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

Rating 711 · Beginner · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/d7; knight e6; pawns a4/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks d8/f8; knight d6; pawns a6/d5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen h6→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen f3→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/3R1p2/p2nN1pq/3p3p/P7/5Q2/1P3PPP/2R3K1 w - - 1 29

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