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

Rating 627 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop h4; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/g2/h2/h6. Black: king c8; queen d5; rooks e8/h8; bishops a7/e6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen d5→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen a2→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/bp3p2/p3b2P/2pq4/3pN2B/P2P4/1PPQ2PP/2KR3R w - - 2 22

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