Find the mate in 2
Mate in 2, proven against every defence.
A two move finish, Red to play. Black holds a elephant, 2 horses and 2 chariots, which is enough to survive most attacks and not this one.
The position
Red attacks with 2 chariots, a soldier, a horse and a cannon, and Black's General stands on f8. Black's defenders: a elephant, 2 horses and 2 chariots.
- Mate in 2
- Soldier finish
- Rating 1712
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
The move is 炮 h5–f5. Look at what it does: it removes 1 escape point from the General, and leaves Black 1 legal reply, none of which help.
The line
- Red炮 h5–f5Check. Black must answer.
- Black車 g7–f7Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red兵 f6×f7Checkmate.
Every one of Black's 1 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
A soldier gives the mate, which only happens once it has crossed the river and can step sideways. It is the cheapest piece on the board finishing a game, and it is a reminder that a crossed soldier is an attacker rather than a wall.
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.
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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.