Chess Puzzle #1XJ1z — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 648 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook a1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a8; bishops c5/e4; pawns a6/b6/c7/d6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen e7→e4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen h5→f3).
  3. Best move: Qxf3# — queen e4→f3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p1q1p1/pp1p4/2b4Q/4b3/2N3P1/PPPB3P/R6K w - - 0 24

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