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

Rating 899 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a5; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knight f2; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop e7; knights e5/e8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a5→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qa8# — queen a7→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2krn2r/pppqb3/3p2p1/Q3np2/8/P2PB2P/1PP1BN2/2KR3R b - - 1 19

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