Chess Puzzle #4YUBP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1576 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen endgame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen c6; pawns a3/b2/c2/g3. Black: king c5; queen e5; pawns a6/a7/d5/g5/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd4 — king c5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king d4→e4).
  3. Best move: Qd3# — queen c3→d3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen endgame, short. The combination ends with Qd3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p7/p1Q5/2kpq1p1/7p/P5P1/1PP4K/8 b - - 1 33

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