Chess Puzzle #8eBDf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1439 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f4; rooks e6/f7; bishop d3; knight d1; pawns c2/e4/g2/h3. Black: king c7; queen d4; rooks d8/h8; bishop a3; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king c7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook e6→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ba6# — bishop d3→a6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Ba6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/ppkn1R1p/2p1R1p1/8/3qPQ2/b2B3P/2P3P1/3NK3 b - - 3 26

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