Medium Chess Puzzle # 0094

Solve this medium chess puzzle and improve your chess games through improvement of your chess strategies and chess tactics.

Puzzle No : 0094

Difficulty level : medium

Description : Mate in 2 moves

Next Move : Black

Player level : Intermediate

Medium chess puzzle 0094

At this puzzle, next move is by Black. The objective of the puzzle is to mate in 2 moves.

See the interactive solution at the puzzle page

This is the initial board position of medium chess puzzle 0094.

Move by black

your queen sacrifices itself to attract the opponent’s rook to g2.

Move by white

this is a zugzwang move as this forces opponent’s rook to respond and this is the only legal move available.

Move by black

your rook moves to a1 and checkmate. opponent’s king can’t move since it is blocked by friendly pieces. opponent’s rook also can’t block the check since it is pinned to their king by your bishop. this is how you can mate in 2 moves.

Ganesh

Based on the objective of the puzzle, you have to make the right moves. Following are the right moves

Qxg2+ - Your queen sacrifices itself to attract the opponent’s rook to g2.
Rxg2 - This is a zugzwang move as this forces opponent’s rook to respond and this is the only legal move available.
Ra1# - Your rook moves to a1 and checkmate. opponent’s king can’t move since it is blocked by friendly pieces. Opponent’s rook also can’t block the check since it is pinned to their king by your bishop. This is how you can mate in 2 moves.
For right move - You utilised the opportunity effectively. You are good observer
For wrong move - You could have sacrificed your queen and had a mate in 2 moves