John Nunn's 50 favourite puzzles

Can't see that happening in a game though - every move black can make sets up one of 12 different mate threats for white

Chess composition has little to do with playing chess. It's an artform that uses the rules of chess as a tool.

I posted the third puzzle a month or so ago here:
Famous Puzzles 1

Just thought I'd say, not advertising or anything... 

Sorry, Nytik, I didn't mean to copy you. I'm just repeating the positions which I find in my software.

BTW here's the explanation to the solution move (Rh1!!):

White cannot mate immediately because of the pieces on the back rank, for example Rh4 mate is prevented by the bishop on d8. Likewise, the other pieces stop e3 mate, Qf5 mate and Nd5 mate. But the fact that each Black piece has a responsibility proves to be Black's undoing, because they can hardly move without stepping on each other's toes. After 1...Re7, for example, White can play 2 Rh4 mate, while 1...Re6 blocks the other bishop and allows 2 Nd5 mate. Indeed, in the diagram position Black has only two moves which cannot be met by immediate mate, namely 1...Bg5 and 1...Re3. If only White can find a way to prepare mates for these moves, then Black will be obliged to fatally weaken himself. What weakness is created by 1...Re3? The answer can only be that it blocks e3, and therefore the bishop on g1 is freed to deliver mate by Bh2. Thus the first move must be with the rook on h2, but should it move to h1 or h3? The answer is provided by the other possible defense, 1...Bg5. This blocks g5 and frees the queen to mate by Qh2. So the solution is the unlikely-looking 1 Rh1! There is no threat, but nevertheless Black has no defense. Here is the full list of variations.
1...Re7/Rf6/Bxc7/Bh4 2 Rh4 (or Rxh4)
1...Re6/Rf7/Bxh7/Bd5 2 Nd5 (or Nxd5)
1...Re5 2 Qg4
1...Re4 2 fxe4
1...Re3 2 Bh2
1...Rxe2+ 2 Nxe2
1...Be7/Be6 2 e3
1...Bf6/Bf7/Rf5 2 Qf5 (or Qxf5)
1...Bg5 2 Qh2
1...c3 2 Nd3

Number 4 by J.B. of Bridport 1863

White to play, mate in 2.

by golly these are tough.

Hey, thanks, Nunn is one of my favorite British GMs

Nice puzzles.

Qd6 is the answer

uau

Um where are the others?

I am sure there will be some the next time you look - in another 4 years I guess

loved doing these