Chess Puzzle #BCUvs — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1472 · Intermediate · attraction, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a5/c2; bishop f1; pawns d4/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks b1/b8; pawns e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rac5 — rook a5→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook b1→f1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen b7→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1q3ppp/4p3/R7/3P4/6P1/2RQPP1P/1r3BK1 w - - 4 35

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