Very little is known about Theophilus Thompson, a chess problemist who was born a slave in Maryland in 1855. That’s a pity, because his work is often beautiful. Here’s a sample:
White to mate in two.
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White plays the surprising 1. Ne4!, threatening 2. Qa8#. If the king takes the knight then 2. Bc6 is mate, and if 1. … d3 then 2. Qxd3#.
Sadly, Thompson disappeared shortly after publishing his only book in 1873. It’s feared he was lynched. Here’s another problem, to show the depth of his conception:
“White to play and capture the Black Bishop with the King: In how few moves can this be effected? And in what manner?”
The answer is to bully Black into locking his own bishop in a corner so that the white king can approach. All Black’s moves are forced:
1. Bg3+ hxg3 2. Rxe3+ Bxe3 3. Rxg1+ Bxg1 4. Qc1+ Kf2 5. Kd7 Bh2 6. Ke6 Bg1 7. Kf5 Bh2 8. Kg4 Bg1 9. Nf5 Bh2 10. Qd2+ Kg1
11. Nxg3 Bxg3 12. Kxg3
“Quod erat demonstrandum.”
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