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

Rating 1145 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d4; rooks c1/f1; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/c2/e5/f2/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; knight h3; pawns a7/b5/d5/f4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rcd1 — rook c1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen e6→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxf3# — queen g4→f3, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p5pp/4q3/1p1pP1P1/1P1Q1p2/P4N1n/2P2PKP/2R2R2 w - - 0 25

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