Chess Puzzle

[Escher]

Ok, I give up.

I've been working this puzzle for 8 hours now. Can someone help me solve?

White to move and mate in 3 moves:
http://www.chesswizards.com/usersimage//problem/37.gif

[ttubbs]

How about
1) White - 3F to 5G
2) Black - any move
3) 3H to 7H
???

[Escher]

I agree that showed promise, but what if the H pawn advances to 5?

_any_ other black move results in checkmate, but
1)3f-5G, h7-h5 seems to put off black's mate for at least 3 moves.

what's especially frustrating was that this was supposedly "intermediate" level for a children's chess club!

--I got it from this page (4th puzzle)...It's the only one I can't "get"

http://www.chesswizards.com/?page_id=16

[ttubbs]

I didn't see that. Hmm.... I'll keep thinking. Now it will bother me too. Thanks!!!

What's the answer to #2?

[ttubbs]

What does the three moves mean? Total in the game, or just white?

How about this?
White: H3 to H7 (check)
forces Black: G8 to H7
White: D1 to H1 (check)
forces Black: H7 to G8
White: H1 to H8 (check mate)

3 moves for white.

[Escher]

Yes, three moves for just white.

that is the solution--bless you.

It's like removing a splinter from my mind.

[ttubbs]

Happy to help. That was fun.

Now, if I could just get someone to figure out my 401k vs ROTH problem I posed yesterday, I could remove the splinter from my mind.