Background

Samuel Loyd was born on January 31, 1841 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the son of Isaac Smith and Elizabeth (Singer) Loyd. His family moved to New York in 1844.

Education

Loyd attended the public schools until he was about seventeen. Later he studied to be an engineer.

Career

Loyd held a steam and mechanical engineer's license in New York, and had an editorial connection with the Sanitary Engineer. At one time he owned a printing office in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and at other times engaged in a variety of business enterprises. As a youth, with his two elder brothers he frequented a chess club on University Place and there became acquainted with Miron H. Hazeltine, long chess editor of the New York Clipper. At that time the exploits of Paul Charles Morphy were causing a widespread interest in chess in America which resulted in the establishment of chess columns in many newspapers and journals. Loyd began composing chess problems in 1855 and won first place in numerous contests.

In 1860, the Chess Monthly, edited by Morphy and D. W. Fiske, engaged him as problem editor. Fiske and Loyd collaborated in a form of literary anecdote resting upon some ingenious chess problem. These stories and problems have often been reprinted and the problems, which were Loyd's part, are recognized as the work of a genius. Another type of problem cultivated by Loyd places the chessmen upon the board to make a letter or numeral. Later Loyd himself wrote sketches and made problems or puzzles to fit the conditions. In chess problems he always defended the thesis, now generally accepted, that the position must be a possible one in play.

To American Chess-Nuts (1868), edited by E. B. Cook, W. R. Henry, and C. A. Gilbery, he contributed many problems, and in 1878 he published Chess Strategy, a collection consisting mainly of his own work, in which the rather difficult classification of problems is attempted. Loyd was abroad in 1867, participating, without notable success, as a player in the International Chess Tournament. In 1896 he collaborated with his son Sam in a puzzle called "Get Off the Earth" or "The Disappearing Chinaman. "

About this time some newspapers and magazines began to introduce Sam Loyd puzzle columns, edited by father and son, who collaborated in the invention of the puzzles featured. The Loyd puzzles display remarkable ingenuity, particularly in the application of simple algebraic devices or old mathematical puzzles in such new garb as to conceal the source. The story devices applied by Fiske and Loyd to chess problems were developed with puzzles by the Loyds. Until his death in 1911, Loyd continued to make puzzle columns and advertising devices employing puzzles his source of livelihood.

Achievements

• Samuel Loyd was recognized as the leading American chess problem composer. He originated a famous puzzle called "The Trick Donkeys, " which was sold literally in millions of copies. He was a developer of "Pigs in Clover" and the 14-15 puzzle, both widely popular in Europe and America. The famous game "Parchesi" was also his invention. In problem tournaments, his greatest achievement was at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 when his various entries won the first and second prize, as well as numerous minor prizes. He was inducted into the U. S. Chess Hall of Fame 1987.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Masterpieces of Chess Composition, Volumes 4-6

    (Every book of this series contains 100 masterpieces from ...)

  • The Puzzle King: Sam Loyd's Chess Problems and Selected Mathematical Puzzles

    (The Puzzle King, Sam Loyd's Chess Problems and Selected M...)

  • Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd

    ( Bizarre imagination, originality, trickiness, and whims...)

  • Sam Loyd's Cyclopedia of 5000 Puzzles, Tricks and Conundrums with Answers

    (Sam Loyd (1841-1911) was the all time greatest inventor a...)

  • More Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd

    ( Sam Loyd (1841–1911) was America's greatest originator ...)

  • Sam Loyd's Book of Tangram Puzzles: 700 Tangrams by Sam Loyd

    (Games, Tangrams)

  • Samu roido no kangaeru pazuru
  • The 8th book of tan; 700 tangrams

Connections

In 1870 Loyd married Addie J. Coombs of Utica, New York.

Father:

Isaac Smith Loyd

Mother:

Elizabeth (Singer) Loyd

Spouse:

Addie J. Coombs

References

• The Greatest Puzzles of All Time
• Masterpieces of Chess Composition: Samuel Loyd
• Sam Loyd and His Chess Problems