Chess Puzzle #7tteV — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g4; rooks d1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks c8/h8; bishops a3/d7; knights e5/g6; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook d1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen b6→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1p1b1pp1/pq2p1n1/4n3/4N1Q1/b4N2/PP3PPP/1KBR1B1R w k - 0 17

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