Chess Puzzle #15B2W — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 941 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rooks d1/f1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/e5/g4/h2. Black: king b8; queen e6; rooks a6/d8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight d5→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen e6→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen a2→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/ppp3p1/r3qn1p/2pNP3/4Q1P1/4P3/PPP4P/1K1R1R2 w - - 1 22

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