BRITISH CHESS PROBLEM SOCIETY

Quoting this three-mover in The Problemist, the late Robin Matthews wrote: “A problem to show to a player as an example of high-class yet easily intelligible modern composition.” The three leading variations show remarkable unity.

Solution: 1.Kg3 threatens 2.Sxe3+ Ke6 3.Bd5. In three variations the black king can either capture the queen or walk into a mate from a newly-formed battery, all of the firing pieces moving to d6. 1...Qxf7 2.Qe4+ Kxe4 3.Sh4; 2...Ke6 3.exd6; 1...Sc3 2.Qc4+ Kxc4 3.Sxe3; 2...Kc6 3.cxd6; 1...Ke6 2.Qxd7+ Kxd7 3.c8Q; 2...Kxf7 3.Bxd6; 2...Kd5 3.Sxe3. If 1...Sc7 or 1...Sf6 there follows 2.R(x)f6, threatening 3.Rxd6 or S to various squares.

19th October 2015

Selected by Michael McDowell