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

Rating 1344 · Intermediate · attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks c7/f1; pawns b3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks a2/d8; pawns b6/e6/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen f4→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen b5→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1# — rook d8→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/2R3pp/1p2pp2/1q6/4PQ2/1P3P2/r5PP/5RK1 w - - 0 25

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