Chess Puzzle #24vLB — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 905 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook a1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook f8; bishop e3; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen e4→e3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d6→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen e3→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp3pp/3q4/8/4Q3/4b3/PP4PP/RN4K1 w - - 0 20

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