Chess Puzzle #1PQ1N — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 655 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d3/h1; bishop c4; pawns b3/c2/d4/f2/h2/h3. Black: king c8; queen a2; rooks f5/h8; bishop c3; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxa2 — king b1→a2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra5+ — rook f5→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a2→b1).
  3. Best move: Ra1# — rook a5→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Ra1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pp3pp1/2p1p3/5r2/2BP4/1PbR3P/q1P1QP1P/1K5R w - - 0 24

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