Chess Puzzle #abFX4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2078 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen e6; rooks a1/b1; knight e4; pawns a2/d6/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen b4; rooks c2/f8; bishop b5; pawns a7/b7/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxc2 — king d2→c2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: d3+ — pawn d4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king c2→c1).
  3. Best move: Rf1# — rook f8→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp4pp/3PQ3/1b6/1q1pN1P1/7P/P1rK4/RR6 w - - 2 29

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