Chess Puzzle #5lVWt — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1439 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c8; rook e8; pawns a3/b2/c3/f4/g3. Black: king g6; queen f3; rook f6; pawns a5/b4/g7/h5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook e8→h8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen f3→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king a1→a2).
  3. Best move: b3# — pawn b4→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with b3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q1R3/6p1/5rkp/p6p/1p3P2/P1P2qP1/1P6/K7 w - - 0 42

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