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5 Hardest Mate-in-2 Ever

Yury Markushin
Yury Markushin
08.04.2014
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:

  • 3 Killer Chess Tactics Most Players Cannot Find
  • 5 Best Chess Combinations Ever by Garry Kasparov
  • 7 World’s Most Famous Chess Combinations
  • 3 Most Tricky Mate-in-1 Positions Ever
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48 Comments
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shad
12.10.2019 13:49

problem no.1 Ng7 Qxb7 2. Rg4#

0
Reply
Rrockz
Reply to  shad
04.08.2020 10:35

Black defense Qe3

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Reply
Vlado
02.23.2019 01:36

Horse g7

0
Reply
Zrs
05.30.2015 22:47

for no. 1 solution is Rh5

-1
Reply
Sqalli
08.13.2014 23:29

Problem 1 . what about Nf2 checkmate no ??

1
Reply
Edrich Palomo
08.13.2014 11:19

Problem 3: keymove is Be4.

0
Reply
Edrich Palomo
08.13.2014 11:16

Problem 4:
key move is Kc8.

0
Reply
Edrich Palomo
08.13.2014 11:14

Problem 2:
1. Rc6. . if black RxRc6
2. Ne4#

1. Rc6. . if black not move RxRc6
2. cxRd4#

0
Reply
Edrich Palomo
08.13.2014 11:08

Problem 1 is easy. . key move is Nd4.

-1
Reply
Arnulfo
08.14.2014 13:32

Problem #3. 1. Nxc4+ Kxf5, 2. Qc2+ Bd3 3. Qxd3+ mate

0
Reply
Arnulfo
08.15.2014 04:07

[quote name=”Arnulfo”]Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxh7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).

0
Reply
David Cox
08.16.2014 15:56

[quote name=”Edrich Palomo”]Problem 4:
key move is Kc8.[/quote]

No mate after R:a5

0
Reply
Topiary
08.05.2014 18:58

1.Neg7….Rg4

0
Reply
Edrich Palomo
08.13.2014 11:02

[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#

0
Reply
sumon
08.05.2014 17:28

1 problem Nf2+QXNf2,QXh7+Qf5,QXQf5+ mate

0
Reply
Varun
08.06.2014 12:34

1.Qb4+ followed by Nf2+

0
Reply
Yury
08.07.2014 19:24

I won’t give any pointers at this point, but will post the solution soon !

0
Reply
khaled
08.05.2014 12:57

[quote name=”Luiz”]The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )[/quote]
how>>>the knight canmt move

0
Reply
gm
08.08.2014 08:26

[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#

0
Reply
Duck1897
08.06.2014 09:39

1: King to a7 and then knight to d6.

0
Reply
Duck1897
08.06.2014 09:18

[quote name=”sumon”]1 problem Nf2+QXNf2,QXh7+Qf5,QXQf5+ mate[/quote]
Is that mate in [b]two[/b] moves?

0
Reply
Boba
08.05.2014 07:28

it would be mate in 1 with Nd6, if only you could move that knight. The black queen has that knight pinned

0
Reply
TheBick
08.08.2014 05:01

David Cox was first to post it. Congrats.

0
Reply
Yury
08.19.2014 01:08

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!

0
Reply
TheBick
08.09.2014 07:42

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?

0
Reply
TheBick
08.09.2014 04:55

#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#

0
Reply
Arnulfo
08.14.2014 13:44

Problem #5.1. Rc2+ Qxg8,2. Rxb2+ Bxb2 3. Qxb2#

0
Reply
David Cox
08.09.2014 22:36

[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.

0
Reply
David Cox
08.09.2014 22:32

[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.

0
Reply
Thakur Sanjeev
08.13.2014 03:37

These are easy problems but I was inspired by you

0
Reply
Donald
08.07.2014 13:44

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.

0
Reply
Arnulfo
08.14.2014 12:51

Problem #2. Qd5+ Nbxd5, Rxc6# mate

0
Reply
David Cox
08.16.2014 15:54

[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.

0
Reply
KlangenFarben
08.06.2014 01:04

[quote name=”Luiz”]The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )[/quote]

Good catch.

0
Reply
buenorj
08.09.2014 19:17

Problem 1: Qb5 (Qd3#)…Nd2#

0
Reply
buenorj
08.09.2014 19:16

Qb5…Nf2#

0
Reply
buenorj
08.09.2014 19:22

Where is my comment? 🙁

0
Reply
buenorj
08.09.2014 19:19

[quote name=”Varun”]1.Qb4+ followed by Nf2+[/quote]

No…d4,…kd5

0
Reply
David Cox
08.08.2014 12:12

[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.

0
Reply
sumon
08.10.2014 06:39

Problem 1 Kg6 (if black replies qe3 white to play Qh7 mate and if black replies qf2 NXqf2 mate

0
Reply
sumon
08.10.2014 06:28

Problem 3:RXbe1 kg3; Qg5 mate

0
Reply
sfiso
08.11.2014 01:06

this is very simple, all 5 game try to put more harder games

0
Reply
Saim Ayub
08.09.2014 20:51

problem #5 mate in one nd4 move to c1
problem #1 mate in one move d2 move to d3 ca
check mate

0
Reply
Arnulfo
08.14.2014 13:37

Problem #1. 1. Nf2+, Qxf2 2. Qxf7+ Qf5, 3. 3. Qxf5( check mate).

0
Reply
Luiz
08.05.2014 01:39

The problem 4 It’s Mate in 1 with Nd6++ , isn’t ?? )

0
Reply
Yury
08.08.2014 04:12

[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.

0
Reply
David Cox
08.08.2014 02:10

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

0
Reply
TheBick
08.08.2014 04:08

Found the solution to problem #1 in < 10 minutes. Is it permitted to post in these comments?

0
Reply
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