BRITISH CHESS PROBLEM SOCIETY

Selfmate in 4

One of the last problems Gerald Anderson published, in a composing career that began in 1912. It may prove trickier than it looks.

Realistically White's only plan is to play Sxf3+, forcing a knight to recapture, however if a black knight is unpinned it will simply unguard f3, so White must arrange to unpin both knights simultaneously. This he does by means of a critical move 1.Ra4 and after 1...R any 2.Sf5+ clears the way for the bishop 2...gxf5 3.Bb4 and 4.Sxf3+ Sxf3.

2nd June 2025

Selected by Michael McDowell