Chess Puzzle #2JnAf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1307 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/e1; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen f6; rooks d8/g8; bishops b7/h6; knight f5; pawns b6/c7/d7/f4/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop b7→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a4→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qxc7# — queen a7→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2r1/1bpp3p/1p3q1b/1N3n2/Q2P1p2/5N2/PPP2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 8 20

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