Chess Puzzle #JTBL8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1488 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f2; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knight g1; pawns a3/c2/e5/g2/h5. Black: king e8; queen c3; rook h8; bishop f5; knights c5/g8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf5 — bishop d3→f5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight c5→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen c3→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k1nr/pp4pp/4p3/2npPb1P/8/P1qB4/2P2QP1/2KR2NR w k - 2 21

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