The other try for white is 1. Ng5 - a seemingly cunning move, threatening 2. Nf3 and if 1... Bxg5 the bishop shields the white king allowing 2. Rd5 with unavoidable mate.
However, it falls short in view of 1... Kg1! (Rd5 works too), 2. Rd5 Kf1 3. Rh2 e2! and black delays mate by a few moves.
A fantastic study either way.
Excelsior is the title of a famous problem composed by Sam Loyd in 1858.
A friend of Loyd, Denis Julien, who also composed problems, had once said that any problem in chess, I could see immediately what the piece wouldn't do mate.
The incredible Loyd composed this problem. Soon after he showed to his friend. Julien said immediately what the piece would do mate, but this time was wrong.
The first question is: What piece will be mate?
The second is: How does the white mate in 5 moves?
Sam Loyd
A Clue:
Lloyd called Excelsior to this problem after reading the poem by Henry Wadsworth whose last verse says:
There, in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell, like a falling star,
Excelsior!
SOLUTION
(See too endgame study "Zigzag")