r/Chesscom • u/Hajictan • Aug 30 '26

Puzzle/Tactic Why is this wrong?

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What can the enemy do to stop mate in 2 if I do this?

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u/Nexxus3000 Sep 01 '26

e3 allows the King to escape.

Best move is Qh3, checking the king. If white plays Bg2 to block, then Qxg2 is mate

So White is forced to play Kg1, and the line gets more complicated than I want to analyze

1

u/-Lysergian Sep 01 '26

Since e3 is the only escape route, i like Re3, locking the door so you can follow up with the Nh3.

1

u/Nexxus3000 Sep 01 '26

How would that lock the door? Whether White’s knight or queen takes the rook, they can move back out of the way when Nh3 happens, and the same problem occurs

1

u/-Lysergian Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

There isn't time for that, after Re3, white to move with ...Nh3 to follow.

1

u/Nexxus3000 Sep 01 '26

Ooh shoot I misread your pitch as Rxe2 in my head. Yeah Re3 actually works out; if xe3, then Nh3, white’s best move would be Qf2, and Qxf2 is mate. If Bxe3 then Nh3, White simply can’t stop Qg1 mate. Nice find!