Chess Puzzle #1CX9Q — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1113 · Beginner · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/f1; knight b1; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king a7; queen b5; rooks d8/e8; knight f4; pawns b7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen e4→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen b5→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd1# — rook d8→d1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr3/kp6/7p/1q6/4Qn2/8/P4PPP/RN3RK1 w - - 3 29

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