Chess Puzzle #3mIOS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1046 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks f1/g1; bishop d1; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/e4/f3/h2. Black: king b8; queen b4; rook c8; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c3/d6/g6. White is ahead by 10 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight. 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: 1kr5/1p6/p2p2p1/4n1Q1/1q1PP3/1Pp2P2/P1P1N2P/2KB1RR1 w - - 1 27

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