Chess Puzzle #125R2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1310 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop b5; knight e1; pawns c6/e4/f2. Black: king f7; queen g8; rooks a3/g6; bishop g2; pawns e5/f4/f6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg2 — knight e1→g2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3+ — rook a3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Rxg2# — rook g6→g2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6q1/5k2/2P2prp/1B2p3/4Pp2/r7/5Pb1/2RQNR1K w - - 0 29

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