Noob question - it seems the idea of a puzzle is that every move is forced, correct? If so I must be failing to see why certain moves are forced, unless the eventual other check mates were 3 - 4 moves deep... in which case, alternative solutions to puzzles? 

 I agree with you enimche moves were not forced and I would say there were better moves for white  .. and black for that matter.  Maybe I am wrong.

Sweet puzzle.  Solved it in my head without any help.  First comes the delecting rook sacrifice.  Next comes the key move (move #1 was key also, but move #2 was harder to find as it was not a check) which creates the mating net.  Then comes the necessary capture after black's attempt to prolong the game.  Finally, after black's best attempt to make white's checkmate harder to find, the one-two knockout combination, check and checkmate!

I played this puzzle against Houdini 1.5, and it only gave a mate in 4.

Me white, and Houdini black.

It's not important but I wonder Houdini chose to end up this earlier by 2 ... Bd6 not 2... Be7 so here come up 3. Qa8+ Bb8 4. Qxb8#

Qa8+ and mate to follow.

Frikkin hard.

Qb5+.

Very interesting how one white rook and the white knight, which is actually threatening a check, have absolutely nothing to due with the puzzle solution.

Wouldn't it be great if Chess.com gave such an analysis after the puzzle?

Incorrect.  Every move does not have to be forced in puzzles, or chess in general.  That is a strong factor in the beauty of chess and a strong factor in the difficulty of mastering the game.

good one

its okay

Quite a brain-teaser with enough variations to keep you interested long after solving. The only move that spoils it is Qxg3-just seems desperate. (I still think last Saturday's one was the best I've seen)

3. fxg3 allows 3...Bc5+.  If 4. Kh1 or 4. Kg2 then 4...Rf6 blocks the f-file, preventing a white checkmate on the next move.  If 4. Qxc5 then 4...Rf6 or 4...Rxg5, prevents the immediate checkmate.  If my analysis is incorrect, please feel free to correct me. Thanks.

@albatross21- It seems your starting position is from move 2 in the puzzle given. That would be why Houdini found a mate in 4. But I find it mildly interesting Houdini would choose Bd6 over Be7. I wonder which move is actually better in hoping white won't find Qa8.

WOW!

two tries,good one

Interesting puzzle however I don't see many people thinking out a position like that so much. 1.Rb8+ is an interesting deflection of the queen however 1.Qa8+ is how I would play that position in any game unless I had an extremely long time to think about it.

 Thanks.  Gotta have coffee before I do these!

 probably because Nd6 on next move would give checkmate to black.