Puzzle x1689 · rating 1749

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 3 advisors and a elephant still on the board, and every legal defence has been tried against this solution. All of them lose.

The position

Red attacks with a cannon and 4 chariots, and Black's General stands on f10. Black's defenders: 3 advisors and a elephant.

Mate in 2
Chariot finish
Rating 1749

Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.

Show the solution

俥 b6–b10 is the only move that wins. Look at what it does: it removes 1 escape point from the General, and leaves Black 2 legal replies, none of which help.

The line

Red俥 b6–b10Check. Black must answer.
Black士 e9–d10Black's most stubborn defence.
Red俥 c9×f9Checkmate.

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 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 pattern

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.

Solve puzzles on a real board More mates in 2 Enter the board

Next puzzles

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.