Chess Puzzle #2wcYd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1217 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; knight d4; pawns a2/b4/c3/c5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e4; pawns a6/d5/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen f1→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen e4→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen e2→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen b1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/6p1/p4p1p/2Pp4/1P1Nq3/2P5/P5PP/5Q1K w - - 4 31

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