Problems I wish I'd composed

Unfortunately, I arrived to composition too late.  About 100 years too late.  It is very rare to compose a completely original idea or theme, especially in a two move problem.  One can only hope to find a neat rendering of an old idea.  Here are some problems (two movers and other genres) that I wish I had composed when the idea would have been fresh.  

Stavrinides, Alkis
Probleemblad 1969

#2

6 + 5

At first the key may not look that impressive: 1.Qh8! threatening 2.Qh6.  However, the four thematic black defenses show a curious pattern.  
1...g3 2.Qh4
1...Qh4 2.e3
1...e3 2.Qd4
1...Qd4 2.g3
Amazing accomplishment!

Mosely, Arthur
Northern Whig 1912

#2

10 + 8

Here is a nice problem that appeals to me because of the eight fold sacrifice of the key piece.  In the last post we saw a checking queen sacrifice by Loyd (1.Qe4+).  This is better: no checking key and more captures.  1.Se4! threatens 2.Re8.

Gamage, Fredrick
Tidskrift for Schack 1911

#2

9 + 7

At the time this was a new idea by Gamage, hence the name Gamage unpin.  The idea is that if bPd7 moves then it will interfere with the bQ and the wQ may unpin by withdrawal.  To present a new theme in a waiting move problem with a fantastic key is amazing.  Key 1.Rh4!

Loyd, Samuel
American Chess Journal 1877

#4

9 + 6

Loyd's square clearing castling problem.  The idea is that the wS on c2 needs to get to c5 to mate.  But black can defend with 1...axb5 or 1...e5.  Thus 1.0-0-0! opens squares at a1 and e1 simultaneously.  Nice idea.

Katz, S. Marus
Die Kleine Volkszeitung 1937

#2

6 + 2

As a beginner I always loved a sacrificial key.  Here is a perfectly executed key that sacrifices four pieces at once.  1.Sc2! (-)

    1...Kxb2 2.Qa1
    1...Kxd2 2.Qe1
    1...Kxc4 2.Qc6
    1...bxc2 2.Rdxc2

Van Dijk, Nils
Die Schwalbe 1959

#2

4 + 2

I'm not usually a fan of miniatures, but this masterpiece has an amazing amount of play.  It has three nice tries 1.Kf8? 1...fxg5!, 1.h3? 1...Kh6! 1.h4? 1...Kxh4! and finally the key 1.Kf7! does not threaten anything.

Mansfield, Comins
The Observer 1954

#2

6 + 5

Of course this gives me a chance to present some of my favorite Mansfield problems.  The key 1.Qf7! gives the bK three flights each leading to a pin mate.

Loyd, Samuel
New York State Chess Association 1892

#2

8 + 8

Loyd's original American Indian.  Here white must deal with 1...Rxf5.  This is done by ambushing the wR on a6 to counter with 2.Rxa4.  An original idea, one of many from Loyd.

Mansfield, Comins
Good Companions Folder 1919

#2

9 + 11

​Back to Mansfield.   While the key is not great 1.Bh2 (2.Bc7) the play is very interesting.  The bBe1 can defend in two ways 1...Bc3 closing the wRs guard on c7 or 1...Bg3 obstructing the wB.  However, both of these unpin wSe3, allowing it to mate.  It would seem that the wS has its choice of two squares c4 or d5.  However, in defending, the bB has closed a line and the wS must be careful not to close the other line: dual avoidance and more specifically the Java theme.  Supposedly this is the first example of this theme.  Oh and the by-play with bPd7 and the Gamage unpin is not too shabby.

Loshinsky, Lev
CCCP 1947

#3

11 + 11

Here is one of my favorite three movers of all time: the Loshinsky magnet problem.  The key 1.Qc2! threatens 2.Sh5+ Kxe4 3.Re3.  However, movement of bRd4 will defeat the threat by opening the square d4.  Anywhere the bR goes the wR follows: 1...Rd5 2.Rd4, 1...Rd6 2.Rd5, 1...Rd7 2.Rd6, 1...Rc4 2.Rc3, 1...Rb4 2.Rb3, 1...Ra4 2.Ra3.  What an incredible strategic achievement. 

Kirtley, Mark
The Problemist 1986

s#8

14 + 6

We end with an unusual problem that has one of the greatest achievements in all of problem composition.  The problem is a selfmate: white plays and forces black to deliver mate in the stipulated number of moves, in this case 8.  White's pieces are feeling homesick from their game array squares.   
1.Sb1+! Kb3 2.Qd1+ Rc2 3.Bc1 axb6 4.Ra1 b5 5.Rh1 bxc4 6.Ke1 c3 7.Sg1 f3 8.Bf1 f2

Here is a picture of the final position.