Try me. Best 2-move mate by Sam Loyd (1859)

[Chessnut1071]

[fen]2brrb2/8/p7/7Q/1p1kpPp1/1P1pN1K1/3P4/8 w 0 1[/fen]

Try to solve it without the computer. It's only 2 moves.

[j.t.]

Wikipedia: Forsyth–Edwards Notation

[Ajedrecista]

Hello Bill:

[fen]2brrb2/8/p7/7Q/1p1kpPp1/1P1pN1K1/3P4/8 w 0 1[/fen]

Try to solve it without the computer. It's only 2 moves.

Found without computer! The most computer help I had was setting the position on Shredderchess endgame database to avoid missing black king escapes.

I solved a few of this kind of problems on my own and experience told me that the first move is a waiting ove, not giving check but keeping the black king cramped. Here I go:

Code: Select all

1.- Qa5

1.- ..., Bb7; 2.- Nf5#
1.- ..., Bd7; 2.- Qd5#
1.- ..., Be6; 2.- Qe5#
1.- ..., Bf5; 2.- Nxf5#

1.- ..., Rd7; 2.- Nf5#
1.- ..., Rd6; 2.- Qxb4#
1.- ..., Rd5; 2.- Qxd5#
 
1.- ..., Re7; 2.- Qxb4# (also 2.- Qb6#)
1.- ..., Re6; 2.- Nf5#
1.- ..., Re5; 2.- Qxe5#

1.- ..., Bc5; 2.- Qa1#
1.- ..., Bd6; 2.- Qd5#
1.- ..., Be7; 2.- Qe5#
1.- ..., Bg7; 2.- Qxb4# (also Qb6#)
1.- ..., Bh6; 2.- Qxb4# (also Qb6#)

I hope no typos. I later confirmed the solution with YACPDB:

https://yacpdb.org/#37503

Nice problem by the way. It took me around ten or fifteen minutes more less.

Regards from Spain.

Ajedrecista.