Chess Puzzle #4aEfI — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1057 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rook c1; knight e7; pawns a4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b3; bishop a6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen b3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen e3→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3Npk1/b2Qp1pp/3pP3/P4P2/1q6/6PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 36

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