Try these harder mates.

Try these harder mates.
1) White to move. +-

2) Another puzzle- not hard but harder than my normal ones.
White to play. +-

Originally posted by Alethia
Try these harder mates.
1) White to move. +-
[fen]r1bqr2k/pppp2pp/3b1p2/1nP1p1N1/2Q5/1PNBP3/PB1P1PPP/2KR3R w[/fen]

This is basic material: Philidor's smothered mate.

Yes- anyone who doesn't know this, post and I'll PM you.

Originally posted by Alethia
2) Another puzzle- not hard but harder than my normal ones.
White to play. +-
[fen]rr5k/4qp1p/b1Pp2pP/pn1Qp1NP/Pp6/1PN1P3/3P2P1/1BKR1RB1 w[/fen]

I believe the key move is 1. Rxf7!
1. ... Qd8, Qe8, Qf8
2. Rxh7#

1. ... Qxf7
2. Nxf7+ Kg8
3. Nxd6+ Kh8 (otherwise 3. ... Kf8 4. Qf7#
4. Qxe5+ Kg8
5. Qg7#

I know there is a few more variations but my attention span quickly diminished after working out the first couple.

3) An improved old puzzle which is easy but satisfying.
White to play. +-

Originally posted by Alethia
3) An improved old puzzle which is easy but satisfying.
White to play. +-
[fen]1bq2rk1/6p1/n3PpP1/1pp1p3/3P1P2/B1P5/P7/2KQR2R w[/fen]

There are at least four ways to force mate. The shortest being 1.Qh5 and 2.Qh8#. I presume the original idea was to implement the sacrifice of the two rooks? Maybe, you should add a mating threat on Black's part, so no quiet moves are possible.

Maybe- can't be bothered. Any way of solving my puzzle within reason is fine by me.

Originally posted by Alethia
Maybe- can't be bothered. Any way of solving my puzzle within reason is fine by me.

You're forgetting that you can't call your version an "improvement" if a more banal, mundane mate works.

I really don't care. Really, I only make these becasue I am bored, not because they're right. Duh.

Originally posted by Alethia
I really don't care. Really, I only make these becasue I am bored, not because they're right. Duh.

I suggest less composing and more solving. It will pass the time just as well, and you can learn from the work of good composers, which will improve your own compositions.

It's inconsiderate and rude to your potential solvers not to bother testing your compositions for correctness. Why should they care enough to spend their time solving if you don't care enough to make a puzzle with a good, sound solution?

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