Sam Loyd

Samuel Loyd (January 31, 1841 - April 10, 1911) was an American puzzle author and recreational mathematician.

Excelsior problem

:Main article: Excelsior

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One of his best known chess problems is the following, called "Excelsior" by Loyd after the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. White is to move and checkmate black in five moves against any defense:

Related Topics:
Chess problem - Excelsior - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Checkmate

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Loyd bet a friend that he could not pick a piece that didn't give mate in the main line, and when it was published in 1861 it was with the stipulation that white mates with "the least likely piece or pawn".

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