Surprising discovery in known Loyd's #3

In 2001 there was organized international match Slovakia-Ukraina in 4 sections. In #3 section there was set theme: change of set model mates in #3. My enthusiastic colleague Daniel Novomesky searched a bit among known older problems and he has made a shocking discovery - if we turn the solution of Loyd's castling tanagra #3 into set play, we get another correct threemover, with analogous set play, try and solution. Just watch the things in motion... A bit unfortunately, the judge of the competition put his problem to the last "Slovak" place, thus it was free and quickly published.


(A few weeks later...)

As it was partially expected, this discovery was too shocking to be real... and it was indeed fortunate for Slovakia not having Daniel's problem placed higher. What happened? I recently received an e-mail from Michael Lipton, one of leading orthodox miniature experts. He writes: "Novomesky's version is anticipated. It was published first by A. J. Taffs, American Chess Bulletin 1960, alongside Loyd's original New York Albion 1857 ... The twins are in Colin Russ's miniature collection, no. 369. ... Note also there is a lovely Shinkman 3er (no. 240 in Russ) that can be twinned to all these by Zeroposition ... Also an old 3er by J. Hane (publication?) that is not on a par with the above fine problems, but really just a cute trick - but another relation."

Many thanks for pointing the problems and for writing the information!
Samuel Loyd
New York Albion 1857

1.Rf4! zz
1...Kxg3 2.0-0 Kh3 3.R1f3#
1...Kxh1 2.Kf2 Kh2 3.Rh4#

Flight-giving key, surprising castling, sacrifice and two model mates.









#3 (4+1)
Anthony J. Taffs
American Chess Bulletin 1960

1...Kxg3 2.0-0 Kh3 3.R1f3#

1.Rh3? zz
1...Kxh3 2.Kf2 Kh2 3.Rh4#
1...Kg1!

1.Rfh4? zz
1...Kxg3 2.Kf1 Kf3 3.R1h3#
1...Kf3!

1.Ke2! zz
1...Kxg3 2.Rhh4 Kg2 3.Rfg4#

White to play, triple echo and changed model mates in 3 various phases (set play with castling, try and solution). All variations after same move 1...Kxg3. Very nice twist on the motives of the well known problem by Loyd.

Republished by Daniel Novomesky, after Samuel Loyd, 3355 Pravda November 2001.









#3 (4+1)
William Anthony Shinkman
American Chess Journal 1877

1...Kf1 2.Kg3 Kg1 3.Re1#
1...Kg1 2.Kg3 Kf1 3.Rh1#

1.Re2+? Kg1 2.Rd-a2 Kf1 3.Rh1#
1...Kf1!

1.Rf6? Kg1! 2.Kg3=

1.Rh1! zz
1...Kxh1 2.Kg3 Kg1 3.Re1#
1...Kf2 2.Kh3 Kf3 3.Rf1#
1...Kf3 2.Rh2 Kf4 3.Rf2#

Three model mates in solution, 2 of them in beautiful echo. The key changes 2 flights of 3 and sacrifices rook.









#3 (3+1)
Johannes Hane
(Source?)

1.Ra4! zz
1...Kxh1 2.Kf2 Kh2 3.Rh4#
1...Kf3 2.Rg1 Ke3 3.Rg3#
1...Kg3 2.0-0 Kh3 3.R1f3# or 2.Kf1 Kf3 3.Rh3# (dual in 2nd move)









#3 (3+1)

Comments to Juraj Lörinc.
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