Chess Puzzle #095ue — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1078 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; bishop b2; knight a4; pawns a3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g6; rook a8; knight e2; pawns a5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa8 — queen d5→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen g6→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop b2→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen b1→c1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/7k/6qp/p2Q4/N7/P7/1B2n1PP/7K w - - 5 37

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