Chess Puzzle #8VFLQ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1618 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen d3; rooks e1/h1; knights c3/h6; pawns a2/b2/d4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; knight g7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh7 — queen d3→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bg3+ — bishop d6→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king f2→f1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3rk2/ppq2pnp/3b1p1N/3p4/3P3P/2NQ1P2/PP3KP1/4R2R w - - 8 24

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