Chess Puzzle #3OdQS — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1460 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishop c5; knight f5; pawns a7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen d4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1# — rook e8→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p1p2ppp/2Q5/2b2n2/3q4/8/PPP2PPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 1 14

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