Chess Puzzle #12pV0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 935 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; rooks a1/g1; knights c5/e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4/h2. Black: king g8; rooks d5/d8; bishop h5; knight e3; pawns e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb3 — knight c5→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d5→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook g1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5ppp/4p3/2NrP2b/4NP2/2P1n3/PP5P/R1K3R1 w - - 3 25

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