Chess Puzzle #2pg1K — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1191 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king d1; queen f4; rooks d2/h1; knight g1; pawns a3/c3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/c1; bishop g6; pawns a7/c7/d6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxc1 — king d1→c1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e7→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxc3# — queen e1→c3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1p1qp2/3p2b1/7p/5Q1P/P1P5/3R2P1/2rK2NR w - - 1 24

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