Chess Puzzle #1Ah6J — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 791 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks e1/h1; bishop d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen a5; rooks f8/h8; bishops c3/e6; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c6/c7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop d4→c3, captures bishop. 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: 5r1r/p1pk4/1pp1bn2/q7/3B1P2/2bP3P/PPPQ2P1/1K2R2R w - - 0 23

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