
#2 3 solutions
1st Pr The Problemist 2025
In a helpmate in 2 moves Black plays the first move, and you’re looking for a BWBW sequence ending in mate. In this case there are THREE solutions so you’re looking for three such sequences.
Here they are: in helpmate notation move 1 is BW, not WB.
a) 1. Rxd4 Bxd5 2. Kxd5 Re5#
b) 1. Rxe6 Bxd6+ 2. Kxd6 Rxd5#
c) 1. Kxd4 Rxe3 2. Kxe3 Bg1#
This is a 3×2 cyclic Zilahi (the white piece that delivers mate in one solution is captured by Black in another solution), a threefold Kniest theme (White captures a black piece on the square where checkmate is delivered) with model mates (every piece on the attacking side (except the king and pawns) actively participates, and the squares around the enemy king are attacked only once)