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

Rating 782 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook e4; bishop d7; pawns a4/b2/c3/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen g5; rook a8; bishop d6; knight h3; pawns a5/b6/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh3 — queen f3→h3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen g5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e4→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen c1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/2pB2pp/1p1b4/p5q1/P3R3/2P2Q1n/1P3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 27

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