Chess Puzzle #4xfcB — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1124 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks b1/f1; bishop c4; pawns c5/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; knights d5/d6; pawns b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight d6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
  3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen a8→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/Qp1q1ppp/2pnp3/2PnP3/2BP4/7P/5PP1/1R3RK1 b - - 0 23

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