Find the mate in 2
Mate in 2, proven against every defence.
A two move finish, Red to play. Black holds a advisor, 2 cannons and a elephant, which is enough to survive most attacks and not this one.
The position
Red attacks with a chariot, 2 cannons and a horse, and Black's General stands on e8. Black's defenders: a advisor, 2 cannons and a elephant.
- Mate in 2
- Chariot finish
- Rating 1687
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
The move is 傌 e6–c7. Look at what it does: and leaves Black 2 legal replies, none of which help.
The line
- Red傌 e6–c7Check. Black must answer.
- Black將 e8–d8Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red俥 c9–d9Checkmate.
Black has 2 legal moves after the first blow and each was refuted to mate. The main line shown is the toughest defence rather than a convenient one.
Why it is mate
The chariot arrives on a line the defence cannot close. Chariots are the strongest pieces on the board and most finished attacks end with one, which is why a defender will trade almost anything to swap them off first.
Read about this patternHow this puzzle was checked
Nothing here is an engine opinion. The position was solved by trying every legal defence to the full mate distance, so the claim that Red mates in 2 is a proof rather than an evaluation, and the first move shown is the only one that works. The defence in the line above is Black’s most stubborn try, not a convenient one.
Next puzzles
- Find the mate in 1x0057 · rating 1310
- Red moves and mates in 1x0055 · rating 1216
- Red moves and mates in 3x0058 · rating 2181
- Find the mate in 2x0054 · rating 1654
- Find the mate in 1x0059 · rating 1356
- Find the mate in 1x0053 · rating 1288
New to mating patterns? The glossary names the ones that come up again and again, the piece guides explain what each piece can do, and the rules page covers everything from the start.