Chess Puzzle #2vZwi — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1222 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e1; pawns e4/g7. Black: king a4; rook a2; bishop a3; knight d2; pawns b3/c6/e5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen e1→d2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook a2→d2, captures queen. Opponent replies g8=Q (pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1# — rook d2→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/6P1/2p5/4p3/k3P3/bp6/r2n4/1K2Q3 w - - 1 55

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