Chess Puzzle #3eip0 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1314 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen e5; rooks d1/h1; knights d2/h3; pawns b3/c2/d3/d5/f3/g4/h5. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks b7/b8; bishop a6; knight d4; pawns a5/c6/c7/f4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxa4 — pawn b3→a4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb2+ — rook b7→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king a2→a1).
  3. Best move: Nxc2# — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1rp3pp/b1p5/p2PQ2P/q2n1pP1/1P1P1P1N/K1PN4/3R3R w - - 0 27

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