This is technically not mate in 5, but very, very pretty. I had to put it on the board before I realized the key move- the first two moves are pretty obvious, but not the third one for white.
1. c5+. Ke6. 2. f5+. Ke5.
If only W could play 3. Ke3 safely, it would be 4. f4#!. But this is not possible due to 3. …Qh6+. This is the clue!
3. Qb8+!. If 3…..Qxb8. 4. Ke3!!! and mate with 5. f4#!!! cannot be prevented!
Of course Black can sacrifice his Q with 3….Kxe4 or Kd4 allowing 4. Qxh8 but it is a hopelessly lost position for Black.
This is technically not mate in 5, but very, very pretty. I had to put it on the board before I realized the key move- the first two moves are pretty obvious, but not the third one for white.
If you put a black pawn on h6 then you could have a mate in 4 with
1.c5+ Ke6
2.f5+ Ke5
3.Ke3 and 4.Qe7# or 4.f4#
No, 4.f4# or if 3…Qb8+ 4.Qxb8#.
1.c5+ Ke6
2.f5+ Ke5
3.Qb8+ Qxb8
4.Ke3 and 5.f4#
if 3…Kxe4 the mate in 5 fails but I can’t see anything else.
1. c5+. Ke6. 2. f5+. Ke5.
If only W could play 3. Ke3 safely, it would be 4. f4#!. But this is not possible due to 3. …Qh6+. This is the clue!
3. Qb8+!. If 3…..Qxb8. 4. Ke3!!! and mate with 5. f4#!!! cannot be prevented!
Of course Black can sacrifice his Q with 3….Kxe4 or Kd4 allowing 4. Qxh8 but it is a hopelessly lost position for Black.