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

Rating 1290 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knight g3; pawns b2/e4/f3/f6/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/c8; knight d7; pawns d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc1 — bishop d2→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook d1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen b6→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/3n1ppp/1q3P2/4p3/3pP3/3Q1PN1/1P1B3P/1K1R1B1R w - - 2 25

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