Chess Challenges

Test your chess skills with our 20 Chess Challenges!

“Play the opening like a book, the middle game like a magician, and the endgame like a machine” – Spielmann

Challenge 1

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. Nxc6 Any move
  2. Ne7 mate

 

 

Challenge 2

White to play and mate in two moves

 

Solution:

  1. Qxg5+ Kf7
  2. Qg6++

 

 

Challenge 3

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. Bxc4+ Ke7
  2. Nf5#

 

 

Challenge 4

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. Nd7+ Kc8
  2. Rxa8#

 

 

Challenge 5

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. Rb4 e2 (Nd7)
  2. Rb7# (Na6#)

 

 

Challenge 6

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

1. Qd4+ Qxd4
2. Nc6 mate or

1. Qd4+ Rd7
2. Nc6 mate (or Qxd7 mate) or

but be careful
1. Qf6+ Qe7+
2. Qxe7 Rxe7+
3. Be6 Rxe6 mate
Note there are a number of variations all leading to a black win

 

 

Challenge 7

Black to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. ….. h3+
  2. Kh1 g2 mate

(Note if black plays e1= then either stalemate will occur for a Queen or a Rook, or black cannot mate in two for a knight or Bishop)

 

 

Challenge 8

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

1. Qh6+ Kg8
2. Qh8# or

1. …. Kxh6
2. g8=N#

 

 

Challenge 9

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

1. Nef6+ Kd8 (Kf8, Bxf6)
2. Bc7# or

1. …. Kf8
2. Bd6# or

1. … Bxf6
2. Qg8#

 

 

Challenge 10

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

Solution:

  1. Bc7+ Rd6 (or d6)
  2. Neg6#

(Note Nfg6+ would allow the king to escape)

 

 

Challenge 11

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Rd3+ Ke5
  2. Ng4#

 

 

Challenge 12

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Bd6+ Kd8
  2. Rxb8# (or Rxg8#)

 

 

Challenge 13

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Nf5+ Kg8
  2. Nh6#

 

 

Challenge 14

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Ne2 Ke4
  2. Re6#

 

 

Challenge 15

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Nxh7+ Bxh7
  2. Qf7#

 

 

Challenge 16

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Bc4+ Kc6
  2. c8=Q#

 

 

Challenge 17

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

 

Solution:

1. Qb2 Rxb2
2. Rc8+ mate or

1. Qb2 any move
2. Qh8+ mate

 

 

Challenge 18

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Bd1+ Kb4
  2. Nd3+ mate

 

 

Challenge 19

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Nxf5+ Bxf5
  2. Qd5#

 

 

Challenge 20

White to play and mate in two moves

 

 

 

 

Solution:

  1. Ng6+ hxg6
  2. Qh4# (Qh3#)