Chess Puzzle #1V8DZ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1336 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knights d2/h4; pawns a2/b4/c3/c5/e4/f2/g3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/g8; bishops c8/e7; knight b8; pawns a3/b6/d7/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb6 — pawn c5→b6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c7→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bc2 (bishop d3→c2).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen c3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnb1k1r1/2qpbp2/1p2p3/2P5/1P2P2N/p1PBQ1P1/P2N1P2/2KR3R w q - 0 18

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