Let's see... In the initial position, if it were Black's turn, all Knight moves but Ne3 lose to g4# and Ne3 allows Qf3#. Also, Ke4 allows Rd6#. This means that we have to find some way to stop c2. I do notice that 1.Nd8 threatens Rg5#, so c2 doesn't work. Black can defend against Nd8 with Ke4, though. I'll take a further look later.
Godfrey Heathcote.
Very good so far, all true. Now you just have to find the key, and the one mate you've missed so far...
I think that Qxg2 followed by g4# works.
The first move closes off the black king's last possible move (Ke4) and even if black's h-pawn is promoted, it can't save the game by taking white's queen as it isn't the queen that delivers the final checkmate.
No, 1.Rh6+ g6. Here are the lines:
1.Bb2!
1...cxb2 2.Qb1#
1...c2 2.Nd6#
1...Ke4 2.Rg4#
1...Ne3 2.Qf3#
1...Ne1 (or 1...Nh4) 2.Qd5#
1...Nf4 2.g4#
Great puzzle!
g6, not Kg6. The absence of a letter before a coordinate indicates a pawn move.
EDIT: This post is in response to someone whose account is now deleted, which is why it doesn't make sense anymore.
Well, it's fairly close to Zugzwang, but a4-N moves and R moves are difficult to cover. Is it 1.Bd2?
1...c3B(any) 2.Q(x)d4#
1...a4N(any) 2.Bxc3#
1...h5N(any) 2.B(x)f4#
1...c8B(any) 2.N(x)d7#
1...f4 2.Qg5#
1...Rxf6 2.Qe1#
1...c5 2.Rd5#
1...Rd6 2.Re3#
At first I thought it was a fairly typical Zugzwang problem, but the differences between Rxf6 and Rd6 as defenses are neat and well-done. I liked the first one better, though.
I have no idea, I'm really bad at solving these with a ton of material and the King in the middle. The only line in which I can imagine a purpose for the a-pawn is 1.a3 Kc4 2.Be4 and mate next move, but I don't see mates for the other defenses...
SirDavid, the two you solved were way, WAY over my head, but this one's easy!
1.Kf7 Kc4 (1...Ke5 2.Qe6#) 2.Ke6 Kc3 3.Qd4#
British composer, lived from 1870 - 1952.
I just recently discovered what a genius composer this guy was. I'll post one or 2 here.
Posting in puzzle format makes little sense here, because after the key, Black has so many different responses, so I'm just going to post the diagram.
Godfrey HEATHCOTE
Central Times 1889
1° Prize
Mate in 2