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

Rating 1401 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks b7/b8; bishops f5/g7; pawns e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxa3 — pawn b2→a3, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b7→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxb1 (bishop d3→b1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxb1# — rook b8→b1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxb1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1r2ppbp/6p1/3P1b2/8/q1PB4/PP1Q2PP/2KR3R w - - 0 22

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