Chess Puzzle #4U2xL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1399 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen b5; rooks b1/h1; knight c5; pawns b2/c3/d4. Black: king b7; queen c2; rooks a8/g2; knight a5; pawns b6/c7/d5/e6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ka7 — king b7→a7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen b5→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
  3. Best move: Nd7# — knight c5→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/1kp2p2/1p2p3/nQNp3p/3P4/2P5/KPq3r1/1R5R b - - 5 31

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