Hard Pressed

White to play and help-mate in two moves
 

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

  

8

 8

7

 7

6

 6

5

 5

4

 4

3

 3

2

 2

1

 1
 

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

  

Solution

  1. Qe4     Qxe4
  2. Nxf7    mate or
  1. Qe4     Any move (except gxf6)
  2. Qh7     mate (Note if black plays gxf6 however then white will require more than two moves to obtain mate) or
  1. Qg6      fxg6
  2. Nxg6    mate