Chess Puzzle #1oC3U — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 488 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks d4/g1; bishops e2/e3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks c8/g8; bishops d7/e7; knight f6; pawns a5/b5/d6/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight c3→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2# — queen c7→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k1r1/2qbbp2/3ppn1Q/pp6/3RP3/P1N1B3/1PP1BPPP/2K3R1 w - - 0 17

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