Chess Puzzle #1P42c — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 865 · Beginner · fork, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks c1/e1; bishop b1; knights c5/d4; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a3; rook e2; bishop d3; pawns a6/c4/e4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen a3→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen c1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/6p1/p6p/2N2Q2/2pNp3/q2b4/4rPPP/1BR1R1K1 w - - 2 33

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