1. Rc8 a7, (only move to prolong life is a7, If queen tries to protect bishop, then control on e6 is lost, enabling a quicker end.). 2. Rfxf8+ kh7. 3. Rxh8+ kg6 4. Rxh6+ gxh6 5. Qf6 Ka7 6. Qxh6++.
Now, may be an Rd8, Qd8 moves before a7 can prolong the agony, can prolong it up to 7, 8 moves.
RC6
Rc6
Cute mate. The pin on the bishop is irrelevant.
1.Rxf8+ Kxf8
2.Rc8+ Rd8
(2…Kf7 3.Qf5#)
(2…Qd8 3.Rxd8+ Rxd8 4.Bxd8 Ke8 5.Qd6 Nc6 6.Bxc6+ Kf7 7.Qe7+ Kg6 8.Be4+ Kh5 9.Qg5#)
3.Rxd8+ Qxd8
(3…Kf7 4.Qf5#)
4.Bxd8 Ke8
(4…Kf7 5.Qxe6+ Kf8 6.Qf7#)
5.Qd6 Nc6
6.Bxc6+ Kf7
7.Qe7+ Kg6
(7…Kg8 8.Be8 a1=Q 9.Qf7#)
8.Be4+ Kh5
(8…Kh6 9.Qg5#)
9.Qg5#
Rc8
The immobile Bd5 is indeed stronger than it looks at first glance:
1. Rxf8+ Kxf8
2. Rc8+ Kf7??
3. Qf5#
Not only Bf5 was pinned, e-pawn was also. So black is going to loose queen:
A)
2. … Rd8
3. Rxd8+ Qxd8
4. Bxd8 Ke8 (exd5? Qe7+ Kg8 Qe8#)
5. Qd6! Kf7
6. Qxe6+ Kf8
7. Qf7#
or
4. … Nc6/Nd7
5. Qd6+ Kf7/Kg8
6. Qxe6+ Kf8
7. Qf7#
B)
2. … Qd8
3. Rxd8+ Rxd8
4. Qxe6! Rd7 (enforced)
5. Qxd7 any
6. Qe7#
It should be no more than 7 moves, I think.
A small correction:
1. Rxf8+ Kxf8
2. Rc8+ Qd8
3. Rxd8+ Rxd8
4. Bxd8
and it is equivalent to my line A, mate in 7.
4. Qxe6? Rxd5+
was incorrect.
Funny but does not require 9 moves can be solved in 2 or 3 moves.
I couldn’t find mate in 9. At most 8.
1. Rxf8+ Kxf8 (forced)
2. Rc8+ Qd8 (or Rd8)
3. Rxd8+ Rxd8 (Qxd8)
4. Bxd8 Ke8
5. Qd6 (mate threat) Nc6
6. Bxe6 Nxd8
7. Qd7+ Kf8
8. Qxd8#
1. Rc8 a7, (only move to prolong life is a7, If queen tries to protect bishop, then control on e6 is lost, enabling a quicker end.).
2. Rfxf8+ kh7.
3. Rxh8+ kg6
4. Rxh6+ gxh6
5. Qf6 Ka7
6. Qxh6++.
Now, may be an Rd8, Qd8 moves before a7 can prolong the agony, can prolong it up to 7, 8 moves.
How about
Qxe6 Qxe6
Bde6+ Rf7
Bxf7+