Vitaly Chekhover

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Vitaly Chekhover
Full name Vitaly Alexandrovitch Chekhover
Country Flag of Russia Russia Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Born December 22, 1908
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died February 11, 1965 (aged 56)
Leningrad, Soviet Union
Title International Master
This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Vitaly Chekhover (also spelled Checkover, Tschechower or Czechower, pronounced "chekh a VYAIR") (Russian: Виталий Чеховер) was a Soviet chess player and chess composer, furthermore also a pianist.

Contents

[edit] Chess career

In the beginning of his career as a study composer, Chekhover ofter revised traditional studies of other authors. He strove to bring them into a more sparse and economical form, often with fewer pieces — hence focusing on the actual problem itself, rather than the position on the board. Later he found his own style and composed a number of original, independent chess studies and problems. Starting 1936, Chekhover has published more than 160 endgame studies.[1] He is considered a prominent specialist on knight endgames, and has written several books on the subject; either alone, or together with co-authors such as Russian grandmaster Yuri Averbakh.[2]

Between 1947 and 1965 he participated in the Soviet Union championship for chess composition. Chekhover twice received the title Master of Sports of the USSR. In 1956 he was awarded the title International Judge of Chess Compositions[3] by FIDE, and received the FIDE title International Master of Chess Compositions[4] in 1961.

Chekover was also a very successful chess player, being awarded the title of International Master in 1950, when it was first introduced. Tournament victories include victory in the Leningrad City Chess Championship in 1937 (shared) and 1949. He won the Uzbekistani Chess Championship in 1944.

[edit] Example

Vitaly Chekhover
Schachmaty w SSSR 1947
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 kl b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 pd h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 pd g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 nl g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 pd f3 g3 h3
a2 kd b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
White to move, and draw

The study to the right is often reprinted. The solution: 1. Nd5 e2 2. Nc3+ Kb3 3. Nxe2 Kc4! 4. Nf4!! g5 5. Ne6! g4 6. Ng7! f4 7. Nh5 f3 8. Nf6 g3 9. Ne4 g2 10. Nd2+

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peter Boll. Biographical data about Endgamestudy composers/authors. ARVES – Dutch-Flemish Association for Endgame Study. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  2. ^ Chekhover, Vitaly; Yuri Averbakh (1977). Knight endings, trans. Mary Lasher, London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0713405521.  (Included in Comprehensive Chess Endings, vol 1, Averbakh and Chekhover, ISBN 0-08-026900-1.)
  3. ^ Hannu Harkola (1999). International Judges for Chess Compositions. PCCC. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  4. ^ Hannu Harkola (1999). International Masters of the FIDE for Chess Compositions. PCCC. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.