Sunday’s chess puzzle
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Good morning, Sunday! Today’s chess puzzle is not really form a problemist per se, but instead from a famous master and writer: James Mason. The theme revolves around the domination of the Bishop by the lone King, as the Bishop desperately tries to get back onto the long diagonal. I find the puzzle perfect. White to play and win. Good luck!
James Mason 1894
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!
James Mason (November 19, 1849 – January 12, 1905)
He was born in Kilkenny in Ireland. His original name is unknown: he was adopted as a child and only took the name James Mason when he and his family moved to the United States in 1861. There he learnt chess and eventually secured a job at the New York Herald. (note that he must have learnt quite late!-ed)
Mason made his first mark on the chess scene in 1876, when he won the Fourth American Congress in Philadelphia, the New York Clipper tournament, and defeated Henry Bird in a match by the comfortable margin of 13–6.
In 1878 he settled in England. His best tournament results were third at the very strong Vienna 1882 tournament, third at Nuremberg 1883 and equal second at Hamburg 1885. At Hastings 1895, often considered the strongest tournament of the nineteenth century, he finished tied for 12th-14th with 9.5 points of 21 possible.
Mason wrote several books on chess, the most popular being The Principles of Chess in Theory and Practice (1894), The Art of Chess (1895), Chess Openings (1897), and Social Chess (1900).
He died in Rochford, Essex, England.
(wiki)
To this I can only add that when I was learning the game I was influenced by the well written and instructive books of James Mason! I recommend them to everyone! A well written book is never out of date.
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS