Note: In these solutions, those moves that
were required are given in bold type. All else is given for the
sake of completeness and for the interest of solvers. The symbol
'S' is used for knight and threats are given in parentheses.
1. G J Slater
Detroit Free Press , 1890
Mate in 2
Show solution
1.Rg3! () (5)
1...Sh~ 2.R(x)g5#
1...fxg3,f3 2.Sxe3#
1...Sa~ 2.Q(x)c4#
1...Bd2,Bc1 2.Rd3#
1...Bd4 2.Qa8#
1...B else 2.Sxf4#
2. Henri Weenink
Bristol Times and Mirror , 1931
Mate in 2
Show solution
1.Be5! (2.Rc3#) (5)
1...Bd4 2.Qa6#
1...Rd4 2.Qh3#
1...Rxg2 2.Qf5#
1...Rc4 2.Rd2#
1...d4 2.Qc4#
3. Erich Zepler
2nd Prize, Bad Kissingen, 1928
Mate in 3
Show solution
1.Bh2! (1)
1...Rd8 2.Bc7 (3.Qb7#) (1)
Rd6,Rb8 3.Q(x)d6#
Rxc7 3.Qxe6#
c4+ 3.Qxc4#
1...Re8 2.Bh7 (3.Be4#) (1)
Rxh7 3.Qd6#
c4+ 3.Qxc4#
1...Rf7 2.Bxf7 (3.Bxe6,Qxe6#) (1)
Rxf7,Rd6,Re7 3.Q(x)d6#
c4+ 3.Qxc4#
1...a4 2.Qxa4 (3.Qe4#) (1)
c4+ 3.Qxc4#
4. Aleksandr Kalinin
64 , 1991
Mate in 4
Show solution
1.Rh3! (2.Rh8#) (2)
1...Rh1 2.Rh2 ()
Rxh2 3.Sc4 & 4.Sb6# (1)
Rf1 3.Rh8+ Rf8 4.Rxf8# (½)
Re1 3.Rh8+ Re8 4.Rxe8# (½)
Rc1 3.Rh8+ Rc8 4.Rxc8# (½)
Rb1 3.Rh8+ Rb8 4.Rxb8# (½)
5. A. A. Troitzky & L. I. Kubbel
2nd Prize, Ceskoslovensky sach , 1936
White to play and win
Show solution
1.Qc1+ (1)
1...Ka4 (i) 2.Qc4! (1)
2...Qd8! (ii) 3.Qa6+ (½)
3...Qa5 (iii) 4.Nb6+! (1)
4...axb6 5.Qc4! (1)
5...Qa7 (or 5...Qa8) 6.Qa2+ 1–0 (½)
(i) 1...Kb3 2.Qc2+ Ka3 3.Qa2#
(ii) 2...a6 3.Kb2 Qd8 4.Qxa6+ Qa5 5.Nb6#
(iii) 3...Kb3 4.Qa2+ Kc3 5.Qc2+ Kd4 6.Qd2+ 1-0
6. David J. Shire
3rd Comm., Phénix , 1993
Helpmate in 2 2 solutions
Show solution
1.Rxe6 Rg6 2.Rb6 d4# (2½)
1.Bxd3 Be2 2.Bb5 e7# (2½)