best puzzle.

meh that puzzle i did not like 

6st pg 

Good!

Should be called Mate in 7.

FIRST

I don't know if "Streightforward" is so bad. Because, you know, first move is forced. Then again, if you have taken rook on d8, it would've been draw. Again, to try to win you are forced to attack. After g5+ you still can take draw, if you get scared. I have seen my chances to win only after i'd done that move.

For attacker, like me, this puzzle is not about counting possibilities and choosing best way, but following line of attack in despair.

Still, it was not "Easy". Solving have involved emotions, fear and desperation, in thought process. So, I have enjoyed this puzzle very much.

PS. I don't know is my english is good enough to communicate all what i was thinking. So, please be able to forgive if text above is rusty.

1. Qc7+ Rd7 2. Qxd7+ Kh6 3. g5+ Kxg5 4. Qe7+ Kh6 5. Qf8+ ( 5. Rh4+ Qh5 ) (5. Qh4+ Qh5 ) 5... Kg56. Qf4+ Kh5 7. Qh4#

Slowhare... you're missing 2. Rxd7+ in your analysis. It won't be Mate in 7.

Trust me on this one ;) 

interesting

got em... keep checkin and good things are bound to happen!

Why my eyes glazed over.  In retrospect I think the best chance for white to go wrong was probably the 1. ... Rg7 line.  If white carelessly captures with the queen, as I just kind of automatically assumed would work when I first saw it, then it's a complete mess.  I only looked at it for a few minutes, but I'm not sure there's a forced mate at all.  (Can anyone say?)  Access for the queen to f4 is vital, and that doesn't become apparent until the other lines are solved.

Renata my hero, I agree, it has to be captured with the rook.  

Access to f4 is absolutely vital.

As for your other question, after the blunder 2. Qxd7+? you can start going down Slowhare's line.

2.. Kh6

3. g5+ Kxg5

4. Qd8+ Kh6

5. Qh8+ Kg5

6. Qh4+ Kf5

7. Qf4# 

This is similar to the same Queen walk as before.

If you take it down Slowhare's line with 4. Qe7+ instead of 4. Qd8+ then instead of 5..Kg5 as Slowhare has presented, black could delay more by 5..Kh5 instead, leading to 6. Qh8+ Kg5 7. Qh4+ Kf5 8. Qf4#

So I think 4. Qd8+ would be the way to go. 

When your own King is in danger... look for checks, it might be GOOD...and it works here. 

very logic puzzle! => good one

Nice chase scene.

Nice

Interesting. With black looming you know every move hand to be decisive.

Interesting

It really stresses the idea of attacking when in trouble, and sends the point home that material is secondary.  Thanks.