Find the mate in 2
Mate in 2, proven against every defence.
A two move finish, Red to play. Black holds a cannon and a horse, which is enough to survive most attacks and not this one.
The position
Red attacks with a soldier and 3 cannons, and Black's General stands on d9. Black's defenders: a cannon and a horse.
- Mate in 2
- Cannon finish
- Rating 1763
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
The move is 炮 e5–d5. Look at what it does: it removes 2 escape points from the General, and leaves Black 7 legal replies, none of which help.
The line
- Red炮 e5–d5Check. Black must answer.
- Black馬 d7–e5Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red炮 c4–d4Checkmate.
Every one of Black's 7 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
Two cannons on one line, the front one screening the one behind it. That is 重炮, stacked cannons, and it cannot be blocked: any piece that steps in simply becomes another screen.
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
- Red moves and mates in 1x2595 · rating 1308
- Find the mate in 1x2593 · rating 1106
- Find the mate in 1x2596 · rating 1189
- Red moves and mates in 2x2592 · rating 1684
- Red moves and mates in 2x2597 · rating 1551
- Red moves and mates in 1x2591 · rating 1181
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.