Chess Puzzle #q5zEs — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1997 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/d3; bishop g3; pawns a4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d4; rooks g8/h8; knights b7/d5; pawns a5/b6/c7/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen d4→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  3. Best move: Rxc7# — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k3rr/1np2p2/Qp2p2p/p2n2p1/P2q4/3R2B1/5PPP/2R3K1 b - - 3 25

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