Chess Puzzle #05oox — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1220 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; bishop b6; pawns a5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; bishop d3; pawns d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc7 — bishop b6→c7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen g5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qe1# — queen e3→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/1BQ4p/P2p2q1/8/3b1P2/6PP/6K1 w - - 1 34

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