Schiffmann surprise keys

Israel Abraham Schiffmann was one of the greatest two move composers of all time.  Amazingly he only composed problems from 1924 to 1930.  It is my humble opinion that he composed some of the best keyed problems in existence.  Here's a look at a few of my favorites.

Schiffmann, Israel
Bristol Times and Mirror 1927

#2

7 + 10

This is probably Schiffmann's most famous problem and what a key!  1.Qf3! gives a flight, sacrifices the wQ, and allows a check.  Nice battery play.  While it does make for an interesting visual effect, the pawns on f2 and h2 are unnecessary for soundness.  When the problem was composed duals of any type were considered flaws and the pawns were there to prevent them.

Schiffmann, Israel
British Chess Federation 1930

#2

11 + 10

Everyone loves battery play and this is a great example.  The beautiful withdrawal key 1.Be8! shuts off the bQ and threatens 2.Se3.  In doing so it gives the bK two flight squares c4 and d3.  

Schiffmann, Israel
La Liberte 1928

#2

10 + 7

Here is one of my personal favorite Schiffmann problems.  Notice the set mate for the check 1...Kxe5+ 2.Be6.  Surely the key would not give this up...it does just that.  The give and take 1.Bc2! (2.Qxh1) now places a guard on e5 but gives a flight at c6 leading to a new cross check by the bK 1...Kc6+ 2.Bb3.  Also the reason the wB must go to c2 is an anticipatory shut off of the bQ which would otherwise defeat the threat with 1...Qxb2.

Schiffmann, Israel
Western Morning News 1929

#2

8 + 8

The pawn plugs give this away as a waiting move problem and in fact it is a compete block: 1...c5 2.Qc7, 1...d4 2.Qe5, 1...Sd7 2.Se8, 1...Se6 2.Sf7.  It typical Schiffman fashion the key 1.Qd2 gives the flight.  Every mate is changed: 1...c5 2.Qxd5, 1...d4 2.Qxd5, 1...Sd7 2.Sfe4, 1...Se6 2.Sge4, and finally 1...Kc5 2.Qb4.

Schiffmann, Israel
Grantham Journal 1930

#2

10 + 9

In the century of the two mover Alain White said that this problem is all key and no strategy, but I disagree.  The idea behind the key beautiful: 1.Rf3! to block the bQ so the wB can mate on f2.  This gives a flight square to the bK.  Here Schiffmann pulls out a beautiful 3 fold battery: 1...Kd4 2.dxe6.  

Schiffmann, Israel
Bristol Times and Mirror 1927

#2

8 + 10

We end with another classic.  Here the surprise key 1.Ba6! threatens 2.Bb7.  The reason the wB must withdrawal to a6 is because it gives up the flight square e4 hence 1...Qxf7+ must be blocked by the wB on b7.  The two bSs can defend against the threat but unpin the wQ in doing so.