Chess Puzzle #0QxdK — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1157 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c7; rooks a4/h1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king a8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c5/d5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa6+ — rook a4→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa6 (pawn b7→a6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qa7# — queen c7→a7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qa7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k2r1r2/1pQnq2p/p3p1p1/1Npp4/R3P3/5P2/PPP3PP/1K5R b - - 1 23

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