Mate in 2 Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 mate-in-two puzzles rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1289. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

Mate in two: one forcing move, any legal reply, then mate. The discipline is to check every opponent reply rather than only the one you expect, because a mate in two that fails to one defence is not a mate in two.

These are pitched at beginners. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that players around 1200 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Mate in 2 puzzles rated 1200

  1. Mate in 2 puzzle 1, rated 1224h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1224 · Black to play after Be3
    Show solution

    Ne2+ Kf1 Qh1#

  2. Mate in 2 puzzle 2, rated 1284a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1284 · White to play after Rxb8
    Show solution

    Qh6+ Kg8 Rxb8#

  3. Mate in 2 puzzle 3, rated 1332h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1332 · Black to play after Rf1
    Show solution

    Qa5+ Kb1 Qa1#

  4. Mate in 2 puzzle 4, rated 1265h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1265 · Black to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Qe2+ Kg1 Qg2#

  5. Mate in 2 puzzle 5, rated 1216h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1216 · Black to play after Kc2
    Show solution

    Rxb2+ Bxb2 Qxb2#

  6. Mate in 2 puzzle 6, rated 1375h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1375 · Black to play after e8=Q
    Show solution

    Qf1+ Kg3 Qf4#

  7. Mate in 2 puzzle 7, rated 1244h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1244 · Black to play after Kb3
    Show solution

    Qxb2+ Ka4 Qb4#

  8. Mate in 2 puzzle 8, rated 1293a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1293 · White to play after Rb8
    Show solution

    Ne6+ Ke8 Rg8#

  9. Mate in 2 puzzle 9, rated 1333a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1333 · White to play after Qh8
    Show solution

    Qf7+ Kh6 Nxf5#

  10. Mate in 2 puzzle 10, rated 1325h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1325 · Black to play after Kh1
    Show solution

    Qc1+ Ne1 Qxe1#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a mate in 2 in chess?

Mate in two: one forcing move, any legal reply, then mate. The discipline is to check every opponent reply rather than only the one you expect, because a mate in two that fails to one defence is not a mate in two.

What does a puzzle rating of 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1289, so they suit beginners.

Are these mate in 2 puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.