Chess Puzzle #1LDE6 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 976 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook f8; knight f4; pawns a6/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook f1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→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: 5rk1/1p1q1pp1/p1pp3p/4p3/4Pn2/1BPPQP1P/PP3P1K/R4R2 w - - 5 20

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