Chess Puzzle #2Jpl0 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1281 · Intermediate · master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f2; rooks d1/f1; bishops e2/e7; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/d8; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen a5→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen a2→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/pp2Bpp1/4b2p/q3p3/8/2n5/PPP1BQPP/1K1R1R2 w - - 0 18

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