Don Smedley died on 12th October at the age of 86. Don was a great
stalwart of the BCPS, serving as President from 1993 to 1995 and
conducting a number of columns in The Problemist over the years. Despite
never being a prolific composer, he gained the FIDE Master of
Composition title. He considered this reflexmate, with its harmonious
relationship between the try and actual play, to be his favourite
‘orthodox’ problem.
Try 1.Rxe7? threat 2.Se6 f2; 1...Sc1 2.Be4 Sd3; 1...Rxd4 or Sxd4 2.Rc7 f2; 1...Qxd4 2.Re2 fxe2;
1...Rxb1+ 2.Qf1+ Rxf1; 1...f2+ 2.Sf3 Qxf3, but 1...R1xa2!
Key 1.Bg6! threat 2.Sf5 f2; 1...Sc1 2.Re4 Se2; 1...Rxd4 or Sxd4 2.Be8 f2; 1...Qxd4 2.Rg1 Rxg1;
1...R1xa2 2.Rg1 Rxh2; 1...Rxe1+ 2.Qf1+ Rxf1; 1...f2+ 2.Sf3 Qxf3.
The effects are beautifully matched. Try and key are critical moves, leaving the other piece pinned and
preparing a knight interference and line unguard to allow the opening of the long diagonal. Unpins on the first
rank lead to a white Grimshaw on e4 and double shut-offs by the black knight. Captures on d4 by rook or knight
are followed by a hideaway of the white piece. There is another changed continuation after 1...Qxd4. The judge,
Kjell Widlert, praised the subtlety and originality of the mechanism.