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

Rating 506 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook a1; bishop c1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops e6/f8; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight d4→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen e3→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/1pp2p1p/p3bP2/8/3N4/4Q3/PPP2PPP/R1B3K1 w kq - 1 16

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