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

Rating 1145 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; rooks b1/b7; bishop d6; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/c5/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks a8/e8; knights e7/f4; pawns a6/d5/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen h5→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen e2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1R2n1p1/p2B3p/2Pp1p1Q/3P1n2/2P1qN2/P5PP/1R3K2 w - - 2 25

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