Chess Puzzle #HHqaD — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1424 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e5; rooks d1/h1; bishops b2/f1; knight g1; pawns b3/c2/d2/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rooks a1/d8; bishop e6; knight b4; pawns b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxa1 — bishop b2→a1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen a8→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc2# — queen a2→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q2r2k1/1p3ppp/4b3/4Q3/1n6/1P2PP2/1BPP2PP/rK1R1BNR w - - 3 20

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