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

Rating 2267 · Expert · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen b3; rooks c1/e1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2. Black: king b8; queen f4; rook h8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/f6/h5. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen f4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qd3# — queen e3→d3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/pp6/5p2/2b4p/5q2/1QN5/PP4B1/2R1RK2 w - - 0 31

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