THE FORSAKEN KING.—solution
Play as follows:—
| White. | Black. |
| 1. P to K 4th | 1. Any move |
| 2. Q to Kt 4th | 2. Any move except on KB file (a) |
| 3. Q to Kt 7th | 3. K moves to royal row |
| 4. B to Kt 5th | 4. Any move |
| 5. Mate in two moves | |
| If 3. K other than to royal row | |
| 4. P to Q 4th | 4. Any move |
| 5. Mate in two moves | |
| (a) If 2. Any move on KB file | |
| 3. Q to Q 7th | 3. K moves to royal row |
| 4. P to Q Kt 3rd | 4. Any move |
| 5. Mate in two moves | |
| If 3. K other than to royal row | |
| 4. P to Q 4th | 4. Any move |
| 5. Mate in two moves |
Of course, by "royal row" is meant the row on which the king originally stands at the beginning of a game. Though, if Black plays badly, he may, in certain positions, be mated in fewer moves, the above provides for every variation he can possibly bring about.
click here to go to my blog.
See more interesting puzzles at http://puzzles.50webs.org