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

Rating 1548 · Intermediate · balestra mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen c6; rooks d1/h1; bishop g5; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen c6→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c8→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ba3# — bishop e7→a3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

balestra mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Ba3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p3bppp/2Q2n2/4p1B1/8/2Pq3P/PP1N1PP1/2KR3R w - - 2 16

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