White to Play and Mate in Two

Pete Tamburro on Jul 28, 2008

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Although it looks like White is setting up his pieces for the next game, there really is a mate in two. The key move in this problem is as whimsical as the problem, and, yet, it is the most logical move on the board.

Solution:

B. Harley also has some fun with the theme we've been doing this week and really ups the ante on the number of Black replies. And it's not just dropping a bunch of pieces on the board to increase the number of replies. In problem land, economy is crucial to evaluation of this art form. All of the Black men serve a purpose that has to do with helping it be a mating position or preventing it from having something not thematic happening. It's challenging some time to figure it out.

1.Ra5 Stopping Black from going to c5! Very logical...and spectacular! 1...Kxa5 [1...Nxa5 2.Ba3#; 1...d4 2.Bd2#; 1...e3 2.Rb5#; 1...Na4 2.Qxa4#; 1...Nc4 2.Qa4#; 1...Nd7 2.Rb5# plus two other mates in one. This happens several times in these lines; 1...Nc8 2.Bd2#; 1...Na8 2.Rb5#; 1...Nc5 2.Rb5#; 1...Nd8 2.Rb5#; 1...Nd6 2.Bd2#] 2.Bd2#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.