Chess Puzzle #1ZQ5r — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 921 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen b3; rooks d1/d3; pawns a4/b2/d5/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen h4; rooks d8/g5; pawns a7/b6/f5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen g3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/p4pkp/1p4p1/3P1pr1/P3P2q/1Q1R1P1P/1P4PK/3R4 w - - 2 29

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