Chess Puzzle #3qa5h — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1176 · Beginner · endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rook d1; pawns a2/b3/d7/e4/h2. Black: king f7; queen c6; rook g8; pawns a6/b5/e5/f6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen c6→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg2 (queen f2→g2).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen e4→g2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/3P1k2/p1q2p1p/1p2p3/4P3/1P6/P4Q1P/3R3K w - - 1 34

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