Find the mate in 2
Mate in 2, proven against every defence.
A two move finish, Red to play. Black holds a cannon, which is enough to survive most attacks and not this one.
The position
Red attacks with a chariot and 2 cannons, and Black's General stands on d8. Black's defenders: a cannon.
- Mate in 2
- Cannon finish
- Rating 1785
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
The move is 俥 b10–d10. 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俥 b10–d10Check. Black must answer.
- Black砲 c9–d9Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red炮 f10–f9Checkmate.
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
The mating piece arrives on a square the defence cannot cover.
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.
Next puzzles
- Red to play, mate in 1x2638 · rating 1229
- Red moves and mates in 1x2636 · rating 1149
- Red moves and mates in 2x2639 · rating 1635
- Find the mate in 1x2635 · rating 1235
- Red to play, mate in 1x2640 · rating 1291
- Red moves and mates in 2x2634 · rating 1552
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.