Chess Puzzle #1eq9N — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1495 · Intermediate · clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen b6; rook g1; knight b3; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen e4; rook e8; bishop c6; pawns f6/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen b6→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen e4→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg2 (rook g1→g2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1# — rook e8→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/8/1Qb2pk1/8/4q1p1/1N6/P4PPP/6RK w - - 7 40

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