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

Rating 1175 · Beginner · advanced pawn, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king c1; queen g6; rooks d1/g4; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks a8/f5; bishop f2; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e2/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop c3→e5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be3+ — bishop f2→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Rd2 (rook d1→d2).
  3. Best move: e1=Q# — pawn e2→e1, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, promotion, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with e1=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/ppp3p1/6Q1/3pqr2/6R1/2B4P/PPP1pb1P/2KR4 w - - 0 23

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