Here's an example of a double Grimshaw interference:

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White to play and mate in two. (Loshinsky, 1930)

Scroll down for solution.

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Solution:

1. Bb3!!

Creating no direct threats but leaving Black in a state of zugwang, in spite of his wealth of movable pieces.

The Grimshaws occur on b7 and g7 here, hence it's a "double grimshaw". For example if 1...Rb7, Black will block his own bishop on a8, allowing 2.Rc6#. But if Black plays 1...Bb7 then he blocks his own rook, allowing 2.Re7#.

On g7 another grimshaw interference takes place. On 1...Rb7 the h8-bishop is blocked to allow 2.Qe5#. On 1...Bb7 the h7-rook is blocked to allow 2.Qxf7#.

There's even another interference going on: that of the f-pawn. E.g. if 1...Bc6, white has 2.Qg4#, because the bishop blocked the f-pawn.

A very famous puzzle.

<Grimshaw vs Novotny interference>

For years I puzzled over the difference between a Grimshaw interference and a Novotny interference, but now I think I finally know the difference. In a Grimshaw, it's Black (the losing player) who blocks himself, so that every defense to one mate cuts off another piece to allow a different mate. In a Novotny interference it's White (the winning player) who plunks a piece down on the interference square which curiously cannot be captured due to the same interference problem. Novotny tactics are often breathtaking, because a player will put a piece on a square which can be captured so many ways, and yet it's immune to capture. And it's not a revealed attack--it's pure interference. Puzzles with Novotny solutions often appear so outlandish they look like typographical errors.

<E.g. if 1...Bc6,> You mean ...Bf6 of course. Took me a while to figure out... lol.

Remind me never to be a problemist.

Anyway, from your description it would seem to me that the following game features an example of a Novotny interference, but on the game page it's talked about Planchutta-something-or-other.

Tarrasch vs Allies, 1914

<- Nowotny is when they move differently, e.g. R+B. This implies that the moving piece <cuts off> the non-moving piece, which instantly gives the -1 defender.

- Plachutta is when they move similarly, e.g. R+R. This implies that there is no <cutting off>, but the moving piece does become <overworked>. Then you can deflect it further for the -1.>

1...Bf6 2.Qg4#
1...f6 2.Qe4#

http://www.grimshaworigin.org/index...

<The notice of his death in The Times of 29th December 1890 read: 5

“On Saturday, the 27th Dec., at Bagdale House, Whitby, Mr. Walter Grimshaw, aged 58 years. Interment will take place at Whitby Cemetery on Tuesday morning: funeral leaving the house at 10.30. Friends will please accept this (the only) intimation.”

Death notices appeared in a surprising number of widely distributed newspapers.

The Leeds Mercury of Monday 29th December carried the following:

SAD DEATH OF GENTLEMAN AT WHITBY. – On Saturday morning, about eight o’clock, Mr. Walter Grimshaw, a man of independent means, residing in Bagdale, Whitby, was found dead in bed with a terrible gash in his throat, the wound having been evidently self-inflicted with an old razor, which was found by his side. Mr. Grimshaw had been in a somewhat desponding way, though there was no apparent cause for it, except that his wife was a confirmed invalid. The deceased gentleman distinguished himself in the chess world, and was probably acknowledged to be one of the best chess-players in England as an amateur. Certainly he was the best amateur composer, and among chess-players of the first order his problems are well known. In local matters Mr. Grimshaw took a deep interest, and there are few men who were better known and so generally esteemed as he was. In shipping affairs his chief interest lay, and at the time of his death he was the holder of a vast number of shares in Whitby owned and managed steamboats. The inquest on the body was held on Saturday evening, when a verdict to the effect that [the] deceased committed suicide while temporarily of unsound mind was returned.

The Saturday chess column in the Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement on 3rd January 1891 carried an obituary in which his strength as a player was more accurately assessed as being of “a fair average amateur standard”.

Walter Grimshaw was interred in Whitby’s Larpool Lane Cemetery in the same grave as his first wife, Mary, and their baby daughter, Mary. 7

A report on the coroner’s inquest mentioned that Walter’s brother had died about 6 months earlier, and that his sister-in-law, Mrs. Forth, had died a little time previously at Bagdale House.

Walter Edwin Grimshaw sorted out his father’s estate, which amounted to £9,499 2s. 11d., “proving” at York on 2nd March 1891. >

He left behind an invalid wife

<Walter’s wife Jane, the “confirmed invalid”, died at Whitby on 26th January 1891, only 30 days after Walter’s death. >

According to EDOchess, about 2050+, and rising:

http://edochess.ca/players/p672.html

http://grimshaworigin.org/miscellan...

It includes several photographs of the man, which I'm pretty sure are now in PD. Perhaps <CG> could upload one?

A stately looking fellow, who met a sad end.

It's a cruel world for some...

(Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKv...

[Event "London CC"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1853.??.??"]
[Round ""]
[White "Grimshaw,Walter"]
[Black "Watkinson,John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO"C24"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 cxd5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Bg5 Be6 9. O-O O-O 10. Ng3 Be7 11. Qe2 Nd4 12. Qxe5 Nxc2 13. Rac1 Nb4 14. h3 d4 15. Nce4 a6 16. a3 Na2 17. Rc7 axb5 18. Rxe7 Qxe7 19. Nxf6+ Kh8 20. Nf5 Qd8 21. Nxg7 h6 22. Nxe6 1-0