Tuesday, February 21, 2012

February 21st

Let's start mentioning in passing Sawielly Tartakower (21-02-1887 - 05-02-1956) the Polish-French chess player and witty writer whose aphorisms are remembered by all well-read chess players.



Karel Pospíšil (21-02-1867 - 06-04-1929) Czech composer

Karel Pospíšil was a pianist and music composer, but also a chess composer.
The problem below has nice key and a brutal threat, but the variations deserve being sought:

Pospíšil, Karel
Světozor, 1885


#3 9 + 12

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Josef Vančura (21-02-1870 - 26-05-1930) Czech composer

Josef Vančura [Source]

Josef Vančura must not be confounded with his son Josef (Jan) Vančura.

Vančura, Josef
Světozor, 1913


#3 8 + 4

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David Joseph (21-02-1896 - 23-08-1984) British composer

David Joseph's study was published under more versions, but the version below is perhaps the most elegant:

Joseph, David
Sunday Express, 1921


+ 3 + 3

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Lars Falk (21-02-1948) Swedish composer

Lars Falk contributed to BESN September 1999 with an interesting article "Life imitates art" (pp.116-117).

Falk, Lars
Kubbel MT, 1991
1st Honorable Mention


+ 4 + 3

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1 comment:

  1. Yves Tallec has some great anecdotes about Tartakower; he played him in a simul and also noted that Tartakower often attended the meeting of the problemists at his Paris chess club (with Seneca et al) and was always very interested in chess problems. I have noted that he is one of the few writers of that time who use problem terminology and also correctly use the term, "a problem-like move." Too many authors use this for any flashy move.

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