Chess Puzzle #0CvfS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 949 · Beginner · endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks c8/e2; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d5; pawns a6/b7/e4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d5→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/1p3ppk/p6p/3qP3/4p3/4P3/PP2RPPP/6K1 w - - 1 23

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