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

Rating 919 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook f1; bishops d6/g4; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king a8; queen e6; rooks d8/h8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg4 — pawn f5→g4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6+ — knight c4→b6, gives check. Opponent replies axb6 (pawn a7→b6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa4# — queen c2→a4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qa4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k2r3r/pp4p1/2pBq1n1/5p2/2N3Bp/4P2P/PPQ2PP1/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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