Chess Puzzle #19K9k — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 998 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rook e1; knight g4; pawns a3/b2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d4; rooks d2/f2; pawns a7/b7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight g4→f2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen d4→f2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen f2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp4pp/8/4p3/3q2N1/P6P/1P1r1rP1/2Q1R1K1 w - - 0 36

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