Chess Puzzle #16HE0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1037 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks d1/d2; pawns a2/b3/d6/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks d8/e5; pawns a5/e6/f4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen c7→e7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen h4→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/2Q3pp/3Pp3/p3r3/5p1q/1P3P2/P2R2PP/3R2K1 w - - 0 31

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