I wonder if you approached it as "there must be a trick - maybe the king - hey it works". It seems to me that if you look at it normally, even a great player would need some time to rule out the normal moves
I haven't played chess in 43 years, nephew got me back into it last month, your videos have been great for breaking the ole gears loose, and teaching me how to think again. Thoroughly enjoy your complete analysis of various moves and techniques!
A good question to ask in these mate-in-two puzzles is "if it were Black to move, would it be Zugzwang?" In this case it wouldn't, but only because of hxg6. If White's other rook had access to h3, then it would be. That's how I saw the idea of retreating the king.
My question is how did black possibly get into this position? Black wouldnt have moved his bishop into that position because whites rook was hanging in two ways, alternatively, they would’ve moved their rook directly into the line of sight of the bishop
White bishop g7 is another forcing checkmate. It's forcing black rook to capture it by checking the king. Next move is white rook from a3 to a8, check black rook can't caputre white rook on g6 and ckeck the king, it has to move to g8 to block check. Then any white rook can capture on g8 because it's defended by bishop and another rook. This one is easiest to find forcing checkmate and it was my first thought. Not mate in two sadly, but for me it looks very simple and because of that, still quite savage :D
What's the problem with Bxg7+? King can't take back because white's rook protects its bishop, so black's only option is Rxg7, opening up the back rank for Ra8#. Definitely a less clever line, but is it then an alternative line for mate in 2, or am I missing something? Edit: I was missing black's option of blocking your check, because the long diagonal is no longer covered by white's dark-square bishop.
With these mate puzzles, I always try to leave all tention on the board. So I try to solve the puzzle, how can I play mate in one if black plays hxg6 on their first move. and the answer is my other rook on the h-file. So the king has to move away and specifically not to h4, because that would still block the path. Then it's quickly checked that g4, g3 and h2 cannot be the answer because of the possible checks in between, so Kg2 remains. Only after that I look for the mate for all the other moves. The tension is there, because of zugzwang. And then with just one move to do on each possible other reply of black, the check mates are easily found. I just flip the puzzles, because we know the end goal is mate in 2. These puzzles become harder when the question is "play the best move", because then you have to find out it's actually mate in 2.
I solved this puzzle, and I was very close in my first attempt. First I played Kg4 but it doesn't work because of h5 with check, so soon I've found that correct move is Kg2. I was thinking in right way.
Easy! Kg2 frees the rook to checkmate the king on the h file eventually if pawn captures the rook and avoiding all checks even h5. If bishop moves classical rook supported by bishop checkmate. If rook moves checkmate with the bishop. If pawn moves forward you take or go behind the pawn with the other rook bc the bishop is pinned. It is basically zugzwang for Black. Thinking what if it was blacks move and not whites. But it was neat!
I originally commented the wrong answer with Rxg7, but that doesn't do it. Leave the rook hanging with the sneaky 1.Kg2!. Possible lines are: 1.Kg2! hxg6 2.Rh3# 1.Kg2! Bf6/e5/xd4 2.Rxg8# 1.Kg2! Rf8/e8/d8/c8/b8/a8 2.Bxg7# 1.Kg2! h6/h5 2.Rh6# 1-0 Tricky puzzle, but I wouldn't say it's hard, lol.
and what is with Bd4xBg6#? This move delivers check, and forces black to do something about it, he can't take with his king since the bishop is now supportet by the rook and he can't move anywhere or make a stalling move either. Hence he is forced to take with the rook, which is followed by a simple Ra3-a8# Mate, which is another mate in two. Please correct me if i'm wrong.
I saw the whole idea of moving the king to free H3 square, BUT I didn't look for checks that black could give. Advise for my future self: Always look for checks! Be more patient, think it one more time! Unfortunately I keep ignoring my own advises...
without watching video, and only thinking about 1 minute, King moves away from h-file, then black is in Zugzwang: pawn takes or pawn forwards loses to Rh6, bishop moves loses to Rxg7, Rook moves loses to Bxg6 ok i missed the Kg4 check, so only move is Kg2
Haha, I bet! I do Rubik’s cubes myself, so I know that there has to be another corner flipped on the other side, or this whole configuration is impossible. 🙂
@@AnAverageItalian Nothing too crazy, but I have a collection. I would say I just do them for fun. I still can do a 3x3 with an average of 35 seconds or so. :)
That is a sick puzzle. It took me like a minute to get, but I was proud to get it just using the thumbnail before clicking on the video. But it is king g2, unless I am embarrassingly mistaken
Haven't watched yet. Kg2 is my guess If B(any)then Rxg8 is mate If h5 or h6 then Rh6 is mate If hxg6 then Rh3 is mate If R(any) then Bxg7 is mate Edit: I FINALLY GOT ONE
Can't calculate everything but I am guessing it's a King move freeing up h3 square. King to h2 or h4 to be precise or black bishop can delay with a check.
My first thought was Ra8, but it doesn't work, my second thought was Rxg7, again, doesn't work, and I've calculated both variations by myself, alas looks like I need a hint.
Oh god. Its a Hard one for me atleast. After seeing the solution in the video i was amazed. You dont have to take the rook after xg7 and play a pawn move. If it was in my game i would never even after 1000 years guess that my opponent will play a pawn move when he have 7 rook moves. Its really Tricky. Couldnt get it even after 4 tries. Kinda bad at puzzles.
Kg2, which is almost obvious, if you're familiar with this type of puzzle. It's the first thing to check, and it works. The theme here is to reach a position for which every black move results in an immediate mate. Which isn't saying more than 2-1=1
finally one i found instantly
Fr
same brooo
I've found solution pretty quickly, not instantly, nevertheless I'm still proud of myself.
I wonder if you approached it as "there must be a trick - maybe the king - hey it works". It seems to me that if you look at it normally, even a great player would need some time to rule out the normal moves
I also found this instantly
I haven't played chess in 43 years, nephew got me back into it last month, your videos have been great for breaking the ole gears loose, and teaching me how to think again. Thoroughly enjoy your complete analysis of various moves and techniques!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback. 🙂
Finally! A puzzle that you can actually solve..
A good question to ask in these mate-in-two puzzles is "if it were Black to move, would it be Zugzwang?" In this case it wouldn't, but only because of hxg6. If White's other rook had access to h3, then it would be. That's how I saw the idea of retreating the king.
My question is how did black possibly get into this position? Black wouldnt have moved his bishop into that position because whites rook was hanging in two ways, alternatively, they would’ve moved their rook directly into the line of sight of the bishop
@@maxwellmondo4857 maybe the last moves were rook(from f6) to g6 check and black played his bishop from f8 to g7
White bishop g7 is another forcing checkmate. It's forcing black rook to capture it by checking the king. Next move is white rook from a3 to a8, check black rook can't caputre white rook on g6 and ckeck the king, it has to move to g8 to block check. Then any white rook can capture on g8 because it's defended by bishop and another rook. This one is easiest to find forcing checkmate and it was my first thought. Not mate in two sadly, but for me it looks very simple and because of that, still quite savage :D
It is a Mate in 2, cuz black rook can't Go anywhere from g7
@@smththax6190 It actually can because white just traded off the dark-squared bishop, so there’s no pin.
I'm saying Kg2. Any move by black now results in a mate in 1 (in four different ways). Now going to watch and see if I'm right!
Most of us could solve it right at the start of the video.
What's the problem with Bxg7+? King can't take back because white's rook protects its bishop, so black's only option is Rxg7, opening up the back rank for Ra8#. Definitely a less clever line, but is it then an alternative line for mate in 2, or am I missing something?
Edit: I was missing black's option of blocking your check, because the long diagonal is no longer covered by white's dark-square bishop.
Would be mate in 3 instead of 2
Great idea though! Thank you for watching! 🙂
With these mate puzzles, I always try to leave all tention on the board. So I try to solve the puzzle, how can I play mate in one if black plays hxg6 on their first move. and the answer is my other rook on the h-file. So the king has to move away and specifically not to h4, because that would still block the path. Then it's quickly checked that g4, g3 and h2 cannot be the answer because of the possible checks in between, so Kg2 remains.
Only after that I look for the mate for all the other moves. The tension is there, because of zugzwang. And then with just one move to do on each possible other reply of black, the check mates are easily found. I just flip the puzzles, because we know the end goal is mate in 2. These puzzles become harder when the question is "play the best move", because then you have to find out it's actually mate in 2.
Kg2
If h×g6, Rh3#
If h6, R×h6#
If h5, Rh6#
If bishop moves, R×g8#
If rook moves, B×g7#
I solved this puzzle, and I was very close in my first attempt. First I played Kg4 but it doesn't work because of h5 with check, so soon I've found that correct move is Kg2. I was thinking in right way.
I enjoyed the puzzle. It was really cool about the configuration.
when you somehow corner-twist your chessboard
I've got a Mate in 2 Puzzle for ya.
White Pieces: Qa2 Re1 Kh7
Black Pieces: Re8 Kf8 e7 f7
White to move, mate in 2.
Qe6
if fxe6 Rf1
If rook moves then Qxe7
if f6 or f5 then Qg8
Nice puzzle! :)
wow i had seen the moving the king to a light square strat but didn't see the pawn check... pawn be moving too funny in the sevenst rank.....
What if black doesn't take the rook with the pawn?
Any bishop move for black allows Rxg8# and any rook move allows Bxg7#. Therefore hxg6 delays the game the longest (by a single move, but still)
great video!
Kg2,
If h6 or h5, Rh6#;
If hxg6, Rh3#;
If any black bishop legal move, Rxg8#;
If Ra8, Rxa8# or Bxg7#;
If any other black rook legal move, Bxg7#.
Easy! Kg2 frees the rook to checkmate the king on the h file eventually if pawn captures the rook and avoiding all checks even h5. If bishop moves classical rook supported by bishop checkmate. If rook moves checkmate with the bishop. If pawn moves forward you take or go behind the pawn with the other rook bc the bishop is pinned. It is basically zugzwang for Black. Thinking what if it was blacks move and not whites. But it was neat!
I am glad you were able to figure it out!
so its basically white dark squared bishop takes black dark squared bishop check,rook takes bishop rook goes a8 check,rook saves,rook takes checkmate
I originally commented the wrong answer with Rxg7, but that doesn't do it. Leave the rook hanging with the sneaky 1.Kg2!. Possible lines are:
1.Kg2! hxg6 2.Rh3#
1.Kg2! Bf6/e5/xd4 2.Rxg8#
1.Kg2! Rf8/e8/d8/c8/b8/a8 2.Bxg7#
1.Kg2! h6/h5 2.Rh6# 1-0
Tricky puzzle, but I wouldn't say it's hard, lol.
That darn king move... 🤣🤣
Nice puzzle, but I solved it pretty quickly.
W - white B - black
W- g6 to g7
B- g8 to g7
W- a3 to a8
Checkmate
just had a question, i may be missing an obvious variation but doesn't rook a5 achieve the same thing?
pawn takes G6 then you cant give check
Rats, I didn't see gxRh5 defense!
The main idea is to put Black's king in a zugswang(I don't know the spelling 😂).
and what is with Bd4xBg6#? This move delivers check, and forces black to do something about it, he can't take with his king since the bishop is now supportet by the rook and he can't move anywhere or make a stalling move either. Hence he is forced to take with the rook, which is followed by a simple Ra3-a8# Mate, which is another mate in two. Please correct me if i'm wrong.
yeap you are wrong, after Ra3-a8 you didnt got mate he can block with his rook on g7 since your light bishop died and diagonal danger gone
from g7 block on g8
I saw the whole idea of moving the king to free H3 square, BUT I didn't look for checks that black could give.
Advise for my future self:
Always look for checks!
Be more patient, think it one more time!
Unfortunately I keep ignoring my own advises...
Haha, I know what you mean! It can be tough. Thank you for watching. :)
Indeed a very nice puzzle, thx!
Glad you enjoyed! Thank you for watching!
found it but it took like 3 minutes, much longer than it should have
One defect here 1 Kg2 Ra8. Then White can play either Rxa8 or Bxg7
Kg2 Rc8
Bg7#
Smothered checkmate
I was looking at d4-g7, g8-g7 to get out of check then the second move is a3-a8 check mate.
K g2 any black move allow checkmate (zugzwang).
The challenge was to be able to counter the moving or capturing with the h pawn.
I wouldnt think of that Kg2 as first move if you have given me hours honestly thanks for this besutiful checkmate in two, will add it to my collection
I am glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching! 🙂
Kg2 is so brutal lol, glad I found it
I feel the same way! Thanks for watching!
Bishop g 7( check) , black rook takes bishop, rook a8, (check ), black rook back in his position another rook takes him 😲!!!(checkmate)
There are so many amazing variations! Thank you for watching! 🙂
without watching video, and only thinking about 1 minute, King moves away from h-file, then black is in Zugzwang: pawn takes or pawn forwards loses to Rh6, bishop moves loses to Rxg7, Rook moves loses to Bxg6
ok i missed the Kg4 check, so only move is Kg2
It took me 5 sec to find another variation
Bxg2, Rg2 is forced Ra8# checkmate
Nice puzzle! Thanks doood!
Maybe im wrong but even Bg7 , then Rg7 forced and R a8 is checkmqte in 2 moves
Black can move the rook back to g8, it's no longer pinned by the bishop he's just taken. Just realised it's two years ago.
That thumbnail is going to trigger a lot of cubers lmao
Haha, I bet! I do Rubik’s cubes myself, so I know that there has to be another corner flipped on the other side, or this whole configuration is impossible. 🙂
@@ChessforCharity oh nice! Are you a speedcuber or do you just solve puzzles for fun?
@@AnAverageItalian Nothing too crazy, but I have a collection. I would say I just do them for fun. I still can do a 3x3 with an average of 35 seconds or so. :)
@@ChessforCharity sweet! What puzzles do you own?
I saw it before I clicked on the video
I would have never seen it in a game but because you said its Mate in 2 i immedatly saw it
or you could do bishop to G7, forcing the rook to take it, then you can move your rook to A8
And then get blocked by Rg8, which makes it a mate in three.
Immediately spotted Bxg7+, Ra8+, Rgxg8#, but thats mate in 3. Gonna see if i can find 2
Solved it after a few minutes!
That is a sick puzzle. It took me like a minute to get, but I was proud to get it just using the thumbnail before clicking on the video. But it is king g2, unless I am embarrassingly mistaken
there is also aR a5, same principle of Kg2
Haven't watched yet. Kg2 is my guess
If B(any)then Rxg8 is mate
If h5 or h6 then Rh6 is mate
If hxg6 then Rh3 is mate
If R(any) then Bxg7 is mate
Edit: I FINALLY GOT ONE
I was also thinking that or Kg4 but missed h5+
It's easy I got it straight away.
Solved it right from the thumbnail. I don't think it's hard but it's certainly a decent one.
I love this puzzle
excellent lesson, thank you
kg2
Can't calculate everything but I am guessing it's a King move freeing up h3 square. King to h2 or h4 to be precise or black bishop can delay with a check.
Damn I missed the check on h4
What if black goes bishop d4 as the first move?
Nice puzzle!
Thank you!
I am so happy that i could find the idea in less than 5 seconds and the move in less than 20 seconds.
My first thought was Ra8, but it doesn't work, my second thought was Rxg7, again, doesn't work, and I've calculated both variations by myself, alas looks like I need a hint.
4:25 I got it Kg2
Very cool puzzle.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching! 🙂
Good video!
The idea came to me is rook a5, which is doing the same
Ayo what about Bxb7+ black is forced to take with the rook and then Ra8#.
Bg7+ Rxg7 , Ra8 Rg8, Rxg8# ?
Edit: Oh I see - were looking for mate in 2, not mate in 3
Doesn't rook to g3 work as well?
***rook(on a3) to g3
What about after white Rook G7 and black Pawn H5 white plays Rook E7 reveal check mate with the bishop?
It's not checkmate. Black plays Rook G7 to block.
Easy. Get the white king out of the way.
I have mate in 3 but not in two.
g6 to g7 g8 takes g7 a3 to a8 mate
Probably rookxg7 cuz your opponent has to defend himself from mate so he will take rook and you mate him with the other by going to a8
Oh god. Its a Hard one for me atleast. After seeing the solution in the video i was amazed. You dont have to take the rook after xg7 and play a pawn move. If it was in my game i would never even after 1000 years guess that my opponent will play a pawn move when he have 7 rook moves. Its really Tricky. Couldnt get it even after 4 tries. Kinda bad at puzzles.
Kg2 or Kg4 or Kh2 is the winning move
Kg2 is the keynove
im kinda surprised i found this lol
1.rxg7rxg7 2.ra8
I have found the solution in about 20 seconds.
Nice work! I am glad you found it! :)
Tank you
Thank you!
Found it in 15 seconds!
Why can't it be solved by bishop d4-g7?
That would be mate in 3, and not mate in 2. Good that you found a checkmate though!
@@ChessforCharity oh yeah, now i see, thank you
1. Kg2!! with mate to follow.
I found it in less than 2 mins Kh2
Nice work! 👏
I almost got it 😭 first I tried Rxg7 then Be5 then Kh2
I didn't see that bishop check 🤬
Kg2 kind of in 1 second
Glad you were able to figure it out!
why not Ra5?
I see it on my very first try. Haha I was just lucky.
Nice work! Thanks for watching!
Yeah its cool!!!
I am glad you think so!
If u see mate look for better
Haha, I know right. Thank you for watching!
King g2/g4
Same
I think ra8 then bg7
I thought it would be Ra5, but I guess that doesn't work somehow?
hxg6 and theres no mate
@@axerity9212 aaah yes of course, thank you
@@PurpleKittenofDeath no problem, i had the position set up so i thought i might as well respobnd
why do i found this one easy
Kg2 Bf6
Bxf6#
Not so smart move
Bd4 takes bg7 rg7 is forced then ra8 mate??
I'd like to know if I'm wrong or not
Ohhhhh he blocks with rook I see
But then rook on rg6 takes with mate so mate in 3 not 2 mb tben
Kf4
Kg2, which is almost obvious, if you're familiar with this type of puzzle. It's the first thing to check, and it works.
The theme here is to reach a position for which every black move results in an immediate mate. Which isn't saying more than 2-1=1
Rook to a8
Kg2 best move?
indeed, Kg2 best move. sometimes, we forget that even the king is a piece that can be moved
Nice work! ⭐️
I found kg2.
Great job! 🙂
rook takes g7
I am an intermediate (1100-1200)
rook a8