Chess Puzzle #Ouqb5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2021 · Expert · attraction, double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen c5; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b5/c4/f2/g2/g4. Black: king c8; queen e4; rooks d8/e8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen e4→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king e1→e2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxc4# — bishop e6→c4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Bxc4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/pp3ppp/2n1b3/1PQ5/2P1q1P1/5N2/P3BPP1/R3K2R w KQ - 1 20

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