Chess Puzzle #1L4S9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1047 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks c1/e4; bishop d1; knight a1; pawns a4/c4/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/h1; bishops c7/e6; pawns a6/c5/f3/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh1 — king g1→h1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen g4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen h3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2b4p/p3b3/2p5/P1P1R1q1/2Q2pP1/5P2/N1RB2Kr w - - 1 31

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