Mate in 2: rook to a1 (a2·4)
li-0IKWenaming tag (square·N)The tactical motive
Mate in 2: the first move creates an unstoppable threat, the second delivers mate.
Difficulty 2015 ShuffleRating — expert level — few solve it at first try.
Black to move — find the best continuation
Position on the board
White: king c1, rook a4, bishop b5, pawn c3.
Black: king f3, rook a2, knight e3, pawn a3.
4 white and 4 black pieces are on the board; the puzzle position arises after move 48.
Solution & explanation
Main line
48... Ra1+ 49. Kd2 Rd1#
Why it works
- Great move! rook to a1 keeps the pressure (#1).
- Well found: rook to d1 (#).
- The line ends in a forced mate in 2.
- If instead Kd2, then Rd1# and it is mate.
Types in this puzzle
Mate in 2
A forced checkmate in two moves.
Mate in two: your move, any reply, then the mating blow. Start with the most forcing first moves — checks and sacrifices that shrink the opponent's options to almost nothing. Against every single reply you must have a mate ready, so check them all without exception. The common failure is analyzing the pretty defense and forgetting the boring one.
Endgame tactic
Tactics live in the endgame too — strike while material is scarce.
Tactics do not retire when the queens come off: forks, pins and double attacks live on in the endgame. With so little material left, every tactical loss is almost always decisive. The signs are the usual ones — undefended pieces, king and piece on one line, a pawn about to promote. Even in a "technical" ending, scan for a shot before every move, both yours and your opponent's.
Provenance
Derived from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0).
Pack 014
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