Chess Puzzle #5C3oW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1312 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a4; queen e6; rooks c8/h1; pawns a3/b4/d7/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen d4; rooks f3/f8; pawns a6/b6/d5/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b5+ — pawn b6→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king a4→a5).
  3. Best move: Rxa3# — rook f3→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2R2r1k/3P2pp/pp2Q1p1/3p4/KP1q2P1/P4r1P/8/7R w - - 0 33

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