Chess Puzzle #16BJh — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 951 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d4/e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen a5; rooks d8/h8; bishops b6/e6; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen a5→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: 2kr3r/ppp2pp1/1b1pb2p/q7/3BnP2/2N5/PPPQB1PP/1K1R3R w - - 0 17

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