Memorable Israeli Compositions from the Past

Itzhak Neuman

Itzhak Neuman was actually the first Israeli composer to gain international recognition. Itzhak was born in Hungary at 1912 but we know very little of him and we will be happy to get information and update it here.

His first problems were published in 1931, so he started composing at an early age. In 1968 he published a booklet (dedicated to his parent who perished in the Holocaust) containing a selection of 60 of his problems, all two-movers.

To see the solutions select the hidden text found under the "Solution" or "Set play" below the diagram (place the cursor on the left side under the "Solution" or "Set play" below the diagram, press the left button, and move up to the cleat text.

Itzhak Neuman 2nd Prize Brisbane Courier 1932 #2                               ( 13 + 10 )

Itzhak Neuman 1st Prize British Chess Federation 1955 #2                                   ( 7 + 13 )

Solution: 1.Qg2 ! (2.Qg1 # ) 1...Kc5 2.Se6 # 1...Ke3 2.Rxd3 # 1...Bxg2,Be4 2.b7 # 1...Rxc7 + 2.bxc7 # 1...gxh2 2.Qf2 # The key provides one of the thematic flights to the black king and also pins the white knight on c7 - a very nice thematic key ! The unpins by the black king are rare and highly appealing, as is the combination with the Ba7/Pb6 battery.

Set play: 1...Se5,Sge7 2.Sf4 # 1...Sfe7 2.Se3 # 1...Sd4 2.Sc3 # 1...Rg2,Bf6 2.Sf6 # Solution: 1.Bg7 ! (2.Q-b7 # ) 1...Sge7 2.Sf4 # 1...Se5 2.Sf6 # 1...Sd4,Sfg7 2.Se3 # 1...Rb2,Qxb1 2.Sc3 # 1...Qb2 2.Qh1 # 1...e5 2.Bxf7 # A clearly impressive problem ! We see correspondence between the set and actual play with changed and transferred mates. Note how the defense 1...e5 forces the key by interfering with the black rook on h7. Additionally, the queen mate on h1 after 1...Qb2 complements the threat on b7.