White to move and mate in 2 moves (XXI)

White to move and mate in 2 moves

Composed by Percy Francis Blake (England)

Published in Western Daily Mercury 1906

This Blake situation is fascinating.
Not being a strong player, I could easily be missing something obvious.
-black King is locked. White rook is pinned but well protected.
My first instinct was to look at the ways to put pressure on the the king (Be2, Nc5), but those seemed to be weak. Then I thought about freeing up the Rook by moving Kb5 or block the black Queen with Nf3.
Ultimately I think the winning play is 1. Qe6 2. Qc4# (or probably Qd5#)
Qe6 still covers the rook (which is also covered by Knight at d2), If black takes Knight at d2 by either Bishop or Knight, it doesn't seem to change white second move for checkmate at c4(d5).  - What am I missing?

It is a professional twomover. They never start with a checking move so that reduces your options. 1. Qe6? Ne3! This black knight defense is so strong that it refutes almost any first move you try. The trick is therefore to find a first move where you can still checkmate after 1. .. Ne3. Keep going!

It took me all to long to solve ;)

The more I learn the less I know;
So Ne3 is a strong move I hadn't forseen.
I still don't understand that this (the following) is a given Mate in 2; but if not, I've still not got this. That being said, I'd play it as:
1. Nxf1 / (expect Qxf1) 2. Qg3+ (Only move is a block by Qf3) - take and Mate.
Again - (and why I do this damned Chess thing..) What am I missing?
I Appreciate your previous attention, Arisktotle.

1. Nxf1? Qxe4+! and you won't mate within 30 moves.

There is another composition rule helpful here. No problem solution starts with capturing a piece! Capturing a pawn is permissible though.

You won't be able to prevent black playing ..Ne3 but every chess move has advantages and disadvantages. The big disadvantage here is that the knight blocks an escape square of the black king! The mate that will follow uses that fact.

The key move is one you might play in a normal chess game in a position like this. It opens a line threatening checkmate. Black can defend against it in various ways and these defenses are answered by various mating moves.

If you can't find it, check the solution with a chess engine and play through the different variations. It will give you a feel on how to approach professional mate problems in general.

White king to b7, black short of taking the rook can really do nothing, white queen to a6 mate.

Close! But what about the infamous 1. .. Ne3!

What about 1. Nf3 , Ne3 2 Rd4#

if queen takes then 2 . Nc3#

oh mom that doesn't work

nvm **

I like kc7 and there are a number of nice mates. On 1...Ne3 2.Rd4 is nice, and on 1...qh2+ 2. Re5 does the trick.

I share your likes, Brooklynbob!

"LuisEREstenssoro  

But how would you checkmate if black doesn't respond with QxRe4?

Bklynbobbyf, Arisktotle, myllyniemi: Thank you. Good stuff.

After 1kc7 another cute mate is 1...Nxd2 2.Nc1

1.Bc2+, Kxc2, 2.Re1+  Qe4 3.Qxe4#