Chess Puzzle #0mjrA — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 921 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e1; rooks d1/h1; bishop e2; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks a8/h8; bishop e6; knights b6/c4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/f7/g3/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen b4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1pp2pp1/pn2b3/3p2N1/1qnP3P/2N1P1p1/PPP1B1P1/2KRQ2R w kq - 5 20

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