Chess Puzzle #35Z59 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1098 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d4; rook a1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f5; rook f8; bishop g3; pawns a7/b7/c7/f3/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen h3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/ppp3p1/8/5q2/3Q4/5pb1/PPP2P1P/R6K w - - 0 34

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