Chess Puzzles, White to move Mate in 2

Another 2 puzzles to help you become a better chess player.

[@dannypatrick21]

We have a pause button.

[@SOULJAJOE010]

He used 20 seconds to simulate a realtime decision making in an actual game. Of course it would be much easier if one leisurely took there time to play

[@nelsoncardano3458]

Qb7 move

[@marcvanleeuwen5986]

For the first puzzle, what the comment in the video missed is that this is a Zugzwang theme. Blocking the g-file is not the point of Qg7, since the g-file is already blocked in the starting position; moreover Qg7 does not directly threaten any mate: g5 is (still) defended by the knight, Qg4 leaves h6 as escape, and Qxh8 leaves g6. However: * taking the pawn gives a checkmate on g4 by Q or B as the video shows * any other knight move gives Qg5 (taking the knight if it went there) mate * rook move on rank 8 gives Qh7 mate, and Rh7 similarly Qxh7 mate * finally Rh6 allows Qg4 mate. Actually quite nice

[@paularized1]

Thanks for the puzzles. You don’t need to give the 20 seconds with a clock ticking though. People will just pause the video. You can just say you’ll give a few seconds and tell viewers to pause if they like.

[@hecajun9573]

Me: _What if I move the rock?_ Guy of the puzzle: *YOU WHAT!?*

[@Demian2024-bio4]

Yea thats what i'm thinking too. You cant mate it in 2 moves

[@edp7476]

If you move the rook (anywhere), it's still mate in two. Here's how: 1.Qg7, Rg8 2.Qh7# 1.Qg7, Rh7 2.Qxh7# 1.Qg7, Rh6 2.Qg4#

[@robertmagoon6222]

Black can try try to interrupt mate in 2 with R-G8 or R-h7 But Q-h7+ or Qxh7+ does the trick

[@SuzakuCrono]

I did not watch the full video but here's my answer . . . White to move 1. Qg7 (Key move) Queen is able to lock G file and h6 square which makes only move for king to capture the pawn and 2. Qg4#. But if the opponent doesn't move the king here are the following scenarios...... 1st scenario Moving the rook horizontal in any squares or 1.....Rh7 This will lead to 2. Qh7# (or 2. Qxh7# if 1.....Rh7) 2nd scenario 1......Rh6 , This will lead to .... 2. Qg4# 3rd scenario Moving the knight any direction (except for 1......Nxh4) This will lead to 2. Qg5# (or 2. Qxg5# if 1.....Ng5) 4th scenario 1....Nxh4 , This will lead to ..... 2. Bg4# My answer is based on my observation, hope you like it

[@SuzakuCrono]

that's the answer on 1st puzzle

[@sourabhshrivastava5663]

Yes. I also noticed that black could move other pieces

[@garywalls5181]

I found them both difficult at first but got them both right after several minutes! Enjoyable-thanks.

[@lotfi2815]

The black can move the castle and attack the white queen by g8 as first move instead to move the horse

[@petersiegfriedkrug]

I saw the key in 2 seconds. Nice Zugzwang

[@williamstj]

A few people have notice that there are other alternatives to the first puzzle, but all still lead to mate in 2 using 1. Qg7. As explained in the video if 1. ... Kxh4 then 2. Qg4#, or if 1. ... Nxh4 then 2. Bg4# If 1. ... Rg6 then 2. Qg4# If 1. ... Ng5 then 2. Qxh8# Any other Knight move loses to 2. Qg5# and any other Rook move (including 1. ... Rg8 or Rh7) loses to 2. Qh7# Hope that helps.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Yes. These puzzles come from some books, and there are always other moves.

[@denjam2423]

If If 1. ... Ng5 and 2. Qxh8, then 2. ...Nh7 and we have mate in 3. Let's say 2. Qxg5 instead.

[@raymendez3403]

Travis Williams Any knight moves except xh4 is checkmate in Qg5, Knight g5 included. Taking rook on h8 is not checkmate in 2, Nh7 follow.

[@valvennis1155]

Travis Williams any other rook move excluding Rh6is checkmate with Qh7..

[@italixgaming915]

There is another one: Ne5 (defends g4 so Bg4 is no longer available) but if the knight moves, he allows Qg5#

[@emuelmentore1524]

Bishop to F7 is also checkmate

[@maxxme6746]

I love checkmates in 2. First 20 minutes of thinking: it's impossible, then like a thunder: it's obvious!

[@dileepmv7438]

What if black played Ng5?

[@rathinamanantharam3119]

Yz8dt9cjfkq

[@The2012andrew]

i feel like getting off my ride and just push u to speak faster man damn ur making me paralyzed

[@RajneeshKumar-ck7sv]

Easy peasy puzzle

[@mohammedhasan235]

If the rook moves to G8 there will not be a check mate in 2 moves

[@Robert26151]

I spent like 1-2 houres to solve this

[@sameernisardeen7203]

I found both of it. First one took longer. Second one within 30 seconds.

[@ThatLucasGuy93]

ALL POSSIBILITIES EXPLAINED 1) Qg7 ...1) Kxh4 -> 2) Qg4# ...1) Nxh4 -> 2)Bf7# ...1) Rg6 -> 2)Qg4# ...1) a different rook move -> Qh7# ...1) a different knight move -> Qg5#

[@dominikudovicic3573]

If Nxh4 you dont play Bf7 because of Ng6 instead of that you play Bg4

[@sleepyeyeguy]

Neat. Thanks for the puzzle! Every couple of days I set up a chess puzzle on a chess board in my cubicle area for people to ponder.. I'll use this one today. Not too hard, but will still be a head scratcher for the uninitiated.

[@nirmalchaudhuri7094]

good puzzles

[@popcornparam]

Second puzzel ,mate in 3 variation. King to b8 . King captures knight . Pawn to a8 ( queen ) . King d8 or f8. King a7 check mate with 2 queens

[@muhammadck2347]

First Puzzle -and we sacrifice the bishop

[@fractales100]

for the second puzzle the thought process is a bit short. It is much more natural to first try all possibilities without promotions.

[@lexsoft3969]

Seeing such pawn positions in 2nd puzzle, an experienced chess puzzle solver will immediately think that the solution is pawn promotion which won't make a stalemate for black. So either promotion to a knight or bishop. For this case it's promotion to a knight. There are other puzzles that I have seen which involve two consecutive pawn promotions to different pieces such as : knight followed by bishop or vice versa or combination of promotions to rook/knight/bishop. Usually those are found in 3 or 4 moves puzzles which therefore are more difficult.

[@johnmayhew9769]

True, the 2nd problem (Dawson) isn't difficult, but see my comment below. It's a very neat mutate in miniature.

[@PritishDake]

second puzzle was really good!

[@lachlan-mastermind6781]

The second puzzle was really good. I subbed.

[@paulmshepherd]

No that allows black to advance his pawn.

[@mitsukiuchiha1109]

Qd5 is not the answer

[@mitsukiuchiha1109]

Because he can move the pawn

[@mitsukiuchiha1109]

You have to promote in knight its like a backrank checkmate

[@lexsoft3969]

The solution to the 1st puzzle is about to put black in "zugzwang" position.

[@Wolfeman1911]

First puzzle would be foiled if he moved his knight to e5. You cannot absolutely force mate in 2. You're wrong

[@stingsndthrills21]

Dooes Bf7 still work on the 1st puzzle?

[@xiaoaix4531]

for 1st puzzle Bf7 is a checkmate maybe mate in 1??

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

no

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

You do realize that this video was 7 years ago don't you? LOL

[@RichardASalisbury1]

In first puzzle, what about Black's moving his knight to G5 to block the queen and give his king the (temporary) escape square of H4? Queen can't then take the knight, must work around it for her next move. I can't see a way for White to mate in one more move; Black's king would be on a black square, so bishop would be useless; and I can't see any way for White's queen to check Black's king that the king cannot escape for at least one more move. I don't think you've shown us the correct solution yet--if there even is one.

[@danitour-granada311]

What happens with the Mate in 2 when after Queen G7 Rook G8 is played? Obviously black will loose no matter what, but Mate with Queen G4 won't work (Rook x Queen G4) nor with Bishop G4 (King x Pawn H4) nor with Bishop F7 (again King x Pawn H4) nor Queen i.e. H6 (King G3)... What am I overlooking, please?

[@stevesevents361]

Q-H7

[@danitour-granada311]

@@stevesevents361 K-G5 ... and no mate in 2

[@rc4716]

@@danitour-granada311 Can't do. Check. The pawn is moving up the board not down.

[@danitour-granada311]

@@rc4716 Uups... :) Thank you!

[@weresthewolf17]

In the first puzzle, if Whites does move is Queen to G7, then Black can escape mate by moving Knight to G5. Then the Black King can move from the edge of the board.

[@weresthewolf17]

Nevermind, forgot about the Pawn.

[@No-yt9iv]

4:34 The Bishop can go to G4 or F7

[@ishant7909]

F7 gets blocked by knight to G6.

[@valizawesome796]

Knight to g6 block queen takes then only checkmate. But then it becomes mate in 3 and not 2.

[@jeffw1267]

Maybe it's in the comments here but in the first puzzle you didn't cover the possibility of 1) Qg7 ... Nh2. That covers the g4 square so White can't mate with Bg4. White could mate, however, with Qg5.

[@StefanReich]

First puzzle was actually easy

[@Phrophesy]

Sir, your answer for this puzzle is wrong. If I move the black rook to g8 there is not checkmate in two moves.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

It's white to move.

[@novalozano7520]

Then Queen to h7 is checkmate my friend

[@samsammy9453]

the correct move is Q takes F3 putting black In check...than Q to G4 and game over

[@mangeurdecowan]

if the king doesn't take the pawn, it won't be a mate in two moves. the game will still be over soon, but not as efficiently.

[@booksandchai4158]

Queen captures ruke . And then queen to h7 is checkmate. Right

[@garrysekelli6776]

Can u underpromote to a pawn?

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

yes. you can promote to anything but a king. but can't keep the pawn either.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGfFeH54edyhfcU

[@garrysekelli6776]

I want tö promote to an enemy Queen.

[@futbol1972]

Can somebody help me with this chess problem?? Seven figures join the white queen, who waits, facing the board. The black queen, the black rook, and the white pawn stand on one side of the board. The white bishop, the white rook, and the black bishop stand opposite. The black rook stands to the immediate right of the white king and directly across from the white bishop. The white pawn stands directly across from the white rook and to the white queen's immediate left. The black queen, white pawn, white king, and black rook leave the board first, each one following the other.. The answer is a 4 letter word. There is this drawing too with a black rectangle with the white queen been on left side of rectangle and with 3 lines across the top of rectangle. First line has letter A on top then second line has the C on top and then the third line has the E on top.. Then, on bottom of rectangle there are another 3 lines across the bottom of rectangle. One line has letter B, second line letter D and third line letter F. and on opposite side of rectangle across from white queen is another line with letter G on it . I think I gotta use this as a clue to unscramble the 4 letter word. I used my chess board to tried to unscramble it by placing chess pieces just like the instructions said but iam confused about the drawing and the last part of the clues

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Not my kind of puzzle.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

I'm Sorry. I didn't realize , are you a youngster? If you could somehow show me the picture you are describing I might be able to help. I'm just no good at word puzzles.

[@michaelkiniklis9150]

In the second puzzle, what is the role of the white pawn on a7?

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

The second puzzle is about 'Under Promotion' and the reasons why. The pawn on a7 is that pawn that you don't want to promote to a Queen.

[@lexsoft3969]

@@PatrickFestaPatman No, it is required to avoid double solution. Suppose there is no pawn at a7, then Ka7 will be a solution too, an ordinary one. So the pawn is placed there in order to result in a single solution, i.e b8 promoted to a knight which is impressive.

[@beethoven8777]

I mean, the answers are soooo obvious

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Perhaps, but please notice that this video is about 8 years old now. please visit my newer playlist for more.

[@cyrilpagcaliwagan7231]

How about Rh6?

[@jsonpyag1055]

Cyril Pagcaliwagan Qg4

[@lexsoft3969]

Give us some puzzles by Samuel Llyoid. His puzzles are classic : 2, 3, 4 moves.

[@johnmayhew9769]

One of the best composers!

[@maryannbernil2705]

Ok keeyow

[@bhanuchaudhary801]

Your first puzzle can not be finish in 2 because if we move the rook instead of capturing the pawn with knight then after the check we can capture the pawn with king

[@bhanuchaudhary801]

After queen to G7 if we play rook to H6 then there is no chance for checkmate in the next move

[@rahulkhanduri5505]

@@bhanuchaudhary801 qg4 mate hoga chutye

[@skavies2351]

Why would you do check mate in 2 when you can just do bishop to f7 mate in 1 on the first one?

[@malachisavior5955]

The first puzzle was not checkmate in 2. What if Ne5? That would need checkmate in 3 or more

[@edp7476]

Qg5#

[@enginemechanics582]

Bishop is a key move

[@danmar2227]

How do you say in two moves

[@ricardomontalvo1145]

The first puzzle was mate in 1 not 2 as you described. Mate in 1 is BG4

[@chesscrush]

Bg4 Kxg4

[@zetacrucis681]

@ Not really. The king is already blocked off from the g file before you move the queen.

[@jeemsantos]

In the first puzzle,what if the black din’t take the pawn??it won’t be a 2 moves mate

[@jeemsantos]

Or it didn’t remove the knight in f3

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Still mate in 2. Differently but still.

[@bigyansharma9322]

Bishop to F7 is checkmate. Just one step.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Bf7 is NOT checkmate.

[@batavuskoga]

First puzzle : And when black's first move is Ne5 ? Queen takes the knight, it's only check, not a checkmate

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

It's white to move.

[@batavuskoga]

@@PatrickFestaPatman I mean : 1. Qg7 Ne5 2. Qxe5+ - only check, no checkmate. So white will checkmate the black king, but not in two moves 🙂

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

@@batavuskoga Bf7 not Qxe5.😉no. wait....sorry... next comment i'll answer

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

@@batavuskoga Ok, Qg5 is mate. Not Qxe5?

[@atrueafrican1013]

Bishop D5 to kick out the knight on f3. once knight moves then checkmate on g5. if he doesnt move the knight then you take the knight and its checkmate in 2. am i missing something?

[@atrueafrican1013]

nvm he can go king g4 after first move.

[@martinadrianmedina8361]

I solved the second puzzle doing: Qd5 Kxe8 b8=Q#

[@bhardwaj21m]

in the first puzzle you cannot mate in 2 because after Qg2 the black would move Kg5 then ???

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Black cannot move to g5 with White Q on g7

[@thewaterguy1859]

Wouldn't knight to G5 prevent mate in 2 on the first example?

[@GaudioWind]

+The Water Guy I think that, in this case, after Q to G7, and your move, knight G5, then Queen takes the knight, mate, right?

[@GaudioWind]

+EWRwer dgfdgdg The first move is Queen to G7, then Queen takes the knight if blacks try to prevent mate with knight to G5.

[@cokesz3533]

@EWRwer dgfdgdg it is mate due to the pawn defending the queen

[@johnmayhew9769]

First problem composed by L B Salkind, published in Deutsche Schachzeitung 1907. Full solution is: 1 Qg7! ( ) R~ ; 2 Qh7 # Rh6 ; 2 Qg4 # N~ ; 2 Qg5 # Nxh4 ; 2 Bg4 # Kxh4 ; 2 Qg4 # (The symbol ~ means 'makes any random move at all'. The hashtag is used to show checkmate. Empty brackets means 'no threat is made, White is simply waiting for Black to make any move). This is a neat block problem in which the bN and bR each make a self-blocking correction move (Nxh4 and Rh6). 1 Qg7! is the ONLY solution (the key), and those who thought they had another key should look again more carefully. Those who thought that 1 ... Ng5 prevented mate (!?) note that 2 Qg5 # means white Queen goes to g5 CAPTURiNG the knight if it has gone there!! Second problem was composed by the great British problemist T R Dawson and published in Chess Amateur in 1920. 1 b8=N! ( ) Kxe8 ; 2 Qg8 #. (Set-play: 1 ... Kxe8 ; 2 b8=Q #) The whole point of this one-line problem is that it is a complete block. In the diagram position, if it were Black to play, he would have to play king takes knight, when White would mate by b-pawn promotes to queen (or rook). This is known as set-play. However White cannot make any simple waiting moves which would simply allow that line of play to happen. So the 'set mate' 2 b8=Q is changed to an immediate under-promotion and leads to a 'changed mate'. This is simple and neat example of a 'mutate'. I think Patrick may have a copy of Colin Russ's excellent book Miniature Chess Problems from Many Countries (?) which is a brilliant collection of light-weight chess problems.

[@thegamechanger7157]

Qf6-Qh8, ph4-ph5

[@garrysekelli6776]

What about r g8 on the first puzzle. Doesnt that prolong the gamę?

[@edp7476]

If Rg8, Qh7# Or if Rh6, Qg4#

[@kennethjungeronca3603]

No mate on the frst puzzle f knight will go to E5

[@robertopadula1900]

Dg7! es la jugada que da mate en 2

[@kennethjungeronca3603]

What if horse will go to E5? On the first puzzle...

[@ladapata]

you can move the bishop to F7 too in the first puzzle

[@zachs.4371]

ladapata After Kg4, there is no way to checkmate in that turn.

[@gusemery5475]

What if he doesn’t take the pawn at all then it won’t be mate in 2?...

[@krishholidays8588]

Actually did anyone notice that if in the first puzzle first move is Q-g7 and black plays R-g8 how will you mate him in the next 1 move left????please like if I'm true and comment if have an answer

[@mariocarinan8782]

king h7 mate

[@jarahfluxman20]

For the second puzzle, can't you move Queen waiting move D4, forcing the king to take the knight and then promote the pawn for checkmate?

[@zachs.4371]

Jarah Fluxman I think you mean d5, but yes, that appears to work.

[@user-gx8du1te4y]

no because in that case black can push his pawn,

[@gzoro1]

What is the program he uses for chess?

[@jamespenales5085]

what if the reply of the black is rook to g8?

[@hvitekristesdod]

The first one was hard. Didn’t get it until the hint about covering the g file. Second one was pretty easy :)

[@dileepmv7438]

Dileep Mv What if black played Ng5?

[@devbrat_funny_vlog]

First puzzle........ Black ruck G8 than not checkmate in two move ......... Check nowww

[@GotStones1]

devbrat dwivedi If Rook goes G8 then Queen goes F7 for checkmate. Do you see that??

[@cokesz3533]

@@GotStones1 h7*

[@jeramielcelestino9584]

1st puzzle is bf7 also right?

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

That allows K to escape to g4.

[@carlosanchez6385]

Ony Q to g7..

[@sr-qk4md]

what if black plays rook to g8 after you played queen g7, it seems to ruin your mate in 2 no?

[@novalozano7520]

Then Queen to h7 is checkmate!

[@gamechannel6227]

Impossible in 2 move White move - Q g7 Black should defense R h7 And NO checkmate

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Then Q x h7 is also mate.

[@gamechannel6227]

Yes i know im just joking 😂

[@hvaldwin]

5:07 what about Rg8 or Ng5?

[@GotStones1]

PhoenX Lord If RG8 then QH7 checkmate

[@GotStones1]

PhoenX Lord If NG5 then the queen just eats the knight for mate, it’s protected by the pawn

[@hvaldwin]

@@GotStones1 thanks

[@D_l23]

That is ez just move the queen to g7 after that knight move to e4 QUEEEEEEEEEN g5 checkmate.

[@miket691]

Qg7 I mean

[@bhardwaj21m]

Qg7 not Qg2

[@chrisisabellevienneau2437]

I found a different way for the second one white to move qe6-g6 and protecting the knight on e8 then he can move pond e6 or e5 then queen g6-g7 checkmate

[@vishveshpatel3932]

On your last move there is k×e8 is available

[@sameernisardeen7203]

He would simply take your knight and move on man

[@mawnster548]

I guess there should be no rook in puzzle 1.

[@sreekumarchenthi]

completely wrong in the first puzzle black can play Rg8 and it will not become a mate n 2

[@rebeccaherring4091]

Negative, Qh7 is Mate.

[@titangel6196]

The first puzzel . Queen eat the rok then check so the black king go to f6 thren move the pawn in H5 its a mate

[@edp7476]

Kg5

[@hogrider423]

if Qg7 and after that black Bg8,there's not checkmate in two move

[@vaiteariioopa6441]

hog rider same solution as if Blacks moved Knight(?) in H8

[@roymayhew6250]

white queen to g7

[@tonyreno3168]

On the first game, what's the move if black plays R-G8? I don't see a mate in 2.

[@youisdumb4444]

Tony Reno Qh7

[@rainbowdrycleaners9677]

Answer of puzzle no.1 is Q×h8 Kg6 h5 checkmate

[@lexsoft3969]

Fail, because after : 2. h5 Kg5

[@memes4life380]

Bishop D5

[@MultiJaju]

In first puzzle, mate in 2 can be avoided after bringing rook to G8

[@Walkthrougher100]

No, if Rg8 then Qh7 is mate instead.

[@alexaknin6696]

I do agree. And it’s not mate in two.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Why is this the only puzzle video getting attention???

[@victorkaranja2837]

Only one getting recommended I don't know why

[@xan-manrookie3001]

Have no idea

[@sophia_annecajayon8253]

3

[@ang5798]

I don't want to destroy your business, but have you guys ever heard of the app "lichess"?

[@chesscrush]

Yeah I use it quite often ^^

[@eamheang333]

Yah i am the 1000th sub

[@VanityVofCanada]

1st one can be blocked with night to g5

[@GotStones1]

Joseph Zauner Queen would just capture knight for checkmate. It’s protected by pawn

[@Shuaibmohd]

There are other alternatives in the first puzzle.. Mate in 2 can be avoided

[@GotStones1]

Shuaib Mohammad NOPE

[@aquamarinearies531]

what if black move rook g8

[@cleukenpunisher4634]

Aquamarine Aries yeah. This guy is clueless. There is no mate in 2. Rg8 will delay the mate.

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

it's white to move!

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

it's white to move!

[@kenns0rgeheim386]

@@cleukenpunisher4634 wrong. Queen H7 mate.

[@jeffersonsanjose6952]

No mate 2moves

[@madhavgupta5728]

A more elegant solution is queen takes rook at H8, black king moves G6 since thats the only option, and then pawn moves H5 which is checkmate. This is better since black has only one possible move of king G6, as compared to multiple choices in the solution provided. Thanks!

[@ishant7909]

but then king moves to g5 and game continues.

[@jeromeandres9395]

You can not checkmate in h5 coz the king down to g5 haha.

[@darksoul8774]

b8 >knight, Kxe8, Qg8#

[@PatrickFestaPatman]

Yes.