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

Rating 2230 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen b5; rooks d1/f8; knight e2; pawns b3/c2/g4/h3. Black: king e5; queen a2; bishop c5; knight e4; pawns a7/e6/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight e2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen a2→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Nxc3# — knight e4→c3, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5R2/p6p/4p3/1Qb1k3/4n1P1/1P5P/q1P1N3/2KR4 w - - 6 38

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