Chess Puzzle #271RO — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1060 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen a5; rooks e1/h1; bishop f1; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks d1/f8; bishop b3; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook e1→d1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c5→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c2→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp3ppp/5n2/QNq5/P4P2/1b5P/1P4P1/1K1rRB1R w - - 1 24

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