Chess/Puzzles/Directmates/Two-move 1/Solution

The solution is: 1. Qa2

a b c d e f g h
8 a8 white knight b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 white queen h8 black king 8
7 a7 black knight b7 black king c7 white pawn d7 white pawn e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
Starting position.
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 white knight b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black knight b7 black king c7 white pawn d7 white pawn e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white queen b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
1. Qa2
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 cross d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black knight b7 black king c7 white pawn d7 white pawn e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white queen b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
If 1... Kxa8 then 2. c8=Q#
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 white knight b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black knight b7 black king c7 white pawn d7 white pawn e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 cross e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white queen b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
If 1... Kc6 then 2. Qd5#
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 white knight b8 black king c8 cross d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 white pawn d7 white pawn e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black knight d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black knight c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 white king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white queen b2 black king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 black king 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
If 1... Nb5 or 1... Nc6 then 2. c8=Q#


If 1... Nc8... 2. d8=N#

a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h

Other attempts

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a b c d e f g h
8                 8
7                 7
6                 6
5                 5
4                 4
3                 3
2                 2
1                 1
a b c d e f g h
  • The move 1. Qb3+ fails because the line 1...Nb5 2. Qxb5+ Kxa8 is mate in three, not two.
  • Likewise 1. Qb8+ fails to Kc6 2. Qb6+ Kxd7
  • And 1. c8=Q+ Nxc8 2. dxc8=Q+ Ka7 3. Qf7# is also one move too slow.