Chess Puzzle #4PljW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1581 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook b6; bishop c6; pawns c5/d4/g2. Black: king g7; queen g3; rook e5; knight g5; pawns d5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight g5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qe1# — queen g3→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pk1/1RB3pp/2Ppr1n1/3P4/6q1/2Q3P1/6K1 w - - 0 35

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