Chess Puzzle #01lcr — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1688 · Advanced · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen h4; rooks d1/h1; bishops a5/d3; pawns c2/d4/e3/f3/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks b2/c8; bishop b5; knight f6; pawns a4/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen h4→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd3+ — queen a3→d3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe3# — queen d3→e3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5p1p/4pnpP/Bb1p4/p2P3Q/q2BPP2/1rPK2P1/3R3R w - - 5 25

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