Chess Puzzle #5YJNZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1423 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; knight f8; pawns b6/c5/e3/g2/h2. Black: king a8; queen c2; rook c3; pawns b7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a1→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
  3. Best move: Qa8# — queen a7→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k4N2/1p5p/1P4p1/2P5/8/2r1P3/2q3PP/Q5K1 b - - 2 40

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