It all comes down to how you view chess problems I guess. The way I was taught is that in a chess problem the pieces are just placed in that position with no regards to how they got there.

I am guessing computer programs can't find the solution because it is not program to think about the move(s) that came up to that point.  If you take back black's last move (e7 to e5 which was the only possible move for black) and put that into a computer then the computer will find a mate for white within 2 white moves.  :)

hollind wrote:

Just for interest Fritz 11 suggest.

1. +- (#2) 1.d5xe6 c7xd6 2.Qf3xb7#

2.+- (#3) 1.Qf3-c3 a7-a6 2.Qc3xc7+ Kb8-a7 3.Qc7xb7

Though not the same as the given solution I think it's also right. Well done to silentfilmstar13.

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 Did you even look at what fritz gave you before you made your post? The first solution is the same as silentfilmstars but with black trying another move, no matter what move black makes it's check mate the move after that's why it's forced. The second one is mate in 3.

Here's the proper FEN string for this position:

rkB5/ppp4R/3B1P2/3PpK2/8/5Q2/8/8 w - e6 0 1 

Now computers can solve it as they know it is possible to capture at e6. Notice "e6" indicating en passant square. 

Sorry Bob but solution in 2 is impossible if Black plays  ...b6,...b8 or even c7xd6.In my point of view,Kc8 is a blunder and there are better moves for black.

wut, that was a real good one.

DdanN wrote: Sorry Bob but solution in 2 is impossible if Black plays  ...b6,...b8 or even c7xd6.In my point of view,Kc8 is a blunder and there are better moves for black.

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You're wrong.

neneko wrote: hollind wrote:

Just for interest Fritz 11 suggest.

1. +- (#2) 1.d5xe6 c7xd6 2.Qf3xb7#

2.+- (#3) 1.Qf3-c3 a7-a6 2.Qc3xc7+ Kb8-a7 3.Qc7xb7

Though not the same as the given solution I think it's also right. Well done to silentfilmstar13.

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 Did you even look at what fritz gave you before you made your post? The first solution is the same as silentfilmstars but with black trying another move, no matter what move black makes it's check mate the move after that's why it's forced. The second one is mate in 3.

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To clear up any confusion here is the purpose of my earlier post.

 

1. To demonstrate that the computer could brute force the answer when provided the correct starting information. In much the same way as shown by piotr.

2. To show that the output gave the same answer as provided by silentfilmstar13 (though the slightly different response from black differentiates the two solutions)

 3. To acknowledge silentfilmstar13's achievement and not to claim any achievement on my part but to give the credit to Fritz. 

 

The second line of the spooled output is provided simply as proof that the output comes from an engine. The same can be said for the Fritz based presentation of the moves. I am perfectly aware that the second line gives mate in 3.

 

The self effacing style of my prose (the use of the phrase "I think") was simply to imply that I would not presume to criticise Fritz's ability at calculating variations. It is simply a stylistic choice. I used the verb suggests when talking about the output from Fritz rather than solves or would play as the engine simply provides a list of alternatives when asked to analyse a position.

 

What is much more interesting is that the fact that the possibility of en passant can be deduced from the position and that computers seem unable to do this, as mentioned by einstein_96101. This, it would seem, is the real essence and beauty of the puzzle.

I found 1, the bishup moves to b6