I was born November 14, 1960 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I've lived most of my life.  Learned how to play chess around age 5, and entered my first tournament at age 15.  At 17, published my first problem in the "Benko's Bafflers" column in Chess Life.  At 24, my composing talents began to flourish, and were showcased in Dave Brown's "Themes -n- Keys" forum.  Later I branched out to U.S. Problem Bulletin, The Problemist, Ideal-Mate Review and many other fine publications.  I became a U.S. Master of Chess in 1984, and a U.S. Master of Chess Composition in 1995.  At present, I have 7 problems published in the F.I.D.E. Albums. 

As one of SG's co-founders, I've served as Helpmates Editor (1998-2003), as Stalemates Editor (July 1999 - December 2001), and as Series-Movers & Stalemates Editor (July 2002-December 2003).  In that six-year stint, I was lucky enough to correspond with problemists from 45 countries!  I 'met' many interesting people through post- and e-mail writings.  I've still not met (in person) the vast majority of them, but hope to change that over time.  At present, I continue to serve The Good Companions as a Programmer/Consultant for this website, as a proofreader of and contributor to StrateGems, and through a number of other behind-the-scenes activities. 

r1r5/4bkpp/1q2ppb1/3p4/sS6/1QP1P1B1/1P3PPP/R3KB1R

1.d4 d5 2.Sf3 c6 3.Bf4 Sf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Sbd2 e6 6.Bd3 Sbd7 7.c3 Be7 8.Qc2 c5 9.Se5 Bh5 10.dxc5 Sxc5 11.Bb5+ Kf8!? 12.a4 a6 13.Bf1?! Sg4 14.Sdf3 Sxe5 15.Bxe5 b5! 16.Sd4 f6 17.Bg3 Kf7 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rc1 b4! 20.Sc6 Qb6 21.Sxb4 Bg6 22.Qd1 Sa4 23.Qb3 Rhc8 24.Ra1 [diagram].

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

Now black employs no less than four batteries in the next seven moves...

24...Sxb2! (the 1st battery, firing at Ra1) 25.Rxa8 Rxc3! 26.Qxb2 Bxb4 (the 2nd, threating mate with Rxe3+) 27.Kd1 Bc2+ 28.Kc1 Ba4+ (the 3rd) 29.Kb1 Rb3 30.Rxa4 Bc3! (and the 4th, a masked battery) 31.Ra7+ Kg6 32.Bd3+ f5 0-1

Since I've always loved batteries in chess problems, this game appealed to me as a composer.  And there's a humorous tale that goes with it.  My friend, Sergey, and I were paired in the 1985 Cincinnati City Championship, but our work schedules did not provide a good meeting time.  By chance, we were also paired (with same colors) in the local chess league the following Sunday.  The former was a 'rated' tournament, the latter 'unrated', so we decided to play one game counting in BOTH events.  Thus, "Two Games in One"!  So this game was all the more special to me, for the circumstance, and for the fond battery fare.

k7/4p3/6q1/p3p3/1p6/1Pp2pPP/2P2P2/1B2K1R1

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.Qxc2 Rh1! 2.Qh7 Bg6 3.Qxh3 Be8 4.Qd7 Rh8 5.Qa7 Bc6#
1.Qxg3 Ba2! 2.Qg8 Rg6 3.Qxb3 Rc6 4.Qg8 Bd5 5.Qb8 Ra6#

The first and only five-move helpmate with fully matched ODT (Orthogonal/Diagonal Transference) solutions, dedicated to the finest of Help-Mates!

1k2K3/3P4/8/B7/4B3/4p3/4Pp2/5r2

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

a) 1.Rb1! 2.f1S!  6.Sa8 7.Rb6 8.Kc7 d8R=
b) 1.Rc1! 2.f1B! 4.Be6 6.Ba8 7.Rc6 8.Kb7 d8Q=

Mixed AUW in elegant form with matching strategy throughout.  My best series problem to date.

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.Qh8! (2.Qd4+ Bxd4/Rxd4 3.Bd5/Se3#)
1...Bg1! (or Bf2) 2.Bd4! Bxd4/Rxd4/Sxd6 3.Bd5/Qc8/Sxd6#
(2.Qd4+/Rd4+/Sfd4/Sbd4? Rxd4/Bxd4/Sxd6/Rxa3+!)
1...Rxd6 (or Rd5) 2.d4! Bxd4/Rxd4 3.Sd2/Se3#
1...Sxh8 2.Rd4+! Bxd4/Rxd4 3.Sd6/Se3#
1...Sxd6 2.Qd4+! Bxd4/Rxd4 3.Sxd6(change)/Se3#
(1...R1c3 2.Bd5+ Rxd5 3.Qxc3# )
[set: 1...Bg1 2.Qe2! ~ 3.Bd5# ]

In its original setting (Rd6=>e6; Qh2=>h8; -wPf4; key: 1.Rd6!), the judge lamented that the key-piece was "out of play and en prise".  At the cost of one wP, this version adds an exciting stroke, 1.Qh8!, while eliminating those flaws.  Counting the avoided by-play, 2.Sfd4?/Sbd4? following 1...Bg1 (Bf2), a total of SIX white units visit d4 with Nowotny effect!

Solution:  Click & hold left mouse button and highlight the area below:

1.Sb5? (zz) Bg8! 2.Qa2+ Kb4 3.Rd4+ Ka5! (Bc4? 4.Sa3! zz)
1.Sxa4? (zz) Rxh4! 2.Qc5+ Kb3 3.Bd5+ Kxa4! (Rc4? 4.Sc3! zz)

1.Sb1! (zz) Bg8 2.Qa2+ Kb4 3.Rd4+ Bc4 4.Sa3! (zz) Rxh4 5.Rxh4=
1...Rxh4 2.Qc5+ Kb3 3.Bd5+ Rc4 4.Ba3! (zz) Bg8 5.Bxg8=

Thematic tries and key by the same piece augment the two parallel post-key lines.