Chess Puzzle #0rAZT — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1309 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g4; rooks d1/h1; bishops b2/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/f8; bishop d7; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen a5→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Rxc2# — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp1bpp1p/3p2p1/q4P2/1n2P1QP/1PN5/PBP3P1/1K1R1B1R w - - 1 17

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