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

Rating 842 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h4; queen e5; bishop a1; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/d3/g4/h3. Black: king g6; queen e2; rook a8; knight f1; pawns a3/b5/c5/d4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen e5→e2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook a8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nh7 (knight g5→h7).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h8→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/8/6k1/1pp1Q1N1/3p2PK/pP1P3P/P3q3/B4n2 w - - 8 37

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