Chess Puzzle #2VnQW — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1198 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop h6; pawns a4/b3/c2/c3. Black: king h8; queen d7; rook e8; bishop h3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen f3→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen d7→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen g4→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/pp1q1p1p/2n4B/2pp4/P7/1PP2Q1b/2P5/R4RK1 w - - 0 21

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