Chess Puzzle #2Bdy3 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1433 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks f1/g1; bishops g4/h6; pawns a2/c2. Black: king f7; queen b8; rooks b3/g8; bishops f6/g6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb3 — pawn a2→b3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb3+ — queen b8→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc2# — queen b3→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1q4r1/p3pk2/2p2bbB/3p4/5QB1/1r6/P1P5/1K3RR1 w - - 0 33

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