Chess Puzzle #10Eb8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1245 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook f1; pawns a2/b2/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook d1; bishop h6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook f1→d1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be3+ — bishop h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen h4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1p4p1/p3Qp1b/4p3/7q/8/PP4P1/3r1RK1 w - - 3 38

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