1.
[
{F:B}{B:1q6/3r1nn/3b2b1/2Q1kr2/2R2P2/3K4/6B1/8}
One criticism of helpmates is that because variations are impossible, the solutions lack the variety shown in other types of problems. One way around this is to have more than one solution, as the French composer Caillaud has done here. In most problems an unintended second solution is held to be a fatal flaw destroying the value of the problem, but helpmates with intentional multiple solutions are an exception to the rule. It is important that the solutions be closely related to each other, very often one line will echo the strategy of the other. For this reason, once you have found one solution to a helpmate, finding the others is normally quite easy.]

2.
[
Problem composers love paradox, and this problem is no exception. What is especially paradoxical in a helpmate? The answer is the sacrifice of white material. Normally, a sacrifice is made to force the opponent to do something he doesn't want to do, but when he is cooperating in any case, sacrifices appear to lose their point. Indeed, at first it is hard to see any reason why a reduction in White's material can possibly help him.]

3.
[
White's force is quite substantial, and it is amazing that there aren't hundreds of ways of contriving a mate with queen, rook and bishop. Curiously enough, it is the very power of White's force which makes it hard. For example if the queen weren't there, 1 any 2 Re4+ Kd5 3 Re5 would be mate, or if the bishop disappeared, then 1 any 2 Qe3+ Kd5 3 Qe4 would do the trick. This leads to the idea of sacrificing white material, and you might expect that if a composer was arranging a sacrifice, he wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than the queen.]

4.
[
But why should White sacrifice his queen rather than simply move it out of the way? Now the element of imagination enters. One answer might be that Black's first move gives check, so that White has no time to quietly withdraw the queen. Now we have a chance of spotting a solution...]

5.
[{F:B}{B:1q6/3r1nn1/3bk1b1/2Q2r2/2R2P2/3K4/6B1/8 BLACK}
{V:Can you find the two solutions? Try it on the board. Black to move. Helpmate in two, two solutions.;f5f6;Correct;Incorrect.;You should not be afraid to sacrifice some white material in order to force mate.}]

6.
[
{S:f5f6}
1...Rf6+]

7.
[
{S:c5f5}
2 Qf5+]

8.
[
{S:e6f5}
2...Kxf5]

9.
[
{S:g2h3}
3 Bh3 mate]

10.
[
{F:B}{B:1q6/3r1nn1/3bk1b1/2Q2r2/2R2P2/3K4/6B1/8}
The second solution almost certainly embodies identical strategy, i.e. Black's first move is a discovered check, and White's reply sacrifices the queen on the square Black has just vacated. This leads us naturally to the d6-bishop, and the second solution is...]

11.
[
{S:d6e7}
1...Be7+]

12.
[
{S:c5d6}
2 Qd6+]

13.
[
{S:e6d6}
2...Kxd6]

14.
[
{S:c4c6}
3 Rc6 mate]
