Chess Puzzle #0SQs0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 828 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; knight b5; pawns a4/b3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g5; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen c2→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen e2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1k/4p1pp/pN1pP1q1/P7/1P6/2Q3PP/7K w - - 0 38

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