Originally posted by Mephisto2
No! 1.Rc8?? Be5+ 2.Rc3+ (else mate in 1) Bxc3+ 3.Nxc3 (Nb2? then c1Q# ) c1Q+ 4.Nb1 Qb2#
But 1.Nc5+! does the job: if Bxc5 or Kc4 then Rxa3+ followed by Kb2 (taking on a3 = stalemate)
1.Nc5+ Kc4 2.Rxa3 no check! c1Q+ 3.Ka2 Qc2+ 4.Ka1 Be5+ 5.Rc3 Bxc3# is not a solution.
2.Ra4+ doesn't help either: Kxc5 3.Ka2 c1Q 4.Rc4+ Qxc4+ avoiding the stalemate or 4.Ra5+ Kb6 avoiding the stalemate.
I think the authors intention was 1.Rb8+ allowing the opponent to decide which piece to take. Unfortunaly this doesn't seem to work:
1. ...Bxb8 2.Nc5+ Kc4 3.Nb3(stalemate motiv) Be5+ 4.Ka2 Bb2 5.Na5+(5.Nd2+ Kd3) Kb4 6Nc6+ Kc5 black wins.
White doesn't even get the draw after 1. ...Kxa4 2.Rc8 Kb3 (threatening Be5+ once again) 3.Rb8+(stalemate motiv) Kc3 4.Rc8+ Kd2 black wins
2.Ra8+ would be the next try: Kb4 3.Txa3 (stalemate motiv) c1Q+ wins as described up top(the king on b4 doesn't matter). 3. Rb8+(last try) Kc3 transposes to the line above.
I believe that White can't force a draw.