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

Rating 528 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks c1/e1; bishops d4/h1; pawns a3/b4/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook e8; bishop h3; knights d5/h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook c1→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp4pp/2p1qp2/3nP2n/1P1B4/PQ4Pb/5P1P/2R1R1KB w - - 0 23

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