2025/10/05 DPA: "Calling A Lateral"

White to move:

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Black has no checks, which gives White time for a setup move, if necessary.

White's down a Rook and a minor piece so the puzzle is likely about checkmate.

1. Qf3+ Ke8. 2. Qf7+ Kd8:  3. Nd6 would be checkmate if not for the Bishop.

3. Rxc8+ Rxc8. 4. Nd6# but Black can play 3. ... Kxc8.

So what about removing the defender one more prior?

1. Qf3+ Ke8. 2. Rxc8+ Rxc8. 3. Qf7+ Kd8. 4. Nd6#.

All good but Black can play 2. ... Kd7.  But then 3. Qxb7 Qc7. 4. Qxc7#.

Or 3. ... Kd6. 4. Qc6+ Ke7. 5. Qe6#.

2. ... Ke7. 3. Qf7+ Kd6. 4. Ne4# [I think].

No, that was wrong.

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The key was recognizing Black's light square weaknesses and how ill-coordinated his defenses were.

1. Qb3 threatens 2. Qf7#.  There's no way to defend f7 so the King flees.

2. Rxc8 cuts off the back rank but also removes the only defender of the light squares, regardless of whether Black accepts the sac offer.

3. Qe6+ forces the King to d8.

4. Nf7+ forces the King to c7.

5. Qd6# finishes with a Dovetail pattern.

I see my mistake:  I assumed after 1. Qf3 that Black would move to e8, where 2. Rxc8 would come with check.  But Black will move to e7.

I didn't see the 2nd move either, initially:  it looked too open-ended.  The engine shows 5 forced checkmates:  3 M5s and 2 M3s [there's also a M1 if 2. ... Kd6].

Nice one by @chesstiger787!