Chess Puzzle #Qpd6g — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1903 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks a1/c1; bishop a6; pawns a3/b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen d4; rooks d8/h8; bishops d6/e6; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 10 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen b5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen c6→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pp1n1ppp/B1pbbn2/1Q6/1P1q4/P5P1/5P1P/R1R3K1 b - - 1 20

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