Chess Puzzle #4s5VH — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1121 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c3/f1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/e2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; bishop c2; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d6→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp1n1pp/2nq1p2/8/3N4/2B1Q2P/PPb1PPP1/R3KB1R w KQ - 2 14

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