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

Rating 1400 · Intermediate · Boden’s mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king d7; rooks a8/c8; bishops e7/f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rhg1 — rook h1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c8→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ba3# — bishop e7→a3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

Boden’s mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Ba3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r5/1p1kbpp1/p3p3/3pPb1p/5P2/2P1B2P/PP1N2P1/2KR3R w - - 4 17

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