Chess Puzzle #5C2fN — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1082 · Beginner · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/e1; knight c7; pawns c2/c5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen h4; rooks e5/e8; knight g6; pawns f4/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe8 — knight c7→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen h4→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rk2/2N2p2/6np/2P1r3/3Q1p1q/8/2P3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 2 40

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