Stories from the Beauty of Problems

[Hans Jung]

Crucial saves in the endgame: Amelung, Duna Zeitung, 1896 Looks totally lost for White. Whats going on?

[Hans Jung]

In post # 76 White looks completely lost. There is a save though. White plays: 1.h6, gxh6 2.Kf3+, Kb1 3.Rb2+, Kxb2 4.Kg2 and the black rook is trapped. Draw! Amazing!

[Hans Jung]

I have just discovered the multitude of problems by Werner Speckmann. He had a problem composing life of seventy two years with several spectacular problems and wrote prolificly on the subject, especially the work involved in the art of creating problems.. Problem composition was a positive activity that he indulged in during the war years and later as a prisoner in Russia.

[Hans Jung]

Werner Speckmann, August, 1929, Das Raetsel, Vienna, White mate in two.

[Hans Jung]

The above problem was Werner Speckmann's first composition and it is spectacular. It has been quoted on many problem websites (and many books) often without proper credit. Sadly this is the state of affairs in the modern online world.

[Hans Jung]

Again a discovery: Hans Hilmar Staudte. Dr. Staudte was a strong German master with a historic Elo peak of 2620. He also was director(president) of the German Chess Federation. His main interest in prblem compostions was the theme of pawn promotions in two movers. He also composed many endgame problems and wrote many endgame books.

[Hans Jung]

Ottavio Stocchi was a leading twomover composer during the 1950's and an international judge of problem compositions. Here is perhaps his most famous problem:


Ottavio Stocchi, 1954, Tidschrift for Schaak.

[Hans Jung]

Solution to Ottavio Stocchi, 1954, in post 82: 1.Nd1 Rxd1 2.Rf4 mate or 1.Nd1, Be3 2.Nc3 mate.

[Hans Jung]

Another discovery: Erno Szentgyorgyi who died in 1981 was a prolific Hungarian composer of two movers. He was particularly witty and some of his problems particularly humorous.

Erno Szentgyorgyi, Magyar Sakkvilag, 1933, White mate in two. The main theme is if Black moves 1...Kf3 2.O-O mate.

[Hans Jung]

Solution to post 84: 1.R1h3 and 2.Rxg3 mate.