Chess Puzzle #0IWcA — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1520 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d4/f1; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/g7; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen a5→a2, captures pawn, 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: r3r1k1/1p2ppbp/p3b1p1/q5P1/3Bn2P/2N5/PPPQ4/1K1R1BNR w - - 0 16

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