White goes and check mate after 2 moves

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Avatar of tiborka

I found the following riddle in my archive and I couldn't find the solution, not back in the days and not even now. I analyzed all the possible first moves, but cannot solve it. Does someone know what is the key move here?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aRQoaCdB9V4iAYJ_KEjyzFpz4QnqZGFT/view

Avatar of CenterMass51075

Try 1.Nf5+ (cut off K escape), 2 options >1...Kf1 leads to 2. Rh1++ and 1...Ke1 leads to 2.Rxe2+, 2 options>>2...Kd1 or 2...Kf1, both followed with 3.Rh1++

Avatar of tiborka

But these are 3 moves. The 2nd move of white should be check mate...

Avatar of CenterMass51075

Try 1.Nf1+, Ke1; 2.Nd3++. 1...Kf1, 2.Rh1++

Avatar of CenterMass51075

Sorry, post #4 line does not work as 2...Kxf1 avoids mate.

Avatar of MARattigan

It's there.

Try thinking which Black moves are not currently covered and remembering it's a puzzle so you probably don't need to look at checking moves or captures.

Avatar of tiborka

@MARattigan

I still don't see the check mate in 2 moves...

Avatar of MARattigan

See what pieces are needed to mate after Ke1, then think about Kg3. I'm sure you'll get there if you give it a fresh look.

I can post the answer if you really want, but other people will probably want to try. (Obviously not bad a puzzle.)

Avatar of tiborka

I already spent hours on this riddle.... I don't think there's a 2-move solution for this...

Avatar of MARattigan

OK. Be5.

Avatar of tiborka

Be5 Ke1 - no check mate in next move

Avatar of MARattigan

RxP# - that one needs to be sorted out first. It needs the knights and rook fixed (or at least rook on rank).

Avatar of tiborka

for Ke3 and Ke1 => Rxe2

for Kg3 => Nd3

for Kg1 => Nh3

beautiful puzzle happy.png but quite hard wink.png

Avatar of MARattigan

Agreed.

Lots of dead ends and the pure mates are easy to miss.