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

Rating 932 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishop h3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/h2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f6; knight a6; pawns a7/b4/c6/d6/e6/h4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Nb1 (knight c3→b1).
  3. Best move: Bxb2# — bishop f6→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Bxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3k3/n1pppb2/q7/1p2P2p/P1NP3B/1PPQ3P/2KR1R2 w - - 0 21

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