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

Rating 1524 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop d5; knight f5; pawns b2/c3/d3/e4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e8/f8; bishop a3; knight h7; pawns a5/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen f6→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen c3→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/1pp2ppn/5q1p/p2B1N2/4PQP1/b1PP3P/1P6/2KR3R w - - 0 22

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