Chess Puzzle #0ADxl — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 914 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d4/e2; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/c8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg7 — bishop d4→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen d5→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen a2→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/pp2ppbp/3pb1p1/3q4/3BN2P/P7/1PPQBPP1/1K1R3R w - - 1 15

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.