Chess Puzzle #1T340 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1130 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a6; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king b8; queen e5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen e5→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a6→a7, captures pawn, 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: 1k1r1bnr/p1pp1ppp/Qp6/1N2q3/8/4PP2/PPP2P1P/R1B1K2R b KQ - 3 12

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