5 Hardest Mate-in-2 Ever

Yury Markushin
08.04.2014
50
Category: Problems
Tags: chess, tactics

Today we present 5 very hard mate-in-two composition for your attention. Look at each of the positions carefully and try to find a combination that leads to mate in 2. These are pretty difficult problems, don’t get frustrated if you take long time to solve them, this is normal. Hint: look for a quiet, yet powerful move. This type of compositions almost never start with a check or a capture. Think outside the box. Good luck!

Problem 1: G. Heathcote, “American Chess Bullettin”, 1911

1

White to move and mate 2

Problem 2: G. Rinder, “Schach”, 1961

1

White to move and mate 2

Problem 3: C. Mansfield, “Good Companion”, 1917

1

White to move and mate 2

Problem 4: A. Ellerman, “MK Gvidelli”, 1925

1

White to move and mate 2

Problem 5:I. Schiffman, “Bristol Times & Mirror”, 1927

1

White to move and mate 2

Solutions:

Problem 1: There are many ways to mate here: 1.Nd4! Qxd4 2.Qxh7# or 1.Nd4! Bxd4 2.Qb1# etc.

 

Problem 2: I’m giving just the main line here: 1.Qd5!! Kxd5 2.Rf5# for other captures there is a mate as well.

 

Problem 3: 1. Be4! Nd2+ 2.Nxc4# there are other mates available for different responses of black

 

Problem 4: One of the possible mating lines 1.Rd7! Qd4 2.Nd6#

 

Problem 5: One of the possible lines: 1.Qf3! Qxf3+ 2.Re4#

Solve more:

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Updated 01.13.2024

Comments:

haas:
Problem 2: another solution: bxc6
WABWIRE:
Help Me with solution of Problem 5
Rrockz:
Black defense Qe3
shad:
problem no.1 Ng7 Qxb7 2. Rg4#
Vlado:
Horse g7
Zrs:
for no. 1 solution is Rh5
Yury:
Thanks everyone who send your solutions! I want to especially thank David Cox for doing a great job. Now the 'official solutions' are published you can compare your answers. Stay tuned more hard tactics is coming!
David Cox:
No mate after R:a5
David Cox:
That's 3 moves not 2.
Arnulfo:
[quote name="Arnulfo"]Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxh7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).
Arnulfo:
Problem #5.1. Rc2+ Qxg8,2. Rxb2+ Bxb2 3. Qxb2#
Arnulfo:
Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxf7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).
Arnulfo:
Problem #3. 1. Nxc4+ Kxf5, 2. Qc2+ Bd3 3. Qxd3+ mate
Arnulfo:
Problem #2. Qd5+ Nbxd5, Rxc6# mate
Sqalli:
Problem 1 . what about Nf2 checkmate no ??
Edrich Palomo:
Problem 3: keymove is Be4.
Edrich Palomo:
Problem 4: key move is Kc8.
Edrich Palomo:
Problem 2:1. Rc6. . if black RxRc62. Ne4#1. Rc6. . if black not move RxRc62. cxRd4#
Edrich Palomo:
Problem 1 is easy. . key move is Nd4.
Edrich Palomo:
[quote name="Saim Ayub"]problem #5 mate in one nd4 move to c1sorry you are wrong, first study the puzzle, you are referring to Nd3 - c1, d2 will take your c1,they keymove in Problem #5 is Qf3. . if black move RxRc4 or QxBg8. . white will move. . Nb4#if black move QxQf3. . white will move Re4 B#
Thakur Sanjeev:
These are easy problems but I was inspired by you
sfiso:
this is very simple, all 5 game try to put more harder games
sumon:
Problem 1 Kg6 (if black replies qe3 white to play Qh7 mate and if black replies qf2 NXqf2 mate
sumon:
Problem 3:RXbe1 kg3; Qg5 mate
David Cox:
If 1 Qb5, then among many others 1...Qg7+ prevents mate in 2. Remember: it's not about winning, you need to MATE in exactly 2 moves, not 3 or 4...Solution is 1 Nd4.
David Cox:
f3.[/quote]Kc8 simply wins. Qh8+ Nd8#[/quote]No mate after R:a5.
Saim Ayub:
problem #5 mate in one nd4 move to c1problem #1 mate in one move d2 move to d3 cacheck mate
buenorj:
Where is my comment? :(
buenorj:
No...d4,...kd5
buenorj:
Problem 1: Qb5 (Qd3#)...Nd2#
buenorj:
Qb5...Nf2#
TheBick:
Problem 31. Be4 threatens 2. Nc4# (capturing if needed, and blocking discovered check)1. ... Nxd6 2. Bxc6#1. ... Ne5 2. Rf3# (double check)I see that the P on c6 thwarts Qd2.But why the N on g8?
TheBick:
#2: Qd5+; each capture has a different mate:1. ... Rxd5 2. Ne4#1. ... Nbxd5 2. Rxc6#1. ... Nfxd5 2. Ne6#1. ... Kxd5 2. Rf5#1. ... cxd5 2. Bb6#
David Cox:
A few corrections to notation.
gm:
f3.[/quote]Kc8 simply wins. Qh8+ Nd8#
TheBick:
David Cox was first to post it. Congrats.
Yury:
Not just permitted, it is encouraged! :-) Feel free to share it.
TheBick:
Found the solution to problem #1 in < 10 minutes. Is it permitted to post in these comments?
David Cox:
Problem 1: Nd4 threatens Rg4[/b]if 1...Q:d4 2.Q:h7; 1...B:d4 2. Qb1; 1...e:d4 2. Q:d5; 1...K:d4 2. Qb4; 1...Q:b7 2. Rg4Problem 4: Rd7 threatens Qf4if 1...Qd4 2. Nd6; 1...Qe5 2. Nc5; 1...Qf2 2. Nd8; 1...Bf6 2. Qd3; 1...Bf7 2. Q:h1; 1...Qh1+ 2. Nd8; 1..Q:b2+ 2. B:b2
Yury:
I won't give any pointers at this point, but will post the solution soon !
Donald:
Problem 4: I think Rd5 wins against any reply. It protects the other rook, thereby freeing the Queen to deliver the killer blow at f4. If black replies with Qf2, white can still win with Nd6++, with his bishop covering f3.
Varun:
1.Qb4+ followed by Nf2+
Duck1897:
1: King to a7 and then knight to d6.
Duck1897:
Is that mate in [b]two[/b] moves?
KlangenFarben:
Good catch.
Topiary:
1.Neg7....Rg4
sumon:
1 problem Nf2+QXNf2,QXh7+Qf5,QXQf5+ mate
khaled:
how>>>the knight canmt move
Boba:
it would be mate in 1 with Nd6, if only you could move that knight. The black queen has that knight pinned
Luiz:
The problem 4 It's Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn't ?? )