Chess Puzzle #16Cb5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1100 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks a1/e8; bishop c1; knight b5; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c6; rook h8; bishop f8; knight c5; pawns b6/c7/d6/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe8 — queen c6→e8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a6→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qxc7# — queen a7→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k2Rb1r/2p3pp/Qpqp1p2/1Nn5/8/P4P2/1PP3PP/R1B3K1 b - - 0 26

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