Chess Puzzle #Lb0FP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2234 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; bishop a2; knight d6; pawns a3/b2/d3/f6/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen g6; rooks a8/g8; bishops d7/f8; knight e3; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight e3→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen e5→a5, gives check. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b7→b6).
  3. Best move: Qxb6# — queen a5→b6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxb6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k1br1/1p1b1p2/p1pN1Pqp/4Q3/8/P2Pn1P1/BP5P/R4RK1 b - - 2 22

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