Chess Puzzle #J0Tg1 — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1486 · Intermediate · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen h7; rooks d1/h1; bishops d2/e2; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/f2/g2. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks a8/e8; bishops f5/g7; knights c6/e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop e2→d3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen f6→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3rk2/ppp2pbQ/2np1qp1/4nb2/2P5/2N1PN2/PP1BBPP1/2KR3R w - - 12 18

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