Chess Puzzle #59e2i — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1315 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen e4; rooks d1/e1; bishops c6/e3; knight a4; pawns a2/d3/f2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks b8/h8; bishop c3; knight e5; pawns a7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight a4→c3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb2+ — rook b8→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d2→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc3# — queen a5→c3, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/p1p1kpp1/2B1p3/q3n2p/N3Q3/2bPB3/P2K1P2/3RR3 w - - 0 27

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