5 Hardest Mate-in-2 Ever
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
White to move and mate 2
Problem 2: G. Rinder, “Schach”, 1961
White to move and mate 2
Problem 3: C. Mansfield, “Good Companion”, 1917
White to move and mate 2
Problem 4: A. Ellerman, “MK Gvidelli”, 1925
White to move and mate 2
Problem 5:I. Schiffman, “Bristol Times & Mirror”, 1927
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:
for no. 1 solution is Rh5
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!
[quote name=”Edrich Palomo”]Problem 4:
key move is Kc8.[/quote]
No mate after R:a5
[quote name=”Arnulfo”][quote name=”Arnulfo”]Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxh7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).[/quote]
That’s 3 moves not 2.
[quote name=”Arnulfo”]Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxh7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).
Problem #5.1. Rc2+ Qxg8,2. Rxb2+ Bxb2 3. Qxb2#
Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxf7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).
Problem #3. 1. Nxc4+ Kxf5, 2. Qc2+ Bd3 3. Qxd3+ mate
Problem #2. Qd5+ Nbxd5, Rxc6# mate
Problem 1 . what about Nf2 checkmate no ??
Problem 3: keymove is Be4.
Problem 4:
key move is Kc8.
Problem 2:
1. Rc6. . if black RxRc6
2. Ne4#
1. Rc6. . if black not move RxRc6
2. cxRd4#
Problem 1 is easy. . key move is Nd4.
[quote name=”Saim Ayub”]problem #5 mate in one nd4 move to c1
sorry 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#
These are easy problems but I was inspired by you
this is very simple, all 5 game try to put more harder games
Problem 1 Kg6 (if black replies qe3 white to play Qh7 mate and if black replies qf2 NXqf2 mate
Problem 3:RXbe1 kg3; Qg5 mate
[quote name=”buenorj”]Problem 1: Qb5 (Qd3#)…Nd2#[/quote]
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.
[quote name=”gm”][quote name=”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[quote name=”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.[/quote]
f3.[/quote]
Kc8 simply wins. Qh8+ Nd8#[/quote]
No mate after R:a5.
problem #5 mate in one nd4 move to c1
problem #1 mate in one move d2 move to d3 ca
check mate
Where is my comment? 🙁
[quote name=”Varun”]1.Qb4+ followed by Nf2+[/quote]
No…d4,…kd5
Problem 1: Qb5 (Qd3#)…Nd2#
Qb5…Nf2#
Problem 3
1. 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?
#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#
[quote name=”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. Rg4
Problem 4: Rd7 threatens Qf4
if 1…Qd4 2. Nd6; 1…Qe5 2. Nc5; 1…Qf2 2. Nd8; 1…Bf3 2. Qd3; 1…Bf2 2. Q:h1; 1…Qh8+ 2. Nd8; 1..Q:b7+ 2. B:b7[/quote]
A few corrections to notation.
[quote name=”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[quote name=”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.[/quote]
f3.[/quote]
Kc8 simply wins. Qh8+ Nd8#
David Cox was first to post it. Congrats.
[quote name=”TheBick”]Found the solution to problem #1 in < 10 minutes. Is it permitted to post in these comments?[/quote] Not just permitted, it is encouraged! 🙂 Feel free to share it.
Found the solution to problem #1 in < 10 minutes. Is it permitted to post in these comments?
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. Rg4
Problem 4: Rd7 threatens Qf4
if 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
I won’t give any pointers at this point, but will post the solution soon !
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.
1.Qb4+ followed by Nf2+
1: King to a7 and then knight to d6.
[quote name=”sumon”]1 problem Nf2+QXNf2,QXh7+Qf5,QXQf5+ mate[/quote]
Is that mate in [b]two[/b] moves?
[quote name=”Luiz”]The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )[/quote]
Good catch.
1.Neg7….Rg4
1 problem Nf2+QXNf2,QXh7+Qf5,QXQf5+ mate
[quote name=”Luiz”]The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )[/quote]
how>>>the knight canmt move
it would be mate in 1 with Nd6, if only you could move that knight. The black queen has that knight pinned
The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )