Chess Puzzle #38ZFK — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1064 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a7; pawns a5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f4; knight g4; pawns e5/f7/g6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen d1→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen f4→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen f3→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 6k1/R4pp1/6p1/P3p3/5qn1/8/5PPP/3Q2K1 w - - 1 27

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