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Eye catching 1.Qxh6 Qxf6 2.Qxf6 will delay matter.
1.Rh7 Kg8
(1… Re1+ 2.Qxe1 Qxf6 3.Bxf6 followed by 4.Rh8#)
(1…. Qxf6 2.Bxf6 Re1+ 3.Qxe1 followed by 4.Rh8#)
2.Rh8+ Kxh8
3.Qxh6+ Kg8
4.Qg7# No alternative on move 1 by black will delay mate.
Here I would in a blitz game have played “without thinking” the very goodlooking 1. Qxh6(?) and it goes 1. … Re1+ 2. Bxe1 (enforced) Qxf6 3. Qxf6 (enforced) Rc7 and white wins, but this is NOT mate in 4.
Especially in a blitz game with very little time left, this might become very stressing….
So I have to find a different plan to solve the puzzle.
Q must stay where it is to protect e1 field.
Of course I can’t play Bh7?? Be4+ and white is in trouble.
A good improvement is:
1. Rh7!! Kg8
Very instructive theme! The trick was to force black king to this side step! 1. … Re1+ 2. Qxe1 Qxe6 3. Bxe6 Kg8 or any 4. Rh8#.
But from here again I looked at a non optimal continuation first: 2. Qxh6(?) Re1+ 3. Bxe1 Qxf6 4. Qxf6 any 5. Rh8#.
This works very good even in a blitz game, but still the puzzle isn’t solved!
Of course the right (simple and all enforced) solutions involves a sack also:
1. Rh7!! Kg8
2. Rh8+!! Kxh8
3. Qxh6+ Kg8
4. Qg7#
Still, the alternative line was 1. … Re1+ 2. Qxe1 Qxe6 3. Bxe6 Kg8 or any 4. Rh8#.
Alas, I spent a good deal more time on this one than the mate in 5 yesterday…
Ush, I noticed that I still had not investigated all variations by black:
1. Rh7! Re1+
2. Qxe1 Kg8 (Qxf3 Bxf3)
3. Qg3+! Kf8
4. Rh8#
Is it complete now?
Surprisingly, a quiet move mates in 4!
1.Rh7!! Threatening Rh8#!
A>1….Qxf6.2.Bxf6!.Re1+.3.Qxe1! Any move.4.Rh8#!
B>1….Kg8.2.Rh8+!.Kxh8.3.Qxh6+.Kg8.4.Qg7#!
C>1….Re1+.2.Qxe1.Kg8.3.Qg3+.Kxh7.4.Qg7#!
D>1….any other.2.Rh8#!
1.Rh7 seals it in 4. Not sure if 1.Qh6 wins, but it looks like it to me, but I couldn’t bring the mate in 4 moves because of the check from e1 by the black rook.
One person mentioned Kxh7.
Unlikely because of Bd3.
That means Harry’s (C)terminates at 3.Qg3#
What an error again!Harry’s (C) requires 3.Qg3+ Kf8 4.Rh8# or 4.Qf7#.