Puzzle for Alethia

Finally, what you've been waiting for: a problem that demands window dressing!

Assuming Black's pawn is on d2,

Originally posted by Alethia
Assuming Black's pawn is on d2,
[fen]2b3B1/3n3p/1pp4p/8/8/p7/kpnp3K/rr6 b[/fen]
Your ulterior motive has been noticed.

Removing any Black piece or pawn spoils the mate.
Removing any Black piece or pawn spoils the mate.
Removing any Black piece or pawn spoils the mate.

Yes dmnelson, I can read. I didn't remove a Black piece or pawn. Also, thank you PBE6, but BigDogg doesn't like me.

Originally posted by PBE6
What, you think BigDogg has the hots for you? Sorry to break it to you, but I think he only likes you for your mind... 😵

EDIT: This position doesn't look possible...the white bishop couldn't have moved into position without delivering an unanswered check on the previous turn. Which means BigDogg may not like you at all. 😕

Interesting, though "spoils the mate" is a bit ambiguous - does that mean the resulting position is not a mate (i.e. the king may escape, or a piece may cover the check) or may it be interpreted as the resulting position after the removal of the piece/pawn is illegal?

Originally posted by Peakite
[fen]q1b3B1/1p1p4/8/8/8/p1p5/kprp3K/bn6[/fen]

Having a go, I'm not quite there yet, 11 of the 12 black men here missing would spoil the mate (the exception being the queen).

Actually come to think of it the rook isn't doing much good. I had a queen on d1 at one point.

Originally posted by ilywrin
Sorry but that is not mate 1...d5!

I was thinking something more in the line of:

Originally posted by Alethia
Assuming Black's pawn is on d2,
[fen]2b3B1/3n4/1pp4p/7p/8/p7/kpnp3K/rr6 b - - 0 1[/fen]
Your ulterior motive has been noticed.

Originally posted by ilywrin
Interesting, though "spoils the mate" is a bit ambiguous - does that mean the resulting position is not a mate (i.e. the king may escape, or a piece may cover the check) or may it be interpreted as the resulting position after the removal of the piece/pawn is illegal?