Mate in 2

Chess Puzzle No. 293: Can White punish this rook recapture right away?

Posted on 19 October 2026 by Delphine D.

19
Oct

In February 2023, during a 3+0 blitz game between players rated around 2400, Black just played Rxd6 on move 37 of a Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined. White to play: it's your turn to find the continuation.

Mate in 2EasyWhite to play

White to play and mate in 2

Puzzle: Lichess open database (CC0) · Pieces: Cburnett, Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

See the solution explained

Qxf7+ captures a pawn and checks the black king, leaving only one legal reply.

Kh8 is therefore forced, as the king steps back into the corner.

Qxh7# captures another pawn and delivers checkmate: the black king on h8 is in check and cannot escape it.

In the real game, the solver did find Qxf7+, but didn't complete the whole combination: the opponent resigned before the sequence continued, handing over the win regardless. Takeaway: a double pawn sacrifice with consecutive checks can corner a king in just two moves.

This 3+0 blitz game is a reminder of how popular fast time controls are, a legacy of the mechanical chess clocks introduced in the 19th century to limit game length. Players who enjoy training at this pace often complete their set-up with a complete chess set with board or a fine wood chess board.

Delphine D.

Delphine D. is the lead writer of the editorial team at Le Palais des Échecs, a shop specialising since 2008 in wooden chess sets, chessboards and backgammon sets. Her guides draw on the shop's hands-on experience: more than 5,000 customers advised and a catalogue built around the woods that make beautiful sets. Pale, very fine-grained boxwood set against ebony or rosewood for the pieces; maple, walnut and mahogany for the boards; palisander, olive wood or burr wood for exceptional models. Choosing a set for a child, a wedding or retirement gift, comparing woods, having a board engraved: she helps every reader find the set that suits them. Find out more about Delphine D. and the editorial team - Facebook - Pinterest - Youtube