Chess Puzzle #9CrR0 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1432 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a6; rooks b1/e1; bishop b7; pawns a4/b2/c3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks b8/f8; bishop h3; pawns a7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook b1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/pBp3pp/Q7/8/P7/2P3Pb/1P3q1P/1R2R2K w - - 1 27

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