Puzzle #39: Mate in 2: back-rank mate
Rating ≈ 1300 · 2 moves to find
Black to move and mate in 2.
Show a hint
The enemy king is short of air on its back rank.
Show the solution
- 46… Rd2+ — the rook goes to d2 with check.
- 47. Kg1 is forced: it is the best way out of check.
- 47… Rb1# — the rook goes to b1 — checkmate.
Why it works. The defending king is trapped on its own back rank by its pawns — the classic back-rank weakness.
Themes: Mate in 2, Back-rank mate
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This position comes from a training game and was checked with a chess engine: every move you need to find is the only one that works.