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

Rating 1001 · Beginner · back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h8; rooks a1/e1; bishop d5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c2; bishops e3/e6; knight e4; pawns a7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen c2→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen f2→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7Q/p3kp1p/4b3/3B4/4n3/4b3/PPq2PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 1 18

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