# in 2
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mate in 3 i think
[1. Ra1] is mate in two.
Agreed. Mate in 3.
Nice puzzle -- did you compose this yourself? If so -- well done! It's hard to make a mate in 2 that isn't trivial.
Answer is below... select text to see ... gee, hope I'm right.
1.Ba3! Bxa3 [1...b5 2.Ra6# or 1.ba 2.Ra6#] 2.ab#
JG27Pyth wrote:
Nice puzzle -- did you compose this yourself? If so -- well done! It's hard to make a mate in 2 that isn't trivial.
Answer is below... select text to see ... gee, hope I'm right.
1.Ba3! Bxa3 [1...b5 2.Ra6# or 1.ba 2.Ra6#] 2.ab#
What if 1... Bd6?
TheGrobe wrote:
JG27Pyth wrote:
Nice puzzle -- did you compose this yourself? If so -- well done! It's hard to make a mate in 2 that isn't trivial.
Answer is below... select text to see ... gee, hope I'm right.
1.Ba3! Bxa3 [1...b5 2.Ra6# or 1.ba 2.Ra6#] 2.ab#
What if 1... Bd6?
Um... uhhh... *aw hecky-poo* good one-- I think it's back to the drawing board for Hammidudin -- or is there an answer yet we haven't found?
I'm pretty sure I've solved it above.
TheGrobe wrote:
I'm pretty sure I've solved it above.
Oh hell, when I read that answer I thought you were saying + 2 more (IOWs mate in 3) JEEZIS, not only did I solve incorrectly... I couldn't even read the correct answer correctly... LOL. I'm not entering any puzzle solving contests anytime soon!
I also could have sworn that I examined "that move" myself and determined that it mated in 3. (Hence my mis-reading of Grobe's post) ... oh well, I think I'll back away from this puzzle before I make a bigger ape of myself.
Actually, now that I look closer, 1... Bd6 invalidates my solutions as well.
Hmmm....
TheGrobe wrote:
Actually, now that I look closer, 1... Bd6 invalidates my solutions as well.
Hmmm....
Serves you right! 
OK, now I'm almost positive I've got it: There doesn't appear to be a response that delays mate after [1. Rc6].
Can I save some face and claim that my original post retains a shred of validity: "If you composed this yourself Hamiduddin, good job... it's a non-trivial mate in two."
tonydal wrote:
1 Rc6 (the only move that sidesteps the 1... Bd6 defense).
I think this is right. Black is moving down the board so the only legal moves are moving the b-pawn or bishop. If bishop is moved, axb6#. If the b-pawn is moved, Ra6#.
Quite a nice puzzle actually, if it were Black to move he has one good delaying tactic. White has one move that takes that away from him leaving Black in zugszwang.
TheGrobe wrote:
OK, now I'm almost positive I've got it: There doesn't appear to be a response that delays mate after [1. Rc6].
Very good catch!
My apologies, Hamiduddin. My computer didn't even catch that one!
Is this it?
No, as other people have said, Bd6 delays mate after Ra1. The only move to mate in 2 is Rc6.