Chess Puzzle #3LsQ8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1069 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a6; rook h1; bishop d4; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f3/h3. Black: king b8; queen h5; rook h8; bishop f8; knight f6; pawns a7/c5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a6→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qc7# — queen a7→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3b1r/p4ppp/Q3pn2/1Np4q/3B4/5P1P/PPP2P2/2K4R b - - 1 17

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