Chess Puzzle #2U3ln — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1008 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/d4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g4/h5. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; knight c4; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen c5→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: r3k2r/5pp1/p3p2p/1pqpP2P/2nR1PP1/2NQ4/PPP5/2KR4 w kq - 6 23

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