Welcome registrant:
RandD_1982
Meanwhile, white to move and mate in two. Good luck.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
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A tribute to the day’s historic exploit?
(For those who may not know, the croissant owes its origin to the seige of Vienna, as a flaky and delicious taunt against the Turks)
Bottom picture: Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano
https://www.ssnomemaria.it
d4!
What? No one, today, about the cornetto and cappuccino?
Black’s moves are limited. So the solution is to force Black to compromise its defenses:
1. d3-d4 (leaving Black with only N moves)
If N(b5) moves.
2. N-d4#
If N(d7) moves
2. N-e5#
1. P to d4, …
If … Nxd4
2. N to d4 mate
If … N to e5 (or f6 …)
2. N to e5 mate
The cappuccino in the back is yours, Father. :)
Uncle: ha!
The point is the connection of both the cappuccino and the cornetto with the Battle of Vienna.
I didn’t know the coffee was in on it!
“…cappuccino was invented by the Italian Capuchin friar Marco d’Aviano after the Battle of Vienna.” (Wikipedia)
Monks and their coffee. And wine. And beer. And books. Really, all the foundations of western civilization come from cowls and cloisters.
The croissant, too:
https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-invention-of-the-croissant-and-cappuccino-1683-861a2f152997