Chess Puzzle #1Varn — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/b3/d3/f2/g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishop e5; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h5→h6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c7→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen c2→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppqn1ppp/4p3/3pb1PP/8/1P1PBQ2/PP2NP2/1K1R3R w - - 1 19

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