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 a advisor, a chariot and a cannon still on the board, and every legal defence has been tried against this solution. All of them lose.
The position
Red attacks with a horse, 2 chariots and a cannon, and Black's General stands on e8. Black's defenders: a advisor, a chariot and a cannon.
- Mate in 2
- Chariot finish
- Rating 1685
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
俥 b9×e9 is the only move that wins. Look at what it does: it takes a defender off the board on the way, and leaves Black 2 legal replies, none of which help.
The line
- Red俥 b9×e9Check. Black must answer.
- Black車 h9×e9The toughest try, taking a piece with it.
- Red俥 i7–i8Checkmate.
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 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 1x1720 · rating 1355
- Red to play, mate in 1x1718 · rating 1164
- Red moves and mates in 1x1721 · rating 1235
- Red moves and mates in 2x1717 · rating 1560
- Red to play, mate in 2x1722 · rating 1579
- Red to play, mate in 1x1716 · rating 1228
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.