Chess Puzzle #1Zukh — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1026 · Beginner · clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen h3; rook a3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4. Black: king b7; queen d4; rooks c7/c8; bishop c4; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bd3+ — bishop c4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook a3→d3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rc1# — rook c7→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/pkr2p2/1p2p1p1/3pP1Np/2bq1P2/R1P4Q/PP6/1K6 w - - 0 30

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