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Meanwhile,… white to move and mate in TWO. Think fast!
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
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I just learned that actor Michael Gambon died in September. He was a regular chess player. R.I.P.
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1. Rh7+ Kxh7
2. Qh3#
e5, followed by Qxh7 mate. I don’t think Black has a move to stop this.
I’ll look into a possible mate-in-two in a minute, but meantime I’ve got a very nice one (i.m.h.o.) in 3.
1. Rxh7 forcing KxR (the knight is threatening g8).
2. e5 with Q+ leaving black with the options
2. … Kh8 back 3. Qh3++
2. … Rf5 3. Qh3++ (the knight also threatens the excape field g6)
2. … h6 3. Qh3++ (blacks own pawn blocks the excape field) or a bit more elegantly 3. Qxh6++ (the white queen stands immediately in front of her enemy, but is protected by the knight).
All right, two moves? Turn’s out it really is the same, with just the unnecessary-but-beautiful move cut:
1. Rxh7 forcing KxR.
2. Qh3++.
Is that picture of the entrance to the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere?