777 Chess miniatures in three.pdf

777

CHESS MINIATURES

IN THREE

Collected and Arranged by

E. WALLIS, SPRINGFIELD, SCARBOROUGH

With an Introduction by

PHILIP H. WILLIAMS, F.C.A.

And Hints to Solvers by

A. N. BRAYSHAW, B.A., LL.B.

“Voluptatis multam in parvo opere.”

An Electronic Edition

Anders Thulin, Malmö · 2000-12-22

PREFACE

In offering this little volume of little problems to the ever-increas-

ing body of chess lovers both at home and abroad, I have been ac-

tuated by a desire to focus in one volume all the best work of chess

composers in this fascinating branch of problem construction.

It is pretty well laid down now that a Miniature Chess Problem is

one containing not more than seven men all told, and I have con-

ﬁ ned my researches to those with three moves only, as being the

most popular and containing some of the most beautiful play to

be found in the whole range of chess strategy.

I have endeavoured to make the work a popular one, and one

that could be easily carried about and looked at in odd moments.

So far as I know there is only one work of similar nature, Blumen-

thal’s “Schachminiaturen,” which, admirable as it is, is virtually

closed to the ordinary solver on account of difﬁ culties of the lan-

guage. I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Blumenthal’s

work for many ﬁ ne examples in the following pages.

The chess enthusiast will ﬁ nd in these problems simplicity,

beauty, and in many cases difﬁ culty. None of the problems com-

mence with either check, capture, or pawn promotion. English,

Continental and American composers are all represented, and I

have endeavoured to give the best problems of the kind I could

gather together from a collection of something over 1,500 exam-

ples.

A word as to the general arrangement of the book. As all the

problems are direct mates in three moves, it has not been neces-

sary to put the conditions under each. No index is necessary as

the composers’ names are in strict alphabetical order, and where

there is more than one problem those with the fewest pieces are

placed ﬁ rst. I have given the key moves only. Solvers will frequently

ﬁ nd that they have quite a good two-mover after getting the key.

I cannot close without expressing my thanks to the many friends,

most of them unknown to me, who have assisted me in various

ways. In particular I must thank Mr. F. Baird, the chess editor of

The Football Field, for his invaluable assistance. My thanks are

also due to the gentlemen who undertook examination of prob-

lems—Mr. W. Geary, Mr. W. Marks, Mr. W. R. Todd and Mr. A.

Neave Brayshaw; to Mr. I. M. Brown for his cordial support and re-

searches; to Dr. Schumer and Mr. A. Briais for translation work; to

Mr. P. H. Williams, Mr. W. H. Thompson, Mr. W. Moffatt, and others

for help in various ways.

I can only say in conclusion that I hope this little book may ﬁ ll a

useful purpose in the chess world, and bring pleasure and instruc-

tion alike to the solver and the composer. That there are still un-

trodden paths in problem composing, and unseen beauties yet to

present to the lovers of our fascinating game must be evident to all

chess students, and if the perusal of this little work gives as much

pleasure as it did to me in its preparation I shall feel that the effort

has not been in vain.

E. WALLIS

For notes to the electronic edition, please see page 31.

INTRODUCTION

BY PHILIP H. WILLIAMS, F.C.A.

In introducing this unique collection of three-movers which Mr.

Wallis has gathered together in such profusion, I should like to

draw attention to the wonders of chess construction, its endless

variety, and its charming ramiﬁ cations. Here we have a huge set

of problems in three moves, in none of which there are more than

seven men, kings included. With such limitations it might be well

imagined that many positions would bear so close a resemblance

as to be almost duplicates of one another. A glance through the

pages that follow will show that, on the contrary, despite the strin-

gent conditions, variety, beauty and difﬁ culty are to be found. It is

to be wondered how it is possible to produce such a number of lit-

tle three-movers, each of which stands by itself—a complete work

of art.

To the expert problem enthusiast, I would say that herein are to

be found many old favourites, without which no such collection

would be complete; but there are also a large number of unfamiliar

compositions. Mr. Wallis is to be warmly congratulated upon the

success he has achieved by painstaking care and perseverance.

To the general reader I would point out that, notwithstanding

all arguments to the contrary, it is possible to display wonderful

strategy in spite of overwhelming strength in the attacking forces.

To dismiss such positions on the ground of disparity of material

is to ignore some of the ﬁ nest departments of the game of chess.

The whole collection points clearly to the existence of a branch

of chess worthy of as much investigation as end games, openings,

and other issues of the game proper.

The positions also point to a very distinct subdivision of the sci-

ence of problem construction. There is of course a strong family

likeness in many which are here collated, but in a large majority

the resemblance is purely a superﬁ cial one, since the correct solu-

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