Chess Puzzle #K23cC — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2248 · Expert · endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king d3; queen e3; rook e2; bishop c2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/h3. Black: king g7; queen c1; rook g1; pawns a6/b4/d6/e4/g6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e3→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook g1→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd1 (bishop c2→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qc3# — queen c1→c3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/6k1/p2p2p1/3P4/1pP1p3/1P1KQ2P/P1B1R3/2q3r1 w - - 0 47

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