Mate in two

White is to move and mate in two.

This looks like an everyday easy mate in two problem, but the a4 pawn is hindering White's attempts. Any thoughts?

the only move i can find is 1. g3. but as you said, a3 ruins it. so i cant find any mate in 2.

Yes, that was my only logical try as well. Perhaps the source is just not so reliable...? (perhaps somebody recognizes the real composed problem from this setup)

But even without the a4 pawn, g3 doesn't really threaten mate does it?
i mean, g3, fxg4, and i don't see a checkmate for white
EDIT: nvm i didn't see Qf6

I can't see a mate in two, but I can see a mate in three. Can anyone find it?

Originally posted by heinzkat
[fen]8/2K5/4p3/3pkp2/p1P1N1P1/3P4/5QP1/8 w - -[/fen]

White is to move and mate in two.

This looks like an everyday easy mate in two problem, but the a4 pawn is hindering White's attempts. Any thoughts?

i think i remember this position from chessmaster, is that where you got this from? 😛

No. It is from some new website where you can play for money. It also offers some sort of daily problem solving competition with which you should be able to win extra credit (note: you already have to be a paying customer in order to participate, naturally I am not, I am just checking out their puzzles). Today's problem is this one (they did not put up yesterday's puzzle solution, it seems, but there was somebody who was rewarded bonus credit):

"White is to move and mate in two."



Looks more like a sound problem, albeit I cannot find the key move...?

Maybe somebody should check the first problem with an engine.

Originally posted by kbaumen
Maybe somebody should check the first problem with an engine.

Just seems like a mate in three in many ways.

Originally posted by heinzkat
[fen]8/2K5/4p3/3pkp2/p1P1N1P1/3P4/5QP1/8 w - -[/fen]

White is to move and mate in two.

This looks like an everyday easy mate in two problem, but the a4 pawn is hindering White's attempts. Any thoughts?

Computer testing confirms no solution with bPa4 and a sound mate in 2 without it.

Seems the first sound problem has been published today:



"White is to move and mate in two."

Originally posted by heinzkat
No. It is from some new website where you can play for money. It also offers some sort of daily problem solving competition with which you should be able to win extra credit (note: you already have to be a paying customer in order to participate, naturally I am not, I am just checking out their puzzles). Today's problem is this one (they did not put up yest ...[text shortened]... 4/2R4R w - -[/fen]

Looks more like a sound problem, albeit I cannot find the key move...?

Zounds. Another unsound one, confirmed by computer testing.

Originally posted by heinzkat
Seems the first sound problem has been published today:

[fen]2N5/8/p7/2k4b/p5p1/P3PQ2/4B1R1/3K4 w - -[/fen]

"White is to move and mate in two."

Can I say SOLV'D?

Originally posted by kbaumen
Can I say SOLV'D?

Yes, at least the key move is CONFIRM'D. (I replied 1. ... g3 2. Rc2#, but should be 2. Qxh5#, my fault, cannot send anymore messages somehow)

And now they seem to resort to this kind of problem:



White to move, mate in two.