Chess Puzzle #1Wmx4 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 824 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g7; rooks d1/g4; bishop g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen f2; rooks a8/f6; bishop d6; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook d1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f6→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k4/p1p3Q1/1p1bprB1/8/6R1/8/PPP2qPP/3R3K w - - 5 24

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