Missed mate in 2

So.....

Recently I acquired Fritz 13, which I have been using as my post-mortem analysis tool
(ultimately to show me where I screwed up)

However this one should have been easy to spot... even in the game itself,
which just adds to how annoyed I am at myself for missing it.

Game 9760434

I wanted to just put a FEN up of the position after white's 36th move... but I am yet to figure out how (any pointers would be nice)

The game is finished.
I do not want, or need analysis
But a little pity would be appreciated *wipes away tear

Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
So.....

Recently I acquired Fritz 13, which I have been using as my post-mortem analysis tool
(ultimately to show me where I screwed up)

However this one should have been easy to spot... even in the game itself,
which just adds to how annoyed I am at myself for missing it.

Game 9760434

I wanted to just put a FEN up of the position shed.
I do not want, or need analysis
But a little pity would be appreciated *wipes away tear

Yes, I see it 36...Rxg2+

Hook line and sinker

Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
I wanted to just put a FEN up of the position after white's 36th move... but I am yet to figure out how (any pointers would be nice)

I find this to be a useful tool:

http://www.chess-poster.com/english/fen/fen_epd_viewer.htm

Set up the board by clicking a piece, and then clicking where on the board you'd like the piece to be. Copy the FEN string that chows up underneath the board, and past it in your post, with the FEN tags around. So would look something like this:

[fen]fenstring[/ fen]

Black to move, mate in 2

Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
So.....

Recently I acquired Fritz 13, which I have been using as my post-mortem analysis tool
(ultimately to show me where I screwed up)

However this one should have been easy to spot... even in the game itself,
which just adds to how annoyed I am at myself for missing it.

Game 9760434

I wanted to just put a FEN up of the position ...[text shortened]... shed.
I do not want, or need analysis
But a little pity would be appreciated *wipes away tear

Sorry mate. Those are hard ones to live down, I just want to ask, did you consider the first move and just not realize it ended in mate or did you not even consider it? This is curious to me as it is might be a visual block or a thinking error.

How does the mate in 2 go, because I can only find it in 3 moves?

That is unfortunate, nice end game attack to set it up as well. If it helps I didn't spot it when I looked through even though I knew I was looking for it.

I think challenges/tactics training should normally be more like this, i.e. look through a whole game and try to look for where the missed opportunity is rather than just trying to find the correct combination from a set position.

Originally posted by tvochess
How does the mate in 2 go, because I can only find it in 3 moves?

Rxg2+, notice f4 and f5 is blocked by pawn and queen so the king can only go to the h file. Say K-h3(doesn't matter where it goes) Then Qxh2 mate.

Check All Checks 🙂

(and keep looking at all the checks till you have mated the King or they run out.)

You will just have to feel the burn on this one and learn from it.


A possible reason for Black missing 36...Rxg2+ is Black looked one move deep
and got a mind fright.

(Mind Fright = The chess brain freezes and goes no further.)

36...Rxg2+ 37.Kh3


The Rook is attacked and the back rank hangs. End of quick screen analysis.

But that is just a theory why Black missed it.

In Game 9679089 64squaresofpain v muse140 RHP 2012
(an entertaining wee game. Worth playing over.)

We see the Queen and Rook team mate which also involves hanging a back rank.


White saw and played 23.Rd7+ and Black resigned due to the mate on b7.
The difference being although the back rank hangs the d7 Rook is not under attack.
Also the mating pattern is very easy to spot.

You have some enjoyable and tactically instructive games on here 64.
Keep at it, you are getting there but what is more important you really
do seem to be enjoying yourself.

You were very alert on this one (though also lucky).

gareth cobb - 64squaresofpain RHP 2012 Game 9631356
(Black has just played 22....Qd8-c7)


White should now castle but he only saw the threat of 23...Qc3+ winning the Rook.
(Another very common error, seeing only one threat in the position and dealing with it)

So White played 23.Qxd4 which stops 23...Qc3+ and nicks a pawn.
Black played the Queen sac 23...Qc1+ and White resigned.

As I said Black was lucky White did not play, to me the obvious move of 23.0-0.

And this were it can sometimes be a good thing not to be a very good player.
(good player's think too much and get unlucky) 😉

If I was Black back here.


I would have credited my opponent with finding 23.0-0 and not played 22...Qc7.
I would have tried.



And finally don't run this one through Fritz it will blow up! Game 9764840 😉
Within the space of four moves both players drop a Rook with check.

FrenchMaster - 64squaresofpain RHP 2013

Originally posted by tomtom232
Sorry mate. Those are hard ones to live down, I just want to ask, did you consider the first move and just not realize it ended in mate or did you not even consider it? This is curious to me as it is might be a visual block or a thinking error.

I don't think I even considered it, as I had one eye firmly placed on white's mate threat with Qf8+
Definite thinking error

And wow GP! lol that lot has made my day,
yes I was very lucky vs. gareth, again I did not even see the variation you suggested
and as for the frenchmaster game, well we both had silly excuses as to why we both screwed up,
him blaming playing on the iPhone and I blaming the deadly combination of tiredness and alcohol!

Also thanks vivify, I shall try using that tool for future references

Thanks all, I'm gonna use this thread for any future forced mates that i miss...
If anyone else feels like showing one of theirs, please go ahead 😀

My pal and coach always said people seem to have a "blind spot" when it comes to horizontal moves along ranks. It seems natural to see the vertical file moves. I am not sure if you agree, but myself, I have seen it, done it before.

Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
I don't think I even considered it, as I had one eye firmly placed on white's mate threat with Qf8+
Definite thinking error

And wow GP! lol that lot has made my day,
yes I was very lucky vs. gareth, again I did not even see the variation you suggested
and as for the frenchmaster game, well we both had silly excuses as to why we both screwed up ...[text shortened]... ced mates that i miss...
If anyone else feels like showing one of theirs, please go ahead 😀

So we can all learn to run through both the opponents and our own threats before we evaluate the position! Sometimes we know these things already but we either don't put much stock in them until we get burned or it just doesn't click at first. I like to try my best and learn from others mistakes because I hate learning from mine... Its like reliving a horror over and over bleh. However, when I win a particularly enjoyable game I can't stop replaying the moves! Maybe I just ought to buckle down and suffer the horror if I want to get better.

Originally posted by tomtom232
Maybe I just ought to buckle down and suffer the horror if I want to get better.

I am prepared to embrace the embarrassment that comes from showing such mistakes in a thread like this
it builds character, and strengthens your foresight and ability to see things on the board beyond what you normally would

That and it provides a good giggle 😀

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Check All Checks 🙂

(and keep looking at all the checks till you have mated the King or they run out.)

You will just have to feel the burn on this one and learn from it.

[fen]7k/p1q3pp/1p2p3/1P6/P5K1/Q4P2/3r2PP/1R6 b - - 0 36[/fen]
A possible reason for Black missing 36...Rxg2+ is Black looked one move deep
and got a mind fright.

(Mind Frig ...[text shortened]... en & Rook mate.} 38... Rh5[/pgn]

Re: garethcobb - 64 S of P Game 9631356.

After 3.Qc3, white could play Qd5+ Kh1. Then Qg5, thus protecting C1.



Mike