Chess Puzzle #1VFk0 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 757 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f2; bishop g1; knights b1/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3/g4. Black: king b8; queen d7; rook d8; bishops e6/f8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f4/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg3 — pawn f4→g3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen f2→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qa8# — queen a7→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b2/pppqn3/3pb1p1/4p3/4PpP1/3P1PN1/PPP2QK1/1N4B1 b - - 1 22

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