Chess Puzzle #6W6Ye — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1451 · Intermediate · endgame, intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen e5; rook h1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b3/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen b4; rook d4; knight d1; pawns a6/b7/e7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook h1→d1, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen b4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
  3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d4→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1kp3/p5p1/4Q3/1q1rB3/1P3P2/P1P3PP/K2n3R w - - 1 26

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