Die Schwalbe

19 problem(s) found in 2791 milliseconds (displaying 19 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND NOT A='Stahl, Karl Alfred' AND S='Los Angeles Times'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P1380523
Nels H. Nelson
760 Los Angeles Times , p. 30, 28/3/1937
"April Fool Joke"
P1380523
(9+5)
#3
1. gxh6ep+! Kxf7 2. 0-0xg1! Sf6 3. e8=sS#!
play all play one stop play next play all
28/3/1937-https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25408700/chess-by-herman-steiner/

"NELS NELSON

We have heretofore published many of Nelson's fine problems and should like to show any readers the more humorous side of his talent. This winter our distinguished friend is spending his vacation in Los Angles. It is with his kind permission that we are publishing this story and problem.

Nels Nelson, born in Denmark in 1871, emigrated to the United States when 12 years of age. He learned the moves of chess in Denmark and began solving and composing problems in 1894. He was chess editor of the Minneapolis State Chess Asccostion, 1911-1912, president of the Minnesota State Chess Asccostion, 19229-1930, and lives at Hopkins, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis.

AN APRIL FOOL JOKE

A certain celebrated chess master, who we will designate as Mr. "X," while on in the provinces happened into a tavern which was the mecca of the village chess players. Mr. "X," very fond of practical jokes, conceived a plan of springing on one of the unsuspecting natives. Professing ignorance of the game, the champion of the club offered to teach Mr. "X" its intricacies. After showing Mr. "X' all of the moves with the exception of pawn promotion, pawn takes pawn, etc., and castling, the champion said the following: ""I have purposely omitted three of the maneuvers in chess, which to the beginner are somewhat difficult to grasp. They are pawn promotion-when a pawn reaches the eight rank it ceases to be a pawn but may but it may be converted to any piece on the board and assumes its function at once. It is thus theoretically possible to have as many as nine queens on the board at once, and so on down the line." The champion then went to explain the castling on the king and queen side and emphasized the importance of moving the king first. The act of pawn takes pawn "en passant" was then thoroughly explained and the actual game started with the champion giving odds of queen to Mr. "X," who proved to be a very apt pupil! Mr. "X" lost the first game in short order-walking boldly into a mating net. In the second game he gave the champion quite the battle and won the approbation of that was worthy. In the third game, the champion managed to trap Mr. "X's" queen but had to give up two pieces for it and saw that he had a lost game but continued on in the hope that his experienced opponent would make some mistake. When the game has reached the position in the diagram the champion was dumbfounded to hear Mr. "X" announce mate in three moves. "Impossible!" exclaimed the champion. "You should win, of course, but mate in three cant be done." "Well, if you have interpreted the move and rules correctly, I am certain I see a mate in three," said Mr. "X." "Of course I have interpreted the rules correctly, exclaimed the now irate champion: and I will lay you a wager of dinner for the members of the club that you fail to mate in three moves." "Done!" cried Mr. "X." By this time nearly every member in the club was watching the game with interest. Now, who won this wager? It will be shown in the solution April 11."

11/4/1937-https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25408721/chess-by-herman-steiner/

"SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 760 by N. Nelson: "April Fool Joke."

White: K. on K1 R. on Q7, and KR1: Kt. on KB7 and KB8: B, on QB5: P. on K7, KKt5, and KKt2, Black: K. on KKt2: R. on KKt1: Kt. on K1: B. on KKt8: P. on KR4. (Wh. 9: BL. 5.)

Many members of the club were very fine players and felt their champion would win. Curiously, most of them were pulling for Mr. "X," as the champion was somewhat of a braggard and if he won they felt they would be hearing about it for a long time. They were, therefore, keenly alert when Mr. "X" started to proceed the game. "My first move is pawn takes en passant," said the smiling Mr. "x." "Of course, I anticipated that move," replied the champion, "and I shall meet it with king takes knight." Oh well then I shall make for my second move, castle: taking the bishop," continued Mr. "X." "This move is according to your definition of castling, perfectly legitimate, as the king moves first, and the bishop being on the knight square, certainly is subject to capture." "Well," replied the champion, "I must say your interpretation is far fetched, but I will grant you even this point as I fail to see how you mate on the next move: you evidently overlook the fact that when you promote the pawn the king will be able to capture it. Of course, I am forced to interpose my knight and it is pinned, but the king will still be able to take care of that promoted pawn. " Well," smiled Mr. "X," "I shall, however, mate you by pawn to king eight, discovering check, as I shall claim a black knight for the promoted pawn, which, according to your interpretation of pawn promotion, is perfectly legitimate. You stated I might choose any piece on the board and, of course, as the black knight is the only piece that will mate, I naturally selected it."
Exit champion.

We are publishing the best solution sent in my Ladderite L. A. Post, incidentally only two others solved this April Fool Problem.

Problem 760 to complete the tale that Mr. Nelson started to what I believe to be the logical solution according to the rules given by the local champion.
1. White: Pawn takes pawn "en passant" check.
The local champion then captured the white knight reposing on his "bishop two."
1. Black: king takes knight.
"Now," continued Mr. "X" "I understand to quote you, the king moves firstl in castling."
"That is correct," agreed the champion.
Thereupon Mr. "X" executed the move in the prescribed manner by first moving his king to his king knight square and removing the champion's bishop and then setting his rook down on his king bishop square calling check.
The champion was nonplussed, for in stating the rules for "castling" he had failed to forsee a circumstance of this kind. He was forced to admit that, according to his own statement, such a move was possible But seeing in spite of this that it was still impossible to checkmate on the next move, he conceded the point and interposed his knight.
2. Black: Knight to king bishop three.
"Did you not say," resumed Mr. "X," "that in 'pawn promotion' you could reclaim to any piece on the board?"
"That is correct," conceded the champion, "but since you insist on taking me literally I might add that there is no "queen' on the board you may claim in one."
"In that case," stated Mr. "X," "I will be equally generous and present you with a 'knight.'"Whereupon Mr. "X" removed the pawn at king seven and placed a black 'knight' at king eight discovering checkmate to the champion's "king."
"Such a thing is impossible !" cried the outraged champion.
"Not at all," replied Mr. "X," "for according to your statement that "upon reaching the eight rank a pawn be converted to any piece on the board and assumes its function at once.'"
To this the other members agreed. So the champion held a dinner in honor of Mr. "X," the most apt pupil he had ever taught.

Respectfully yours,

L.A. Post
Seaman, First Class, U.S. Navy,
U.S..S Texas, San Pedro, Cal."
Henrik Juel: Some help is needed here, James
At least for me (2020-10-01)
A.Buchanan: Hi Henrik I am guessing it’s a cheatyface Valladao:
1. gxh6ep+ Kxf7 2. 0-0+ Sf6 3. f8=sS#
No proof for the ep, castling with capture and promotion to black officer (2020-10-02)
James Malcom: Bingo Andrew! (2020-10-02)
Henrik Juel: Even though I ought to stand by my fellow danish author:
This is a most crude 'joke' problem, especially the 'castling' with capture (2020-10-02)
A.Buchanan: It's kind of a running gag: three silly jokettes which do combine relatively harmoniously (2020-10-02)
A.Buchanan: 1. ... Kf6 allows a short mate, robbing White of the Valladao. 4nNbn/3RP1kN/8/6Pp/8/8/8/4K1bR is the best I can find, fixing the problem, and with less material (2020-10-02)
A.Buchanan: I was hoping that someone would spot that I have shifted a unit to h7 - i.e. the e.p. is even more Foolish :-) I claim it "improves" the problem because currently the e.p. *might* be legal :-) If this is too crude for some, then 4nNr1/3RP1k1/6N1/4P1Pp/8/8/8/4K1bR works. Note you need sTg8 to prevent 2. Sh8#, but wSg6 is blocking g-file, so wBg2 is still free to find other duties on e5. (2020-10-03)
James Malcom: Excellent improvements, Andrew! (2020-10-06)
A.Buchanan: Thanks James: do you think the one with Sh7 is excessively silly? (2020-10-06)
James Malcom: Yes, 'd say a bit too silly. (2020-10-16)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Joke, Valladao Task, Joke promotion (s), En passant as key, Castling, Checking key, under-promotion (s)
Genre: 3#
FEN: 4nNr1/3RPNk1/8/2B3Pp/8/8/6P1/4K1bR
Reprints: Los Angeles Times , p. 13, 11/4/1937
Input: James Malcom, 2020-10-01
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-02-23 more...
2 - P1399436
Clara E. Cameron
21 Los Angeles Times , p. 17, 01/04/1928
P1399436
(5+3) C+
#2 "with the same N standing on N6"
1. f7! Kxg6 2. f8=S#
play all play one stop play next play all
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25177250/chess-by-clif-sherwood/
'Los Angeles Times': "This being April Fool's Day the column is devoted pretty much to the fair-enuf sex; for the female of the species reads more readily than the male."

Zur Autorin, die auch eine aktive und erfolgreiche Löserin war, heißt es: "Clara Cameron, Pomona, Cal.", und zur Aufgabe: "A variation of Napier's setting."

vgl. Marshall's Chess "Swindle" P1182118
more ...
comment
Keywords: Joke, Promotion (S), Phoenix
Genre: 2#
Computer test: Popeye 4.61
FEN: 8/6pk/4KPN1/5N1p/7P/8/8/8
Input: James Malcom, 2022-02-25
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-01 more...
3 - P1402717
Franklin Hopkins
1793 Los Angeles Times 23/02/1947
P1402717
(4+3)
#2
1. Dc3+! Kxc3 2. Db2#
1. ... Ke3 2. Df3#
1. ... Kc5 2. De5#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-07-16)
comment
Keywords: Checking key, Queen sacrifice, Non-standard material, Miniature, Flight giving sacrifice key, Drag-in sacrifice, Epaulettenmatt, Model mate (Gnaden-)
Genre: 2#
FEN: 8/1Q6/8/8/2pk4/Q2p4/6P1/K7
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-07-16
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2022-07-16 more...
4 - P1403717
Lucius Mortriner
1531 Los Angeles Times 20/08/1944
P1403717
(4+2)
#2
1. Lc5! Kf6 2. Ld4#
1. ... Kd5 2. Df5#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-08-18)
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Minimal (b), Flight-giving key, Model mate (Gnaden-)
Genre: 2#
FEN: 4K3/4B3/2p5/4k3/6Q1/1P6/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-08-18
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2022-08-18 more...
5 - P1403746
R. C. Mankowski
1399 Los Angeles Times 16/05/1943
P1403746
(4+3)
#2
1. Db5! droht 2. De5#
1. ... Kd6 2. Db6#
1. ... d5 2. Dc6#
1. ... d6 2. Df5#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-08-21)
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Flight-giving key
Genre: 2#
FEN: 8/3p1p2/4kP2/8/3K4/8/2B5/5Q2
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-08-21
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2022-08-21 more...
6 - P1403970
H. L. Winings
547 Los Angeles Times 17/03/1935
P1403970
(5+2) C+
#2
1. Tb4! Kd3 2. 0-0-0#
1. ... Sb5,S~ 2. Le4#
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Aristocrat, Minimal (s), Miniature, Castling (wl), Castling as mating move
Genre: 2#
Computer test: Juel: Popeye 4.61
FEN: 8/8/1R1n4/8/3B4/5B2/2k5/R3K3
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-08-31
Last update: Dieter Berlin, 2024-01-20 more...
7 - P1404126
Clif Sherwood
Los Angeles Times 02/09/1928
P1404126
(4+1)
#4
1. Kc2! Ke6 2. Kd3 Kd6 3. Lf6 Kc5 4. Le7#
3. ... Ke6 4. De7#
1. ... Kc5 2. Da6 Kb4 3. La3#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, Gustav 4.2a, Brute Force (2022-09-08)
comment
Keywords: Miniature
Genre: n#
FEN: 8/1Q6/3k4/8/4P3/8/1B6/1K6
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-08
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-08 more...
8 - P1404127
Clif Sherwood
44 Los Angeles Times 02/09/1928
P1404127
(4+1)
#3
1. Ke3! Kc5 2. La3+
2. ... Kc4 3. Db4#
1. ... Ke6 2. Le5 Kxe5 3. De7#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-09-08)
comment
Keywords: Miniature
Genre: 3#
FEN: 8/1Q6/3k4/8/4P3/8/1B2K3/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-08
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-08 more...
9 - P1404176
Rudolf L'hermet
419 Los Angeles Times 10/12/1933
P1404176
(9+7)
#3
1. Lc8! h6 2. Sa1 Kxg4 3. Da4#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: C+ Popeye 4.61 (2022-09-09)
comment
Keywords: Vorausfesselung
Genre: 3#
FEN: 1K2Q3/1BP2r1p/4nR2/6pp/6Pk/P6p/2N4P/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-09
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-09 more...
10 - P1404297
E. W. Hearn
514 Los Angeles Times 18/11/1934
P1404297
(4+3)
#3
b) a1=h8
a) 1. Sf5! g3 2. Sd4 ... 3. Sf3#
b) 1. Ta2! Ka5 2. Kc5 bxa4 3. Sc4#,Sb3#
1. ... bxa4 2. Tb2+ Ka3,Ka5 3. Sc4#
1. ... a5 2. Sb1 bxa4 3. Tb2#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: a) double threat 2.Le8,Lf7 (2022-09-13)
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Twinning by board rotation
Genre: 3#
FEN: 7R/4N3/8/4K1kB/6p1/7p/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-13
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2022-09-13 more...
11 - P1404350
I. A. Gutierrez
Los Angeles Times 28/09/1935
P1404350
(5+2) C+
#2
1. 0-0-0! Ke2 2. Dxg4#
1. ... Kxg2 2. Dh1#
1. ... Kxe4 2. Dd5#
play all play one stop play next play all
vergleiche den Nachläufer mit gleicher Lösung unter P1147758
A.Buchanan: Bl pawn or knight on g4 would work as well (2022-09-16)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Castling key (wl), Aristocrat, Minimal (t), Miniature, Flight-giving key
Genre: 2#
Computer test: C+, popeye 4.87
FEN: 8/8/8/7Q/4N1r1/5k2/6N1/R3K3
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-15
Last update: Felber, Volker, 2022-11-08 more...
12 - P1404417
Percy Clark Bowater
725 Los Angeles Times 29/11/1936
dedicated to Ira Alexander
P1404417
(5+1)
#2
1. Sd8! Ke7-d6 2. Lc5#
1. ... Kf8,Ke8 2. Sc6#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-09-18)
comment
Keywords: Miniature
Genre: 2#
FEN: 2R5/1N2k3/4P3/8/3BK3/8/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-17
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-17 more...
13 - P1404418
J. T. Richard
686 Los Angeles Times 12/07/1936
P1404418
(6+1)
#3
1. e8=L! Kd6 2. c8=T Ke6 3. Tc6#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-09-18)
comment

Genre: 3#
FEN: 6N1/2P1P3/4k3/8/4PPK1/8/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-17
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-17 more...
14 - P1404695
E. A. Le Pett
1168 Los Angeles Times 23/02/1941
P1404695
(5+1) cooked
#3
1. Sd6! Kc5 2. Db5+ Kxd6,Kd4 3. Sf5#
1. ... Kd4 2. Ke6 Ke3 3. Shf5#
2. ... Kc5 3. Dc4#
1. ... Ke5 2. Shf5 Kd5 3. Db5#
1. ... Kxd6 2. Dc4 Ke5 3. Lc7#
2. ... Kd7 3. De6#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: Dual: 3. Dc7#
Henrik Juel: The flaw is the mate dual 1... Kxd6 2.Dc4 Kd7 3.De6,Dc7# (2022-09-27)
comment
Keywords: Aristocrat, Miniature
Genre: 3#
FEN: 8/5K2/7N/B2k1N2/8/8/8/5Q2
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-27
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-09-27 more...
15 - P1404898
E. A. Erickson
1546 Los Angeles Times 08/10/1944
P1404898
(5+2)
#3
1. Se5! droht 2. Sg4 2. Sd7
1. ... d5 2. De1+ Kd4 3. Se6#
1. ... dxe5 2. Kb6 Kd5 3. Dd3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: dual 1... Kd5 2.Sg4,Sd7 (2022-10-07)
comment
Keywords: Minimal, Miniature
Genre: 3#
FEN: 8/K5N1/2Np4/8/4k3/2Q3P1/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-07
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-07 more...
16 - P1404975
Lucius Mortriner
1539 Los Angeles Times 17/09/1944
P1404975
(4+2)
#2
1. De2! Kxc3 2. Lb2#
1. ... d5 2. Sb5#
play all play one stop play next play all
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-10-08)
comment

Genre: 2#
FEN: 8/8/3p4/8/K2k4/B1N5/8/4Q3
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-08
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-08 more...
17 - P1404976
Lucius Mortriner
1535 Los Angeles Times 03/09/1944
P1404976
(4+1) C+
#2
1. Kg5! Ke3 2. Sf5#
1. ... Ke5 2. Dc5#
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Aristocrat, Miniature
Genre: 2#
Computer test: SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2022-10-08)
FEN: B7/6N1/8/5K2/3k4/8/2Q5/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-08
Last update: Erich Bartel, 2022-10-09 more...
18 - P1405053
Norman L. Guinasso
1662 Los Angeles Times 18/11/1945
P1405053
(5+2) cooked
#3
1. S4b6? axb6 2. c4 b5 3. cxb5#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: Schwarz hat keinen letzten Zug, und mit Schwarz am Zug gibt es kein 3#
SCHRECKE: Schwarz hat keinen letzten Zug! (2022-10-10)
Henrik Juel: So it is Black to move, and he is stalemated (2022-10-10)
Rainer Staudte: Eine Korrektur wäre einfach, z. B. durch Verschiebung um eine Reihe nach unten. Aber wäre das Autorabsicht? (2022-10-10)
A.Buchanan: According to the Codex, mere illegality does not cook a problem or even make it unsound. But in the grunting world of PDB data fields, we only have "cooked" to express all degrees of structural displeasure. If I was fixing the problem, I would stick wLa8 on h1 instead. For then we have the tiny satisfaction of knowing that Black's last move was R: 1. Kb7xTa6.
This author is unknown to WinChloe, and only has one other problem in YAC. (I have added it here.) Amazingly, WinChloe has not heard of the LA Times either! (2022-10-11)
A.Buchanan: It's a rare name: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62652231/norman-l-guinasso 1920-1978 might fit as a California memorial. There's then a Norman L. Guinasso Jr, whose age might fit as a son, who retired as a Professor of Oceanography in 2015 (2022-10-11)
A.Buchanan: Or replace wLa8 with wBc6. (sBb7 also works, but is still illegal!) (2022-10-11)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Minimal, Miniature, No legal last move for Black (unintended), Superseded by (P1413729)
Genre: 3#
FEN: B1N5/p7/k7/8/1KN5/2P5/8/8
Input: Rainer Staudte, 2022-10-10
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-11-28 more...
19 - P1405121
Norman L. Guinasso
1664 Los Angeles Times 25/11/1945
P1405121
(11+10)
#3
Henrik Juel: C+ Popeye 4.61, except for mate trial in the threat variation (2022-10-11)
Henrik Juel: 1.Sd5 thr. 2.Te3+
1... Kxd4/Txa3 2.Txd2/Sxc6+ (2022-10-11)
comment

Genre: 3#
FEN: 6b1/2Br2p1/r1pq4/4k1Kn/1P1N2p1/R1N2P2/B1Pp1P2/3R4
Input: A.Buchanan, 2022-10-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-10-11 more...
Show statistic for complete result. Show search result faster by using ids.

https://pdb.dieschwalbe.de/search.jsp?expression=COMMENTDATE%3E%3D20200919+AND+NOT+A%3D%27Stahl%2C+Karl+Alfred%27+AND+S%3D%27Los+Angeles+Times%27

The problems of this query have been registered by the following contributors:

James Malcom (2)
Rainer Staudte (16)
A.Buchanan (1)