unconcerned, "it can scarcely be expected that I should contend against such odds; but let me see if I can dispense with that unlucky pawn. I have it!" he shouted with a tremendous laugh, "I have great pleasure in informing you that there is undoubtedly a mate in 5." 1. Rb7 Be3 2. Rb1 Bg5 3. Rh1+ Bh4 4. Rh2 gxh2 5. g4# In 1900, Friedrich Amelung pointed out that in the original position, if the first bullet had struck the rook instead of the knight, Charles would still have a mate in six. 1. Nf3 Be1 2. Nxe1 Kh4 3. h3 Kh5 4. Nd3 Kh4 5. Nf4 h5 6. Ng6# In 2003, ChessBase posted a fifth variation, attributed to Brian Stewart. After the first bullet took out the knight, if the second had removed the g-pawn rather than the h-pawn, Charles would be able to mate in ten. 1. hxg3 Be1 2. Rg4 Bxg3 3. Rxg3 Kh4 4. Kf4 h5 5. Rg2 Kh3 6. Kf3 h4 7. Rg4 Kh2 8. Rxh4+ Kg1 9. Rh3 Kf1 10. Rh1# Puzzles Trick Donkeys problem One of Loyd's notable puzzles was the "Trick Donkeys". It was based on a similar puzzle involving dogs published in 1857. In the problem, the solver must cut the drawing along the dotted lines and rearrange the three pieces so that the riders appear to be riding the donkeys. Vanishing puzzles A vanishing puzzle is a mechanical optical illusion showing different numbers of a certain object when parts of the puzzle are moved around. Loyd patented rotary vanishing puzzles in 1896 and published versions named Get Off the Earth, Teddy and the Lion and The Disappearing Bicyclist (pictured). Each had a circular card connected to a cardboard backdrop with a pin, letting it rotate. In The Disappearing Bicyclist, when the disc is rotated such that the arrow points to A, 13 boys can be counted, but when it points to B, there are only 12 boys. Vanishing area puzzle A square with a side length of 8 units ("chessboard") is dissected into four pieces, which can be assembled into a 5x13 rectangle. Since the area of the square is 64 units but the area of the rectangle is 65 units, this seems paradoxical at first. However it is just an optical illusion as the pieces don't fit exactly to form a rectangle, but leave small barely visible gap