Chess Puzzle #J2Jlx — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1723 · Advanced · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king a2; queen a5; rooks g1/g3; bishop c3; knight d1; pawns a3/b2/c6/d4. Black: king g7; queen c2; rooks b3/b5; pawns c4/c7/d5/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc7 — queen a5→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa3+ — rook b3→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa3 (king a2→a3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb3# — queen c2→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qb3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/2p2pk1/2P3p1/Qr1p3p/2pP4/PrB3R1/KPq5/3N2R1 w - - 5 34

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