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 soldier, a chariot and 2 cannons, and Black's General stands on f10. Black's defenders: a cannon.
- Mate in 2
- Cannon finish
- Rating 1670
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
The move is 俥 d7–f7. 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 d7–f7Check. Black must answer.
- Black將 f10–e10Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red炮 d5–e5Checkmate.
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 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
- Find the mate in 1x4748 · rating 1254
- Find the mate in 1x4746 · rating 1162
- Find the mate in 2x4749 · rating 1708
- Red to play, mate in 1x4745 · rating 1205
- Red moves and mates in 1x4750 · rating 1327
- Red moves and mates in 2x4744 · rating 1695
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.