Fritz Loepert

Fritz Loepert (26-06-1922 - 08-01-1995) Brazilian chess composer

He published his chess problems in his only book, "Mate 1982" in 1982. Some of them certainly deserve to be quoted more often. 

It was at the end of the 80s that I became a partner at Galeria de Xadrez Borba Gato. In general, those who frequent chess clubs tend to be people who are more interested in spending a few hours of fun, playing with their usual opponents, rather than serious people trying hard to study to reach a high level of chess. If an unsuspecting person passes by the door of a chess club on a Saturday afternoon, they will think that inside they are playing cards or dominoes, such a racket that many of the players make. And I confess that I was always one of those who contributed most to promoting chaos in the clubs I visited.
But it wasn't like that in Borba Gato in the 80s. The founders of the club were more middle-aged people who took chess very, very seriously. I especially remember Viñas, Naur and the reason for this book, Mr. Fritz Loepert, or Mr. Frederico as he was called in our language. Even the kids behaved well in that gentle but firm environment.

I spent much less time with Mr. Frederico than I would have liked. He had a balanced chess between strategy and tactics. The impression he gave was that his games, win or lose, were a sequence of harmonious moves, as if aesthetics were his main guide in the course of a game. Perhaps his game reflected his profession, which was being a fashion consultant.

Kind and polite, he naturally imposed himself wherever he went. I, who was always a little shy, behaved cute in front of that refined German.
A very strong player at amateur level, he valued the elegance of the game more than the result of the match. I remember I once made a resounding sacrifice against him. The sacrifice was resounding, but incorrect and I lost the match. I still remember his advice today: “Before sacrificing our own pieces, we need to learn to sacrifice our opponent’s pieces.”

Without a doubt, his artistic side and his passion for finding the “truth of the position” were the elements that led him into the field of problem composition. I don't know if I liked playing more, or composing chess problems. I also remember Saturday afternoons, at Borba Gato, when he would show me his compositions and we would spend the whole afternoon without playing a single game!

In 1982, Mr. Frederico published, outside the commercial circuit, a small number of copies of the book where he reproduced his most interesting works, in his own words. It was this book, entitled “Mate 1982” that I scanned and that became the text you are reading now. (Free download in PDF) I did this so that other people, who have never even met Mr. Frederico, can enjoy the works that this artist created. If you have any additional information about it, please send it to us ([email protected]), and we will incorporate it. Part of the information mentioned here was obtained from the website “O Problemista”, by Leo Mano (www.oproblemista.com.br).

Mr. Frederico, this refined chess player, left us orphans of his company on January 8, 1995, at the age of 72.

Below, photo of the visit that world champion (1957 and 1958), Vasily Smyslov made to the Borba Gato Chess Gallery, where he held a simultaneous game. From left to right, two club members, Francisco Sala and Lourenço Cordioli, Smyslov and our friend, Frederico Loepert."

Written by Luis Molist Vilanova, ou melhor, “Vila” 8 de maio de 2016

Source: galeriadexadrez.blogspot.com