Chess Puzzle of the Week (175): Solution

Sam Loyd Standard Union 1895
#2

Last week’s Mate in 2 was rather confusing, given the placement of the pawns!

One way to solve puzzles like this is to look at the set play – what would happen if it was Black’s move.

The only black move without a mate is Qh8, so White deals with this by playing 1. Rh8!, meeting 1… Qxh8 with Qxh8#.

You might also look at the function of every white piece. The rook on h3 serves no purpose other than to get in the way of the white queen, so it has to go!

Congratulations to anyone who managed to solve this.