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

Rating 908 · Beginner · back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks b1/g3; knight d4; pawns a3/b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks d8/f8; knight h6; pawns a4/b3/c4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb1+ — queen e4→b1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1 (queen h6→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen b1→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/5ppp/4p2n/4P2Q/p1pNq3/PpP3R1/1P3PPP/1R4K1 w - - 2 25

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