q u i e t m o v e s i n t w o c o n t i n u a t i o n s . P r o b l e m N o . 3 is d e f i n i t e l y a s t r a t e g i c c o n c e p t i o n . W h i t e m a k e s a w i t h d r a w a l w a i t i n g m o v e to l e a d to a b l o c k p o s i t i o n a n d t h e n m a k e s a s w e e p i n g s e c o n d m o v e f r o m o n e e n d o f a d i a g o n a l t o t h e o t h e r , a n o t h e r w a i t i n g m o v e t h a t forces B l a c k t o m o v e his k n i g h t . T h e t h r e a t line i n N o . 4 , m a d e possible b y a s u r p r i s i n g k e y , i s s u p p l e m e n t e d b y a q u e e n sacrifice v a r i a t i o n w h e n B l a c k p l a y s 1 Sf4, t h e e n s u i n g m a t e b e i n g a m o d e l . 11

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12 Chess Problem Gems

1

E u g e n e B . C o o k New Tork Albion

October 20, 1855

White mates in four moves

3

E u g e n e B . C o o k New Tork Albion

July 19, 1856

White self-mates in three moves

E u g e n e B . C o o k The Illustrated London News

January 5, 1856

White mates in three moves

4

E u g e n e B . C o o k Winona Republican

September 3, 1858

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E u g e n e B . C o o k Boston Saturday Evening

Gazette September 11, 1858

7

E u g e n e B . C o o k V American Chess Nuts

December 25, 1868

E u g e n e B . C o o k Philadelphia Daily Evening

Bulletin April 12, 1862

8

E u g e n e B . C o o k The Compositions of E. B. Cook

[Dr. H. Keidanz) 1927

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14° Chess Problem. Gems I n t h e m i n i a t u r e , N o . 5 , f o l l o w i n g a g o o d k e y — 1 P a 4 looks m o r e p r o m i s i n g at first g l a n c e — t h e r e is an e c h o of a f a m i l i a r m a t i n g p o s i t i o n . T h e p o i n t o f t h e k e y m o v e a p p e a r s w h e n B l a c k p l a y s 1 K b 5 . T h e w e l l - h i d d e n w a i t i n g - m o v e key i n N o . 6 i s f o l l o w e d b y f u r t h e r w a i t i n g m o v e s o n W h i t e ' s t h i r d t u r n , b u t a s i n s o m a n y of C o o k ' s l i g h t w e i g h t c o m p o s i t i o n s B l a c k h a s a p a u c i t y of d e f e n s i v e p l a y .

W h e n N o . 7 w a s p r i n t e d in American Chess Nuts W h i t e ' s q u e e n ' s r o o k w a s p l a c e d o n t h e c 3 s q u a r e , w h i c h a l l o w e d a c o o k by 1 R f 3 - e 3 , P e 4 ; 2 R b 3 , K c 4 ; 3 K e 5 a n d 4 R e 3 - c 3 , or 2 K c 5 ; 3 R x P , K c 6 ; 4 R c 4 .

W h i l e as D r . K e i d a n z c o m m e n t e d in The Chess Compositions of E. B. Cook, t h e key to N o . 8 is " o b v i o u s , " t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s a r e a t t r a c t i v e , t w o o f t h e m e n d i n g i n m o d e l m a t e s . S O L U T I O N S No. 1 1 K e 2 threat 2 B f 4 ck, K x B f 4 ; 3 Q d 2 ck, K e 5 ; 4 Q d 6 R x Q , d b l ck; 2 K f 3 , Be2 ck; 3 Ke3, a n y ; 4 B f 4 R b 4 dis ck; 2 K f 3 , Be2 ck; 3 Q x B , R x S ; 4 Bf4 R b 7 dis ck; 2 Ke3, R x S ; 3 Pc4 dis ck, K x B ; 4 Q x P f 6 No. 2 1 Q h 6 , PxQ.; 2 BxP ck, B f 6 ; 3 BxB B x Q ; 2 BxP, a n y ; 3 BxP B f 6 ; 2 Be7, PxQ,; 3 BxB B a n y ; 3 Q x P g 7 No. 3 1 Bb8, P h 6 ; 2 Bh2, S a n y ; 3 Sg3(x) ck, K e 5 ; 4 Se2 dis ck, K f 5 ; 5 Sd4 K f 4 ; 4 Sfl dis ck, K f 5 ; 5 Se3 No. 4 1 K h 2 threat 2 Q g l ( x ) , a n y ; 3 Q a l S f 4 ; 2 Q x S e 3 ck, K x Q ; 3 Rc2

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K d 5 ; 2 Q e 5 ck etc. K c 7 ; 2 Sb8 etc. K b 5 ; 2 Sd7-e5 dis ck, K a 5 ; 3 Sc4 No. 6 1 Pb5, P b 6 ; 2 Sc6 ck, K d 5 ; 3 Bg8, K c 4 ; 4BxP K f 5 ; 3 K f 3 , P e 5 ; 4 Se7 No. 7 1 R c 8 , K e 4 ; 2 Rg3, K f 4 ; 3 Rc8-g8, a n y ; 4 Rg8-g4 K d 4 ; 3 Rg3-c3, a n y ; 4 Rc8-c4 P e 4 ; 2 R f 3 - c 3 etc. No. 8 1 Se5, K x R ; 2 KxPg6, P h 5 ; 3 K h 6 , PxB; 4 Sg6 K f 4 ; 2 BxPe6 dis ck, K x S ; 3 K e 7 , a n y ; 4 P d 4 P h 5 ; 2 Bf3, K x R ; 3 K f 6 , P g 5 ; 4 Sg6 K h 6 ; 3 SxP, a n y ; 4 R x P h 5 K f 5 ; 3 SxP, any; 4 R x P h 5

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Samuel Loyd

SAMUEL LOYD ( 1 8 4 1 - 1 9 1 1 ) w a s an o u t s t a n d i n g p i o n e e r in i l l u s t r a t i n g p r o b l e m t h e m e s , a n d t h e u n u s u a l settings, spect a c u l a r keys a n d s u b spect l e c o n spect i n u a spect i o n s o f s o m a n y o f his c o m -p o s i t i o n s g a v e h i m w o r l d w i d e f a m e a n d m a d e h i m o n e o f t h e m o s t u n i v e r s a l l y f a v o r i t e c o m p o s e r s i n chess p r o b l e m h i s t o r y . H e b e g a n c o m p o s i n g w h e n o n l y f o u r t e e n , his first p u b l i s h e d p r o b l e m a p p e a r i n g in The New York Saturday Courier on A p r i l 14,

1855. T h e n e x t h a l f - d o z e n y e a r s , d u r i n g w h i c h m a n y o f his m o s t n o t a b l e p r o b l e m s w e r e p u b l i s h e d , w a s his m o s t p r o l i f i c p e r i o d . T h e n a f t e r a c o m p a r a t i v e lull f o r a c o u p l e of d e c a d e s , d u r i n g w h i c h h e c o m p o s e d i n f r e q u e n t l y , h e a g a i n b e c a m e a c t i v e i n t h e p r o b l e m field f o r a s h o r t t i m e i n t h e l a t t e r e i g h t e e n - s e v e n t i e s , a f t e r w h i c h h e c o m p o s e d o n l y o c c a s i o n a l l y , N o . 3 2 b e i n g o n e o f his last m a j o r p r o d u c t i o n s . S a m L o y d , a s h e i s p o p u l a r l y k n o w n , w a s t h e p i o n e e r i n t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e m e s w h i c h i n s o m e cases b e a r t h e n a m e s o f o t h e r p r o b l e m i s t s . H e c o m p o s e d t h e f i r s t e x a m p l e o f w h a t c a m e to be k n o w n as t h e Plachutta interference, n a m e d a f t e r a p r o b l e m b y J o s e p h P l a c h u t t a (d. 1883) t h a t w a s p u b l i s h e d s o m e t i m e l a t e r . H e also p u b l i s h e d i n O c t o b e r , 1856, t h e f i r s t s o u n d v e r -sion o f w h a t i s n o w t e r m e d Turton doubling, w h i c h H e n r y T u r t o n h a d s h o w n a f e w m o n t h s p r e v i o u s l y in a p r o b l e m in The Illustrated London News t h a t w a s f o u n d to be u n s o u n d .

I n c o m p o s i n g t h e f a m o u s N o . 9 , t h e q u e e n sacrifice u n d o u b t -e d l y w a s L o y d ' s k -e r n -e l i d -e a , b u t t h -e q u i -e t c o n t i n u a t i o n s a f t -e r 1 K h 3 a n d 1 K f 3 a r e e x c e l l e n t . I n e a r l i e r d a y s c h e c k i n g keys, i f t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n s w e r e s u f f i c i e n t l y s u b t l e , w e r e n o t c o n -s i d e r e d o b j e c t i o n a b l e , a -s t h e y a r e t o d a y . N o . 1 0 i s a n e a r l y e x a m p l e o f w h a t H . G . M . W e e n i n k (1892— 1921) t e r m e d C o u n t e r - B r i s t o l in his Het Schaakprobleem: Ideen en Scholen (The Chess Problem, p a g e 178), b e c a u s e its c l e a r a n c e m o v e i s i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n t o t h a t o f t h e key p i e c e i n t h e

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S a m u e l L o y d First Prize Chess Monthly 1857 S a m u e l L o y d Cincinnati Dispatch September 5, 1858

White mates in three moves White mates in three moves

11 12

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Chess Monthly

1858 April, 1859

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14°

f a m o u s first p r i z e w i n n e r b y F r a n k H e a l e y ( 1 8 2 8 - 1 9 0 6 ) i n t h e Bristol t o u r n e y of 1861, w h i c h g a v e t h e n a m e of t h e Bristol theme t o t h a t t y p e o f c l e a r a n c e . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f N o . 1 0 a c t u a l l y a n t e d a t e d t h a t o f H e a l e y ' s p r o b l e m b y o v e r t w o y e a r s . H e r e a g a i n L o y d w a s t h e p i o n e e r i n i l l u s t r a t i n g a t h e m e . T h e w a i t i n g - m o v e p r o b l e m N o . 11 is initially a b e a u t i f u l e x a m p l e o f a m b u s h i n g , t h e w h i t e q u e e n a m b u s h i n g herself b e h i n d t w o b l a c k pieces. A f t e r t h e k e y m o v e t h e p r o b l e m illus-t r a illus-t e s focal acillus-tion, d o u b l e d . T h e b l a c k q u e e n g u a r d s b 6 a n d h i , a n d t h e b l a c k r o o k p r o t e c t s a 8 a n d e3. S u c h p a i r s o f s q u a r e s w e r e t e r m e d foci b y t h e c o m p o s e r B a r o n W a l t h e r v o n H o l z -h a u s e n ( 1 8 7 6 - 1 9 3 5 ) in a b o o k l e t e n t i t l e d Brennpunktprobleme, f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n 1908 a n d t h e n a g a i n i n 1926 i n a n e n l a r g e d e d i t i o n . A n y m o v e o f t h e d e f e n d i n g b l a c k piece takes t h e g u a r d off of o n e or t h e o t h e r of these focal s q u a r e s . In N o . 11 if t h e b l a c k q u e e n m o v e s u p t h e f i l e a n d clears t h e f i r s t r a n k , W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 Q h l ; i f she m o v e s a l o n g t h e r a n k W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 S x P b 6 . I f t h e r o o k m o v e s a l o n g t h e r a n k a n d o p e n s t h e a-file W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 Q a 8 ; i f t h e r o o k m o v e s a l o n g t h e f i l e W h i t e m a t e s b y 2 S x P e 3 . A s W e e n i n k states, this t h e m e w a s f i r s t s h o w n i n a p r o b l e m b y C . S t a n l e y , o f t h e B r i g h t o n Chess C l u b , t h a t w a s p u b l i s h e d in The Illustrated London News on O c t o b e r 6, 1849, i n w h a t i s k n o w n a s t h e E n g l i s h T r a n s i t i o n P e r i o d .

P r o b l e m N o . 12, w h e r e o n l y t h e k i n g a n d rooks a r e t h e w h i t e p r o t a g o n i s t s , is a o n e - l i n e a f f a i r in w h i c h Black is f o r c e d to c o m m i t suicide.

T h e q u a d r u p l i n g of t h e Grimshaw interference, t h e m u t u a l in-t e r f e r e n c e b e in-t w e e n a b l a c k r o o k a n d a b l a c k b i s h o p , n a m e d a f in-t e r its i l l u s t r a t i o n i n a p r o b l e m b y W a l t e r G r i m s h a w ( 1 8 3 2 - 1 8 9 0 ) p u b l i s h e d in The Illustrated London News in 1850, w a s first s h o w n b y L o y d w h e n h e w a s sixteen a n d w a s a n o t h e r o f his p i o n e e r a c h i e v e m e n t s . I t w a s d u b b e d b y a G e r m a n c o m m e n t a t o r t h e " O r g a n P i p e s , " b e c a u s e o f t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e b i s h o p s a n d t h e rooks. L o y d s h o w e d it first in a t h r e e - m o v e setting, b u t it is essentially a t w o m o v e t h e m e . S o L o y d l a t e r l o p p e d off t h e u n -t h e m a -t i c firs-t m o v e a n d p r e s e n -t e d i-t as a -t w o - m o v e r in N o . 13. I n N o . 1 4 t h e w h i t e k i n g steps o n t o a s q u a r e w h e r e h e i s s u b -j e c t t o a d i s c o v e r e d check. C o m p a r e this w i t h p r o b l e m N o . 3 2 i n w h i c h t h e w h i t e k i n g s u b m i t s h i m s e l f t o a d o u b l e c h e c k . I n p r o b l e m N o . 1 5 a d u e l b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k r o o k a n d t h e

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S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d

V Boston Globe Frere's Problem Tournament 1859 Frank Leslie's

February 12, 1859

White mates in t w o moves White mates in three moves

15 16

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Chess Monthly V Lynn News

April, 1859 July 6, 1859

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t w o w h i t e ones, w i t h w a i t i n g m o v e p l a y a n d a n o n e t o o a p -p a r e n t key, is s h o w n in a m i n i a t u r e setting. If Black h a d to m o v e first t h e r e w o u l d b e a m a t e i n o n e o r i n t w o m o v e s . N o . 1 6 i s a n i n t e r e s t i n g s t u d y i n p a w n p r o m o t i o n s , w h e r e o n t h e s e c o n d o r o n t h e m a t i n g m o v e W h i t e chooses a q u e e n i n f o u r lines o f p l a y a n d a k n i g h t i n f o u r lines. T h e i m m e d i a t e p r o -m o t i o n o f t h e p a w n o n t h e e-file w o u l d see-m a -m u c h -m o r e likely k e y t h a n t h e a d v a n c e o f t h e r o o k ' s p a w n . I n N o . 1 7 t h e b i s h o p o n h 5 i n t e r f e r e s w i t h e a c h o f t h e b l a c k rooks i n t u r n , f o l l o w i n g t h e t h e m a t i c d e c o y o f o n e o r t h e o t h e r r o o k t o t h e f 2 s q u a r e t o c a p t u r e t h e w h i t e q u e e n . A b e a u t i f u l f e a t u r e o f t h e p r o b l e m i s t h e s y m m e t r i c a l p l a y o f t h e W h i t e k n i g h t s i n t h e t w o t h e m a t i c lines. N o . 1 8 i s t h e f a m o u s " E x c e l s i o r P r o b l e m , " o n e o f L o y d ' s m o s t f a n t a s t i c c o m p o s i t i o n s , w i t h a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y m a i n p l a y i n w h i c h Black's series of d e f e n d i n g m o v e s l e a d s to a s u r p r i s i n g d e n o u e m e n t . A c c o r d i n g t o L o y d " i t w a s c o m p o s e d i n a spirit o f f u n a n d i s a j o k e f r o m b e g i n n i n g t o e n d . " H e m a d e t h e p r o b l e m i n 1858 a t t h e M o r p h y Chess R o o m s a n d d e s c r i b e d h o w i t c a m e t o b e c o m p o s e d i n a letter t o A l a i n W h i t e s t a t i n g : " I t w a s q u i t e a n i m p r o m p t u t o c a t c h old D e n n i s J u l i e n , t h e p r o b l e m i s t , w i t h . H e u s e d t o w a g e r t h a t h e c o u l d a n a l y s e a n y p o s i t i o n , s o a s t o tell w h i c h p i e c e t h e p r i n c i p a l m a t e w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h . S o I o f f e r e d to m a k e a p r o b l e m , w h i c h he w a s to a n a l y s e a n d tell w h i c h p i e c e d i d n o t give t h e m a t e . H e a t o n c e selected t h e Q u e e n ' s K n i g h t ' s P a w n a s t h e m o s t i m p r o b a b l e piece, b u t t h e s o l u t i o n will s h o w y o u w h i c h o f u s p a i d for t h e d i n n e r . " A s W h i t e relates, t h e i d e a h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s h o w n b y R o b e r t B . W o r m a l d ( 1 8 3 4 - 1 8 7 6 ) a c o u p l e o f y e a r s earlier. " W o r m a l d c l a i m s a K n i g h t , w h i c h is p e r h a p s e v e n m o r e of a t r i c k ; b u t it is also m o r e e v i d e n t , a s i t r e q u i r e s t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e Black K i n g a t closer r a n g e . L o y d ' s p r o b l e m r e m a i n s t o this d a y t h e m o s t s u r p r i s i n g r e n d e r i n g o f t h e t h e m e , b e c a u s e Black i s r e q u i r e d t o m a k e s u c h u n e x p e c t e d m o v e s t o d e f e a t t h e series o f t h r e a t s a n d s o b r i n g a b o u t t h e m a i n p l a y . " O f course t h e n a m e o f t h e t h e m e w a s s u g g e s t e d b y L o n g f e l l o w ' s f a m o u s p o e m . A s j u s t s h o w n i n N o . 18, L o y d d e l i g h t e d i n c o m p o s i n g p r o b -lems w i t h t h e m o s t s e e m i n g l y u n l i k e l y keys, of w h i c h N o . 19 is a s p a r k l i n g e x a m p l e . In The Theory of Pawn Promotion A l a i n W h i t e c o m m e n t s : " L o y d h a s h e r e s h o w n w h a t i s t o m e t h e m o s t

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S a m u e l L o y d V Cincinnati Gazette

November 24, 1859

19

S a m u e l L o y d La Strategic June 15, 1867

S a m u e l L o y d London Era January 13, 1861

White mates in five moves

20

S a m u e l L o y d Second Prize Set

Paris Tourney 1867

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u n e x p e c t e d p r o m o t i o n key i n t h e w h o l e b o o k . T h e P a w n a p -p a r e n t l y b o t t l e s itself u -p , losing all o -p -p o r t u n i t y t o m o v e . T h e w h o l e s e t t i n g is m a s t e r l y . " U n l e s s a solver h a s t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y z e d t h e position, t h e k e y o f N o . 2 0 — d i s r u p t i n g t h e r o o k b i s h o p b a t t e r y , a p p a r e n t l y p u t -t i n g -t h e k i n g ' s b i s h o p o u -t o f p l a y a n d a l l o w i n g a n i m m e d i a -t e d i s c o v e r e d c h e c k , to be f o l l o w e d by a s e c o n d c h e c k — w o u l d s e e m to be t h e m o s t p r e p o s t e r o u s s e s a m e to l e a d to a s o l u t i o n in f o u r m o v e s . U n q u e s t i o n a b l y i t r a n k s a s o n e o f t h e m o s t u n u s u a l keys e v e r c o n c e i v e d . Q u o t i n g W e e n i n k , N o . 2 0 " f o r m e d o n e o f a t o u r n e y set. T h i s system o f t o u r n e y c o m p e t i t i o n h a d its g o o d side i n t h a t i t m a d e c o m p o s e r s e n t e r a n u m b e r of p r o b l e m s of d i f f e r e n t l e n g t h s , e n c o u r a g i n g h i g h a v e r a g e excellence. B u t t h e best i n d i v i d u a l p r o b lems o f t e n s u f f e r e d , a n d f i n e sets w e r e o f t e n d i s q u a l i f i e d b e -c a u s e of t h e u n s o u n d n e s s of a single m e m b e r . " T h i s p r a -c t i -c e h a s l o n g since b e e n g e n e r a l l y a b a n d o n e d , p r o b l e m s b e i n g e n t e r e d o n a n i n d i v i d u a l basis i n m o s t m o d e r n t o u r n e y s . C o m p o s e d i n D r e s d e n , w h e n L o y d w a s a b r o a d i n 1869, N o . 2 1 w o n h i g h p r a i s e f r o m E u r o p e a n p r o b l e m i s t s a n d b e c a m e o n e of his m o s t f a m o u s p r o b l e m s . Its b a s i c i d e a is t h e s t r a t e g i c d u e l b e t w e e n t h e w h i t e q u e e n a n d t h e b l a c k b i s h o p , b u t t h e g r a c e f u l s e t t i n g h a s o t h e r p o i n t s o f i n t e r e s t . I f B l a c k h a d t o m o v e f i r s t W h i t e w o u l d b e a b l e t o m a t e i n t w o m o v e s f o l l o w i n g a n y m o v e o f t h e b i s h o p , o t h e r t h a n t o f 6 ; a f t e r 1 P g 3 a n d also a f t e r 1 P h 6 ; 2 S g 6 ck, K h 7 ; 3 P f 8 ( S !). T h e k e y c h a n g e s W h i t e ' s s e c o n d - m o v e c o n t i n u a t i o n s a f t e r s u c h m o v e s b y Black. T h e m i n i a t u r e N o . 2 2 i s a n a m u s i n g e x a m p l e o f L o y d ' s i n -g e n u i t y . F o l l o w i n -g t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e k i n -g ' s p a w n t o a k n i g h t a s t h e k e y m o v e , i n e a c h o f t h e t h r e e s u c c e e d i n g lines o f p l a y W h i t e ' s s e c o n d m o v e m u s t also b e t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e q u e e n ' s p a w n to a k n i g h t .

N o . 23 is n o t a b l e for its fine k e y in so l i g h t a setting, since at f i r s t g l a n c e t h e r e w o u l d s e e m t o b e m o r e effective m o v e s for t h e q u e e n . T h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n follows 1 B f 3 . I n N o . 2 4 a n o t h e r w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , w h i c h sets u p a m a s k e d b a t t e r y , l e a d s t o t h e p i n n i n g o f t h e b l a c k k n i g h t i f t h e b l a c k k i n g m o v e s . L o y d w a s f o n d o f l o n g - r a n g e k e y m o v e s , especially w h e r e t h e y s e e m aimless, as in N o . 25. T h e s o l u t i o n of this p r o b l e m is m o s t

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S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Leipziger Illustrirte Boston Globe

Zeitung August 16, 1876 October 23, 1869

White mates in three moves White mates in three moves

23 24

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d

Detroit Free Press Centennial Problem Tourney 1877 New York Clipper

1877

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2 4 Chess Problem Gems

o b s c u r e , since i n t h e t h r e a t line b o t h W h i t e ' s second a n d t h i r d m o v e s a r e quiet ones, a t e r m a p p l i e d to a m o v e t h a t is n o t a c h e c k o r a c a p t u r e . T h e o n l y s e c o n d c h e c k i n g m o v e i s w h e n B l a c k p l a y s 1 K x B . A g a i n i n N o . 2 6 L o y d e m p l o y s a n a s t o n i s h i n g k e y t h a t s e e m i n g l y locks u p t h e w h i t e q u e e n . I t i s a w a i t i n g m o v e c o m p o s i -t i o n a n d -t h e m o s -t s p e c -t a c u l a r c o n -t i n u a -t i o n i s w h e r e -t h e b l a c k k i n g c a p t u r e s t h e k n i g h t , w h e n W h i t e a g a i n m o v e s t h e r o o k i n t h e r e v e r s e d i r e c t i o n t o a l , a B r i s t o l - t y p e c l e a r a n c e m o v e . T h e p o i n t o f t h e k e y m o v e a p p e a r s w h e r e Black plays 1 K f 5 , w h e n t h e r o o k i s n e e d e d o n g l t o s u p p o r t t h e k n i g h t ' s p a w n a f t e r 2 S f 2 , P x S ; 3 P g 4 . It is u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e r o o k o n b 5 i s r e q u i r e d o n l y w h e n Black p l a y s 1 K x S a n d 2 - - K x P . L o y d ' s skill i n c o m p o s i n g p r o b l e m s w i t h a m i n i m a l n u m b e r o f m e n i s s h o w n i n t h e m a n e u v e r i n g o f t h e pieces i n t h e d a i n t y N o . 27.

W h i l e in his Chess Strategy L o y d stressed t h e i m p o r t a n c e of w h a t h e t e r m e d " n e a t n e s s o f p o s i t i o n , " h e e n j o y e d c r e a t i n g a n o c c a s i o n a l e x t r a v a g a n z a s u c h a s N o . 28, w h i c h h e d u b b e d " T h e A m e r i c a n I n d i a n , " a p p a r e n t l y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e I n d i a n ' s w a r p a t h t a c t i c o f a m b u s h i n g his e n e m y . A s A l a i n W h i t e exp l a i n s in Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems, t h e exp r o b l e m " w a s exp u r -posely p o s e d t o b e p u z z l i n g , a n d t h e e x t r a m e n p u t o n t h e b o a r d w e r e i n t e n d e d t o m a k e t h e p o s i t i o n m o r e like o n e i n a c t u a l p l a y , s o a s t o e n t i c e p l a y e r s (to w h o m t h e k e y w o u l d b e e v e n m o r e i m -p r o b a b l e t h a n t o solvers) t o t r y i t . " W h i t e also r e m a r k s : " T h e l o n g k e y m o v e r e q u i r e d t o give t h e m a t e , w h e n B l a c k m a k e s a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y l o n g m o v e i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n , h a s b e -c o m e f a m i l i a r t o solvers n o w - a - d a y s , a n d I d o n o t t h i n k L o y d ' s p r o b l e m w o u l d p r o v e n e a r l y a s difficult t o - d a y a s w h e n i t w a s c o m p o s e d . " T h e i d e a , h o w e v e r , w a s n o t o r i g i n a l w i t h L o y d since B . G . L a w s ( 1 8 6 1 1 9 3 1 ) h a d a l r e a d y s h o w n t h e t h e m e i n a n o r t h o g -o n a l s e t t i n g a n d c -o n v e n t i -o n a l f -o r m i n a p r -o b l e m p u b l i s h e d i n 1885. I n 1892, t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f N o . 28, L o y d also s h o w e d t h e t h e m e i n a n o r t h o g o n a l s e t t i n g i n N o . 29, c o m -p o s e d for a m e e t i n g of t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e Chess A s s o c i a t i o n , a s w a s his f r e q u e n t l y q u o t e d N o . 30, w i t h its a t t r a c t i v e w i t h -d r a w a l key. i

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S a m u e l L o y d First Prize Set American Chess and Problem Association

1878

S a m u e l L o y d V Holyoke Transcript

1878

S a m u e l L o y d S a m u e l L o y d Milwaukee Telegram New York Sunday Herald

circa 1885 1889

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14°

N o . 31 is t y p i c a l of m a n y of t h e t w o - m o v e r s of t h e e r a in w h i c h i t w a s c o m p o s e d . I t does n o t h a v e a n y specific t h e m e o t h e r t h a n a v a r i e t y of b a t t e r y m a t e s , c o m b i n e d w i t h b l a c k s e l f - p i n n i n g m o v e s i n t w o v a r i a t i o n s . A g a i n q u o t i n g A l a i n W h i t e : " F e w events d u r i n g t h e last t e n y e a r s o f L o y d ' s life g a v e h i m a s m u c h p l e a s u r e a s his w i n n i n g t h e first p r i z e i n t h e N o v e l t y T o u r n e y o f t h e little C a n a d i a n m a g a z i n e Checkmate." T h e m o t t o u n d e r w h i c h L o y d e n t e r e d N o . 32, " T h e Steinitz G a m b i t , " w a s suggested b y t h e d i s t i n c -tive m o v e i n t h a t chess o p e n i n g , 5 K e 2 , a n d t h e p r o b l e m h a s c o m e t o b e u n i v e r s a l l y k n o w n b y t h a t m o t t o . I n 1855 C o o k p u b l i s h e d a f o u r - m o v e r , N o . 1, w h e r e t h e w h i t e k i n g m a k e s a k e y m o v e t h a t p e r m i t s Black t o give a d o u b l e check, b u t i n t h e i n i t i a l p o s i t i o n o f C o o k ' s p r o b l e m t h e w h i t e k i n g w o u l d b e t h r e a t e n e d by a series of c h e c k s w e r e Black to h a v e t h e first m o v e . I n N o . 3 2 t h e k i n g m o v e s f r o m a safe p o s i t i o n i n t o a p -p a r e n t -peril.

A h a l f c e n t u r y ago, in his Memories of my Chess-Board, A l a i n W h i t e w r o t e : " S a m L o y d h a s n o w b e e n a n a m e t o c o n j u r e w i t h for well u p w a r d of fifty y e a r s . . . . He w a s t h e first r e a l c o m -p o s e r I k n e w ; a n d h e r e m a i n s t h e g r e a t e s t I h a v e ever k n o w n . " T h e n in Sam Loyd and his Chess Problems W h i t e s t a t e d : " T h e fates h a d g i v e n h i m i n l a r g e m e a s u r e t h e e n d o w m e n t o f g e n i u s . H e c o u l d see a t a g l a n c e w h a t o t h e r p e o p l e c o u l d see, o r a t least c o u l d b e m a d e t o see, v e r y slowly. H i s g e n i u s w a s n o t t h e p r o v e r b i a l i n f i n i t e c a p a c i t y for t a k i n g p a i n s . I t w a s r a t h e r a n i n -finite c a p a c i t y o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n . I d e a s c a m e t o h i m w i t h g r e a t f e c u n d i t y , o f t e n t o o r a p i d l y for h i m t o a n a l y z e t h e m c o m p l e t e l y . Y e t his p o w e r s for r a p i d analysis w e r e a l m o s t u n r i v a l l e d . H e c o u l d see a n i d e a f r o m m a n y sides a t o n c e ; f i r s t a l w a y s f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f a p u z z l e , t h e n f r o m t h e h u m o r o u s s t a n d -p o i n t , f i n a l l y f r o m t h e artistic a s -p e c t . "

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New York State Chess Association February 22, 1892

White mates in t w o moves White mates in t w o moves

31

32

S a m u e l L o y d New York Commercial

Advertiser 1897 S a m u e l L o y d First Prize Novelty Tourney Checkmate 1903

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14°

S O L U T I O N S No. 9 1 Sg4 dis ck, K h l ; 2 Q h 2 ck, P x Q ; 3 S f 2 K h 3 ; 2 Sh2 threat 3 R h 8 SP a n y ; 3 Q h 8 K f 3 ; 2 Q c 2 , Pg2; 3 Q d 3 K f l ; 2 R a 8 , a n y ; 3 R a l No. 10

1 Ba8 threat 2 Q b 7 and 3 Q h l S a n y ; 2 Q b 6 ( x ) , a n y ; 3 Q g l P f 4 ; 2 Q g 6 , a n y ; 3 Q g l K f l ; 2 Q x P ck, K e l ; 3 Q f 2 No. 11 1 Q a l waiting Q x Q ; 2 SxPb6 1 - - R x Q ; 2 SxPe3 Q b 2 , b 5 ; 2 Q h l R b 3 , d 3 ; 2 Q a 8 No. 12 1 R a 2 - f 2 , P a 4 ; 2 K d 2 , P a 3 ; 3 R a l , P a 2 ; 4 K e l , BxR ck; 5 K x B No. 13 1 Q a 5 waiting Bd7; 2 Q d 5 Be6; 2 Q e 5 Bb7, f 5 ; 2 Sf5(x) R d 7 ; 2 Sf5 R d 6 ; 2 Q x P b 4 R d 5 ; 2 Q x R 1 - - R e 7 ; 2 Q x P b 4 R e 6 ; 2 Sf5 R e 5 ; 2 Q x R e 5 Be7; 2 Q e 5 Bd6; 2 Q d 5 Bc5; 2 Q a l No. 14 1 K c 2 , K x P dis ck; 2 Sc3, K c 4 ; 3 Q f 4 K else; 3 Q x R K b 5 dis ck; 2 K b 3 , R c 3 ck; 3 SxR Rc2, c l ; 3 Q b 8 R d 5 ; 2 Sb2 ck, K d 4 ; 3 Q f 4 R else; 2 Sb2 ck, K b 5 ; 3 Q b 8

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Rg2, a 2 ; 2 R x P h 5 ck, K x R ; 3 R h 3 No. 16 1 Pa7, P x P ; 2 Pa8(S), Sc5; 3 Sb3xP S d 6 ; 3 Sc4xPa5 Sd8; 3 PxS(S) Pd6, d 5 ; 3 P e 8 ( Q ) Sc5; 2 P a 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 Pe8(S) S b 7 ; 3 Q c 8 Sd6; 2 P a 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 PxS Pd6, d 5 ; 2 P e 8 ( Q ) ck, K c 7 ; 3 Pa8(S) N o . 17 1 Q f 2 threat 2 Q x R f 4 R f 4 x Q ; 2 Se7 threat 3 Sc6 B f 3 ; 3 Sf5 R d 2 x Q ; 2 Sa3 threat 3 Sb5 Be2; 3 Sc2 B f 3 or S f 3 ; 2 Sa3 N o . 18 1 P b 4 threats 2 R d 5 a n d 2 R f 5 R c 5 ck; 2 P x R , P a 2 ; 3 Pc6, Bc7; 4 PxP, a n y ; 5 P x S ( Q ) R c 6 ; 2 R d 5 , R h 6 ck; 3 K x R , Bg5 ck; 4 SxB, a n y ; 5 R d l Bg5; 2 R f 5 , B f 4 ; 3 RxB, R c 5 ck; 4 P x R , a n y ; 5 R f l N o . 19 1 Pa8(B) K f 8 ; 2 P b 8 ( Q ) ck, K f 7 ; 3 Bd5 K e 8 ; 2 K e 6 K g 8 ; 2 K g 6 No. 20 1 BxP threat 2 BxP threat 3 Q c 8 ck, Q x Q ; 4 B x Q Q x B ck; 3 K x Q PxB dis ck; 2 Pb7, Q e 6 ; 3 Q c 8 Q c 5 ; 2 Q e 8 , Q c 6 ; 3 Q x Q . Q c 2 ; 2 Be2, Q x B ; 3 Q c 8 ck

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14° Chess Problem. Gems No. 21 1 Q f l , Ph6, h 5 ; 2 Q b l threat Q h 7 P g 6 ; 3 Q x B Bb2; 2 Q b l Bc3, d 4 ; 2 Q d 3 Be5, f 6 ; 2 Q f 5 Pg3; 2 Sg6 ck, P x S ; 3 Q h 3 No. 22 1 Pe8(S) ck, K f 8 ; 2 Pd8(S), a n y ; 3 Sg6 K h 6 ; 2 Pd8(S), S a n y ; 3 Sd8-f7 KxSh8, 2 Pd8(S), S a n y ; 3 Sf7 No. 23 1 Q g 3 threat 2 Q g 8 threat 3 Q a 8 K a 6 ; 2 Q x P K a 4 ; 2 Q c 3 Bb3, a 4 ; 2 Q x P ck Bf3; 2 Q g 8 No. 24 1 Q a 6 waiting K f 6 ; 2 Bd8 1 - - K g 4 ; 2 R g 7

K h 6 ; 2 Be3 S moves; 2 Bd8 or Be3 No. 25 1 Q f 8 threat 2 SxP threat 3 SxP, K x S ; 4 Q b 4 K c 4 ; 2 SxP, K x P ; 3 SxP K x S ; 3 Q c 5 ck K x B ; 2 Sb4-c2 ck, K a 2 , b2, b 3 ; 3 Q a 3 ck No. 26 1 R g l waiting K x S ; 2 R a l , K e 4 ; 3 Q b l K x P ; 3 Q f l K else; 3 Q d l K f 5 ; 2 Sf2, PxS; 3 Pg4 P x R ( S ) ; 3 Q h 5 P x R ( S ) ; 2 Sd3-c5 ck, K f 5 ; 3 Q h 5 No. 27 1 R d 2 , Sgl ck; 2 Kg3, Sh3; 3 R e 2 , S g l ; 4 R x P else; 4 R e l S f 3 ; 3 K x S Se2 ck; 3 R x S Sc3; 2 Rc2, Sa2, e2; 3 R x S S d l ; 3 R c l

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B x R ; 2 B x Q R x B ; 2 R x R K x B ; 2 R f 6 SxB or PxB; 2 Bg5 N o . 30 1 Q a l threat 2 Q e l K e 4 ; 2 Q d 4 K else; 2 R g 2 N o . 31 1 Q h 7 waiting S x Q ; 2 SxS 1 - - S x S ck; 2 K x S S x R ; 2 K g 5 Se7 ck; 2 Q x S K x S ; 2 Sd3 K e 5 ; 2 Sd3 N o . 32 1 K e 2 , P f l ( Q ) dbl ck; 2 K e 3 , Q, B or R checks; 3 B or R captures the checking piece P f l ( S ) dis ck; 2 R f 2 dis ck; K x S ; 3 Bd3 or P d 3

K d 4 ; R f 4 dis ck, P e 5 ; 3 SxB K x S ; 2 Bd3 ck, K d 4 ; 3 R f 4 Scl ck; 2 K e 3

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William Meredith

WILLIAM MEREDITH ( 1 8 3 5 - 1 9 0 3 ) , a l t h o u g h b o r n s o m e y e a r s b e f o r e L o y d a n d C a r p e n t e r , a p p a r e n t l y d i d n o t b e g i n t o c o m -p o s e u n t i l his m i d d l e t w e n t i e s , his first -p u b l i s h e d -p r o b l e m o f w h i c h t h e r e i s a n y r e c o r d a p p e a r i n g i n t h e O c t o b e r 7 , 1870, issue of The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

H e d i d n o t b e c o m e p r o m i n e n t a s a c o m p o s e r d u r i n g his life-t i m e , p r i m a r i l y b e c a u s e a m a j o r i life-t y o f his life-t o life-t a l o f less life-t h a n life-t w o h u n d r e d p r o b l e m s w e r e c o n t r i b u t e d t o a single p u b l i c a t i o n , O r e s t e s A. B r o w n s o n ' s Dubuque Chess Journal.

I t w a s n o t u n t i l t h e e r a o f t h e G o o d C o m p a n i o n C h e s s P r o b -l e m C -l u b , y e a r s a f t e r M e r e d i t h ' s d e a t h , t h a t his o u t s t a n d i n g a b i l i t y b e c a m e f u l l y r e c o g n i z e d . T h e G o o d C o m p a n i o n s m a d e a sort o f p a t r o n s a i n t o f h i m a n d , b e c a u s e o f t h e e c o n o m y w i t h w h i c h s o m a n y o f his p r o b l e m s w e r e c o n s t r u c t e d , t e r m e d t w o m o v e r s w i t h a t o t a l o f t w e l v e o r less m e n M e r e d i t h s a n d c o n -d u c t e -d s p e c i a l t o u r n e y s f o r s u c h p r o b l e m s . W h i l e M e r e d i t h ' s r e p u t a t i o n h a s b e e n b a s e d l a r g e l y o n t h e e x c e l l e n c e o f his t w o - m o v e r s , . h e c o m p o s e d n o t a b l e t h r e e , f o u r a n d f i v e - m o v e p r o b l e m s , a s s h o w n i n t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g selec-t i o n s . N o . 3 3 i s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e b e e n t h e first p r o b l e m b y M e r e d i t h p u b l i s h e d in t h e Dubuque Chess Journal. T h e r e is little, v a r i e t y in t h e p l a y , b u t t h e key i s o b s c u r e a n d t h e g u a r d i n g o f t h e e 5 a n d g 5 s q u a r e s i n t h e m a t i n g p o s i t i o n s i n t w o d i f f e r e n t w a y s i n t h e t w o m a j o r lines h a s a p l e a s i n g e c h o i n g e f f e c t . A g a i n i n N o . 3 4 t h e r e i s s m a l l v a r i e t y i n t h e p l a y , b u t t h e r e a r e e c h o e d m o d e l m a t e s i n t w o o f t h e t h r e e v a r i a t i o n s , o n e o f t h e m b e i n g a m i r r o r m o d e l . A t t h e t i m e N o . 3 5 a p p e a r e d m u c h a t t e n t i o n w a s b e i n g p a i d , b e c a u s e o f E n g l i s h i n f l u e n c e s , t o p u r e m a t e s a n d all t h e m a t e s i n this p r o b l e m w h e n Black m a k e s e f f e c t i v e d e f e n s i v e m o v e s a r e p u r e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e n u m e r o u s d u a l m a t e s w h i c h 32

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W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Dubuque Chess Journal

August, 1871

35

August, 1873

White mates in t w o moves

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Fifth Prize, Fourth Tourney

Dubuque Chess Journal January, 1872

36

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Maryland Chess Review

March, 1875

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12

Chess Problem Gems

37

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h V Westminster Papers

June, 1877

39

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Brooklyn Chess Chronicle

August 15, 1885

White self-mates in three moves

38

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h Westminster Papers

July, 1877

40

November, 1886

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I n N o . 3 6 i t m a y p r o v e s o m e w h a t p u z z l i n g t o t h e solver t o d i s c o v e r t h e z i g z a g r o u t e t h e w h i t e b i s h o p m u s t t a k e t o t h r e a t e n m a t e f r o m t h e d 6 s q u a r e . P r o b l e m 37 is a h i g h l y s t r a t e g i c c o m p o s i t i o n , t h e s u r p r i s i n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , l e a d i n g t o t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e k n i g h t -b i s h o p -b a t t e r y , -b e i n g a n u n i q u e c o n c e p t i o n . T h e s e c o n d a r y line o f p l a y , i n w h i c h t h e w h i t e k i n g s u b m i t s t o a c h e c k b y t h e p r o -m o t i o n o f a b l a c k p a w n t o a k n i g h t , a d d s t o t h e c h a r -m o f t h e p r o b l e m . I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e initial p o s i t i o n i s a c o m p l e t e b l o c k . I f Black h a d t o m o v e f i r s t a n d p l a y e d P c 4 , p r e v e n t -i n g Sc4, W h -i t e c o u l d c o n t -i n u e w -i t h S d 7 , K g 4 ; Be6 ck, K f 3 ; S e 5 ! I n N o . 38, a s i n N o . 37, a w i t h d r a w a l k e y l e a d s t o t h e f o r m a -t i o n of a b a -t -t e r y , in -this case a c o m b i n e d d i r e c -t a n d i n d i r e c -t o n e , to m e e t Black's 1 P e 4 . A n o t h e r striking w i t h d r a w a l key, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f s o m a n y o f M e r e d i t h ' s c o m p o s i t i o n s , m a k e s N o . 3 9 a n o t a b l e m i n i a t u r e , d e -s p i t e t h e lack o f a n y v a r i e t y i n t h e p l a y . T h e k e y o f N o . 4 0 i s r e m a r k a b l e s t r a t e g i c a l l y b e c a u s e o f its sixfold effect. P r i m a r i l y it h a s t h e t w o f o l d effect of i n d u c i n g a Nowotny interference b e t w e e n t h e b l a c k r o o k a n d b i s h o p a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e i t v a c a t e s t h e f 4 s q u a r e t o allow t h e k n i g h t t o m o v e t h e r e t o m a t e . A N o w o t n y i n t e r f e r e n c e , n a m e d f r o m a p r o b l e m p u b l i s h e d i n 1854 b y A n t o n N o w o t n y ( 1 8 2 9 - 1 8 7 1 ) , d i f f e r s f r o m a G r i m s h a w i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h a t i n t h e N o w o t n y a w h i t e m a n m o v e s o n t o t h e s q u a r e w h e r e t h e p o t e n t i a l m o v e s o f a b l a c k r o o k a n d a b l a c k b i s h o p i n t e r s e c t . W h i c h e v e r b l a c k p i e c e c a p t u r e s t h e o b s t r u c t i n g w h i t e m a n i n t e r f e r e s w i t h t h e m o v e -m e n t o f t h e o t h e r b l a c k p i e c e . T h e k e y -m o v e o f N o . 4 0 also yields a flight c a p t u r e t o t h e b l a c k k i n g , g u a r d s e 7 a n d f 8 i f t h e k i n g m a k e s t h e c a p t u r e a n d t h e n p r e v e n t s t h e b l a c k q u e e n f r o m c a p t u r i n g t h e c h e c k i n g b i s h o p . I n c o m m e n t i n g u p o n N o . 41, O t t o W u r z b u r g n o t e d t h a t " T h e r e a r e no less t h a n t w e n t y - s i x ' t r i e s ' t h a t a r e d e f e a t e d e a c h by o n l y o n e m o v e of B l a c k . . . . T h i s is p r o b a b l y a r e c o r d sel-d o m a p p r o a c h e sel-d . " T h e p r o b l e m i s a c o m p l e t e b l o c k w i t h t w o a d d e d m a t e s m a d e possible b y t h e s t a r t l i n g k e y m o v e .

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36

Chess Problem Gems

41

December, 1886

42

March, 1887

White mates in t w o moves White mates in five moves

43

April, 1887

44

August, 1887

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August, 1888

August, 1889

White mates in three moves White mates in t w o moves

47

W i l l i a m M e r e d i t h First Prize, Ninth Tourney

Dubuque Chess Journal December, 1889

48

June, 1890

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14°

Still a n o t h e r l o n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e , o f w h i c h M e r e d i t h w a s so f o n d , leads in N o . 42 to a s u r p r i s i n g d e n o u e m e n t — a m o d e l m a t e b y a p a w n . O n c e a g a i n a b r i l l i a n t l o n g w i t h d r a w a l k e y m o v e i n N o . 4 3 p e r m i t s t h e q u e e n t o g u a r d t h e c 3 a n d c 4 s q u a r e s s o a s t o a l l o w t h e t h r e a t m a t e , 2 Se6. T h e d u a l m a t e s f o l l o w i n g i n d i f f e r e n t m o v e s o f t h e b l a c k q u e e n a r e t o o i n s i g n i f i c a n t t o a f f e c t t h e b e a u t y o f t h e p r o b l e m . I n t h e t h e m a t i c m a i n p l a y o f N o . 4 4 t h e w h i t e q u e e n s w e e p s across t h e r a n k for t h e k e y m o v e a n d t h e n d o w n t h e d i a g o n a l t o t h e b i s h o p ' s s q u a r e t o m a t e , a f t e r h e r p a t h h a s b e e n c l e a r e d b y t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e w h i t e a n d b l a c k p a w n s . T h e v a r i a t i o n fol-l o w i n g Bfol-lack's defense b y 1 Q h 4 , i n w h i c h t h e w h i t e q u e e n first c h e c k s b y 2 Q e 3 a n d t h e n goes o n t o m a t e b y 3 Q a 3 , a d d s t o t h e a t t r a c t i v e n e s s o f t h e p r o b l e m a n d helps t o offset t h e d e -m e r i t of t h e s h o r t t h r e a t , 2 Q e 3 . I n t h e t w o t h e m a t i c lines i n N o . 4 5 t h e w h i t e r o o k a n d w h i t e b i s h o p , e a c h i n t u r n , m a k e a n t i c r i t i c a l moves, w i t h d r a w a l s across t h e critical s q u a r e w h e r e t h e lines o f m o v e m e n t o f t h e t w o pieces i n t e r s e c t . N o . 4 5 i s a n e x a m p l e , w i t h a m i n i m a l w h i t e force, o f s u c h s t r a t e g i c p l a y . I f Black c a p t u r e s t h e w h i t e p a w n t h e e n s u i n g m a t i n g positions a r e m o d e l m a t e s . I n N o . 4 6 t h e solver a g a i n will e n c o u n t e r M e r e d i t h ' s f a v o r i t e t y p e o f key, a s w e e p i n g m o v e o f t h e q u e e n f r o m t h e t o p t o t h e b o t t o m of a file, l e a d i n g to p i n - m a t e s f o l l o w i n g e i t h e r m o v e of t h e b l a c k king. T h e p r i z e - w i n n i n g N o . 4 7 — r e p r o d u c e d a s t h e n i n t h p r o b l e m in A Century of TwoMovers, t h e first v o l u m e in t h e series of p r o b -l e m b o o k s p r i n t e d a t F r a n k A -l t s c h u -l ' s p r i v a t e O v e r b r o o k P r e s s — p r o b a b l y b e c a m e M e r e d i t h ' s m o s t w i d e l y k n o w n t w o -m o v e r . T h e -m a t i n g t h r e a t i s n o t t o o a p p a r e n t a t f i r s t g l a n c e .

N o . 48, o p e n i n g w i t h a n o t h e r l o n g - r a n g e k e y m o v e , c o m b i n e s in its t w o t h e m a t i c lines a Turton doubling a n d Herlin pericritical play, t h e l a t t e r b e i n g a m a n e u v e r n a m e d f r o m a p r o b l e m p u b

-lished i n 1845 b y T h . H e r l i n , u n d e r his p s e u d o n y m " T h e A n o n y m o u s C o m p o s e r o f L i l l e . "