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

Rating 1563 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen e4; rooks c1/h1; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/e3/h5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks f2/f8; pawns a6/b5/c4/d3/e5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc3 — king d2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen c7→a5, gives check. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b2→b4).
  3. Best move: Qxa3# — queen a5→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2q3p1/p7/1p2p1NP/2p1Q3/P2pP3/1P1K1r2/2R4R w - - 0 31

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