Chess Puzzle #4Tdti — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1247 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g5; rooks d1/h1; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h7. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks d8/f2; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/c5/d6/e6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h8=Q — pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb2+ — rook f2→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Nc2# — knight d4→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Nc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/2q4P/3ppN2/2p3Q1/1pPn4/p7/PP3rP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 30

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