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

Rating 1509 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c6; rooks d1/d3; bishop b5; pawns a2/b4/c3/d5/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen a3; rooks g4/h8; bishop e5; pawns b6/c7/f6/f7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb4+ — rook g4→b4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxb4 (pawn c3→b4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/2p2p2/1pQ2p2/1B1Pb2p/1P4r1/q1PR2P1/P6P/1K1R4 w - - 7 30

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