Chess Puzzle #5AIW7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1155 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rook d1; bishops b3/g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c8/f8; knight d2; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop g7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3+ — knight d2→b3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies axb3 (pawn a2→b3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc2# — queen c6→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/5pBp/p1q1p1p1/1p6/5Q2/1B6/PPPn2PP/2KR4 w - - 0 23

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