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

Rating 1448 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop f4; pawns a3/c2/d3/f3/g5/h4. Black: king c8; queen c3; bishop f7; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen e2→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight d4→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen c3→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/ppp2bp1/4p2p/6P1/3n1B1P/P1qP1P2/2P1Q3/2KR3R w - - 1 26

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