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

Rating 1129 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king e3; queen c5; rook a4; bishop f1; pawns a2/b2/c2/c6/f2/g2/h5. Black: king b8; queen g7; rooks d8/h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f3/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg2 — pawn f3→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen c5→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen a7→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/ppp2pqp/2P5/2Q2p1P/R7/4Kp2/PPP2PP1/5B2 b - - 0 26

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