Favourite composer

A query received this morning from my friend Michael McDowell, VP of the British Chess Problem Society (of which I am Hon. Librarian) has led me to spent part of today looking at some problems by the great Russian composer. Leonid Kubbel, probably my single favourite all-round composer. As well as one of the greats of the study composing world, Kubbel was also a prolific problem composer, encompassing a considerable range of genres, from direct mates to help- and self-mates.

Here is a fine four-mover, composed by him without sight of the board!

L Kubbel, Shakmaty v SSSR 1938

White to play and mate in four

Solution tomorrow.