Qa8 Qc4 Nd6#
Hardest mate in 2!!!
Try this mate in 2 out, it's not that hard but it is pretty:
Here's your clue, it's a Novotny theme.
Shoulda seen that putting the queen on c3 would either block rook or bishop. Good puzzle
^ Click the analysis button; it's mate in 3 not 2
That only tells you Stockfish thinks it's mate in 3 not 2. You shouldn't believe everything engines say.
except for the fact that stockfish can see 20 moves into the future and is stronger than any human at chess. You should totally belive stockfish.
Stockfish, looking 245 moves into the future, says that it's mate in 2, but only if you play ra3, rb3, or rc3. after kf4, then nxd5#. If you do play Qa8, then they will simply play Qd1, Qd2, or Qd3, and then after Nc5, and when the pawn takes, you have Qxc6, and then when the queen blocks on d5, then you take it with checkmate. Qa8 leads to a mate in 3. The real mate in 2 is Ra3, Rb3, or Rc3

Your diagram is missing a black pawn on f4.
Stockfish, looking 245 moves into the future, says that it's mate in 2, but only if you play ra3, rb3, or rc3. after kf4, then nxd5#. If you do play Qa8, then they will simply play Qd1, Qd2, or Qd3, and then after Nc5, and when the pawn takes, you have Qxc6, and then when the queen blocks on d5, then you take it with checkmate. Qa8 leads to a mate in 3. The real mate in 2 is Ra3, Rb3, or Rc3
Your diagram is missing a black pawn on f4.
Correct, it looks like they took the black pawn from f4 and placed it on d6, like they accidentally set the position up wrong.
Stockfish, looking 245 moves into the future, says that it's mate in 2, but only if you play ra3, rb3, or rc3. after kf4, then nxd5#. If you do play Qa8, then they will simply play Qd1, Qd2, or Qd3, and then after Nc5, and when the pawn takes, you have Qxc6, and then when the queen blocks on d5, then you take it with checkmate. Qa8 leads to a mate in 3. The real mate in 2 is Ra3, Rb3, or Rc3
Your diagram is missing a black pawn on f4.
Correct, it looks like they took the black pawn from f4 and placed it on d6, like they accidentally set the position up wrong.
yeah, I did. Sorry about that.
Stockfish, looking 245 moves into the future, says that it's mate in 2, but only if you play ra3, rb3, or rc3. after kf4, then nxd5#. If you do play Qa8, then they will simply play Qd1, Qd2, or Qd3, and then after Nc5, and when the pawn takes, you have Qxc6, and then when the queen blocks on d5, then you take it with checkmate. Qa8 leads to a mate in 3. The real mate in 2 is Ra3, Rb3, or Rc3
Your diagram is missing a black pawn on f4.
Correct, it looks like they took the black pawn from f4 and placed it on d6, like they accidentally set the position up wrong.
yeah, I did. Sorry about that.
Ra3 and Rb3 are still both mate, but in 3, not 2. Crazy what one pawn can do.
its easy