Henri Rinck
Encyclopedia
Henri Rinck was a French
chess
study composer
, considered one of the most important early figures in the field.
(France) on January 10, 1870, where his family were brewers (Brasserie Rinck). He graduated as a chemical engineer at the Technische Hochschule of Munich
(Germany). He then worked at the Faculté des Sciences in Lyon as an assistant of Dr. Barbier.
In 1897 he discovered a refining process for green vegetal oils, which was applied in Marseille
(France), then by several olive oil refineries in Spain. In 1900 he set up a factory in Badalona
(Spain) and lived there with his family. Before the end of the Spanish civil war
he had to leave Spain. He established himself in Marseille, but returned to Spain later.
His first chess endgame studies
appeared from 1902 in the "Deutsche Schachzeitung
". In 1909 he published the first collection "150 fins de partie" (with an introduction by Johann Berger
). A second edition followed in 1913, a third edition in 1919 ("300 fins de partie") and a fourth edition in 1927 ("700 fins de partie"). In 1947 he published "Las sorpresas de la teoria" (The Surprises of Theory), containing 111 endgames on rook against two minor pieces, and, together with Louis Malpas, "Dame contre tour et cavalier" (Queen Against Rook and Knight). Rinck was one of the most prolific composers, having published as many as 1670 endgame studies, 58 of which won first prize in tourneys of study composition.
Rinck died in Badalona on February 17, 1952. Six days before his death he was handed out the first copy of his ultimate collection "1414 fins de partie". On his request he was buried with this book under his arm.
Solution:
1. Qe4+ Ka6 2. Rh6+ Rf6 3. Qf5! wins
André Chéron
, in "Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele", considered the study incorrect:
Black would draw with 1. Qe4+ Ka6 2. Rh6+ Rf6 3. Qf5 Rxh6 4. Qxf7 Rc6!=
Computer analysis
however has proved the correctness of the study:
after 4...Rc6 White delivers mate in 34 moves.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
study composer
Chess composer
A chess composer is a person who creates endgame studies or chess problems. He usually specializes in a particular genre, e.g. endgame studies, twomovers, threemovers, moremovers, helpmates, selfmates, fairy problems...
, considered one of the most important early figures in the field.
Biography
Henri Rinck was born in LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
(France) on January 10, 1870, where his family were brewers (Brasserie Rinck). He graduated as a chemical engineer at the Technische Hochschule of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
(Germany). He then worked at the Faculté des Sciences in Lyon as an assistant of Dr. Barbier.
In 1897 he discovered a refining process for green vegetal oils, which was applied in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
(France), then by several olive oil refineries in Spain. In 1900 he set up a factory in Badalona
Badalona
Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, near the city of Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range...
(Spain) and lived there with his family. Before the end of the Spanish civil war
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
he had to leave Spain. He established himself in Marseille, but returned to Spain later.
His first chess endgame studies
Endgame study
An endgame study, or just study, is a composed chess position—that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side...
appeared from 1902 in the "Deutsche Schachzeitung
Deutsche Schachzeitung
Deutsche Schachzeitung was the first German chess magazine.Founded in 1846 by Ludwig Bledow under the title Schachzeitung der Berliner Schachgesellschaft, it took the name Deutsche Schachzeitung in 1872...
". In 1909 he published the first collection "150 fins de partie" (with an introduction by Johann Berger
Johann Berger
Johann Nepomuk Berger was an Austrian chess master, theorist, endgame study composer, author and editor.In September 1870, he won the first tournament in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at Graz...
). A second edition followed in 1913, a third edition in 1919 ("300 fins de partie") and a fourth edition in 1927 ("700 fins de partie"). In 1947 he published "Las sorpresas de la teoria" (The Surprises of Theory), containing 111 endgames on rook against two minor pieces, and, together with Louis Malpas, "Dame contre tour et cavalier" (Queen Against Rook and Knight). Rinck was one of the most prolific composers, having published as many as 1670 endgame studies, 58 of which won first prize in tourneys of study composition.
Rinck died in Badalona on February 17, 1952. Six days before his death he was handed out the first copy of his ultimate collection "1414 fins de partie". On his request he was buried with this book under his arm.
Composition
The diagram below shows one of Rincks controversial studies.Solution:
1. Qe4+ Ka6 2. Rh6+ Rf6 3. Qf5! wins
- 1. ... Kb8 2. Rh8+ Kc7 3. Rh7 Rf2+ 4. Kc3 Rf3+ 5. Kd4(b4) wins
- 1. ... Kb6 2. Rh6+ Kc5(a5,b5) 3. Qe5+ Qd5 4. Qc7+ wins
André Chéron
André Chéron
André Chéron was a French chess player, endgame theorist, and a composer of endgame studies. He lived in Switzerland for many years...
, in "Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele", considered the study incorrect:
Black would draw with 1. Qe4+ Ka6 2. Rh6+ Rf6 3. Qf5 Rxh6 4. Qxf7 Rc6!=
Computer analysis
Endgame tablebase
An endgame tablebase is a computerized database that contains precalculated exhaustive analysis of a chess endgame position. It is typically used by a computer chess engine during play, or by a human or computer that is retrospectively analysing a game that has already been played.The tablebase...
however has proved the correctness of the study:
after 4...Rc6 White delivers mate in 34 moves.
Further reading
- Endgame Lab: Henry Rinck (1870-1952), by Pal BenkoPál BenkoPal Benko is a chess grandmaster, author, and composer of endgame studies and chess problems.- Early life :Benko was born in France but was raised in Hungary. He was Hungarian champion by age 20. He emigrated to the United States in 1958, after defecting following the World Student Team...
, Chess LifeChess LifeChess Life is a monthly chess magazine published in the United States. The official publication of the United States Chess Federation , it reaches more than a quarter of a million readers every month. A subscription to Chess Life is one of the benefits of Full Adult, Youth, or Life membership in...
, August 2010, pp. 44–45.
External links
- A Magnificent Royal Tango: study 932 from "1414 fins de partie", explained by Александра КостенюкAlexandra KosteniukAlexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk is a Russian chess Grandmaster and a former Women's World Chess Champion.-Chess career:Kosteniuk learned to play chess at the age of five after being taught by her father...
- Extrait de l’Historique des échecs à Lyon. La période 1892-1952: Henri RINCK (in French)
- Portrait of Henri Rinck (in French)