Chess Puzzle #3sFTs — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1088 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen e1; rooks e2/e6; knight d7; pawns a2/b2/c2. Black: king g8; queen f1; rooks d4/f8; knight h6; pawns a5/b4/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d4→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd1 (queen e1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen f1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3N3p/4R1pn/p2p4/1p1r4/8/PPP1R3/1K2Qq2 w - - 8 32

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