Chess Puzzle #Lny7P — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · back rank mate, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/c4; bishop b2; pawns b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen b7→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen a2→a1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa1 (bishop b2→a1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1# — rook d8→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pQ2bppp/4p3/8/2R5/1P6/qBP2PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 20

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