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

Rating 617 · Beginner · endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook a1; bishop g3; knight b5; pawns b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook a2; bishop d7; pawns b6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook a1→a2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen g6→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen b4→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen b1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3b1ppp/1p4q1/1N6/1Q6/6B1/rP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 25

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