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Mates in Four Galore!

Mates in Four Galore!

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The illustrated position was published in 1844 by Ferdinand Julius Brede. 

Brede, born in Stettin Poland around 1799 or 1800, worked as an accountant in the business of GF Baur in Altona Germany (a suburb of Hamburg). He also worked as an author, who wrote under the pseudonym "de Fibre." His poems appeared in various magazines.

Eventually, in 1844, Brede published a collection of self-written chess compositions under his own name, entitled, "Almanach fur Freunde vom Schachspiel" (Almanac for Friends of Chess). There was a sort of catch and release combination of counter-chess theme wherein one side would deliberately place his piece in danger, while the other side was forced to let it go free or lose immediately. This theme was dubbed by his contemporaries as "Brede Cross Chess" and maintained that moniker for many years. Of course the modern usage of "cross chess" has nothing in common with this theme. 

In the case of the illustration of this blog.  Though Black has a substantial material advantage, White will win this game in four moves. There are quite a few combinations that result in mate in four; I think I have found them all, but let me know if you find a different combination than those featured here.

The key to the initial position is that all of Black's Royal Squares are under White's control, except b5. Therefore, any safe check is mate. Ne2, then is a threat of mate in 1, so, even though it exposes his Queen, the Queen cannot be captured.
 
Again after Bf6, White willfully places the Queen in danger, but it cannot be captured or mate ensues immediately. 
 
Have fun finding all the combinations!