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

Rating 1495 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks c1/h1; bishops g2/h2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c4/e3/f2/f4/h3. Black: king c8; queen a5; rooks d8/e8; bishop g7; knights b4/d7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa3+ — queen a5→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qa2# — queen a3→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qa2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/pppn1pb1/3p3p/q5p1/1nP2P2/P1N1P2P/1P1Q1PBB/K1R4R w - - 1 22

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