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

Rating 1259 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen b7; rook g1; pawns a6/c3/d4/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook f2; bishop d3; pawns c6/d5/e5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be4+ — bishop d3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Rg2 (rook g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Rf1# — rook f2→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Rf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1Q5p/P1p2pp1/2qpp3/3P4/2Pb4/5r1P/6RK w - - 0 35

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