Chess Puzzle #0FY0C — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 968 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen d1; rooks a7/h1; bishop f1; knights b6/g1; pawns d4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king d8; queen c6; rook h8; bishops b7/f8; knight b8; pawns c5/d7/e7/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen c6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen d1→h5).
  3. Best move: Qxh5# — queen h6→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1n1k1b1r/Rb1pp1pp/1Nq5/2p2p2/3P4/4P1PK/5PP1/3Q1BNR w - - 1 20

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