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

Rating 769 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/e1; bishop b2; knight e4; pawns b3/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e6; bishop c5; knight b4; pawns a5/c6/c7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook c1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e7→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p1qppp/2p1r3/p1b5/1n1pN3/1P1P1Q2/1BP2PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 20

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