Had contact from old HeinzKat - he has been on a 5 year quest trying
to find the identity of a problem composer.
Some of you may remember this position.
It was posted on here in February 2009. (White to play and mate in 16).
Don't be put off by the length - 90% of it is easy.
It should not take too long to realise that the White Rook belongs
on the h-file. The White King goes to d2 and the Rook checks back
and forth on the f-file and the h-file. When the Black King goes to
g8 the a3 pawn starts marching.
When the Black King pokes his head out onto the f-file or the h-file
the Rook sticks him back on g8 and the pawn steps forward one square.
It is mate in 16. (one solution) your task is to figure out how does the
Rook get to the h-file. Is it 1.Ra6 1.Ra7 or 1.Ra8.
Only one mates in 16. (you will figure it out when you get to move 13)
The question we asked back in 2009 was who composed it and that is
why HeinzKat contacted me. It one Friedrich Hariuc.
I've never heard of him either.
Originally posted by Paul LeggettDespite having played chess for thirty years, I was never into problems until a few years ago when I started reading the ones posted by SwissGambit and Heinzkat on this forum. Discovering the beauty of chess compositions and problems is one of the best things I've got from this site.
Problems are the poetic verse of the language we call chess.
Originally posted by Data FlyI was also late to the party.
Despite having played chess for thirty years, I was never into problems until a few years ago when I started reading the ones posted by SwissGambit and Heinzkat on this forum. Discovering the beauty of chess compositions and problems is one of the best things I've got from this site.
My moment came with the discovery of the famous Reti problem where I learned to appreciate that kings don't have to move in a straight line to get somewhere fast.
It was not only pretty, but very practical, as it has helped me play the endgame better.