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

Rating 1479 · Intermediate · clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen g2; rooks e6/g1; bishops b5/c1; knight e8; pawns a4/b2/c2/f3/h3. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks a8/f6; knights b4/d5; pawns a5/b7/c5/d4/f5/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook e6→f6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight d5→c3, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa2# — queen f7→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qa2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3N2k/1p3q2/4Rr1p/pBpn1pp1/Pn1p4/5P1P/1PP3Q1/1KB3R1 w - - 6 30

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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