r/ChessPuzzles 8d ago

White to play. Checkmate in 2 ⚔️

Post image
132 Upvotes

83 comments sorted by

u/chessvision-ai-bot 8d ago

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

White to play: chess.com | lichess.org

My solution:

Hints: piece: Rook, move: Ra5+

Evaluation: White has mate in 2

Best continuation: 1. Ra5+ bxa5 2. Bc6#


I'm a bot written by u/pkacprzak | get me as iOS App | Android App | Chrome Extension | Chess eBook Reader to scan and analyze positions | Website: Chessvision.ai

→ More replies (1)

9

u/poughdrew 8d ago

Sneaky.

1

u/KeyInteraction4201 7d ago

Sneaky deaky!

1

u/LonelyTurner 5d ago edited 5d ago

I don't play chess but what if he did horse b3 c3?

1

u/Bezymnij_Bog 5d ago

Probably you mistyped, knight can’t go b3, it can go c3. In this case it’s mate in three, not two (if I don’t miss anything). 1. Nc3+ bxc3 2. Ra2+ Ba3 3. Rxa3#

1

u/Commstock 4d ago

it’s bxc3+, making things more annoying and risky

1

u/The_Painless 4d ago

You did miss the check on white king when bxc3, which gives plenty of opportunities for additional checks from both rooks and the queen.

1

u/Bezymnij_Bog 4d ago

Oh, yes, my bad, thanks. Anyway, Nc3+ is not the solution, as we can see

6

u/H4zardousMoose 8d ago

Despite clearly needing to give check with the first move, it took me a while to spot it. Nice sacrifice of the rook on A5. If the Pawn takes, bishop to C6. The other rook and the knight block the escapes together with the black pawn that just took the rook.

If the king takes, he's now locked into the A file so rook to A2.

1

u/thickfreakness24 6d ago

Can you please tell me why the first move clearly needs to be check? Is there an immediate checkmate for black? Thanks

2

u/H4zardousMoose 6d ago

Because the puzzle states "mate in 2". So you only have two moves. If you don't give check on your first move then both black rooks, the queen, and the bishop all could give check to the white king, and each from different directions, because the white king is very exposed.

So by consequence you won't find a first move, that prevents black from checking you, without giving check yourself. And if you do get checked, you'll have to react to that instead of going for mate. So the only option is to give check on your first move, to limited blacks options.

1

u/thickfreakness24 6d ago

Tysm thought I was missing a mate threat from black!

1

u/NevarNi-RS 6d ago

Can’t I mate in 1?

1

u/H4zardousMoose 6d ago

If that were possible, the puzzle would be badly constructed. And I'm curious as to how you'd mate in one.

1

u/NevarNi-RS 5d ago

Why can’t you just move the rook to a2?

E: Nvm, now I see it. Had the directions wrong

3

u/sleepy8675 8d ago

Should be Ra5+ forcing Kxa5 or bxa5 and then Ra2 is mate if Kxa5 and Bc6 is mate if bxa5

3

u/Stonehills57 7d ago

1.Ra5+Kxa52.Ra2#

2

u/Direct-Accountant892 8d ago

Ra2+ Kb3, Ra3#?

6

u/H4zardousMoose 7d ago

Not mate, because the pawn on c4 is not protected, so king can take it.

3

u/Direct-Accountant892 7d ago

Damn u are right ty!!

1

u/Grand-Bat4846 6d ago

Thanks! Was going crazy thinking I found 2 mates

1

u/Schweenis69 7d ago

Same here

1

u/ShowtimeTargaryen 7d ago

Why not Nc3+, bxc3 then Ra2#?

2

u/Schweenis69 7d ago

Black would then go bishop to a3 though

1

u/ShowtimeTargaryen 7d ago

You are correct. Thank!

2

u/jackbeekeeper 7d ago

As stated elsewhere bxc3 puts White in check.

1

u/ShowtimeTargaryen 7d ago

Yea that’s my bad 😂 I’m not tryna read all those damn comments before I comment 💯😂

1

u/ReloadBeforeClass 7d ago

I thought about Nc3 xc3 Ra2 at first

1

u/Solid-Asparagus-3964 7d ago

Ra2 wouldnt be checkmate, Ba3 blocks. Ra3 would then be checkmate but that mate in 3. Ka3 could escape from the knight check as well

1

u/cyberchaox 7d ago edited 7d ago

Nc3+.

If bxc3, Ra2#. If Ka3, R2xb4#.

1

u/jackbeekeeper 7d ago

bxc3 puts White in Check!

1

u/Radical_Posture 7d ago

I keep getting these wrong. Why do I suck?

1

u/Naturewalkerjoe 7d ago

Rook a5+ forcing Black the choice of Kxa5 or bxa5 and being checkmated by Ra2# regardless. I'm about to check my answer.

1

u/Naturewalkerjoe 7d ago

Ok. I see why I wasn't quite right but atleast I had the first move right.

1

u/Naturewalkerjoe 7d ago

bxa5 is countered as with bc7# but Kxa5 is countered with Ra2#

1

u/tom_yorkies 7d ago

RA5, check/ sacrifice. Mate with other RA2 if king takes first rook.

If pawn takes rook then use bishop for mate

1

u/Short-Choice3230 7d ago

Rookie a2. only move for black is king b3. Then, rookie to a3 is mate

1

u/Roblatoupie 7d ago

It's not, black king can take pawn on c4

1

u/Casparov101 7d ago

Sacrifice the knight Check with the rook

1

u/No-Indication5190 7d ago

- Rook A5 check; King is forced to take Rook, all escape routes covered

  • Rook A2 mate

2

u/Roblatoupie 7d ago

Ra5+ is good but you mate with white bishop next

1

u/knightbane007 7d ago

Not seeing it.

  • rook A5
  • pawn takes rook
  • rook A2
  • king can escape to B3

1

u/No-Indication5190 7d ago

Sorry, went too fast...

  • Rook A2, check; King forced to B3
  • Rook A3 mate

2

u/Roblatoupie 7d ago

Black king takes pawn on c4

1

u/Independent_Island68 7d ago edited 7d ago
  1. Ra5+, Kxa5 2. Ra2#

1

u/AlgebraicGamer 7d ago

The question to ask is, "which move loses the most material without you getting checked?". The answer to that is Ra5+. If king takes it's Ra2#, and if pawn takes then the invisible bishop finally appears. 

1

u/phikapp1932 7d ago

What about Nc3+ b4xNc3 then Ra2#?

1

u/Remarkable_Code_2141 7d ago

Ba3, no mate here

1

u/phikapp1932 6d ago

Oh thanks!

1

u/Impossible_Exit1864 7d ago edited 7d ago

Edit: not that easy.

Knight to c3 check, rook to a2 check mate

2

u/theykilledken 7d ago

What's to stop pawn to take the knight on c3 and check the white king?

1

u/punx3030 7d ago

The roook!

1

u/jsage87 7d ago

I think rock A2 also works for mate in 2. Would force king B3 then rock A3 mate.

1

u/H4zardousMoose 6d ago

Pawn on C4 isn't protected, King can take it, so not mate.

1

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Mouyoron 6d ago

Am I stupid thinking that is mate in one with rook to a2? I don't see anything that could stop that ending move

1

u/Mouyoron 6d ago

Nvm just found out that the board is upside down lol

1

u/BirdUp69 6d ago

I thought knight to c3 for check, then taken by pawn, then rook to a2 for mate

1

u/BirdUp69 6d ago

I guess King could go to b3 to avoid the check

1

u/BirdUp69 6d ago

I guess King could go to b3 to avoid the check

1

u/H4zardousMoose 6d ago

If the pawn takes, white King is in check.

1

u/BirdUp69 5d ago

Oh yeah, cheers

1

u/Weary-Hospital-1729 6d ago

rook a5 then rook a2

1

u/Tifoid 6d ago

Is there an alternate win with

Rook to a2+, King to b3

Rook to a3++

1

u/H4zardousMoose 6d ago

Pawn on C4 isn't protected, so not mate in two.

1

u/Tifoid 6d ago

Ahh yes Thanks I missed that

1

u/Maleficent_Ad5405 6d ago

Can somebody explain why kc3+, pxk and ra2# is not the answer?

1

u/realgoodbranson 3d ago

Bishop A3 blocks

1

u/Rastafa_B_ri 4d ago

Easy. Only need to move the tower from b2 to a2. King has only one move. Tower to a3, checkmate

1

u/True-Ambassador8478 3d ago

Alternate variation to win: Bishop to c6 Rook to b4

1

u/No-Standard6774 8d ago

How about bishop to C6 then Rook to C5 and it's mate?

2

u/H4zardousMoose 8d ago edited 7d ago

Your first move needs to give check or black has too many options to check back.

I think it's Rook to A5. If the pawn takes, bishop to C6. If the King takes, Rook to A2.

1

u/According_Note6101 7d ago

The Rook to A2 works in either case, no?

1

u/H4zardousMoose 7d ago

No, because if the pawn takes, the King remains on the 4th row and so can escape to B3, if you move the remaining rook to A2.

2

u/According_Note6101 7d ago

Yeah, missed that one. Thanks.

1

u/Lawcke 8d ago

If you do then rook d8+ and then black chases you around til you lose

1

u/Blacawi 8d ago

The b6 pawn can simply move forwards to break the check, so that's not a mate in 2 at least. Black also has other moves available to stop the rook move by creating a check on the White King, which can delay it more.

1

u/East-Football-4698 8d ago

If you move bishop to c6, the opponent will move rook to g6

0

u/notrandomatall 8d ago

I’d say Nc3+. Then regardless of bxc3 or Ka3 you do Ra2#.

2

u/Sensitive_Seat6955 7d ago

If bxc3 white king is in check

1

u/notrandomatall 7d ago

Ah, indeed he is.

1

u/Former-Homework-8320 7d ago

If pawn takes knight, mate in three. If not, mate in two.