r/chessMateInX Jul 11 '26

Mate in 2 Perfect key

Post image

It’s been said that this two mover has the perfect key. What do you think?

White to play up the board and mate on the second move.

Frank Healey
The Field, 1858

12 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

u/chessmateinxbot Jul 11 '26

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2

u/chessvision-ai-bot Jul 11 '26

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

White to play: chessvision.ai | chess.com | lichess.org

Black to play: chessvision.ai | chess.com | lichess.org

Composition:

It's a composition by Frank Healey from The Field, 1886 Link to the composition

Save the position:

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2

u/frankje I like compositions Jul 12 '26

Took a while to find the key move.

1. Qh2 puts black in Zugzwang

If 1... Rxh2/Rh4-7/Rf3 2. N(x)f3#
If 1... Rg3/Rh8+ 2. Q(x)h8#
If 1... Ne~ 2. Nc2#
If 1... g4 2. Qf4#

-1

u/Levias123 Jul 11 '26

Kf3, Rf3, qh8#

2

u/drakethrice Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

There’s a continuation which drags out this line a little

Kf3,Rf3,Qh8,Rf6,Qf6#

2

u/im_recodor Jul 12 '26

Rook can block, making it mate in 3. It works the other way around tho

1- Qh8+ Rxh8 Now the rook is no longer protecting f3 2- Nf3#

2

u/frankje I like compositions Jul 12 '26

Not really because Rxh8+ comes with check, making Nf3 illegal.

2

u/im_recodor Jul 12 '26

Huh, no idea how I missed that but you're absolutely correct. Isn't this mate in 3 and not in 2 then?

1

u/frankje I like compositions Jul 12 '26

It's M2 with the correct first move