# Mate in 2 chess puzzles Mate in 2 means you checkmate in two moves, whatever your opponent plays in between. Try five right here, one from each belt, then download 100 more as a printable PDF with answers. HTML version: https://remarkablechess.com/mate-in-2-chess-puzzles ## Try five mate in two puzzles 1. White belt, rating 620. Black to move. Checkmate in two. FEN: `b3r3/8/8/R7/3k3P/2N3P1/1PB2P2/6K1 b - - 0 40` 2. Yellow belt, rating 1187. White to move. Checkmate in two. FEN: `2k4r/2pq1ppp/1nQbpn2/1P6/3P1P2/4B3/6PP/R4RK1 w - - 6 24` 3. Orange belt, rating 1525. Black to move. Checkmate in two. FEN: `6k1/pb3ppp/1q1p4/8/N7/PP1Q1P1n/6PP/1R3R1K b - - 0 28` 4. Brown belt, rating 1654. White to move. Checkmate in two. FEN: `r5rk/5p1p/p6Q/2p3R1/1p1pp2P/8/PPP2q2/1K4R1 w - - 8 27` 5. Black belt, rating 2000. White to move. Checkmate in two. FEN: `3rr3/2R5/3PP1pk/p2Q4/6Pp/q6P/8/6K1 w - - 2 39` ## Answers 1. **1... Re1+ 2. Kh2 Rh1#** Rook to e1, check. King to h2. Rook to h1, checkmate. ([Lichess puzzle](https://lichess.org/training/08yMf)) 2. **1. Ra8+ Nxa8 2. Qxa8#** Rook to a8, check. Knight takes a8. Queen takes a8, checkmate. ([Lichess puzzle](https://lichess.org/training/051Ol)) 3. **1... Qg1+ 2. Rxg1 Nf2#** Queen to g1, check. Rook takes g1. Knight to f2, checkmate. ([Lichess puzzle](https://lichess.org/training/07bg6)) 4. **1. Qxh7+ Kxh7 2. Rh5#** Queen takes h7, check. King takes h7. Rook to h5, checkmate. ([Lichess puzzle](https://lichess.org/training/0HPUj)) 5. **1. g5+ Kh5 2. Rh7#** Pawn to g5, check. King to h5. Rook to h7, checkmate. ([Lichess puzzle](https://lichess.org/training/1sTSe)) ## Mate in 2 PDFs for every belt 100 puzzles per PDF, one per page, the answer on the next. Print on A4 or Letter, or open on a tablet. - White belt (Mate in 2 for beginners, rating 400–800), Vol 1: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-beginners-vol-1), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-beginners-vol-1.pdf) - White belt (Mate in 2 for beginners, rating 400–800), Vol 2: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-beginners-vol-2), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-beginners-vol-2.pdf) - Yellow belt (Mate in 2 for improving beginners, rating 800–1200), Vol 1: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-novice-vol-1), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-novice-vol-1.pdf) - Yellow belt (Mate in 2 for improving beginners, rating 800–1200), Vol 2: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-novice-vol-2), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-novice-vol-2.pdf) - Orange belt (Mate in 2 for casual players, rating 1200–1600), Vol 1: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-club-vol-1), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-club-vol-1.pdf) - Orange belt (Mate in 2 for casual players, rating 1200–1600), Vol 2: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-club-vol-2), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-club-vol-2.pdf) - Brown belt (Mate in 2 for strong players, rating 1600–2000), Vol 1: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-advanced-vol-1), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-advanced-vol-1.pdf) - Brown belt (Mate in 2 for strong players, rating 1600–2000), Vol 2: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-advanced-vol-2), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-advanced-vol-2.pdf) - Black belt (Mate in 2 for experts, rating 2000–2500), Vol 1: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-expert-vol-1), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-expert-vol-1.pdf) - Black belt (Mate in 2 for experts, rating 2000–2500), Vol 2: [landing page](https://remarkablechess.com/sets/mate-in-two-expert-vol-2), [PDF](https://remarkablechess.com/assets/sets/mate-in-two-expert-vol-2.pdf) ## What is a mate in two puzzle? A mate in two (mate in 2, or M2) is a position where the side to move can force checkmate in two moves, whatever the defender plays in between. The first move is often a check or a sacrifice that leaves the king nowhere to go. Unlike mate in 1, you have to look one reply ahead, and that is the skill that wins real games. ## Mate in 1 or mate in 2? New to chess puzzles? Start with mate in 1, where one move ends the game. Once those feel easy at your belt, mate in 2 is the natural next step. Many players do both: a page of mate in 1 to warm up, then a few mate in 2. ## Where the puzzles come from Every puzzle comes from a real game in the Lichess open puzzle database and has been played by Lichess players, which is how it got its rating. We pick them by rating, so each belt is a step up from the last. ## How to use the PDFs Each PDF has 100 puzzles, one per page, with a small grid under the board to write your moves. Turn the page and the answer is at the top. Print on A4 or Letter in black and white, or open it on a tablet and write on it with the pen. ## Questions ### Are these mate in 2 puzzles free? Yes. The Mate in 2 PDFs here are free to download, no account or signup. ### Are the answers included? Yes. Every puzzle has its own page, and the answer is at the top of the next page: your two moves and the defender's best reply in between. ### Which belt should I start with? New to chess puzzles? White belt. If you have a Lichess or Chess.com puzzle rating, match it: White 400–800, Yellow 800–1200, Orange 1200–1600, Brown 1600–2000, Black 2000–2500. When in doubt, start one belt lower. ### What if the defender plays a different move? You still mate. A mate in 2 is forced: whatever the defender plays after your first move, you have a checkmate next. The answer shows the toughest defence. ### Is mate in 2 much harder than mate in 1? A little. You have to picture the reply before you move. Pick a belt one lower than you would for mate in 1 and it will feel about right.