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

Rating 2129 · Expert · intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen b3; rooks d1/e2; bishop c4; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/d3/g2. Black: king h8; queen h2; rooks d7/f8; bishop f3; pawns a7/b6/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king f1→f2).
  3. Best move: Rxf3# — rook f8→f3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p1pr2pp/1p6/2N5/2B5/1Q1P1b2/PP2R1Pq/3R1K2 w - - 0 23

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