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

Rating 1414 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop b2; knights b5/c3; pawns c2/e4/g4. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook f8; bishop g7; knights b4/g3; pawns a5/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa2+ — queen c4→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen a2→b2, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p2ppb1/3p2p1/pN6/1nq1P1P1/2N3n1/1BPQ4/1K1R3R w - - 1 23

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