Chess Puzzle #0f5E7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 938 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; bishop d2; knight b3; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b4; rook a1; bishop d6; pawns d4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa1 — knight b3→a1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen b4→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop d2→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen b1→c1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 7k/6pp/3bQp2/4p3/1q1p4/1N6/3B1PPP/r5K1 w - - 11 38

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