Chess Puzzle #2Kc8V — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 886 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/g7; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f3/f4/f7/h4. Black: king e7; queen b4; rooks a8/h8; knights b8/c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen b4→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: rn5r/pp2kPR1/2p1p3/3p3p/1qnP1P1P/2NQ1P2/PPP1N3/2KR4 w - - 1 18

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