Chess Puzzle #0WU5O — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 680 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e3; rooks g3/h3; knight h4; pawns a2/b3/d3/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; pawns a5/c5/c6/d6/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh6 — queen e3→h6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen e5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen h6→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen a1→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/3b2pp/2pp1p2/p1p1qP2/4P2N/1P1PQ1RR/P5PP/7K w - - 0 29

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