Chess Puzzle #0hl9B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1057 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen b5; rooks d1/h1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/f3/f4/h3. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen b5→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Qb7# — queen a6→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp4p/2n5/1QN2p1q/3p1P2/5P1P/PP6/2KR3R b - - 1 20

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