Problem 3

In the following problem, white plays first and mates black in two moves.

John Rice
1st prize
The Problemist 2009

#2

Originally posted by Linden Lyons
In the following problem, white plays first and mates black in two moves.

John Rice
1st prize
The Problemist 2009
[fen]8/3BKp2/p1R2B1p/r2k1p2/8/p1p1pP2/1qN5/1Nn1Qbb1[/fen]
#2

1.Qxc3! [2.Rd6]

1...Bc4 2.Qxc4#
1...Qxc3 2.Nxc3#
1...Qb4+ 2.Nxb4#
1...Qb8 2.Qd4#
1...Bh2 2.Nxe3#

Originally posted by SwissGambit
[b]1.Qxc3! [2.Rd6]

1...Bc4 2.Qxc4#
1...Qxc3 2.Nxc3#
1...Qb4+ 2.Nxb4#
1...Qb8 2.Qd4#
1...Bh2 2.Nxe3#

[/b]

Well done SG! There's also the post-key variation 1 ... Qb6 2 Qe5. I should add that there are a couple of tries (a try is a move which looks like it might be the key, but is thwarted by one black response). Can anyone spot these tries?

The full solution:

1 Qh4? (threat 2 Qd4)
1 ... e2/Ne2 2 Qc4
1 ... Nb3 2 Nb4
1 ... f4 2 Qh5
1 ... Qb6 2 Nxc3
but 1 ... Ra4!

1 Qxe3? (threat 2 Qe5 [not 2 Qd4?])
1 ... Bh2 2 Qd4
1 ... Bxe3 2 Nxe3
1 ... Qb8 2 Nxc3
1 ... Rc5 2 Rxc5
but 1 ... Nd3!

1 Qxc3! (threat 2 Rd6 [not 2 Qd4?/Qe5?])
1 ... Qb8 2 Qd4
1 ... Qb6 2 Qe5
1 ... Qb4+ 2 Nxb4
1 ... Qxc3 2 Nxc3
1 ... Bh2 2 Nxe3
1 ... Bc4 2 Qxc4