Find The Shortest Mate
Yancey_Ward
1N1K4/2R5/3ppP2/1P1kpb2/2n4P/2P1PPB1/2npp1NQ/4b3 w - - 0 1
Yancey_Ward
1N1K4/2R5/3ppP2/1P1kpb2/2n4P/2P1PPB1/2npp1NQ/4b3 w - - 0 1
Editor
The last line is the key one for 1.f7. 1.f7 Bg3 2.Nd7 e4, and I could never find a mate in 4, but only mate in 5.
Editor
After 1.Qh1 e4 then 2.Nf4 Ke5 3.Nd7#, so not in four, but in three which satisfies the puzzle's stipulation which is mate in no more than 4.
Will White MATE IN 4 when 1. Qh1, e4?
V-4
1.Qh1 Be4
2.Nf4+ exf4
3.fxe4+ Ke5
4.Nd7#
V-2
1.Qh1 N2Xe3
2.Na6 Nc2
3.Rc6 e4
4.Nc7#
V-3
1.Qh1 N4xe3
2.Nd7 Nc4
3.f7 e4
4.Nf6#
Na6, d1 (Queen promotion); Rc6, Bxg3; Qxg3, Nxe3; Nc7+mate
Ra6, d1 (Queen promotion)
At first I got a lot of mates in 5. Then I guessed how to mate in 4.
V-1
1.Qh1 d1=Q
2.e4+ Bxe4
3.Ne3+ N2xe3
4.fxe4#