Mate in two?

A friend gave me this position, saying there was a mate in two. Probably I'm just a doofus, but I dont see any mate in two, and am thinking it is not possible. Your thoughts?

Originally posted by clandarkfire
A friend gave me this position, saying there was a mate in two. Probably I'm just a doofus, but I dont see any mate in two, and am thinking it is not possible. Your thoughts?

[fen]2nR4/Q3b3/8/1Pppk3/8/2P2K1B/8/8 w[/fen]

I'm afraid your friend is right.

1.Rd6!! - a spectacular shot. The threat is simply 2.Re6#.

1...d4 2.Qxc5
1...Bxd6 2.Qg7
1...Nxd6 2.Qxe7
1...Kxd6 2.Qb8

Imagine the look you'd get from an opponent if you actually got to play a move like 1.Rd6!! in a real game!

Originally posted by SwissGambit
I'm afraid your friend is right.

1.Rd6!! - a spectacular shot. The threat is simply 2.Re6#.

1...d4 2.Qxc5
1...Bxd6 2.Qg7
1...Nxd6 2.Qxe7
1...Kxd6 2.Qb8

Imagine the look you'd get from an opponent if you actually got to play a move like 1.Rd6!! in a real game!

Ah, another something you would never look for.

Originally posted by clandarkfire
Ah, another something you would never look for.

I know! I would have done something like taking the knight, which seems like a good enough move for me.

1. Rh6!! appeared to me like 1. Rh6[what in hell is he doing??????]??

I wish I had the mind to look for things like that...

K-

Originally posted by kfennessy
I wish I had the mind to look for things like that...

K-

The trick is watching out for troublesome Black King flights. If he is allowed to go to f6, White will not be able to set up a mate.

So, the key move must stop him from going there. And that's the main point. Since zugzwang isn't possible [how on earth does 1...d4 damage Black's position?], then we need a move that

a) stops ...Kf6
b) threatens mate next move

After this realization, finding 1.Rd6!! is straightforward.