Chess Puzzle #9LF7A — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1579 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/e1; bishop a6; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/f2/g3. Black: king b8; queen d5; rooks d8/g6; bishops a8/d6; pawns a7/b6/d7/e6/h3/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg3 — bishop d6→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook d8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: bk1r4/p2p4/Bp1bp1rp/3q4/1PQ1N3/P5Pp/5P2/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 29

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