Chess Puzzle #46z8L — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1303 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b3; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops d2/g4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2. Black: king b8; queen c5; rooks d8/e8; bishop f4; pawns a7/b5/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen c5→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka3 (king b3→a3).
  3. Best move: Qa4# — queen c4→a4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qa4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/p1p2ppp/8/1pq5/5bB1/1K6/PPPB1PP1/R2QR3 w - - 4 21

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