Chess Puzzle #2PaZq — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 978 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks b1/e1; bishop a3; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen g7; rooks d8/h8; knights d5/g8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/f6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8# — queen e4→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nr/p1pp2qp/1p2pp2/3n4/2PPQ3/B4N2/P1P2PPP/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 17

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