Chess Puzzle #5D5p1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1091 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a6; rook f1; bishop a3; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f7; rooks e8/h8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/c6/e5/f4/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop a3→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Qxc6# — queen a6→c6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/p2n1q1p/Q1p2n2/4p1p1/4Pp2/BPN5/P1P3PP/5R1K b - - 1 22

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