Chess Puzzle #2CSd0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1084 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen b6; rooks d1/h1; bishop a7; knight b3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f4/g5. Black: king e8; queen a4; rook h8; bishops c3/d7; knight e5; pawns b7/d6/e7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen a4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/Bp1bp2p/1Q1p2p1/4n1P1/q3PP2/1Nb5/P1P5/2KR3R w k - 1 24

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