Edith Baird 2nd Prize Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement Tourney 1895 Mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 1 This problem was successful in a composing tourney for problems in which the black king was centrally placed, with the white pieces as far away as possible. Edith Baird (1859-1924), was the most famous female composer of chess problems at the start of the twentieth century. However her problems, following the custom of the time, were published under the name "Mrs W. J. Baird", using her husband's initials. Her brothers, Thomas and Carslake Winter-Wood and her daughter Lilian Baird were also competent composers. Solution: 1.Nc1. If 1...Kd4 2.Qf6+ Kc5 3.Nd3, or 2...Ke3 3.Nc4. If 1...Ke6 2.Nd3 Kd7 3.Nc5.

V.L. Eaton Chess Life 1952 White to play and mate in 2

Challenge Problem — 2 Solution: 1.Qh5 threatening 2.Qg6 and giving the variations 1...N random+ 2.Rb7; 1...Ne7+ 2.Rg2; 1...Kxe6 2.Qe5 and 1...Rxg7 2.Qf7. A spectacular key move which looks expressly designed to avoid fulfilling the stipulation. Having to mate on the second move the queen moves off the long diagonal, allowing multiple discovered checks and a flight at e6. The variations display two long-range cross-checks enhanced by two pin-mates. Vincent Eaton (1915-1962) was one of America's greatest composers.

Barry Barnes writes: Years ago, the problem editor of Chess wrote that he had received despairing letters from players begging him for the solutions to two problems by the famous composing brothers, Tom and Joe Warton. Can you solve the following pair of problems? They first appeared in the Observer newspaper.

T. & J. Warton The Observer 1934 White to play and mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 3 Hint: White would like to mate by getting his queen to b1, but Black has a strong defence in 1…Rb7 followed by 2…Rxb2. Solution: White can use the move 1…Rb7 to his own advantage by playing 1.Bb7!, threatening 2.Qh1. 1…Rxb7 conveniently removes the bishop from the long diagonal, so that after 2.Qh1 Rxb2 3.Qa8 mates.

T. & J. Warton The Observer 1939 White to play and mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 4 Hint: White can try to mate by 1.Re2, aiming to double rooks on the first rank and mate at a1, or to head north and mate down the a-file. This works after 1…Sg3, but 1…Sf2, attacking the rook at d1, is an adequate defence. Solution: White has a better plan, 1.Rh2!. After 1…Sf2 2.Bxf2 allows the king to capture at b2, after which 3.Bc5 mates. After 1…Sg3 2.Rh8 mates as before.

Johannes Bruski Akademische Monatshefte für Schach 1906 Mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 5 Hint: White will mate if he can manoeuvre his rook to a2, but Black can delay the mate beyond move three with 1…Sc4 and 2...Sd2+. How can White cope with this defence? Solution: 1.Rd6! threatening 2.Rd2 and 3.Ra2. If 1…exd6 2.Qh8 and Black cannot deal with both threats. The reason for moving to d6 is revealed by the variation 1…Sc4 2.Qxb3+! Kxb3 3.Rd3. A beautiful problem.

T. & J. Warton The Problemist March 1945 Mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 6 Hint: White must try to exploit the only open diagonal leading to the black king. Solution: 1.Rc8, threatening 2.Qb4 and 3.Qe1. The only defence is 1…Rxc8, preventing a bishop check and allowing 2.Qe5 followed by 3.Qg3. The white rook is cleverly placed to hide the queen’s route to e1.

Frank Healey Illustrated London News 5th June 1858 Mate in 3

Challenge Problem — 7 A classic from one of the greatest British composers of his era. No hints this time. Can it really be so difficult for a queen and rook to round up the lone king in three moves? Solution: 1.Kd7! Ke4 2.Rd5 Kxd5 3.Qd4. An unexpected key, preparing to draw the king up the board to his doom.