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

Rating 962 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g5/h5. Black: king g7; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; knights c4/e7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. 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: r4r2/pp2npkp/3p2p1/3Pp1PP/1qn5/2NQ1B2/PPP2P2/2KR3R w - - 3 20

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