Henri Rinck

Henri Rinck (January 10, 1870 – February 17, 1952) was a French chess study composer, considered one of the most important early figures in the field.

Biography

Henri Rinck was born in Lyon (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 died in Badalona on February 17, 1952. ["Most sources indicate that Henri Rinck died on February 18 or 26, 1952. Wrong! Monsieur Didier Rinck showed us his death certificate: 17 février 1952. Purists should correct this." - Lyon Olympique Echecs"] 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 most controversial studies.

Chess diagram|=
tleft
Henri Rinck
"1414 fins de partie, nr. 126"

=

8 | | | | | | | | |= 7 | |kd| | | |qd| | |= 6 | | | | | | | | |= 5 | | | | | | | | |= 4 | | |pd| | | | |ql|= 3 | | | | | | | | |= 2 | | |kl| | | | |rl|= 1 | | | | | |rd| | |= a b c d e f g h

White to move and win




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, 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.

Notes

References

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1909
title=150 fins de partie
publisher=Leipzig (Veit)

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1913
title=150 fins de partie (2^e édition)
publisher=Leipzig

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1919
title=300 fins de partie (3^e édition de “150 fins de partie”)
publisher=Barcelona (Hijos de Paluzie)

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1927
title=700 fins de partie (4^e édition de “150 fins de partie”)
publisher=Barcelona (Tip. La AcadEmica)

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1950
title=1414 fins de partie (5^e édition de “150 fins de partie”)
publisher=Barcelona (Tip. La AcadEmica)

* Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
title=1414 fins de partie (Reprint)
year=1982
publisher=Zürich (Olms)
ID=ISBN 3-283-00093-X

*Citation
surname1=Rinck|given1=Henri|authorlink1=Henri Rinck
year=1950
title=Las sorpresas de la teoria – Les Surprises de la théorie. 111 finales
publisher=Madrid (Ed. Dossat)

* Citation
surname1=Chéron|given1=André |authorlink1=André Chéron
title=Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele (Band III)
year=1958
publisher=Berlin-Frohnau (Siegfried Engelhardt Verlag)

External links

* [http://www.chesskillertips.com/index.php?id=9 A Magnificent Royal Tango] : study 932 from "1414 fins de partie", explained by Александра Костенюк
* [http://www.echecs-histoire-litterature.com/docs/rinck.doc Extrait de l’Historique des échecs à Lyon. La période 1892-1952: Henri RINCK] (in French)
* [http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/rinck.htm Portrait of Henri Rinck] (in French)