Chess Puzzle #0nnzo — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 701 · Beginner · advanced pawn, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen f2; rooks d1/f3; bishop b1; pawns a2/b3/c3/c4/e3/e4/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a6/f8; knight e7; pawns a3/b5/c7/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qb2 (queen f2→b2).
  3. Best move: axb2# — pawn a3→b2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with axb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2p1n1pp/r4p2/1pq1p3/2P1P1PP/pPP1PR2/P4Q2/KB1R4 w - - 0 30

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