Puzzle x1187 · rating 1779

Find the mate in 2

Mate in 2, proven against every defence.

A two move finish, Red to play. Black holds a advisor, a horse and a soldier, which is enough to survive most attacks and not this one.

The position

Red attacks with 2 cannons, 2 chariots and a soldier, and Black's General stands on e9. Black's defenders: a advisor, a horse and a soldier.

Mate in 2
Soldier finish
Rating 1779

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

Show the solution

The move is 俥 c8×d8. Look at what it does: it takes a defender off the board on the way, it removes 1 escape point from the General, and leaves Black 3 legal replies, none of which help.

The line

Red俥 c8×d8Quiet, and there is no answer to the threat.
Black士 e10–f9Black's most stubborn defence.
Red兵 f8–e8Checkmate.

Every one of Black's 3 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 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.