Three correct answers and still it's too hard.

Ziryab, I didn't know you wanted anyone to give the answer. Depending on which way the black king moves, the white queen will be able to checkmate from either b8 or h8, so any move that covers both those squares will force checkmate on the next move. (There are three such moves.)

Well if I was a seasoned chess player I wouldn't be clicking on a forum post that said "king vs king and queen, how to checkmate."

Anyhow, You are correct in assuming i'm not very good at chess for not seeing the move, but i just don't see it in two. I saw it 3 but not in 2.

Ziryab, immediately I see Qf3-Qc6-Qc8# and Qd3-Qg6-Qg8#. But you say in two...

One mate in two is 1.Qb2! Kd8 2.Qb8# (or 2.Kf8 Qh8#). 1.Qe5! and 1.Qh2! hit the same key b8/h8 squares so those are the other solutions.

Good puzzle (if you can call it that) to know, because it made me think about mating in a different way... thanks

Yes, it calls upon knowledge of a slightly offbeat mating pattern that is worth knowing.

Ziryab,

That is a cool puzzle - very simple and pretty - where did you get it?

The key to avoid Q vs. K stalemate is this:  Avoid having your Queen a Knight's move away from the opposing King if he's in the corner!

If your opponent's King is in the corner, then you can avoid stalemating him by saying, "Would the move I am considering put him in check if my Queen were a Knight?"

Does this make sense?

I created it when I started teaching elementary checkmates to scholastic players several years ago. I became attuned to the mating pattern when it was the solution to several problems in a set of drink coasters I bought in the mid-1990s--they were clever mate in twos with four pieces each. Ten coasters, each with a problem on each side. I created the problem that I posted here in order to have a simpler position teaching that basic (but uncommon) mating pattern.

Here's one from the coasters. It is an 1849 composition by J. Kling.

Mate in two.

the solution to post # 14  is Qe5!

Now 1.Qb2 fails due to Bb4! (it feels funny giving an ! for delaying mate by one move), and 1.Qe5 is impossible, so to win you must go to that that other square.

Yep.

I don't have John Nunn, Secrets of Rook Endings, but I'm told that in that text ! goes to every move that the defender plays appropriately, the only move that doesn't change the evaluation of the position. As 1...Bb4! refutes 1.Qb2, it deserves the mark.

That's a good example for beginners mijfil that can really help people, well done!

KIESH2

Oh.