Chess Puzzle #33JZz — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1480 · Intermediate · back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen h8; rook d1; knights b7/h7; pawns a6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen b2; rook f6; bishops a8/f8; knight c1; pawns a7/b5/c7/d7/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen h8→f6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen b2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen e2→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: b1k2b1Q/pNpp3N/P4rp1/1p3p2/8/8/1q3PPP/2nR1K2 w - - 0 32

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