user2437: My friend claims that there is a mate in the next move. White to move and checkmate. I am aware of 3 mates in 2 variations:
1. Qd1 Kd3 2.Rxd5#

1. Qd1 Kc5 2.Qg1#

1. Qd1 Kxe5 2.d4#

But I cannot seem to find a mate in one move!
I ran it through Houdini and Rybka, both spat out the above variations.
I am aware that the engines dont normally miss these mate in 1 moves, still He seems to be sure (maybe he's wrong). Just want some 'experts' to confirm this.


user8556: There is no mate in the next move but very good move is Qd1!
You always may use online tools to calculate next move.
For example http://www.chessnextmove.com

user3480: There is no mate in one move here, as there is 9 (Txb4+, Txd5+, Te4+, Dc5+, Dc4+, Dc3+, Dd3+, De4+, Db2+) way to do check black king but none of them gives mate.
Also it could be very interesting to find some example where Rybka or Houdini (or others...) can miss a mate in one.

user5664: Essentially, for mate in one, white needs to give check and guard e5. If the Q checks on b2, this opens c5 and d3 for the black K. If the Q checks on c3 or e4, it can be captured. If the Re5 checks on e4 or d5, it can be captured. 
There is no mate in one.

However, now I look at this again, I can see that it might be the wording of the question that is wrong. White can certainly end the game in one move. f4, Kf4, Kf5, Rbf4 and any non-checking move by the Re5 will end the game.
In stalemate.
So you might say, by a trick of phrasing, that's a kind of "mate in the next move".

user5781: It's a silly trick.  The board is upside-down!  The bottom left square is h8, and the top right is a1.  A legal move for white (but not a mate in 1) would be 1. e8=Q.  Look at it upside-down for a minute, readjust your perception of which squares are controlled by pawns, and you'll soon find a mate in 1.

2437: <p>My friend claims that there is a mate in the next move. White to move and checkmate. I am aware of 3 mates in 2 variations:</p>

<pre><code>1. Qd1 Kd3 2.Rxd5#

1. Qd1 Kc5 2.Qg1#

1. Qd1 Kxe5 2.d4#
</code></pre>

<p>But I cannot seem to find a mate in one move!</p>

<p>I ran it through Houdini and Rybka, both spat out the above variations.</p>

<p>I am aware that the engines dont normally miss these mate in 1 moves, still He seems to be sure (maybe he's wrong). Just want some 'experts' to confirm this.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/LWD1e.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
 8556: <p>There is no mate in the next move but very good move is Qd1!
You always may use online tools to calculate next move.
For example <a href="http://www.chessnextmove.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.chessnextmove.com</a></p>
 3480: <p>There is no mate in one move here, as there is 9 (Txb4+, Txd5+, Te4+, Dc5+, Dc4+, Dc3+, Dd3+, De4+, Db2+) way to do check black king but none of them gives mate.</p>

<p>Also it could be very interesting to find some example where Rybka or Houdini (or others...) can miss a mate in one.</p>
 5664: <p>Essentially, for mate in one, white needs to give check and guard e5. If the Q checks on b2, this opens c5 and d3 for the black K. If the Q checks on c3 or e4, it can be captured. If the Re5 checks on e4 or d5, it can be captured. </p>

<p>There is no mate in one.</p>

<hr>

<p>However, now I look at this again, I can see that it might be the <em>wording of the question</em> that is wrong. White can certainly <strong>end</strong> the game in one move. f4, Kf4, Kf5, Rbf4 and any non-checking move by the Re5 will end the game.</p>

<p>In stalemate.</p>

<p>So you might say, by a trick of phrasing, that's a kind of "mate in the next move".</p>
 5781: <p>It's a silly trick.  The board is upside-down!  The bottom left square is h8, and the top right is a1.  A legal move for white (but not a mate in 1) would be <code>1. e8=Q</code>.  Look at it upside-down for a minute, readjust your perception of which squares are controlled by pawns, and you'll soon find a mate in 1.</p>
