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

Rating 1142 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen c8; rook b4; pawns b5/g3. Black: king h7; rook h2; knights f5/g5; pawns b7/d5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen c8→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne3+ — knight f5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
  3. Best move: Nf3# — knight g5→f3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/1p3p1k/6p1/1P1p1nn1/1R6/6P1/7r/5K2 w - - 0 39

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