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

Rating 587 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g3; rooks d1/h1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks d7/f8; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d7→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook h1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q1r1k/p2r1pp1/1p2p2p/8/4n3/2N3Q1/PPP2PPP/1K1R3R w - - 0 25

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