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

Rating 1408 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d4; rook h1; bishop d1; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen a5; rook c2; bishop f5; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/e7/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop d1→c2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen a5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d4→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen e1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p2p1kp/p4pp1/q2Pnb2/3Q4/8/PPr2PPP/1K1B2NR w - - 0 21

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