Chess Puzzle #0d5na — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 934 · Beginner · master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knights e2/e7; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f3/g4. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights d7/f6; pawns a3/b7/d6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight e2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen a5→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen c3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/1p1nNp1p/3p1npQ/q7/2P1P1P1/pP3P2/P3N3/2KR1B1R w - - 1 21

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