Joseph Plachutta, (13 May 1827 in Zadar, Austrian Empire, today's Croatia – 22 July 1883) also called Josef Plachutta or Josip Plahuta, was a Slovene-descent chess problemist and chess player, known for his famous problem with the Plachutta theme.

Joseph Plachutta
Joseph Plachutta
Leipziger Illustrirte Zeitung, 1858
abcdefgh
8
d8 white bishop
g8 black rook
h7 black rook
a6 black knight
e6 black pawn
f6 black bishop
c5 white pawn
e5 black king
c4 white king
e4 white pawn
c3 black pawn
d3 white pawn
d1 white queen
g1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Mate in 4 moves

Solution:

1.Qf3! (threat 2.d4 mate)

1...Nxc5 2.Rg7! (this is the actual Plachutta. threats 3.Qg3 and 3.Bc7)

2...Rgxg7 3.Bc7+ Rxc7 4.Qg3#

2...Rhxg7 3. Qg3+ Rxg3 4.Bc7#

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