Red moves and mates in 2
Mate in 2, proven against every defence.
Red is to move and forces mate in 2. Black is not helpless: there are 2 elephants and a advisor still on the board, and every legal defence has been tried against this solution. All of them lose.
The position
Red attacks with a chariot and 2 cannons, and Black's General stands on e8. Black's defenders: 2 elephants and a advisor.
- Mate in 2
- Cannon finish
- Rating 1564
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
炮 b6–b8 is the only move that wins. Look at what it does: and leaves Black 2 legal replies, none of which help.
The line
- Red炮 b6–b8Check. Black must answer.
- Black象 d8–f6Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red炮 c6–c8Checkmate.
Every one of Black's 2 answers was played out to the end. The line below follows the most stubborn of them, the one that lasts longest and costs Red the most.
Why it is mate
The mating piece arrives on a square the defence cannot cover.
How 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 1x1470 · rating 1289
- Find the mate in 1x1468 · rating 1143
- Find the mate in 1x1471 · rating 1222
- Find the mate in 2x1467 · rating 1736
- Find the mate in 2x1472 · rating 1625
- Red to play, mate in 1x1466 · rating 1203
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.