Chess Puzzle #8tpN9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1434 · Intermediate · Anastasia’s mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen b7; rook a1; bishop g2; pawns a5/b2/c3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen c5; rooks d4/h8; knight c4; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd2+ — knight c4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king b1→a2).
  3. Best move: Qxa5# — queen c5→a5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

Anastasia’s mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxa5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3k3r/pQ3ppp/4p3/P1q5/2nr4/2P3P1/1P3PBP/RK6 w - - 1 27

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