On May 2, 9:36 am, The Historian wrote:

. Alas, his selfmate returned the title to the Soviets without a fight.

That is not a selfmate, it is a helpmate. Doesn't Evans at least know
how to use chess language properly?

I believe Evans is using "selfmate" as a word-play on "suicide", the
old name for such problems. He means Fischer killed himself as
Champion through his actions. I think it's hair-splitting to argue
over the subtleties of the term as used here. But you appear to be
correct. Technically a self-mate requires White to force Black to mate
him against Black's will - the moves are forced. I don't think the
Soviets were unwilling to take the Championship title.


Can you explain the part about "against his will"?
What sort of opponent in chess would have the will
to not win? In a chess problem, how is there any
"will" involved whatever?


One other term which springs to mind is a "duck";
this term may be even older than "suicide", and it
certainly applies in many cases with regard to the
world chess championship. Just look, for instance,
at the real reason BF never wrote any more chess
books: *fear* of getting caught in an analytical error.
This kind of irrationality and exaggerated fear may
have been the true culprit; the silly demands and
antics merely the visible signs.


-- help bot