kWTVSp Australian Chess Problems and News in Overseas Journals Bob Meadley

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Contents Introduction 4 The Field SA Chronicle Tourney 1882 7 BCM Pre-1900 The BCM International Problem Tourneys 9 ‘Problem Tourneys in Victoria’ by A. Burns 10

A.F. MacKenzie history 9 Otago Witness 6th Tourney 18

BCM 1900-1904 ‘A Sketch of Chess History’ by W.S. Branch 21 SMH 5th Tourney 22 Otago Witness 7th Tourney 25 Leader Commonwealth Int’l Tourney 29 Café de la Regence 30

BCM 9th International Tourney 22 SMH 6th International Tourney 25 Otago Witness 8th Tourney 27 SMH 8th Tourney 30 SMH 9th Tourney 30

BCM 1905-1909 Problems by F.A.L. Kuskop, A. Charlick 33 SMH 10th Tourney 37 BCM 12th Tourney 39 B.G. Laws’ replies to ‘W.P.’ 45 Problems by F.T. Hawes, F.M. Teed 48 Football & Field Tourney 51 Problem by F.T. Hawes 52 Western Daily Mercury 12th Tourney 54

Leader Commonwealth Int’l Tourney 34 Problems by A. Charlick 38 SMH 11th Tourney 44 SMH 12th Tourney 46 BCM 13th Tourney 49 C.W. Benbow’s obit 52 Melbourne Leader’s Task Tourney 53

BCM 1910 BCM 14th Tourney 55 Problem by F.A.L. Kuskop 56 A. Charlick’s obit and problems 58

Australasian Tourney 56 SMH 15th Tourney 57 Problem by A. Mosely 60

BCM 1911 Frank Healey Memorial Tourney 61 SMH 16th Tourney 63 A.C. White’s articles on 2-er classification 65

Problem by A. Charlick 63 Australasian Tourney 63 B.G. Laws on the SMH 16th Tourney 66

BCM 1912 Melbourne Leader Tourney 69 Problems by A. Mosely 70 Hamstead & Highgate Express Tourney 71 Problem by A. Mosely 73

SMH 2-er Tourney 69 Western Daily Mercury Tourney 71 Challenge Problem by F.J. Wallis 72 Problem by R.G. Thomson 73

BCM 1913 Four Leaved Shamrock Tourney 74 Problems by F.A.L. Kuskop, A. Mosely 78 Problems by F. Leggett 80

Melbourne Leader Tourney 75 Problems by B.G. Fegan, F.A.L. Kuskop 79 ‘Some Australian Novelties’ by H. Tate 81

BCM 1914 Review of H.J.R. Murray’s History of Chess 87 Problem news 87 Problem by C.G. Watson 88 Problem news 89

A.C. White & Australian Columns Tourneys 87 T. Henderson’s obit 87 Review of Apotre De La Symetrie 88 Problem by H. Tate 90

BCM 1915 Australasian Tourney 91 Chess and problem news 92

Problem by A. Mosely 91 Melbourne Chess Club Solving Tourney 92

BCM 1916 Problem news 96 Problem-solving news 96 Problems by A. Mosely 97 Problem news 99

6th Australian Columns Tourney 96 Problem by F.A.L. Kuskop 97 Problem by J.J. O’Keefe 99

BCM 1917 GCCC solving challenge 100 GCCC Tourney 101 Problems by J.J. O’Keefe, W.J. McArthur 101 Problem by J.K. Heydon 104 M. Meyer’s obit 105 Christmas ‘puzzlers’ by H. Dudeney 106

2nd Australian Columns Tourney 100 Problem by J.K. Heydon 101 Chess and problem news 103 7th Australian Columns Tourney 104 Problem selected by B.G. Laws 106

BCM 1918 Problems by F.A.L. Kuskop, B.G. Laws 108 GCCC 6th Meredith Tourney 109 Problem by J.J. O’Keefe, W.J. Smith 110 Problem news 110 Problem by J.J. O’Keefe 111

Australian Columns Tourney 108 Chess news 110 Article by H.D.O. Bernard 110 Sonnet to a chess problem by T.K. Wigan 111 Chess and problem news 111

BCM 1919 B.G. Laws and J.J. O’Keefe meeting 112 Problem by J.J. O’Keefe 113 Problems by J.J. O’Keefe, B.G. Laws 114 Brisbane Courier Tourney 115 BCM to close? 115

Problem by J. Keeble 112 Chess news 113 M. Marble’s obit and problem 115 J. Wallis on ‘Bolshevistic Chess’ 115 Problem by C.G. Watson 116

BCM 1920 BCM lives! 117 Problems by J.J. O’Keefe 117 Problems by J.J. O’Keefe, A. Mosely 119

Chess news 117 Problem by E.H.H. Jerrard 118 Death of P. Schellenburg 119

Introduction The foundation magazine was the British Chess Magazine (BCM) which commenced in 1881 and carried a problem section from the start conducted by James Rayner, Thomas Rayner Dawson’s uncle and then Benjamin Glover Laws. The Chess Monthly (England) 1879-1896 was edited by Leopold Hoffer and Johannes Zukertort. I do not know who the chess problem editor was but the 2nd issue of October 1879 gave details of the South Australian Chronicle Problem Tourney of 1878/9. The Chess Monthly conducted International Problem Tourneys and the 3 rd was held in 1891/2. Arthur Willmott researched the Chronicle of 1878 with no success so tentatively it must be assigned to pre-1878. The Australian Chess Annual by H.B. Bignold 1896 gave the names of the South Australian Chronicle chess editors and they were S.Tyrrell, R.M. Steele, E. Govett, G.A. Wilson and W.F. Harrison. Tyrrell was the founding chess editor and sadly he died aged 40 in April 1878. This could be the reason for the delay in the award for the first tourney but the main prizewinners were announced in The Chess Monthly (England) Oct. 1879 p.60:First prize set “per acuta belli” E.J. Catlow (Yankalilla) No.20

XABCDEFGHY 8r+Rwq-vl-+( 7tR-+PmkPzp-' 6-+-zpP+-+& 5+r+-+-+l% 4-+-vL-sNpsN$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-zp-+-+-+" 1+K+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (9x10) Key 1.Bb6 threat 2.Bxd8 if 1..Qxb6/Rxc8/Rxb6/Qe8 2.e8=Q/dxc8=N/Nf5/dxe8=Q

E.J. Catlow (Yankalilla) No.21

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-mk-mK-sn( 7+R+-sN-zpP' 6-zppsNpzpp+& 5+-+l+-tr-% 4-zPLvl-+PwQ$ 3+-trP+-+-# 2-+-+-vL-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (11x12) Key 1.Qh1 threat 2.Qxd5 & 3.Nxc6/Nf7 If 1..Bxh1;2.Bxe6..any;3.Rd7 or 1..Rxc4;2.Qa1!..Bxa1;3.Bxb6 1..Nf7;2.Nxf7 or 1..Bxc4;2.Qxc6..Bb5;3.Qc7/c8 No.22 Second Prize set “Toujours prêt” E. Govett (Adelaide)

XABCDEFGHY 8-sN-+LmK-+( 7sn-+-+-+-' 6-zpl+-+-+& 5mk-+-+-+-% 4p+-+-+-+$ 3zP-zP-sN-+-# 2Q+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (7x5) Key 1.Qd2 threat 2.c4 If 1..Nb5/Kb5/b5;2.Nc4/Qd5/Qd8

No.23 E.Govett (Adelaide)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+L+-sn-' 6-+-+-+K+& 5+p+k+-+-% 4-zP-+N+-+$ 3zP-+-zP-sN-# 2-+P+-zP-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (9x3) Key 1.Kf6 waiting If 1..Ne6;2.Bxb5..N any;3.c4 If 1..Nh5+;2.Nxh5..Kxe4/Kc4;3.Bc6/Be6 If 1..Ne8+;2.Bxe8.. as above or 1..Kc4;2.Ke5..N any;3.Be6 There are probably overseas results of the earlier tourneys in Australia such as the Melbourne Leader Tourney of 1869 which was the first problem tourney in Australia. To date no references have been found to pre-1879 tourneys. Another magazine was ‘The Field’. It was published weekly and had wonderful chess editors including William Steinitz and Leopold Hoffer. Most of these European magazines carried results of American and Australian problem tourneys.

The Field The Field, 3 November 1883:- South Australian Chronicle Tourney, W.J.McArthur winner. Arthur Willmott did some excellent research in 1991 on this 1882 Chronicle Tourney and produced a 21 page limited edition booklet that included all 56 problems, solutions, judges comments and a short history of the South Australian Chronicle newspaper:The South Australian Chronicle first appeared on Saturday July 17 th, 1858, under the title of S.A. Weekly Chronicle. After 117 years the last issue appeared on Sept. 26th, 1975. The first chess column appeared in the 13/4/1872 issue with a 2 move problem as No.1, no author given. In mid-1882 a chess problem tourney was announced, composers were invited to submit a set of two problems, a mate in 2 and a mate in 3. Entries were received from each Australian colony except W.A. as well as from England, Austria, Germany, Italy, Denmark, USA and NZ. It could well be that this was the FIRST International Problem Tourney held in Australia. Overseas entrants were Herman von Gottschall-Germany, Ferdinandel Schnidler-Austria, C.J. DennisUSA, W. Coates-England, C.A.E. Orsini-Italy, J.W. Abbott –London, J.G. Chancellor-?, C.C. Achille-Italy, W.Zensen-Denmark, J.G. Slater – England. The prizes were generous:£4/4/- for best set won by Mr. W.J. McArthur of SA. Prize of £2/2/- 2nd best set to Mr. L. Warnecke S.A. Prize of £2 for best 2-er Mr. A. Greenway-Victoria. Prize of £2 for best 3-er Mr. J.W. Abbott of London. The Judges (unknown as yet) comments on the 1st prize winner were “…we have no hesitation in awarding first prize. The 2 mover is not particularly hard to solve and there is not much range but it is first class in every other respect, the position of the white K is unique and the Ns are powerfully placed and the play of the Q delicately adjusted. The 3 mover is a gem and ranks a long way ahead of any other problem. Not only is the first move good but the variations are hard to find. There are no duals in either problems and together the positions have been awarded the highest number of marks.” Solvers gave marks of “9 for the 2-er and 9.5 for the 3-er (out of 10). The nearest 2-er with 8.83 was by W. Coates on England. The nearest 3-er was another by W.J. McArthur with 8.83. He submitted 4 sets.” Arthur was an enthusiastic problem researcher as well as strong composer and solver. He sent me a note with this Chronicle booklet:Dear Bob, During the past few weeks I’ve spent some time at the library and compiled the enclosed. I have been through all the issues of the Chronicle for 1878 but could find no reference to a problem tourney. Regards Arthur 10/9/91

Here is the winning set:W.J. McArthur No.21 17 Feb 1883 Motto ‘Childe Harold’

XABCDEFGHY 8N+r+k+-+( 7tRN+-+-tRn' 6Q+pvL-+p+& 5+-zpPmKPzpP% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two (10x7) Key 1.Qe2 waiting if 1..c4/Pxd5/g4/Pxf5/Pxh5/Nf6/ Nf8/Ra8 or b8/d8 or c7 2.Kd4/Kxd5/Kf4/Kxf5/Qxh5/Kxf6/Re7/RxR/Nc7 No.22 ‘Childe Harold’ 17/2/1883

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7mK-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+Q+& 5+-+Pmk-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-vL-+" 1+-+N+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (5x1) Key 1. Bc5..Kxd5;2.Ne3+..Kxc5/Ke5;3/Qb6/Qf5 or 1..Kf4;2.Nf2..Ke5/Kf3;3.Qg5/Qg4 (BM: It may be the 2-er was published without the WRa7 which gives no solution after Ra8. Arthur was not sure but the Chess Monthly (UK) published as above.)

British Chess Magazine Pre-1900 The BCM International Problem Tourneys In the 1931 BCM Index of the 1880-1930 period, various tourney dates are given:Eighth 1898; Ninth 1899/1900; Tenth 1901; Eleventh 1901/2/3; Twelfth 1906; Thirteenth 1908; Fourteenth 1909; Fifteenth, 1911; Sixteenth 1914. It seems that the Tourneys finished at the outbreak of WW1 and were sparser post WW1. Going backward there were clearly seven prior tourneys to the eighth in 1898. These were not called International Tourneys. From 1890-1894 there were no Australian or New Zealand problems in these tourneys but overseas problemists entered, for A.F. MacKenzie won 1st prize in 1892. (p.414) and these BCM tournaments are not indexed in the above index. Regarding 1895/6/7 there are no Australian problems in 1895 but there were many Australian chess news items. My BCM research was not as expansive as that in the Chess Amateur but the items should be listed:BCM 1895 p.9 Esling v Wallace for Aust. Ch’ship; p.10 WA Chess Association Meeting 15 Oct.Membership from 90 to 270 (BM: amazing increase) The Perth Ladies Chess Club was also strong. p.11 Melbourne City vs Country.p.66 Melbourne Chess Club new quarters at Hotel Metropole. Death of secretary Arneil. p.117 NZ Congress result.p.214 SA Chess Association. p.330 Sydney & Adelaide had their City vs Country matches plus NSW played Vic in the 17th telegraphic match, NSW won just 3 page article by ‘Cluen’ on Australian Chess. p.345 Esling v Wallace bios and games. p.438 Wallace champion. p.469 29th AGM Melb.Chess Club. p.480-487 More Wallace/Esling games. p.519 Chess in Tasmania. 3 pages + some NZ news in which they criticised ‘Cluen’s’ views of the match. They disclosed he was a Victorian but still unknown to me.

As for other years BCM has good Australian news but the interest here are problems. There are no Australian problems in 1896 or 1897. I am not sure that the early tourneys with “Mottoed” problems had NO Australian entries. My set of BCMs is missing early years. BCM 1896 March p.135 The Jamaica Gleaner – Chess players all over the world will be exceedingly sorry to learn of an affliction to Mr. A. F. MacKenzie, the talented and hard-working chess editor of the ‘Tri-Weekly Journal’. The nature of his trouble and its consequences will be best understood by a perusal of the letter below. GREENWICH PARK, ST. ANDREW, JAMAICA, 29th January, 1896. Dear Sir, I can no longer conceal from myself that the time has come when I must inform you that loss of sight has compelled the cessation of my Chess work in the ‘Gleaner’. This will, I confidently hope, sufficiently explain my recent seeming indifference and neglect. If ever I be able to resume my labour of love, I shall crave again that widespread co-operation of composers, editors, and correspondents, which alone allowed it, and for which I must be ever grateful.

I am practically out of the chess world now, but need not say that I shall continue to hear from my chess friends with the keenest pleasure. I am dear Sir, Very faithfully yours, A.F.MACKENZIE On the same day that we received the above, Mr. Laws wrote us on the subject, and we are led to hope that the loss of sight may be partial, and not beyond recovery. Our readers we are sure will join us in expressing a wish that he may soon be restored, and able again to resume work in which he excels and takes great pleasure. His sight did not come back and he was totally blind according to Alain White in his book of MacKenzie’s problems 1905. There was an earlier book ‘Chess Its Poetry and It’s Prose’ 1887 Jamaica published by MacKenzie. I put him in because he was as prolific after his loss of sight as he was before and he supported Australian chess problem tourneys (8). Arthur Ford MacKenzie 1861-1905 entered 118 Tourneys from 1880 – 1905 as listed in White’s 1905 book ‘Chess Lyrics’ and the last problem listed here was MacKenzie’s first place in the Sydney Morning Herald Tourney of 1904/5. He entered 55 tourneys after his blindness and won 19 first prizes in this period. His tourney record is mighty. White wrote that MacKenzie’s success was due to his ‘Cosmopolitanism’. He had assimilated the best traits from each of the principal schools without following any slavishly. He was of English ancestry but born in Kingston Jamaica attended school and college there and became a teacher. His health failed and he found solace in chess which he had learned at school. (BM: Chess Lyrics is famous for the 75-page article by MacKenzie called ‘Some Thoughts on Problem Matters – A Talk with the Reader’. It has a very nice frontispiece photo of him aged 20.) BCM Dec.1896 Circumstances occurred within the last few weeks which induced Andrew Burns, the veteran chess editor of the Melbourne Leader, to write a brief account of the several problem tourneys that had been held up to date in the colony of Victoria. A casual conversation led me to ask for the loan of his manuscript. On reading it, I suggested the advisability of his having it published in one of the monthly chess journals. He thought that the suggestion was a good one, and he has now consented to my placing his manuscript at your disposal for publication in the British Chess Magazine. “Cluen” (BM: It would be good to know who ‘Cluen’ was as he was a prolific writer.) Problem Tourneys in Victoria by Andrew Burns The first Problem Tourney in Victoria was initiated in November, 1869, by the proprietors of the Melbourne Leader, who offered a prize of £5.5s for the best set of three problems, solvable in three or four moves. The Melbourne Chess Club, founded in 1866, gave its patronage to the tourney, and added a second prize of £3.3s. The competition was open to composers residing in any of the Australian colonies. In response to this invitation twenty-one sets were sent in, but on being subjected to rigid analysis it was discovered that only four sets were sound in every respect. In all the other sets at least one of the problems proved to be defective, thus disqualifying them as prize-takers, an unfortunate circumstance, in as much as some of the individual problems were of remarkable excellence, and superior to any in the set to which the first prize had to be awarded.

After an exhaustive examination by the judges, Messrs Burns, Ellis, Fisher and L.S. Phillips, the first prize was adjudged to Mr. John Charlick, of Adelaide (brother of the well-known player, Mr. H. Charlick) a young composer and player of great promise, who, unfortunately for Australia and chess, died soon afterwards; and the second to Mr. A. Lulman, of Melbourne, a veteran composer, whose ingenious productions were frequently published with high commendation in English periodicals. On publication it was. However, discovered that one of the latter set admitted of a second solution, so disqualifying it for taking a prize; the judges had accordingly to reconsider their award for the second prize; but were unable to recommend either of the two available sets, neither being deemed worthy of a prize. The donors therefore decided to offer it again for the best single problem in three or four moves, restricting the competition to the unsuccessful competitors in the previous tourney. The result was that twenty eight problems were sent in, and the prize awarded to a problem in three moves, by Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Berwick, a composer of great merit, who continued for many years afterwards to contribute numerous much admired problems to the columns of the Leader. As this article is confined to the compositions of Victorian problemists, no specimen of the first set is here given, but one of Mr. Lulman’s set, and Mr. Henderson’s prize problem will be found below, also a fine composition in the same tourney by Mr. P.D. Phillips, whose set was thrown out by a flaw in one of the problems. (BM: It is a wonder one of the prizewinning set by John Charlick could not have been included especially as Mr. Lulman’s set was disqualified and one of his was included. Likewise P.D. Phillips. John Charlick was 15 when he entered the 1869 tourney and 25 at his death from TB.) No.1- P.D. PHILLIPS, of Melbourne, 1869

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sN-+l+( 7+-zp-+-+p' 6-+-+-zp-+& 5mKpvLk+-+-% 4-+-+RzP-+$ 3+-zP-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+L+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (7x6) Key 1. Rc4 threat 2.Kb4 & Bg2 If 1..PxR;2.Bg2+..KxB;3.Nb7 or 1..else;2.Kb4 etc.

No.2- A. LULMAN of Melbourne, 1869

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+p' 6-+-+-sN-+& 5+-+-+kvLK% 4-+-zPN+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-zP" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (6x2) Key 1.Nc5 waiting If 1..h6;2.Nd5..PxB;3.h3..g4;4.PxP The next tourney held in Victoria was in 1876, when the chess editor of the Leader offered a prize of £4.4s, for the best set of three problems in three or four moves; also a set of chessmen for the best single problem in the same number of moves. In response to this offer only seven sets were received, and on examination not one set was found free of defects, so that the judges were unable to recommend any set as worthy of a prize. The prize for the best single problem was, however, awarded to Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Berwick, for the accompanying problem in three moves. A fresh competition was invited for the unawarded prize, the result being that eleven sets were sent in, and the judges, Messrs L. Goldsmith and L.S. Phillips, awarded it to Mr. T.D. Clarke, of Merino, who still continues to rank among the best of the problemists of Victoria. Among the unsuccessful competitors were Messrs H.Charlick and S. Tyrrell of Adelaide; Thomas Henderson of Berwick; and Joseph Dixon and R. Arnold, of Stawell. One of the prize sets we give below:-

No.3 –THOMAS HENDERSON of Berwick 1869-70 Prize Problem

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-sN-+-sn-' 6-zprzp-zp-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4l+k+N+LtR$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+P+-zP-+" 1+-mK-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (7x7) Key 1. Be6+..Kd4;2.Nc3+..KxN/Kc5;3.Rc4 or Nd5 or 1..NxB;2.Nxd6+..Kc3/c5;3.Rc4 or 1..d5;2.Nd6+..Kc3/Kc5;3.Nxd5Nb7 or 1..Kb4;2.Nc5+..KxN/Ka3/Ka5/Kc3;3.Rc4/RxB/RxB/Rc4 (BM: Arthur Willmott cooked this in the 1980s. 1.Be2+. He fixed with a BN g1.) No.4 - THOMAS HENDERSON, of Berwick, 1876 Prize Problem

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-vlL+pvLq' 6-+-zp-tr-+& 5sN-+k+-+-% 4-+NzPp+-+$ 3+-zP-+-+l# 2-+-+-+n+" 1mK-+-wQ-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (8x9) Key 1.Qf2 2.Nb6+..BxN;3.Qa2/c4 if 1..RxQ/QxB/BxB/BxN;2.Nb6+..BxN;3. c4 or 1..e3;2.Bc6+..Ke6;3.QxR In 1884 the chess editor of the Leader started the third problem tourney by offering two prizes each for the best single problem in two and three moves. This was considered more satisfactory than offering prizes to sets, as it often happens that a single flaw in one problem often throws out a meritorious set, while the prize is carried off by an inferior set whose chief merit is soundness. The result was that sixteen two-movers and twenty-one three-movers were sent in, many of them of a high degree of merit. After a careful

examination the judges, Messrs. Burns and Witton, awarded the prize for the best threemover to a problem of rare depth and difficulty, by Mr. H. A. Elms of Toorak; and the prize for the best two-mover to Mr. T.D. Clarke, of Merino. Among the other competitors were Mr. H. Charlick, of Adelaide; Mr. J. Willis, of Queensland; Mr. W.J. McArthur of South Australia; Mr. A. Green, of Maring; and Mr. J. Dixon of Stawell. A prize of £1.1s., given by Mr. Witton for the best solutions of the competing problems, was carried off by Mr. A. Greenway. The two prize problems appear below: No.5 – T.D. CLARKE of Merino, 1877 Prize problem

XABCDEFGHY 8LvL-+R+-+( 7+r+-+-+-' 6QzP-snp+rzp& 5+-+lsN-+N% 4-+n+kvlpzP$ 3+-zP-+-+-# 2-zp-+K+-+" 1+-+-+R+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (11x11) Key 1.Nd7 threat 2.RxB If 1..Bh2;2.Qb5! waiting..Rb7 any/Nd6 any/Rg6 any/Bd5 c6/Nc4 any/Bh2 any; 3. QxB/Nc5/Nf6/QxB/ Qd3 or Nc5/NxB or Nc5 If 1..Bc6;2.RxB or if 1..Rf6;2.NxR No.6- T.D. Clarke, of Merino, 1884 Prize Problem

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-+-+( 7+-+-+p+-' 6l+Nvlp+Q+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+r+-tR-zP$ 3+-sN-mkn+-# 2-tR-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (7x9)

Key 1.Rf2 threat 2.Rf4xN If 1..Kxf4/Kxf2/RxR/BxR/N any 2.Qg5/Qg1/Nd1/Re2/Nd1 But the most important problem tourney held in the Southern Hemisphere, on account both of the average quality of the compositions, and the fact that the competition was open to the whole world, was the tourney organised in connection with the Centennial Congress for the Australian championship in Melbourne, in the year 1888. This, like all the others, was initiated by the Leader, the proprietors of which offered a prize of £5.5s for the best set of three problems, consisting of two in three moves, and one in two. On this being announced the Melbourne Club volunteered to co-operate, and to give a prize of £2.2s in addition to these, special prizes of £3.3s and £2.2s respectively, the latter presented by the late C.M. Fisher, were offered for the best single problems, in three and two moves respectively. A special prize of £1.1s was also offered for the best solutions of the tourney problems. The number of competing sets received was seventeen, with four single problems, England, America and Denmark being represented, as well as the neighbouring colonies and New Zealand. The task of examining these and appraising their relative value was an onerous one, and the judges were unable to finish their report till May, 1889. It was an elaborate document, occupying two issues of the Leader of the 1st and 8th June. On the sealed envelopes being opened it was found that the successful competitors were as follows:- Best set of three problems: first Leader prize, Mr. R.L. Hodgson, Victoria; second prize, Mr. B.G. Laws, England. Special prize for best three-mover, Mr. B.G. Laws, England. Special prize for best two-mover, Mr. W.J. McArthur, South Australia. Special solution prize, Mr. Apperley, Victoria. The unsuccessful competitors comprised the following well-known problem composers: Messrs. T.D. Clarke, R. Arnold, and W. Thomas, Victoria; Mr. J.J. Glynn, New South Wales; Mr. T. Warnecki, South Australia; Rev. J. Jesperson, Denmark; Mr. F.J. Vane, New York; and Mr. A.F. Mackenzie, Jamaica. To have carried off the first prize in such company reflects great honour on Mr. Hodgson, and the excellence attained in this art in Victoria. Two of the prize sets are as under: No.7 – H.A. ELMS Prize Problem Tourney 1884

XABCDEFGHY 8r+Ntr-sN-+( 7zp-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+lvLk+-% 4-+-+Rzp-mK$ 3zpQ+-+p+-# 2Lvl-zP-+-+" 1+-+n+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (8x10)

Key 1.Qb7 threat 2.Qh7 if 1..BxQ;2.Rxf4+..KxB;3.Ng6 If 1.Rd7;2.Qc7..any;3.Q/B/N or R mates. No.8- T.D. CLARKE, of Merino, 1884 HM

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+P' 6-+-sn-+Ntr& 5+p+-tRP+-% 4-vLNmk-+-+$ 3zP-+-+pzP-# 2-+P+-zp-+" 1+-sn-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (10x7) Key 1.Nd2 threat 2.Nxf3+..Kc4;3.Rc5 If 1..Ne4;2.RxN=..Kd5;3.Ne7 or 1..Nb3..NxN+..Kc4;3.Rc5 If 1..f1=Q;2.Ne7!!..KxR;3.Bc3 (BM: N on c1 was a WN in the article.) This is the last problem tourney that was held in Victoria, but the race of composers is not extinct. Mr. W. Thomas, of Willabrina, has of late contributed some excellent specimens to the Leader, and has attained distinction in competitions in other colonies. The veteran, Mr. T.D. Clarke, of Merino, also continues to favour the chess public with his skill. The Leader lately published a problem of his in two moves, probably the most deceptive of its class that has ever appeared, which at the time puzzled a number of expert solvers. In connection with this composition it is a notable circumstance that it was sent in as a competing problem in a tourney started by the Leeds Mercury, and was actually disqualified on the mistaken assumption that it had second solution! This remarkable composition accompanies the present article. Mr. R. Mayston and Mr. J.G. Witton have also attained marked distinction in this department of chess. A fine specimen of the latter will be found below.

No.9 – R.L. HODGSON 1888 Prize Problem

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+N+-+( 7+-+L+-+p' 6-zp-zP-+pzP& 5+-zp-mkpwQ-% 4-+P+-+P+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2N+Pzp-+-zP" 1+R+K+nvL-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (13x8) Key 1.Rb5 threat 2.Bd4+..KxB;3.Qf4 If 1..Kxd6;2.Qg6+..Kc7;3.Qxb6 or 1..Ke4;2.Bd4..PxB;3.Bc6 (BM: This award in the 1888 Centenary Tourney was criticised by B.G. Laws who was the second place getter. He got compensation as his 3-er won best problem. As the problem editor of BCM his views carried a lot of weight and he had plenty of critical comments about judging in Australia in the years to come.) (BM: John Charlick’s prizewinning set in the first Australian problem tourney can be seen on the OzProblems website archives section in the article ‘A Selection of 19th Century Problemists’. Also comparison of the Hodgson/Laws problems is in the Australian Chess Problem History article.) No.10 – J.G. WITTON , Melbourne 1895

XABCDEFGHY 8Qvl-+-vL-+( 7+-zp-sn-+-' 6-sn-+p+-+& 5+p+lmkpzP-% 4R+-+-zp-+$ 3+-+R+L+-# 2-sNN+-+-+" 1+-+-+K+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (9x10)

Key 1.Ra6 waiting if 1..Ba7;2.Bg7+..Kd6;3.Qd8 or 1..c5/c6;2.QxB 1..Nb6d7;2.Bg6+..Nf6;3.BxN 1..b4;2.Nc4+..BxN/NxN;3.Bg6 1..Ng8;2.Re3+..PxR;3.Nd3 BCM October 1899 p.435 Otago Witness (N.Z.) 6th Tourney “The results of this competition for three movers have just come to hand. The judges, R.A. Cleland and O. Balk have adjudicated as follows:- 1st F.A.L. Kuskop, 2nd A.F. MacKenzie, HM F.A.L. Kuskop. The annexed positions are the two prize problems, whilst the third we give in notation.” First Prize. By. F.A. L. KUSKOP

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+N+-+( 7vL-+-+-+-' 6-+-+k+N+& 5+-+-+-zp-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3+l+-+-+-# 2-+-+L+-+" 1+Q+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (7x3) Key 1. Qh1 threat 2.Qd5 If 1..Kf5;2.Qe4+..KxQ;3.Nd6 or 1..Qd7;2.Qc6+..KxQ;3.Ne5 2..Kd8;3.Bb6 If 1. Kf7;2.Qh7+..KxN/Ke6;3.Qe7/Nf8 or 1..Bxc4;2.Qc6+..Kf7/Kf5;3.BxB/Ng7 Comments by B.G. Laws:- “A pleasing composition, but based on very familiar lines. The two sacrifices of the Queen are neat enough, but only in one variation is the mate economically accurate and one expects purity in a problem of this class. The immediate threatened mate is a serious drawback.”

Second Prize. By. A.F. MACKENZIE

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-vL( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+P+-sN-+& 5+p+-+PtRP% 4-+-mkP+P+$ 3sN-+-+-+K# 2P+-+P+-+" 1+nwQ-+-vl-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (13x4) Key:1.Rg6 waiting If 1..b4;2.Qc5+..KxQ;3.Nd7 or 1..Nd2;2.Qc3+..KxQ;3.Nd5 Or 1..Bh2;2.Nd5+..Kxe4/Be5;3.Qh1/Qe3 or 1..Nc3;2.QxB Or 1..NxN;2.Nd5+..Kxe4;3.Nc3 or 1..Ke5;2.Qc2..any;3.Nd5 Comments by B.G. Laws:- “The cramped position of the Rook, and its apparent uselessness where it now stands, is sufficient indication that it must make the key move. There are some clever points in this varied effort, and some of the variations are somewhat of a puzzling nature. It is a good problem, and notwithstanding it does not have pretensions to being a specimen of the best style of modern problem, and is a little unsatisfactory in the Pawn arrangement, we consider it a finer entry than the first prize problem.” (BM: MacKenzie was blind from 1896. F.A.L. Kuskop, an NZ-er, (1841-1938) went blind in 1893. As T. R. Dawson wrote in BCM 1939 p.92 these two men and H.F.W.Lane also blind, took many 1sts in problem composition in the early 1900s.)

Hon. Men. F.A.L. KUSKOP

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vL-+-+( 7+-zp-+-+-' 6K+-+-zp-zp& 5+-sN-mk-+-% 4-+-+N+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-zp-+Q+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x5) Key 1.Nd6 threat 2.Qe4+..KxN;3.Be7 If 1..KxN;2.Qe4..any;3.Be7 If 1..PxN;2.Qe4 or 1..Kf4;2.Nd3+..Ke3;3.Qe4 or 1..c6;2.Qe4+..KxN;3.Qd4 If 1..f5;2.Nxf5..KxN/Kf4;3.Qe4 or 1..Kd4;2.Qe4+..KxN/Kc3;3.Nb7/Bxf6 B.G. Laws comments:- “There is not sufficient show of variety here to allow of favourable comment. The key move is readily discerned, and the only obstacle is 1..f5 but this does not develop out of the ordinary. The author is lucky to receive a prize. If 1.Nc3?..Kf4!”

British Chess Magazine 1900-1904 BCM January 1900 p.1 (BM: One part of an amazing series by Willam Shelley Branch, May 1899/Oct 1900.) A Sketch of Chess History Before the Second Revolution (Cont.) One of the oldest Arabian problems extant is the following, attributed, probably correctly, to Adali Al Rumi, a famous player – and in those days famous players were also problem composers – of the first half of the tenth century. From his name we infer that he was a native of Rumelia, or some portion of what had been the Eastern Roman Empire. But nothing more is known of him than that he was of Arabian origin, and was considered the strongest player of his time. (The custom of always making White the winning party is quite a modern one)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-vl-+( 7+-+-+-mkq' 6-+-zpl+-+& 5zPL+-+-vLp% 4-zPnzPp+-zP$ 3+-+-tr-zP-# 2R+-sN-tR-+" 1+N+K+-+-! xabcdefghy BLACK to play and mate in eight moves (12x10) Black playing first:-1.Nb2+..RxN;2.Re1+..KxR;3.Rc1+..Ke2;4.Bg4+..Ke3 (The Bishop’s check can not be covered then);5.Re1+..Re2;6.RxR+..Kf4;7.Bh6+ (Bishops can jump)7..Kf5;8.Qg6++ The Queen commands (of the squares within the WK’s field) one only – that on which the key stands. Each Black Bishop within the same compass, one square only. The King, Rook, and Pawn, as with us today) It has been conjectured that this was the ending of an actual game won by Adali. It may have been, and if so it is the oldest “bit of Morphy” in existence. But it seems a shade too good to be true. And unless the position has been ‘reversed”, the Black Q on a White square shows, or seems to show, that the position did not spring from actual play. (BM: W.S. Branch (b.1854 d.1933) was a photographer and art dealer and a strong chess player and problemist with a love of chess history. His articles in BCM and the Chess Amateur are great reading. I believe BCM is available on CD and if bought will result in lots of hours spent reading these fine old monthly issues. This article is not Australian; it’s 820+ years too early. And where is Rumelia?)

BCM March 1900 p.115+ BCM 9th International Problem Tourney 1899 No.10 by Thomas Speakman of Balmain NSW and No.45 by W.J. McArthur of Port Adelaide were two of the 52 entries but they were eliminated in preliminary judging by the judges. P.F. Blake won 1st prize from Emil Palkoska. The Australian entries were inferior and outclassed according to the judges, C. Planck and B.G. Laws. The award took 8½ pages. BCM May 1900 p.210+ Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) 5th Tourney The award in the Two-move Tourney announced some months ago has just come to hand from Sydney. Mr. J.J. Glynn has decided that the two following positions should receive first and second prizes respectively. According to the conditions as issued there was to be but one prize and that was a generous 5 pound note, but if the judges thought proper to award other prize places, prizes would be given – the values of these were not publicly announced. The result of this competition is, and we are well within the mark in saying so, an unique one. Mr. Clarke is in our opinion rather lucky to find Mr. Glynn the judge in securing first honours, but after that Mr. MacKenzie sweeps the board. His five entries take second and third prizes (which appear to be a voluntary concession in the hands of the judge) and three honourable mentions – five problems with individual distinctions. With the hasty study we have made of the honoured problems, there forcibly impresses upon us the old conviction that the appointment of more than one judge produces a better balance than when the adjudication is left in the hands of a single expert. We cannot give the first honourable mention as the copy sent to us is evidently incorrect, but we give the rest of his problems. First Prize By T.D. Clarke, Victoria

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+rtr( 7+-+p+-+n' 6-+-mKp+-+& 5+-vL-+-+-% 4l+P+-+-+$ 3wQ-+-+R+-# 2R+-sn-+kzp" 1+-vl-+NsNq! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x11) Key 1.Rf8 threat 2.Qf3 or h3 If 1..BxQ/Bb3/PxNg1=N/Rg3 2.RxN/Qa8/Rf2!/QxR B.G.Laws:- “There is a something in this problem which gives pleasure, but on the other hand there is much which offends the taste of the educated. The key is good and pretty but what else? The judge referred to the economy of its construction and spoke well of this feature. Where he found it, puzzles us. According to our lights it is outrageously uneconomical. Not the slightest claim can be made to purity, and though there may be just a little said for unity, it is so little that

it can hardly be shown in the balance sheet. A good deal has been said in the papers concerning this prize winner, some regarding its honours as practically a presumption. We will not endorse such views cordially. Since the author is not to blame because the judge magnified its merits and looked at its defects through a concave glass. We may refer to this subject next month….” (BM: B.G.Laws is at his critical best here. The problem has a dual threat which is a fault and not much variety if one considers ways of defeating the dual threat. But from a solvers viewpoint a good key takes up a lot of slack. And the variation 1..PxN=N;2.Rf2 is a highlight. B.G. Laws comment about ‘offending the taste of the educated’ was unnecessary. I recall my judging difficulty in John Kellner’s 3rd Sunday Mirror Tourney when I came up against a waiter and a threat in two problems. I went for the waiter, the other two judges went for the threat problem which won.) Second Prize By A.F. MacKenzie, Jamaica

XABCDEFGHY 8L+-+r+-+( 7+-+-zp-+-' 6-zPR+RvLN+& 5wq-+k+rsn-% 4-+N+-+-+$ 3zpP+-+-+-# 2K+-vl-+P+" 1+-+-+-+Q! xabcdefghy Mate in two moves (11x8) Key 1.Qe1 waiter If 1..BxQ/Bc1/Re8 any/Rf5 any/Ne4/NxR/Qb5/Qb4/Qxb6 2.Ne3/QxQ/Nxe7/Qe5/QxN/QxN/QxB/Rc8/NxQ B.G.Laws:- “A clever piece of bi-move mechanism. The key is very good, but the majority of the mates are awkward, though some are pointed. The chief constructive feature is the skilful way duals are avoided. At first it appears several duals must exist, but the author has ingeniously worked them out.” (BM: Here we have a waiter and a threat problem but this time whilst B.G. Laws didn’t say it outright, A.F. MacKenzie was very unlucky. I get the feeling that awarding other prizes takes the heat off judging. Laws calls this a ‘voluntary concession’. T.D. Clarke got a five pound note and MacKenzie must have got a similar amount for his 2 nd, 3rd and 3 HMs. The composers are happy, J.J. Glynn not so.)

Third Prize A.F. MacKenzie

XABCDEFGHY 8-vL-+-+-+( 7tr-sn-mK-+-' 6-zP-+-+-+& 5tR-sN-mk-zp-% 4-zPp+-snP+$ 3+p+R+-wQ-# 2-+-zP-+-sN" 1wqL+ltr-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x10) Key 1.Rd8 waiter If 1..Rb7/RxR/Qb2/Qd4/Bc2/Be2/Re4/Bxg4;2.Na4/BxN/Na6/Nd7/Nf3/Qe3/Nd3/NxB B.G.Laws:- “The idea of this problem has a freshness seldom met now-adays. The four discovered mates are we believe novel. The key has its points, though the moving piece is pretty obvious. The reason why Rd7 will not answer is one of those niceties much appreciated by the solver.” 2nd H.M. A. F. MacKenzie

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-snN+-+( 7+n+L+-+K' 6-+-+-+-zp& 5+-+kzp-+r% 4N+-wq-+p+$ 3+P+-wQ-zP-# 2-+-tRP+-zp" 1+-+-tR-+r! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x9) Key 1.Qg1 threat 2.e4 if 1..Nd6/Nc5/Ke4/Qd3+;2.Nf6/Nc3/Qg2/e4 B.G.Laws:- “For a threat problem this has a capital key, and the variety produced is interesting, but we have our doubts as to the necessity of the Black Pawn at h2 and Black Rook h5. No doubt the advanced Rook’s Pawn has been used to accentuate the piquancy of the key-move – if so we do not think there is sufficient justification. The White King is usefully employed.”

Third H.M. A. F. MacKenzie

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+NwQ-+-+-' 6-zp-zP-sN-+& 5tr-+-+-+-% 4-tRPmk-+-+$ 3sn-+P+-zP-# 2PmK-tR-zP-+" 1vLLsn-tr-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (14x6) Key 1.Qg7 waiting If 1..Re2/Ra6/Rb5/Rd1/b5;2.Kxc1/Ne4/Kxa3/Nd5/Ne4 The BN position on a3 was assumed as there was a gap in the text. B.G. Laws:- “A strange composition, but ingenious in its artificial design. To carry out the idea with accuracy must have been a difficult task, and though it cannot be described as an elegant piece of work, it is one which is deserving of admiration in the quaintly devised discovered mates, and generally speaking is much more original than one usually finds to be the case in symmetrical arrangements in two movers.” (BM: Remarkable foursome by MacKenzie and I will try and find the missing 1 st HM.) BCM 1900 May p.211 Sydney Morning Herald Sixth International Problem Tourney (1) Competitors may each send in not more than two original problems in diagram, accompanied by full solution. White to play and mate in two moves. (2) Each problem to have a motto or device, and not the composer’s name. The name and address to be enclosed in a separate sealed envelope, with the like motto. The seal will not be broken till the awards are made. (3) Each problem to have but one author, not to have competed in any other tourney or been published before.(4) Problems to be addressed to the Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, and reach the office by December 1st next. The prize offered for the problem which the judge Mr. J.J. Glynn, of Ryde, deems best is five guineas, and should he recommend it, two special prizes will also be given. (BM: Of course postmarks indicate the composer but can’t be helped.) Otago Witness Seventh Problem Tourney The judges, R.A. Cleland and O. Balk, in this two-move competition have made their award. First prize, S.S. Blackburne, N.Z.; second, F.A.L. Kuskop, N.Z.; third S.S. Blackburne; hon. Men., F.A.L. Kuskop, A.F. MacKenzie and C.E. Lindmark. We append the two first mentioned problems, and specially congratulate Mr. S.S. Blackburne on his success. His problem is of its class a very good one. The second prize problem we do not think will stand a stern test on the head of originality.

First prize S.S. Blackburne

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+R+-+( 7zpL+-sN-+-' 6-vl-+pwQn+& 5vL-+-+-+-% 4RsN-+-+p+$ 3zP-+-mk-zP-# 2p+-+-+-+" 1trl+nmK-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x10) Key1.Qf5 waiting If 1..BxQ/PxQ/Kd4/Be4/Bd3/Bc2/Nb2 any/e5/Ng6 any/BxB/Bc5/Bd4/a6 2.Nxf5/Nxf5/Nc2/QxB/QxB/NxB/Qf2/Nd5/Qf4/Qc5/QxB/Nd5/BxB B.G. Laws:- “Of its class this is a very creditable performance. The key is really good for more than one reason, and the variety well managed and considerable. There are ten mating moves, and this is more than usual seeing that the Black King has a flight square. Economically the problem is a bit weak, but this may be said of most two-movers one comes across nowadays. The Black Rook in the corner, and the advanced a pawn, an old friend in devices, is awkward, but we can understand a composer in certain Tourneys anxious about duals. See other version by this same composer on another page.” Second Prize F.A.L.Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+nzpN+-' 6-+p+-+-vl& 5+-+-+-+R% 4-+-+k+-+$ 3snLtR-zP-tr-# 2-+-+-+P+" 1+-+K+-+Q! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x7)

Key 1.Rg5 waiting If 1..BxR/Rxe3/Rf3/RxR/Rxg2/Na3 any/e6 or e5/c5/Nd7 any 2.Qh7/Rh4/PxR/g4/QxR/ Bc2/Nd6/Bd5/Re5 B.G. Laws:- “A nice and delicate arrangement of a fairly worn theme. No fault can be detected in the construction, and the key and principal variations are ingeniously managed.” BCM July 1902 p.245 Otago Witness Eighth Problem Tourney The First prize for 3-ers was won by Emile Pradignat of France :K7/B5pl/3pPlPl/5PlP/lp2kp2/5N2/lP4Ql/n4B2 (10x6) Key f6 The Second Prize was won by W.A. Clarke of England:6bl/2N5/lP2plpl/blP3Bl/lp2NlpK/3k2Pl/P7/7Q (9x7) Key Nb5 Third Prize to J.J. Glynn, Ryde Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8Q+-tR-+l+( 7+-zp-+-+-' 6p+Nvl-+-mK& 5+-+k+-zP-% 4-+N+-zP-tR$ 3+-+p+p+-# 2-+-+-+p+" 1+-+L+-vLn! xabcdefghy Mate in three (10x9) Key 1.Qa7 threat 2.Ne3+..Ke6/e4/xc6;3.Bb3/Qd4/Ba4 If 1..Kxc6;2.Qb7+..KxQ;3.Na6 or 1..Kxc4;2.Qd4+..Kb5;3.Ba4 If 1..Ke6;2.f5+..Kf7/Kd5/Kxf5;3.Nxd6/Qc5/Nd4 If 1..Ke4;2.Bxf3+..KxB/Kf5;3.Qe3/Nd4 (BM: There are no comments by BGL and the 1st and 2nd prizewinners have been computer tested sound. BUT J.J. Glynn’s is unsound with the cook 1.Nc6e5+..Ke6;2.Qc8+..Kd5 & 3.Bxf3 or 1..c6;2.f5!..any;3.Qxc6. So bad luck for Glynn 113 years later. Now BGL advised on p.336 that a good way of checking tourney problems was to hold a solutions tourney at the same time! Clever, and those pre computer solving tourneys must have helped weed out faulty problems. It seemed that a very big French centenary tourney had awarded prizes with the winners being found faulty. There was no solutions tourney held for that event.)

Hon. Men. Arthur Charlick, South Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-vLn+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+L' 6-zp-+-+-sN& 5+-+-+-+-% 4p+PzP-zp-+$ 3wQ-+-vlk+P# 2-+-+-+n+" 1sN-+-+K+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (9x7) Key 1.Nf5 waiting If 1..b5;2.Nb3..PxN/other;3.Qa8/Nd2 or 1..N any;2.QxB+..PxQ;3.Nh4 If 1..Ne7;2.QxN..any;3.Qb7 or 1..Ke4;2.NxB+..Kxd4/Kf3;3.Nc2/NxN Hon. Men. T. Kinsella, Taranaki New Zealand

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+p+-+-+-' 6-zP-zp-zp-mK& 5+-+LmkN+p% 4-zP-tRp+P+$ 3+-+-trp+-# 2-+-+P+-zP" 1+-wQ-+-vln! xabcdefghy Mate in three (10x10) Key 1.Nh4 threat 2.Ng5+..KxR;3.Qc4 If 1..Rc3;2.Qf4+..KxQ/KxR;3.Rxe4/Qxe4 If 1..Rxe2;2.Nxf3+..PxN;3.Qf4 or 1..Rd3;2.Rxc4+..KxB;3.Qc4 If 1..KxR;2.Qc4+..Ke5;3.Ng6 or 1..f5;2.Ng6+..KxR/Kf6;3.Qc4/g5

Hon Men. F.A.L. Kuskop. Wellington New Zealand

XABCDEFGHY 8-+K+-+-vl( 7vL-+-+p+-' 6-+-zp-zPp+& 5+-+-+-zP-% 4-+-zpk+Psn$ 3+-+NsN-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-wQ-+L+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (9x7) Key 1.Nd5 threat 2.Nd5b4 & 3.Qf4 If 1..Kxd5;2.Qc6+..KxQ/Ke6;3.Nb4/Qe4 If 1..Kf3;2.Qf4 or 1..Bxf6;2.NxB+..Kf3;3.Qf4 or 1..Bg7;2.Nd5b4..Ng2/else;3.BxN/Qf4 If 1..Nf3;2.Qe3+!..PxQ/KxN;3.Nc3/Nb4 or 1..N else;2.Bg2+..KxNd3;3.Nf4 Two problems of A.F. MacKenzie also got HMs. BCM July 1902 p.336 announced the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) eighth International tourney for 2-ers. Composers could send any number of problems different to the 1900 Tourney. p.334 gave the results of the Seventh SMH tourney. Judge Glynn gave the £5/5/0 to Arthur Charlick of SA. No diagrams. W.S. King of NZ and A.F. MacKenzie won HM’s. BCM Feb.1903 p.93 An announcement of the Commonwealth International Problem Tourney by the Melbourne Leader of the 6th Tourney held by the Leader. Judges were F.K. Esling, J.G. Witton and F.J. Young ‘with the solvers’. System of Judging will be that of 100 points, made up in certain proportions. Following are the conditions (1) the competition will be open to the world, and will be in four sections. First section, sets of direct mate problems, each set to consist of one position in two moves and one in three moves; second section, sui mates in two moves; third section, ending studies; fourth section eccentricities. (2) No competitor will be allowed to enter more than two sets in the first section, or more than two sets in each of the second, third, and fourth sections. (3) Compositions for every section must be original and hitherto unpublished. (4) Every competing position must be plainly depicted on a diagram, with the position repeated at the foot of the diagram in legible and well understood notation, accompanied by the full solution. (5) Each competing position should bear a distinguishing motto, and each entry should be accompanied by a sealed envelope bearing the motto, and containing the name and address of the competitor. (6) Joint authorship is not permitted. (7) All positions entered will be published. (8) Should any position be disqualified the next in order will take its place. (9) Competing ending studies should be composed so that the point be developed on the motif, or main-play be accomplished within ten moves at the outside. (10) Should no valid objection be taken to the problems

crowned by the judges’ award before the expiration of three months from the date of the publication of the award, the prizes will become the absolute property of the winners. (11) Letters containing entries are to be superscribed “Commonwealth International Problem Tourney of the Leader, must be received on or before April 30th, 1903, and must be addressed to Mr. H.E. Grant, Melbourne Chess Club, Melbourne Stock Exchange, 330, Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Prizes:- First section (direct mates), first prize set £7 7s; second prize set,£3 3s. Second section (sui-mates), best problem £1 1s; Third section (ending studies), best position £2 2s. Fourth section (eccentricities), the ‘Freelance’ prize £1 1s. Special prizes: Best three-move problem contributed by an Australian composer, £1s; best two-move problem contributed by an Australian composer 10s 6d. Solution tourney: first prize £1 1s., and the other prizes in chess books. (BM: This was a find and I knew nothing about it. A ‘biggie’ without doubt. Note also there must be a 5th Leader Tourney between Burns article in 1896 and this one. See BCM 1905 p.248/285 for awards) BCM August 1903 p.365 The Sydney Morning Herald eighth tourney results gave A.F. MacKenzie winning the 2-er award and announcing the 9th Tourney and p.434 gave more results from the 8th tourney. MacKenzie got the second prize, the 3rd went to F. Lazard of Paris and E.S. Campling of England A. Charlick of Australia and Max Feigl of Vienna got HMs. No problems were diagrammed. BCM Dec. 1903 p.500 The Café de la Regence, Paris, has been decorated in the style of Louis XVI, in white and gold, and improved in accommodation and other respects. It will be, as of yore, the principal resort of chess players who do not belong to clubs, and even of some who do. To inaugurate the new chess room, under the auspices of a new club L’Union Amicale des Joneurs d’echecs, M. Taubenhaus recently gave a simultaneous play exhibition of 22 games, and in less than three hours he won 15 of them, drew 2, and lost 5. There is also an interesting match in progress at the Café between Messrs Janowski and Taubenhaus. There are to be ten games played, at the rate of 20 moves an hour, and the first game, a Ruy Lopez, was won by M. Janowski. (BM: The late Ken Whyld wrote a fine article on the Café de la Regence in 1993 and he sent it out as a Christmas present to his friends. It was reprinted in ‘Chess Christmas’ 2006 by Moravian Chess a tribute to Ken. Sadly the Café had lost its chess importance. There is also in ‘Chess Christmas’ a good article by J.W. Allen called ‘The Development of the Chess Problem’ which appeared in BCM 1903/4.) BCM July 1904 p.295 The SMH 10th 2-er tourney conditions were announced. Similar to previous but this time any number of originals could be sent. £5 5s first prize plus two others if judge Glynn recommends. There were no diagrams given and BCM Problem Column was a ‘traffic jam’ of articles, tournaments and oddities. The 9th Sydney Morning Herald Tourney winners were given in forsythe but diagrammed below:-

1st Prize 9th Tourney Arthur Charlick of South Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-vL-sN-+( 7+-zp-snR+-' 6-+-zp-+P+& 5+p+-mk-trp% 4-wQ-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+n# 2-+-tR-+-+" 1vl-sN-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x9) Key 1.Qh4 threat 2.Qe1 If 1..Rg4/Rf5/Nh3 any/Nf5/Nd5/Bd4/d5 2.QxN/RxN/Qf4/Bf6/Nd3/QxB/Bxc7 Second Prize W.J. Smith of NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-mK-+l+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-tR-+-+& 5+N+pmk-sNn% 4-+-+L+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-tR-+-zp-+" 1vL-wQr+rsn-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x8) Key 1.Rf6 threat 2. Rf5 If 1.KxR/Nh5 any/Be6 or h7/PxB .2.Rxf2/Qf4/RxB/Re6/Rd2 P.F. Blake of England won a 2nd special prize:- His problem seems better than the 2nd prizewinner. As for the First prize winner, a good debate could be had about threat vs waiters. Charlick’s key and threat are excellent. Blake’s key and variety likewise.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-wQ-mKpzp-' 6N+-+-+P+& 5+-+k+-+-% 4n+-tr-+-+$ 3+-+p+P+N# 2-+lzP-+L+" 1vL-tR-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x7) Key 1.Qc8 waiting If 1..Ke5/Re4/Rf4/Rg4/Rh4/Rc4/Rb4/Bany/N any/P any 2.f4/PxR/NxR/ PxR/f4/Qd7/NxR/Qf5/Qc5/Qe6

British Chess Magazine 1905-1909 BCM March 1905 No.1944 F.A.L. Kuskop. Wellington NZ

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sn-+L+( 7+-+-+-+l' 6-+N+-+pzp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+kzp-+$ 3+-+R+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-mKQ+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two (5x6) Key 1.Qh5 threat 2.Qd5 If 1..PxQ/KxR/f3;2.BxB/Qf3/Qxf3 BCM April 1905 No.1953 F.A. L. Kuskop. Wellington NZ

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-zp-+-+-' 6-+-+N+-mK& 5+-+k+P+-% 4Q+N+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three (5x2) Key 1.Ne5 threat 2.Qd4 If 1..KxN;2.Qd4+..Kxf5;3.Ng7 or 1..c6;2.Qd4 If 1..Kd6;2.Qd4+..Ke7;3.Qd8 or 1..c5;2.Nf7..c4;3.Qa8

BCM May 1905 Seventh American Congress Tourney A. Charlick S.A. 1st HM

XABCDEFGHY 8-vl-+-+-+( 7+QsNp+-+-' 6-+-tr-+-+& 5+-+P+-+R% 4nzp-+k+-+$ 3+-zPn+R+P# 2-+-+-+-mK" 1+-+-+-+L! xabcdefghy White mates in two (9x7) Key 1.Ne6 threat 2.Rg3 If 1..RxN+/Rc6+/Nf2/PxN/Ne5;2.d6/Rg3/Qxb4/Qh8/Ng5 BCM June 1905 p.248 The Leader Commonwealth International Problem Tourney (see BCM Feb. 1903). The Set awards went to Max Feigl of Vienna and Emile Pradignat 2nd. Max Feigl also won the Sui-mate section and Australian composers won HMs:1st HM Dr. J.J. O’Keefe, Kogarah NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wQL+-+( 7+-+-+p+-' 6-+-+-zPp+& 5+-mk-mKpzP-% 4-+-+-vL-+$ 3wq-+P+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+R+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Self mate in two (8x5) Key 1.Rb8 waiting If 1..Qa4/b4/a1/b2/c3+/xd3;2.Qd4+..QxQ; If 1..Qa7/a5;2.Qc7+ etc If 1..Qa8/a2/b3;2.Qd5+ etc; If 1..Qc1;2.Be3+ etc.

2nd HM Arthur Charlick, Rose Park SA

XABCDEFGHY 8-+R+-+-sn( 7vLQvlPzP-zp-' 6p+-+K+-+& 5zP-+-+p+-% 4ptrk+-sN-zp$ 3+l+-zp-+q# 2-+pzPP+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Self mate in two (10x13) Key 1.Ng6 If 1..Rb6+;2.Qc6+.. RxQ; If 1..Ba2;2.Qxb4+..KxQ; If 1..Qh1/g2;2.Qd5+ etc If 1..NxN;2.Qe4+..PxQ; If 1..RxQ;2.d3+..Kc3; If 1..Qg3/h2;2.Ne5+..QxN In the Miniature Section Arthur Charlick won 1st prize and 1st HM. 1st Prize

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+K+-' 6-+-sN-+-+& 5+-+-+-+L% 4p+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+k+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1wQ-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (5x2) Key 1.Nb5 threat 2.Qc3+..Ke4;3.Qf3 If 1..Kc4;2.Be2+..Kd5/Kb3/Kb4;3.Qh1/Qb2/Qc3; If 1..Kc2;2.Qa3..Kb1/d2;3.Bg6/Qc3; If 1..a3;2.Qc3+..Ke4;3.Qf3 If 1..Ke5/e4;2.Qe1+..Kd5/f5/d3;3.Qe6Qg4/Qe2

1st HM and special prize A Charlick

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-vL-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-zp-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+K% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-sNp+-+-# 2-+-+-mk-+" 1+-+-+-+Q! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x3) Key 1.Bg7 threat 2.Kg4 & 3.Bd4 If 1..Ke3;2.Qg2..Kf4/b5;3.Nd5 If 1..d2;2.Bd4+..Kg3;3.Ne2;If 1..Kg3;2.Qf1..any;3.Be5; If 1..b5;2.Kg4..Ke3/other;3.Qe1/Bd4 2nd HM F. Kay Kent Town S.A.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+L' 6-+-+-+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+QvL-mk-+$ 3+-+-+P+-# 2-+-mK-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three (5x2) Key 1.Ke1 If 1.Kf5;2.Bg7..Kg5;3.Qg4 or 1..Kg5;2.Bg7..K any;3.Qg4 or 1..Kg3;2.Be5+..Kh3/Kg2;3.Qg4/Qf1 If 1..KxP;2.Be5..Ke3/Kg2;3.Qe2/Qf1 or 1..Kg3;2.Be5+..KxP/Kg2;3.Qe2/Qf1; If 1..g5;2.Kf2..g5;3.Bf6 B.G. Laws wrote: “There was an eccentricity Section to which we must defer making reference.” Pity this has to be dug out of the Leader one day.

BCM July 1905 p.251/286 The Sydney Morning Herald Tenth Problem Tourney award saw A.F. MacKenzie win the 1st prize for 2-ers. F. Lazard of Paris won a Special Prize and a Second Special was won by MacKenzie with HMs to P.F. Blake of Liverpool, F. Robinson of Brisbane. W.J. Smith of Newtown NSW and A. Charlick of Rose Park SA. There are no diagrams or details on the Australian problems but as MacKenzie died on 23 June this must be one of his last first prizes and so it is given:1st Prize A.F.MacKenzie

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-snlvl-+( 7wQ-zpr+pzp-' 6L+-+-+-+& 5zp-zPP+-+p% 4K+Nmk-+-tr$ 3+RsN-tRPzP-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1vL-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x11) Key 1.Na3 threat 2.Nc2 If 1..KxR+/Rxd5+/Rh2/Rd6+ 2.Ne4/cNb5/Re4/c6 Judge Glynn wrote this was the best 2-er he had ever seen. HM F. Robinson, Brisbane

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+Q+-+-vL-' 6-+-zp-+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-vlk+N+-+$ 3+N+-+-+-# 2R+-+P+-mK" 1+n+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x4) Key 1.Bc3 waiting. If 1..d5/BxB/Bc5/NxB/KxN;2.QxB/Nxd6/Na5/eNd2/Qd5

HM. W.J. Smith, Newtown, NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+l+-tR-+( 7+-sN-+-vl-' 6-+-wQnsnpzp& 5+-+-+N+-% 4-+-+k+L+$ 3mK-+-zP-+r# 2-+-+-+P+" 1+-+-tR-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x8) Key 1.Be2 threat 2.Bd3 If 1..RxP+/Ba6/Nc5/KxN/Nf4/Nd5; 2.Bd3/QxN/Qf4/Qd5/Qxf4/QxN BCM March 1906 p.140 No.2016 Arthur Charlick. S. Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wQK+-+( 7+-+-+-+p' 6-+-+P+-+& 5+-+-mk-+P% 4P+P+-sN-+$ 3+-+-+-+p# 2-+-zPp+-+" 1+L+-+-sn-! xabcdefghy Mate in Three (9x5) Key 1.Kd7 threat 2.Qg5+..Kd4;3.Qd5 If 1..KxN;2.Qh4+..Ke5;3.d4 If 1..Kd4;2.Qa5..Kxc4;3.Qc3 or 1..Ph6;2.Qh4..Kd4/Nf3;3.Nd3/Ng6 If 1..Nf3;2.Nxe2..any;3.Qh8 For those interested in chess problem argument the Cudmore/Laws battle started in May p.181. It ended in a victory for Laws at court. It was a BCM Title page matter and called “An Unwarrantable Calumny”. Lasker’s Chess Magazine was implicated.

BCM May 1906 p.228 No.2023 Arthur Charlick. S. Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+L+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5tR-+-sNp+-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3vL-zpp+-+r# 2-+-+-+-vl" 1mK-wQ-+-sN-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x6) Key 1.Qg5 waiting If 1..c2/d3/f4/Rg3/Rf3/Re3/Rh4/BxNg1/Bg3/Bf4/BxNe5 2.Bb1/Ne2/Ra4/Qf4/gNxR/Qd8/Nf3/Qf4/Nf3/QxB/Ra4 BCM 1905/6 12th BCM Tourney for 3-move Miniatures (11men max). (BM: Five Australian & NZ composers entered but won no prizes.) (BM: The following problems are out of chronology as tourney problems appeared with only a motto, no name and the name was given after the award.) BCM May 1904 No.1867 “The Light Brigade” T.P. No.51. J.J.O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+pzp-' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-zP-zP-sN-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3+Q+L+-+-# 2-+-+-zP-+" 1mK-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (7x4)

Key 1.Bg6 waiting If 1..Kxc4;2.Bxf7..any;3.Ne6 or 1..Kxe5;2.Qc3+.Kd5/f4;3.Be4/Qg3 Or 1..Pxg6;2.f4! zugswang..Kc5;3.Ne6 or 1..f6;2.Ne6..Kxe5;3.f4 or 1..f5;2.F4 etc Cook 1.Qc4+..Kxe5;2.Qe4+..Kf6;3.Nh7 (BM: Great pity. How to fix?) BCM July 1904 No.1891 “Winning Grace” T.P. No.96 A. Charlick

ABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+p+-+-' 6R+-+-+-+& 5+Nmk-zp-+-% 4-zp-+-+-+$ 3+p+-+-+-# 2-mK-zP-+-+" 1+-+Q+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x5) Key 1.Qe2 waiting If 1..d5;2.d3 ..d4/e4/KxN;3.Qxe5/d4/d4. 2.Nc7 also works. If 1..d6;2.Nxd6..any;3.Qc4 or 1..Kd4;2.Kxb3..e4/Kc5;3.Qh5/Qc4 or 1..e5;2.Rd6..e3;3.d4 Cooked by 1.Kxb3..e4;2.Rd6..any;3.Qh5 or 1..KxN;2.Qe2+..Kc5;3.Qc4 or 1..Kd5; 2.Qe2..e4/c5;3.Qh5/Qc4 or 1..d6/d5;2.Qc2+..KxN/Kd5;3.Qc4 or Qc6 if d5. BCM December 1904 No. 1923 “Kia Ora” T.P. 119 F.A. L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+l+-+-zp-' 6p+psN-+K+& 5+-+-+Q+-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2L+-zP-+-+" 1+-+-+-+n! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x6) Key.1.Qb1 threat 2.Qb2+..Kd3/d5;3.Bc4/Ne4 or NxB If 1..Kc5;2.Nf5..any;3.d4 or 1..Ke5;2.Qb4..any;3.Nf7

BCM December 1904 No.1924 “Taihoa” T.P. No.120 F.A.L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+p+-' 6-+-mk-mK-+& 5+PsNN+-zp-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-# 2-+-+P+-+" 1+-+-+Q+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (7x3) Key 1.Qb1 waiting If 1..Kxc5;2.Qb4+..Kxd5;3.e4 or 1..Kxd5;2.Na6..Kc4/d4/d6;3.Qd3 If 1..g4;2.e5..Kxc5;3.Qb4 BCM December 1904 No.1925 “Tena Koe” T.P. No. 121 F.A.L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+N+-+( 7+-+k+-+-' 6K+NzP-+-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-wQ-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x2) Key 1.Qf4 waiting If 1..Kxe8 or c6;2.Qf5..c4;3.d7/Qb5 or 1..Ke3;2.Nb8..any;3.Nb7

BCM June 1904 “The Stranger” T.P. No.58. E.G. Verney. Dyaney Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+K' 6-+-+k+-+& 5+-+-+N+-% 4L+-+-+-vl$ 3+-+-sN-+p# 2l+-zp-+-tr" 1wQ-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x6) Key 1.Ng4 threat 2.Qe5+..Kf7;3.Qe8 If 1..Kxf5;2.Qe5+..KxN;3.Bd1 If 1..Kf7;2.Qg7+..Ke6;3.Qd7 or 1..Kd5;2.Qe5+..Kc4;3.Qd4 or 1..Bf6/g3;2.Qxf6+..Kd5;3.Qc6. (BM: This problem was undiagrammed.) BCM June 1904 “Despair” T.P. No.59 E.G. Verney. Dyaney Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sN-+-+( 7vl-+R+-+-' 6RvL-+-+-mk& 5+-+-+p+p% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-sN-+-# 2-+-+-mK-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (6x4) Key 1.Kg3 waiting If 1..f4+/h4+;2.Kh4..Kg6;3.BxBa7/Rxb6 Or 1..Kg5;2.Rg7+..Kf6/h6;3.Bd4/BxB or 1..Bb8+;2.Bc7+..Kg5;3.Rg7 Or 1..Kg6;2.Bxa7+..Kg5;3.Rg7 (BM: Undiagrammed and with 3 checks seems worthy of one.)

BCM June 1904 “Here’s Luck” No.1874 T.P. No. 60 E.G. Verney. Dyaney Australia

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+Q+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-zPpsN-+-+& 5+-mkp+-+-% 4-+-+-zP-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+L+RmKR+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (8x3) Key 1.Rd4 waiting If 1..KxR;2.Qe3+!..KxQ;3.Nf5 or 1..KxN;2.Qf8+..Kd7/e6;3.Bf5 I..Kxb6;2.Qb8+..Ka6/a5;3.Ra4/Qa7 BCM July 1904 “Faded Flower” T.P. No.76 Geo. H. Langham. Sydney

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+pmk-+-zP& 5mK-+-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-+N+-+Q# 2-+-zP-+-+" 1+-+-+-+L! xabcdefghy Mate in three (7x2) Key 1.Nc5 waiting If 1..Ke5;2.Qg3+..Kf6/d4;3.Qg7/Qc3; If 1..Ke7;2.Qe6+..Kd8/f8;3.Qd7/Nd7 or 1..Kc7;2.Qd7+..Kb8;3.Qb7 Or 1..Kxc5;2.Qa3+..Kd4;3.Qc3 or 2.e5..any;3.Qc3 (BM: undiagrammed.)

BCM July 1904 “Dreadnaught” T.P. No. 77 Geo. H. Langham. Sydney

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+N+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+p+-+& 5+Q+-+p+-% 4p+pmk-+-mK$ 3zp-+-+-+-# 2-+-zP-+-+" 1+-sN-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in Three (5x6) Key 1.Kg3 threat 2.Kf4 & 3.Qe5 If 1..f4+;2.Kxf4..e5+;3.Qxe5 If 1..e5;2.Qb6+..Kd5/e4;3.Nf6 or 1..Ke4;2.Qxc4+..Ke5;3.Nd3 If 1..c3;2.Ne2+..Ke4;3.Nd6 or f6 or 1..a2;2.Kf4..c6/other;3.Ne2/Qe5 BCM 1906 p.313/344 Sydney Morning Herald 11th Tourney Awards (87 problems). First Prize J.D. Williams Port Pirie S.A.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+Q+-' 6-vL-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+p+-vlL# 2-sNPzP-+r+" 1tRK+-mk-sNR! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x4) Key 1.Qh5 threat 2.Qd1 If 1..Pxc2+/Re2/Rxd2,Kf1/Kxd2; 2.Kxc2/Nf3/Ne2/Qa5 B.G. Laws:- “The first prizewinning problem does not meet with enthusiastic appreciation in this country, and for ourselves we are inclined to think the judge has been tickled by a common-place thought and unusual style, which, if they are to have any influence in the two move art, must considerably revolutionise it, if any importance is to be attached to schemes which though metrically effective are to count as artistic achievements.”

There were two special prizes given by Judge J.J. Glynn. Here is F.Lazard’s of Paris:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+l+-+K+( 7+-+rmk-sNR' 6-+n+Nzp-+& 5+-zP-zp-+L% 4-+-+-+-vL$ 3+-+p+-+-# 2-+-+-+-wq" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x8) Key 1.Ng5 threat 2.gNe6 If 1..PxN/Qa2+/Kd8/Rd8+/f5; 2.Bxg5/gNe6/gNe6/Ne8/Nh3! And the other special prizewinner is by P.F. Blake of Liverpool UK:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-wq-+( 7+-sn-+-+-' 6-+-+-+p+& 5zp-vLkzP-tRl% 4N+psN-+L+$ 3+-+-+p+-# 2-+-wQ-+-zp" 1+-+KtR-vl-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x11) Key 1.Bd7 threat 2.Bc6 If 1..Nc7 any/Qf6/Qe8/Qxc5/Qd6/BxNd4/f2+/c3 2.Be6/PxQ/e6/Nc8/PxQ/QxB/Nf3/Qa2 So another tough judging decision for J.J. Glynn. G.H. Langham now of Toowoomba Qld and F. Dwynne of Dudley won HMs. No positions given in BCM. In BCM December 1906 p.534, Laws had a vigorous correspondence. Here’s one:- “W.P. –We would not take notice of your silly statement that the composers you mention were capable of composing only ‘puerile’ work. The composers you mention, Berger, Bayer, Healey, Loyd, Shinkman and Carpenter as always being above pandering to the public not by associating their names with ‘pot-boilers’ prove that you have a lot to learn. We should not deal with this matter, here, but it is an interesting subject. You may be correct in saying there is much foisted upon the

solver which is of little value and gives small satisfaction, but it must not be forgotten that the finest artist is not always attuned to his best capabilities. There are times when he is in a happy mood, at others when profundity is his temporary forte, and at others a severe exactitude, subserviating artistic charm inexorably precludes indulgences of folly and perversion.” Earlier pages contain many of his judging criticisms. BCM August 1907 p.391 Sydney Morning Herald 12th Tourney Prizes 1st Prize A. Charlick. Rose Park S.A.

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+p' 6-+pzp-+lzP& 5tR-+-vL-wQ-% 4-zp-+k+-tr$ 3+-+p+-+-# 2L+-+-+P+" 1+-+nvlN+n! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x11) Key 1.Bc3 waiting If 1..PxB/c5/d5/Bf7/Rg4/Rf4/Ng3/NxB/b3/Bf2/BxB/Bd2 2.Ra4/Bd5/QxR/Qf5/QxR/Qe7/QxR!/Qe3/Ra4/Nd2/QxR/NxB B.G. Laws:- “A very good two-er, in a popular style. The key is nicely adapted, and the removal of the Bishop from an en pris position is not a great fault since a mate is ready is the Bishop is captured by the d pawn. There is no attempt at purity but several of the mates are interesting.”

Charlick also won the Special Prize and the diagram is below.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+n+( 7+-+-+-+p' 6R+-+-+-vl& 5+-+p+k+N% 4-+-+p+-+$ 3+-+-+-+P# 2p+-zpL+-sn" 1vL-+K+NwQ-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x9) Key 1. Bc4 waiting If 1..PxB/d4/e3/Ng4/Nf6/Bf8/Bf4;2.Qc5/Be6/Bd3/Qg4/RxN/Ne3/Ng7 B.G. Laws:- “It seems curious the composer did not use a Black Bishop on h7 instead of the Pawn. It would have had the additional effect of creating a variation quite as good as some of the others in the problem”. He further commented:- “There is very little here but what has been illustrated before. The key is good, but that is part and parcel of the scheme. (BM: Both problems were undiagrammed in BCM.) B.G. Laws commented on the judging:We have skimmed the award of Mr. F.J. Young of Hobart, and feel disappointed. We are not disposed to condemn his judgement, but feel that it should be pointed out that he seems to have peculiar notions. For instance, he says the “prize” problem which we quote above is a “semi-block”. There is no halving matters. It is a block problem pure and simple. As for the “first prize special,” the judge seems to have quaint ideas, stating that he considers it by the same author as the “prize” problem, as it has a “marked resemblance,” and congratulates him for the production of two excellent positions. This is really an extraordinary conclusion. He further states that the White King is useful only to stop a cook by 1.Bd4. We wonder why it did not occur to him that the Pawn ‘checking by promotion’ had nothing to do with the White King, and that the White King was wanted where it is, simply to block the advanced d pawn. As a matter of fact, the Black a pawn could be at b3 with the White Bishop on b2. We cannot help observing this problem is a weak version of several other two-movers, and in the hands of some judges would have been ruled out on originality test. Another remarkable ruling by Mr. Young is that in a threat two-mover (given third honourable mention) – namely, a two-er by Mr. P.F. Blake, is damaged by the drawback that the threatened mate answers to no fewer than seventeen (we think this should read sixteen) possible moves of Black. This is almost astounding. Is Mr. Young setting a new code? If in a two-mover the key menaces a certain mate, it surely cannot matter how many moves Black may have to ignore that attempt to give him his quietus, so long as there are other features which create stirring interest. Mr. Young may be a special adept in the theory of chess openings, but we cannot regard him as an expert in problem lore, since there are other points in his award which are open to criticism. We may also add that we have before us a composition entered in this tourney

which must have been among the forty-two which Mr. Young “summarily dismissed as not being up to tourney form,” according to his report, but which is unmistakably superior to several of the positions he discusses as being worthy of final consideration. This is one more instance where the one man judge system is of doubtful value, especially when that adjudicator is not a seasoned composer himself. BCM August 1907, p.396 No.2158 F.T. Hawes. Sydney

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-mK-+-+( 7+-+p+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+N% 4-+L+kvLp+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2Q+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+l! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (5x4) Key 1.Bg8 threat 2.Qd5 If 1..Kf5/Kf3/Kd3;2.Bh7/Bd5/Qc4 B.G. Laws:- “No.2158 was composed recently, on the twenty-first anniversary of the author’s birthday. It is a work which shows promise, and we should like to have further specimens. A very creditable effort, the key is good and the whole arrangement neat.” On p.437 Laws commented on the decline in production by the great American composers Loyd and Shinkman but he liked the latest by one F.M. Teed which is nice:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+p+P+-% 4-+-+-zP-+$ 3+N+-+P+-# 2-+-+p+-+" 1+-tRnmk-mK-! xabcdefghy White mates in five moves. (6x4) Key 1.f6..d4;2.f5..d3;3.f4..d2;4.Nd4..PxR=any;5.Nf3

BCM 13th Tourney 1908. 12-man two-ers. J.J. Glynn won an honourable mention with his No.96; the Judges C. Planck and A.C. White said of No.96:- “Fair only. At first glance one may expect to find Pcx6 met by BxP mate; but as soon as this is seen to be impracticable the out of the way position of the Bishop forces the choice of key move, for 1.Bh4 is not really a good try. The solvers only reward is the double play after the Pawn at d5.” The tournament prizewinners were Marin (Spain), Dobbs (USA), Nield and Daniel (UK). BCM Sept. 1907 p.443 No.2164 T.P. No.96 “Fairy Fancy” J.J. Glynn. NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sN-+-+( 7+-zp-vL-+-' 6-+-zp-+-+& 5+-mkp+-+R% 4K+N+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+Q+-+-+" 1+-+-+n+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x5) Key 1.Bg5 waiting If 1..N any/c6/Kd4/d4;2 Be3/Ne6/Ne6/Be7

BCM July 1907 p.347 No.2138 T.P. No.85 “Solly” J.D. Williams. Vic.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-mK-+-+-' 6-+-+-+P+& 5+pmk-+p+-% 4-+-zpPzp-+$ 3zPP+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+Q+" 1sn-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x6) Key 1.QWe2 threat 2.b4. If 1..N any/d3/b4; 2.Qc2/Qe3/Qc4 The judges deemed this problem not of sufficient standard and it was culled. BCM July 1907 p.347 No.2141 T.P. No.85 “Merry Moments” Arthur Charlick S.A.

XABCDEFGHY 8R+-+-+-+( 7+-+Q+-+N' 6-+-+r+Pmk& 5+-+-+-tR-% 4-+-+p+-+$ 3+-+-+L+-# 2lvl-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x5) Key 1.g7 threat 2. P=N If 1..Bxg7/R any/KxN;2.QxB/Qh3/Rh8 The Judges deemed this problem not of sufficient standard and it was culled.

BCM June 1908 p.284 Football and Field Half Yearly Competition, Judge E.J. Winterwood. 1st Prize A Charlick

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+-+-+( 7vL-+-+p+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+ptRN+-zp-% 4-+Pmkn+Q+$ 3+-+-tR-+-# 2-+Pvl-+-+" 1+n+-+-+l! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x8) Key 1.Nf4 threat 2.Rd3 If 1..BxR/KxR/Nf2+/NxR+/bxc; 2. Ne2/Re5 /Rc6/ Ng2!/Rd5 Charlick also won the 3-er prize:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+l+-+-' 6-zP-+P+-zP& 5+p+Nmk-+-% 4-+-zp-+-vL$ 3+-+L+-+-# 2-zPK+-+-zp" 1wQ-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (9x5) Key 1.Qa8 threat 2.Bg3+..KxP;3.Qg8 If 1..Kd6;2.Bg3+..Kc5;3.b4 or 1..KxP;2.Nf4+..Ke4;3.Qb8 or 2..Kd6/Kf7;3.Qd4/Bc4 If 1..Bc6;2.QxB..any;3.Bf6 or 1..P=N;2.Nf4..any;3.Qb8 If 1..P=Q;2.Bg3+..KxP;3.Qg8

BCM p.284 also featured Charles W. Benbow’s obituary. Benbow Born Feb 1842, Died 9/3/08 had a fine chess career in England before moving to NZ. The problem is from the Norwich Mercury n.d. Laws thought it a good one.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7zp-zp-+-vL-' 6P+PsNP+-+& 5+Pmk-+-+-% 4-+N+pzp-+$ 3zP-+-+-+-# 2-+-zPL+-+" 1+-tRK+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four (12x5) Key 1.Ne8 If 1..Kd4;2.Nxc7+..Kc5;3.Bf3..P any;4.d4 If 1..Kxb5;2.Nb2+..Ka5/b6;3.Be5..any;4.Bxc7 or 1..f3;2.Nxc7..PxB+;3.Ke1..e3;4.d4 or 2…f2;3.Bf1!..e3;4.d4 BCM April 1909 p.190 No.2360 F.T. Hawes. Ryde NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-tR( 7+-zppmk-+n' 6-+-+-+p+& 5+-zPP+-zPL% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+Q# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (7x5) Key 1.Qf5 waiting If 1..PxQ/Nf8/N else/PxB/d6/c6;2.Re8/QxN/Qf6/QxN/Qe6/d6

BCM June 1909 p.271 Melbourne Leader “task” 2-er tourney with e.p. key First Prize Dr. J.J. O’Keefe.Kogarah NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-vl-+q+-+( 7+-+NsNp+p' 6pzP-mk-+-+& 5+-+-+-vLn% 4Qzp-zpR+-mK$ 3+-+-zprzp-# 2-+P+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x12) Key 1.c4 Threat 2.c5 If 1.bxc ep/dxc ep/Rf5/Qc8/Qxe7/Qxd7; 2.Qb4/Qd1/NxR/NxQ/BxQ/Qxb4 Page 316 has an announcement of an ‘Australasian’ Tourney for 2-ers by 31/7. Second Prize G. Gundersen. Essendon Vic.

XABCDEFGHY 8-vL-+-vllmK( 7+-tr-+-trp' 6-sN-+-+-wQ& 5+N+-mkP+-% 4-+Pzp-zpP+$ 3+-+P+P+-# 2-+-+P+-+" 1+-+-tR-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x8) Key 1.e4 waiting If 1..Rg6/Rg5/Rf7/Re7/Rd7/Bf7/Be6/Bd5/Bxc4/Be7/Bd6/Bc5 2.Nd7/Qe6/Qd6/NxR/Nd7/QxB/exd5.NxB/Nd7/QxB/QxR (BM: It would be of interest to see Judge A. Charlick’s award.)

BCM Nov 1909 p.515 Western Daily Mercury 12th Tourney, Judges E.Palkoska/O.Wurzburg/F. Baird First Prize Arthur Charlick. Rose Park SA

XABCDEFGHY 8-wQLsN-+n+( 7+-+-+p+r' 6-+KzP-+-+& 5tR-+Nmk-+l% 4-+-+-zp-+$ 3zp-+PvLn+-# 2-+p+R+-+" 1+-wq-+r+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x11) Key 1.Kb7!! threat 2.Nc6 If 1..Qb2+/f6+/f5+/Ne7/Nd4;2.Bb6/Ne7/d7/PxN/Bxf4 (BM: What a beauty!) Some great articles in 1909 BCM on Morphy by Galbreath, and Loyd by A.C. White.

British Chess Magazine 1910 BCM 1910 p.125 BCM 14th Tourney for 4-ers BCM 1909 Arthur Charlick “All Nonsense” No.2365 T.P. No.68

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7sN-+-+L+-' 6-+PmkN+-+& 5+-+pzp-+-% 4-+-+-+KvL$ 3zP-+p+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (7x4) Key 1.Kf5 waiting. If 1..d2;2.Kg6 (thr. 3.Be7+ & Nc8)..d4;3.Be7+..Kd5;4.Ng5 or 2..e4;3.Bg3+..Ke7;4.Nc8. If 1..d4;2.Bd8 (or c7)..Kd5;3.Ng5+..Kd6;4.Ne4 or 2..d2;3.Ng5..any;4.Ne4. If 1..e4;2.Bg3+ (or c7)..Ke7;3.Kg6..any;4.Nc8 Arthur Charlick “Comedy1” No.2366 T.P. No.69

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7sN-+-+L+-' 6-+PmkN+-+& 5+-+pzp-+-% 4-+-+-+KvL$ 3zP-+p+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (8x4) Key 1.Ne6 waiting If 1..Nb6;2.Ng4+..Kxe4;3.Ne5+..Kd4/f5;4.Be3/e6 If 2…Kd6;3.Bf8+..Kd7;4.Nf6 If 1..Kd6/f6;2.Ng4..any;3.Bf8..Ke8/d7;4.Nf6 or 1..c2;2.Bf4+..Kf6;3.Bd6..any;4.Ng4 If 1..Nc7;2.Kxc7..Kf6;3.Kd6/7..any;4.Bg7

BCM 1909 Arthur Charlick “Comedy 2” No.2367 T.P. No.70

XABCDEFGHY 8n+-+-+-+( 7+K+-+L+-' 6-+-+N+-vL& 5+-+-mk-+P% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-+-+p+-# 2n+-+-sN-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (7x4) Key 1.Bg8 waiting If 1..Kd6/f6;2.Ng4..any;3.Bf8..Kd7;4.Nf6 If 1..Nc3;2.Ng4+..Kd6;3.Bf8+..Kd7;4.Nf6 or 2..Kxe4;3.Nc5+..Kd4/f5;4.Be3/Be6 nice. If 1..Nb6;2.Bf4+..Kf6;3.Bd6..any;.Ng4 or 1..Nc7;2.Kxc7..Kf6;3.Kd6/7..any;4.Ng4 BCM 1910 p.220 Australasian 2-er Tourney First Prize Arthur Mosely, 2nd J.D. Williams and =3rd Antonio Ghersi of Genoa & Mosely (no problems given in BCM). BCM June 1910 p.279 F.A.L. Kuskop 1st Prize Canterbury Times NZ 1899/1900

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sN-+-+( 7+-zp-+-vL-' 6q+-+p+-+& 5+-mk-+-+-% 4-+N+-+-+$ 3zpQ+R+-+-# 2K+-+-sn-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (6x6)

Key 1.Nd6 waiting If 1..PxN/QxN/Qb6/Qc6/Qa5/Qa7/QxR/NxR/c6/e5 2.Bd4/Rc3/Qc4/Nxe6/d6Nb7/Qb5/d6Nb7/Ne4/Nxe6/Rd5 This problem was in an A.C. White article on ‘First Steps on Two-Move Classification’ p.292 Excellent obit of J.G. Witton (1852-1910) BCM July 1910 p.320 Sydney Morning Herald 15th Tourney First A. Mosely, 2nd Mendes de Moraes Filho (Rio de Janeiro), HMs to Smith and Charlick. Mosely’s 1st only one given:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+lsN-+-+( 7wQ-+-+-+-' 6-tr-+-+nsN& 5vl-+-mk-zP-% 4-zp-+-+-zP$ 3+p+p+-+-# 2-+-mK-+-+" 1+-+-+-vLL! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x8) Key 1.Bc6! threat 2.Qc7 If 1..Bb7/RxB/Kd6/Kf4;2.Qb8/Qd4/Nf7/Bh2. (BM: A beauty!) BCM 1910 p.358 F.A.L. Kuskop HM in Hampstead & Highgate Express 10th Tourney

p.359 Arthur Charlick’s obit. He won 42 honours and composed for 10 years. He was 35. B.G. Laws published two commemorative problems as below:

XABCDEFGHY 8-sNRsNkvL-+( 7+-zP-+-zp-' 6-+-+-zp-tr& 5mK-+Lwq-+-% 4-+-zp-+-+$ 3wQp+-+-+l# 2-+-+R+p+" 1+-+-tr-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x10) Key 1.Kb6 threat 2.Bf7 If 1..Qe6+/Be6/f5+/Qe7;2.Bc6/Qe7/dNc6/QxQ Published in Hampstead & Highgate Express posthumously. BCM August 1910 p.360 Arthur Charlick HM Numa Preti Mem Tourney

XABCDEFGHY 8-sn-+-+-+( 7zp-+p+-+p' 6-+-wQ-+-+& 5+-+-sN-zPn% 4r+-+-mk-sN$ 3zp-+P+-+p# 2-+-vl-+-zP" 1+-+K+-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (8x10) Key 1.Bd4 threat 2.Qf8+..Kxg5;3.eNf3 If 1..Kxg5;2.Qh6+..KxQ;3.Nf7 If 1..Bb4;2.Be3+..KxB;3.Ng4 or 1..RxB;2.QxR+..Kxg5;3.Nf7 But what about 1..Ra6!;2.?? This may be unsound.

p.366 A. Charlick 1st Prize Nowoje Wremja 1908

XABCDEFGHY 8l+-+-+-vl( 7+L+R+n+-' 6-+-sNP+-+& 5zP-mkP+-zPp% 4-+-sNQ+-wq$ 3+pmK-+-zp-# 2-zP-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x8) Key 1.Qc2 Threat 2.Kxb3 If 1..PxQ/Qh2/Ne5/NxN/Q or BxN+; 2.b4/Ne4/Nxb3/Rc7/Kxb3 BCM August 1910 p.368 No.2485 The late Arthur Charlick (BCF 3rd Tourney)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+-+( 7+-+-+P+n' 6-+-zPpwQpzp& 5+-+-mK-+-% 4-+-zp-zp-+$ 3+-+p+-+R# 2p+-+-mk-zp" 1wqltR-+Lvl-! xabcdefghy White compels Black to mate in two moves (7x14) Key 1.Kxf4 threat 2.Qxd4+ forcing QxQ If 1..e5+;2.Ke4+ ..NxQ/ l..g5+;2.Kg4+..NxQ/1..NxQ;2.Rxh2+ ..BxR

BCM Oct 1910 p.456 No.2494 Arthur Mosely Brisbane Qld

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+Q+( 7+-zp-+-+-' 6rvl-+-+N+& 5wq-+-zPkvLp% 4-sn-+-+R+$ 3+-+-+p+-# 2-+-tr-zp-+" 1+-+-+N+K! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x10) Key 1.Be7 threat 2.Rf4 If 1..KxR/Nd5/Qxe5/Rd4/PxR 2.Qe6/Qc8!/Nh4/Ne3/Ng3 A beauty.

British Chess Magazine 1911 The Big Event of 1910/11 was the BCM 15th Frank Healey Memorial Tourney. It was won by Godfrey Heathcote in both 2 & 3 movers with Arthur Charlick getting a 2nd in the 2-ers and Arthur Mosely a HM in the 2-ers. Charlick also won a 3rd prize in the 3-ers. Laws named Heathcote as the best composer in England and he had also won Firsts in the 2-er & 3-er sui-mate tourneys in the Norwich Mercury at this time. Here is Charlick’s 2-er:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+N+-mK( 7+-sN-zp-+-' 6-wQ-zp-+-+& 5+-+-mkP+R% 4-zpR+-+-sn$ 3+-+-+-+p# 2-+-vLr+-wq" 1vl-+-sn-+l! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x11) It was very interesting to examine this cross checker as with the BB on a1, the BK on e5 and the WK on h8, one has to see how the BK can be made move with check which allows mate in reply. The WB on d2 is out of play and the key looks like Bg5. So is that the key? 1.Bg5?..Kxf5+;2.Bf6++ No, as what is the threat? This is not a waiting problem. Perhaps Bh6? Threatening 2.Bg7++ Black replies Qg3 and stops it. Looking at other BK weaknesses the h2/e5 diagonal could mean 1.Qg1 is the key? Threat Qg7! Key 1.Qg1 If 1..Bg2/Rg2/eNg2/hNg2/Qg3/Ng6+/QxQ/Qg3/Bd4 then 2.QxQ/Qe3/Qxa1/f6/QxQ/PxN/Bf4/QxQ/Qxd4 And it is the last variation that takes away suspicion of a cross-check set-up. The Bd4 move gives the BK a flight to e4. Here is the First prize winner by Godfrey Heathcote:

XABCDEFGHY 8-mK-+-+-+( 7+-+-zpN+-' 6-+-+l+p+& 5+-zpk+-tr-% 4Q+-+-zpp+$ 3+ntR-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+r+L+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (5x10) Looking at this as Heathcote was one of the greats. There is a weakness to the BK on a8/d5 so is the key 1.Rc4 threat 2.Qa8? No, Rd3 blocks the WR guard. Another move that stands out is Re3 but PxR killed that. It raised the possibility of Kc7 guarding c6. So 1.Kc7 threat 2.Qc4. If 1..Na5/c4/Rd4/Nd2 then 2.QxR/Qxc4/Qa8/Rd3 but 1..BxN! stops it all and 1.Kc7 is a very good try. I then noticed 1.Re3..PxR;2.Bg2! The key is 1.Re3 threat 2.Qe4 If 1..PxR/Re5/BxN/Rd4/Nd4/c4/Bf5/Re5 2.Bg2/Qa8/Qxd7/Qa8/Bc4/Qxc4/Bc4/RxR Pretty good and what of the judging by Percy Healey & J.A. Wollard? Well, Heathcote’s is a class act with only 15 pieces. Charlick’s has 19 and his key is a direct slashing thrust into Black’s vitals. Heathcote’s key seems gentle with subtle malice and his attack with only 4 men surpasses Charlick’s six men. As both are threat problems they can be compared fairly and I think Charlick was unlucky but I can’t argue with the judges. It is fitting that a great English composer like Frank Healey should have his Memorial Tourney won by another great English composer. The list of 35 competitors was a ‘who’s who’ of the chess problemists of that era. The only ‘greats’ missing were Fred Gamage and Gilbert Dobbs of the USA. Charlick was long dead when this award was announced in BCM Feb 1911 p.81. But what it shows was that Arthur Charlick (18751910) was one of the very best. His problems need to be gathered as he was a bit ‘Morphy-ish’ with a career spanning only 10 years.

BCM 1911 p.226 BCF No. 30 H.M. The late Arthur Charlick

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-tRNmK( 7vl-+-+-+-' 6-+-wQP+p+& 5trp+-vL-zp-% 4-+-+k+-zp$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+PzP-zpP+" 1+-+-+l+r! xabcdefghy White mates in three (9x10) Key 1.Rf5 threat 2.Rxg5 & 3.Rg4 If 1..PxR;2.Nf6 or 1..Bxg2;2.Qd3 If 1..KxR;2.Qd5..Kg4/else;3.Qf3/Nh6 or 1..Rg1;2.Rxg5..Rxg2;3.Nf6 If 1..h3;2.Nf6+..KxR;3.g4 or 1..Be3;2.d3+..BxP/KxR;3.QxB/Nh6 p.264 Sydney Morning Herald 16th Tourney 1st W.J.Smith (Newtown); 2nd H. Beechey (Croydon) 3rd P.F. Blake (Liverpool). Australasian Tourney Judge Dr. J.J. O’Keefe ‘the best critic in Australia’ gave his award 2-ers 1st J.D. Williams (Port Pyrie), 2nd Arthur Mosely (Brisbane) 3rd W.J. Smith (Sydney) p.265 BCM wrote Sam Loyd’s death was as big as Morphy’s. p.297 16th SMH Tourney, 1st Prize W.J. Smith

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+Q+( 7+-vl-zp-+-' 6-+-+-+-mK& 5sn-+rzP-+p% 4-zPPmk-+l+$ 3+-snL+P+-# 2-+-tR-+-+" 1+-sN-tRNtr-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (11x9) Key 1.Qg7 threat 2.Be2 If 1..Rd6+/Nb1/Nxc4 or b3/Bf5/Ne4;2.e6/Ne2/Nb3/QxR/RxN+

BCM July 1911 p.297 Australasian Tourney, First Prize J.D.Williams

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+K+( 7+-tR-sNN+-' 6-+-+-+-vl& 5+-+L+pwQ-% 4-+-mkl+-tR$ 3vLp+-+-+-# 2-zPrsnP+n+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x8) Key 1.Bc4 threat 2.Nxf5 If 1..RxB/Nf4/Ne3/NxB;2.Rd7/Qg1/Qe5/Qf6/Bc5 Australasian Tourney, Second Prize A. Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+l+n+( 7+-+-+r+-' 6-+p+P+-zp& 5+-sN-+-+R% 4-+pzp-mk-zp$ 3+-sN-+p+L# 2-+-zP-+-+" 1+-+QvL-+K! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x10) Key 1.Qb3 waiting If 1..PxQ/PxN/f2/d3/Bd7/Re7/Rf6/Ne7 or f6 2.Nd3/Qxc4/Ne2/Qxc4/Qb8!/Rf5/Qb8/Qb8

BCM July 1911 p.298 Australasian Tourney, Third Prize W.J. Smith

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-tR-+( 7+-sn-sNlsn-' 6-+Q+-+-+& 5+-zPpvL-+p% 4-tR-+Lzp-+$ 3+-+-mk-+-# 2-+-+-vl-+" 1+-+K+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x8) Key 1.Qe6 waiting if 1..cNxQ/gNxQ/BxQ/f3/d4/Pxe4/Bf2 any/h4 2.Nxd5/Nf5/Bxf4/Qh6/Bxd4/Rb3/Bd4/? No mate here WPh4?? BCM August 1911 p.335 In A.C. White’s article 15 on Two-er Classification: A. Charlick, Special Prize Sydney Morning Herald 1908

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+LtR-+-' 6K+-sn-+-+& 5+-tR-sN-+-% 4-+-+k+p+$ 3+-+N+-zP-# 2-vL-zPl+-+" 1+Q+-+-sn-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x5) Key 1.Qd1 waiting If 1..BxQ/Bf1/gN any/Nf5/Nc8/Nc4 2.Nf2/Qxg4/QxB/Bc6/Qa4/Nf2

BCM September 1911 p.366 No.128 in A.C. White’s 16th article on Two-er Classification: F.Robinson, 1st Prize SMH 1909

XABCDEFGHY 8n+-tR-+-+( 7vL-+-zp-+-' 6-wq-zp-+K+& 5+-+L+-+-% 4-zPPmkpsNR+$ 3+n+N+p+-# 2-+lzP-zP-+" 1vl-+-+-+Q! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x10) Key 1.Ne5 threat 2.Nc6 If 1..PxNe5+/Kxe5/QxBa7/e3+/Na5 or c5 2.Be6/Qh8/Nc6/Nd3!/Qxa1 A.C. White:- “It is hard to classify No.128 because it has such extreme complexity at the expense of unity. He called it Multiple checking pieces and batteries.” Cross checkers became popular about 1901 with A.F. MacKenzie and the Sydney Morning Herald Tourneys. p.488 B.G. Laws:- “On the 16th SMH Tourney that W.J. Smith (see p.297) should reckon himself rather fortunate. The problem… has meritorious points, but it lacks originality, and beyond the point of the one variation created by the key, interest is lacking. Though we do not say the following twomover anticipates W.J. Smith’s position, it has features which render its salient points somewhat nugatory. It is curious the motto adopted was:”

‘The Resemblance’ F.W.Wynne & E.Millins –Western Daily Mercury 1907

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-trR+l+( 7zPL+-vl-+q' 6KwQ-+-+nsn& 5+-+Ptr-+p% 4-+-vLk+-+$ 3+-zPp+-zPN# 2-+-+-+P+" 1+-+-+R+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (12x10) Key 1.Qb4 threat 2.Bc5 If 1..Re6+/Re7/Nf5/Nf4/d2;2.d6/Ng5/Nf2/RxN/Qb1 There is a good try by 1.Qf6? but BxQ! B.G. Laws continued: “If originality was of prime importance, Mr. Blake’s third prize two mover would have considerable claims. It has a capital key move with 3 piquant variations but there is nothing else to commend it.” W.J. Smith’s problem referred to above on p.297 won 1st prize in the 16th SMH Tourney. The judge was F.R. Smith (no relation). Laws was sure problemists would prefer ‘The Resemblance’ to Smith’s problem given on digital p.59. Well, they may but in the BCM solutions to Smith’s problem the key is given as 1.Qe6 which fails to Bf5. It may just be a typo as in the Blake problem and this can happen with descriptive rather than diagram problems. P.F. Blake

XABCDEFGHY 8-+R+-+lvl( 7trpsN-+-+-' 6p+-+-+-+& 5vLP+-+-+-% 4-+k+-sN-tR$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2K+-zp-+-+" 1+-+-+-wQ-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x7)

If a BN is on h8 then the key is 1.Qb6! threat 2. If 1..Ra8/Ne6/Ne5;2.NxR/NxB/NxB. If it is a BB on h8 then the killer move is Be5. Law’s notation has the description “Bt at KR sq and K Kt sq” Laws continued:- “We are sure most problemists will prefer this to Mr. Smith’s. The Black King has unusual flight squares and there are three adverse checks not possible in the original setting and it is free from the dual blemish which disfigures the first prizewinner.” (BM: Blake’s key is surely a beauty but the fault in the diagram has to be fixed first. The comparison between Smith’s problem and Wynne & Millins’ some years earlier seems to not care about economy. Smith’s has 20 men, Wynne & Millins’ has 22.)

British Chess Magazine 1912 BCM 1912 p.40 Melbourne Leader Tourney 1st Prize F.A.L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-wq-+-+-+( 7+pzp-zpL+-' 6-+-+R+-+& 5+-+ksN-+-% 4-zp-tr-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+n# 2-+Q+-+lmK" 1+-+-+-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x9) Key 1.Nc4 threat 2.Ne3 If 1..c6+/c5+/RxN/Kc5;2.Re5/Rd6/Qf5/?? Something wrong here after 1..Kc5. A WP on a4? Then after Kc5; 2.Nb6 not sure. 2nd Prize H.Beechey; HMs W.J. McArthur, A. Mosely, A.A. Wheatley, F.T. Hawes, P.Pedler. p.90 The First Brisbane Courier 2-er Tourney. 1st A. Mosley, 2nd F.R. Smith (Barraba). The Judge was G.F. Scott. p.137 Sydney Morning Herald 2-er Tourney. 1st F.A. L. Kuskop, 2nd F.Gamage (USA), 3rd F.T. Hawes. HMs to A. Mosely, P.G.L. Fothergill and A.W. Daniel.

1st Prize F.A.L. Kuskop (NZ) SMH Tourney

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+Q+-vL( 7+N+-+-+-' 6rzp-zPNsn-+& 5tR-wq-mk-+r% 4-zpp+L+R+$ 3+-+-+-+P# 2-+-+-zP-+" 1+-snK+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (11x9) Key 1.Bd5 threat 2.Qxh5 If 1..Rf5/Rh7/QxB+/Qe3/KxB;2.Re4/Rg5/Nd4/Nd4/Nc7 p.139 An analysis by J.W. Allen on how he solved Charlick’s 1st prize 2-er in the 1909 Western Daily Mercury Tourney (see No.1909 BCM earlier). p.177 A.A. Wheatley & Arthur Mosely solved in BCM solvers table for January. p.229 Two of J.G. Campbell’s truly difficult problems – a 3-er & 4-er. J. Kohtz considered him the composer of the most difficult 3-ers ‘extant’. p.231 A. Mosely, Brisbane No.2584

XABCDEFGHY 8-sN-+-+-+( 7tr-+p+-+-' 6-zpP+P+p+& 5+-+-mk-sN-% 4-vL-+PtR-+$ 3+-+p+-mK-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-tR-wQ-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (10x6) Key 1.Qh1 threat 2.Qh8 If 1..Kd4/d6/d5;2.e5/Bc3/exd p.266 B.G. Fegan got 2nd prize in the Karlstadt Chess Problem Club T/y BCM July 1912

p.319 No.2601 Arthur Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8-+l+-+-+( 7snnsNPtr-+-' 6-+-tR-+-+& 5zpNmk-trP+-% 4p+-+-+-+$ 3zPP+-+-+-# 2-+-+P+-+" 1+-+K+-+Q! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (10x8) Key 1.Qh6 threat 2.Qc1 If 1..Re3/Nxb5/NxR/Rd5+;2.Rd5/Na6/QxN/RxR p.356 Western Daily Mercury Tourney. 1st E. Westbury and =2nd /4th J.D. Williams, HM A. Mosely. p.403 Hampstead and Highgate Express Tourney. 1st Prize J.D. Williams, HM Dr J.J. O’Keefe. 1st Prize J.D. Williams

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+N+-vl( 7vL-zp-+P+-' 6n+-+p+-+& 5+-+kzP-+q% 4-zp-sNRwQ-+$ 3+-+P+-zP-# 2-+nmKP+-+" 1+-+-+-+L! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (12x8) Key 1.Qg5 threat 2.Qd8 If 1..QxQ+/Qh4/Bf6/Nxd4/Qh6/Bxe5/Qxe2+/Nb8 2.Re3/RxQ/NxB/RxN/Rh4/RxB/RxQ/Nxc7

p.403 J.D. Williams =2nd/4th Western Daily Mercury Tourney above:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tR-+-+( 7+-+-wQpzp-' 6pzPp+-+-+& 5+-+N+-+-% 4KzprmkN+-+$ 3+p+-+-tr-# 2-+-+-+-vl" 1+L+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to mate in two moves (7x10) Key 1.eNc3 threat 2.Ne2. If 1..Rg2/cRxc3/Rc5/gRxc3;2.Qe3/Ne3/Qe4/Qe4 p.442 Challenge Problem by F.J. Wallis of Sydney NSW

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-vl-+( 7+-+-zpR+-' 6-+Q+P+-zp& 5mk-+-+-+P% 4-+-+N+-+$ 3+-+-+-vLr# 2PzP-+-zP-+" 1mK-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White compels Black to mate White in 10 moves (10x5) No one in Australia solved it. FJW offered 2 copies of E. Wallis’s 777 Miniatures. Solution given p.529. (BM: After one hour trying to get the BK to f3 with a mate by the BR on h1, I surrendered.) The English solvers cracked it. Solution:- 1.Bc7+..Kb4;2.Qf5+..Ka4;3.b3+..Rxb3;4.PxR+..Kxb3;5.Rf3+..Ka4; 6.Nc3+..Kb3;7.Nb1+..Ka4;8.Rf4+..Kb3;9.Qc1..Bg2+;10.Qb2+..BxQ++ E. Wallis was related to F.J. Wallis – brothers, I think.

p.484 1st Prize Northern Whig A. Mosely (Qld)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+LtR-+K+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+P+-+-+& 5+-+pmkpzP-% 4-sN-+-tr-+$ 3+-snlvL-sNQ# 2-+-zP-sn-+" 1+-+-+-+q! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x8) Key 1.Ne4 threat 2.Re8 If 1..QxN/RxN/BxN/cNxN/dPxN/fPxN/fNxN/KxN 2.Qh8/Qxf5/d4/Rxd5/Bd4/Qe6/NxB/Re8 p.402 1st Prize Chess Amateur R.G. Thomson (UK)

XABCDEFGHY 8-vLR+-+-tr( 7zpP+-tR-+p' 6L+-+-+-+& 5+-zpkzpN+-% 4N+-+r+-zp$ 3+nvl-zpP+-# 2-+P+n+-mK" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x12) Key 1.Nd4 threat 2.Rd7 If 1..RxN/bNxN/eNxN/ePxN/cPxN/KxN/BxN 2.Rxe5/Rxc4/NxB/Bc4/PxR/Rd7/c4 B.G. Laws:- “Students in problems will be interested in comparing the following problem by A. Mosely, published 22nd August last in the Northern Whig with the two-mover which was awarded first honours in the Chess Amateur Tourney. This coincidence naturally does not invalidate R.G. Thomson’s honour, nor is there a suggestion that A. Mosely has benefited by the early position, but we are inclined to believe that had Mosely’s two-mover competed in the Chess Amateur tourney the judges would have favoured it, as it is more complete as a ‘task’; seeing that the WN is offered as sacrifice to eight of Black’s men with a distinct mate in each capture.”

British Chess Magazine 1913 1913 BCM p.220 1st Prize Four Leaved Shamrock Tourney J.D. Williams

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+K+-+-+l' 6-+P+-+-+& 5+QzP-+-sNP% 4-+Lmk-zp-zP$ 3+p+p+-sn-# 2-+-zPp+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (9x7) Key 1.Qb4 threat 2.Be6+ & 3.Qc3 If 1..Nf5;2.Qc3+..Kxc5;3.Ne6 If 1..Ke5;2.Qc3+..Kf5;3.Be6 If 1..f3;2.Nf7…any;3.Be6 B.G. Laws:- “There are some very interesting points here, but the scattered Pawns disfigure the design. The h pawns clearly show the BK has to get as far as the f file. The key is an unlucky one, since where the WQ stands she has virtually no selection, and it is patent she must worm herself into the fray to justify her presence. The best feature of the play is after 1…f3 and this is nice. The dual after 1...Bf5 is hardly worth mentioning.” 1st Prize Four Leaved Shamrock J.D. Williams

XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6p+-+-tR-+& 5wq-mk-vL-+-% 4-+-+-sN-mK$ 3zp-tr-+p+-# 2-+nsNl+-+" 1+Q+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x10) Key 1.Qb7 threat 2.Ne6 If 1..Qb6/Rc4/Qb4/Qa4/Nc6;2.QxQ/Nb3/Qd5/Qb6/Bd6

B.G. Laws:- “The key is poor for a 2-er. At b1 she is liable to be cooped up, so must take up a front, and b7 is the only feasible place. After this the play is interesting, and we see how useful the WK is. It is a pity there is a dual after 1.Nd7.” BCM 1913 p.221 1st Place ‘Melbourne Leader’ F.A.L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-vlQ+-+p' 6PzpRzpP+-zp& 5+p+k+-+-% 4l+-+-+-zP$ 3+p+N+P+-# 2-+n+-+p+" 1sn-+-+-mK-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (8x12) Key 1.Qg7 threat 2.Nf4+..KxR;3.Qc3 If 1..Kxc7;2.Qc3+..Kd5;3.Nf4 If 1..Nd4;2.Nb4 If 1..Kxe7;2.Rxc7..Kd5/d5;3.Nf4/Qe5 If 1..b4;2.Qg4..Kxc7;3.Qg4 B.G. Laws:- “It must be annoyingly amusing to our premier composer Heathcote, to notice that Kuskop’s first prize problem is an indifferent rendering to one of his own, which in 1893 only secured 3rd prize in the Hackney Mercury Tourney. We believe we acted as judge in this 1893 competition.” 3rd Prize 1893 G.Heathcote

XABCDEFGHY 8-mK-+Q+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-zpRzp-+N+& 5+-+k+p+-% 4P+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+P+-# 2-+-tr-+-+" 1+-+r+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (6x6)

Key 1.Qh8 threat 2.Nf4+..Kxc6;3.Qc8 If 1..Rd4;2.Qe5+!..Pxe5/Kxc6;3.Ne7/Qb5 If 1..Kxc6;2.Qc6+..Kd7/Kd5;3.Qc8/Nf4 If 1..Ke6;2.Nf4+..Kd7/e7/c7;3.Rc7 If 1..b5;2.Rc7..Ke6;3.Nf4 B.G. Laws:- “We brace these two positions in our remarks. In the first place Kuskop (who is a second MacKenzie – since he composes ‘sans voir’) has composed so many passable and excellent problems that no-one could charge him with being a highway chess robber! Comparing the two problems, there can be no question that Heathcote’s is the superior; it is free from flaw, and is daintily presented, being served up with only 12 men. In Kuskop’s we have 20 men with only one new artistic feature, i.e. after the Bishop moves. One can recognise the play in Kuskop’s after 1…b4, but it is not a marked feature. The dual we trip over with a light step.” BCM July 1913 p.343 1st Prize Melbourne Leader Tourney F.A.L. Kuskop NZ

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sn-sNLvl( 7+ptrN+q+-' 6-+R+-+-+& 5+-+kzPpzpp% 4-+R+-+-zP$ 3+-+pzPKzP-# 2-zprzP-+-+" 1vL-+n+-+Q! xabcdefghy Mate in two (13x13) Key 1.g4 threat 2.Kg3 If 1..Nxe3/Nf2/Rxc6/Rxd7/Rxd2/Nc3/Bxe5/f or hPxg4+ 2.KxN/KxN/Rd4/6Rc5/4Rc5/4Rc5/Nb6/Kg3 p.386 B.G. Laws:- “There are some clever points here, but there is little to commend it in the way of freshness and it is a laborious looking picture.” Second place went to Godfrey Heathcote and 3rd to C.A.L. Bull.

2nd Prize G. Heathcote

XABCDEFGHY 8-vL-+R+-+( 7snK+p+-+-' 6-+-+-+p+& 5trp+k+-sN-% 4p+-+-+-tR$ 3+-+rzp-+-# 2-+Qzp-+-+" 1vln+-+-+l! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x13) Key 1.Ne6 threat 2.Qc5 If 1..PxN/Rc3/Bd4/b4/d6/Bc3/Nc3 2.Rd8/Qf5/Nf4/Qc4/Nc7/Qa2/QxR B.G. Laws:- “This is a more artistic piece of work than the foregoing, and in proportion to the material used it is decidedly more economical. It is curious to note there are no White Pawns. The key is excellent, and though there are no clean mates, most of them have spice. It is a pity the advanced King and Queen pawns are wanted only to prevent duals, but they make the problem quite accurate. We prefer this to Kuskop’s.” 3rd Prize C.A.L. Bull

XABCDEFGHY 8-mKN+R+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-zP-+-+-+& 5+-zpkvL-snr% 4Q+-+-zpL+$ 3zpp+-vlq+-# 2-+P+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x9) Key 1.Bd4 threat 2.Re5 If 1..PxB/BxB/Qe4/Ne4/Ne6;2.Qb5/c4/Rd8/Be6/BxQ B.G. Laws:- “A clearly appointed two mover. We daresay the composer was sorry he could not work in a variation to make use of the Knight as a mating piece. This could have been done, but the ‘ensemble’ would have been spoilt There is ample variety, however, but the Black Pawns utility is not easy to discover.” (BM: I can’t see why the BP on a3 is needed. The BK is on d5 in all three problems.)

p.421 F.A.L. Kuskop Prize Problem in International Commonwealth Tourney ‘Leader’ 1905

XABCDEFGHY 8K+LtR-+-+( 7zp-+-+-+-' 6-sNp+-+-zp& 5+-+-mk-+-% 4qvLl+-+-wQ$ 3+-+-trp+-# 2-sn-tr-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x10) Key 1.Nd5 threat 2.Qf4 If 1..Re4/Rd4/Nd3/Pxd5/Bxd5;2.Qf6/Qe7/Bc3/Bd6/Bd6 This Kuskop problem featured in an article about anticipation where one of T.R. Dawson’s problems resembled one of Taverner’s in 1889. Kuskop’s problem was also compared but B.G. Laws said no but that it was with Taverner’s. p.427 No.2717 T.P. No. 19 BCM 16th Tourney Frankenstein Memorial “Why Not” Arthur Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8L+RmK-+-+( 7+-sN-+-+N' 6Nzp-mk-sn-+& 5+p+-+P+-% 4-+-+-+p+$ 3+-vL-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-tr" 1+-+-+l+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (8x7) Key 1.Bg2 threat 2.Ne8+..NxN;3.Rc6 If 1..RxB;2.Nxf6..any;3.cNe8 If 1..BxB;2.Nxb5+..Kd5;3.NxN Cooked by 1.NxN..Rh8+;2.cNe8+..RxN+;3.NxR & 1.Ne8+..NxN;2.Ng5 ..any;3.Nf7e4

p.496 Brisbane Courier International Tourney 3rd Prize B.G. Fegan

XABCDEFGHY 8l+-+-+-+( 7+-vl-+-+Q' 6L+-+-trp+& 5+-+-+-trN% 4N+Pzp-+p+$ 3+-+k+PtR-# 2n+-+Rzp-+" 1vL-+-+K+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x10) Key 1.Qd7 threat 2.Qxd4 If 1..Bb6/Be5/Rd5/Rd6/Nc3/Bd5;2.c5/Nc5/f4/Nf4/Nb2/Nc5 This tourney was won by Reitveld, 2nd Mansfield, 3rd Fegan, 4th Mansfield, 5th Votruba. p.462 F.A.L. Kuskop Otago Witness n.d. No.3061

XABCDEFGHY 8q+-+-+-+( 7zpn+-tR-+-' 6-zppmk-+-+& 5+-sN-tR-+-% 4-+P+-+-mK$ 3+-+-+p+-# 2-+-sn-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x8) Key 1.Re4 threat 2.Rd7 If 1..KxN/Nxe4/QxB/Qd8/Nxe4/PxN 2.e&Re5/NxN/Nxb7/Nxb7/Rd7/e4Re6 The problem featured in a minor anticipation article.

p.500 Frank Leggett Auckland NZ No.2741 ‘New Zealand 1’

XABCDEFGHY 8Q+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-zp-' 6-+-zpp+-tR& 5+P+NmkL+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-zP-+K+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+N! xabcdefghy Mate in three (8x4) Solved in 2 by 1.Ne3 or Ne7 or Qa4 Frank Leggett ‘New Zealand 2’ No.2742 T.P. No.36

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+K+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-wQ-+N+-+$ 3+-+-+k+-# 2-+P+-+-+" 1+-+-+-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x1) Key 1.Qd6 waiting If 1..KxN;2.Qf6..Kd5;3.Qe6 1..Kg4/g2;2.Qg3+..Kf1/3/5/h1;3.Nd6/Qg5/Qf2/Qh2 or 1..Ke2;2.Qd3+..Ke1;3.Bf2

BCM December 1913 Some Australian Novelties by Henry Tate, Melbourne The Knight of the chess board is more like a unicorn rampant than any other mortal, or immortal, thing – except a kangaroo. The locomotive peculiarities of the Australian national animal have a weird resemblance to the singular hops of the chess board warrior, and, if this is not a good and sufficient reason for beginning a description of some Australian novelties, with the ruthless slaughter of a Knight, the carping critic is invited to find a better one himself. No.1 – T. Henderson. Melbourne Leader

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-mk( 7+-+-zpK+-' 6-+-zpP+-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+P+-zP-+$ 3+-+-zP-vL-# 2-+psN-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to play, and with Black’s assistance, Mate in three moves (7x5) No.2 – W.J. McArthur. Melbourne Leader

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-sN-mk( 7+-+-zp-+P' 6-+-+Q+P+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-sN-+-+$ 3zp-zp-vl-+-# 2-+K+L+-+" 1+-vL-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to play and mate with a Bishop in three moves (8x5) Mr. T. Henderson, the author of No.1, is a young composer, who recently celebrated his eighty-second birthday by publishing a difficult original three-mover. His latest effort is a “retractor-sui mate!” ’Twas ever thus with forward youth! The problem presented here has a special interest, which the courageous reader will not fully discover till he reaches the end of the series. Black’s compunction at the untimely death of the brave, but

unfortunate, kangaroo, unicorn, or Knight must have been keen, but he contents himself with a Bishop instead of a Queen, and displays further evidence of chivalry by assisting to bring about his own decease. As a composer of regular problems, Mr. W.J. McArthur, of Birkenhead, S.A., is well known for his finely finished work, and his rare vein of originality. He has made many excellent eccentrics, and this is one of his latest. The advance of the gallant pawn to g7 storms Black’s fortifications. If White tries 1.BxB, all goes well until… 2. P becomes N+ dislocates the head of his government. Mr. C.G. Steele is one of the strongest players, and he has frequently held the championship of Victoria. His problems are marked by ingenuity and finish. No.3 knocked at the door with a plea for quaintness, and – though not one of the noble family of eccentrics – was warmly invited to come in and take a seat in the best parlour. The Pawn at g4 responds to the call of the soldier’s trumpet, and then the White King advances, by way of c1, to investigate matters. Finding the prospect promising, he wins the day in a Napoleonic manner, with the aid of Marshall Ney from d2. No.3 – C.G. Steele. The Australasian

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+p+-zp-' 6-+-sN-+-+& 5+-+-zpP+-% 4-+-+LmkPvL$ 3+-+-+-+P# 2-+PzP-+-+" 1+K+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to play and mate in five moves (9x4) En passant is a nom-de-plume that is always attractive to the chess reader. No.4 is one of his clever eccentricities. It shared first hon. Mention in The Leader tourney of 1912. We have the best authority for saying that No.4 was specially composed for the critics. The finicking correctness of this problem, will, no doubt, vex them very much. If they level a shaft or two at the capture key, and break a few clubs on the dual continuations, the author will hail their excitement with fiendish delight, and regard it as a tribute to the “extravagant grace” of his creation. If White takes up the burden of existence, by laying the sable pawn (at e5) low, he succeeds in his object, but when it is Black’s turn to open the battle the revenge of Time’s whirligig becomes manifest.

No.4 – F.T. Hawes. Melbourne Leader

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-tr-mk( 7+-+-+P+L' 6-+-+-zPPwQ& 5+-+-zp-zPP% 4pzp-zP-+-+$ 3wqpzp-+-+-# 2l+p+-+-+" 1mK-tR-+-+-! xabcdefghy White or Black to play and self-mate in four moves (10x10) No.5 – Henry Tate. First Prize, Melbourne Leader, 1912.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-wQ-+P+& 5+-+-+-mk-% 4-+-+P+Nvl$ 3+-+-+P+R# 2K+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in one move (7x2) The feature of No.5 is that there is only one solution under the given conditions, which read “Black, in playing last, moved illegally, but made no capture. He moved one piece only, and that his own. Black to retract the illegal move, and to make a legal move instead. After which, White mates in one move”. The Black King is included as a “piece”. His majesty and the Bishop may leap about us they will, but only one of their antics will result in White coming into his own, when they regain their senses and behave as Kings and Bishops should behave. The presumption in this case is that the Bishop so far forgot himself as to move forward, like a Pawn. He is replaced, moves as a Bishop, and so brings about the fall of the sable majesty.

No.6 – B.G. Fegan. First Publication

XABCDEFGHY 8-tR-tR-+-vl( 7snpzkpsN-zpk' 6-+-+-+-zP& 5zP-zP-+PzP-% 4-zp-zk-+Q+$ 3zPP+l+L+-# 2-mK-zp-+pzP" 1vLNsnr+-trk! xabcdefghy White to play and mate in all four problems in two moves (16x16) (BM: The board is in 4 quarters a1/a4/d1/d4 & e1/e4/h1/h4 & a5/a8/d5/d8 & e5/e8/h5/h8.) No.6 is a most ingenious and original position, specially contributed to this series by Mr. B.G. Fegan, of Deniliquin, NSW. It is especially noteworthy that (except the Black Kings) only one set of men has been used in constructing the four problems. The conditions, though apparently complicated, are really simple, as a perusal will show. “One key only is made, and this key must solve all the problems. White may move any piece or Pawn anywhere (legally) for the key. Except in making the key move, no piece or Pawn is allowed to leave its quarter of the board, but the piece or Pawn that has made the keymove exercises its guarding power in its own and the other quarters, though it must not move again. After the key is made, no piece or Pawn whatever may leave its own quarter, nor exercise its guarding power outside its own section. The key man alone retains his power but not his freedom of movement” The Bishop at f3 is a wily prelate, and he does not have to travel far to make his influence sufficiently felt. There is an interesting but futile try. No.7 is a clever and amusing problem by Mr. W.J. McArthur, of which the following immortal lines will give an idea:There was a young man of Quebec, Who became quite a physical wreck; For when playing a game, Or in problems the same, He simply did nothing but check!

No.7 – W.J. McArthur. Melbourne Leader

XABCDEFGHY 8-vL-tRl+Q+( 7vl-+-+-+r' 6-wq-+N+Pzp& 5+Ptr-+n+K% 4R+-zpk+-+$ 3+-+N+-vL-# 2-+L+-zPpsn" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to play and mate in four moves (12x11) He furiously begins by Rd8xd4+. When Black loudly demolishes this vociferous bird with a counter challenge, the Knight at e6 swoops down, captures the capturer, and reiterates the baneful cry. The inevitable feminine now appears, and her shrill tones are only silenced by the broomstick of the opposing dame. The Black Boadicea, reft of her check, remains on the field, helplessly gazing at a Knight, who delivers a home-threat from e5. Truly a gory combat! No.8 brings round the interest which attaches to Mr. Henderson’s problem No.1. Mr. Frank R. Smith is well known as one of Australia’s ablest problemists. In No.8 he appears as a composer, and appears to no small advantage. It will be noticed that this problem is a masterly adaptation of Mr. Henderson’s idea as set forth in No.1. In passing we give this interesting progress study:- 7k/8/8/8/r7/1p6/bKPlp3/B3r3. White with Black’s help, mates in 3 moves. Key:-Kc3. Remove the Pawn from e2, make the same key, and a totally different solution results. In the diagram the Knight goes to b3 and gives up the ghost on b1. Black plays his part, and everything is soon plain sailing. A comparison with Mr. Henderson’s position, and the studies given above is most instructive. It may be safely said that this masterly piece of work so elegant, so economical, and so full of interest, would command a very high place in any competition, and, although Mr. Smith modestly regards it as an adaptation of Mr. Henderson’s idea, there is a great deal more to it than that. It is pleasant to be able to conclude the paper with such an excellent example of the development of a good idea by a master hand. (BM: I was shown this by Frank at his home in 60 Babbage Road, Roseville Chase, Sydney in the mid-1960s. Over 50 years later.)

No.8 – Frank R. Smith

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+-+-mk( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-vL& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-vlp+-+-+" 1sNl+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White to play, and, with Black’s help, mate in five moves (3x4) (BM: Frank R. Smith changed his name to Frank Ravenscroft after WW1.) No.1 T. Henderson Key 1.Nb1..PxN=B;2.Be1..Bh7;3.Bc3 No.2 W.J. McArthur Key 1.Pg7+..Kxg7;2.Qg8+..Kf6 or h6;3.P=B or BxB If 1..Kxh7;2.P=R..any;3.Bd3 The BCM editor B.G. Laws removed Nf8 as unnecessary. No.3 C.G. Steele Key 1.g5..g6;2.Kc1..PxP;3.Kd1..PxB;4.Ke2..e3;5.PxP No.4 F.T. Hawes Key 1.PxP..Ra8 & c;2.Qf8+..RxQ;3.g7+..KxB;4.Pc8=Q..b2 and Vice versa for the Black start. No.5. H. Tate Black replaces the Bishop on h5 and plays BxN or BxP; White plays f4 or Qf6. No.6 B.G. Fegan Key 1.Be4 and mate next move in all quarters. No.7 W.J. McArthur B.G. Laws repaired this by putting a WP on g3 in lieu of the WB. He also added the BN on f5. Key 1.Rd8xd4+..NxR+;2.Ne6xR+..QxN+;3.Qd5+..QxQ;4.Ne5 (If 2..Kf5;3.Qd5+ etc) McArthur mailed corrections to Laws too late for publication. No.8 F.R. Smith Key 1.Nb3..Ba2;2.Nd2..Bg8;3.Nb1..PxN=B;4.Bc1..Bb1a7;5.BxB

British Chess Magazine 1914 The year started for chess in a wonderful way and a 6½ page review of H.J.R. Murray’s A History of Chess. Perhaps the first line of the review sums it up:- “This is in every sense of the word a great work”. This near 1000-page book contains many mediaeval chess problems. p.33 “Mr. A.C. White carries out some charming notions. In order to exploit the resources of Australian composers, he instituted a competition in that vast region, with the unique stipulation that the editors of the chess columns issued in that particular sphere, would enter the best problems published in their respective journals. The competition under consideration is name “Fourth Australian Columns Tourney”. There were 79 entries (two movers) received from The Leader 24, Perth Sunday Times 18, The Australasian 17, Adelaide Chronicle 10, Adelaide Observer 7, Brisbane Courier 3. Mr. J.D. Williams was the judge and the first prize was won by H. Gadsen and 2nd by R.C. Dixon.” (BM: These problems are in the first section of the Australian Chess Problems History on the OzProblems website. A clever idea by A.C.White as it meant a good problem in any column got judged in the columns tourney.) p.34 The article ‘Some Australian Novelties’ by Henry Tate resulted in some replies by T.R. Dawson with problems inscribed by A.C. White and B.G. Laws. There were shortest proof games in 32 & 37. The solutions were very tough and given on p.78. p.43/4 Death of Thomas Harlin aged 81 – coverage was good. See also August 1910 for a photo and major article on this Victorian Chess Editor. p.74 Very good review on A.C.White’s Sam Loyd and His Chess Problems. p.91 Obituary of Thomas Henderson:Victorian composers will miss a kindly and appreciative mentor, and Australia loses one of her pioneer composers in the person of Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Berwick and Northcote, Victoria, who passed away on January 3rd, in his 83rd year. Between 30 and 40 years ago, Mr. Henderson was undoubtedly Australia’s leading composer. He won the first competition for single problems ever held in Victoria. This competition was promoted by the Melbourne ‘Leader’ with the Melbourne Chess Club acting in conjunction. A most interesting and valuable article, published in the BCM December 1896… contains two of Mr. Henderson’s problems [BM: see earlier]… In the December 1913 issue of BCM a problem was included in ‘Some Australian Novelties’. No doubt the composer would have fully appreciated the honour paid to his work, but the magazine arrived 2 days after his death. On the occasion of the last Interstate Telegraphic Match, Vic v NSW in June 1913, the composer was in active attendance as a reliable officer, from 10am till 11 pm. Mr. Henderson was in the forefront of Vic. problemists to the last, and a few weeks before his death, sent in an original problem to his favourite column. His solutions to current problems were received within a week of his decease. As a specimen of his fine and well preserved powers, the appended problem will interest. It was composed a few days before his 81st birthday and was published in the Leader to honour that event.

XABCDEFGHY 8q+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5zp-+-zp-sN-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3+-+N+-+-# 2L+-mK-+p+" 1+-tR-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three (5x5) Key 1.Re1 threat 2.Ne6 If 1..Qc6;2.Re4+..QxR;3.Ne6 p.161 Melbourne Weekly Times 3-er tourney closes 31/7 Judge C.G. Steele. p.163 Melbourne Weekly Times C.G. Watson

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-mk( 7+-zp-+-+-' 6-+-sN-zpLzp& 5+-+-+KzP-% 4-+-+-+Q+$ 3+-vl-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x5) Key 1.Bh7 threat 2.Kg6 & 3.Nf7 If 1..Kxh2/Pxd6;2.Pxh6..any;3.Qg7 1..Kg7;2.Pxf6+..Kf8/g8;3.Qg8 or 2..KxB;3.Qg7 p.166 A review of Robert Braune’s book, Apotre De La Symetrie, by A.C.White stated “….Half a crown sent to the Office of La Strategie, 85 Faubourg St Denis, Paris will not be regretted.” (BM: True enough – many were lost in the sinking of the Lusitania and one was for sale some years back for $1000+. I think from P. Ten Cate’s library. But that said, the paper used is brittle and my copy is poor.)

p.210 Melbourne Leader £1/1/0 (1 guinea) prize for the best eccentric problem published at Christmas. Must be received 15 Nov. to H.E. Grant, The Leader Collins St. Melbourne. p.211 Melbourne Weekly Times 3-er Tourney for minor pieces and pawns £1.0.0 prize4. Brisbane Courier 3rd Tourney for 2-ers by 30 June. £2 first prize. p.213 A voting competition in the Leader on the best 2-er and 3-er composers:2-ers 1st Heathcote then MacKenzie, Blake, Loyd, Charlick, Shinkman, J.D. Williams and A. Mosely. 3-ers Loyd, Heathcote, Laws, Shinkman, MacKenzie, Blake, Pospisil and Palkoska. B.G. Laws:- “Australian problem admirers have had a confined view of the worlds composers.” He continued to talk about the problem artists in a half-page article. p.243 Arthur Mosely gets a 2nd Prize in a Good Companions Chess Club 2-er April Tourney. p.260 BCM offered a prize for the best analysis of the below game, after Charlick adjudicated the game a draw and the match between NSW & Vic a draw. Viner (White) vs Watson (Black) Black to play.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+l+L+( 7+-+-+-mkP' 6-zp-+-+-+& 5zp-zp-+K+-% 4P+-+-+-+$ 3+-zP-+-+-# 2-zP-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy p.321 The War started to have its effect with Tourneys being cancelled. See also p.429

p.429 No.2756 T.P. No.50 BCM Henry Tate ‘Werelaff’

XABCDEFGHY 8-tR-+-+-+( 7vL-+-+-+-' 6-+p+pzP-+& 5+-sNLmk-zPK% 4-zP-+-+P+$ 3+PzP-+-+p# 2-+-+-+-sn" 1+-vl-+-+l! xabcdefghy White mates in three (11x7) Key 1. Rf8 threat 2.Bb8+..KxB;3.Rd8 If 1..Bf4;2.Bxe6..any;3.Bb8 If 1..Kxd5;2.Rd8+..Ke5;3.Bb8 or 1..Kf4;2.Nd3+..Kg3;3.Bf2!

British Chess Magazine 1915 BCM 1915 p.31 There was a short review of ‘The Dux’. p.32 The Australasian Tourney saw 1st prize to Arthur Mosely, 2nd Tucker and HMs to Mosely, Tucker, F.R. Smith and Pedler. Here is Mosely’s 1st prizewinner:

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-sN-+L+( 7zp-wQ-+-+-' 6r+p+-+-vl& 5tr-+-tR-+-% 4-+-mkn+p+$ 3+-zp-+p+q# 2-+P+PzPnvL" 1tR-+-sN-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (11x12) Key 1.Bb3 threat 2.Ne6 If 1..c5/Nc5/Ng5/Nf4/Rxe5/g3; 2.Rd5/Qd6/e3/e3/Qxe5/Nxf3 p.154 Arthur Mosely No.9 in the Good Companions Solving Tourney. It took the winner Mr. H.L. Brooke 146 minutes to solve 12 x 2-ers.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+l+( 7+-+-+n+p' 6-+-+p+-zP& 5+-+-+N+-% 4-sNp+kzpL+$ 3+nwQ-+-+-# 2-+-zPp+pmK" 1+-+lR-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x11) (two BBs) Key 1.Qf6 waiting If 1..Nf7 any/PxN/e5/Bc2/f3/Nb3 any/c3 2.Nd6/QxP/Qc6/Rxe2/Ng3/Qd4/d3

p.264 There was a Good Companions Solving Tourney held world-wide on 22/2 at 23 different places including four Australian Clubs. Capablanca solved the 12 positions in 15 minutes well ahead of John Keeble at Norwich in 45. p.266 Brisbane Courier Tourney for 2-ers. 1st P.F. Blake, 2nd Reitveld, 3rd Mansfield, 4th Palkoska, 5th Dobbs, HMs to J.D. Williams, W.E. Cornwell (Murgon Qld), H.J. Tucker and Godfrey Heathcote. 160 problems, Judge A. Mosely. p.292 had some fantastic Oriental chess problems. p.319 Re the Sinking of the Lusitania a young chap named Les Martin, son of J.W. Martin of the Bradford Chess Club, saw the torpedos coming and helped rescue 100 people. p.329 The Melbourne Leader was to hold an eccentricity Tourney with entries closing 1/12 with H.E. Grant. p.380 The war was taking away Australian chess players such as Donald McArthur the NSW champion, L.S. Crakanthorp, Beebey and Dr. R. Robinson. p.405/6 Six Australian problems were used for a solving tourney at the Melbourne Chess Club 10/8/15. Mr. K. Forrest was 1st and W. Thomas 2nd: No.1 Henry Tate

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vl-+L+( 7+-+-+-zPN' 6-+-zP-+-+& 5+-+-mkp+-% 4-+KtR-+qtR$ 3+-wQ-+-zp-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+n! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x6) Key 1.Nf6 threat 2.Nd7 If 1..KxN/f4/BxN/Qxg7/QxR+/Qe2+ 2.RxQ/Rd5/Qa5/Rd5/QxQ/Rd3 (BM: Took me an hour.)

No.2 H.J. Tucker

XABCDEFGHY 8L+n+-+-vL( 7+-zP-+-+-' 6p+R+P+-+& 5tRr+k+N+Q% 4p+-+-+-+$ 3mK-sn-+r+-# 2-zPpwq-+-+" 1+lsN-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (11x10) Key 1.Qg6 threat 2. RxN If 1..Ne4/Rc5/Nd6/Ke4;2.Rc3/cRxR/Ne7/Rc4 (BM: I failed to solve this one.) No.3 C.G.M. Watson & H. Tate

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-vLn+( 7mKp+Rwq-zP-' 6-+-+Lzp-zp& 5+PmkP+-+-% 4l+-+P+-+$ 3+RzP-+-+-# 2-snN+-+-+" 1+-sN-+Qvlr! xabcdefghy Mate in two (13x10) Key 1.d6 threat 2. Qf5 If 1..Rh5/Bf2/Nd3/Nc4/BxR/Bd4; 2.QxB/QxB/NxN/QxN/NxB/PxB

No.4 J.D. Williams

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+P+pwQ-+& 5+-tRLzP-+-% 4lzP-mkr+p+$ 3+P+p+-zP-# 2-+-+pmK-+" 1+-+-sn-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x8) Key 1.Qd8 threat 2.Bxe6/c4 If 1..PxB/Kxe5/Rxe5/Bxc6/Rf4 2.QxP/Bc4/Rc4/BxB/Bf3 No.5 T.D. Clarke

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+K+( 7+P+-+Q+L' 6-+-+-zp-+& 5+-+-mkp+-% 4-+-snlsN-+$ 3+-+nzp-tRp# 2-+-+-+-zP" 1+-+-sN-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (8x8) Key 1.Qd7 threat 2.Ng6 If 1..Nxf4;2.Rxe3..N any;3.Nf3 If 1..KxN;2.QxN..Ne5;3.Qe4 or 2..N else;3.Qd6 If 1..Bc6;2.Ne1xN If 1..Bc5+;2.QxB

No.6 J.A. Erskine

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sn-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6pzp-+-zp-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4L+k+N+N+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2nwQ-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x7) Key 1.Bd7 threat 2.Nd6+..Kd5/d3;3.Qd2/Bf5 If 1..Kd5;2.eNxf6+..Kd6;3.Qe5 If 1..Kd3;2.eNf2+..Kc4;3.Ne3 or 1..Nd any;2.Be6+..Kd3;3.eNf2 If 1..Nh any;2.Qc3+..Kd5;3.gNxf6 p.423 The NZCA cancelled the Congress and sent £20 to the Hospital Fund.

British Chess Magazine 1916 p.10 Henry Charlick was 70 last July. p.30 Love letters without words by T. Salthouse – 24 Letter Problems and long article. p.54 A Silver Rook was presented as a trophy for the annual telegraphic match between NSW and Vic. It was donated by H.B. Bignold. (BM: Where is it today?) p.58 Sixth Australian Columns Tourney – J.D. Williams 1st prize, H.J. Tucker 2nd and HMs to O’Keefe, Williams Hawes and Glynn. It seemed that Williams’ 2-er had no solution and this claim was made by Henry Tate. So here is Tucker’s 2nd prize:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-mK-+-+( 7tR-sN-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5sN-+-+-zp-% 4-mk-zP-+-+$ 3tR-sn-+lzp-# 2nzP-vL-wq-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x7) Key 1.Bf4 threat 2.Bd6 If 1..PxB/Ne4/Qxd4+/Nb5/Na4;2.Qe7/Rb7/Bd6/Na6/Rb3 B.G.Laws:- “It is a curious coincidence that in the 1914 competition J.D. Williams was the judge and awarded A. Mosely the 1st prize and in the 1915 tourney A. Mosely as judge gave the 1st prize to J.D.Williams.” (BM: Check the Australian Problem History re Williams’ faulty 2-er.) p.70 A good obituary of E.B. Cook p.30 B.G. Laws received 8 x 2-ers from the Good Companions Chess Club that had been given to J.R. Capablanca to solve against time Nov. 19th, 1915 and they were set for the BCM solvers. No.8 on the next page was by F.A.L. Kuskop. Another two problems were added making 10 in all and Capablanca took 21 minutes. A young 17 year old enthusiast Chas Promislo took 30 minutes. The best BCM solver was H.E. Knott at 32 minutes. On the 12th February ‘Lincoln’s Birthday’ Alain White met some chess friends at his home and after a banquet, eight problems all 2-ers were set by Murray Marble for solving and ACW did it in 13 minutes!

F.A.L. Kuskop

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-mK( 7zp-+-+-+L' 6-+pzp-sN-+& 5tr-vl-+-+-% 4-+P+R+-+$ 3zpn+k+-+-# 2NzpR+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (7x9) Key 1.Ng4 threat 2.Rf4 If 1..Bd4+/Nd4/Be3/Nd2;2.Re5/Re3/Rf4/Rc3 p.131 A Chess Board of Australian woods was presented to the Melbourne Chess Club and won by Mr. J.C. Duff of ‘Indian Mutiny’ fame. He represented it to the MCC that held a tourney for the Victorian Red Cross with the board as a prize. p.150 3rd Prize Hampshire Telegraph and Post A. Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-sn( 7sn-+-+p+-' 6l+rvL-+-mK& 5tR-+-+-+-% 4-+k+N+-zp$ 3+-+R+-+-# 2N+-zP-+-+" 1+-+-vlQ+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x8) Key 1.Nc5 threat 2.Qf4 If 1..Bxd2+/RxB+/Bc8/Nb5/Ng6/Bf2 2.RxB/RxR/Ra4/Ra4/Qxf7/Qc1

p.154 Washington’s Birthday Solving Tourney by Good Companions Chess Club. No.6 by A. Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-sN-+( 7+-mK-zp-+-' 6-+-+R+n+& 5+-zpk+n+-% 4R+-+-+N+$ 3+-zP-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (6x5) Key 1.Re2 waiting If 1..c4/e6/e5/Ng any/Nf any;2.Ra5/Nf6/Nf6/Re5/Rd2 p.155 Washington’s Birthday Solving Tourney by Good Companions Chess Club No.11 A. Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8K+-+-+-+( 7+n+Lsn-+-' 6Q+-+-+-+& 5+-+p+p+-% 4-+-sNkzP-+$ 3+N+RvL-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+r+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (8x6) Key 1.Qa3 waiting If 1..KxR/RxR/bN any/eN any;2.Nd2/QxN/Nc5/Bxf5 p.161 A major article on the Pickaninny Theme by A.C. White. Dr. O’Keefe became very interested in this theme (four variations by a BP). p.216 Arthur Mosely became the problem editor of the Brisbane Courier.

p.252 B.G. Laws:- “The annexed 2-er has struck us as uncommonly hard to solve. We take it from the Brisbane Courier of April this year. Dr. O’Keefe has composed some very smart two movers and this one possesses clever points.”

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7sN-vLn+-+-' 6-+-+p+-zp& 5+-zpkzp-snR% 4Q+-zP-+L+$ 3+-+-+-+p# 2-+-+Rzp-mK" 1+-+-+N+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x9) Key 1.Rd2 threat 2.dxe If 1..exd/cxd/e4/Ke4/Ne4/c4/Nf3+ 2.Bf3/Qc6/QxN/dxc/Bf3/Qc6 p.284 Obituary of J.L. Jacobsen. He died RPA 2/6. p.313 Henry Charlick dies. Sydney School of Arts CC has a roll of honour’ 25% of the average membership have enlisted. p.324 A. Mosely gets HM in Pittsburgh Gazette Times 3-er Tourney. p.335 Obituary of H. Charlick. p.338 Anecdote on G. Gundersen in ‘The Assault’ by F.W. Wile p.175. p.404 J.K. Heydon a strong problemist had a Defence to the Evans Gambit. F.J. Wallis of ‘Malton’ Hunters Hill, Sydney wrote the article. p.420 Review of ‘Chess Whimsicalities’ by Expertus (James Crake). p.422 Brisbane Courier 2-er Tourney. Westbury 1st, O’Keefe 2nd, W.P. Cornwell 3rd. (BM: No problems given.)

British Chess Magazine 1917 p.60/61 Another Good Companions Chess Club 10 x 2-er solving challenge saw Capablanca get them in 19 minutes with one wrong. The young Chas Promislo got them all sound in 16! Youth wins. p.125 2nd Australian Columns Tourney 1st Prize W.P. Cornwell

XABCDEFGHY 8-+rtrl+-vL( 7+-+-+p+-' 6-vlR+-tR-+& 5+p+k+-+-% 4-zPq+-zp-+$ 3+-+-+K+-# 2L+NzP-+-+" 1wQ-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x6) Key 1.Qh1 threat 2.Qh5 If 1..Qb3+/Bd4/Bc7/Ke5/Bd7/Rd6 2.BxQ/KxP/Rc5/Qh5/fRd6/fRd6 2nd Prize J.J. O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7snN+-+-+-' 6Lvl-+-+-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4p+kzp-zp-+$ 3zpR+-+Q+-# 2PsnptRP+p+" 1+-mKl+-vL-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (9x12) Key 1.e4 waiting If 1..dxe ep/fxe ep/Be2/bN any/Bc5/B else/aN any 2.Qd5/Qf7/Rxc2/Qd3/Na5/Rxd4/Bxb5

p.155 Good Companions Tourney 1st Mansfield, 2nd Westbury, 3rd O’Keefe, 4th Weenink 3rd Prize J.J. O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+K+-vl( 7zp-+-+-+-' 6P+-+Q+-+& 5zpk+-+qtRr% 4N+R+l+-+$ 3zP-+-sN-+-# 2P+-+ntr-+" 1+-+L+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in two (10x9) Key 1.Rc2 threat 2.Qc4 If 1..Qe5/Bd3/Bd5/KxN/Bc6+;2.Rb2/Qc6/Rc5/Qb3/QxB p.192 J.K. Heydon No.3015

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-vL-+( 7+-+-+p+-' 6-+-+-mk-+& 5+-+-+p+-% 4-+-+-sN-zp$ 3+-+-zp-+K# 2-+Q+P+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (5x5) Key 1.Qa4 If 1..Kg5;2.Qe8..KxN/f6;3.Bh6/Ne6 or 1..Ke5;2.Qb4..Kf6/f6;3.Qe7/Bd6 But sadly cooked by 1.Kxh4..Ke5;2.Qd3..KxN/Kf6;3.Bd6/Qd6. p.199 A 4 game article on ‘The Wild Muzio’ by Gunnar Gundersen, Chess Editor of the Australasian. p.228 Dr. John O’Keefe wrote to B.G. Laws:- “I am sending you a pair of rather curiously related 4-ers.” B.G. Laws:- “Dr. O’Keefe’s original version (which we give below after amendment) was

contributed to the Falkirk Herald 1914 Tourney. Comparison of the two positions is best made between Mr. McArthur’s and the form below, but as the diagrammed setting is to our mind the better we have given it where it is. It appears that Mr. McArthur was so struck with the fine try in the Doctor’s position, he decided to fix it up, and so we are fortunate in having the pleasure of presenting these two works.” Dr J.J. O’Keefe Falkirk Herald 1914

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vL-+-+( 7+-+-+-zp-' 6-+-+-+Pzp& 5zp-+N+-+p% 4P+-+-+-zP$ 3+-+k+-+-# 2Q+-+-+-+" 1+-+K+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in four moves (7x5) Key 1.Bc7..Kd4;2.Ne7..or 1..Ke4;2.Qb3; see solution to No.3022 below by O’Keefe.

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+K+-+( 7+-+-+-+Q' 6-+-+k+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-zp-+N+-+$ 3+p+-+-+P# 2-zP-+-+-+" 1+-+-vL-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (6x3) Key 1.Bf2..Ke5;2.Nd2..Kd5;3.Qe7..Kc6;4.Qd7 If 2..Kd5;3.Qe7..Kc6;4.Qd7 If 2..Kc6;3.Bg3..Kg5/e6;4.Ne4/Qf7 If 2..Kf4;3.Ke7..Ke5/g5;4.Qe4/Be3 If 1..Kd5;2.Qg6..Kc4;3.Nc5..Kd5/b5;4.Qe6/Qa6 or 2…Ke5;3.Nc5..Kf4/d5;4.Qf6/Qe6

p.232 W.J. McArthur No.3023

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vL-+-+( 7+-+-+-zp-' 6-+-+-+-zp& 5zp-+N+-+p% 4P+-+-+-zP$ 3+-+k+-+-# 2Q+-zp-+-+" 1+-+K+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (6x6) Key 1.Nc3 If 1..KxN;2.Bb6..Kb4;3.Qc2 ..any;4.Bc5 If 1..Kd4;2.Kxd2..Ke5;3.Qf7..Kd4/d6;4.Qd5 ..Kc5;3.Qd5+..Kb4;4.Be7 If 1..Ke3;2.Qe6+..Kd4;3.Bxa5..Kc5;4.Qe2 ..Kf4;3.Bc7+..Kf3;4.Qe2 ..Kf3;3.Qh3+..Kf2/f4;4.Bb6/c7 ..Kd3;3.Nb5..amy;4.Qe2 If 1..g5/g6;2.Qxd2+..Kc4;3.Bxa5..Kc5/b3;4.Qd5/Qa2 (BM: I spent all night sorting this one out and can see why McArthur thought it worth making the try a key. Quite amazing that such a small variation in position with O’Keefe’s 4-er with the Bc7 key produced such a beauty. I put it on Extreme Chess for soundness and it found the Nc3 key instantly.) p.258 Brisbane Courier Tourney 1st & 2nd G. Guidelli, 3rd Mansfield & Chandler, 4th O’Keefe & Smith, HMs to Cornwell, Ellerman, Henrickson, Fagan and Sparke. No diagrams. p.281 ‘Life and Letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton’ by his daughter Mrs Adrian Potter is well reviewed in BCM with a page. Mostly about British chess playing MPs but I think he was in Australia and organised parliamentary chess here. p.364 The Manhattan Chess Club moved for the 6th time on 29 August since its inception in 1877 from the Carnegie Hall Building to the Hotel Sherman Square Broadway and 71st Manhattan. It started at the Café Logeling, 49, Bowery, moved to 110, East Fourteenth Street in 1883; to 22, East Seventeenth Street in 1885; to 22, West Twenty-seventh Street, in 1889; to 105, East Twenty-second Street, in 1893; and to Carnegie Hall Building in 1903.The oil portrait of Paul Morphy went with each move.

p.304 J.K. Heydon No.3031

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+L+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3+-+N+-+-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+Q+-+-+K! xabcdefghy White mates in four moves (4x1) Key 1.Bc8 If 1..Kc3;2.Bf5..Kc4;3.Qb4+ ..Kd2;3.Qb2+ ..Kd3;3.Qc2 If 1..Kc4;2.Qc2+..Kb5;3.Qc3 ..Kd4;3.Bf5 (BM: Extreme Chess solution incomplete. The problem bears a resemblance to the O’Keefe/McArthur 4-ers but very different.) p.378 7th Australian Columns Tourney (from Brisbane Courier 25 Aug) (BM: And here we have some of the missing ACT results as advised in the ‘History’!) 1st Prize J.A. Erskine

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sn-+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6pzp-+-zp-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4L+k+N+N+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2nwQ-+-+-+" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy Mate in three (5x7)

Key 1.Bd7 threat 2.Nd6+..Kd3/Kd5;3.Bf5/Qd2 If 1..Kd5;2.eNxf6+..Kd6/Kc4;3.Qe5/Ne5 or 1..Kd3;2.eNf2+..Kc4;3.Ne3 If 1..dN any;2.Be6+..Kd3;3.eNf2 or 1..aN any;2.Qc3+..Kd5;3.Nxf6 A pretty good one and quite a contrast to the 2nd prizewinner by O’Keefe. 2nd Prize Dr. J.J. O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+K+Q+( 7+-+N+-+-' 6-+-+N+-+& 5+-zP-+k+-% 4-zp-zp-+-+$ 3+-vl-zp-zP-# 2-+pzp-zpp+" 1+-+n+ntrl! xabcdefghy White mates in three (6x13) Key 1.Ke7 threat 2.Nf6 & 3.Qg5 If 1..Ke4;2.Nf6+..Ke5/Kf3;3.Qg5/Qg4 or 1..Nxg3;2.Qh7+..Kg4;3.Ne5 If 1..d3;2.g4+..Ke4;3.Qa8 or 1..Nh2;2.Nf4..Ke4;3.Qd5 HMs went to T.D. Clarke and H.J. Tucker. I do not have the October 1917 BCM. Here is an obituary for Max J. Meyer:p.408 It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we received from a member of the family the news of the death of Mr. Max J. Meyer, which occurred on the 2nd November, after a serious illness extending nine months. For 35 years the deceased had been an invalid, the result of an accident caused by a fall from the ship’s rigging on which he was following the profession so dear to him. The sea had always a great charm for him, and with sadness he used to deplore the incident of his life which deprived him of marine ambitions. Born in 1865, the deceased was second son of the late Rev. Theodore Meyer (Presbyterian Minister and Missionary), his brother, Sir William Meyer, being at present time Finance Minister in India. He was educated at the City of London School and Highgate Grammar School, afterwards the Thames Nautical Training College, where he distinguished himself very much. It was on his first voyage in 1882 he met with the mishap which disabled him, his spine being fractured; he remained paralysed from the waist downwards. At the outbreak of the war he volunteered his services as Naval Instructor to the Admiralty, but the necessity of being accompanied by an attendant rendered acceptance not feasible. However, he privately instructed a friend who is now commanding on one of H.M.’s ships. For a number of years Mr. Meyer gave to the chess world some really good problem work and though he did not attain the very first rank, his positions were in the

main carried out with excellent judgement and proved quite popular. After the relinquishment of the chess editorship of ‘Brighton Society’ by Dr. Hunt, he took it over and subsequently transferred his efforts to the ‘Hampstead and Highgate Express’ till health dictated retirement. Both these columns were managed with conspicuous ability, as were also the important tourneys which he conducted through their medium. He was a believer in the modern school of composition, and advocated his convictions whenever opportunity obtained. Mr. Meyer was a most genial man, with beaming contentment in his physical infirmity, delighting to entertain his chess friends when this was possible, and was occasionally a keen spectator at such chess festivals as he could attend, but unfortunately distance and other circumstances rendered this indulgence impracticable excepting on rare occasions. We will shortly give a selection of his work. B.G. Laws was loaned a 200 problem MS from which he selected problems. Here is one. 1st Prize Football and Field 1897

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-vL( 7+-+p+-+N' 6-+-+-+RzP& 5zp-+-+P+r% 4Kvl-+k+-tr$ 3+L+-+-+-# 2N+-zP-+P+" 1+-+-+Qsn-! xabcdefghy Mate in two Key 1.Rg8 waiting If 1..d6/d5/Bb4 any/gN any/Rxf5/Rxh6/Rh3/Rf4 2.Re8/Bc2/Nc3/Qf3/Qc4!/Ng4/Rg4/Qb1! (BM: Two great mates in Qc4 & Qb1. May 2016 – I can’t find this so author unknown.) p.405 Australian Columns Tourney, O’Keefe Judge. 1st H. Tucker, 2nd H. Beechey and HMs to Tucker, D. Harris, McArthur and Watson. The December edition of BCM always contained some Christmas ‘puzzlers’ and B.G. Laws wrote :- “As a change from the ordinary is generally appreciated at this season, we have pleasure in submitting the following interesting propositions, which have been kindly contributed for the purpose. We specially call attention to Mr. Dudeney’s problem. It is an exceedingly clever piece of Bishop’s play, and will not be found particularly difficult, though to effect the mate in the fewest number of moves is not so easy…” (BM: Henry Dudeney wrote that terrific book ‘Amusements in Mathematics’ reprinted by Dover and it has some eccentric chess problems in it. He was a member of the Sussex Chess Problem Federation.)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-zp-vL-' 6-+P+-+-+& 5+-+-zpP+p% 4-+P+P+-zP$ 3zP-+-+-+L# 2-+K+-zPP+" 1mk-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates moving ONLY his Bishops (11x4) 1.Bh6..Ka2;2.Bc1..Ka1;3.Bd2..Ka2;4.Bb4..Ka1;5.Bc3+..Ka2;6.Bb2..e6;7.Bc1..Ka1; 8.Bd2..Ka2;9.Bb4..Ka1;10.Bc3+..Ka2;11.Bb2..exf (and this was my first stumble); 12.Bxe5..Kxa3 (the other choices of f4 or fxe are given later); 13.Bd6+..Ka4 14.Bxf5..Ka5;15.Bc5..Ka6;16.Bc8+..Ka5;17.Bb7.. Ka4;18.Bb6..Kb4;19.Ba6..Ka4; 20.Bb5+..Kb4;21.Ba7..Ka5;22.Bd4..Kb4;23.Bb6..Ka3;24.Ba5..Ka2;25.Bb4..Ka1; 26.Ba4..Ka2;27.Bb3+..Ka1;28.Bc3++ The f4 version: 12..f4;13.Bxf4..Kxa3;14.Bd2..Ka4;15.Bc8..Ka3;16.Ba6..Ka4; 17.Bb5+..Ka3 and mate in 5 as above. The fxe version: 12..fxe;13.Bd6..e3;14.fxe..Ka1; & 18.Ba3..Ka1;19.Bf8 say..Ka2; 20.Bb3+..Ka1;21.Bg7++ The big trick is that 1.Bxe5+ leads to no solution says BGL. White’s 12 th Bxe5 is compulsory – seems ironic. There are many stalemates. Black has to be left with a move. In March 1918 BCM, B.G. Laws advised that solutions were received from H.E. Matthews, C. Mansfield, J.A.J. Drewitt and H. Hosey Davis. The latter produced a shorter solution to Dudeney’s clever problem. Main line:- …17.Bd4 or e3..Kb4; 18.Ba6..Ka5;19.Bb5..Kb4; 20.Bb6..Ka3;21.Bc5+..Ka2;22.Ba4..Ka8;23.Bd4+..Ka7; 24.Bb3+..Ka3;25.Bc5++ If 17..Ka4;18.Bd2 or c3..Ka3;19.Ba6..Ka4;20.Bb5+..Ka3;21.Bd2..Ka2;22.Bc1..Ka8; 23.Ba4..Ka2;24.Bb3+..Ka1;25.Bb2++ Now can it be lowered? After move 11.Bb2..exf why not 12.Bc1..Ka1;13.Bxf5..Ka2; 18.Bb3+..Ka1;19.Bb2++ That is one variation. Say Black plays 12….f4;13.Bc8..f3; 14.Ba6..fxg; 15.Bb5..Pg1=Q;16.Ba4 one move too late. Or 12..fxe;13.Bc8..e3;14.Bxe3 forced..e4;15.Ba6..Kxa3;16.Bb5..Kb4;17.Bb6..e3; 18.fxe..Ka3;19.Bc5+..Ka2;20.Ba4..Ka1;21Bd4+..Ka2;22.Bb3+..Ka3;23.Bc5++ It looks like the killer move for Black is 12…f4 leading to stalemate. A lovely thing. Comments? My set of 1917 BCM is missing October.

British Chess Magazine 1918 p.28 B.G. Laws:- “We completed the 3-er but had some suspicions that it might have been anticipated – it has not appeared before – but we were unable to trace its exact counterpart, though the following by F.A.L. Kuskop is curiously similar. It is quite a coincidence and we think the later problem has some rights to recognition…”

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+K+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-tR-+-+& 5+-+Lmk-+-% 4-+R+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+ zP-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy XABCDEFGHY 8-+-sNK+-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-tR-vL-+-+& 5+-+k+-+-% 4-+R+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-zP-+-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Both problems are 3-ers the first by Laws (5x1) is more economical and after the key 1.Be4 if 1..KxR;2.f4..Ke6;3.Rc6 or 1..Kf4;2.Rd5..Kg4;3.Bg2. Kuskop’s (6x1) is solved 1.Ne6..KxN;2.Rc5..Kf6;3.Bf8 or 1..KxR;2.Nf4..Kd4;3.Rb4. The publication date of Kuskop’s is not given but clearly earlier. p.29 Australian Columns Tourney 3-er Judge O’Keefe:- McArthur 1st, Hawes 2nd and HMs to Hawes and Erskine.

p.30 Good Companions Oct. Awards, 3rd prize J.J. O’Keefe, HM Tate. Nov. Award, HM O’Keefe. W.J. McArthur 1st Prize

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+p+-+K' 6N+rsn-+-+& 5+-+-vl-+p% 4-zp-zPN+-tr$ 3+p+-+-+p# 2l+-+kzP-+" 1+-+R+-wQ-! xabcdefghy White mates in three moves (7x11) Key 1.f4 threat 2.Qf2+..KxR;3.Qd2 If 1..Kf3;2.Ng5+`..Kxf4/Ke2;3.Rf1/Qe1 or f1 If 1..NxN;2.Qf1+..Ke3;3.Rd3 or 1..Rxf4;2.Re2+..Kf3;3.Qh1 If 1..Nc4;2.Re1+..Kd3/Kf3;3.Nxb4/Qg3 or 1..Rc2;2.Qf2+..KxR;3.Qf1 p.69 N.M. Gibbins responded to McArthur’s 3-er with: “it constrains me to write you a line on the subject of fringe variations and economy. Surely the WN at a6 is not worth the variation it produces…” Gibbins, a very strong problemist, altered McArthur’s by removing the WN on a6 moving the BR on c6 to c4 and the BB from e5 to g5. He felt the position was more economical and difficult. Good Companions Sixth Meredith Tourney for 2-ers 1st Prize J.J. O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+K+-+-+( 7+-+-vL-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+R+-+-+-% 4kzpQvl-+-+$ 3+-+R+-+-# 2n+r+r+-+" 1+-+L+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two (6x6) Key 1.Rd5 threat 2.Qc6 If 1..Nc3/Bc5/Re6/Bc3;2.Qxb4/Qa6/BxR/QxN

p.62 J.J. O’Keefe wrote Laws that he was enlisting as an MO in WW1 making the claim that he hoped against hope that Australia would get conscription to equalise the individual sacrifice. p.79 Hull Times (UK) chess column suspended due to shortage of paper. p.101 From Chess Amateur J.J. O’Keefe & W.J.Smith

XABCDEFGHY 8-vlN+-+-+( 7zp-+-+-+-' 6N+-zp-+-+& 5+k+-+-+-% 4R+R+-+-+$ 3zp-+-+lwQp# 2P+-+p+-zP" 1mK-+-vL-sn-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (9x9) Key 1.Ne7 threat cRb4 If 1..Kb6;2.cRb4 Cook 1.Qg8 threat 2.Ra5 If 1..Bc7/Bd5/d5;2.NxB/QxB/Qe8 In April 1918 this problem features in an article ‘Some Reflections on the change mate’ by H.D.O. Bernard. Bernard:- “I should be sorry to say how long I took in finding the authors’ solution 1.Ne7. On mature reflection I came to the conclusion that the authors’ decided to publish over here as, being resident in Australia, they thought it safer! The astonishing part of the whole business is that there isn’t one solution, but two, and of the two I prefer the cook – which I never discovered! Try Qg8 and see if you do not agree with me. It is true that in this there is also the mushroom dual – a more appropriate term has yet to be found – but it is only after permissive moves of the KB, and there is as least some variety, while after the authors’ key the only variety is the choice of mate!” (BM: I prefer the cook too.) p.123 Queensland Chess Association 2-move International Tourney 1st prize £3/3/- Closes 30/6. p.168 A Rural Qld chess player thought a ‘book player’ is a kind of professional. In Brisbane Edward Lasker’s ‘Chess Strategy’ was in the library 3 months before anyone looked at it and in 2 years it has been out only 6 times. BCM is appreciated rurally. p.196 NZ Times Mr. Tane Kirsii (Tom Green) of Kaiapoi, half caste Maori Chief and keen composer and solver dies. He was an authority on Maori history. p.200 NZ Times April 2 very good article on NZ chess.

p.218 A lovely sonnet to a chess problem by Capt. T.K. Wigan of 1’6 Devon Regiment. Child of my fertile brain – At least it seemed Fertile, till I endeavoured to translate To terms of Piece and Pawn, and eight by eight, The bright ideas with which I thought it teemed; But then I found the road that I had deemed Led straight to well-hid key and model mate Had been beset by a malignant fate. With obstacles of which I had not dreamed – Child of my brain then, born with great travail, And like the mouse the labouring mountain bore, To thy birth-pangs most disproportionate. Go boldly forth; the expectant world assail; Let solvers, baffled, o’er thy mysteries pore, Or to thy weakness prove compassionate. p.252 J.J. O’Keefe

XABCDEFGHY 8-+Q+-+K+( 7wq-+-+p+-' 6-+n+-+-+& 5+l+-+-tR-% 4-+k+L+-+$ 3+-+N+-+-# 2n+N+-+-+" 1vLR+-+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (8x6) Key 1.Rg3 waiting if 1..Qg1/aN any/p any/B any;2.Na3/Rb4/Qe6/Na3 B.G. Laws:- “Very appropriate and clever.” (BM: Laws is commenting on an article in the Good Companions ‘Our Folder’ on change mates where this problem featured.) p.269 Café de la Regence ‘deserted’ and all have gone to Café de la Univers. ‘Not so’ writes La Strategie which considers the Regence the ‘hive’ that sends out ‘swarms to colonise’. p.278 Brisbane Courier 4th half-yearly Tourney, 1st Grabowski, 2nd Ellerman, 3rd Westbury, HMs to Guidelli, Ellerman, Chandler, Sparke, E.H.H. Jerrard of Gayndali, Qld and Weenink. The last 3 months Oct-Dec are missing from my collection.

British Chess Magazine 1919 p.29 B.G. Laws:We had a most pleasant experience early in last month in meeting in London Major J.J. O’Keefe, from Kogarah, Sydney. Previously he had written from an “at sea” address and we are pleased to give a three-mover composed by him (No.3090) whilst on active service. We believe Major O’Keefe, who has returned to New South Wales takes back a good impression of the composers of this country, and was delighted at becoming the first Over-seas Ordinary Member of the British Chess Problem Society. After the happy evening we received a letter from which we quote the following passage, believing it to be interesting, and we take the risk of being considered vain in doing so:- “I find one’s first impression of men and places is disappointment. The Pyramids leave one cold. Cairo is sordid and exasperating. Jerusalem is a filthy stinking hole and London is not the London of my dreams, but B.G. Laws is a marvel. The bewildering rapidity with which you set up and demonstrated position after position was thrilling in the extreme”. Amongst the many subjects discussed was one which shows that one of the objects of the B.C.P.S. is urgently needed to be carried out, videelicit- defining technology. It appears that in Australian problem circles an argument arose on the threat “piccaninny” device. Major O’Keefe’s contention is that the threat piccaninny to be complete, every move of the Black Pawn (of which there are four) must defend the threat. The annexed two-mover illustrates the point. It will be seen after the key 1.Pd6 does not hamper the mate menaced, and the conclusion is that it fails as a true illustration of the theme. The Major offered to devote £5 to a problem prize fund if he was wrong, provided Mr. C.G. Watson, who held the opposing view, would donate ten shillings. A circumstance occurred which caused Major O’Keefe to send his cheque along. Since then, however, others have expressed opinions which lead him to be more convinced than ever that he was right and our views have been sought. By J. Keeble, Norwich

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+Q+( 7+-+p+-+-' 6-+N+R+-+& 5+l+-+-+-% 4-+-+Pzp-+$ 3+-+-mk-+-# 2-+P+-+P+" 1+-+-mK-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two (7x4) Key 1.Qd8 threat 2.Qb6 if 1..PxR/PxN/d6/d5/f3;2.Qd4/Qd2/Qb6/exd/Qg5

In the absence of a definition of the eccentric term piccaninny perhaps there is room for a difference of opinion, but we should hold most decidedly that the idea centred in the feature that the moves of the piccaninny Pawn must assist in forming or making possible four distinct mates, none of which were practicable until that Pawn moved. We therefore would not regard Mr. Keeble’s position as a perfect specimen. In a block problem of this class the characteristic must appear, and consequently we see no reason why it should not in the threat. Our overseas visitor showed us a charming four-mover of his, which we solved at home. We will endeavour to find room for this next month with a companion brought about by what looked like the author’s intention- another curiosity in chess problem composition. (BM: There are photos of O’Keefe on the Hospital Ship Karoola on the OzProblems website.) p.32 Major J.J. O’Keefe No.3090 “At Sea”

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-mK-+( 7+Rzp-+-zp-' 6-+k+-+-+& 5zPpsN-+p+-% 4-zp-+-+-zP$ 3zpL+Nzp-zp-# 2-+-vlr+-+" 1+n+-+-+-! xabcdefghy Mate in three (7x12) Key 1.Rb8 threat 2.Re8 & 3.Re6 If 1..Nc3;2.Nb7..Kd7;3.Ne5 or 2..else;3.Ne5 If 1..Bc3;2.Rd8..any;3.Bd5 p.36 Death of Carl Schlecter. p.41 The Estate of Louis Goldsmith “The Rupert of Victorian Chess” gives from his will the Silver Trophy he won 1873-5 for future play at the Melbourne Chess Club. p.44 The British General Election swept away most of the chess players in the House of Commons. The three greatest players Mr. Bonar Law, Sir Watson Rutherford and Captain Barnett survived but Sir Ellis Griffith, Matt Keating, Lief Jones, Sir Arthur Marshall, Frank Goldstone, Caradoc Rees, Mr Sheehy, Mr Whitty, Mr McGhee, Walter Roche, William Clough and Sir James Hill will be missing.

p.60 Major J.J. O’Keefe (From the Melbourne Leader)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+QvL-+( 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+k+-+-% 4-+-zp-+-+$ 3sN-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-+-zp" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy White mates in four (4x3) Key 1.Bh6 waiting If 1..Kc5;2.Qe6..d3;3.Bf8+..Kd4;4.Nb5 or 2..Kb4;3Qf4+..KxN/Ka5;3.Bc1/Qb5 1..d3;2.Bf4..d2;3.Qe5+..Kc6;3.Qb5 1..Kd6;2.Bf4+..Kc5;3.Qb5++ or 2…Kd5;3.Qe5+..Kc6;4.Qb5 B.G. Laws gave his position worked out after O’Keefe’s visit:

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+-wQL+-' 6-+-+-+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-mk-+-+$ 3+-+p+-+-# 2N+-+-+p+" 1+-+-+-mKl! xabcdefghy White mates in four (4x4) Key 1.Qg5..If 1..d2;2.Qd5+..Ke3;3.Qe5+..Kf3/Kd3;4.Bh5/Nb4 1..Ke4;2.Nc3+..Kd4;3.Nb5+..Ke4;4.Bd5 (BM: Amazingly different problems. I wish I’d had been a fly on the wall when they met.) p.130 The problemist J.K. Heydon drew in a CC game with the Sydney Chess Club against Wallis, Britton and Hunt in 46. (BM: A very good effort.)

p.176 T.R. Dawson’s obit of the US composer Murray Marble aged 37 was very moving. He wrote of Murray’s “splendid lovable character, his kindnesses, his gentle humours and righteous indignations, his gaities or his sorrows. These things are all too vivid in my mind while the blow of his death is so heavy upon me. Suffice it that I have written these few inadequate lines to the sweet memories of a dear friend.” Marble had lost his brother three weeks earlier and now succumbed to pneumonia. Probably a result of the world flue epidemic. Dawson and he never met but their correspondence was “intimate and continuous”. Here is one of his best 3-ers: 1st Prize La Strategie May 1908

XABCDEFGHY 8-+L+-+-+( 7+-+-zp-+-' 6K+-+-+P+& 5zpP+kvLp+-% 4N+-+-zp-+$ 3+p+Nzp-zpq# 2-tR-+-+-tr" 1+-+-+-+l! xabcdefghy White mates in 3 moves (8x11) Key1 1.Rg2 threat 2.Bb7+..Ke6/c4;3.aNc5/aNb2 If 1..RxR;2.aNc5..any;3.Be6 If 1..Kc4;2.Be6+..KxN;3.Nb2 or 1..Ke4;2.Bb7+..KxN;3.Nb2 If 1..QxR;2.Bxf5..any;3.Nb6 Great key unblocking b2 for the WN. In the diagram the pawns are unclear as to colour; so hope they are now right. p.215 Brisbane Courier half-yearly tourney for 2-ers, Judge A. Mosely. p.321 Brisbane Courier Tourney above 1st Ellerman, 2nd Bottachi, 3rd Guidelli, HMs to Jerrard (Aust), Muller, Loedel, Bech, Blake & Ellerman. p.397 Leading article by F.J. Wallis of Sydney on ‘Bolshevistic Chess’ An amusing Christmas story of a communist loving fictional friend of Wallis’s named Reuben Tomkins, Esq. Bank Inspector for the Squatters’ and Woolgrowers’ Loan and Mortgage Bank of NSW and his new invention of Commie Chess. p.405 made sad reading as BCM was to close. Unlike our national chess magazine ‘Australasian Chess’ which did in December 2013, BCM continued and still does today. The year finished with C.G. Watson’s reply to Dr. O’Keefe on ‘picaninnies’.

p.439 B.G. Laws:- “The following two-mover which has taken first prize in the Australian Columns Competition set on foot by Mr. A.C. White, is in a way a remarkable work. It will be seen on solving it that it is what the Americans would term a double “Pickaninny” i.e. a distinct mate given to eight defences of two Black Pawns.” By C.G. Watson

XABCDEFGHY 8-+N+-+-+( 7+Kzp-+p+-' 6-wQ-zPN+P+& 5+P+k+-wq-% 4-+-+-vL-+$ 3+PtrP+-+L# 2-+n+-+R+" 1+-+-+-tR-! xabcdefghy White to mate in two (13x6) Key 1.Re2 waiting If 1..Qf6/QxB/Qf5/Qh4/N any/Rxd3/Rc5/Rc4/PxQ/c6/c5/Pxd6/PxN/f6/f5/fxg6 2.Bg2/NxQ/Ne7/Re5/Qd4/Qc5/QxR/b or dPxR/NxP/Nc7/Qc6/BxP/Ne7/Re5/RxQ Sixteen variations! And there are more. Did O’Keefe have a counterpunch??

British Chess Magazine 1920 p.1 BCM lives! Up went the sub from 8/- (80c) to 12/- ($1.20). They needed 2000 subs and had 586 by March (p.65) and 1000 by year’s end (p.371) and changed back to printers Whitehead and Miller who had printed BCM from 1892-1920. The monies were line ball and BCM was back to 32 pages and a new format with Problem Pages at 4 pages. (BM: A very big rise in the subscription.) p.19 Capablanca played 38 House of Commons MPs and scored +36 =2. Sir Watson Rutherford and Albert Strauss got the draws. Bonar Law did not play. p.62/63 The Victory Tourney (BCPS) was a large event. p.30 J.J. O’Keefe 1st Prize Good Companions

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+R+-+( 7+-+-+P+-' 6N+-+-+-zp& 5+lwQ-+-+K% 4l+-+-vl-+$ 3+Psnk+nsN-# 2-tR-+-+-+" 1+-+L+-vL-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (10x7) Key 1.Ne2 threat 2.Nxf4 If 1..NxN/QxQ+/Qb4/Qc4/Be3/Bd2/Bg5/Nd5/Qb8/Be5/Bc1/Ne5 2.BxN/NxQ/NxQ/QxQ/QxB/Bc2/Qd4/Qc2/Qc4/Qe3/NxB/Qd4

p.30 J.J. O’Keefe 4th Prize Good Companions

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-tR-wq( 7sn-+-+-+-' 6K+-+Qtrl+& 5+psN-+-vl-% 4-+-+-+-zp$ 3+-+-zpk+L# 2-+-+p+N+" 1+-+-vL-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (7x10) Key 1.Nb3 threat 2.Nd4 If 1..Nc6/Rf7/Rf5/Rf4 2.Qg4/Qg4/Qd5/Qxe3 This problem is not in the O’Keefe MS on the OzProblems website. p.111 Gladstone (former British PM) and his wife were keen chess players. Mrs G. defeated Lord Lyttelton and Lord L beat G. Around 1840s. p.299 Brisbane Courier 1st Prize 2-er E.H.H. Jerrard

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+R+-sn( 7+qzp-+P+-' 6-zp-+LmK-+& 5+-+-+-+N% 4-tR-zPk+-zP$ 3wQ-+-+pzPr# 2P+-+-+n+" 1+-+r+-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (11x9) Key 1.Kg5 threat 2.Nf6 If 1..Rxg3+/Qd5+/Rxd4/Rd3/Nxf7+;2.NxR/Bf5/Bc4/Bb3/BxN B.G. Laws:- “A two mover with a splendid opening... The discovered mates are not happily arranged. It is a pity the BR at h3 is needed but 1.Kg7 had to be looked after.”

p.366 Brisbane Courier 1st Prize J.J. O’Keefe (11th AC Tourney)

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-zp-+-+p' 6p+K+-+p+& 5zp-+-+-+-% 4L+-vl-+Q+$ 3+-+kzp-+-# 2-+R+-+-+" 1+-+-vL-+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (5x8) Key 1.Rc4 threat 2. RxB If 1..KxR/B any/e2/Bc3;2.Qe2/Bc2/QxB/Rxc3 Brisbane Courier 2nd Prize A. Mosely

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7vL-+p+-+-' 6-+-sN-sn-+& 5+-zPpzPrwQq% 4R+Lmk-+-+$ 3mK-+-sN-+r# 2-zPlzpPzP-+" 1sn-+-+R+-! xabcdefghy White mates in two moves (13x10) Key 1.f4 threat 2.c6 if 1..KxN/RxN+/Nb3/Ne4;2.c6/Bb3/NxB/NxR p.377 Arthur Mosely sent a ‘hot chestnut’ to BCM from the City Chess Club. It was passed on to B.G. Laws. p.383 Paul Schellenburg dies aged 77 in Dresden. A keen player and problemist, the Deutsches Wochenschach wrote he was “the Mark Twain of Chess”. (BM: I have one of his amusing books. Sadly for me it is in German but the humour shines through.) End 1920 and this file. (BM: Readers will notice this file concentrates on chess problems with news secondary.)