White to play and checkmate in two moves
145
(Almon Ferdinand Rockwell - The Philadelphia Times, 23 May 1886)
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1.Qc5! ~
2.Qc8#
2.Qd5#
1...e4 2.Qd5#
1...f4 2.Qc8#
1...d5
2.Qb6#
2.Qc6#
2.Qxd5#
1...dxc5 2.Bd7#
1...f6 2.Qd5#
Date added: 29/1/2021
146
(Norris Easter - The Bristol Times and Mirror 4th Prize, 1930)
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1.Ne4! (2.Qxf5#)
1...Kxe4+ 2.Ne5#
1...Ke6+ 2.d5#
1...Bxe4 2.Qg8#
1...Re5/Rg5/Rh5 2.Nxf6#
Date added: 30/1/2021
147
(Paul Charles Morphy - The New York Clipper, 28 Jun 1856)
Morphy was 10 years old when he invented this puzzle, his only known composition. The position is simple but cunning. The text reads "White to play and mate in two moves." and indeed White can, but only if you discover Morphy's surprise move--a move that will delight aficionados and beginners alike.
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1.Ra6!
1...bxa6 2.b7#
1...Bh2 (B~) 2.Rxa7#
Date added: 30/1/2021
148
(Christopher Jeremy Morse - British Chess Magazine, Jul 1965 )
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1. Kd4! [2. Qe8#]
1. ... Re5 2. Kxe5#
1. ... Rd5+ 2. Kxd5#
1. ... Rxc5 2. Kxc5#
1. ... Rb3 2. cxb3#
1. ... Rc3 2. Kxc3#
1. ... Rd3+ 2. Kxd3#
1. ... Re3 2. Kxe3#
Date added: 30/1/2021
149
(Samuel Loyd - The Musical World, 1859)
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Qa1 - Kf8
Qh8#
(1...0-0-0 ?)
Some solvers objected that after the defense 1...0-0-0 (Queen's side castling) of the Black there is no mate in the second move. The argument of the composer was that Black has no right to defend this way. It is quite obvious from the position of the problem that the previous black move was a move by the King or by the Rook, and that means Black has lost the right for castling.
Date added: 30/1/2021
150
(John Ormerod Scarlett Thursby - Burnley Express, 1881)
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1.Qb1! zz
1...Kf4/Kf3/Kf5 2.Rf2#
1...Kd3 2.Rc1#
1...Kd5 2.Qb7#
Date added: 30/1/2021
151
(Giorgio Guidelli - Good Companion Chess Problem Club 1st Prize, April Award (9th Meredith Tourney), Apr 1919)
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1.Bh8! ~ 2.Rg5#
1...Rc5 2.Qd1#
1...c5 2.Qg7#
1...Ra1 2.Rxa1#
1...Bf2 2.Qxf2#
1...Bxd4+ 2.Bxd4#
Date added: 30/1/2021
152
(Frederick E. Gamage - The Falkirk Herald, Keeble MT 1st Prize, 1940)
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1.Qb1! ~ 2.Qc1#
1...Rac4 2.Rd3#
1...Rcc4 2.Rd3#
1...Bc4 2.Nf7#
1...Nc4 2.Rd3#
1...Rxa3 2.Ng6#
1...Rxg4+ 2.Nxg4#
1...Nb3 2.Qxb3#
1...Bd3 2.Rxd3#
1...Bd7 2.Nc4#
Date added: 30/1/2021
153
It is rare for a high quality composed problem to be created by an active grandmaster, but this puzzle has been widely praised by solvers. GM Stuart Conquest, devised this diagram where all the action seems to be in the bottom half of the board, although this is deceptive. Can you find the grandmaster’s hidden solution?
(Stuart Conquest)
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1. Rh8! [2. Rc8#]
1. ... Ne5/e3 2. N(x)e3#
1. ... Bxb4 2. Nxb4#
1. ... d2 2. Qh7#
1. ... gxh1=Q 2. Rc8#
Date added: 31/1/2021
154
(Unknown Composer)
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Qe8+ - Kb7
c6#
Date added: 31/1/2021
155
(Geoffrey Arthur Mott-Smith - Chess Review, Apr 1935)
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1.Re6! (2.Ra6#)
1...Rf6/Bc2 2.Bc1#
1...Rf8+/Bf5 2.Bxf8#
Date added: 31/1/2021
156
(William Meredith - The Dubuque Chess Journal, 1873)
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1.Qh8! ~ 2.Qh7#
1...Nxd3 2.Qh1#
1...Bxd3 2.Qa8#
1...Ng3 (Nxf4, Nd4) 2.Qd4#
Date added: 2/1/2021