Chess Puzzle #0cYu8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 809 · Beginner · back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/d3; bishop d1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/h6; pawns a5/b7/d6/e5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh6 — queen d2→h6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qe1# — queen f2→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p6/1q1p2pb/p3p2p/2P5/2NR4/PP1Q1PPP/2RB2K1 w - - 2 25

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