Not a difficult puzzle, few pieces, elegant solution.
The challenge is to find the checkmate in 2 moves.
That is, try to find the move that White can play now that will allow him to win by checkmate in the next move. This is the winning move. Did you find it? With what checkmate move do you plan to win in the second move?
(Is there such a move this time?)
Did you solve it quickly and easily? Try to understand why for every move by Black, there is exactly one checkmate move by White.
We are sure you will be able to solve it quickly 🙂
Good luck and enjoy!
📖Read more about this Art-Puzzle
Recommendation: Try solving it yourself first
Solved it yet?
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Zugzwang is a situation where there is no immediate threat, but the fact that Black must make a move is what allows White to deliver mate on the following turn.
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After White plays ♖e5, Black would prefer to keep the position as it is — but he must move, and every legal move harms his own position. The only two free black pieces are the ♟ and the ♝, positioned between the ♖ and the ♚. If either one moves, the other becomes pinned, and mate becomes possible.
It is also worth noting that there is only one checkmate move in response to each possible black move. If the ♟ moves, only a check with ♘ — taking advantage of the pin on the ♝ — leads to mate; a check with ♙ fails, because Black can reply with an en passant capture. If the ♝ moves, only a check with ♙ — exploiting the pin on the ♟f5 — is mate; a check with ♘ fails (even if the black ♝ moves to a square from which it no longer covers f6), because the ♘ must remain in place to block g5 once the ♝ has left it.
🔍The clever twist we enjoyed most:
📌In the second move, the win doesn’t come from exploiting the fact that the piece on f5 or g5 has moved away — but rather from taking advantage of the pin on the piece that stayed put ♟ ♝ 🔒 .
Easy. But very beautiful. I enjoyed it.
Hi King Alexander,
We’re glad you enjoyed it! Even the “easy” ones can hold a touch of beauty ✨
Thanks for sharing your thoughts — we appreciate it!
– The ChessAPit Team
Why is it just ‘chess snacks’? It should also be
‘unique gems’ ..
Congratulations! on the beautiful creation
Hi Yona,
Thank you! We’re really happy you feel this one deserves a spot among the Unique Gems 💎
It’s always nice to see a Chess Snack shine a little brighter than expected ✨
– The ChessAPit Team