Chess Puzzle #fr2WI — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1984 · Advanced · double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen e3; rooks c1/c4; bishop g2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d3/f2/h3. Black: king c8; queen a3; rooks d8/h8; bishops f5/f6; knight d4; pawns a7/b4/c7/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxa3 — pawn b2→a3, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2+ — knight d4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
  3. Best move: Nxa3# — knight c2→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/p1p3p1/4pb1p/5b2/1pRnN3/q2PQ2P/PP3PB1/K1R5 w - - 0 27

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