Chess Puzzle #5BUU9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1171 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen b2; rook a1; pawns d2/f4/g3/h3. Black: king f8; queen c4; knight f3; pawns a5/e4/f5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen c4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen e2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/7p/6p1/p4p2/2q1pP2/5nPP/1Q1P2K1/R7 w - - 0 41

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