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 2 advisors 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 cannon, a horse and 2 chariots, and Black's General stands on d9. Black's defenders: 2 advisors and a cannon.
- Mate in 2
- Chariot finish
- Rating 1604
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
俥 b4–b9 is the only move that wins. Look at what it does: and leaves Black 1 legal reply, none of which help.
The line
- Red俥 b4–b9Check. Black must answer.
- Black將 d9–d10Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red俥 f5–f10Checkmate.
Black has 1 legal moves after the first blow and each was refuted to mate. The main line shown is the toughest defence rather than a convenient one.
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 1x3943 · rating 1238
- Red to play, mate in 1x3941 · rating 1110
- Find the mate in 2x3944 · rating 1662
- Red moves and mates in 1x3940 · rating 1307
- Red moves and mates in 1x3945 · rating 1123
- Red to play, mate in 2x3939 · rating 1575
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.