Mate in 2 Puzzles
Find the key move. Then force the mate.
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Find the key first move and the opponent's forced reply plays automatically — then find the move that finishes it. The first move rarely looks dangerous on its own; it only makes sense once you see what it forces.
Keep going, or dig deeper into the pattern.
Every puzzle here is forced checkmate in exactly two moves. Find the key first move — the opponent's best defense plays automatically — then find the move that finishes it.
Why mate-in-2 is a step up from mate-in-1
A mate-in-1 only asks you to recognize a finished pattern. A mate-in-2 asks you to calculate: the first move usually doesn't look like much on its own, and only makes sense once you see the forced reply and the mate that follows it. That one extra step is where real calculation training begins.
Frequently asked questions
What happens after I find the first move?
If it's the key move, the opponent's only (or best) defense plays automatically, and you find the mating move from there.
Where do these puzzles come from?
The same curated selection from the official, CC0-licensed Lichess open puzzle database that powers the Daily Chess Challenge, filtered specifically for forced two-move mates.
Is it free?
Yes. The board is read and analyzed right in your browser, there is no sign up, and you can do it as many times as you like.