Mate in 2 Chess Puzzles — Rated 1800

10 mate-in-two puzzles rated between 1800 and 1999, averaging 1865. 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 1800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1800 is one that players around 1800 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 1800

  1. Mate in 2 puzzle 1, rated 1808h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1808 · Black to play after gxf5
    Show solution

    gxf5+ Ke5 Re3#

  2. Mate in 2 puzzle 2, rated 1866h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1866 · Black to play after Ke6
    Show solution

    Qh3+ g4 Qxg4#

  3. Mate in 2 puzzle 3, rated 1860h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1860 · Black to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Bxg2+ Kg1 Nh3#

  4. Mate in 2 puzzle 4, rated 1923a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1923 · White to play after Ke7
    Show solution

    Qf8+ Kd7 Nf6#

  5. Mate in 2 puzzle 5, rated 1887a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1887 · White to play after Bxg4
    Show solution

    Bxf7+ Kh8 g7#

  6. Mate in 2 puzzle 6, rated 1803h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1803 · Black to play after Nc7
    Show solution

    Nxc3+ Ka1 Rg1#

  7. Mate in 2 puzzle 7, rated 1914a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1914 · White to play after hxg6
    Show solution

    Qxg6+ Ke7 Qxe6#

  8. Mate in 2 puzzle 8, rated 1810a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1810 · White to play after Kf8
    Show solution

    Nxg6+ Kg8 Rg7#

  9. Mate in 2 puzzle 9, rated 1953a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1953 · White to play after Kd7
    Show solution

    e6+ Ke7 Qf7#

  10. Mate in 2 puzzle 10, rated 1824a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1824 · White to play after Kf8
    Show solution

    Nxe6+ Kg8 Qd8#

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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 1800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1800 is one that players rated around 1800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1865, so they suit 1800-rated players.

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.